bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
αvβ3 Integrin may Participate in Conceptus Attachment by Regulating Morphologic Changes in the Endometrium during Peri‐implantation in Ovine
Authors: Wan P‐C , Bao Z‐J , Wu Y , Yang L , Hao Z‐D , Yang Y‐L , Shi G‐Q , Liu Y , Zeng S‐M
Published: May 2011

Contents

The objective of this study was to determine expression and potential functions of αv and β3 integrin subunits in ovine endometrium during the peri‐implantation period (days 8–17 after fertilization). The morphologic changes in the endometrium were observed histochemically following haematoxylin/eosin (HE) staining, whereas the expressions of αv and β3 integrin subunits were analysed by RT‐PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The filamentous conceptus attached to the luminal epithelium (LE) on day 17 of pregnancy, with no differences in endometrial morphology between days 8–12 of pregnancy. However, endometrial glands in the endometrial stroma (S) underwent extensive hyperplasia from day 14 to day 17, increased reductus of the LE with an obvious proliferation of caruncles, and an increased number and diameter of blood vessels (V) in the endometrium. The relative expression levels of αv and β3 integrin subunits mRNA gradually increased until day 16, but sharply declined on day 17. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression pattern of αv and β3 integrin subunit proteins paralleled that of the corresponding mRNA. In addition, immunohistochemical localization of αv and β3 integrin subunits confirmed their presence in the glandular epithelium (GE), LE and endometrial stroma. Immunostaining on LE and stroma varied with the increasing days of pregnancy, with the strongest immunostaining on days 16 and 17. In conclusion, expression of αV and β3 integrin subunits was closely related to the early progression of pregnancy and conceptus attachment; therefore, we inferred that αvβ3 integrin may participate in conceptus attachment by the regulation of endometrial morphology during peri‐implantation in ovine.
The pGRT1 plasmid of Pseudomonas putida DOT‐T1E encodes functions relevant for survival under harsh conditions in the environment
Authors: Molina Lázaro , Duque Estrella , Gómez Manuel J. , Krell Tino , Lacal Jesus , García‐Puente Alicia , García Vanina , Matilla Miguel A. , Ramos Juan‐Luis , Segura Ana
Published: May 2011

Pseudomonas putida DOT‐T1E has the capacity to grow in the presence of high concentrations of toluene. This ability is mainly conferred by an efflux pump encoded in a self‐transmissible 133 kb plasmid named pGRT1. Sequence analysis of the pGRT1 plasmid revealed several key features. Most of the genes related to the plasmid maintenance functions show similarity with those encoded on pBVIE04 from Burkholderia vietnamensis G4, and knock‐out mutants in several of these genes confirmed their roles. Two additional plasmid DNA fragments were incorporated into the plasmid backbone by recombination and/or transposition; in these DNA regions, apart from multiple recombinases and transposases, several stress‐related and environmentally relevant functions are encoded. We report that plasmid pGRT1 not only confers the cells with tolerance to toluene but also resistance to ultraviolet light. We show here the implication of a new protein in solvent tolerance which controls the level of expression of the TtgGHI efflux pump, as well as the implication of a protein with homology to the universal stress protein in solvent tolerance and ultraviolet light resistance. Furthermore, this plasmid encodes functions that allow the cells to chemotactically respond to toluene and participate in iron scavenging.
Trophic interactions between viruses, bacteria and nanoflagellates under various nutrient conditions and simulated climate change
Authors: Bouvy M. , Bettarel Y. , Bouvier C. , Domaizon I. , Jacquet S. , Le Floc'h E. , Montanié H. , Mostajir B. , Sime‐Ngando T. , Torréton J. P. , Vidussi F. , Bouvier T.
Published: May 2011

Population dynamics in the microbial food web are influenced by resource availability and predator/parasitism activities. Climatic changes, such as an increase in temperature and/or UV radiation, can also modify ecological systems in many ways. A series of enclosure experiments was conducted using natural microbial communities from a Mediterranean lagoon to assess the response of microbial communities to top‐down control [grazing by heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), viral lysis] and bottom‐up control (nutrients) under various simulated climatic conditions (temperature and UV‐B radiations). Different biological assemblages were obtained by separating bacteria and viruses from HNF by size fractionation which were then incubated in whirl‐Pak bags exposed to an increase of 3°C and 20% UV‐B above the control conditions for 96 h. The assemblages were also provided with an inorganic and organic nutrient supply. The data show (i) a clear nutrient limitation of bacterial growth under all simulated climatic conditions in the absence of HNF, (ii) a great impact of HNF grazing on bacteria irrespective of the nutrient conditions and the simulated climatic conditions, (iii) a significant decrease in burst size (BS) (number of intracellular lytic viruses per bacterium) and a significant increase of VBR (virus to bacterium ratio) in the presence of HNF, and (iv) a much larger temperature effect than UV‐B radiation effect on the bacterial dynamics. These results show that top‐down factors, essentially HNF grazing, control the dynamics of the lagoon bacterioplankton assemblage and that short‐term simulated climate changes are only a secondary effect controlling microbial processes.
Methanogenesis in the sediments of Rio Tinto, an extreme acidic river
Authors: Sanz José L. , Rodríguez Nuria , Díaz Emiliano E. , Amils Ricardo
Published: May 2011

Río Tinto (Iberian Pyritic Belt, SW Spain) is well known for its low pH (mean pH 2.3), high redox potential (> +400 mV) and high concentration of heavy metals. In this work we describe and analyse the presence of methanogenic archaea in the extreme acidic and oxidizing environment of the Tinto basin. Methane formation was measured in microcosms inoculated with sediments from the Rio Tinto basin. Methanol, formate, volatile fatty acids and lactate stimulated the production of methane. Methane formation was associated with a decrease of redox potential and an increase in pH. Cores showed characteristic well‐defined black bands in which a high acetate concentration was measured among the otherwise reddish‐brown sediments with low acetate concentration. Methanosaeta concilii was detected in the black bands. In enrichment cultures, M. concilii (enriched with a complex substrate mixture), Methanobacterium bryantii (enriched with H2) and Methanosarcina barkeri (enriched with methanol) were identified. Our results suggest that methanogens thrive in micro‐niches with mildly acidic and reducing conditions within Rio Tinto sediments, which are, in contrast, immersed in an otherwise extremely acidic and oxidizing environment.
Isolation of obligately alkaliphilic magnetotactic bacteria from extremely alkaline environments
Authors: Lefèvre Christopher T. , Frankel Richard B. , Pósfai Mihály , Prozorov Tanya , Bazylinski Dennis A.
Published: May 2011

Large numbers of magnetotactic bacteria were discovered in mud and water samples collected from a number of highly alkaline aquatic environments with pH values of ∼ 9.5. These bacteria were helical in morphology and biomineralized chains of bullet‐shaped crystals of magnetite and were present in all the highly alkaline sites sampled. Three strains from different sites were isolated and cultured and grew optimally at pH 9.0–9.5 but not at 8.0 and below, demonstrating that these organisms truly require highly alkaline conditions and are not simply surviving/growing in neutral pH micro‐niches in their natural habitats. All strains grew anaerobically through the reduction of sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor and phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, as well as some physiological features, showed that they could represent strains ofDesulfonatronum thiodismutans, a known alkaliphilic bacterium that does not biomineralize magnetosomes. Our results show that some magnetotactic bacteria can be considered extremophilic and greatly extend the known ecology of magnetotactic bacteria and the conditions under which they can biomineralize magnetite. Moreover, our results show that this type of magnetotactic bacterium is common in highly alkaline environments. Our findings also greatly influence the interpretation of the presence of nanometer‐sized magnetite crystals, so‐called magnetofossils, in highly alkaline environments.
Risk Aversion with Local Risk Seeking and Stock Returns: Evidence from the UK Market
Authors: Kassimatis Konstantinos
Published: May 2011

Abstract:  Post and Levy (2005) find that investors are risk averse for losses and risk seekers for gains and that stocks which exhibit low risk in bear markets and high potential for gains in bull markets may demand a premium. The present study examines if this type of risk preference creates a premium in UK stock prices using a third‐degree stochastic dominance test. We find that an arbitrage portfolio long on stocks with low past downside risk in bear markets and high past upside potential in bull markets and short on stocks with high past downside risk in bear markets and low past upside potential in bull markets generates a premium of 2.89% per month. This premium cannot be explained by the CAPM or the Fama and French 4‐factor model, but it exhibits significant similarities to the momentum premium.
Improved Inference in Regression with Overlapping Observations
Authors: Britten‐Jones Mark , Neuberger Anthony , Nolte Ingmar
Published: May 2011

Abstract:  We present an improved method for inference in linear regressions with overlapping observations. By aggregating the matrix of explanatory variables in a simple way, our method transforms the original regression into an equivalent representation in which the dependent variables are non‐overlapping. This transformation removes that part of the autocorrelation in the error terms which is induced by the overlapping scheme. Our method can easily be applied within standard software packages since conventional inference procedures (OLS‐, White‐, Newey‐West‐ standard errors) are asymptotically valid when applied to the transformed regression. Through Monte Carlo analysis we show that it performs better in finite samples than the methods applied to the original regression that are in common usage. We illustrate the significance of our method with three empirical applications.
Prehospital experiences of older men with a first myocardial infarction: a qualitative analysis within the Northern Sweden MONICA Study
Authors: Isaksson Rose‐Marie , Brulin Christine , Eliasson Mats , Näslund Ulf , Zingmark Karin
Published: May 2011

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 787–797
 
Prehospital experiences of older men with a first myocardial infarction: a qualitative analysis within the Northern Sweden MONICA Study

Aim:  To explore older men’s prehospital experiences of their first myocardial infarction (MI).

Background:  The delay between the onset of symptoms to the initiation of medical care is a major determinant of prognosis in MI. The majority of people experiencing MI are men. But few studies have been conducted solely on men’s experiences before seeking medical care for MI. The objective of this study was to explore older men’s experiences of symptoms and their reasoning during the prehospital phase of their first MI.

Method:  Data collection was carried out through individual interviews with 20 men representing the age range 65–80 (mean 71) years. The participants were interviewed 3 days after admission for a confirmed first MI. The interviews were designed to prompt the men to describe their symptoms and their reasoning up to the decision to seek care. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the interviews.

Findings:  The prehospital phase in older men was found to be a complex and extended journey. The symptoms were perceived from diffuse ill‐being to a cluster of alarming symptoms. The participants dealt with conceptions about MI symptoms. They were unsure about the cause of their symptoms, which did not correspond to their expectations about an MI, and whether they should seek medical care. They had difficulty making the final decision to seek care and strived to maintain a normal life. They initially tried to understand, reduce or treat the symptoms by themselves. The decision to seek medical care preceded a movement from uncertainty to conviction.

Conclusions:  Understanding older men’s prehospital experiences of MI is essential to reduce their patient decision times. This requires knowledge about the complexity and dynamic evolvement of symptoms, beliefs and strategies to maintain an ordinary life.
Living with haemodialysis when nearing end of life
Authors: Axelsson Lena , Randers Ingrid , Jacobson Stefan H. , Klang Birgitta
Published: May 2011

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 45–52
 
Living with haemodialysis when nearing end of life

Aims and objectives:  The aim of this study was to describe and to elucidate the meanings of being severely ill living with haemodialysis when nearing end of life.

Introduction:  To have end stage renal disease and to be treated with maintenance haemodialysis implies being dependent on lifelong treatment. Several studies have reported that these patients suffer a high symptom burden and an impaired quality of life due to both disease and treatment. In the dialysis unit, where the focus is on handling technology and maintaining life, end of life care may be neglected or overlooked. Nevertheless, mortality rates show that about one‐fourth of patients in haemodialysis care are in their last year of life.

Design:  A qualitative interpretative design was used.

Methods:  Serial qualitative interviews over a period of 12 months were conducted with eight patients (aged 66–87). Altogether text of 31 interviews was interpreted using a phenomenological hermeneutical method in three phases. The study is ethically approved.

Findings:  The structural analysis resulted in 11 subthemes and thereafter the following three themes were formulated; being subordinate to the deteriorating body, changing outlook on life and striving for upheld dignity. The comprehensive interpretation revealed that being severely ill living with haemodialysis near the end of life means living with suffering simultaneously with reconciliation and well‐being. Further, the meanings are understood as intertwined with being old.

Conclusions:  Findings contribute to an increased awareness of the complexities of these patients’ life worlds and their meanings, and thus of the importance to listen to their experiences and their understandings. Findings suggest that to integrate the philosophy of palliative care in haemodialysis units may improve care for patients who are living with haemodialysis and approaching the end of their lives.
University Departments and Self–Employment Intentions of Business Students: A Cross–Level Analysis
Authors: Walter Sascha G. , Parboteeah K. Praveen , Walter Achim
Published: May 2011

This study examines how characteristics of university departments impact students’ self–employment intentions. We argue that four organizational–level factors (entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurship support programs, industry ties, and research orientation) increase such intentions. Using a data set of 1530 business students and 132 professors at 25 university departments, this study shows that entrepreneurship education and industry ties are related to self–employment intentions only for the males in our sample. A negative effect of the department's research orientation was found. Our study suggests that the organizational context plays an important but gender–specific role in shaping future entrepreneurs. Implications of our findings are discussed.
Resource Acquisition in the Emergence Phase: Considering the Effects of Embeddedness and Resource Dependence
Authors: Newbert Scott L. , Tornikoski Erno T.
Published: May 2011

Despite evidence that embedded ties are important to entrepreneurs seeking low–cost resources, no research to date has explored how this relationship unfolds in the context of emerging organizations, how the inevitable dependence on ties might drive up resource acquisition costs, or how the manner in which ties are embedded might affect the specificity of these resources. We develop a conceptual model that examines these relationships and, analyzing data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics I, find support for the majority of our hypotheses. We then discuss the implications of our findings for scholars and practitioners.
Tailoring the Number of Junctions per Electrode Pair in Networked ZnO Nanowire Sensors
Authors: Park Jae Young , Choi Sun‐Woo , Kim Sang Sub
Published: May 2011

Networked ZnO nanowire sensors have been fabricated via selective growth of ZnO nanowires by the vapor growth method. The number of junctions per electrode pair (NJE) was deliberately controlled by changing the spacing of interdigital electrodes. Its effects on the sensing properties to NO2 and CO were investigated. As the NJE increased, superior sensing properties were attained. This novel method to fabricate gas sensors using vapor‐phase grown nanowires may circumvent the drawbacks of single nanowire gas sensors. Importantly, the NJE needs to be tuned to fully exploit networked nanowires in gas sensors.
Synthesis of Highly Crystalline Hollow TiO2 Fibers Using Atomic Layer Deposition on Polymer Templates
Authors: Choi Sun‐Woo , Park Jae Young , Lee Chongmu , Lee Jae Gap , Kim Sang Sub
Published: May 2011

A novel approach is applied to fabricate highly crystalline hollow TiO2 fibers with a uniform wall thickness. In this approach, first the polymer fibers of ̃240 nm in diameter were synthesized by the electro‐spinning technique as sacrificial templates. Second, TiO2 shell layers of ̃75 nm in thickness were deposited on these templates using the atomic layer deposition technique. After the selective removal of polymer templates by suitable heat treatments (>500°C), highly crystalline hollow TiO2 fibers were successfully produced. This two‐step process seems to easily be extended to synthesizing other hollow oxide fibers with good crystallinity and well‐controlled wall thickness.
Identification of telocytes in skeletal muscle interstitium: implication for muscle regeneration
Authors: Popescu L. M. , Manole Emilia , Şerboiu Crenguţa S. , Manole C. G. , Suciu Laura C. , Gherghiceanu Mihaela , Popescu B. O.
Published: May 2011

Skeletal muscle interstitium is crucial for regulation of blood flow, passage of substances from capillaries to myocytes and muscle regeneration. We show here, probably, for the first time, the presence of telocytes (TCs), a peculiar type of interstitial (stromal) cells, in rat, mouse and human skeletal muscle. TC features include (as already described in other tissues) a small cell body and very long and thin cell prolongations—telopodes (Tps) with moniliform appearance, dichotomous branching and 3D‐network distribution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed close vicinity of Tps with nerve endings, capillaries, satellite cells and myocytes, suggesting a TC role in intercellular signalling (via shed vesicles or exosomes). In situ immunolabelling showed that skeletal muscle TCs express c‐kit, caveolin‐1 and secrete VEGF. The same phenotypic profile was demonstrated in cell cultures. These markers and TEM data differentiate TCs from both satellite cells (e.g. TCs are Pax7 negative) and fibroblasts (which are c‐kit negative). We also described non‐satellite (resident) progenitor cell niche. In culture, TCs (but not satellite cells) emerge from muscle explants and form networks suggesting a key role in muscle regeneration and repair, at least after trauma.
The linear excisional wound: an improved model for human ex vivo wound epithelialization studies
Authors: Rizzo Amilcar Ezequiel , Beckett Laurel A. , Baier Brian S. , Isseroff R. Rivkah
Published: May 2011

Background/purpose: Wound healing is a complex process that involves multiple intercellular and intracellular processes and extracellular interactions. Explanted human skin has been used as a model for the re‐epithelialization phase of human wound healing. The currently used standard technique uses a circular punch biopsy tool to make the initial wound. Despite its wide use, the geometry of round wounds makes it difficult to measure them reliably.

Methods: Our group has designed a linear wounding tool, and compared the variability in ex vivo human linear and circular wounds.

Results: An F test for differences in variances demonstrated that the linear wounds provided a population of wound size measurements that was 50% less variable than that obtained from a group of matched circular wounds. This reduction in variability would provide substantial advantages for the linear wound technique over the circular wound punch technique, by reducing the sample sizes required for comparative studies of factors that alter healing.

Conclusion: This linear wounding tool thus provides a method for wounding that is standardized, provides minimal error in wound gap measurements, and is easily reproducible. We demonstrate its utility in an ex vivo model for the controlled investigation of human skin wounds.
Thermography as a predictor of postherpetic neuralgia in acute herpes zoster patients: a preliminary study
Authors: Park Juhee , Jang Woo Sun , Park Kui Young , Li Kapsok , Seo Seong Jun , Hong Chang Kwun , Lee Jong Beum
Published: May 2011

Background/purpose: Infrared thermal images in patients suffering from herpes zoster (HZ) may exhibit thermal asymmetry due to the unilateral distribution of HZ lesions. This study examined the usefulness of infrared thermography in acute HZ as a predictor for the development of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods: The authors collected demographic and clinical data including age, sex, onset of skin lesion, pain intensity by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the development of PHN from a total of 55 patients diagnosed with HZ. We evaluated the body surface thermographic parameters between the lesion and contralateral normal skin: maximal difference in the temperature (ΔT) and the size of the body surface area (BSA) showing thermal asymmetry.

Results: Temperatures of the lesions were found to be warmer than the control side in most patients with acute HZ. We compared the patient group who developed PHN with those who did not. In univariate analysis, patients with PHN were older (P=0.004), had a higher VAS score for pain (P<0.001), higher ΔT (P<0.001) and larger BSA (P=0.001). In logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors of PHN, older age (>60 years old) and ΔT more than 0.5 °C were found to be statistically significant.
Ability to estimate relative percutaneous penetration via a surrogate maker – trans epidermal water loss?
Authors: Hui Xiaoying , Elkeeb Rania , Chan Heldi , Maibach Howard I.
Published: May 2011

Aims: This study measures the dynamic change of the trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL) rate and in vitro skin permeation data of tritiated water and [14C]‐clonidine HCl in order to refine our knowledge in the relationship between percutaneous penetration and TEWL.

Measures: TEWL values were measured before and during the experimental period. Single application of tritiated water and [14C]‐clonidine HCl were dosed at the same time on dermatomed human skin samples collected from 12 donors in a flow through diffusion cell system. Radioactivity of absorbed dose: stratum corneum, epidermis, dermis, receptor fluid collected every 4 hours, as well as removable dose residue was counted to determine accountability, percent dose, μg equivalent, and flux rate. These data were further combined with TEWL values to analyze their possible relationship.

Results: Results showed that baseline TEWL values correlated with the thickness of dermatomed skin (r=−0.44, P=0.007), and with tritiated water fluxes (r=0.34, P=0.04) and [14C]‐clonidine HCl (r=0.36; P=0.03). The fluxes of tritiated water and [14C]‐clonidine HCl were correlated (r=0.67, P<0.001). When TEWL and permeation data were compared, the pattern of tritiated water expressed as a percent dose permeated in receptor fluid resembled the TEWL pattern.

Conclusion: The methodology described provides evidences of the correlation of TEWL and skin integrity and skin permeation and further demonstrates to be a rapid alternative to tritiated water permeation for measuring skin barrier functions in vitro. To develop TEWL measurement as a possible predictive model to assess in vitro percutaneous absorption, however more chemicals with various physical‐chemical properties need to be examined, and the relationships to TEWL and tritiated water flux better defined.
The neurophilosophy of epileptic experiences
Authors: Monaco Francesco , Mula Marco , Cavanna Andrea E.
Published: May 2011

Monaco F, Mula M, Cavanna AE. The neurophilosophy of epileptic experiences.

Background:Specific alterations of consciousness have a central role in the phenomenological description of epileptic seizures and in the patient's subjective reports.

Methods:This article discusses the use of philosophical methodology within a neurological framework to understand consciousness.

Results:How the alterations in consciousness are experienced by patients with epilepsy depends largely on the localization of the underlying neurophysiological dysfuntion.

Discussion:Rigorous conceptual analysis of ictal experience reports can help to illuminate the study of consciousness.
Anatomical changes in the structure of the temporomandibular joint caused by complete edentulousness
Authors: Csadó Kinga , Márton Krisztina , Kivovics Péter
Published: May 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00498.x
 
Anatomical changes in the structure of the temporomandibular joint caused by complete edentulousness

Background:  The posterior slope of the articular eminence of completely edentulous patients compared to patients with maintained occlusion shows significant flattening.

Objective:  The aim of this present study was to reveal a possible correlation between edentulousness and the flattening of the eminence and to find out whether this deformation is connected to age.

Material and methods:  Thirty patients were examined in three groups, each consisting of 10 persons (group I: 18‐ to 25‐year‐old patients with maintained occlusion, group II: patients over 60 with maintained occlusion, group III: edentulous patients over 60). The three groups were compared according to dental status, age, sex and side. Measurements were carried out on orthopantomographic images taken with Kodak 8000 Digital Panoramic System. The angle of the posterior slope of the articular eminence relative to the Frankfort plane was measured on both sides. Data were analysed statistically with the one‐way anova test (α = 0.05).

Results:  The highest values were measured in group I (right side: 39.8 ± 5.4°, left side: 43.0 ± 5.9°), values were somewhat lower in group II (right side: 38.9 ± 4.7°, left side: 39.5 ± 7.4°) and were the lowest in group III, which was significantly lower on both sides than the results of group I and group II (right side: 29.8 ± 6.0°, left side: 31.9 ± 5.2°, p < 0.01). The correlation coefficient between age and the flattening of the eminence in group I, II and III was 0.23, 0.35 and 0.92, respectively.

Conclusion:  The flattening of the articular eminence could be correlated with age; however, the rate of deformation is significantly higher in completely edentulous patients than in patients with maintained occlusion.
‘I am helping them’: ‘Traffickers’, ‘anti‐traffickers’ and economies of bad faith
Authors: Molland Sverre
Published: May 2011

For several years, aid programs in the Mekong region have taken an increasing interest in cross‐border mobility and human trafficking and its relationship with development. More recently, there has been an increasing interest in the identification of trafficked victims and the investigation, arrest and prosecution of traffickers. Whereas anti‐trafficking programs ubiquitously define themselves as being in a battle with traffickers, this article argues that although they are not homologous social actors, both engage in acts of bad faith. The article elaborates this argument by drawing attention to the recruitment process within the Lao sex industry as well as to the way in which aid programs attempt to identify trafficked victims. It concludes that imaginary aspects of development underpin a simultaneous disjuncture yet enable the social reproduction of the life worlds of ‘traffickers’ and ‘anti‐traffickers’ alike.
An appreciation of Bruce and Young's (1986) serial stage model of face naming after 25 years
Authors: Hanley J. Richard
Published: May 2011

The current status of Bruce and Young's (1986) serial model of face naming is discussed 25 years after its original publication. In the first part of the paper, evidence for and against the serial model is reviewed. It is argued that there is no compelling reason why we should abandon Bruce and Young's claim that recall of a name is contingent upon prior retrieval of semantic information about the person. The current status of the claim that people's names are more difficult to recall than the names of objects is then evaluated. Finally, an account of the anatomical location in the brain of Bruce and Young's three processing stages (face familiarity, retrieval of semantic information, retrieval of names) is suggested. In particular, there is evidence that biographical knowledge about familiar people is stored in the right anterior temporal lobes (ATL) and that the left temporal pole (TP) is heavily involved in retrieval of the names of familiar people. The issue of whether these brain areas play a similar role in object processing is also discussed.
Behaviour of the motoneurone pool in a fatiguing submaximal contraction
Authors: McNeil Chris J. , Giesebrecht Sabine , Gandevia Simon C. , Taylor Janet L.
Published: May 2011

Non‐technical summary  During a sustained maximal contraction, motoneurones rapidly become less responsive to input. This decrease is ameliorated by a high level of voluntary drive from the cortex. Here, we tested whether the excitability of motor cortical neurones or spinal motoneurones is suppressed during fatigue produced by a sustained submaximal contraction in which only some of the motoneurones are active. We found that motoneurone responses were gradually suppressed as fatigue developed. The results suggest that only the active motoneurones were affected and the decreased responsiveness was less when voluntary drive was present. In contrast, the excitability of the motor cortex appeared unaffected.
A Time-Domain Harmonic Balance Method for Rotor/Stator Interactions
Authors: Sicot Frédéric , Dufour Guillaume , Gourdain Nicolas
Published: May 2011

In the absence of instabilities, the large deterministic scales of turbomachinery flows resulting from the periodic rotation of blades can be considered periodic in time. Such flows are not simulated with enough efficiency when using classical unsteady techniques as a transient regime must be bypassed. New techniques, dedicated to time-periodic flows and based on Fourier analysis, have been developed recently. Among these, harmonic balance methods cast a time-periodic flow computation in several coupled steady flow computations. A time-domain harmonic balance method is derived and adapted to phase lag periodic conditions to allow the simulation of only one blade passage per row regardless of row blade counts. Sophisticated space and time interpolations are involved and detailed. The test case is a single stage subsonic compressor. A convergence study of the present harmonic balance is performed and compared with a reference well-resolved classical unsteady flow simulation. The results show, on one hand, the good behavior of the harmonic balance and its ability to correctly predict global quantities as well as local flow pattern; on the other hand, the simulation time is drastically reduced.
Tolerance by TLR
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: May 2011

Signaling through innate immune receptors promotes commensal bacteria colonization of the gut.
Discovery of a Role for Hsp82 in Histoplasma Virulence through a Quantitative Screen for Macrophage Lethality
Authors: Edwards Jessica A. , Zemska Olga , Rappleye Chad A.
Published: May 2011

The application of forward genetics can reveal new factors required for the virulence of intracellular pathogens. To facilitate such virulence screens, we developed macrophage cell lines with which the number of intact host cells following infection with intracellular pathogens can be rapidly and easily ascertained through the expression of a constitutive
lacZ
transgene. Using known virulence mutants of
Francisella novicida
and
Histoplasma capsulatum
, we confirmed the applicability of these host cells for the quantitative assessment of bacterial and fungal virulence, respectively. To identify new genes required for
Histoplasma
virulence, we employed these transgenic macrophage cells to screen a collection of individual transfer DNA (T-DNA) insertion mutants. Among the mutants showing decreased virulence in macrophages, we identified an insertion in the locus encoding the
Histoplasma
Hsp82 homolog. The lesion caused by the T-DNA insertion localizes to the promoter region, resulting in significantly decreased
HSP82
expression. Reduced
HSP82
expression markedly attenuates the virulence of
Histoplasma
yeast
in vivo
. While the
HSP82
hypomorph grows normally
in vitro
at 37°C and under acid and salinity stresses, its ability to recover from high-temperature stress is impaired. These results provide genetic proof of the role of stress chaperones in the virulence of a thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen.
Use of Blue Agar CAS Assay for Siderophore Detection
Authors: Louden Brian C. , Haarmann Daniel , Lynne Aaron M.
Published: May 2011

Schwyn and Neiland developed a universal siderophore assay using chrome azurol S(CAS) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) as indicators. In Schwyn and Neiland’s original paper, the procedure given for making CAS agar is written in general terms and can be difficult to follow, especially for an individual who has limited experience making more complex media. Here, we give a step-by-step protocol for making the CAS agar plates, and we discuss how this media can be incorporated in a comprehensive project in a microbiology lab course for biology majors.
Teaching Bacterial Arrangements and Morphologies with Candy
Authors: Blankinship Lisa Ann
Published: May 2011

Determining bacterial morphology and arrangement is a first lesson in undergraduate microbiology or in an introductory lecture to the Prokaryotes in general biology. By identifying cell arrangement and morphology, students can successfully communicate descriptives in microscopy-based labs, can take the first steps in identifying unknown organisms, and are able to understand genus and/or species names of standard laboratory bacteria. This activity is intended to help students visualize and practice naming basic bacterial morphology and arrangements, and is appropriate in either the laboratory or lecture setting of a general microbiology or introductory biology course. Students with a weak background and non-science majors will benefit most from this activity.
Quick Quiz – Is it Really Recall?
Authors: Klionsky Daniel J. , Bartholomew Clinton R.
Published: May 2011

Review of:
Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning Than Elaborative Studying With Concept Mapping;
J. D. Karpicke and J. R. Blunt; (2011).
Science
331:
772–775.
Social inequalities in road traffic deaths at age 16–20 years among all 611 654 Norwegians born between 1967 and 1976: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Kristensen Petter , Kristiansen Thomas , Rehn Marius , Gravseth Hans Magne , Bjerkedal Tor
Published: May 2011

Background

Road traffic injury is a major cause of death among youths.

Aims

To estimate mortality differences in family socioeconomic position (SEP) and municipal disadvantage level.

Methods

Data on all Norwegians born in 1967–76, gathered from national registries, were linked by a unique national identification number. The 611 654 participants were followed-up for 5 years from age 16 years. Parental education level, father's income level, and proportion of high-income earners in the municipality served as SEP indicators. Associations between SEP and road traffic deaths were analysed by multilevel Poisson regression.

Results

Road traffic deaths (n=676, rate 22.2 per 100 000 person-years) constituted a major cause of death, of which 91.9% were motor vehicle occupants. SEP distributions differed according to gender and type of motor vehicle crash (collision, non-collision). There was an inverse relationship between municipal proportions of high-income earners and mortality (population attributable fraction (PAF) 0.43, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.53) in all categories of gender-specific crash types. Family SEP gradients were not found except for male non-collision deaths, where increasing mortality was found in association with decreasing parental education level (PAF 0.94, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.99) and increasing paternal income (PAF 0.25, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.40).

Conclusion

The different SEP patterns for road traffic deaths across gender and motor vehicle crash type illustrate that heterogeneity of social inequalities in health can be found even within narrow age bands and for similar causes of death.
A prospective randomised study of a rotary powered device (OnControl) for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
Authors: Swords Ronan T , Anguita Javier , Higgins Russell A , Yunes Andrea C , Naski Michael , Padmanabhan Swaminathan , Kelly Kevin R , Mahalingam Devalingam , Philbeck Thomas , Miller Larry , Puga Tatiana A , Giles Francis J , Kinney Marsha C , Brenner Andrew J
Published: May 2011

Introduction

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is an invasive procedure associated with morbidity and mortality risk. We compared a powered bone marrow aspiration and biopsy device to the traditional method by relatively assessing pain scores, procedure times, biopsy capture rates, quality of material retrieved, and safety and operator satisfaction.

Methods

Two large academic medical centres participated in this trial. Patients were randomised to have procedures carried out using the powered system or the manual technique. A visual analogue scale pain score was recorded immediately following skin puncture and once again at the end of the procedure for each patient. Procedure time was measured from skin puncture to core specimen acquisition. Pathologic assessment of 30 randomised samples was carried out. Operator satisfaction with devices was measured on a scale of 0–10, with 10 as the highest rating.

Results

Five operators from two sites enrolled 50 patients (powered, n=25; manual, n=25). Groups were evenly matched, with no significant differences in the means for age, weight and height. The powered system was superior to the manual system with respect to patient perceived pain from needle insertion (2.6±2.0 vs 4.1±2.5, p=0.022) and procedural time (100.0±72.8 s vs 224.1±79.0 s, p<0.001). Overall pain scores at the end of both procedures were comparable (3.2±2.2 vs 3.8±3.0, p=0.438). No complications were observed in either arm of the study. Blinded pathologic analysis of the specimens retrieved revealed that cores obtained using the powered system were longer and wider than those obtained using the manual technique (25.4±12.3 mm2vs 11.9±5.6 mm2, p=0.001). For marrow aspiration, no difference was seen between groups for clot/particle spicules or smear spicules. Operator assessment favoured the use of the powered device.

Conclusions

Results of this trial suggest that the use of a powered bone marrow biopsy device significantly reduces needle insertion pain and procedural time when compared to a manual technique. The superior size and overall quality of core specimens retrieved by the powered device provides more material for pathologic evaluation, thereby increasing diagnostic yield and reducing the need for repeat procedures.
Outcomes of intra-arterial thrombolytic treatment in acute ischemic stroke patients with a matched defect on diffusion and perfusion MR images
Authors: Sandhu Gurpreet S , Parikh Pankit T , Hsu Daniel P , Blackham Kristine A , Tarr Robert W , Sunshine Jeffrey L
Published: May 2011

Background

For acute ischemic stroke patients with matched defects on diffusion–perfusion imaging, the effects of reperfusion therapy remain poorly documented. The outcomes in a rare series of patients who had a matched defect and then underwent intra-arterial thrombolytic treatment (IAT) are reported.

Methods

Medical record and MR image review between 1 January 1998 and 15 October 2008 revealed only eight acute ischemic stroke patients satisfying the atypical combination of both matched defect and IAT. Successful recanalization (SR), favorable clinical response (FCR) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) were defined respectively as thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score ≥2 after IAT, discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 0–1/≥8 point decrease from baseline and intracranial hemorrhage in infarct zone with ≥4 point increase in NIHSS Score within 24 h of IAT.

Results

Median (range) baseline NIHSS score was 16.5 (6–22). Median (range) time delays from symptom onset to MRI and to IAT initiation were 200 (83–240) and 267.5 (160–360) min, respectively. Median (range) values of diffusion and perfusion lesion volumes were 119.5 (24–205) and 118 (18–207) ml. Out of eight patients, one (12.5%) achieved FCR, four (50%) had SICH and five (62.5%) died. Out of six patients with SR, one achieved FCR and four had SICH and died, and of two patients without SR, none had FCR or SICH and one died.

Conclusion

Our data on rare patients with matched defects who nevertheless had attempted rescue with IAT confirm a poor risk–benefit ratio generated by low favorable responses and high mortality rates, especially in large ischemic lesions.
NEUTRINO OSCILLATION AT THE LIFSHITZ POINT
Authors: LUONGO ORLANDO , STAGNO GABRIELE V.
Published: May 2011

The neutrino oscillation is usually depicted as one of the most intriguing challenges of the modern standard particle paradigm. Here, we investigate this phenomenon in the so-called Hořava gravity, in order to constrain the free parameter of the model, through this quantum field phenomenon. We will find that the only possible deviations from the standard General Relativity are accounted in the astrophysical regime only, as expected. Thus, we propose the method to analyze an astrophysical neutrino flux by the use of neutrino oscillation as well.
AN EFFICIENT METHOD FOR STUDYING FOLD-HOPF BIFURCATION IN DELAYED NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: GE JUHONG , XU JIAN
Published: May 2011

An effective and simple method, called perturbation scheme (PS), is proposed to study fold-Hopf bifurcation for delayed neural systems qualitatively and quantitatively when time delay and connection weight are considered as two bifurcation parameters. As an illustration, the proposed method is employed to investigate a delayed bidirectional associative memory (BAM) neural network. Dynamics arising from fold-Hopf bifurcation are classified qualitatively and expressed approximately in a closed form for periodic solution. We also give analytical results on the existence, stability and bifurcation of nontrivial equilibria of the delayed system. Our investigations reveal that secondary Hopf bifurcation and pitchfork bifurcation of limit cycle may emanate from the pitchfork-Hopf point. In addition, the secondary Hopf bifurcation can lead to multistability between equilibrium points and periodic solution in some region of parameter space. The validity of analytical predictions is shown by their consistency with the results from the center manifold reduction (CMR) with normal form and numerical simulation. As an analytical tool, the advantage of the PS also lies in its simplicity and ease of implementation.
COMPLEX NETWORK APPLICATION IN FAULT DIAGNOSIS OF ANALOG CIRCUITS
Authors: PENG MINFANG , WANG JIAJIA , TSE CHI K. , SHEN MEIE
Published: May 2011

Fault diagnosis has played an important role in the identification of fault mechanisms and the subsequent successful isolation of faults in electronic circuits. In this paper, we propose a novel procedure for fault diagnosis in analog circuits. We first generate a set of fault patterns from fault simulation, and our main task is to develop a practical description of the way in which these fault patterns interact. Our approach is based on the construction of a complex network that describes the inter-dependence of the various fault patterns. Analysis of this complex network shows that the degree distribution is scalefree-like and the connectivity is small-world. We henceforth identify a small number of fault patterns that are most highly connected (of highest degrees) with other fault patterns. Furthermore, we study the connection between this network of fault patterns and the original circuit, the purpose being to relate the information of the high-degree fault patterns with the physical circuit topology, thus allowing the physical fault locations and circuit elements to be identified. Our proposed approach will find applications in automatic fault diagnosis of large-scale electronic circuits.
DYNAMICS OF A DISCRETE-TIME MODEL OF AN "IDEAL-STORAGE" SYSTEM DESCRIBING HETERO-CATALYTIC PROCESSES ON METAL SURFACES
Authors: DRESS ANDREAS W. M. , LIN WEI
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we analyze a rather simple system in which some substance is being stored, released, and replenished simultaneously in some interdependent way. We investigate the dynamic behavior of such a system, using a two-dimensional map-based discrete-time model, and derive an integrated dynamical scene for this model. More specifically, we show the existence of an invariant curve induced by the well-known Neimark–Sacker bifurcation corresponding to the presence of a periodically oscillating behavior in this model.
Topic Distillation with Query-Dependent Link Connections and Page Characteristics
Authors: Wu Mingfang , Scholer Falk , Turpin Andrew
Published: May 2011

Searchers on the Web often aim to find key resources about a topic. Finding such results is called topic distillation. Previous research has shown that the use of sources of evidence such as page indegree and URL structure can significantly improve search performance on interconnected collections such as the Web, beyond the use of simple term distribution statistics. This article presents a new approach to improve topic distillation by exploring the use of external sources of evidence: link structure, including query dependent indegree and outdegree; and web page characteristics, such as the density of anchor links.

Our experiments with the TREC .GOV collection, an 18GB crawl of the US .gov domain from 2002, show that using such evidence can significantly improve search effectiveness, with combinations of evidence leading to significant performance gains over both full-text and anchor-text baselines. Moreover, we demonstrate that, at a different scope level, both local query-dependent outdegree and query-dependent indegree out-performed their global query-independent counterparts; and at the same scope level, outdegree out-performed indegree. Adding query-dependent indegree or page characteristics to query-dependent outdegree could have a small, but not significant, improvement.