bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Female partners of opioid-injecting men in the Republic of Georgia: an initial characterization
Authors: Lund Ingunn O , Kirtadze Irma , Otiashvili David , O’Grady Kevin E , Jones Hendrée E
Published: November 2012

Background

HIV and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are strongly related to injection drug use in the Republic of Georgia. Little information is available about HIV and HCV status, sexual risk, support for their partner, and risk for physical violence among the female partners of opioid-injecting men in the Republic of Georgia, many of whom may not be using drugs, yet may be at high risk of being infected with HIV and HCV from their drug-using partners.

Methods

In order to better understand the risks for females whose partners are injecting drugs, the present study conducted an initial investigation of the non-substance-using female partners of 40 opioid-injecting men who were participating in a clinical trial examining the feasibility and efficacy of a 22-week comprehensive intervention that paired behavioral treatment with naltrexone. The 40 female partners were assessed at their male partners’ study intake.

Results

The female sample was 32.3 years old (SD=6.7), 37 (93%) were married, with 15.5 years of education. A majority reported at least partial employment the majority of the time during the past 3 years, with only one woman reported being unemployed most of the time during the past 3 years. They self-reported they were 3% HIV-positive and 8% HCV-positive. Their HIV sex risk scores indicated a relatively low risk. However, only 4 (10%) women reported using a condom most of the time while having sex and 15 (38%) report not having had sex during the last 30 days. Experiences of interpersonal violence were common, with 42% reporting physical abuse by their partner during the last year and 48% reporting feeling unsafe in their current relationship.

Conclusions

The alarmingly high rate of failure to use barrier protection methods, together with the high percentage who did not know their HIV and HCV status, suggest that it may be beneficial to include non-substance-using female partners in prevention programs along with their partners to reduce the risk of HIV and HCV spreading from the population of injection-drug–using males into the general population. [This secondary analysis study was funded by an international supplement to the parent randomized clinical trial “Treating the Partners of Drug Using Pregnant Women: Stage II (HOPE)”. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00496990.]
A prevalence-based approach to societal costs occurring in consequence of child abuse and neglect
Authors: Habetha Susanne , Bleich Sabrina , Weidenhammer Jörg , Fegert Jörg M
Published: November 2012

Background

Traumatization in childhood can result in lifelong health impairment and may have a negative impact on other areas of life such as education, social contacts and employment as well. Despite the frequent occurrence of traumatization, which is reflected in a 14.5 percent prevalence rate of severe child abuse and neglect, the economic burden of the consequences is hardly known. The objective of this prevalence-based cost-of-illness study is to show how impairment of the individual is reflected in economic trauma follow-up costs borne by society as a whole in Germany and to compare the results with other countries’ costs.

Methods

From a societal perspective trauma follow-up costs were estimated using a bottom-up approach. The literature-based prevalence rate includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as physical and emotional neglect in Germany. Costs are derived from individual case scenarios of child endangerment presented in a German cost-benefit-analysis. A comparison with trauma follow-up costs in Australia, Canada and the USA is based on purchasing power parity.

Results

The annual trauma follow-up costs total to a margin of EUR 11.1 billion for the lower bound and to EUR 29.8 billion for the upper bound. This equals EUR 134.84 and EUR 363.58, respectively, per capita for the German population. These results conform to the ones obtained from cost studies conducted in Australia (lower bound) and Canada (upper bound), whereas the result for the United States is much lower.

Conclusion

Child abuse and neglect result in trauma follow-up costs of economically relevant magnitude for the German society. Although the result is well in line with other countries’ costs, the general lack of data should be fought in order to enable more detailed future studies. Creating a reliable cost data basis in the first place can pave the way for long-term cost savings.
Cell Line Derived Multi-Gene Predictor of Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer: A Validation Study on US Oncology 02-103 Clinical Trial
Authors: Shen Kui , Qi Yuan , Song Nan , Tian Chunqiao , Rice Shara D , Gabrin Michael J , Brower Stacey L , Symmans William Fraser , O’Shaughnessy Joyce A , Holmes Frankie A , Asmar Lina , Pusztai Lajos
Published: November 2012

Background

The purpose of this study is to assess the predictive accuracy of a multi-gene predictor of response to docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide combination chemotherapy on gene expression data from patients who received these drugs as neoadjuvant treatment.

Methods

Tumor samples were obtained from patients with stage II-III breast cancer before starting neoadjuvant chemotherapy with four cycles of 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (FEC) followed by four cycles of docetaxel/capecitabine (TX) on US Oncology clinical trial 02-103. Most patients with HER-2-positive cancer also received trastuzumab (H). The chemotherapy predictor (TFEC-MGP) was developed from publicly available gene expression data of 42 breast cancer cell-lines with corresponding in vitro chemotherapy sensitivity results for the four chemotherapy drugs. No predictor was developed for treatment with trastuzumab. The predictive performance of TFEC-MGP in distinguishing cases with pathologic complete response from those with residual disease was evaluated for the FEC/TX and FEC/TX plus H group separately. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AU-ROC) was used as the metric of predictive performance. Genomic predictions were performed blinded to clinical outcome.

Results

The AU-ROC was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57-0.82) for the FEC/TX group (n=66) and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.20-0.66) for the FEC/TX plus H group (n=25). Among the patients treated with FEC/TX, the AU-ROC was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52-0.86) for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative (n=28) and it was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.36-0.82) for ER-positive cancers (n=37). ER status was not reported for one patient.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the cell line derived 291-probeset genomic predictor of response to FEC/TX combination chemotherapy shows good performance in a blinded validation study, particularly in ER-negative patients.
An algorithm for longitudinal registration of PET/CT images acquired during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: preliminary results
Authors: Li Xia , Abramson Richard G , Arlinghaus Lori R , Chakravarthy Anuradha Bapsi , Abramson Vandana , Mayer Ingrid , Farley Jaime , Delbeke Dominique , Yankeelov Thomas E
Published: November 2012

Background

By providing estimates of tumor glucose metabolism, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can potentially characterize the response of breast tumors to treatment. To assess therapy response, serial measurements of FDG-PET parameters (derived from static and/or dynamic images) can be obtained at different time points during the course of treatment. However, most studies track the changes in average parameter values obtained from the whole tumor, thereby discarding all spatial information manifested in tumor heterogeneity. Here, we propose a method whereby serially acquired FDG-PET breast data sets can be spatially co-registered to enable the spatial comparison of parameter maps at the voxel level.

Methods

The goal is to optimally register normal tissues while simultaneously preventing tumor distortion. In order to accomplish this, we constructed a PET support device to enable PET/CT imaging of the breasts of ten patients in the prone position and applied a mutual information-based rigid body registration followed by a non-rigid registration. The non-rigid registration algorithm extended the adaptive bases algorithm (ABA) by incorporating a tumor volume-preserving constraint, which computed the Jacobian determinant over the tumor regions as outlined on the PET/CT images, into the cost function. We tested this approach on ten breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

By both qualitative and quantitative evaluation, our constrained algorithm yielded significantly less tumor distortion than the unconstrained algorithm: considering the tumor volume determined from standard uptake value maps, the post-registration median tumor volume changes, and the 25th and 75th quantiles were 3.42% (0%, 13.39%) and 16.93% (9.21%, 49.93%) for the constrained and unconstrained algorithms, respectively (p = 0.002), while the bending energy (a measure of the smoothness of the deformation) was 0.0015 (0.0005, 0.012) and 0.017 (0.005, 0.044), respectively (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

The results indicate that the constrained ABA algorithm can accurately align prone breast FDG-PET images acquired at different time points while keeping the tumor from being substantially compressed or distorted.

Trial registration

NCT00474604
ERβ1 represses basal-like breast cancer epithelial to mesenchymal transition by destabilizing EGFR
Authors: Thomas Christoforos , Rajapaksa Gayani , Nikolos Fotis , Hao Ruixin , Katchy Anne , McCollum Catherine W , Bondesson Maria , Quinlan Phil , Thompson Alastair , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Esteva Francisco J , Gustafsson Jan-Åke
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with the basal-like breast cancer phenotypes. Sixty percent of basal-like cancers have been shown to express wild-type estrogen receptor beta (ERβ1). However, it is still unclear whether the ERβ expression is related to EMT, invasion and metastasis in breast cancer. In the present study, we examined whether ERβ1 through regulating EMT can influence invasion and metastasis in basal-like cancers.

Methods

Basal-like breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T), in which ERβ1 was either overexpressed or down-regulated were analyzed for their ability to migrate and invade (wound-healing assay, matrigel-coated Transwell assay) as well as for the expression of EMT markers and components of the EGFR pathway (immunoblotting, RT-PCR). Co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitylation assays were employed to examine whether ERβ1 alters epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein degradation and the interaction between EGFR and the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl. The metastatic potential of the ERβ1-expressing MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated in vivo in a zebrafish xenotransplantation model and the correlation between ERβ1 and E-cadherin expression was examined in 208 clinical breast cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Here we show that ERβ1 inhibits EMT and invasion in basal-like breast cancer cells when they grow either in vitro or in vivo in zebrafish. The inhibition of EMT correlates with an ERβ1-mediated up-regulation of miR-200a/b/429 and the subsequent repression of ZEB1 and SIP1, which results in increased expression of E-cadherin. The positive correlation of ERβ1 and E-cadherin expression was additionally observed in breast tumor samples. Down-regulation of the basal marker EGFR through stabilization of the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl complexes and subsequent ubiquitylation and degradation of the activated receptor is involved in the ERβ1-mediated repression of EMT and induction of EGFR signaling abolished the ability of ERβ1 to sustain the epithelial phenotype.

Conclusions

Taken together, the results of our study strengthen the association of ERβ1 with the regulation of EMT and propose the receptor as a potential crucial marker in predicting metastasis in breast cancer.
Health Care Costs for Patients With Cancer at the End of Life
Authors: Chastek Benjamin , Harley Carolyn , Kallich Joel , Newcomer Lee , Paoli Carly J. , Teitelbaum April H.
Published: November 2012

Oncology costs increase in the last 6 months before death largely because of increased inpatient costs, whereas outpatient costs decrease.
Community-Based FitSTEPS for Life Exercise Program for Persons With Cancer: 5-Year Evaluation
Authors: Haas Barbara K. , Kimmel Gary , Hermanns Melinda , Deal Belinda
Published: November 2012

This research introduces the concept of a long-term community-based program of individualized exercise as a feasible and effective intervention to improve quality of life for persons with all stages of cancer.
National Oncology Practice Benchmark, 2012 Report on 2011 Data
Authors: Towle Elaine L. , Barr Thomas R. , Senese James L.
Published: November 2012

In this, the seventh iteration of the National Practice Benchmark, the authors made significant changes in the approach and analysis of the survey, including restructuring and shortening the survey instrument to facilitate the participation of hospital and academic oncology practices, in recognition of the ongoing changes in the oncology industry.
Distinct requirements for wnt9a and irf6 in extension and integration mechanisms during zebrafish palate morphogenesis
Authors: Dougherty Max , Kamel George , Grimaldi Michael , Gfrerer Lisa , Shubinets Valeriy , Ethier Renee , Hickey Graham , Cornell Robert A. , Liao Eric C.
Published: November 2012

Development of the palate in vertebrates involves cranial neural crest migration, convergence of facial prominences and extension of the cartilaginous framework. Dysregulation of palatogenesis results in orofacial clefts, which represent the most common structural birth defects. Detailed analysis of zebrafish palatogenesis revealed distinct mechanisms of palatal morphogenesis: extension, proliferation and integration. We show that wnt9a is required for palatal extension, wherein the chondrocytes form a proliferative front, undergo morphological change and intercalate to form the ethmoid plate. Meanwhile, irf6 is required specifically for integration of facial prominences along a V-shaped seam. This work presents a mechanistic analysis of palate morphogenesis in a clinically relevant context.
The catalytic subunit ofArabidopsisDNA polymerase α ensures stable maintenance of histone modification
Authors: Hyun Youbong , Yun Hyein , Park Kyunghyuk , Ohr Hyonhwa , Lee Okchan , Kim Dong-Hwan , Sung Sibum , Choi Yeonhee
Published: November 2012

Mitotic inheritance of identical cellular memory is crucial for development in multicellular organisms. The cell type-specific epigenetic state should be correctly duplicated upon DNA replication to maintain cellular memory during tissue and organ development. Although a role of DNA replication machinery in maintenance of epigenetic memory has been proposed, technical limitations have prevented characterization of the process in detail. Here, we show that INCURVATA2 (ICU2), the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase α in Arabidopsis, ensures the stable maintenance of repressive histone modifications. The missense mutant allele icu2-1 caused a defect in the mitotic maintenance of vernalization memory. Although neither the recruitment of CURLY LEAF (CLF), a SET-domain component of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), nor the resultant deposition of the histone mark H3K27me3 required for vernalization-induced FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) repression were affected, icu2-1 mutants exhibited unstable maintenance of the H3K27me3 level at the FLC region, which resulted in mosaic FLC de-repression after vernalization. ICU2 maintains the repressive chromatin state at additional PRC2 targets as well as at heterochromatic retroelements. In icu2-1 mutants, the subsequent binding of LIKE-HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1 (LHP1), a functional homolog of PRC1, at PRC2 targets was also reduced. We demonstrated that ICU2 facilitates histone assembly in dividing cells, suggesting a possible mechanism for ICU2-mediated epigenetic maintenance.
Genetic elevation of Sphingosine 1-phosphate suppresses dystrophic muscle phenotypes in Drosophila
Authors: Pantoja Mario , Fischer Karin A. , Ieronimakis Nicholas , Reyes Morayma , Ruohola-Baker Hannele
Published: November 2012

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a lethal genetic disease characterized by the loss of muscle integrity and function over time. Using Drosophila, we show that dystrophic muscle phenotypes can be significantly suppressed by a reduction of wunen, a homolog of lipid phosphate phosphatase 3, which in higher animals can dephosphorylate a range of phospholipids. Our suppression analyses include assessing the localization of Projectin protein, a titin homolog, in sarcomeres as well as muscle morphology and functional movement assays. We hypothesize that wunen-based suppression is through the elevation of the bioactive lipid Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), which promotes cell proliferation and differentiation in many tissues, including muscle. We confirm the role of S1P in suppression by genetically altering S1P levels via reduction of S1P lyase (Sply) and by upregulating the serine palmitoyl-CoA transferase catalytic subunit gene lace, the first gene in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway and find that these manipulations also reduce muscle degeneration. Furthermore, we show that reduction of spinster (which encodes a major facilitator family transporter, homologs of which in higher animals have been shown to transport S1P) can also suppress dystrophic muscle degeneration. Finally, administration to adult flies of pharmacological agents reported to elevate S1P signaling significantly suppresses dystrophic muscle phenotypes. Our data suggest that localized intracellular S1P elevation promotes the suppression of muscle wasting in flies.
Mechanical and energetic scaling relationships of running gait through ontogeny in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Authors: Smith Nicola C. , Wilson Alan M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract It is unclear whether small animals with their high stride frequency and crouched posture or large animals with more tendinous limbs are more reliant on storage and return of elastic energy during locomotion. The ostrich has a limb structure that appears to be adapted for high speed running with long tendons and short muscle fibres. Here we investigate biomechanics of ostrich gait through growth and, with consideration of anatomical data, identify scaling relationships with increasing body size, relating to forces acting on the musculoskeletal structures, effective mechanical advantage (EMA) and mechanical work. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected through growth from running ostriches. Joint moments scaled in a similar way to the pelvic limb segments as a result of consistent posture through growth, such that EMA was independent of body mass. Since no postural change was observed, relative loads applied to musculoskeletal tissues would be predicted to increase during growth, with greater muscle, and hence tendon, load allowing increased potential for elastic energy storage with increasing size. Mass specific mechanical work per unit distance was independent of body mass, resulting in a small but significant increase in the contribution of elastic energy storage to locomotor economy in larger ostriches.
Multivariate analysis of behavioural response experiments in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Authors: Dunlop Rebecca A. , Noad Michael J. , Cato Douglas H. , Kniest Eric , Miller Patrick , Smith Joshua N. , Stokes M. Dale
Published: November 2012

The behavioural response study (BRS) is an experimental design used by field biologists to determine the function and /or behavioural effects of conspecific, heterospecific or anthropogenic stimuli. When carrying out these studies in marine mammals it is difficult to make basic observations and achieve sufficient samples sizes due to the high cost and logistical difficulties. Rarely are other factors such as social context or the physical environment considered in the analysis because of these difficulties. This paper presents results of a BRS carried out in humpback whales to test the response of groups to one recording of conspecific social sounds and an artificially-generated tone stimulus. Experiments were carried out in September/October 2004 and 2008 during the humpback whale southward migration along the east coast of Australia. In total, 13 ‘tone’ experiments, 15 ‘social sound’ experiments (using one recording of social sounds) and three silent controls were carried out over two years. Results (using a mixed model statistical analysis) suggested that humpback whales responded differently to both stimuli, measured by changes in course travelled and dive behaviour. Although the response to ‘tones’ was consistent, in that groups moved offshore and surfaced more often (suggesting an aversion to the stimulus), the response to ‘social sounds’ was highly variable and dependent upon the composition of the social group. The change in course and dive behaviour in response to ‘tones’ was found to be related to proximity to the source, the received signal level and signal-to-noise ratio SNR. This study demonstrates the complexity of behavioural responses by a marine mammal to acoustic stimuli, the need to replicate stimuli to generate a sufficient sample size, and to measure as many other factors as possible culminating in a multivariate analysis in order to tease out complex interactions.
Effect of fluid viscosity on the liquid-feeding flow phenomena of a female mosquito
Authors: Kim Bo Heum , Ha Hojin , Seo Eun Seok , Lee Sang Joon
Published: November 2012

Liquid-sucking phenomena by the two-pump system of a female mosquito have been investigated experimentally to understand the feeding mechanism. In most previous experimental studies on liquid-feeding insects, the net increase of mass was divided by the feeding time and fluid density to evaluate the intake rate. However, this weighting method is not so precise for mosquitoes, because they are too lightweight to measure the gain of mass accurately. In this study, the intake rate of female mosquitoes feeding various sucrose solutions was estimated using a micro particle image velocimetry technique. As the sucrose concentration increases from 1% to 50%, the intake rate decreases from 17.3 nl/s to 5.8 nl/s. Furthermore, the temporal volume variations of the two-pump chambers were estimated based on the velocity and acceleration information of the flow at the center of food canal of the proboscis. One pumping period is divided into four elementary phases, which are related to the different operational modes of the two pumps. According to the hypothetical model established in this study, the phase shift (α) between the two-pump chambers increases from 14 ms to 28 ms and the percentage of reversal flow to forward flow in a pumping period decreases 7.6% to 1.7% with increasing viscosity. The developed analytic methodology is helpful to the study of an insect’s feeding mechanism.
Iodine accumulation in sea urchin larvae is dependent on peroxide
Authors: Miller Ashley E. M. , Heyland Andreas
Published: November 2012

Iodine has many important biological functions and its concentrations vary with environment. Recent research has provided novel insights into iodine uptake mechanisms in marine bacteria and kelp through hydrogen peroxide dependent diffusion (PDD). This mechanism is distinct from sodium dependent mechanisms known from vertebrates. In vertebrates, iodine accumulates in the thyroid gland by the action of the apical iodide transporter (AIT) and the sodium iodide symporter (NIS). Neither of these proteins has, thus far, been identified outside of the chordates and PDD (as an iodine uptake mechanism) has never been studied in animals. Using 125I as a marker for total iodine influx, we tested iodine uptake via sodium dependent transport versus PDD in embryos and larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We found that iodine uptake in S. purpuratus is largely independent of NIS/AIT. Instead we found that uptake is dependent on the presence and production of hydrogen peroxide indicating that sea urchin larvae use PDD as a mechanism for iodine acquisition. Our data, for the first time, provide conclusive evidence for this mechanism in an animal. Furthermore, our data strongly suggest that sodium dependent iodine uptake via active transporter proteins is a synapomorphy of chordates.
Lion (Panthera leo) and caracal (Caracal caracal) type IIx single muscle fibre force and power exceed that of trained humans
Authors: Kohn Tertius A. , Noakes Timothy D.
Published: November 2012

This study investigated for the first time maximum force production, shortening velocity (Vmax) and power output in permeabilised single muscle fibres at 12 ˚C from lion (Panthera leo) and caracal (Caracal caracal), and compared the values to that of single fibres from human cyclists. Additionally, the use and validation of previously frozen tissue for contractile experiments is reported. Only type IIx muscle fibres were identified in the caracal sample, whereas type IIx and only two type I fibres in the lion sample. Only pure type I and IIa, and hybrid type IIax fibres were identified in the human samples, but no pure type IIx fibres. Nevertheless, compared to all the human fibre types, the lion and caracal fibres were smaller (P < 0.01) in cross-sectional area (in µm2: human: 6194 ± 230, lion: 3008 ± 151, caracal: 2583 ± 221). On average, the felid type IIx fibres produced significantly greater force (191 – 211 kN·m-2) and ~3x more power (29.0 – 30.3 kN·m-2·FL·s-1) than the human IIax fibres (100 – 150 kN·m-2, 4 – 11 kN·m-2·FL·s-1). Vmax values of the lion type IIx fibres were also higher than human type IIax fibres. The findings suggest that the same fibre type may differ substantially between species and potential explanations are discussed.
Jumping mechanisms of treehopper insects (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Membracidae)
Authors: Burrows Malcolm
Published: November 2012

The kinematics and jumping performance of treehoppers (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Membracidae) were analysed from high speed images. The 8 species analysed had an 11 fold range of body mass (3.8 mg to 41 mg) and a 2 fold range of body lengths (4.1 to 8.4 mm). Body shape was dominated by a prothoracic helmet that projected dorsally and posteriorly over the body, and in some species forwards to form a protruding horn. Jumping was propelled by rapid depression of the trochantera of the hind legs. The hind legs were only 30 – 60 % longer than the front and middle legs, and 47 – 94% the length of the body in different species. They were slung beneath the body and moved together in the same plane. In preparation for a jump, the hind legs were initially levated and rotated forwards so that the femora were pressed into indentations of the coxae. The tibiae were flexed about the femora and the tarsi were placed on the ground directly beneath the lateral edges of the abdomen. Movements of the front and middle legs adjusted the angle of the body relative to the ground, but for most treehoppers this angle was small so that the body was almost parallel to the ground. The rapid depression of the hind legs accelerated the body to take-off in 1.2 ms in the lighter treehoppers and 3.7 ms in the heavier ones. Take-off velocities of 2.1 – 2.7 m s-1 were achieved and were not correlated with body mass. In the best jumps, these performances involved accelerations of 560 – 2450 m s-2 (g forces of 47- 250), an energy expenditure of 13.5 – 101 µJ, a power output of 12 – 32 mW and exerted a force or 9.5 – 29 mN. The power output per mass of muscle far exceeds the maximum active contractile limit of normal muscle. Such requirements indicate that treehoppers must be using a power amplification mechanism in a catapult-like action. Some jumps were preceded by flapping movements of the wings, but the propulsive movements of the hind legs were critical in achieving take-off.
Observation of 47,49Ti NMR Spectra of TiCl4/MgCl2 Catalysts under an Ultrahigh Magnetic Field
Authors: Ohashi Ryutaro , Saito Masayoshi , Fujita Takashi , Nakai Toshihito , Utsumi Hiroaki , Deguchi Kenzo , Tansho Masataka , Shimizu Tadashi
Published: November 2012

A series of TiCl4/MgCl2 catalysts prepared with various milling times were investigated by 47,49Ti MAS NMR spectroscopy with an ultrahigh magnetic field of 21.8 T. Notable spectral features were observed: with the increase of milling times, the resonance lines shifted toward the high field, and they were broadened.
Nickel-catalyzed Decarbonylative Polymerization of 5-Alkynylphthalimides: A New Methodology for the Preparation of Polyheterocycles
Authors: Takeuchi Makoto , Kurahashi Takuya , Matsubara Seijiro
Published: November 2012

A nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative cycloaddition was developed, in which 5-alkynylphthalimides reacted to afford a new type of polyisoquinolone. It was demonstrated for the first time that decarbonylative cycloaddition can be an elementary process of polycondensation for the preparation of heterocyclic polymers.
Unique Adsorption Behavior of Antimicrobial Poly(hexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride) onto Solid-supported Lipid Films
Authors: Date Takaaki , Matsuoka Yosuke , Sakamoto Nobuyuki , Serizawa Takeshi
Published: November 2012

Adsorptions of antimicrobial poly(hexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride) (PHMB) onto solid-supported lipid films composed of representative glycerophospholipids were analyzed by using surface plasmon resonance measurements. PHMB preferentially adsorbed onto negatively charged lipid films rather than zwitterionic lipid films. The adsorption amounts were drastically increased above the threshold PHMB concentration, which might be correlated with its antimicrobial effect.
Peroxidase-like Enzymes Designed from Cytochrome b5 Exhibit Enhanced Hydrolysis Activity
Authors: Lin Ying-Wu , You Xiao-Xing , Chen Lie-Song , Wu Yi-Mou
Published: November 2012

Rationally designed peroxidase-like enzymes, H39Q Cyt b5 and H39S Cyt b5, were found to exhibit enhanced hydrolysis activity by catalyzing the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate, providing new information and ideas for the rational design of functional metalloproteins.
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in a patient with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and persistent left superior vena cava
Authors: Lupattelli T , Benassi F , Righi E , Bavera P , Bellagamba G
Published: November 2012

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is a syndrome characterized by stenoses of the internal jugular veins (IJVs) and/or azygos veins and formation of collateral venous channels. A case of a 57-year-old patient with CCSVI in whom the venous outflow from the left IJV to the right atrium occurred through a venous anomaly, the persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC), is reported. PLSVC is caused by persistence of the left anterior cardinal vein that drains blood from the limb effluent from the left and the left side of head and neck into coronary sinus (Type a), or in the left atrium (Type b). PLSVC can be associated either with innominate vein hypoplasia or other congenital heart abnormalities. Because of evidence of left innominate vein hypoplasia, angioplasty was not performed using the ordinary route but passing with the balloon directly through the PLSVC up to the left IJV. Finally, angioplasty was carried out in a standard manner in the right IJV as well as in the azygous vein. Confirmation angiogram revealed complete reopening of all treated vessels with no evidence of peri- and postoperative complications. The patient was discharged home the following day in good general conditions. PLSVC is a rare congenital vein anomaly but in case of concomitant innominate vein hypoplasia may prove to be a valuable alternative to treat patients with IJV diseases.
Variability of interface pressure produced by ready-to-wear compression stockings
Authors: Lurie F , Kistner R
Published: November 2012

Purpose

To assess the variability of interface pressure and changes in this pressure over one month time interval under ready-to-use compression stockings.

Methods

Fifteen healthy volunteers with a broad range of sizes and shapes of the calves were included in final analysis. Each volunteer sequentially used six pairs of stockings daily for one month each. The six pair set consisted of stockings of three compression classes (class 1: 20–30 mmHg, class 2: 30–40 mmHg and class 3: 40–50 mmHg), made of two materials with different stiffnesses. Interface pressure measurements were performed at Bl point using SIGaT® tester (Ganzoni-Sigvaris, St Gallen, Switzerland). Interface pressure was measured in supine and standing positions, and during performing 10 tiptoes. Pressure measurements were performed twice (in the morning and after using stockings for eight hours) on the first day of using each pair of stockings, and repeated on the 30th day.

Results

At the time of the first use the interface pressure was within the range specified by the manufacturer for 160 out of 180 individual stockings. Twenty stockings (11.1%) produced interface pressure which was 5 mmHg or more outside the range of specified compression class. In 16 of these cases it was only one of the pair of stockings from the same box that produced lower than specified pressure. The pressure under stockings did not change significantly during the day. After one month the interface pressure under the class 1 stockings decreased on average by 1.4 ± 4.3 mmHg ( P = 0.013). Class 2 and 3 stockings showed minimal pressure changes which were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

In vivo measurements of interface pressure should be a requirement for clinical studies of compression stockings, and may be reasonable for ensuring appropriate pressure level in clinical practice.
Acquired hypermethylation of the P16INK4A promoter in abdominal paraganglioma: relation to adverse tumor phenotype and predisposing mutation
Authors: Kiss Nimrod B , Muth Andreas , Andreasson Adam , Juhlin C Christofer , Geli Janos , Bäckdahl Martin , Höög Anders , Wängberg Bo , Nilsson Ola , Ahlman Håkan , Larsson Catharina
Published: November 2012

Recurrent alterations in promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) andLINE1(L1RE1) repeat elements were previously reported in pheochromocytoma and abdominal paraganglioma. This study was undertaken to explore CpG methylation abnormalities in an extended tumor panel and assess possible relationships between metastatic disease and mutation status. CpG methylation was quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing for selected TSG promoters andLINE1repeats. Methylation indices above normal reference were observed forDCR2(TNFRSF10D),CDH1,P16(CDKN2A),RARB, andRASSF1A.Z-scores for overall TSG, and individual TSG methylation levels, but notLINE1, were significantly correlated with metastatic disease, paraganglioma, disease predisposition, or outcome. Most strikingly,P16hypermethylation was strongly associated withSDHBmutation as opposed toRET/MEN2,VHL/VHL, or NF1-related disease. Parallel analyses of constitutional, tumor, and metastasis DNA implicate an order of events where constitutionalSDHBmutations are followed by TSG hypermethylation and 1p loss in primary tumors, later transferred to metastatic tissue. In the combined material,P16hypermethylation was prevalent inSDHB-mutated samples and was associated with short disease-related survival. The findings verify the previously reported importance ofP16and other TSG hypermethylation in an independent tumor series. Furthermore, a constitutionalSDHBmutation is proposed to predispose for an epigenetic tumor phenotype occurring before the emanation of clinically recognized malignancy.
Green infrastructure and bird diversity across an urban socioeconomic gradient
Authors: Davis Amélie Y. , Belaire J. Amy , Farfan Monica A. , Milz Dan , Sweeney Eric R. , Loss Scott R. , Minor Emily S.
Published: November 2012

As the world continues to urbanize, ensuring that urban residents have access to green infrastructure and the ecosystem services it provides will be critical. Furthermore, the distribution of green infrastructure within cities should be equitable so that no socioeconomic group is underserved in terms of the benefits derived from ecosystem services. Our goal was to test whether there were any differences among socioeconomic groups in terms of (1) proximity to open space, (2) proximity to Lake Michigan, (3) tree canopy cover, or (4) bird biodiversity in census tracts across Chicago, IL (USA). These four variables were used as proxies for a number of different ecosystem services. We characterized the first three variables with GIS operations using classified Quickbird imagery and other datasets that describe the urban and natural environment. We used MaxEnt to model suitable bird habitat for 52 species that are regularly observed in the area and combined the habitat maps to estimate bird biodiversity in a spatially explicit manner. Our results suggest that census tracts with more low‐ to mid‐income Hispanic residents were farther away from both open space and Lake Michigan, and had less tree canopy cover and bird biodiversity than other census tracts. Tracts characterized mostly by low‐income African Americans were not statistically different in terms of proximity to open space, nor in terms of tree canopy cover or bird biodiversity, than those characterized by higher income residents. Those tracts were, however, significantly farther from Lake Michigan compared to the higher income census tracts. This research suggests the potential for environmental injustice in Chicago and we discuss some possible causes and implications of our findings.
Ecological and climatic controls of modern wildfire activity patterns across southwestern South America
Authors: Holz Andrés , Kitzberger Thomas , Paritsis Juan , Veblen Thomas T.
Published: November 2012

Understanding how patterns of wildfire activity across biomes are shaped by heterogeneity in biomass resources to burn and atmospheric conditions conducive to burning is a high research priority in the context of global environmental change. Along a latitudinal gradient (25 to 56° S) from semi‐arid scrublands through Mediterranean‐type vegetation to wet forests in southwestern South America (SSA) we analyzed influences of mean climate and interannual climate variability on fire activity using documentary fire records from 1984 to 2008. We identified large regions with common temporal variability in annual area burned, related this variability to local interannual climate variability and in turn to modes of the major tropical and extratropical climate drivers of the southern hemisphere—El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO). Differences in fire activity response to interannual climate variability were related to the relative influences of available biomass to burn, and to weather effects on amounts of fine fuels and fuel moisture conditions. The pattern of average fire activity along this latitudinal moisture/productivity gradient corresponds well with the varying constraints model. This model predicts low fire activity towards the arid extreme due to reduced burnable biomass and again towards the humid extreme due to infrequent weather suitable for drying fuels, and predicts a broad zone of high fire activity at intermediate locations where resources to burn are abundant in all years and fuel moisture dries under reliably dry summer conditions. The dominant influence on interannual climate variability is AAO, which explained most of the variability in fire activity both by reducing seasonal precipitation in mesic and wet forests where fire is dependent on infrequent drought and by enhancing fine fuel production in Mediterranean‐type vegetation where fuel amount and continuity constrain fire activity. In the context of the drying and warming trends in SSA related to the continued positive anomaly in AAO, our results underscore the importance of the varying constraints on fire activity and modulation of fire‐climate relationships by different vegetation types, which is a much needed step toward developing fire projections under future climate.
Steer Performance and Pasture Productivity among Five Perennial Warm‐Season Grasses
Authors: Burns J. C. , Fisher D. S.
Published: November 2012

Grazing systems in the mid‐Atlantic region of the United States typically utilize perennial warm‐season grasses. Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] has served this function in the region, but the resulting animal performance has been modest. Steer and pasture performance of three native grasses, big bluestem (BBS) (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), eastern gamagrass (GG) (Tripsacum dactyloides L.), and switchgrass (SG) (Panicum virgatum L.), and an introduced Old World bluestem, Caucasian bluestem (CBS) [Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake], were compared during 6 yr with Tifton 44 bermudagrass (BG) as the control. During summer (June–September), steers continuously stocked on the alternative grasses gained similarly (0.73 kg d−1) but more rapidly than those grazing BG (0.49 kg d−1). Stocking of BG at 9.9 steers ha−1 was greater than the alternative grasses (5.7 steers ha−1), which were similar. Although animal days per hectare were greater for BG, weight gain per hectare was similar (mean = 357 kg ha−1) because of the differential gain per day. Canopies of BG and CBS had the least proportion of their mass in leaf (24.5 and 25.0%, respectively) compared with GG (58.2%), BBS (35.6%), and SG (30.9%), with the latter two similar. In general, any one of the grasses can serve as the warm‐season component; however, pastures of BBS, GG, SG, and CBS would be more appropriate for growing ruminants, although at a reduced stocking rate, than BG. The latter would provide adequate forage for mature animals.
Residual Effects of Fertilization with Pig Slurry: Double Cropping and Soil
Authors: Yagüe M. R. , Quílez D.
Published: November 2012

Intensive pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) production is an important economic activity in the northeast of Spain. Pig slurry (PS) is applied annually to maize (Zea mays L.) fields and supplemented with mineral N fertilizer at sidedressing. Fertilization with PS at different rates during four consecutive years was evaluated for its effects on soil salinity, water‐stable aggregates (WSA), and crop response of two consecutive barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and maize crops. We observed that the fertilization of maize with PS for four consecutive years did not increase soil salinity compared with mineral fertilization. We observed, however, an improvement in soil stability, which was measured by WSA, under PS fertilization (WSA = 16.0 ± 6.9%) compared with mineral fertilization (WSA = 5.6 ± 2.4%). The agronomic residual effect of the PS treatments on the barley crop was quantified in terms of the N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) as 77 kg N ha−1 and was not associated with PS rates applied during the previous 4 yr. For the maize crop, a significant N residual effect was also detected; the NFRV ranged between 11 and 56 kg N ha−1 and was significantly related to the PS rates applied the previous years. These results indicate that the annual application of PS to sprinkler‐irrigated maize at agronomic rates does not induce soil salinization, can have beneficial effects on some soils by increasing aggregate stability, and can provide significant amounts of N to subsequent crops. It is important to consider residual N effects in fertilizer planning to avoid N losses from the system.
Predicting Risk from Reducing Nitrogen Fertilization Using Hierarchical Models and On‐Farm Data
Authors: Kyveryga P. M. , Caragea P. C. , Kaiser M. S. , Blackmer T. M.
Published: November 2012

Current systems for developing N recommendations for corn (Zea mays L.) lack methods to quantify the effects of factors influencing yield responses to N and quantify the uncertainty in N recommendations. We utilized hierarchical modeling and Bayesian analysis to quantify the risk from reducing N to corn using on‐farm observations. Across Iowa, farmers conducted 34 trials in 2006 and 22 trials in 2007. Each trial had a farmer’s normal N rate alternating with a reduced rate (by about 30% less) in three or more replications. Yield losses (YLs) from reduced N were calculated at 35‐m intervals. Posterior distributions were used to identify across‐field and within‐field factors affecting YL and to quantify the risk of economic YL (>0.31 Mg ha−1) from reducing N in unobserved fields. In 2006 (dry May and June), the economic YL for corn after soybean (C‐S) was predicted to be 20% larger than that for corn after corn. Also in 2006, C‐S fields with above‐normal June rainfall had economic YLs 35% larger than those with below‐normal June rainfall, and sidedress applications were about 20% riskier than spring applications. In 2007 for C‐S, N reductions with above‐normal spring rainfall were riskier than with below‐normal spring rainfall. Areas with higher soil organic matter (SOM) had economic YLs about 20% smaller than those with lower SOM. Many on‐farm trials can be conducted across the state and the use of the proposed statistical methodology can improve decisions on where to reduce N applications across and within fields.
Use of Warm‐Season Grasses Managed as Bioenergy Crops for Phytoremediation of Excess Soil Phosphorus
Authors: Silveira Maria L. , Vendramini Joao M. B. , Sui Xiaolin , Sollenberger Lynn E. , O’Connor George A.
Published: November 2012

Effective options for reducing P losses from P‐enriched soils remain a major challenge, particularly in intensive agricultural areas. While different strategies have been shown to control P mobility (e.g., Ca‐ and Al‐based soil amendments and riparian buffers), they provide no means to reduce in situ soil P concentrations. The objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate the potential P‐removal capacity of four bioenergy crops (elephantgrass [Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.], sugarcane [Saccharum spp.], switchgrass [Panicum virgatum L.], and stargrass [Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst]) grown on a manure‐enriched soil, and (ii) examine the impacts of crop P uptake on soil P concentrations and surface groundwater quality. Treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design with four replicates. The greatest dry matter yields were observed for elephantgrass (average of 46 Mg ha−1 yr−1) followed by sugarcane (average of 40 Mg ha−1 yr−1). Tissue P concentrations were greater for stargrass (∼4 g kg−1) than elephantgrass (3.2 g kg−1) or sugarcane (1.9 g kg−1). Elephantgrass showed the greatest cumulative P removal (420 kg P ha−1 during the 3‐yr period). Soil P concentrations in the Ap horizon decreased with time, while an increase in soil P concentration was observed in the Bh horizon. Elephantgrass resulted in the lowest leachate P concentrations (∼0.5 mg P L−1) at the 60‐cm depth. Crop species had no effect on leachate P at the 90‐cm depth. Growth of elephantgrass as a biofuel feedstock appears to be an effective approach for remediation of excess soil P.