bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast Subset Scan for Spatial Pattern Detection
Authors: Neill Daniel B.
Published: January 2012

We propose a new ‘fast subset scan’ approach for accurate and computationally efficient event detection in massive data sets. We treat event detection as a search over subsets of data records, finding the subset which maximizes some score function. We prove that many commonly used functions (e.g. Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic and extensions) satisfy the ‘linear time subset scanning’ property, enabling exact and efficient optimization over subsets. In the spatial setting, we demonstrate that proximity-constrained subset scans substantially improve the timeliness and accuracy of event detection, detecting emerging outbreaks of disease 2 days faster than existing methods.
Quantifying Nanoparticle Dispersion by Using The Area Disorder of Delaunay Triangulation
Authors: Bray David J. , Gilmour Steven G. , Guild Felicity J. , Taylor Ambrose C.
Published: January 2012

Characterizing the quality of dispersion of nanocomposites presents a challenging statistical problem for which no direct method has been fully adopted. A high precision, statistically well-grounded measure is required which is suitable for dealing with a single small non-homogeneous particle pattern obtained from the material. Our approach uses the Delaunay network of particles to measure the area disorder ADDel, which can be further used to categorize a material sample into well or poorly dispersed. ADDel-analysis is applied to several micrographs of nanoparticle-modified materials and found to classify the type of dispersion reliably. Selected spatial point processes are employed to estimate expected imprecision in observed measurements.
Mutations analysis in filaggrin gene in northern China patients with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Li M. , Liu Q. , Liu J. , Cheng R. , Zhang H. , Xue H. , Bao Y. , Yao Z.
Published: January 2012

Background  Recently, we have reported filaggrin mutations (FLG) of atopic dermatitis in southern China. However, there have been few detailed reports of FLG mutations of patients with AD in northern China by now.

Objectives  The present aim was to establish the mutation spectrum of FLG gene in AD patients in northern China.

Methods  A total of 339 cases met Hanifin and Rajka diagnostic criteria of AD were recruited. A comprehensive sequencing of the entire FLG coding region in these patients was conducted. All detected FLG null mutations were screened in a cohort of 301 normal controls.

Results  Seven novel mutations (478insA, Q1070X, 4026delT, Q1712X, Q2397X, 7145del4 and 8001del4) and eleven reported mutations (3222del4, 3321delA, 4271delAA, S1515X, Q1790X, 5757del4, 6834del5, Q2417X, E2422X, 7945delA and K4671X) in AD were identified. Mutations 3321delA and K4671X were two of the most common mutations in AD. FLG null mutations were present in 26.0% of AD patients. FLG null alleles (compound genotypes) were significantly higher in AD (P < 0.001) than in the controls. The compound genotypes for all FLG variants were significantly associated with IV (P < 0.001) and palmar hyperlinearity (P < 0.001). The common mutation, K4671X, was significantly associated with AD‐coexistent allergic rhinitis (P = 0.005).

Conclusions  Our study increases the total number of FLG mutations. We clearly demonstrated that FLG loss‐of‐function mutations were significantly associated with AD in northern China. The FLG null mutations in the Chinese population differed not only from that in the European population but also from that in sub‐populations of Asians outside of the Chinese mainland.
Group IVA phospholipase A2 is necessary for growth cone repulsion and collapse
Authors: Sanford Staci D. , Yun Bo Goen , Leslie Christina C. , Murphy Robert C. , Pfenninger Karl H.
Published: January 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 974–984.

The repellent semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) causes growth cone turning or collapse by triggering cytoskeletal rearrangements and detachment of adhesion sites. Growth cone detachment is dependent on eicosanoid activation of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε), but the characterization of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) that releases arachidonic acid (AA) for eicosanoid synthesis has remained elusive. Here, we show, in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, that Sema3A stimulates PLA2 activity, that Sema3A‐induced growth cone turning and collapse are dependent on the release of AA, and that the primary PLA2 involved is the group IV α isoform (GIVA). Silencing GIVA expression renders growth cones resistant to Sema3A‐induced collapse, and GIVA inhibition reverses Sema3A‐induced repulsion into attraction. These studies identify a novel, early step in Sema3A‐signaling and a PLA2 necessary for growth cone repulsion and collapse.
A proteomic analysis of pediatric seizure cases associated with astrocytic inclusions
Authors: Visanji Naomi P. , Wong Janice C. , Wang Simon X. , Cappel Blair , Kleinschmidt‐DeMasters Bette K. , Handler Michael H. , Ochi Ayako , Otsubo Hiroshi , Rutka James T. , Go Cristina , Weiss Shelly , Vinters Harry V. , Hawkins Cynthia E. , DeSouza Leroi V. , Siu K.W. Michael , Hazrati Lili‐Naz
Published: January 2012

Cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions have been observed in a subset of patients with early onset epilepsy, brain structural anomalies, and developmental delay, which indicates that it may represent a unique clinicopathologic entity. To further characterize this condition we use proteomics to investigate differentially expressed proteins in epileptic brain tissue from three pediatric epileptic patients with cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions, ranging in age from 5–13 years, and compare to brain tissue from two normal controls. Catalase and carbonic anhydrase I both exhibited increased expression in epileptic brain tissue compared to controls. These findings were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, both proteins were localized to astrocytes and in epileptic brain were located within the cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions, suggesting a potential role in the generation of this pathologic feature of early onset epilepsy with cerebral hyaline astrocytic inclusions.
Redesign of coenzyme B12 dependent diol dehydratase to be resistant to the mechanism‐based inactivation by glycerol and act on longer chain 1,2‐diols
Authors: Yamanishi Mamoru , Kinoshita Koichiro , Fukuoka Masaki , Saito Takuya , Tanokuchi Aya , Ikeda Yuuki , Obayashi Hirokazu , Mori Koichi , Shibata Naoki , Tobimatsu Takamasa , Toraya Tetsuo
Published: January 2012

Coenzyme B12 dependent diol dehydratase undergoes mechanism‐based inactivation by glycerol, accompanying the irreversible cleavage of the coenzyme Co–C bond. Bachovchin et al. [Biochemistry16, 1082–1092 (1977)] reported that glycerol bound in the GS conformation, in which the pro‐S‐CH2OH group is oriented to the hydrogen‐abstracting site, primarily contributes to the inactivation reaction. To understand the mechanism of inactivation by glycerol, we analyzed the X‐ray structure of diol dehydratase complexed with cyanocobalamin and glycerol. Glycerol is bound to the active site preferentially in the same conformation as that of (S)‐1,2‐propanediol, i.e. in the GS conformation, with its 3‐OH group hydrogen bonded to Serα301, but not to nearby Glnα336. kinact of the Sα301A, Qα336A and Sα301A/Qα336A mutants with glycerol was much smaller than that of the wild‐type enzyme. kcat/kinact showed that the Sα301A and Qα336A mutants are substantially more resistant to glycerol inactivation than the wild‐type enzyme, suggesting that Serα301 and Glnα336 are directly or indirectly involved in the inactivation. The degree of preference for (S)‐1,2‐propanediol decreased on these mutations. The substrate activities towards longer chain 1,2‐diols significantly increased on the Sα301A/Qα336A double mutation, probably because these amino acid substitutions yield more space for accommodating a longer alkyl group on C3 of 1,2‐diols.

Database

Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession number 3AUJ.

Structured digital abstract

 Diol dehydrase gamma subunit, Diol dehydrase beta subunit and Diol dehydrase alpha subunit physically interact by X‐ray crystallography (View interaction)
A forward genetic screen to study mammalian RNA interference – essential role of RNase IIIa domain of Dicer1 in 3′ strand cleavage of dsRNA in vivo
Authors: Ohishi Kazuhito , Nakano Toru
Published: January 2012

RNA interference is a major post‐transcriptional regulatory pathway in many eukaryotes. The RNase III enzyme Dicer1 processes precursor RNAs into small RNA duplexes to be loaded onto Argonaute proteins, the effector components of RNA‐induced silencing complex. Biochemical studies have shown that the RNase IIIa and RNase IIIb domains of Dicer1 cleave the 3′ and 5′ strands of dsRNAs, respectively, although the in vivo functional significance of this activity remains unclear. Genetic screening of mammalian cells is useful for studying molecular mechanisms at the cellular level. In the present study, we conducted a novel forward genetic screen for mammalian RNA interference components using Chinese hamster ovary cells and successfully obtained several Dicer1 mutant lines. One mutant bore an intriguing Dicer1 allele in which a conserved glutamic acid in the RNase IIIa domain was substituted with a lysine. Our detailed cell biological study demonstrated that the RNase IIIa domain of Dicer1 was essential for generating small RNAs embedded in the 3′ stem of exogenous hairpin‐like RNAs. In the mutant cells, the expression of endogenous mature microRNAs derived from the 3′ stem of pre‐microRNA was repressed more severely than that from the 5′ stem. Moreover, appropriate processing and loading of small RNAs were required for the dissociation of Argonaute 2 from Dicer1. The data obtained in the present study demonstrate that this screening method represents a promising strategy for the identification of unknown components of mammalian RNA interference pathways and the study of the biological significance of these components at the cellular level.
Epidemiological isolation causing variable mortality in Island populations during the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic
Authors: Shanks G. Dennis , Hussell Tracy , Brundage John F.
Published: January 2012

Please cite this paper as: Shanks et al. (2012) Epidemiological isolation causing variable mortality in Island populations during the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(6), 417–423.

Background  During the 1918 pandemic period, influenza‐related mortality increased worldwide; however, mortality rates varied widely across locations and demographic subgroups. Islands are isolated epidemiological situations that may elucidate why influenza pandemic mortality rates were so variable in apparently similar populations.

Objectives  Our objectives were to determine and compare the patterns of pandemic influenza mortality on islands.

Methods  We reviewed historical records of mortality associated with the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic in various military and civilian groups on islands.

Results and Conclusions  Mortality differed more than 50‐fold during pandemic‐related epidemics on Pacific islands [range: 0·4% (Hawaii) to 22% (Samoa)], and on some islands, mortality sharply varied among demographic subgroups of island residents such as Saipan: Chamorros [12%] and Caroline Islanders [0·4%]. Among soldiers from island populations who had completed initial military training, influenza‐related mortality rates were generally low, for example, Puerto Rico (0·7%) and French Polynesia (0·13%). The findings suggest that among island residents, those who had been exposed to multiple, antigenically diverse respiratory pathogens prior to infection with the 1918 pandemic strain (e.g., less isolated) experienced lower mortality. The continuous circulation of antigenically diverse influenza viruses and other respiratory infectious agents makes widespread high mortality during future influenza pandemics unlikely.
Antioxidant Capacities and Total Polyphenol Contents of Hydro‐ethanolic Extract of Phytococktail from Trans‐Himalaya
Authors: Dhar P. , Tayade A.B. , Bajpai P.K. , Sharma V.K. , Das S.K. , Chaurasia O.P. , Srivastava R.B. , Singh S.B.
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant potential of hydro‐ethanolic extract of a novel phytococktail comprising of sea buckthorn, apricot, and Rhodiola (SAR) from trans‐Himalaya. The 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity of the extract increased in a dose‐dependent manner (upto 0.1 mg/mL), and was found to be about 38% of that of ascorbic acid at 0.1 mg/mL. The hydro‐ethanolic extract of SAR also scavenged the ABTS.+ radical generated by ABTS/potassium persulfate (PPS) system and was found to be about 62% of that of ascorbic acid at 0.1 mg/ mL. The total antioxidant power of the extract was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Total phenolic content was found to be 1.28016 × 10−3 mol gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract. Total flavonoid and flavonol contents were estimated to be 2.5970 × 10−4 mol and 4.87 × 10−4 mol quercetin equivalent/g extract, respectively. The hydro‐ethanolic extract of this phytococktail indicated presence of essential phytoconstituents of polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols, and ascorbic acid, which contributed significantly to its antioxidant capacity. The combination of the 3 plants may well support their use in traditional medicine to combat oxidative stress and high‐altitude sickness.
Transformation of Arbitrary Elastic Mode Shapes Into Pseudo-Free-Surface and Rigid Body Modes for Multibody Dynamic Systems
Authors: Sherif Karim , Irschik Hans , Witteveen Wolfgang
Published: January 2012

In multibody dynamics, the flexibility effects of each body are captured by using a linear combination of elastic mode shapes. If a co-rotational and co-translating frame of reference is used together with eigenvectors of the unconstraint body, which are free-surface modes, some spatial integrals in the floating frame of reference configuration do vanish. The corresponding coordinate system is the so-called Tisserand (or Buckens) reference frame. In the present contribution, a technique is developed for separating an arbitrary elastic mode shape into a pseudo-free-surface mode and rigid body modes. The generated pseudo-free-surface mode has most of the advantageous characteristics of a free-surface mode, and spans together with the rigid body modes the same solution space as it is spanned by the original mode shape. Due to the fact that, in the floating frame of reference configuration, the rigid body motions are already described by special generalized coordinates, only the resulting pseudo-free-surface modes are finally used to capture the flexibility effects of each body. A result of the generated pseudo-free-surface modes is that some of the spatial integrals do vanish and, thus, the equations of motion are significantly simplified. Two examples are presented in order to illustrate and to demonstrate the potential of the proposed method.
ZnO/MgO Nanocomposites by Wet Impregnation: An XPS study
Authors: Khairallah Fares , Glisenti Antonella , Natile Marta Maria , Galenda Alessandro
Published: January 2012

Zinc oxide/magnesium oxide nanocomposite powders were prepared by wet impregnation of nanosized magnesia powders. The supporting magnesia was obtained by precipitation from a solution of magnesium nitrate. The samples are characterized by a nominal (i.e. calculated from the weighted amount of precursors) Zn/Mg atomic ratio of 0.01 (Accession #1189), 0.1 (Accession #1190), 0.25 (Accession #1191), and 0.5 (Accession #1192). The surface properties and the influence of the Zn/Mg atomic ratio are investigated by means of XPS (using a standard Al Kα). Besides the wide scan spectra, detailed spectra for the Mg 1s, Zn 2p3/2 and O 1s regions and related data are presented and discussed. XPS analysis confirms the presence of MgO and ZnO; the peak shapes are consistent with a more heterogeneous situation for the samples with lower Zn/Mg atomic ratios. The XPS Zn/Mg atomic ratio increases with increasing the nominal Zn/Mg atomic ratio reaching a plateau (of about 0.70) for the [Zn/Mg]nom = 0.25. The decrease of the O/(Mg+Zn) atomic ratio observed with increasing the Zn/Mg one (from 2.5 for [Zn/Mg]nom = 0.01 to 1.9 for [Zn/Mg]nom = 0.5) suggests a lower reactivity of ZnO with respect to atmosphere. This result is confirmed by the O 1s peak shape evolution.
Research Remains a Favored Child in Budget Decisions
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: January 2012

One year after Republicans won control of the House of Representatives by promising to slash federal spending, the budgets of most research agencies have been left largely intact.
Ravenous for Glucose
Authors: Taubes Gary
Published: January 2012

Tumor cells can survive without oxygen and generate energy by a relatively inefficient process known as aerobic glycolysis. But researchers still don't know which comes first: the metabolism change or the cancer.
Pseudo-Outbreak of Extremely Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Urinary Tract Infections Due to Contamination of an Automated Urine Analyzer
Authors: Hallin M. , Deplano A. , Roisin S. , Boyart V. , De Ryck R. , Nonhoff C. , Byl B. , Glupczynski Y. , Denis O.
Published: January 2012

By the end of May 2010, an increase in the number of urine specimens that were culture positive for extremely drug-resistant (XDR)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was observed in our 800-bed university hospital. This led to an infection control alert. No epidemiological link between the patients and no increase in the frequency of XDR
P. aeruginosa
in non-urine samples were observed. Therefore, a pseudo-outbreak due to analytical contamination in the laboratory was rapidly suspected. A prospective and retrospective search of cases was initiated, and the sampling of the automated urine analyzers used in the laboratory was performed. Antibiotypes were determined by disc diffusion, and genotypes were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). From February to July 2010, 17 patients admitted to 12 different departments and 6 outpatients were included. The mixing device of the cytometric analyzer used for the numeration of urinary particles (Sysmex UF1000i) proved to be heavily contaminated. Isolates recovered from 12 patients belonged to the same antibiotype and PFGE type as the isolate recovered from the analyzer. Extensive disinfection with a broad-spectrum disinfectant and the replacement of the entire tubing was necessary to achieve the complete negativity of culture samples taken from the analyzer. A pseudo-outbreak caused by an XDR
P. aeruginosa
clone was proven to be due to the contamination of the cytometric analyzer for urinary sediment. Users of such analyzers should be aware that contamination can occur and should always perform culture either before the processing of the urine sample on the analyzer or on a distinct sample tube.
Developing and validating a scoring tool for identifying people who inject drugs at increased risk of hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Wand Handan , Iversen Jenny , Wilson David , Topp Libby , Maher Lisa
Published: January 2012

Objectives

To develop and validate a scoring tool based on demographic and injecting risk behaviours to identify those who require additional, non-routine serological screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) by assessing their personal risk.

Design

Cross-sectional and prospective cohorts.

Setting

People who inject drugs (PWID) and attended Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) in Australia during the period from 1998 to 2008.

Participants

Cross-sectional data included 16 127 PWID who attended NSP in Australia. Prospective data included 215 HCV-negative PWID who were recruited through street-based outreach, methadone clinics in Australia.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

HCV seroprevalence in the cross-sectional and HCV seroconversions in the prospective data sets.

Results

Current study included 16 127 PWID who attended NSP in Australia. Type of drug last injected, frequency and duration of injecting, sharing needles and syringes or other injecting equipment and imprisonment history were associated with HCV infection in all age groups. Strong relationships between an individual's ‘HCV score’ and their risk of testing HCV antibody positive were observed. An estimated 78% (95% CI 75% to 81%), 82% (95% CI 80% to 84%), 80% (95% CI 78% to 82%) and 80% (95% CI 77% to 82%) of HCV infections across the age groups (<25, 25–29, 30–39 and ≥40 years) would be avoided if participants in the upper four quintiles of HCV scores fell instead into the lowest quintile.

Conclusions

Knowledge of HCV status has important implications for public health and care and treatment. Risk assessment strategies may assist in alerting PWID who are at increased risk of HCV infection to present for testing.
Rates of maximum food intake in young northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and the seasonal effects of food intake on body growth
Authors: Rosen D.A.S. , Young B.L. , Trites A.W.
Published: January 2012

Accurate estimates of food intake and its subsequent effect on growth are required to understand the interaction between an animal’s physiology and its biotic environment. We determined how food intake and growth of six young northern fur seals ( Callorhinus ursinus (L., 1758)) responded seasonally to changes in food availability. Animals were given unrestricted access to prey for 8 h·day–1on either consecutive days or on alternate days only. We found animals offered ad libitum food on consecutive days substantially increased their food intake over normal “training” levels. However, animals that fasted on alternate days were unable to compensate by further increasing their levels of consumption on subsequent feeding days. Absolute levels of food intake were highly consistent during winter and summer trials (2.7–2.9 kg·day–1), but seasonal differences in body mass meant that fur seals consumed more food relative to their body mass in summer (~27%) than in winter (~20%). Despite significant increases in absolute food intake during both seasons, the fur seals did not appear to efficiently convert this additional energy into mass growth, particularly in the winter. These seasonal differences in conversion efficiencies and estimates of maximum intake rates can be used to generate physiologically realistic predictions about the effect of changes in food availability on an individual fur seal, as well as the consequences for an entire population.
Does 2D:4D predict fitness in a wild mammal?
Authors: Gooderham K.L. , Schulte-Hostedde A.I.
Published: January 2012

Environmental pressures present during critical periods in fetal development can have a strong influence on the long-term fitness of an individual. Susceptibility to parasites, immune function, and future reproductive success are all vulnerable to stressful events in utero. The causes and consequences of prenatal environmental stress are often difficult (if not impossible) to evaluate, especially in wild populations. Digit ratio, the ratio of 2nd digit to 4th digit length (2D:4D) has been identified as an index of fetal androgen exposure. Current techniques for assessing digit ratio pose severe limitations to the accuracy of digit measurement of wild animals owing to the constant movement of the feet and inaccessibility of laboratory equipment. Our study attempts a new indirect technique wherein subjects had an imprint taken of each foot that was then photographed and scanned for digital measurement. Using red squirrels ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben, 1777)) as a model species, we hypothesized that higher degrees of fetal testosterone exposure (assumed from digit ratios) would result in reduced reproductive success and increased susceptibility to parasite infection. Digit ratio was negatively correlated with reproductive output and positively correlated with parasite loads. Although this may indicate that exposure to excess testosterone in utero may jeopardize future fitness, the relationships are inconsistent.
HEAVY PENTAQUARKS AND DOUBLY HEAVY BARYONS IN QUASIPARTICLE APPROACH
Authors: CHANDRA A. , BHATTACHARYA A. , CHAKRABARTI B.
Published: January 2012

In the framework of the quasiparticle approach, the ground state mass of heavy pentaquarks have been investigated in diquark–diquark–antiquark picture and the higher states are investigated in the mass loaded flux tube model where two light diquarks are supposed to be linked by a flux tube to the heavy quark. The Regge trajectories for heavy pentaquarks have been studied. The Regge slope (α) of these particles have been obtained as ≈1 GeV2 which indicates that the Regge trajectory follows the linearity conditions with universal value of α (~ 1 GeV2). The ground state mass of doubly charm and doubly bottom baryons like [Formula: see text] have also been investigated in quasiparticle approach. The results are found to be in reasonably good agreement with the experimental and other theoretical estimates.
INVARIANTS OF TORIC SEIBERG DUALITY
Authors: HANANY AMIHAY , HE YANG-HUI , JEJJALA VISHNU , PASUKONIS JURGIS , RAMGOOLAM SANJAYE , RODRIGUEZ-GOMEZ DIEGO
Published: January 2012

Three-branes at a given toric Calabi–Yau singularity lead to different phases of the conformal field theory related by toric (Seiberg) duality. Using the dimer model/brane tiling description in terms of bipartite graphs on a torus, we find a new invariant under Seiberg duality, namely the Klein j-invariant of the complex structure parameter in the distinguished isoradial embedding of the dimer, determined by the physical R-charges. Additional number theoretic invariants are described in terms of the algebraic number field of the R-charges. We also give a new compact description of the a-maximization procedure by introducing a generalized incidence matrix.
A FITNESS-BASED MULTI-PARENT CROSSOVER OPERATOR WITH PROBABILISTIC SELECTION
Authors: AUWATANAMONGKOL SURAPONG
Published: January 2012

Several multi-parent crossover operators have been proposed to increase the performance of genetic algorithms. In these cases, the operators allow several parents to simultaneously take part in creating offspring. However, the operators need to find a balance between the two conflicting goals of exploitation and exploration. Strong exploitation allows fast convergence to succeed but can lead to premature convergence while strong exploration can lead to better solution quality but slower convergence. This paper proposes a new fitness based scanning multi-parent crossover operator for genetic algorithms. The new operator seeks out the optimal setting for the two goals in order to achieve the highest benefits from both. The operator uses a probabilistic selection with an incremental threshold value to allow strong exploration in the early stages of the algorithms and strong exploitation in their later stages. Experiments conducted on some test functions show that the operator can give better solution quality and more convergence consistency when compared with some other well-known multi-parent crossover operators.
Renoprotective effects of long-term oral nicotine in a rat model of spontaneous proteinuria
Authors: Agarwal Pramod K. , van den Born Jacob , van Goor Harry , Navis Gerjan , Gans Rijk O. B. , Bakker Stephan J. L.
Published: January 2012

Many proteinuric renal conditions are accompanied by renal inflammation. Nicotine is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and is used in oral form to help subjects quit smoking. A potential anti-inflammatory role of nicotine in proteinuric renal diseases has not been investigated to date. We therefore evaluated the effects of oral nicotine in a rat model of proteinuria-induced renal inflammation. We used a well-established model of adult (24 wk of age) male Munich-Wistar-Frömter rats. Animals were given three different physiological doses of nicotine in drinking water for 28 wk until 52 wk of age (long term). A group without nicotine served as a parallel control. At 52 wk of age, the control group had a 2.1 times reduction in creatinine clearance, 3.2 times increase in urinary protein excretion, an increased focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) score, increased glomerular desmin deposition, decreased glomerular podocin, and a higher accumulation of macrophages and myofibroblasts compared with 24-wk-old animals. Oral treatment with nicotine dose dependently preserved renal function and halted proteinuria progression, which were independent of blood pressure reduction. It also reduced FGS, desmin deposition, podocin loss, and density of renal macrophages and myofibroblasts. Nicotine also reduced the level of gene expression of the renal inflammatory markers monocyte chemoattractant protein and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. In conclusion, long-term oral nicotine preserved kidney function, reduced proteinuria, reduced renal inflammation, and protected progression of renal structural damage in a rat model of proteinuria. We further suggest evaluating nicotine as a potential additional therapeutic option for treating proteinuric kidney diseases.
Clinical Application of the Hanover Classification for Iatrogenic Bile Duct Lesions
Authors: Bektas Hüseyin , Kleine Moritz , Tamac Azad , Klempnauer Jürgen , Schrem Harald
Published: January 2012

Background. There is only limited evidence available to justify generalized clinical classification and treatment recommendations for iatrogenic bile duct lesions. Methods. Data of 93 patients with iatrogenic bile duct lesions was evaluated retrospectively to analyse the variety of encountered lesions with the Hanover classification and its impact on surgical treatment and outcomes. Results. Bile duct lesions combined with vascular lesions were observed in 20 patients (21.5%). 18 of these patients were treated with additional partial hepatectomy while the majority were treated by hepaticojejunostomy alone (). Concomitant injury to the right hepatic artery resulted in additional right anatomical hemihepatectomy in 10 of 18 cases. 8 of 12 cases with type A lesions were treated with drainage alone or direct suture of the bile leak while 2 patients with a C2 lesion required a Whipple’s procedure. Observed congruence between originally proposed lesion-type-specific treatment and actually performed treatment was 66–100% dependent on the category of lesion type. Hospital mortality was 3.2% (). Conclusions. The Hannover classification may be helpful to standardize the systematic description of iatrogenic bile duct lesions in order to establish evidence-based and lesion-type-specific treatment recommendations.
A Nonparametric Two-Sample Wald Test of Equality of Variances
Authors: Allingham David , Rayner J. C. W.
Published: January 2012

We develop a test for equality of variances given two independent random samples of observations. The test can be expected to perform well when both sample sizes are at least moderate and the sample variances are asymptotically equivalent to the maximum likelihood estimators of the population variances. The test is motivated by and is here assessed for the case when both populations sampled are assumed to be normal. Popular choices of test would be the two-sample test if normality can be assumed and Levene’s test if this assumption is dubious. Another competitor is the Wald test for the difference in the population variances. We give a nonparametric analogue of this test and call it the test. In an indicative empirical study when both populations are normal, we find that when both sample sizes are at least 25 the test is nearly as robust as Levene’s test and nearly as powerful as the test.
Sex Differences in the Association between Level of Childhood Interleukin-6 and Insulin Resistance in Adolescence
Authors: Bugge Anna , El-Naaman Bianca , G. McMurray Robert , Froberg Karsten , Nielsen Claus Henrik , Müller Klaus , Andersen Lars Bo
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine whether levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in childhood are related to insulin resistance in adolescence. Further, to explore how fatness and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) moderate this relationship.Methods. 292 nine-year-old children (n=292) were followed for 4 years. Anthropometrics andVO2peakwere measured. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for IL-6, insulin, and glucose. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used as a measure of insulin resistance.Results. For girls but not boys, levels of IL-6 at age 9 yrs correlated with HOMA-IR at age 13 yrs:r=0.223,P=0.008. Girls with IL-6 levels within the highest quartile at age 9 yrs had an odds ratio of 3.68 (CI = 1.58–8.57) being in the highest quartile of HOMA-IR four years later.Conclusion. In this cohort, IL-6 levels in childhood were related to insulin resistance in adolescence, but only for girls.
Cigarette Experimentation in Mexican Origin Youth: Psychosocial and Genetic Determinants
Authors: Wilkinson Anna V. , Bondy Melissa L. , Wu Xifeng , Wang Jian , Dong Qiong , D'Amelio Anthony M. , Prokhorov Alexander V. , Pu Xia , Yu Robert K. , Etzel Carol J. , Shete Sanjay , Spitz Margaret R.
Published: January 2012

Background: Established psychosocial risk factors increase the risk for experimentation among Mexican origin youth. Now, we comprehensively investigate the added contribution of select polymorphisms in candidate genetic pathways associated with sensation seeking, risk taking, and smoking phenotypes to predict experimentation.

Methods: Participants (N = 1,118 Mexican origin youth) recruited from a large population-based cohort study in Houston, TX, provided prospective data on cigarette experimentation over 3 years. Psychosocial data were elicited twice—baseline and final follow-up. Participants were genotyped for 672 functional and tagging variants in the dopamine, serotonin, and opioid pathways.

Results: After adjusting for gender and age, with a Bayesian False Discovery Probability set at 0.8 and prior probability of 0.05, six gene variants were significantly associated with risk of experimentation. After controlling for established risk factors, multivariable analyses revealed that participants with six or more risk alleles were 2.25 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.62–3.13] times more likely to have experimented since baseline than participants with five or fewer. Among committed never-smokers (N = 872), three genes (OPRM1, SNAP25, HTR1B) were associated with experimentation as were all psychosocial factors. Among susceptible youth (N = 246), older age at baseline, living with a smoker, and three different genes (HTR2A, DRD2, SLC6A3) predicted experimentation.

Conclusions: Our findings, which have implications for development of culturally specific interventions, need to be validated in other ethnic groups.

Impact: These results suggest that variations in select genes interact with a cognitive predisposition toward smoking. In susceptible adolescents, the impact of the genetic variants appears to be larger than committed never-smokers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 228–38. ©2011 AACR.
Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus in Esophageal Carcinomas: A Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Study
Authors: Gupta Nalini , Barwad Adarsh , Rajwanshi Arvind , Kochhar Rakesh
Published: January 2012

Objectives: Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been repeatedly found in esophageal carcinoma tissues. However, detection rates of HPV DNA in these tumors have varied markedly. Differences in detection methods, sample types and geographic regions of the sample origin have been suggested as potential causes of this discrepancy. This study was undertaken to analyze the prevalence of HPV in esophageal carcinoma. Study Design: HPV L1 DNA was evaluated in a total of 49 esophageal carcinoma samples, including 44 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 5 cases of adenocarcinoma. Seventeen control samples of esophageal brushings were also analyzed. The HPV L1 fragment was detected using MY09/MY11 primers. Results: In test samples, 17/49 (34.7%) were positive for HPV L1 and, in comparison, none of the control samples were positive. HPV DNA was identified in 17/37 (46%) cases of non-keratinizing SCC and was not identified in any case of esophageal keratinizing SCC and adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: This study defines a significant association of HPV with esophageal non-keratinizing SCC. Our findings raise the possibility that HPV is involved in esophageal carcinogenesis, especially the non-keratinizing type of SCC. Further investigation with a larger sample size over broader geographic areas may be warranted.
γ-Glutamyltransferase, Hepatic Enzymes, and Risk of Incident Heart Failure in Older Men
Authors: Wannamethee S. Goya , Whincup Peter H. , Shaper A. Gerald , Lennon Lucy , Sattar Naveed
Published: January 2012

Objective—

The relationship between γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and heart failure (HF) in older adults is unknown. We have examined the relationship between GGT, other markers of hepatic function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase), and incident HF in older men.

Methods and Results—

This was a prospective study of 3494 men aged 60 to 79 years with no diagnosed HF or myocardial infarction followed up for a mean period of 9 years, in whom there were 168 incident HF cases. Elevated GGT (top quartile, ≥38 U/L) was associated with significantly increased risk of incident HF in men aged <70 years but not in men aged ≥70 years (test for age-GGT interaction,
P
<0.0001). The increased risk of HF associated with elevated GGT persisted after adjustment for a wide range of established and novel risk factors for HF, including diabetes, stroke, obesity, systolic blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, lung function, inflammation (C-reactive protein), endothelial dysfunction (von Willebrand factor), leptin, and N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI], 1.91 [1.07, 3.42]). Other liver function markers showed no significant associations with HF after similar adjustments.

Conclusion—

Elevated GGT was associated with increased risk of HF in men aged <70 years. Additional studies are now needed to determine the mechanisms responsible.
Sexual body size and body shape dimorphism of Testudo hermanni in central and eastern Serbia
Authors: Djurakíc Marko , Djordjevíc Sonja , Bonnet Xavier , Tomovíc Ljiljana , Ajtíc Rastko , Golubovíc Ana
Published: January 2012

Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is widely distributed in western and southern Europe. Most populations in the western part of the distribution range (e.g. Spain, France, Italy) are severely reduced, and relatively well studied, whilst the species is still abundant in eastern areas (i.e. the Balkans). However, essential biological information (e.g. main morphological, ecological, and behavioural characteristics) for the Balkans are still extremely limited. As reptiles exhibit strong geographic variation in most morphological, as well as life history traits, gathering data from distant areas is important. We present data from two populations of T. hermanni in Serbia, focusing on sexual dimorphism in body size and body shape. We found that almost all of the 43 morphological traits analysed were significantly different between sexes and that sexual size and sexual shape dimorphisms were not expressed in similar ways. Notably, sexual size dimorphism (SSD) was more pronounced than sexual shape dimorphism (SShD). Our analyses suggested that SShD is more stable than SSD, and that the scale of the focus (i.e. whole body proportions versus morphological details) is a key factor to test this notion. When general measurements were considered, the expected consistency of SShD between populations was verified; nevertheless, when more specific morphological attributes were considered, substantial variations were observed. These results provide a baseline for comparisons between populations to further examine geographic variation of sexual dimorphism.
Die Doktorarbeit. Erinnerungen aus der Steinzeit der Orientalistik
Authors: van Ess Josef
Published: January 2012

In this article, Josef van Ess describes the supervision process of his doctoral thesis, which was presented in Bonn in 1958 and subsequently published as Die Gedankenwelt des Hārit al-Muhāsibī in 1961. His supervisor was Hellmut Ritter (d.1971), at that time based in Frankfurt and Istanbul, who had suggested this focus on the writings of one of the eminent figures of the religious scene in the early Abbasid period. By making ample use of his correspondence with Ritter— related both to his doctoral thesis and to an article on al-Muhāsibī which he wrote for İslam Ansiklopedisi —van Ess highlights the specific ways in which Ritter engaged with the problems of philological analysis, scientific style and the authenticity of sources in the course of this study of al-Muhāsibī's life and works. The article sheds light on the changing attitudes expressed by Ritter towards the dissertation and its author—moving from reservation, outright rejection and critique towards gradual acceptance and well-meant advice. The article concludes with a discussion of the relevance of philology as a “handcraft” (Handwerk) rather than a “method” (Methode), and reflects on the path which university education has taken over the last fifty years.
Aphorisms of Jesus in John: An Illustrative Look at John 4.35
Authors: McKinnish Bridges Linda
Published: January 2012

This literary genre, the aphorism, finds full expression in the Gospel of John. Vestiges of the world of orality, these 'gems of illumination' invite intense reflection and response as they illuminate not only the literary landscape of the Gospel but also provide a lens for viewing the Jesus tradition in the Gospel of John. My work is indebted to the research of J.D. Crossan, author of In Fragments who has written the definitive work on the aphorisms of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels. More explorative work, however, is needed for the aphorisms of Jesus with particular focus on John's Gospel. Although the aphorisms of Jesus in John were omitted in the database of authentic sayings of Jesus compiled by the members of the Jesus Seminar, might these lapidary gems be placed on the table once more for exploration? While I am confident that the Johannine aphorisms lead us through the narrative landscape of the Gospel and even reveal distinctive aspects of the community, is it possible that they might also provide at least a brief glimpse of Jesus? Using the agrarian aphorism of Jn 4.35 as a showcase illustration, this article proposes to identify the form and function of the Johannine aphorism; to investigate the authenticity of the saying in Jn 4.34-35 using established criteria of authenticity; and to suggest the often-overlooked criterion of orality is a most useful tool for continued exploration.
Boater Safety: Communicating Weather Forecast Information to High-Stakes End Users
Authors: Savelli Sonia , Joslyn Susan
Published: January 2012

Recreational boaters in the Pacific Northwest understand that there is uncertainty inherent in deterministic forecasts as well as some of the factors that increase uncertainty. This was determined in an online survey of 166 boaters in the Puget Sound area. Understanding was probed using questions that asked respondents what they expected to observe when given a deterministic forecast with a specified lead time, for a particular weather parameter, during a particular time of year. It was also probed by asking respondents to estimate the number of observations, out of 100 or out of 10, that they expected to fall within specified ranges around the deterministic forecast. Almost all respondents anticipated some uncertainty in the deterministic forecast as well as specific biases, most of which were born out by an analysis of local National Weather Service verification data. Interestingly, uncertainty and biases were anticipated for categorical forecasts indicating a range of values as well, suggesting that specifying numeric uncertainty would improve understanding. Furthermore, respondents’ answers suggested that they expected a high rate of false alarms among warning and advisory forecasts. Nonetheless, boaters indicated that they would take precautionary action in response to such warnings, in proportions related to the size of boat they were operating. This suggests that uncertainty forecasts would be useful to these experienced forecast consumers, allowing them to adapt the forecast to their specific boating situation with greater confidence.
Ultrasound Diagnosis of Central Line Guidewire Entrapment With an Inferior Vena Cava Filter
Authors: Reddy Subhash , Coba Victor , Horst Mathilda , Killu Keith
Published: January 2012

Introduction. Guidewire entrapment with an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter during internal jugular vein central line placement is a rare complication. The diagnosis is made by abdominal X-ray or fluoroscopy, and in the majority of cases, the guidewire is removed by interventional radiology, seldom requiring operative removal. Objective. To describe a case of diagnosing central line guidewire entrapment with an IVC by bedside ultrasound. Data source/Case summary. During the placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) in a 63-year-old man—on postoperative day 7 from small bowel resection with presumed peripherally inserted central catheter sepsis—the authors were unable to remove the guidewire. Bedside ultrasound was used to quickly identify the guidewire entrapment down the IVC to the IVC filter. Conclusion. Bedside ultrasound may aid in the diagnosis and expedite the management of guidewire entrapment with IVC filter, which is on the CVC placement complications.
Influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in factor VIII and von Willebrand factor genes on plasma factor VIII activity: the ARIC Study
Authors: Campos Marco , Buchanan Ashley , Yu Fuli , Barbalic Maja , Xiao Yang , Chambless Lloyd E. , Wu Kenneth K. , Folsom Aaron R. , Boerwinkle Eric , Dong Jing-fei
Published: January 2012

Factor VIII (FVIII) functions as a cofactor for factor IXa in the contact coagulation pathway and circulates in a protective complex with von Willebrand factor (VWF). Plasma FVIII activity is strongly influenced by environmental and genetic factors through VWF-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the coding and promoter sequence in the FVIII gene have been extensively studied for effects on FVIII synthesis, secretion, and activity, but impacts of non–disease-causing intronic SNPs remain largely unknown. We analyzed FVIII SNPs and FVIII activity in 10 434 healthy Americans of European (EA) or African (AA) descent in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Among covariates, age, race, diabetes, and ABO contributed 2.2%, 3.5%, 4%, and 10.7% to FVIII intersubject variation, respectively. Four intronic FVIII SNPs associated with FVIII activity and 8 with FVIII-VWF ratio in a sex- and race-dependent manner. The FVIII haplotypes AT and GCTTTT also associated with FVIII activity. Seven VWF SNPs were associated with FVIII activity in EA subjects, but no FVIII SNPs were associated with VWF Ag. These data demonstrate that intronic SNPs could directly or indirectly influence intersubject variation of FVIII activity. Further investigation may reveal novel mechanisms of regulating FVIII expression and activity.