bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfite Reductase Protects Plants against Sulfite Toxicity
Authors: Yarmolinsky Dmitry , Brychkova Galina , Fluhr Robert , Sagi Moshe
Published: December 2012

Plant sulfite reductase (SiR; Enzyme Commission 1.8.7.1) catalyzes the reduction of sulfite to sulfide in the reductive sulfate assimilation pathway. Comparison of SiR expression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Rheinlands Ruhm’) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants revealed that SiR is expressed in a different tissue-dependent manner that likely reflects dissimilarity in sulfur metabolism between the plant species. Using Arabidopsis and tomato SiR mutants with modified SiR expression, we show here that resistance to ectopically applied sulfur dioxide/sulfite is a function of SiR expression levels and that plants with reduced SiR expression exhibit higher sensitivity than the wild type, as manifested in pronounced leaf necrosis and chlorophyll bleaching. The sulfite-sensitive mutants accumulate applied sulfite and show a decline in glutathione levels. In contrast, mutants that overexpress SiR are more tolerant to sulfite toxicity, exhibiting little or no damage. Resistance to high sulfite application is manifested by fast sulfite disappearance and an increase in glutathione levels. The notion that SiR plays a role in the protection of plants against sulfite is supported by the rapid up-regulation of SiR transcript and activity within 30 min of sulfite injection into Arabidopsis and tomato leaves. Peroxisomal sulfite oxidase transcripts and activity levels are likewise promoted by sulfite application as compared with water injection controls. These results indicate that, in addition to participating in the sulfate assimilation reductive pathway, SiR also plays a role in protecting leaves against the toxicity of sulfite accumulation.
A Triple Helix-Loop-Helix/Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Cascade Controls Cell Elongation Downstream of Multiple Hormonal and Environmental Signaling Pathways inArabidopsis
Authors: Bai Ming-Yi , Fan Min , Oh Eunkyoo , Wang Zhi-Yong
Published: December 2012

Environmental and endogenous signals, including light, temperature, brassinosteroid (BR), and gibberellin (GA), regulate cell elongation largely by influencing the expression of the paclobutrazol-resistant (PRE) family helix-loop-helix (HLH) factors, which promote cell elongation by interacting antagonistically with another HLH factor, IBH1. However, the molecular mechanism by which PREs and IBH1 regulate gene expression has remained unknown. Here, we show that IBH1 interacts with and inhibits a DNA binding basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein, HBI1, in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of HBI1 increased hypocotyl and petiole elongation, whereas dominant inactivation of HBI1 and its homologs caused a dwarf phenotype, indicating that HBI1 is a positive regulator of cell elongation. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that HBI1 directly bound to the promoters and activated two EXPANSIN genes encoding cell wall–loosening enzymes; HBI1's DNA binding and transcriptional activities were inhibited by IBH1, but the inhibitory effects of IBH1 were abolished by PRE1. The results indicate that PREs activate the DNA binding bHLH factor HBI1 by sequestering its inhibitor IBH1. Altering each of the three factors affected plant sensitivities to BR, GA, temperature, and light. Our study demonstrates that PREs, IBH1, and HBI1 form a chain of antagonistic switches that regulates cell elongation downstream of multiple external and endogenous signals.
Novel Contact Sensor for High-Speed Machining
Authors: Bourny Valéry , Swingedouw Florent , Capitaine Thierry , Lorthois Aurélien , Dubois Jérôme , Senlis Jacky
Published: December 2012

This work presents a method implemented in an embedded system to detect the first contact between a high-speed machine tool and a workpiece surface with high accuracy, reliability and ease-of-use. This method is based on impedance magnitude variation measurements and the computation of a correlation function. A specific sensor was designed from this method for testing purposes in actual industrial conditions. This work is focused on the detection of the first contact between the tool and the workpiece surface. The purpose of this paper is to explore the efficiency of impedance spectroscopy and to identify a method to detect the first contact between a tool and a workpiece efficiently in high-speed machining operations and for the finishing process in particular.
Hydrodynamic Modeling of Targeted Magnetic-Particle Delivery in a Blood Vessel
Authors: Weng Huei Chu
Published: December 2012

Since the flow of a magnetic fluid could easily be influenced by an external magnetic field, its hydrodynamic modeling promises to be useful for magnetically controllable delivery systems. It is desirable to understand the flow fields and characteristics before targeted magnetic particles arrive at their destination. In this study, we perform an analysis for the effects of particles and a magnetic field on biomedical magnetic fluid flow to study the targeted magnetic-particle delivery in a blood vessel. The fully developed solutions of velocity, flow rate, and flow drag are derived analytically and presented for blood with magnetite nanoparticles at body temperature. Results reveal that in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles, a minimum magnetic field gradient (yield gradient) is required to initiate the delivery. A magnetic driving force leads to the increase in velocity and has enhancing effects on flow rate and flow drag. Such a magnetic driving effect can be magnified by increasing the particle volume fraction.
Influence of inert gases on the reactive high power pulsed magnetron sputtering process of carbon-nitride thin films
Authors: Schmidt Susann , Czigány Zsolt , Greczynski Grzegorz , Jensen Jens , Hultman Lars
Published: December 2012

The influence of inert gases (Ne, Ar, Kr) on the sputter process of carbon and carbon-nitride (CNx) thin films was studied using reactive high power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). Thin solid films were synthesized in an industrial deposition chamber from a graphite target. The peak target current during HiPIMS processing was found to decrease with increasing inert gas mass. Time averaged and time resolved ion mass spectroscopy showed that the addition of nitrogen, as reactive gas, resulted in less energetic ion species for processes employing Ne, whereas the opposite was noticed when Ar or Kr were employed as inert gas. Processes in nonreactive ambient showed generally lower total ion fluxes for the three different inert gases. As soon as N2 was introduced into the process, the deposition rates for Ne and Ar-containing processes increased significantly. The reactive Kr-process, in contrast, showed slightly lower deposition rates than the nonreactive. The resulting thin films were characterized regarding their bonding and microstructure by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Reactively deposited CNx thin films in Ar and Kr ambient exhibited an ordering toward a fullerene-like structure, whereas carbon and CNx films deposited in Ne atmosphere were found to be amorphous. This is attributed to an elevated amount of highly energetic particles observed during ion mass spectrometry and indicated by high peak target currents in Ne-containing processes. These results are discussed with respect to the current understanding of the structural evolution of a-C and CNx thin films.
Reorganization of graphite surfaces into carbon micro- and nanoparticles under high flux hydrogen plasma bombardment
Authors: Bystrov Kirill , van der Vegt Lenze , De Temmerman Gregory , Arnas Cécile , Marot Laurent
Published: December 2012

Fine-grain graphite samples were exposed to high density low temperature (ne∼1020 m−3, Te∼1 eV) hydrogen plasmas in the Pilot-PSI linear plasma generator. Redeposition of eroded carbon is so strong that no external precursor gas injection is necessary for deposits to form on the exposed surface during the bombardment. In fact, up to 90% of carbon is redeposited, most noticeably in the region of the highest particle flux. The redeposits appear in the form of carbon microparticles of various sizes and structures. Discharge parameters influence the efficiency of the redeposition processes and the particle growth rate. Under favorable conditions, the growth rate reaches 0.15 μm/s. The authors used high resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study the particle growth mode. The columnar structure of some of the large particles points toward surface growth, while observation of the spherical carbon nanoparticles indicates growth in the plasma phase. Multiple nanoparticles can agglomerate and form bigger particles. The spherical shape of the agglomerates suggests that nanoparticles coalesce in the gas phase. The erosion and redeposition patterns on the samples are likely determined by the gradients in plasma flux density and surface temperature across the surface.
Small-signal admittance model as a characterization tool of the MOS tunnel diode
Authors: Jasiński Jakub , Majkusiak Bogdan
Published: December 2012

The tunnel leakage through the insulator layer of metal–insulator–semiconductor tunnel diodes and its small-signal admittance is investigated by means of a theoretical model of the metal–oxide–semiconductor tunnel diode based on a steady-state algorithm and the minority carrier relaxation time. The conclusions are reviewed using an experimental Al-SiO2-Si structure with an ultrathin oxide layer.
Optimization of in situ plasma oxidation of metallic gadolinium thin films deposited by high pressure sputtering on silicon
Authors: Pampillón María Ángela , Feijoo Pedro Carlos , San Andrés Enrique , Lucía María Luisa
Published: December 2012

Gadolinium oxide thin films were deposited on silicon by a two-step process: high pressure sputtering from a metallic gadolinium target followed by an in situ plasma oxidation. Several plasma conditions for metal deposition and oxidation were studied in order to minimize the growth of a SiOx layer at the interface between the high permittivity dielectric and the silicon substrate and to avoid substrate damage. Plasma emission was studied with glow discharge optical spectroscopy. The films were structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Metal–insulator–semiconductor capacitors were fabricated with two different top metals (titanium and platinum) to analyze the influence of deposition conditions and the metal choice. Pt gated devices showed an interfacial SiOx regrowth after a forming gas annealing, while Ti gates scavenge the interface layer.
Analysis and optimization approaches for wide-viewing-angle λ/4 plate in polarimetry for immersion lithography
Authors: Dong Juan , Li Yanqiu
Published: December 2012

A waveplate is usually used to measure the polarization effects in optical systems. For a hyper numerical aperture imaging system with a large angle of incidence, the incident plane of light concerned may be neither parallel nor perpendicular to the optical axis of the waveplate, which makes a conventional waveplate produce undesired nonuniform retardation in any incident plane determined by the incident light and the wave normal of the crystal surface. To compensate effectively for this nonuniform retardation, the authors propose approaches to analyze and optimize the wide-viewing-angle (WVA) λ/4 plate. First, the retardation between the p and s components of a light wave propagating through the WVA waveplate is analyzed based on light propagation theory. Then, the authors develop an optimization method for the thickness parameters of the waveplates that compose the WVA λ/4 plate, which is used extensively in polarimetry for immersion lithography. It is found that the proposed approach is effective for WVA λ/4 plate design. The best WVA λ/4 plate has a small variation in retardation of less than ±0.5° for angles of incidence between ±20°.
Comparative Quantitative Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 10 Xylanases in the Sheep Rumen during a Feeding Cycle
Authors: Li Zhongyuan , Zhao Heng , Yang Peilong , Zhao Junqi , Huang Huoqing , Xue Xianli , Zhang Xinshang , Diao Qiyu , Yao Bin
Published: December 2012

Xylanase is a crucial hydrolytic enzyme that degrades plant polysaccharides in the rumen. To date, there is no information on the genetic composition and expression characteristics of ruminal xylanase during feeding cycles of ruminants. Here, the major xylanase of the glycoside hydrolase family 10 (GH 10) from the rumen of small-tail Han sheep was investigated during a feeding cycle. We identified 44 distinct GH 10 xylanase gene fragments at both the genomic and transcriptional levels. Comparison of their relative abundance showed that results from the evaluation of functional genes at the transcriptional level are more reliable indicators for understanding fluctuations in xylanase levels. The expression patterns of six xylanase genes, detected at all time points of the feeding cycle, were investigated; we observed a complex trend of gene expression over 24 h, revealing the dynamic expression of xylanases in the rumen. Further correlation analysis indicated that the rumen is a dynamic ecosystem where the transcript profiles of xylanase genes are closely related to ruminal conditions, especially rumen pH and bacterial population. Given the huge diversity and changing composition of enzymes over the entire rumen, this research provides valuable information for understanding the role of functional genes in the digestion of plant material.
Evidence for Niche Partitioning Revealed by the Distribution of Sulfur Oxidation Genes Collected from Areas of a Terrestrial Sulfidic Spring with Differing Geochemical Conditions
Authors: Headd Brendan , Engel Annette Summers
Published: December 2012

The diversity and phylogenetic significance of bacterial genes in the environment has been well studied, but comparatively little attention has been devoted to understanding the functional significance of different variations of the same metabolic gene that occur in the same environment. We analyzed the geographic distribution of 16S rRNA pyrosequences and
soxB
genes along a geochemical gradient in a terrestrial sulfidic spring to identify how different taxonomic variations of the
soxB
gene were naturally distributed within the spring outflow channel and to identify possible evidence for altered SoxB enzyme function in nature. Distinct compositional differences between bacteria that utilize their SoxB enzyme in the
Paracoccus
sulfide oxidation pathway (e.g.,
Bradyrhizobium
,
Paracoccus
, and
Rhodovulum
) and bacteria that utilize their SoxB enzyme in the branched pathway (e.g.,
Chlorobium
,
Thiothrix
,
Thiobacillus
,
Halothiobacillus
, and
Thiomonas
) were identified. Different variations of the
soxB
genes were present at different locations within the spring outflow channel in a manner that significantly corresponded to geochemical conditions. The distribution of the different
soxB
gene sequence variations suggests that the enzymes encoded by these genes are functionally different and could be optimized to specific geochemical conditions that define niche space for bacteria capable of oxidizing reduced sulfur compounds.
New Insights into Sulfur Metabolism in Yeasts as Revealed by Studies of Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Hébert Agnès , Forquin-Gomez Marie-Pierre , Roux Aurélie , Aubert Julie , Junot Christophe , Heilier Jean-François , Landaud Sophie , Bonnarme Pascal , Beckerich Jean-Marie
Published: December 2012

Yarrowia lipolytica
, located at the frontier of hemiascomycetous yeasts and fungi, is an excellent candidate for studies of metabolism evolution. This yeast, widely recognized for its technological applications, in particular produces volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) that fully contribute to the flavor of smear cheese. We report here a relevant global vision of sulfur metabolism in
Y. lipolytica
based on a comparison between high- and low-sulfur source supplies (sulfate, methionine, or cystine) by combined approaches (transcriptomics, metabolite profiling, and VSC analysis). The strongest repression of the sulfate assimilation pathway was observed in the case of high methionine supply, together with a large accumulation of sulfur intermediates. A high sulfate supply seems to provoke considerable cellular stress via sulfite production, resulting in a decrease of the availability of the glutathione pathway's sulfur intermediates. The most limited effect was observed for the cystine supply, suggesting that the intracellular cysteine level is more controlled than that of methionine and sulfate. Using a combination of metabolomic profiling and genetic experiments, we revealed taurine and hypotaurine metabolism in yeast for the first time. On the basis of a phylogenetic study, we then demonstrated that this pathway was lost by some of the hemiascomycetous yeasts during evolution.
Expression of
UME6
, a Key Regulator of Candida albicans Hyphal Development, Enhances Biofilm Formation via Hgc1- and Sun41-Dependent Mechanisms
Authors: Banerjee Mohua , Uppuluri Priya , Zhao Xiang R. , Carlisle Patricia L. , Vipulanandan Geethanjali , Villar Cristina C. , López-Ribot José L. , Kadosh David
Published: December 2012

Biofilm formation is associated with the ability of
Candida albicans
, the major human fungal pathogen, to resist antifungal therapies and grow on tissues, catheters, and medical devices. In order to better understand the relationship between
C. albicans
morphology and biofilm formation, we examined biofilms generated in response to expression of
UME6
, a key filament-specific transcriptional regulator. As
UME6
levels rise,
C. albicans
cells are known to transition from yeast to hyphae, and we also observed a corresponding increase in the level of biofilm formation
in vitro
. In addition to forming a biofilm, we observed that a
C. albicans
strain expressing constitutive high levels of
UME6
promoted tissue invasion in a reconstituted human three-dimensional model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Confocal microscopy indicated that both the top and bottom layers of the biofilm generated upon high-level constitutive
UME6
expression consist primarily of hyphal cells.
UME6
-driven biofilm formation was reduced upon deletion of Hgc1, a cyclin-related protein important for hyphal development, as well as Sun41, a putative cell wall glycosidase. Constitutive high-level
UME6
expression was also able to completely bypass both the filamentation and biofilm defects of a strain deleted for Efg1, a key transcriptional regulator of these processes. Finally, we show that both Sun41 and Efg1 affect the ability of
UME6
to induce certain filament-specific transcripts. Overall, these findings indicate a strong correlation between increased
C. albicans
hyphal growth and enhanced biofilm formation and also suggest functional relationships between
UME6
and other regulators of biofilm development.
The Zinc Cluster Protein Sut1 Contributes to Filamentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Foster Helen A. , Cui Mingfei , Naveenathayalan Angel , Unden Heike , Schwanbeck Ralf , Höfken Thomas
Published: December 2012

Sut1 is a transcriptional regulator of the Zn(II)
2
Cys
6
family in the budding yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. The only function that has been attributed to Sut1 is sterol uptake under anaerobic conditions. Here, we show that Sut1 is also expressed in the presence of oxygen, and we identify a novel function for Sut1.
SUT1
overexpression blocks filamentous growth, a response to nutrient limitation, in both haploid and diploid cells. This inhibition by Sut1 is independent of its function in sterol uptake. Sut1 downregulates the expression of
GAT2
,
HAP4
,
MGA1
,
MSN4
,
NCE102
,
PRR2
,
RHO3
, and
RHO5
. Several of these Sut1 targets (
GAT2
,
HAP4
,
MGA1
,
RHO3
, and
RHO5
) are essential for filamentation in haploids and/or diploids. Furthermore, the expression of the Sut1 target genes, with the exception of
MGA1
, is induced during filamentous growth. We also show that
SUT1
expression is autoregulated and inhibited by Ste12, a key transcriptional regulator of filamentation. We propose that Sut1 partially represses the expression of
GAT2
,
HAP4
,
MGA1
,
MSN4
,
NCE102
,
PRR2
,
RHO3
, and
RHO5
when nutrients are plentiful. Filamentation-inducing conditions relieve this repression by Sut1, and the increased expression of Sut1 targets triggers filamentous growth.
A Novel
dnaJ
Family Gene,
sflA
, Encodes an Inhibitor of Flagellation in Marine Vibrio Species
Authors: Kitaoka Maya , Nishigaki Takehiko , Ihara Kunio , Nishioka Noriko , Kojima Seiji , Homma Michio
Published: December 2012

The marine bacterium
Vibrio alginolyticus
has a single polar flagellum. Formation of that flagellum is regulated positively and negatively by FlhF and by FlhG, respectively. The Δ
flhF
mutant makes no flagellum, whereas the Δ
flhFG
double-deletion mutant usually lacks a flagellum. However, the Δ
flhFG
mutant occasionally reverts to become motile by forming peritrichous flagella. We have isolated a suppressor pseudorevertant from the Δ
flhFG
strain (Δ
flhFG
-sup). The suppressor strain forms peritrichous flagella in the majority of cells. We identified candidate suppressor mutations by comparing the genome sequence of the parental strain, VIO5, with the genome sequences of the suppressor strains. Two mutations were mapped to a gene, named
sflA
(
s
uppressor of Δ

fl
hFG

), at the VEA003730 locus of the
Vibrio
sp. strain EX25 genome. This gene is specific for
Vibrio
species and is predicted to encode a transmembrane protein with a DnaJ domain. When the wild-type gene was introduced into the suppressor strain, motility was impaired. Introducing a mutant version of the
sflA
gene into the Δ
flhFG
strain conferred the suppressor phenotype. Thus, we conclude that loss of the
sflA
gene is responsible for the suppressor phenotype and that the wild-type SflA protein plays a role in preventing polar-type flagella from forming on the lateral cell wall.
Acupuncture Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain and Phantom Limb Sensation in a Primary Care Setting
Authors: Davies Arwel
Published: December 2012

A 45-year-old man presented with phantom limb pain and phantom limb sensation 12 weeks after an above-elbow amputation of his right arm. He underwent seven sessions of acupuncture at weekly intervals carried out by his general practitioner on his intact left arm, with complete relief of the phantom limb pain and considerable improvement of the phantom limb sensation of his right arm. This case demonstrates the possible benefits from the use of short acupuncture sessions for a potentially chronic condition undertaken within the constraints of a busy general medical practice.
Impact of errors in age estimates on the classification of proper child occupant restraint use: an observational survey
Authors: Nie Carrie , Colunga Isabel , McCoy Mary , Stephens-Stidham Shelli , Istre Gregory R
Published: December 2012

Background

Proper classification of child occupant restraint use is dependent on the age of the child occupant. Observations of vehicle restraint use involve estimating child age. If estimates of age are incorrect, then a potential for misclassification of restraint use exists.

Objective

To compare estimated and confirmed child occupant age and calculate the impact of errors in age estimates on the proportion of children classified as properly restrained.

Methods

Observations of restraint use were completed for occupants 0–8 years of age at two health clinics. After initial observation, we approached the driver to confirm the child's age. Each child's restraint use was classified as either compliant or not compliant with state law, based on type of restraint used and based on the child's estimated and confirmed ages.

Results

Classification of age categories for child occupants (n=218) was correct in 86.3% of observations. For 48.6%, the confirmed and estimated age matched exactly, and for 98.1%, age matched within ±1 year. Overall, compliant restraint use based on estimated age was 39.4%, and based on confirmed age was 38.5%. In paired comparisons, restraint use based on estimated age versus confirmed age was concordant for more than 95% of children.

Conclusions

The level of accuracy for age estimates was sufficient for making estimates of compliant restraint use. Errors in estimated age resulted in a less than 1 percentage point difference in overall proper restraint use calculations. The results suggest that such observations can be a reliable measure of proper child occupant restraint use.
Endothelial barrier dysfunction in diabetic conduit arteries: a novel method to quantify filtration
Authors: Lu Xiao , Huxley Virginia H. , Kassab Ghassan S.
Published: December 2012

The endothelial barrier plays an important role in atherosclerosis, hyperglycemia, and hypercholesterolemia. In the present study, an accurate, reproducible, and user-friendly method was used to further understand endothelial barrier function of conduit arteries. An isovolumic method was used to measure the hydraulic conductivity ( Lp) of the intact vessel wall and medial-adventitial layer. Normal arterial segments with diameters from 0.2 to 5.5 mm were used to validate the method, and femoral arteries of diabetic rats were studied as an example of pathological specimens. Various arterial segments confirmed that the volume flux of water per unit surface area was linearly related to intraluminal pressure, as confirmed in microvessels. Lp of the intact wall varied from 3.5 to 22.1 × 10−7 cm·s−1·cmH2O−1 over the pressure range of 7–180 mmHg. Over the same pressure range, Lp of the endothelial barrier changed from 4.4 to 25.1 × 10−7 cm·s−1·cmH2O−1. During perfusion with albumin-free solution, Lp of rat femoral arteries increased from 6.1 to 13.2 × 10−7 cm·s−1·cmH2O−1 over the pressure range of 10–180 mmHg. Hyperglycemia increased Lp of the femoral artery in diabetic rats from 2.9 to 5.5 × 10−7 cm·s−1·cmH2O−1 over the pressure range of 20–135 mmHg. In conclusion, the Lp of a conduit artery can be accurately and reproducibly measured using a novel isovolumic method, which in diabetic rats is hyperpermeable. This is likely due to disruption of the endothelial glycocalyx.
Therapeutic effect of MG-132 on diabetic cardiomyopathy is associated with its suppression of proteasomal activities: roles of Nrf2 and NF-κB
Authors: Wang Yuehui , Sun Weixia , Du Bing , Miao Xiao , Bai Yang , Xin Ying , Tan Yi , Cui Wenpeng , Liu Bin , Cui Taixing , Epstein Paul N. , Fu Yaowen , Cai Lu
Published: December 2012

MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, can upregulate nuclear factor (NF) erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidative function and downregulate NF-κB-mediated inflammation. The present study investigated whether through the above two mechanisms MG-132 could provide a therapeutic effect on diabetic cardiomyopathy in the OVE26 type 1 diabetic mouse model. OVE26 mice develop hyperglycemia at 2–3 wk after birth and exhibit albuminuria and cardiac dysfunction at 3 mo of age. Therefore, 3-mo-old OVE26 diabetic and age-matched control mice were intraperitoneally treated with MG-132 at 10 μg/kg daily for 3 mo. Before and after MG-132 treatment, cardiac function was measured by echocardiography, and cardiac tissues were then subjected to pathological and biochemical examination. Diabetic mice showed significant cardiac dysfunction, including increased left ventricular systolic diameter and wall thickness and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction with an increase of the heart weight-to-tibia length ratio. Diabetic hearts exhibited structural derangement and remodeling (fibrosis and hypertrophy). In diabetic mice, there was also increased systemic and cardiac oxidative damage and inflammation. All of these pathogenic changes were reversed by MG-132 treatment. MG-132 treatment significantly increased the cardiac expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes with a significant increase of total antioxidant capacity and also significantly decreased the expression of IκB and the nuclear accumulation and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB in the heart. These results suggest that MG-132 has a therapeutic effect on diabetic cardiomyopathy in OVE26 diabetic mice, possibly through the upregulation of Nrf2-dependent antioxidative function and downregulation of NF-κB-mediated inflammation.
Norm for Sums of Two Basic Elementary Operators
Authors: Bachir A. , Lombarkia F. , Segres A.
Published: December 2012

We give necessary and sufficient conditions under which the norm of basic elementary operators attains its optimal value in terms of the numerical range.
Dexmedetomidine as a Procedural Sedative for Percutaneous Tracheotomy: Case Report and Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Perrott Jerrold L. , Co Michelle T. , Reynolds Steven C. , Gunning Derek J. R.
Published: December 2012

Purpose. To describe the successful use of dexmedetomidine as the primary procedural sedative for a percutaneous tracheotomy procedure and to systematically present the supporting literature.Materials and Methods. A Case report of our experience and systematic literature search. PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched without restriction using the key wordsdexmedetomidine,percutaneous tracheotomy, andtracheotomy procedure. All relevant published references were retrieved irrespective of their methodological quality.Results. In total, only 3 relevant references were found. These include one small placebo controlled randomized trial and 2 case reports. The randomized, placebo controlled trial enrolled patients already sedated on midazolam and included 64 total patients. The 2 other case reports both described the use of dexmedetomidine as the primary procedural sedative. All of the cases reported the successful completion of the percutaneous tracheotomy without any major complication, but none reported the subjective patient experience.Conclusion. Based on the available published literature and our experience, we suggest that dexmedetomidine be considered for use as the primary procedural sedative for percutaneous tracheotomy procedure. Dexmedetomidine’s ability to provide adequate sedation and amnesia, without blunting the respiratory drive and protective reflexes of the patient, may make it an optimal agent in specific cases.
Using Wavelets to Understand the Relationship between Mortgages and Gross Domestic Product in Spain
Authors: González-Concepción C. , Gil-Fariña M. C. , Pestano-Gabino C.
Published: December 2012

We use wavelet multiresolution decomposition and cross‐wavelet analysis to reveal certain properties in financial data related to mortgages to households and gross domestic product data in Spain. Wavelet techniques possess many desirable properties, some of which are useful as a vehicle for analysing economic and financial data. In our case, wavelets are useful for drawing conclusions both in the time and frequency domains and for obtaining information on the different phases through which the study variables progress.
COX-2 and PPAR-γ Confer Cannabidiol-Induced Apoptosis of Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Ramer Robert , Heinemann Katharina , Merkord Jutta , Rohde Helga , Salamon Achim , Linnebacher Michael , Hinz Burkhard
Published: December 2012

The antitumorigenic mechanism of cannabidiol is still controversial. This study investigates the role of COX-2 and PPAR-γ in cannabidiol's proapoptotic and tumor-regressive action. In lung cancer cell lines (A549, H460) and primary cells from a patient with lung cancer, cannabidiol elicited decreased viability associated with apoptosis. Apoptotic cell death by cannabidiol was suppressed by NS-398 (COX-2 inhibitor), GW9662 (PPAR-γ antagonist), and siRNA targeting COX-2 and PPAR-γ. Cannabidiol-induced apoptosis was paralleled by upregulation of COX-2 and PPAR-γ mRNA and protein expression with a maximum induction of COX-2 mRNA after 8 hours and continuous increases of PPAR-γ mRNA when compared with vehicle. In response to cannabidiol, tumor cell lines exhibited increased levels of COX-2–dependent prostaglandins (PG) among which PGD2 and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2) caused a translocation of PPAR-γ to the nucleus and induced a PPAR-γ–dependent apoptotic cell death. Moreover, in A549-xenografted nude mice, cannabidiol caused upregulation of COX-2 and PPAR-γ in tumor tissue and tumor regression that was reversible by GW9662. Together, our data show a novel proapoptotic mechanism of cannabidiol involving initial upregulation of COX-2 and PPAR-γ and a subsequent nuclear translocation of PPAR-γ by COX-2–dependent PGs. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(1); 69–82. ©2012 AACR.
Activating HER2 Mutations in HER2 Gene Amplification Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Bose Ron , Kavuri Shyam M. , Searleman Adam C. , Shen Wei , Shen Dong , Koboldt Daniel C. , Monsey John , Goel Nicholas , Aronson Adam B. , Li Shunqiang , Ma Cynthia X. , Ding Li , Mardis Elaine R. , Ellis Matthew J.
Published: December 2012

Data from 8 breast cancer genome-sequencing projects identified 25 patients with HER2 somatic mutations in cancers lacking HER2 gene amplification. To determine the phenotype of these mutations, we functionally characterized 13 HER2 mutations using in vitro kinase assays, protein structure analysis, cell culture, and xenograft experiments. Seven of these mutations are activating mutations, including G309A, D769H, D769Y, V777L, P780ins, V842I, and R896C. HER2 in-frame deletion 755–759, which is homologous to EGF receptor (EGFR) exon 19 in-frame deletions, had a neomorphic phenotype with increased phosphorylation of EGFR or HER3. L755S produced lapatinib resistance, but was not an activating mutation in our experimental systems. All of these mutations were sensitive to the irreversible kinase inhibitor, neratinib. These findings show that HER2 somatic mutation is an alternative mechanism to activate HER2 in breast cancer and they validate HER2 somatic mutations as drug targets for breast cancer treatment.

Significance: We show that the majority of HER2 somatic mutations in breast cancer patients are activating mutations that likely drive tumorigenesis. Several patients had mutations that are resistant to the reversible HER2 inhibitor lapatinib, but are sensitive to the irreversible HER2 inhibitor, neratinib. Our results suggest that patients with HER2 mutation–positive breast cancers could benefit from existing HER2-targeted drugs. Cancer Discov; 3(2); 224–37. ©2013 AACR.

See related commentary by Weigelt and Reis-Filho, p. 145

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 125
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Sirtuin 1 Protects Against DNA Damage and Inhibits Atherosclerosis
Authors: Gorenne Isabelle , Kumar Sheetal , Gray Kelly , Figg Nichola , Yu Haixiang , Mercer John , Bennett Martin
Published: December 2012

Background—

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in human atherosclerosis manifest extensive DNA damage and activation of the DNA damage response, a pathway that coordinates cell cycle arrest and DNA repair, or can trigger apoptosis or cell senescence. Sirtuin 1 deacetylase (SIRT1) regulates cell ageing and energy metabolism and regulates the DNA damage response through multiple targets. However, the direct role of SIRT1 in atherosclerosis and how SIRT1 in VSMCs might regulate atherosclerosis are unknown.

Methods and Results—

SIRT1 expression was reduced in human atherosclerotic plaques and VSMCs both derived from plaques and undergoing replicative senescence. SIRT1 inhibition reduced DNA repair and induced apoptosis, in part, through reduced activation of the repair protein Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome-1 but not p53. Fat feeding reduced SIRT1 and induced DNA damage in VSMCs. VSMCs from mice expressing inactive truncated SIRT1 (Δex4) showed increased oxidized low-density lipoprotein–induced DNA damage and senescence. ApoE
−/−
mice expressing SIRT1
Δex4
only in smooth muscle cells demonstrated increased DNA damage response activation and apoptosis, increased atherosclerosis, reduced relative fibrous cap thickness, and medial degeneration.

Conclusions—

SIRT1 is reduced in human atherosclerosis and is a critical regulator of the DNA damage response and survival in VSMCs. VSMC SIRT1 protects against DNA damage, medial degeneration, and atherosclerosis.
Precarious, Informalizing, and Flexible Work
Authors: Arnold Dennis , Bongiovi Joseph R.
Published: December 2012

There is a considerable body of academic and activist research that studies the prevalence of precariousness in contemporary societies. It goes by many names that are often interchangeable, including precarious work, precarity, informalization, and casualization. These are typically rooted in emerging theories of labor and work that temporally correspond to the globalization of production, distribution, and consumption in the neoliberal era. This article examines new ways of looking at the global economic system as a whole while focusing on the diverse experiences associated with precarious work. We address prominent social movements and scholarly responses to changes in work and life, including transforming politics and policy initiatives.
Assessing Access
Authors: Gottfried Michael A. , Johnson Erica L.
Published: December 2012

Identifying sources of variation has been used extensively in educational research as a tool to identify potential drives of variances in student achievement. However, prior research predominantly relied on findings from national- or international-level data, and thus their conclusions remain very broad-based. This study contributes new insight by assessing if and where there is variation in standardized testing performance for entire populations of cohorts of students in a single, large urban school district in the United States. Specifically, this study evaluates variance in Stanford Achievement Test Ninth Edition (SAT9) reading and math scores for all elementary school students in the School District of Philadelphia over four academic years and within three analytical levels of the educational experience—student, classroom, and school. To do so, this study employs three-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to determine how the overall variance in testing performance can be partitioned within classrooms, between classrooms, and between schools. The initial results indicate that the overwhelmingly largest contributor to total variance in achievement is within classrooms at the student level. However, incorporating a full span of covariates into a three-tiered model of student achievement explains the majority of the between classroom and between school variance, though only half of the within classroom variance. Implications are discussed.
Reflexivity, Ethics and the Teaching of the Sociology of Religion
Authors: Flanagan Kieran
Published: December 2012

This essay reflects on the ethical and reflexive considerations surrounding the use of student fieldwork reports on a course on the sociology of religion. Using reflexivity as a teaching strategy coincides with changes in sociological approaches to religion where experiential and substantive issues are stressed in its study. Reflexive and ethical issues that emerge on courses on sexuality and gender politics are compared to those which seem peculiar to the teaching of religion from a sociological perspective. Study of these fieldwork reports disclosed the way students faced their own ethical worries in a task generated to enhance their own reflexivity but also an understanding of religiosity.
Reincarnation, Modernity and Identity
Authors: Walter Tony
Published: December 2012

A significant minority of Westerners believe in reincarnation, even though they do not belong to religions that teach it. What is the relationship of their belief to personal identity? In areas of the world where reincarnation is accepted, one can identify three forms of pre-natal and/or post-mortem identity: the continuing self/soul, the dissolution of the self, and family identity. Comparable concepts within the contemporary West might be labelled modern, postmodern and kin-based. The article considers three forms of evidence from Britain: everyday conversation, the personal stories to be found in Reincarnation International magazine, and an interview study of thirty adults and twenty children. It is concluded that (1) the understanding of A as the reincarnation of close family member B, found in several American and African tribes and in popular Hinduism, may be unusual in Britain; (2) in so far as people play with past identities, this cannot easily be squared with postmodern theories of the self; (3) the past identities constructed bear strong resemblance to current identities, and may be considered part of the modernist project of the self.
Marketing Molly and Melville: Dating in a Postmodern, Consumer Society
Authors: Jagger Elizabeth
Published: December 2012

Based on a content analysis of a hundred heterosexual dating advertisements, the paper, in part, seeks to build upon the findings of previous research emerging mainly from the disciplines of sociobiology and psychology, which shows that when selling the self, men market their financial and occupational resources, whereas women offer physical attractiveness and appealing body shape, consistent with traditional `sex-role' stereotypes and mating selection strategies. The main focus of this paper, however, is on the repetitive and changing meanings of masculinity and femininity. Locating analyses in the context of a postmodern, consumer society, it shows that whilst consumer culture appears to provide men with a wide range of resources for the creation of identities, reflexive self-fashioning is more problematic for women. It argues that although what constitutes a `feminine' identity has now diversified as men and women deal with a novel set of social conditions, women's subjectivities remain more fixed and stable than those of men. It concludes, therefore, that access to cultural resources for identity construction are not equally available to men and women.
Heirlooms, Nikes and Bribes: Towards a Sociology of Things
Authors: Komter Aafke
Published: December 2012

How do things come to embody meaning? In much anthropological and sociological writings, things have mainly been considered in two ways: either as commodities or as gifts. Correspondingly, people's relationships to things and to other people seem to fall in two broad categories, often regarded as mutually exclusive: either as impersonal, economic or market relationships with strangers, or as personal gift relationships with intimates, friends or relatives. The `social life of things', however, is more varied. Drawing on Alan Page Fiske's theory of the four fundamental models of human relationship, four ways in which people may relate to each other and to things are distinguished; these models are applied to empirical data from a study on the giving of gifts in the Netherlands. Complications may occur when the parties to the transaction do not share the same frame of mind with respect to each other and to the things that are being transferred. Things may have conflicting social lives.
Oversocialised Epistemology: A Critical Appraisal of Constructivism
Authors: Schmidt Volker H.
Published: December 2012

The article looks at some strengths and weaknesses of attempts at socialising the concepts of knowledge and epistemology. Roughly speaking, such socialising is the result of considering these concepts from the sociological point of view. Four consequences of doing so are pointed out. This is followed by a discussion of a number of flaws identified in much of the constructivist literature on the issue. Constructivists have doubtless played an important role in demystifying the notions of knowledge and epistemology. Yet at times they have gone too far by drawing conclusions from their analyses which these analyses are incapable of supporting. At the end of the article, an alternative avoiding the difficulties posed by such conclusions is briefly sketched.
Theorising Social Constraint: The Concept of Supervenience
Authors: Le Boutillier Shaun
Published: December 2012

This paper evaluates Kieran Healy's recent contribution to the structure-agency debate. Supervenience, I argue, has multiple uses, it entails different ontological perspectives depending on which entities it is applied to and which conditions are placed upon subvening and supervening entities. Healy's use of supervenience is unclear. On the one hand, applied to individual-society relations it does nothing more than restate the trivial truth: no people - no society. On the other hand, if supervenience is to be applied to structure-agent relations the consequence is extreme voluntarism. In either case it simply fails to address Healy's key concern: conceptualising social constraint. I then argue that an alternative way of grasping structural constraint in the present might be to view past-tense `activity dependence' as `Cambridge events'.
Understanding the Determinants of Single-family Residential Redevelopment in the Inner-ring Suburbs of Chicago
Authors: Charles Suzanne Lanyi
Published: December 2012

This study identifies the determinants of single-family residential redevelopment considering both individual housing physical and locational characteristics and the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighbourhood and district within which the house is located. A non-nested multilevel logit analysis is performed on a parcel-level dataset of all single-family residential parcels located within 128 inner-ring suburbs of Chicago, between 2000 and 2010. Findings indicate that properties with smaller houses, lower floor-area to lot-size ratios, and lower ratios of their value to that of their neighbourhood, as well as properties located in high-quality school districts, are more likely to be redeveloped. The median property value of a neighbourhood does not have a large effect on whether a property is redeveloped, but neighbourhoods with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic residents were significantly less likely to experience redevelopment.
Topic segmentation model based on ATNLDA and co-occurrence theory and its application in stem cell field
Authors: Wu QingQiang , Zhang CaiDong , An XinYing
Published: December 2012

This paper describes the application of co-occurrence and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA)-based topic analyses in stem cell-related literature research. On account of the deficiency of parameter estimation in LDA, this study integrated co-occurrence theory and clustering judgement indicators and constructed an ATNLDA (Auto Topic Number LDA) model for topic segmentation. Next, ATNLDA was used to determine the optimal topic number of stem cell research literatures from 2006 to 2011 in PubMed, which was then used for topic segmentation of research content in stem cell data set. After stem cell research topics were obtained, they were analysed in terms of topic label, topic research content and interrelation between topics. The results verified that application of ATNLDA in topic segmentation in stem cell literature research is effective and feasible. Current deficiencies of ATNLDA and future study plan were also discussed.
Intellectual structure of Korean theology 2000–2008: Presbyterian theological journals
Authors: Yoo Yeong Jun , Lee Jae Yun , Choi Sanghee
Published: December 2012

A bibliometric analysis of author keywords in articles from nine Korean theological journals published from 2000 to 2008 found 10 clusters that represent the intellectual structure of Korean theology. Three main streams of Korean theology studies were identified: Reformed theology, general theology, and evangelicalism. The intellectual structures of the representative journal for each stream were examined in depth. To visualize these intellectual structures, we used co-word analysis and a Pathfinder network (PFnet) algorithm. The Pathfinder network was constructed by two approaches: first-order cosine coefficients and second-order correlation coefficients. Semantic review of the results suggests that second-order correlation coefficients more effectively present the intellectual structure of a domain by PFnet.