bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fifteen microsatellite loci for the jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris
Authors: PETERS MAUREEN B. , OVENDEN JENNIFER R. , BRODERICK DAMIEN , LANCE STACEY L. , HAGEN CRIS , GLENN TRAVIS C.
Published: July 2009

We developed and optimized 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris. Loci were screened in a single population (n = 24) from Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. Number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 19 and observed heterozygosity from 0.25 to 1. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between any pair of loci. Genotype proportions for these loci in the population sampled were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.
Gait Initiation With Electromyographically Triggered Electrical Stimulation in People With Partial Paralysis
Authors: Dutta Anirban , Kobetic Rudi , Triolo Ronald J.
Published: July 2009

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) facilitates ambulatory function after paralysis by activating the muscles of the lower extremities. Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) retain partial volitional control of muscles below the level of injury, necessitating careful integration of FES with intact voluntary motor function for efficient walking. The FES-assisted stepping can be triggered automatically at a fixed rate (autotrigger), by a manual switch (switch-trigger), or by an electromyogram-based gait-event-detector (EMG-trigger). It has been postulated that EMG may be a more natural command source than manual switches, and therefore will enable better coordination of stimulated and volitional motor functions necessary during gait. In this study, the above stated hypothesis was investigated in two volunteers with iSCI during the over-ground FES-assisted gait initiation. Four able-bodied volunteers provided the normative data for comparison. The EMG-triggered FES-assisted gait initiation was found to be more coordinated and dynamically more stable than autotriggered and switch-triggered cases. This highlighted the potential of surface EMG as a natural command interface to better coordinate stimulated and volitional muscle activities during gait.
A Hyperelastic Constitutive Law for Aortic Valve Tissue
Authors: May-Newman Karen , Lam Charles , Yin Frank C. P.
Published: July 2009

The objective of the present study was to perform biaxial testing and apply constitutive modeling to develop a strain energy function that accurately predicts the material behavior of the aortic valve leaflets. Ten leaflets from seven normal porcine aortic valves were biaxially stretched in a variety of protocols and the data combined to develop and fit a strain energy function to describe the material behavior. The results showed that the nonlinear anisotropic behavior of the aortic valve is well described by a strain energy function of two strain invariants, which uses only three coefficients to accurately predict the stress-strain behavior over a wide range of deformations. This structurally-motivated constitutive law has many applications, including computational modeling for clinical and engineering valve treatments.
Comment on “DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America”
Authors: Goldberg Paul , Berna Francesco , Macphail Richard I.
Published: July 2009

Gilbert
et al
. (Reports, 9 May 2008, p. 786) presented DNA analysis of coprolites recovered from an Oregon cave as evidence for a human presence in North America before the Clovis culture. Results of our micromorphological and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses of one of the reported coprolites are difficult to reconcile with the DNA results identifying the coprolite as human.
Traction on Immobilized Netrin-1 Is Sufficient to Reorient Axons
Authors: Moore Simon W. , Biais Nicolas , Sheetz Michael P.
Published: July 2009

Advancing spinal neuron growth cones generate traction forces that can direct the trajectory of the axon.
Nonvolcanic Tremor Evolution and the San Simeon and Parkfield, California, Earthquakes
Authors: Nadeau Robert M. , Guilhem Aurélie
Published: July 2009

Parkfield Tremors

Parkfield, California, sits on the San Andreas Fault near the end of a major historic rupture in 1857. Recent monitoring has resolved a change in the seismic tremor—small repeating earthquakes that have been occurring in certain parts of the fault.
Nadeau and Guilhem
(p.
191
) now show that the tremors increased and periodic episodes began around the time of two moderate nearby earthquakes 4 years ago. Surprisingly, the tremor episodes have persisted, rather than decaying after the quakes, which may imply that there has been a step change in the state of stress on this part of the San Andreas Fault.
Association between Contaminated Faucets and Colonization or Infection by Nonfermenting Gram-Negative Bacteria in Intensive Care Units in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Jiun-Ling , Chen Mei-Ling , Lin Yusen Eason , Chang Shan-Chwen , Chen Yee-Chun
Published: July 2009

This study was designed to determine the strength of the association between the isolation of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) from tap water faucet aerators and the prevalence of colonization or infection of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Surveillance cultures were obtained during a 4-month period from 162 faucet aerators located in seven different ICUs. The prevalence of colonization or infection of ICU patients with NFGNB was determined by prospective surveillance during the same period. Fifty four (33%) of the faucet aerators contained NFGNB. Among the 66 NFGNB isolated from faucet aerators, the most frequently encountered ones were
Sphingomonas paucimobili
(26 isolates),
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(14 isolates),
Chryseobacterium meningosepticum
(13 isolates),
Achromobacter xylosoxidans
(6 isolates),
Burkholderia cepacia
(4 isolates), and
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
(3 isolates).
Acinetobacter baumannii
was not recovered. The most common NFGNB isolated from ICU patients were
P
.
aeruginosa
and
A
.
baumannii
. There was a significant correlation between the overall prevalence of NFGNB in faucet aerators and their prevalence in exposed ICU patients (Spearman
r
= 0.821,
P
= 0.02). There was also a significant correlation between the prevalence of
C
.
meningosepticum
in faucet aerators and its prevalence among ICU patients (Spearman
r
= 0.847,
P
= 0.016). The electrokaryotypes of four clinical isolates of
C
.
meningosepticum
were similar to those of faucet isolates. Measures directed at making the water supply safe may prevent infection by
C
.
meningosepticum
and other waterborne pathogens.
Field Performance of a Rapid Diagnostic Test for Influenza in an Ambulatory Setting
Authors: Rouleau Isabelle , Charest Hugues , Douville-Fradet Monique , Skowronski Danuta M. , De Serres Gaston
Published: July 2009

Provided test characteristics are adequate, point-of-care rapid antigen detection tests for influenza could improve the timeliness and appropriateness of clinical decisions. Our objective was to estimate the field sensitivity and specificity of the Quidel QuickVue Influenza A+B test in an ambulatory setting. The sensitivity and specificity of the Quidel QuickVue test was evaluated against reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal specimens collected over two consecutive influenza seasons from ambulatory patients consulting for influenza-like illness (ILI) within 7 days of ILI onset. A total of 491 patients with ILI (180 in 2006 to 2007 and 311 in 2007 to 2008) provided specimens that were tested both by PCR and by the Quidel QuickVue test. Among the 267 patients positive by PCR (55%), 52 were also positive by the QuickVue test, for an overall sensitivity of 19.5% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 14.7% to 24.2%). Among the 221 PCR-negative patients, 2 were positive for influenza B virus by the rapid test (<1%), for an overall specificity of 99.1% (95% CI, 97.9 to 100%). The field sensitivity of the test varied little with the age or gender of the patient, immunization status, delay since the onset of symptoms, or influenza season. The sensitivity of the test was slightly but nonsignificantly higher for influenza B virus (23%) than for influenza A virus (18%). Despite its high specificity, the low sensitivity of the Quidel QuickVue Influenza A+B test is too poor to direct clinical decisions for ambulatory patients with ILI. Negative results cannot rule out the diagnosis of influenza, and in that context, this test is of questionable utility for routine application in the clinical setting.
Negative Immune Regulator Tim-3 Is Overexpressed on T Cells in Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Its Blockade Rescues Dysfunctional CD4
+
and CD8
+
T Cells
Authors: Golden-Mason Lucy , Palmer Brent E. , Kassam Nasim , Townshend-Bulson Lisa , Livingston Stephen , McMahon Brian J. , Castelblanco Nicole , Kuchroo Vijay , Gretch David R. , Rosen Hugo R.
Published: July 2009

A number of emerging molecules and pathways have been implicated in mediating the T-cell exhaustion characteristic of chronic viral infection. Not all dysfunctional T cells express PD-1, nor are they all rescued by blockade of the PD-1/PD-1 ligand pathway. In this study, we characterize the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) in chronic hepatitis C infection. For the first time, we found that Tim-3 expression is increased on CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The proportion of dually PD-1/Tim-3-expressing cells is greatest in liver-resident T cells, significantly more so in HCV-specific than in cytomegalovirus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Tim-3 expression correlates with a dysfunctional and senescent phenotype (CD127
low
CD57
high
), a central rather than effector memory profile (CD45RA
negative
CCR7
high
), and reduced Th1/Tc1 cytokine production. We also demonstrate the ability to enhance T-cell proliferation and gamma interferon production in response to HCV-specific antigens by blocking the Tim-3-Tim-3 ligand interaction. These findings have implications for the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches to this common viral infection.
Host Shutoff Is a Conserved Phenotype of Gammaherpesvirus Infection and Is Orchestrated Exclusively from the Cytoplasm
Authors: Covarrubias Sergio , Richner Justin M. , Clyde Karen , Lee Yeon J. , Glaunsinger Britt A.
Published: July 2009

Lytic infection with the two human gammaherpesviruses, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), leads to significant depletion of the cellular transcriptome. This host shutoff phenotype is driven by the conserved herpesviral alkaline exonuclease, termed SOX in KSHV and BGLF5 in EBV, which in gammaherpesviruses has evolved the genetically separable ability to target cellular mRNA. We now show that host shutoff is also a prominent consequence of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) infection, which is widely used as a model system to study pathogenesis of these viruses in vivo. The effector of MHV68-induced host shutoff is its SOX homolog, here termed muSOX. There is remarkable functional conservation of muSOX host shutoff activities with those of KSHV SOX, including the recently described ability of SOX to induce mRNA hyperadenylation in the nucleus as well as cause nuclear relocalization of the poly(A) binding protein. SOX and muSOX localize to both the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected cells. Using spatially restricted variants of these proteins, we go on to demonstrate that all known host shutoff-related activities of SOX and muSOX are orchestrated exclusively from the cytoplasm. These results have important mechanistic implications for how SOX and muSOX target nascent cellular transcripts in the nucleus. Furthermore, our findings establish MHV68 as a new, genetically tractable model to study host shutoff.
Role for the Paramyxovirus Genomic Promoter in Limiting Host Cell Antiviral Responses and Cell Killing
Authors: Manuse Mary J. , Parks Griffith D.
Published: July 2009

The parainfluenza virus simian virus 5 (SV5) is a poor inducer of innate immune responses. In contrast, the naturally occurring SV5 variant Wake Forest parainfluenza virus (WF-PIV) activates the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and beta interferon (IFN-β). Comparison of SV5 and WF-PIV genome sequences revealed nine nucleotide differences within the viral genomic promoter, including two substitutions (U5C and A14G) in the most highly conserved 3′-end promoter element. To test the consequences of these promoter variations, a recombinant SV5 mutant [Le-(U5C, A14G)] was engineered to harbor the two WF-PIV genomic promoter substitutions in an otherwise wild-type (WT) SV5 background. Human lung epithelial cells infected with the Le-(U5C, A14G) mutant had higher rates of viral protein synthesis and levels of mRNA than cells infected with WT SV5, but levels of genomic RNA were not changed. Unlike WT SV5, the Le-(U5C, A14G) mutant was a potent inducer of interleukin-6 and IFN-β synthesis, despite expressing a functional V protein antagonist. Cytokine responses to Le-(U5C, A14G) infection were reduced either by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) or after infection of cells that were engineered to express the reovirus sigma3 double-stranded RNA-binding protein. Le-(U5C, A14G) induced cytopathic effects not seen with WT SV5, and the extent of cell killing correlated with elevated levels of viral F protein and cell-cell fusion. Our results support a model whereby the SV5 promoter has evolved to function at an attenuated level in order to limit (i) synthesis of aberrant RNAs which induce RIG-I-mediated responses and (ii) overproduction of mRNA for potentially toxic gene products, such as the F protein. Control of genomic promoter activity may be particularly important for viruses such as SV5, that express a V protein targeting mda-5 but do not encode antagonists such as the paramyxovirus C proteins, that specifically target RIG-I.
Prescribing antibiotics for sore throat: adherence to guidelines in patients admitted to hospital
Authors: Clifton N J , Raghavan U , Birkin J , Jones N S
Published: July 2009

Aim

We prospectively studied patients referred to secondary care with acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar cellulitis and quinsy (peritonsillar abscess) to see if recommended treatment guidelines were being followed and whether antibiotic resistance was contributing to admission.

Study design

Prospective observational study in a university teaching hospital of 90 consecutive patients admitted to secondary care over an 18 month period with acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar cellulitis or quinsy were studied. The geographical distribution by postcode, pre-admission history and treatment of each patient was recorded. The patients’ general practitioners (GPs) were questioned about the patients’ history, their use of antibiotics and prescribing guidelines and a patient questionnaire was completed. The result of hospital admission including throat swabs and blood cultures were recorded together with their treatment and outcome.

Results

58% (n = 28) of patients who were prescribed antibiotics before admission received an inadequate dose or inappropriate antibiotic. Only 56% (n = 45) of GPs said they used guidelines for the treatment of acute sore throat. In 34 cases an organism was isolated, with 33 (97%) being sensitive to penicillin. No resistant organisms were isolated. Hospital doctors prescribed antibiotics contrary to guidelines in 39% (n = 35) of cases.

Conclusions

Antibiotic resistance was not demonstrated in this study. Adherence to guidelines for prescribing antibiotics in patients with features of group A β-haemolytic streptococcal sore throat is poor. Information support may help to improve prescribing.
A review of novel biological tools used in screening for the early detection of lung cancer
Authors: Ghosal R , Kloer P , Lewis K E
Published: July 2009

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and causes more deaths per year than any other cancer. It has a very poor 5-year survival rate of 8–16%, partly because of comorbidity preventing curative treatments but mainly because of the disease presenting with symptoms only when it is at an advanced and incurable stage. When lung cancer is detected earlier and is amenable to radical treatments such as potentially curative surgery and radical radiotherapy, 5-year survival rates are much higher (up to 67%). Therefore reliable detection of lung cancer at this earlier (usually asymptomatic) stage of disease should be an important way to improve outcomes. This review discusses the principles of screening with respect to lung cancer, concentrating mainly on the biological modalities used to detect it. The lack of impact achieved by early studies using sputum cytology (in conjunction with chest radiographs) is described, and then newer technology used to measure other biomarkers in sputum, serum, exhaled breath and bronchial mucosa to diagnose (early) lung cancer is detailed. Many techniques show promise, but debate continues about which population to screen and what is the most (cost) effective modality to use. Moreover, no single biomarker or combination of biomarkers in screening has yet been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality in large prospective randomised studies.
Late Tertiary to late Quaternary record in the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada: stratigraphy, paleosols, paleomagnetism, and chlorine - 36
Authors: Duk-Rodkin A. , Barendregt R. W. , Tarnocai C. , Phillips F. M.
Published: July 2009

A stratigraphic sequence of unconsolidated sediments ranging in age from Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene is recorded in the Canyon Ranges of the Mackenzie Mountains. Three of the sections (Katherine Creek, Little Bear River, and Inlin Brook) expose bedrock and Tertiary gravel overlain by colluvium and a multiple till sequence of montane origin, separated by paleosols and capped by a till of Laurentide origin. The sections are correlated on the basis of lithology, paleosol development, paleomagnetism, and chlorine dating of surface boulder erratics. A formal stratigraphic nomenclature is proposed for the deposits of this region. The sequence of glacial tills separated by paleosols reflects a long record of glacial–interglacial cycles. Soil properties from the oldest paleosol to modern soil show a general decrease in the degree of soil development, suggesting a progressive deterioration of interglacial climatic conditions. A normal–reverse–normal sequence of remanent magnetization was determined within the stratigraphic succession and assigned to the Gauss–Matuyama–Brunhes chrons, respectively. A Gauss age was assigned to the basal colluvium, an early Matuyama age (including Olduvai) to the first two tills, and a Brunhes age to the last three tills. Laurentide deposits are of Late Wisconsinan age and are restricted to the uppermost part of the stratigraphic succession. Chlorine dates for surface boulders place the all-time limit of the Laurentide Ice Sheet at about 30 ka. The Late Wisconsinan Laurentide Ice Sheet was the only continental ice to reach the Mackenzie and Richardson mountains of the northern Cordillera.
Response of coastal Douglas-fir and competing vegetation to repeated and delayed weed control treatments during early plantation development
Authors: Maguire Douglas A. , Mainwaring Douglas B. , Rose Robin , Garber Sean M. , Dinger Eric J.
Published: July 2009

A key silvicultural decision in managing young conifer plantations is determining the number and timing of release treatments to control competing vegetation. Three coastal Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations were treated under eight alternative herbicide regimes during the first 5 years after planting to test treatment effects on vegetation dynamics and seedling growth. After termination of herbicide treatments, competing vegetation developed at a rate similar to that of check plots, reaching 40%–60% cover in the first growing season and approaching 100% by the third. Recovery of competing vegetation was slightly more rapid with greater number of previous releases. Annual volume growth of seedlings was negatively correlated with current cover of competing vegetation, but competitive effects from previous years were fully accounted for by initial tree size. Under 4 years of release, delaying treatment by 1 year reduced volume attained at the end of 5 years by about 15%. Plots receiving 5 consecutive years of weed control reached the 5 year volume of check plots in only 3.9 years, implying an age shift of 1.1 years. Increasing the number of operational release treatments significantly improved seedling growth in the short term, but long-term growth effects must be monitored to determine the economically optimal regime.
Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities and soil chemistry in harvested and unharvested temperate Nothofagus rainforests
Authors: Dickie I.A. , Richardson S.J. , Wiser S.K.
Published: July 2009

The composition of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal communities in Nothofagus rainforests and the responses of the fungal communities to timber harvesting have been unknown. We investigated EcM communities in two sites, 9 to 11 years after timber harvesting, and tested whether changes in the communities were driven by soil chemistry. The fungal communities in both sites were highly diverse, yet 53 out of 140 distinct terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) patterns were shared between the sites. At both sites, timber harvesting reduced the presence of EcM roots and caused shifts in the fungal community in the organic soil horizons. At one site, Laccaria spp. increased in harvested areas, which partially correlated with an increase in soil mineralizable nitrogen. The other site showed a decreased abundance of Russula sp. (cf. R. purpureotincta , R. roseostipitata ) in harvested areas, which correlated with declines in soil carbon and organic horizon depth, and a decline in the abundance of rare species at the edge of harvested areas, which was related to inorganic phosphorus. The results show that EcM fungal communities in Nothofagus temperate rainforest are highly diverse at the local scale, yet have a high degree of similarity across sites. These communities are directly affected by timber harvesting and by shifts in soil chemistry following timber harvesting.
FOURIER–MUKAI PARTNERS OF A K3 SURFACE AND THE CUSPS OF ITS KAHLER MODULI
Authors: MA SHOUHEI
Published: July 2009

Using lattice theory, we establish a one-to-one correspondence between the set of Fourier–Mukai partners of a projective K3 surface and the set of 0-dimensional standard cusps of its Kahler moduli. We also study the relation between twisted Fourier–Mukai partners and general 0-dimensional cusps, and the relation between Fourier–Mukai partners with elliptic fibrations and certain 1-dimensional cusps.
CONSTRUCTION OF REVERSIBLE LATTICE MOLECULAR AUTOMATA
Authors: NOZAWA TAKAYUKI , KONDO TOSHIYUKI
Published: July 2009

Several cellular automata (CA) models have been developed to simulate self-organization of multiple levels of structures. However, they do not obey microscopic reversibility and conservation laws. In this paper, we describe the construction of a reversible lattice molecular automata (RLMA) model, which simulates molecular interaction and self-organization of higher-order structures. The model's strict reversibility entails physically relevant conservation laws, and thus opens a way to precise application and validation of the methods from statistical physics in studying the necessary conditions for such multiple levels of self-organization.
SZNAJD MODEL AND PROPORTIONAL ELECTIONS: THE ROLE OF THE TOPOLOGY OF THE NETWORK
Authors: VANNUCCHI FABIO STUCCHI , PRADO CARMEN P. C.
Published: July 2009

The Sznajd model (SM) has been employed with success in the last years to describe opinion propagation in a community. In particular, it has been claimed that its transient is able to reproduce some scale properties observed in data of proportional elections, in different countries, if the community structure (the network) is scale-free. In this work, we investigate the properties of the transient of a particular version of the SM, introduced by Bernardes and co-authors in 2002. We studied the behavior of the model in networks of different topologies through the time evolution of an order parameter known as interface density, and concluded that regular lattices with high dimensionality also leads to a power-law distribution of the number of candidates with v votes. Also, we show that the particular absorbing state achieved in the stationary state (or else, the winner candidate), is related to a particular feature of the model, that may not be realistic in all situations.
CONFORMAL FIELD THEORY ON R × S3 FROM QUANTIZED GRAVITY
Authors: HAMADA KEN-JI
Published: July 2009

Conformal algebra on R × S3 derived from quantized gravitational fields is examined. The model we study is a renormalizable quantum theory of gravity in four dimensions described by a combined system of the Weyl action for the traceless tensor mode and the induced Wess–Zumino action managing nonperturbative dynamics of the conformal factor in the metric field. It is shown that the residual diffeomorphism invariance in the radiation+ gauge is equal to the conformal symmetry, and the conformal transformation preserving the gauge-fixing condition that forms a closed algebra quantum mechanically is given by a combination of naive conformal transformation and a certain field-dependent gauge transformation. The unitarity issue of gravity is discussed in the context of conformal field theory. We construct physical states by solving the conformal invariance condition and calculate their scaling dimensions. It is shown that the conformal symmetry mixes the positive-metric and the negative-metric modes and thus the negative-metric mode does not appear independently as a gauge invariant state at all.
Chapter 5 Hadronic Fragmentation
Authors: Hu Hai-Ming
Published: July 2009

The following sections are included:

String Fragmentation in the Lund Model

The Lund Area Law

Solutions of the Lund Area Law

Preliminary Multiplicity

Parameter Tuning
Chapter 13 Theoretical Frameworks of Charmonium Physics
Authors: Chen Yu-Qi , Brambilla Nora , Jia Yu , Vairo Antonio
Published: July 2009

The following sections are included:

Non-Relativistic QCD Effective Theory

pNRQCD and Its Applications
Thin-Film Organic Electronic Devices
Authors: Katz Howard E. , Huang Jia
Published: July 2009

We review recently published advancements in thin-film organic devices, ranging from the composition and properties of organic materials to be used in devices, to the applications of devices, with special emphasis on thin-film transistors, diodes, and chemical sensors. We present exemplary materials used in each kind of device, outline the physical mechanisms behind the functioning of the devices, and discuss the most advanced capabilities of the devices and device assemblies. Advantages to the selection of organic and polymeric materials, future prospects, and challenges for organic-based electronics are also considered.
Regular exercise attenuates the metabolic drive to regain weight after long-term weight loss
Authors: MacLean Paul S. , Higgins Janine A. , Wyatt Holly R. , Melanson Edward L. , Johnson Ginger C. , Jackman Matthew R. , Giles Erin D. , Brown Ian E. , Hill James O.
Published: July 2009

Weight loss is accompanied by several metabolic adaptations that work together to promote rapid, efficient regain. We employed a rodent model of regain to examine the effects of a regular bout of treadmill exercise on these adaptations. Obesity was induced in obesity-prone rats with 16 wk of high-fat feeding and limited physical activity. Obese rats were then weight reduced (∼14% of body wt) with a calorie-restricted, low-fat diet and maintained at that reduced weight for 8 wk by providing limited provisions of the diet with (EX) or without (SED) a daily bout of treadmill exercise (15 m/min, 30 min/day, 6 days/wk). Weight regain, energy balance, fuel utilization, adipocyte cellularity, and humoral signals of adiposity were monitored during eight subsequent weeks of ad libitum feeding while the rats maintained their respective regimens of physical activity. Regular exercise decreased the rate of regain early in relapse and lowered the defended body weight. During weight maintenance, regular exercise reduced the biological drive to eat so that it came closer to matching the suppressed level of energy expenditure. The diurnal extremes in fuel preference observed in weight-reduced rats were blunted, since exercise promoted the oxidation of fat during periods of feeding (dark cycle) and promoted the oxidation of carbohydrate (CHO) later in the day during periods of deprivation (light cycle) . At the end of relapse, exercise reestablished the homeostatic steady state between intake and expenditure to defend a lower body weight. Compared with SED rats, relapsed EX rats exhibited a reduced turnover of energy, a lower 24-h oxidation of CHO, fewer adipocytes in abdominal fat pads, and peripheral signals that overestimated their adiposity. These observations indicate that regimented exercise altered several metabolic adaptations to weight reduction in a manner that would coordinately attenuate the propensity to regain lost weight.
GEC-targeted HO-1 expression reduces proteinuria in glomerular immune injury
Authors: Duann Pu , Lianos Elias A.
Published: July 2009

Induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a key defense mechanism against oxidative stress. Compared with tubules, glomeruli are refractory to HO-1 upregulation in response to injury. This can be a disadvantage as it may be associated with insufficient production of cytoprotective heme-degradation metabolites. We, therefore, explored whether 1) targeted HO-1 expression can be achieved in glomeruli without altering their physiological integrity and 2) this expression reduces proteinuria in immune injury induced by an anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody (Ab). We employed a 4.125-kb fragment of a mouse nephrin promoter downstream to which a FLAG-tagged hHO-1 cDNA sequence was inserted and subsequently generated transgenic mice from the FVB/N parental strain. There was a 16-fold higher transgene expression in the kidney than nonspecific background (liver) while the transprotein immunolocalized in glomerular epithelial cells (GEC). There was no change in urinary protein excretion, indicating that GEC-targeted HO-1 expression had no effect on glomerular protein permeability. Urinary protein excretion in transgenic mice with anti-GBM Ab injury ( days 3 and 6) was significantly lower compared with wild-type controls. There was no significant change in renal expression levels of profibrotic (TGF-β1) or anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in transgenic mice with anti-GBM Ab injury. These observations indicate that GEC-targeted HO-1 expression does not alter glomerular physiological integrity and reduces proteinuria in glomerular immune injury.
Characterization of the kinase activity of a WNK4 protein complex
Authors: Ahlstrom Robert , Yu Alan S. L.
Published: July 2009

Mutations in WNK4 protein kinase cause pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII), a genetic disorder that is characterized by renal NaCl and K+ retention leading to hypertension and hyperkalemia. Consistent with this, WNK4 is known to regulate several renal tubule transporters, including the NaCl cotransporter, NCC, and the K+ channel, ROMK, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood, and the role of the kinase activity in its actions is highly controversial. To assay WNK4 kinase activity, we have now succeeded in expressing and purifying full-length, enzymatically active WNK4 protein from HEK293 cells. We show that full-length wild-type WNK4 phosphorylates oxidative stress response kinase 1 (OSR1) and Ste20/SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) in vitro. Introducing the PHAII-associated mutations, E559K, D561A, and Q562E, into our protein had no significant effect on this phosphorylation. We conclude that PHAII is unlikely to be caused by abnormal WNK4 kinase activity. We also made the intriguing observation that inactivating mutations of the WNK4 kinase domain did not completely abolish in vitro phosphorylation of OSR1/SPAK. Led by this, we identified a novel 40-kDa kinase that associates specifically with the COOH-terminal half of WNK4 and is able to phosphorylate both WNK4 and SPAK/OSR1. We suggest that this 40-kDa kinase functions in the WNK4 signal transduction pathway and may mediate some of the physiological actions attributed to WNK4.
Nonlinear Signal Summation in Magnocellular Neurons of the Macaque Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Authors: Dhruv Neel T. , Tailby Chris , Sokol Sach H. , Majaj Najib J. , Lennie Peter
Published: July 2009

Magnocellular (M-), but not parvocellular (P-), neurons of the macaque lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) differ distinctively in their responses to counterphase-modulated and drifting gratings. Relative to stimulation with drifting gratings, counterphase modulation reduces the responses of M- cells in a band around 25 Hz, producing a “notch” in the temporal modulation transfer function (tMTF). The notch is prominent in nearly every M- cell with little variation in the temporal frequency at which it is deepest. The machinery responsible for the notch lies mostly outside the classical linear center. Directly driving the notching mechanism with annular gratings evokes no linear response but elicits a second harmonic (F2) modulation of the discharge accompanied by a drop in the mean discharge (F0). Analysis of the S- potential, which reveals inputs from ganglion cells, shows that 1) tMTFs of the afferent retinal ganglion cells are not notched and 2) during stimulation with annular gratings, the second harmonic component is present, but the drop in the F0 is largely absent from the responses of parasol ganglion cells. These results suggest that the notch is caused by the combined action of the linear response and the second harmonic response, both inherited from retina, and a suppression that originates after the retina. Our results reveal a distinctive signal transformation in the LGN and they show that nearly every M- cell exhibits a spatial nonlinearity like that observed in Y cells of the cat.
A Literature Review on Circle and Sphere Packing Problems: Models and Methodologies
Authors: Hifi Mhand , M'Hallah Rym
Published: July 2009

This paper reviews the most relevant literature on efficient models and methods for packing circular objects/items into Euclidean plane regions where the objects/items and regions are either two- or three-dimensional. These packing problems are NP hard optimization problems with a wide variety of applications. They have been tackled using various approaches-based algorithms ranging from computer-aided optimality proofs, to branch-and-bound procedures, to constructive approaches, to multi-start nonconvex minimization, to billiard simulation, to multiphase heuristics, and metaheuristics.
Sequestration of Alkyltin(IV) Compounds in Aqueous Solution: Formation, Stability, and Empirical Relationships for the Binding of Dimethyltin(IV) Cation by N‐ and O‐Donor Ligands
Authors: Casale Agatino , De Stefano Concetta , Manfredi Giuseppe , Milea Demetrio , Sammartano Silvio
Published: July 2009

The sequestering ability of polyamines and aminoacids of biological and environmental relevance (namely, ethylenediamine, putrescine, spermine, a polyallylamine, a branched polyethyleneimine, aspartate, glycinate, lysinate) toward dimethyltin(IV) cation was evaluated. The stability of various dimethyltin(IV) / ligand species was determined in NaClaq at t = 25∘C and at different ionic strengths (0.1 ≤ I/mol L−1 ≤ 1.0), and the dependence of stability constants on this parameter was modeled by an Extended Debye‐Hückel equation and by Specific ion Interaction Theory (SIT) approach. At I = 0.1 mol L−1, for the ML species we have log K = 10.8, 14.2, 12.0, 14.7, 11.9, 7.7, 13.7, and 8.0 for ethylenediamine, putrescine, polyallylamine, spermine, polyethyleneimine, glycinate, lysinate, and aspartate, respectively. The sequestering ability toward dimethyltin(IV) cation was defined by calculating the parameter pL50 (the total ligand concentration, as−log CL, able to bind 50% of metal cation), able to give an objective representation of this ability. Equations were formulated to model the dependence of pL50 on different variables, such as ionic strength and pH, and other empirical predictive relationships were also found.
Contribution of a Real Depth Distance Stereoacuity Test to Clinical Management
Authors: Young B. J. , Sueke H. , Wylie J. M. , Kaye S. B.
Published: July 2009

Measurement of Stereopsis forms an important part of the clinical assessment of patients with disorders of ocular motility. The introduction of a real depth distance stereoacuity test (FD2) was evaluated in clinical practice and to what extent the introduction affected clinical management. Seventy-three patients under evaluation before and following the introduction of the test were included. Combined thresholds were measured at near using the Frisby and TNO test and at distance using the FD2. Fifty healthy controls were included. Forty-five patients demonstrated Stereopsis using the FD2 and 23 of these had a change in their management based in part on their responses using the FD2. Patients with evidence of Stereopsis using the FD2 were significantly more likely to have change in their management than expected from the whole sample (). The introduction of a real depth distance stereoacuity test into clinical practice contributed to a change in management when used in conjunction with other tests. The usefulness of the FD2 is limited by its range at 6 m. Use at closer distances necessitates the calculation of binocular threshold from the combined and monocular threshold.
Bone Health in a Nonjaundiced Population of Children with Biliary Atresia
Authors: Kramer Rachel A. , Zemel Babette S. , Arvay-Nezu Jessica L. , Stallings Virginia A. , Leonard Mary B. , Haber Barbara A.
Published: July 2009

Objectives. To assess bone health in a cohort of nonjaundiced children with biliary atresia (BA) and the effect of growth and development on bone outcomes.Methods. Children ages one to eighteen years receiving care from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were recruited. Each child was seen once and assessed for growth, pubertal development, concurrent medications, bilirubin, ALT, albumin, vitamin D status, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) of the lumbar spine and whole body.Results. BMD declined significantly with age, and upon further analysis with a well-phenotyped control cohort, it was found that BMC was significantly decreased for both lumbar spine and whole body, even after adjustment for confounding variables. An age interaction was identified, with older subjects having a significantly greater impairment in BMC.Conclusions. These preliminary results demonstrate that children with BA, including those without jaundice, are likely to have compromised bone health even when accounting for height and puberty, which are common confounding factors in chronic disease. Further investigation is needed to identify the determinants of poor bone mineral status and to develop strategies to prevent osteoporosis later in life.
Case Hepatic Endometriosis: A Continuing Diagnostic Dilemma
Authors: Goldsmith P. J. , Ahmad N. , Dasgupta D. , Campbell J. , Guthrie J. A. , Lodge J. P. A.
Published: July 2009

Background. Intraparenchymal endometriosis of liver is rare. It may present as liver tumour and the diagnosis is not usually established till after surgery.Case Outline. A 48-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with right upper quadrant pain and a cystic liver mass. Liver function tests and tumour markers (αFP, CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 125) were normal. Radiological imaging (USS, CT and MRI) suggested a thick walled cystic mass involving segments IV and VIII with complex intracystic septations. Frozen section at operation suggested a benign cystadenoma. The cyst was enucleated using a CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator). The final histology confirmed endometriosis.Discussion. Eleven cases of hepatic endometrioma have been reported and only four in postmenopausal women. Preoperative diagnosis poses a challenge and so far none of the cases have been diagnosed preoperatively. Surgery remains the treatment of choice. Accurate diagnosis at time of operation may avoid extensive liver surgery and its associated morbidity.
Short Bowel Patients Treated for Two Years with Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 (GLP-2): Compliance, Safety, and Effects on Quality of Life
Authors: Jeppesen P. B. , Lund P. , Gottschalck I. B. , Nielsen H. B. , Holst J. J. , Mortensen J. , Poulsen S. S. , Quistorff B. , Mortensen P. B.
Published: July 2009

Background and aims. Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) has been shown to improve intestinal absorption in short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients in a short-term study. This study describes safety, compliance, and changes in quality of life in 11 SBS patients at baseline, week 13, 26, and 52 during two years of subcutaneous GLP-2 treatment, 400 microgram TID, intermitted by an 8-week washout period.Methods. Safety and compliance was evaluated during the admissions. The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Short Form 36 (SF 36), and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) evaluated quality of life.Results. The predominant adverse event was transient abdominal discomfort in 5 of 11 patients, but in 2, both suffering from Crohns disease, it progressed to abdominal pain and led to discontinuation of GLP-2 treatment. One had a fibrostenotic lesion electively resected at the jejuno-ascendo-anastomosis. The investigator excluded a patient due to unreliable feedback. Stoma nipple enlargement was seen in all 9 jejunostomy patients. Reported GLP-2 compliance was excellent (>93%). GLP-2 improved the overall quality of life VAS-score ( cm versus  cm, ), the overall SIP score (% versus %, ), the mental component of the SF-36 (% versus %, ), and the overall IBDQ score ( versus , ) in the 8 patients completing the study.Conclusions. Long-term treatment with GLP-2 is feasible in SBS patients, although caution must be exercised in patients with a history of abdominal pain. Although conclusions cannot be made in a noncontrolled trial, the high reported compliance might reflect a high treatment satisfaction, where the clinical benefits of GLP-2 may outweigh the discomforts of injections.
A Variation in the Cerebroside Sulfotransferase Gene Is Linked to Exercise-Modified Insulin Resistance and to Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Roeske-Nielsen A. , Buschard K. , Månson J. E. , Rastam L. , Lindblad U.
Published: July 2009

Aims. The glycosphingolipidβ-galactosylceramide-3-O-sulfate (sulfatide) is present in the secretory granules of the insulin producingβ-cells and may act as a molecular chaperone of insulin. The final step in sulfatide synthesis is performed by cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) (EC 2.8.2.11). The aim of this study was to investigate whether two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), rs2267161 located in an exon or rs42929 located in an intron, in the gene encoding CST are linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D).Methods. As a population survey, 265 male and female patients suffering from T2D and 291 gender matched controls were examined.Results. A higher proportion of T2D patients were heterozygous at SNP rs2267161 with both T (methionine) and C (valine) alleles present (49.8% versus 41.3%,P=.04). The calculated odd risk for T2D was 1.47 (1.01–2.15,P=.047). Among female controls, the homozygous CC individuals displayed lower insulin resistance measured by HOMA-IR (P=.05) than the C/T or TT persons; this was particularly prevalent in individuals who exercise (P=.03).Conclusion. Heterozygosity at SNP rs2267161 in the gene encoding the CST enzyme confers increased risk of T2D. Females with the CC allele showed lower insulin resistance.
Analysis of a Coaxial Waveguide with Finite‐Length Impedance Loadings in the Inner and Outer Conductors
Authors: Hacıvelioğlu Feray , Büyükaksoy Alinur
Published: July 2009

A rigorous Wiener‐Hopf approach is used to investigate the band stop filter
characteristics of a coaxial waveguide with finite‐length impedance loading. The representation of the solution to the boundary‐value
problem in terms of Fourier integrals leads to two simultaneous modified
Wiener‐Hopf equations whose formal solution is obtained by using the
factorization and decomposition procedures. The solution involves 16
infinite sets of unknown coefficients satisfying 16 infinite systems of
linear algebraic equations. These systems are solved numerically and some
graphical results showing the influence of the spacing between the coaxial
cylinders, the surface impedances, and the length of the impedance loadings
on the reflection coefficient are presented.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 is a Prognostic Marker in ANCA-Associated Small Vessel Vasculitis
Authors: Ohlsson Sophie , Bakoush Omran , Tencer Jan , Torffvit Ole , Segelmark Mårten
Published: July 2009

Background. The (anti neutrophil cytoplasmatic autoantibody ANCA), associated small vessel vasculitides (ASVV) are relapsing-remitting inflammatory disorders, involving various organs, such as the kidneys. (Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 MCP-1) has been shown to be locally up regulated in glomerulonephritis and recent studies have pointed out MCP-1 as a promising marker of renal inflammation. Here we measure urinary cytokine levels in different phases of disease, exploring the possible prognostic value of MCP-1, together with (interleukin 6 IL-6), (interleukin 8 IL-8) and (immunoglobulin M IgM).Methods. MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured using commercially available ELISA kits, whereas IgM in the urine was measured by an in-house ELISA.Results. The MCP-1 levels in urine were significantly higher in patients in stable phase of the disease, compared with healthy controls. Patients in stable phase, with subsequent adverse events; had significantly higher MCP-1 values than patients who did not. MCP-1 and IgM both tended to be higher in patients relapsing within three months, an observation, however, not reaching statistical significance. Urinary levels of IL-6 correlated with relapse tendency, and IL-8 was associated with disease outcome.Conclusions. Patients with ASVV have raised cytokine levels in the urine compared to healthy controls, even during remission. Raised MCP-1 levels are associated with poor prognosis and possibly also with relapse tendency. The association with poor prognosis was stronger for U-MCP-1 than for conventional markers of disease like CRP, BVAS, and ANCA, as well as compared to candidate markers like U-IgM and U-IL-8. We thus consider U-MCP-1 to have promising potential as a prognostic marker in ASVV.
A Note on the Range of the Operator X ↦ TX−XT Defined on 𝒞2(ℋ)
Authors: Lauric Vasile
Published: July 2009

We show how a proof of J. Stampfli can be extended to prove that the operator X ↦ TX−XT defined on the Hilbert‐Schmidt class, when T is an M‐hyponormal, p‐hyponormal, or log‐hyponormal operator, has a closed range if and only if σ(T) is finite.
Growth Rate Potential of Juvenile Sockeye Salmon in Warmer and Cooler Years on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf
Authors: Farley Edward V. , Trudel Marc
Published: July 2009

A spatially explicit bioenergetics model was used to predict juvenile sockeye salmonOncorhynchus nerkagrowth rate potential (GRP) on the eastern Bering Sea shelf during years with cooler and warmer spring sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Annual averages of juvenile sockeye salmon GRP were generally lower among years with cooler SSTs and generally higher in offshore than nearshore regions of the eastern Bering Sea shelf during years with warmer SSTs. Juvenile sockeye salmon distribution was significantly (P<.05) related to GRP and their prey densities were positively related to spring SST (P<.05). Juvenile sockeye salmon GRP was more sensitive to changes in prey density and observed SSTs during years when spring SSTs were warmer (2002, 2003, and 2005). Our results suggest that the pelagic productivity on the eastern Bering Sea shelf was higher during years with warmer spring SSTs and highlight the importance of bottom-up control on the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem.