bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automating the Surface Force Tank and Void Assessment Process
Authors: PRIOLETTI MARK J. , MICHAEL TOBIN E.
Published: October 2008

Wireless technology is the networking backbone in homes and offices worldwide. This same technology now offers a maintenance solution for Surface Force Atlantic tank and void material condition assessments. Wireless technology puts the power of a desktop computer into the hands of tank and void assessors as they enter these cavernous shipboard compartments. With a few taps on a personal digital assistant (PDA) touch‐screen, assessors can record equipment configuration errors, annotate any one of over 100 possible tank condition abnormalities, or generate a repair work order with pre‐written problem description and recommended solution statements. At the end of a typical workday, these PDAs are wirelessly connected to a mid‐Atlantic regional maintenance center (MARMC) commercial off the shelf (COTS) server, where data export files are formatted for ship and shore 3M input. As Navy commands look to reduce operational and maintenance budgets, this automated and wireless business solution offers a means of maintaining the original tank and void maintenance goal of inspecting and trending degradation at a fraction of the previous required time and effort. Additionally, this process allows for the processing of assessment results to the SNAPSHOT database, the master tank, and void historical data repository. This automated process was successfully tested and implemented on 27 Norfolk‐based ships in 2006. With significant cost and time savings realized, the next logical step was to develop a distant support capability for remote locations. The goal here was to incorporate these same standards and processes into southeast regional maintenance center (SERMC) ships while maintaining the MARMC‐located COTS server as the main hub for work scheduling and PDA loading. To accomplish these goals, a process was developed using standard web technology for transferring PDA work assignment files (tanks and voids scheduled for assessment) from the main COTS server located at MARMC to the remote SERMC tank assessor equipped with a PDA. Once the assigned tank and void condition assessments are accomplished, files are then returned to MARMC using the same web technology. MARMC handles these remote files the same way as they do local files for data export to ship and shore 3M systems. This distant support capability was successfully tested and implemented on three Mayport‐based ships in December 2006. This paper will detail the significant steps taken to automate a maintenance process that used a hand‐scribed paper process and standard US Navy maintenance reporting infrastructures. The lessons learned during the upgrade process, maintenance advantages that maximize efficiency, cost effectiveness, and surface force ship reliability will be also be discussed.
MINI IMPLANTS: GOOD OR BAD FOR LONG‐TERM SERVICE?
Authors: Christensen Gordon J. , Swift Edward J.
Published: October 2008

This critical appraisal deviates from our standard format to address a topic of great clinical interest but with relatively few published research studies.
Novel cryoprecipitate for wound healing and skin grafts in rats
Authors: Scholz Thomas , Waltzman Joshua , Wirth Garrett A , Dyson Senait W , Owens William J , Shanbrom Edward , Evans Gregory RD
Published: October 2008

The authors sought to evaluate the ability of locally administered enhanced cryoprecipitate (eCryo) to improve the wound healing of split thickness skin grafts (STSG) and their donor sites. An STSG (5 × 5 cm) was harvested on the back of 30 rats and divided into four areas that were then treated in one of the following groups: A: ‘standard’ dressing without STSG; B: eCryo without STSG; C: eCryo with STSG coverage and D: STSG alone. Macroscopic and histological assessments (histomorphometric grading scale and cellular composition) were evaluated at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 for wound healing. All wound beds as well as STSGs healed well without any complications. Eighty per cent of the STSG showed a histological graft take of >75% after 28 days. There were no statistically significant differences of macroscopic or histological results between the groups at any time point. Preparation of eCryo is easy and effective. Its use as an adhesive for STSGs is safe and shows similar results as controls. The theoretical benefits of eCryo did not show significant differences. Possible reasons as well as important findings for future research on wound healing are discussed.
Effects of Fibrinogen and α2‐Macroglobulin and Their Apheretic Elimination on General Blood Rheology and Rheological Characteristics of Red Blood Cell Aggregates
Authors: Kirschkamp Thomas , Schmid‐Schönbein Holger , Weinberger Andreas , Smeets Ralf
Published: October 2008

Methods of therapeutic apheresis, such as plasma exchange or rheopheresis eliminate moderately aggregating macromolecules like fibrinogen, as well as strongly aggregating substances like α2‐macroglobulin from blood. In order to examine the specific effect of eliminating α2‐macroglobulin as a highly aggregating macromolecule, this study aimed to analyze the different rheological properties of: (i) moderately aggregating red blood cells (RBCs; inducible by fibrinogen); and (ii) strongly aggregating RBCs (inducible by α2‐macroglobulin). In vitro, RBC aggregate geometry was determined in the presence of strong and moderate aggregation inducing macromolecules. In vivo, flow behavior of RBC aggregates was analyzed by intravital microscopy. Using network scanning, the number of perfused and non‐perfused microvessels was determined. In vitro, the higher adhesive forces of strongly aggregating RBCs led to both a higher packing density of single RBCs within aggregates, expressed as a significantly reduced thickness of individual RBCs, and greater deformation, expressed as a significantly diminished offset between RBCs and an increased curvature of RBCs at the ends of the aggregates. In vivo rheoscopy showed that only high aggregating RBCs persisted in the precapillary bed and led to the absence of RBCs in up to 40% of nutritive capillaries. These novel findings are of importance regarding recent developments in clinical hemorheology, specifically the clinical use of hemapheretic therapies for diseases in which impaired microcirculation plays a role in either their development or progression, such as age‐related macular degeneration and complications of diabetes mellitus. Our data support that procedures reducing the concentration of α2‐macroglobulin in blood by extracorporeal elimination might provide a more efficient improvement of overall blood fluidity in microcirculatory beds.
Relationship Between the Weight of Parathyroid Glands and Their Secretion of Parathyroid Hormone in Hemodialysis Patients With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Kakuta Takatoshi , Tanaka Reika , Kanai Genta , Miyamoto Yoshiyasu , Inagaki Miho , Suzuki Hajime , Fukagawa Masafumi , Saito Akira
Published: October 2008

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the common and important abnormalities of mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patients. In this study we investigated the relationship between the weight of individual parathyroid glands (PTG) and their secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Sixty‐four PTGs in 16 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy (PTx) at our hospital were included in this study. Patients' ages ranged from 34 to 68 years (60.3 ± 6.6 years). They were undergoing maintenance dialysis therapy for 81–256 months (175.3 ± 56.0 months). The cause of end‐stage renal failure was chronic glomerulonephritis in all patients. We measured whole PTH (wPTH) levels before PTx and 15 min after the resection of each individual gland (Δ whole PTH). A positive correlation was found between the weight of individual gland and ultrasonography (US) size of individual PTG (r = 0.91, P < 0.001, N = 53). A positive correlation was found between the total mass of the gland and the total volume of PTG on US (r = 0.896, P < 0.001, N = 16). A positive correlation was found between the mass of each individual gland and Δ whole PTH (r = 0.625, P < 0.001, N = 64); however, massive PTGs did not secrete more whole PTH per unit mass (0.01 g). Determination of the volume of PTGs by US is a good indicator of their weight. Larger PTGs secrete more whole PTH per gland, whereas these PTGs did not have the ability to secrete more PTH per unit volume.
A Case Report of Plasma Exchange, Steroids, Mycophenolate Mofetil and Cyclophosphamide in Acquired Factor VIII Inhibitors
Authors: Rech Jürgen , Hueber Axel J , Leipe Jan , Manger Bernhard , Schett Georg , Kallert Stefan
Published: October 2008

Induction of factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors sometimes occurs in patients with hemophilia due to frequent supplementation of FVIII. The inhibitor is rarely detected in non‐hemophilic patients; however, an association has been described in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g. SLE and rheumatoid arthritis), malignant tumors and drug allergies, and also to pregnant or aged individuals without underlying disease. We report on an 82‐year‐old patient who was transferred to our hospital after the diagnosis of acquired FVIII inhibitor. On admission the laboratory results showed no detectable FVIII activity (0%, normal range 70–100%), prolongation of coagulation time (APTT 102.4 s), and severe anemia 7.8 g/dL (normal range 12–16 g/dL). On physical examination multiple subcutaneous hematomas were detected and further bleeding in his left pectoralis muscle was observed. Despite extensive investigation no underlying disease was detected. Thirty‐six courses of plasma exchange with 360 units of fresh frozen plasma replacement daily were conducted. High dose steroids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were given throughout the course, and cyclophosphamide was administered once. Thirty‐four units of erythrocytes were applied during this time. After 36 courses of plasma exchange in combination with high dose steroids, FVIII activity and coagulation time normalized and bleeding could be stopped. The patient was discharged in good health 48 days after admission. Hence, we present a case of severe idiopathic FVIII inhibitor‐positive hemophilia successfully treated with the combination of plasma exchange, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and MMF.
Localization and Extent of Peritoneal Calcification in Three Uremic Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Dejima Kyoko , Mitsuhashi Hiroshi , Yasuda Gen , Hirawa Nobuhito , Ikeda Yumiko , Umemura Satoshi
Published: October 2008

Peritoneal calcification in three patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was reviewed, and the relation between the localization and extent of calcium deposits detected by abdominal computed tomography (CT) and clinical signs was evaluated. Case 1 was a 48‐year‐old man with abdominal pain, hemoperitoneum and secondary hyperparathyroidism after receiving CAPD for seven years. An abdominal CT revealed linear peritoneal calcification in the pelvic cavity and liver surface, and his symptoms resolved after switching to hemodialysis. His clinical course and pathological findings were compatible with those in progressive calcifying peritonitis. Case 2 was a 26‐year‐old man presenting with abdominal pain, vomiting and fullness two years after switching to hemodialysis, because of uncontrolled overhydration following 13 years of CAPD. Plaque‐like calcification outlining the small intestine and parietal peritoneum was noted on CT. Case 3 was a 59‐year‐old man who had abdominal distention, vomiting and diarrhea three months after switching to hemodialysis due to loss of peritoneal function following 10 years of CAPD. CT revealed diffuse sheet‐like calcification surrounding the bowel and mesentery, adherent dilated bowel loops and ascites. These CT findings suggested the existence of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in cases 2 and 3. Findings from our three patients indicate that peritoneal calcification is not always accompanied by EPS; however, monitoring peritoneal calcification and other findings by abdominal CT, even after cessation of CAPD, is crucial to maintain vigilance on whether the subclinical signs, which are temporally diagnosed as progressive calcifying peritonitis, advance to EPS.
EFFECTS OF PRETREATMENT WITH ROSEMARY (ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS L.) IN THE PREVENTION OF LIPID OXIDATION IN SALTED TILAPIA FILLETS
Authors: DA SILVA AFONSO M. , SANT'ANA L.S.
Published: October 2008

To delay lipid oxidation during meat processing, synthetic antioxidants have been used in the food industry, but the consumers' concern over their toxicity increased interest in research with natural antioxidants. The aim of this work was to analyze the water activity (Aw), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), moisture and trichloroacetic acid‐soluble nitrogen (TCASN) in brined tilapia fillets treated or pretreated with natural rosemary extract (Rosmarinus officinalis) and stored for 240 days at −18C. Higher Aw (0.900 ± 0.010) and moisture (70.13 ± 0.20) values were observed in the pretreated fillets. The TBARS values in the treatment (3.31 ± 0.79) and pretreatment (3.39 ± 0.53) were half the value of the control treatment (6.14 ± 1.21) at 240 days. Statistical differences were observed in TCASN values in 180 (0.112 ± 0.020) and 240 (0.132 ± 0.017) days, with the pretreatment showing a more protective effect in protein oxidation. In this study, rosemary proved to be protective during the frozen storage, especially when its extract was used as pretreatment, before the salting process.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Fish consumption is highly elastic, because the annual average consumption of seafood per person in Brazil is only 6.8 kg. The federal government has set a goal to increase it to 12 kg by 2007.

Salting is an older food preservation process still used today, and is extremely important because, despite advances in food technology, increased monitoring and improved knowledge, it is emphasized as an easy, cheap and effective process that does not require refrigeration. Tilapia is a highly prolific fish, with a production volume that is increasingly higher each year in Brazil. Therefore, it calls for interesting research to allow an increased shelf life for this species.
EFFECT OF PACKAGING MATERIALS ON COLOR, VITAMIN C AND SENSORY QUALITY OF REFRIGERATED MANDARIN JUICE
Authors: BELTRÁN‐GONZÁLEZ FELIPE , PÉREZ‐LÓPEZ ANTONIO J. , LÓPEZ‐NICOLÁS JOSÉ M. , CARBONELL‐BARRACHINA ÁNGEL A.
Published: October 2008

Refrigerated mandarin juice was packed in four different containers, three cartons with different composition and one polyethylene terephthalate transparent bottle, and was stored at 4C for 90 days. During the storage of these juices, changes in the headspace gas composition, vitamin C, and CIE L*, a* and b* color coordinates were evaluated. In addition, a consumer panel evaluated the sensory color, fresh mandarin flavor and presence of off‐flavors in the juices. Experimental data indicated that the deterioration of mandarin juices (ascorbic acid degradation and darkening of color) was triggered by the rise in oxygen in the headspace of the storage containers. The type of container played a predominant role in determining the juice quality, with carton containers with an inner layer of aluminum foil providing the juices with the best quality throughout their storage.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Results from this study will provide manufacturers of mandarin juice with information dealing with the storage and quality of juices packed in different containers. In this way, if manufacturers want to use transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles showing the color and appearance of the juice, they will be aware that the shelf life of the juice will be much shorter than in packed cartons; this reduction will be from more than 90 to 36 days (PET bottle). On the other hand, if manufacturers want to use carton for their packaging, they will be aware that using a container with a thick inner layer of aluminum foil will maintain the quality of the juice for a longer time (over 90 days) compared with a shelf life of about 54 days from cartons with an inner layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers.
The accuracy of the Lactate Pro hand‐held analyser to determine blood lactate in healthy dogs
Authors: Tas O. , De Rooster H. , Baert E. , Doom M. H. , Duchateau L.
Published: October 2008

Objectives:The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of the Lactate Pro hand‐held analyser in measuring blood lactate levels.

Methods:Blood was drawn from 15 healthy dogs into five tubes containing Na‐EDTA. Lactate was measured immediately using the Lactate Pro analyser and a laboratory reference method. Further samples were analysed 120, 240, 480 and 1440 minutes later to artificially increase the lactate levels. Lactate was measured in blood samples of 60 healthy dogs using the Lactate Pro analyser to determine the reference interval of lactate concentration in normal dogs.

Results:The correlation between the lactate concentration measured with the Lactate Pro analyser and the reference method was high. Lactate levels were lower when measured with the hand‐held analyser than with the traditional laboratory determination. The reference interval for blood lactate concentrations in healthy dogs established by the Lactate Pro analyser was from the detection limit (0·8 mmol/l) up to 3·3 mmol/l.

ClinicalSignificance:The Lactate Pro analyser provides quick and reliable measurements of blood lactate in dogs with blood lactate levels up to 10 mmol/l. Because of its small sample size, this analyser will be particularly appropriate for use in small animal intensive care.
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows and ICT Configurations
Authors: Suh Taewon , Bae Mueun
Published: October 2008

This paper studies the impact of information and communication technology(ICT) configurations on FDI inflows and systematic differences between the developed and large emerging countries with respect to the impact. The analysis is based on data from a cross section of countries (n=36) over time(from 1997 to 1999). Two factor scores from twelve indicators of ICT configurations are used as main predictors. The results of autoregressions reveal that ICT infrastructure may attract FDI only for large emerging markets, which implies that research models for the drivers of FDI should be constructed in conjunction with the level of economic development.
Despite the Northern Territories: Hokkaido's Courting of the Russian Far East
Authors: Akaha Tsuneo
Published: October 2008

Recent studies of Japan's postwar policy toward Russia have persuasively argued that the intrinsic (symbolic and psychological) value rather than the instrumental (economic or strategic) value that the Northern Territories (Southern Kuriles) represents to Japan is the most important obstacle to the normalization of relations between the two countries. Theoretically, there are three ways in which the intrinsic value of the disputed islands might be substantially depreciated and the instrumental value of closer bilateral ties appreciated: (1) major concessions from Russia, which are highly unlikely, (2) the emergence of a security or strategic of common concern to Tokyo and Moscow prompting the two sides to offer mutual concessions on the territorial issue or indefinitely postpone its resolution, and (3) a substantial expansion of economic, cultural, and social ties between the Japanese and the Russians, dramatically improving Japanese attitudes toward Russia. This study explores the third possibility, with a particular focus on developments at the subnational level, the level that has been largely ignored by students of Russian‐Japanese relations. Namely, the study examines relations between Hokkaido and the Russian Far East since the 1960s and asks: Do the same logic and dynamic that operate at the national level apply at the regional level? Does the intrinsic importance of the territorial dispute prevail over considerations of economic and other tangible values at the subnational level as it does at the national level? The paper concludes that while Hokkaido has not deviated from the Japanese government̂s official position on the territorial issue–that all the islands belong to Japan, the dispute has not prevented the provincial administration, municipal governments, or nongovernmental organizations in Hokkaido from launching and sustaining initiatives to cement closer ties with their northern neighbors, with growing economic and human ties playing important roles in the process.
The State‐Business Relations in the Era of Globalization: The Case of Russia*
Authors: Lee Insung
Published: October 2008

This article examines the potential prospects of change in the state‐business relationship in Russia with an emphasis on the effects of globalization. The establishment of an efficient relationship between the state and private business has been one of the key challenges in post‐communist era development. Globalization compels the rapid adjustment in state‐business relations in new democracies in former communist countries. This paper analyzes the main features of Russia's “oligarchic capitalism” and plausible sources of change in its state‐business relationship. However, it concludes that in view of the current stage of development in both economic globalization and social activism, it will take time to see any profound changes in the state‐business relationship in Russia.
Perverse bundles and Calogero–Moser spaces
Authors: Ben-Zvi David , Nevins Thomas
Published: October 2008

We present a simple description of moduli spaces of torsion-free 𝒟-modules (𝒟-bundles) on general smooth complex curves, generalizing the identification of the space of ideals in the Weyl algebra with Calogero–Moser quiver varieties. Namely, we show that the moduli of 𝒟-bundles form twisted cotangent bundles to moduli of torsion sheaves on X, answering a question of Ginzburg. The corresponding (untwisted) cotangent bundles are identified with moduli of perverse vector bundles on T*X, which contain as open subsets the moduli of framed torsion-free sheaves (the Hilbert schemes T*X[n] in the rank-one case). The proof is based on the description of the derived category of 𝒟-modules on X by a noncommutative version of the Beilinson transform on P1.
Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception
Authors: Whitson Jennifer A. , Galinsky Adam D.
Published: October 2008

We present six experiments that tested whether lacking control increases illusory pattern perception, which we define as the identification of a coherent and meaningful interrelationship among a set of random or unrelated stimuli. Participants who lacked control were more likely to perceive a variety of illusory patterns, including seeing images in noise, forming illusory correlations in stock market information, perceiving conspiracies, and developing superstitions. Additionally, we demonstrated that increased pattern perception has a motivational basis by measuring the need for structure directly and showing that the causal link between lack of control and illusory pattern perception is reduced by affirming the self. Although these many disparate forms of pattern perception are typically discussed as separate phenomena, the current results suggest that there is a common motive underlying them.
Ultrafast X-ray Thomson Scattering of Shock-Compressed Matter
Authors: Kritcher Andrea L. , Neumayer Paul , Castor John , Döppner Tilo , Falcone Roger W. , Landen Otto L. , Lee Hae Ja , Lee Richard W. , Morse Edward C. , Ng Andrew , Pollaine Steve , Price Dwight , Glenzer Siegfried H.
Published: October 2008

Spectrally resolved scattering of ultrafast K-α x-rays has provided experimental validation of the modeling of the compression and heating of shocked matter. The elastic scattering component has characterized the evolution and coalescence of two shocks launched by a nanosecond laser pulse into lithium hydride with an unprecedented temporal resolution of 10 picoseconds. At shock coalescence, we observed rapid heating to temperatures of 25,000 kelvin when the scattering spectra show the collective plasmon oscillations that indicate the transition to the dense metallic plasma state. The plasmon frequency determines the material compression, which is found to be a factor of 3, thereby reaching conditions in the laboratory relevant for studying the physics of planetary formation.
A Chronology of Paleozoic Sea-Level Changes
Authors: Haq Bilal U. , Schutter Stephen R.
Published: October 2008

Sea levels have been determined for most of the Paleozoic Era (542 to 251 million years ago), but an integrated history of sea levels has remained unrealized. We reconstructed a history of sea-level fluctuations for the entire Paleozoic by using stratigraphic sections from pericratonic and cratonic basins. Evaluation of the timing and amplitude of individual sea-level events reveals that the magnitude of change is the most problematic to estimate accurately. The long-term sea level shows a gradual rise through the Cambrian, reaching a zenith in the Late Ordovician, then a short-lived but prominent withdrawal in response to Hirnantian glaciation. Subsequent but decreasingly substantial eustatic highs occurred in the mid-Silurian, near the Middle/Late Devonian boundary, and in the latest Carboniferous. Eustatic lows are recorded in the early Devonian, near the Mississippian/Pennsylvanian boundary, and in the Late Permian. One hundred and seventy-two eustatic events are documented for the Paleozoic, varying in magnitude from a few tens of meters to ∼125 meters.
A Physical Map of the 1-Gigabase Bread Wheat Chromosome 3B
Authors: Paux Etienne , Sourdille Pierre , Salse Jérôme , Saintenac Cyrille , Choulet Frédéric , Leroy Philippe , Korol Abraham , Michalak Monika , Kianian Shahryar , Spielmeyer Wolfgang , Lagudah Evans , Somers Daryl , Kilian Andrzej , Alaux Michael , Vautrin Sonia , Bergès Hélène , Eversole Kellye , Appels Rudi , Safar Jan , Simkova Hana , Dolezel Jaroslav , Bernard Michel , Feuillet Catherine
Published: October 2008

As the staple food for 35% of the world's population, wheat is one of the most important crop species. To date, sequence-based tools to accelerate wheat improvement are lacking. As part of the international effort to sequence the 17–billion–base-pair hexaploid bread wheat genome (2
n
= 6
x
= 42 chromosomes), we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)–based integrated physical map of the largest chromosome, 3B, that alone is 995 megabases. A chromosome-specific BAC library was used to assemble 82% of the chromosome into 1036 contigs that were anchored with 1443 molecular markers, providing a major resource for genetic and genomic studies. This physical map establishes a template for the remaining wheat chromosomes and demonstrates the feasibility of constructing physical maps in large, complex, polyploid genomes with a chromosome-based approach.
Temperature-Induced Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Transition Observed by Water Adsorption
Authors: Wang Hai-Jing , Xi Xue-Kui , Kleinhammes Alfred , Wu Yue
Published: October 2008

The properties of nanoconfined and interfacial water in the proximity of hydrophobic surfaces play a pivotal role in a variety of important phenomena such as protein folding. Water inside single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can provide an ideal system for investigating such nanoconfined interfacial water on hydrophobic surfaces, provided that the nanotubes can be opened without introducing excess defects. Here, we report a hydrophobic-hydrophilic transition upon cooling from 22°C to 8°C via the observation of water adsorption isotherms in SWNTs measured by nuclear magnetic resonance. A considerable slowdown in molecular reorientation of such adsorbed water was also detected. The observed transition demonstrates that the structure of interfacial water could depend sensitively on temperature, which could lead to intriguing temperature dependences involving interfacial water on hydrophobic surfaces.
A Challenge Standing on Shaky Clay
Authors: Ruse Michael
Published: October 2008

Dissent over Descent
. Intelligent Design's Challenge to Darwinism.
By Steve Fuller
. Icon Books, Cambridge, 2008. 278 pp. £12.99, C$26. ISBN 9781840468045.

The author holds that for most of Western history, science and religion have "gone hand in hand," and he takes the search for intelligent design in nature to have been an overriding concern of science.
Some Science for Today's Electorate
Authors: Foster Kenneth R.
Published: October 2008

Physics for Future Presidents
. The Science Behind the Headlines.
By Richard A. Muller
. Norton, New York, 2008. 380 pp. $26.95, C$29.50, £15.99, €21. ISBN 9780393066272.

The author provides a nontechnical primer on the science that must be taken into account when considering some key issues that presidents (and the electorate) must deal with: terrorism; energy; nuclear weapons, power, and wastes; space; and global warming.
Correlation of Proinflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Levels with Histopathological Changes in an Adult Mouse Lung Model ofCampylobacter jejuniInfection
Authors: Al-Banna Nadia , Raghupathy Raj , Albert M. John
Published: October 2008

Campylobacter jejuniis a major cause of diarrhea in humans. A mouse lung model of infection was previously established forC. jejuni. We used this model to study cytokine production in the lungs and correlated it with pathological changes.C. jejunistrain 81-176 or sterile phosphate-buffered saline was intranasally inoculated into adult BALB/c mice. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-2) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), in addition to those of IL-6, were assessed on days 1, 3, and 5 postinfection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the ratios of proinflammatory cytokines to anti-inflammatory cytokines were calculated. Since IL-6 is unique in that it is both a proinflammatory cytokine and a TH2 cytokine, it was considered to be both in the determination of these ratios. The significance of the cytokine levels and ratios were determined by the Mann-Whitney U test (P≤ 0.05). The induction of proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs of infected mice, as indicated by the cytokine levels and ratios, coincided with the accumulation of neutrophils and activated macrophages, in addition to the clearance of the bacterial load and bacteriumlike structures that we have previously shown in the same groups of mice. This was followed by increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and the resolution of inflammation and pathology in the lungs. This study demonstrates the dynamics of cytokine production and their correlation with tissue inflammation and the resolution of infection. This model is useful for further studies of the pathogenesis ofC. jejuniinfection and vaccine evaluation.
Genetic Relatedness of
Clostridium difficile
Isolates from Various Origins Determined by Triple-Locus Sequence Analysis Based on Toxin Regulatory Genes
tcdC, tcdR
, and
cdtR
Authors: Bouvet Philippe J. M. , Popoff Michel R.
Published: October 2008

A triple-locus nucleotide sequence analysis based on toxin regulatory genes
tcdC, tcdR
and
cdtR
was initiated to assess the sequence variability of these genes among
Clostridium difficile
isolates and to study the genetic relatedness between isolates. A preliminary investigation of the variability of the
tcdC
gene was done with 57 clinical and veterinary isolates. Twenty-three isolates representing nine main clusters were selected for
tcdC, tcdR
, and
cdtR
analysis. The numbers of alleles found for
tcdC, tcdR
and
cdtR
were nine, six, and five, respectively. All strains possessed the
cdtR
gene except toxin A-negative toxin B-positive variants. All but one binary toxin CDT-positive isolate harbored a deletion (>1 bp) in the
tcdC
gene. The combined analyses of the three genes allowed us to distinguish five lineages correlated with the different types of deletion in
tcdC
, i.e., 18 bp (associated or not with a deletion at position 117), 36 bp, 39 bp, and 54 bp, and with the wild-type
tcdC
(no deletion). The
tcdR
and
tcdC
genes, though located within the same pathogenicity locus, were found to have evolved separately. Coevolution of the three genes was noted only with strains harboring a 39-bp or a 54-bp deletion in
tcdC
that formed two homogeneous, separate divergent clusters. Our study supported the existence of the known clones (PCR ribotype 027 isolates and toxin A-negative toxin B-positive
C. difficile
variants) and evidence for clonality of isolates with a 39-bp deletion (toxinotype V, PCR ribotype 078) that are frequently isolated worldwide from human infections and from food animals.
Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis Associated with
Cellulosimicrobium cellulans
Authors: Tucker Joseph D. , Montecino Rafael , Winograd Jonathan M. , Ferraro MaryJane , Michelow Ian C.
Published: October 2008

Cellulosimicrobium cellulans
, formerly known as
Oerskovia xanthineolytica
, is a rare human pathogen, often in association with a foreign body. A case of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis associated with
C. cellulans
in an immunocompetent boy is described, underlining the importance of prompt surgical and microbiologic evaluation.
Comparison between the Standardized Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M38-A2 Method and a 2,3-Bis(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-[(Sulphenylamino)Carbonyl]-2
H
-Tetrazolium Hydroxide- Based Method for Testing Antifungal Susceptibility of Dermatophytes
Authors: Shehata Atef S. , Mukherjee Pranab K. , Ghannoum Mahmoud A.
Published: October 2008

In this study, we determined the utility of a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-[(sulfenylamino)carbonyl]-2
H
-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT)-based assay for determining antifungal susceptibilities of dermatophytes to terbinafine, ciclopirox, and voriconazole in comparison to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-A2 method. Forty-eight dermatophyte isolates, including
Trichophyton rubrum
(
n
= 15),
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
(
n
= 7),
Trichophyton tonsurans
(
n
= 11), and
Epidermophyton floccosum
(
n
= 13), and two quality control strains, were tested. In the XTT-based method, MICs were determined spectrophotometrically at 490 nm after addition of XTT and menadione. For the CLSI method, the MICs were determined visually. With
T. rubrum
, the XTT assay revealed MIC ranges of 0.004 to >64 μg/ml, 0.125 to 0.25 μg/ml, and 0.008 to 0.025 μg/ml for terbinafine, ciclopirox, and voriconazole, respectively. Similar MIC ranges were obtained against
T. rubrum
by using the CLSI method. Additionally, when tested with
T. mentagrophytes
,
T. tonsurans
, and
E. floccosum
isolates, the XTT and CLSI methods resulted in comparable MIC ranges. Both methods revealed similar lowest drug concentrations that inhibited 90% of the isolates for the majority of tested drug-dermatophyte combinations. The levels of agreement within 1 dilution between both methods were as follows: 100% with terbinafine, 97.8% with ciclopirox, and 89.1% with voriconazole. However, the agreement within 2 dilutions between these two methods was 100% for all tested drugs. Our results revealed that the XTT assay can be a useful tool for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes.
Rapid Differentiation of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
and Methicillin-Susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
from Blood Cultures by Use of a Direct Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Test
Authors: Bennett Kelly , Sharp Susan E.
Published: October 2008

A total of 276 blood culture bottles with
Staphylococcus aureus
were tested by direct cefoxitin disk diffusion testing; 105 (38.1%) had zone sizes of ≤17 mm (all 105 had methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
[MRSA]), 18 (6.5%) had zone sizes that measured 18 mm (17 had MRSA and 1 had methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
[MSSA]), 8 (2.9%) had zone sizes that measured 19 mm (6 had MRSA and 2 had MSSA), 8 (2.9%) had zone sizes that measured 20 mm (6 had MRSA and 2 had MSSA), and 137 (49.6%) had zone sizes of ≥21 mm (all 137 had MSSA). Detection of MRSA/MSSA in blood cultures could be reported 10 to 24 h earlier for 88% of cultures with total accuracy.
Genetic Diversity of Isoniazid-Resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Isolates Collected in Poland and Assessed by Spoligotyping
Authors: Augustynowicz-Kopeć Ewa , Jagielski Tomasz , Zwolska Zofia
Published: October 2008

The genetic compositions of 71 isoniazid-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strains from Poland were determined by spoligotyping. Nearly 80% of the isolates belonged to either the T or the Haarlem family. The genotypic diversity was largely due to variation within those families. The scarcity of imported genotypes suggested that the
M. tuberculosis
population studied has an endemic nature.
Analytical and Clinical Sensitivity of the 3M Rapid Detection Influenza A+B Assay
Authors: Dale Suzanne E. , Mayer Christine , Mayer Marie C. , Menegus Marilyn A.
Published: October 2008

The performance of the 3M rapid detection influenza A+B (3M flu) assay was compared to the performance of other immunochromatographic assays. The clinical and analytical performance of the 3M flu assay was superior to that of BinaxNOW and Directigen EZ assays and equivalent to that of the QuickVue assay. The 3M flu assay offers an objective output and direct linkage to laboratory information systems.
Excretion of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 through Polarized Epithelium by Immunoglobulin A
Authors: Wright Alison , Lamm Michael E. , Huang Yung T.
Published: October 2008

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted primarily sexually across mucosal surfaces. After infection, HIV propagates initially in the lamina propria below the polarized epithelium and causes extensive destruction of mucosal T cells. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies, produced in the lamina propria and then transcytosed across the mucosal epithelium into the lumen, can be the first line of immune defense against HIV. Here, we used IgA monoclonal antibodies against HIV envelope proteins to investigate the abilities of polarized primate and human epithelial cells to excrete HIV virions from the basolateral to the apical surface via polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR)-mediated binding and the internalization of HIV-IgA immune complexes. African green monkey kidney cells expressing pIgR demonstrated HIV excretion that was dependent on the IgA concentration and the exposure time. Matched IgG antibodies with the same variable regions as the IgA antibodies and IgA antibodies to non-HIV antigens had no HIV excretory function. A mixture of two IgA anti-bodies against gp120 and gp41 showed a synergistic increase in the level of HIV excreted. The capacity for HIV excretion correlated with the ability of IgA antibodies to bind HIV and of the resulting immune complexes to bind pIgR. Consistent with the epithelial transcytosis of HIV-IgA immune complexes, the colocalization of HIV proteins and HIV-specific IgA was detected intracellularly by confocal microscopy. Our results suggest the potential of IgA antibodies to excrete HIV from mucosal lamina propria, thereby decreasing the viral burden, access to susceptible cells, and the chronic activation of the immune system.
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Nucleocapsid Protein-Induced Structural Changes in Transactivation Response DNA Hairpin Measured by Single-Molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Authors: Darugar Qusai , Kim Hannah , Gorelick Robert J. , Landes Christy
Published: October 2008

Time-resolved single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) nucleocapsid protein (NC) chaperone activity compared to that of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) NC protein. HTLV-1 NC contains two zinc fingers, each having a CCHC binding motif similar to HIV-1 NC. HIV-1 NC is required for recognition and packaging of the viral RNA and is also a nucleic acid chaperone protein that facilitates nucleic acid restructuring during reverse transcription. Because of similarities in structures between the two retroviruses, we have used single-molecule fluorescence energy transfer to investigate the chaperoning activity of the HTLV-1 NC protein. The results indicate that the HTLV-1 NC protein induces structural changes by opening the transactivation response (TAR) DNA hairpin to an even greater extent than HIV-1 NC. However, unlike HIV-1 NC, HTLV-1 NC does not chaperone the strand-transfer reaction involving TAR DNA. These results suggest that, despite its effective destabilization capability, HTLV-1 NC is not as effective at overall chaperone function as is its HIV-1 counterpart.
S
-Adenosyl Homocysteine-Induced Hyperpolyadenylation of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus mRNA Requires the Methyltransferase Activity of L Protein
Authors: Galloway Summer E. , Wertz Gail W.
Published: October 2008

There are many unique aspects of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) transcription. In addition to its unusual mRNA capping and methyltransferase mechanisms, the addition of
S
-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH), which is the by-product and competitive inhibitor of
S
-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-mediated methyltransferase reactions, leads to synthesis of poly(A) tails on the 3′ end of VSV mRNAs that are 10- or 20-fold longer than normal. The mechanism by which this occurs is not understood, since it has been shown that productive transcription is not dependent on 5′ cap methylation and full-length VSV mRNAs can be synthesized in the absence of SAM. To investigate this unusual phenotype, we assayed the effects of SAH on transcription using a panel of recombinant viruses that contained mutations in domain VI of the VSV L protein. The L proteins we investigated displayed a range of 5′ cap methyltransferase activities. In the present study, we show that the ability of the VSV L protein to catalyze methyl transfer correlates with its sensitivity to SAH with respect to polyadenylation, thereby indicating an intriguing connection between 5′ and 3′ end mRNA modifications. We also identified an L protein mutant that hyperpolyadenylates mRNA irrespective of the presence or absence of exogenous SAH. Further, the data presented here show that the wild-type L protein hyperpolyadenylates a percentage of VSV mRNAs in infected cells as well as in vitro.
Determinants of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (In)fidelity Revealed by Kinetic Analysis of the Polymerase Encoded by a Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Mutant with Reduced Sensitivity to Ribavirin
Authors: Arias Armando , Arnold Jamie J. , Sierra Macarena , Smidansky Eric D. , Domingo Esteban , Cameron Craig E.
Published: October 2008

A mutant poliovirus (PV) encoding a change in its polymerase (3Dpol) at a site remote from the catalytic center (G64S) confers reduced sensitivity to ribavirin and forms a restricted quasispecies, because G64S 3Dpol is a high-fidelity enzyme. A foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) mutant that encodes a change in the polymerase catalytic site (M296I) exhibits reduced sensitivity to ribavirin without restricting the viral quasispecies. In order to resolve this apparent paradox, we have established a minimal kinetic mechanism for nucleotide addition by wild-type (WT) FMDV 3Dpol that permits a direct comparison to PV 3Dpol as well as to FMDV 3Dpol derivatives. Rate constants for correct nucleotide addition were on par with those of PV 3Dpol, but apparent binding constants for correct nucleotides were higher than those observed for PV 3Dpol. The A-to-G transition frequency was calculated to be 1/20,000, which is quite similar to that calculated for PV 3Dpol. The analysis of FMDV M296I 3Dpol revealed a decrease in the calculated ribavirin incorporation frequency (1/8,000) relative to that (1/4,000) observed for the WT enzyme. Unexpectedly, the A-to-G transition frequency was higher (1/8,000) than that observed for the WT enzyme. Therefore, FMDV selected a polymerase that increases the frequency of the misincorporation of natural nucleotides while specifically decreasing the frequency of the incorporation of ribavirin nucleotide. These studies provide a mechanistic framework for understanding FMDV 3Dpol structure-function relationships, provide the first direct analysis of the fidelity of FMDV 3Dpol in vitro, identify the β9-α11 loop as a (in)fidelity determinant, and demonstrate that not all ribavirin-resistant mutants will encode high-fidelity polymerases.
A Linear Relationship between Fitness and the Logarithm of the Critical Bottleneck Size in Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Populations
Authors: Novella Isabel S. , Dutta Ranendra N. , Wilke Claus O.
Published: October 2008

We explored the relationship between fitness change and population size during transmission in vesicular stomatitis populations of very high fitness. The results show a linear correlation between the logarithm of the critical bottleneck size (population size at which there are no significant fitness changes after 20 passages) and the initial fitness of the population. In addition, limits to fitness increases during large-population passages of very-high-fitness strains were abolished by increasing the population size during transmission, indicating that beneficial variation is still available in these populations.
Early Steps of the Virus Replication Cycle Are Inhibited in Prostate Cancer Cells Resistant to Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
Authors: Carey Brooke L. , Ahmed Maryam , Puckett Shelby , Lyles Douglas S.
Published: October 2008

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is currently being studied as a candidate oncolytic virus for tumor therapies due to its potent tumoricidal activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that VSV selectively infects tumor cells due to defects in their antiviral pathways. These defects make them more susceptible to VSV-induced killing than normal cells. However, some cancer cells display differential sensitivity to VSV. Specifically, LNCaP prostate cancer cells are sensitive to infection with VSV, while PC3 prostate cancer cells are relatively resistant to VSV. This suggests that tumor cells vary in the extent to which they develop defects in antiviral pathways and, thus, permit virus replication. The goal of these studies was to identify the step(s) of the viral replication cycle that is inhibited in PC3 cells. Results showed that although attachment of VSV was not significantly different among cell types, penetration was delayed by 10 to 30 min in PC3 cells relative to LNCaP cells. Primary transcription was delayed by 6 to 8 h in PC3 cells relative to LNCaP cells. Similarly, both secondary transcription and viral protein synthesis rates were delayed by about 6 to 8 h. The progressively increasing delay suggests that more than one step is affected in PC3 cells. Analysis of cellular gene expression showed that in contrast to LNCaP cells, PC3 cells constitutively expressed numerous antiviral gene products, which may enhance their resistance to VSV. These data indicate that the use of VSV for oncolytic virus therapy for prostate tumors may require prescreening of tumors for their level of susceptibility.