bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Aboriginal Understandings and Experiences of Tuberculosis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Authors: Macdonald Mary Ellen , Rigillo Nicole , Brassard Paul
Published: February 2010

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious health issue for some Aboriginal populations in Canada. In this article we build on two previous studies partnered with an Aboriginal community organization to examine TB in Montreal, Quebec. The current study draws on qualitative interviews with Aboriginal participants who had either themselves contracted TB or knew someone who had the disease. Thematic analysis revealed a high level of experiential knowledge among participants, although gaps in biomedical knowledge about the disease and available resources were apparent even among those who had been ill. Negative memories and experiences relating to the colonial history of TB treatment emerged as significant for many participants, helping to explain a silence around the topic of TB in the community. Barriers to TB testing were identified, including the fear of positive test results, the burden of long-term treatment for either latent or active disease, and systemic barriers within and mistrust of the health system. Community support for, as well as negative reactions toward, individuals ill with TB were identified. We conclude with a number of community health lessons to address the treatment and prevention of TB in urban populations.
The Problem of Time in Ethnographic Health Care Research
Authors: Willis Eileen M.
Published: February 2010

Drawing on the ideas outlined by anthropologist Fabian and feminist scholars Halford, Savage, and Witz, in this article I make two arguments that challenge ethnography’s claim to theoretical inference and empirical generalization, particularly for research examining contemporary health care practices. For Fabian, the dilemma arose out of ethnography’s origins in the secularization of time. Accounts of the subject’s experiences using present tense assume no progress; accounts using past tense freeze the subjects in the past. For Halford and her colleagues, the methodological problem was reversed. Their respondents were engaged in a battle with health systems in constant change that resulted in the loss of memory of a corporate past. The problem now for the ethnographer, as in many other research approaches, is one of verification of observations and reliability of interpretations. The ethnographer now becomes frozen in time as is his or her account of events in the field. Drawing on ethnographic research in hospital workplace change, in this article I examine these time-based implications for truth claims.
Ductile Fracture Simulation in the Taylor Rod Impact Test Using Continuum Damage Mechanics
Authors: Gautam Sachin S. , Babu Raman , Dixit P.M.
Published: February 2010

Taylor rod impact tests are used as experimental and numerical tests for determining the mechanical behavior of materials subjected to high strain rates. At sufficiently high velocities, a significant plastic deformation leading to fracture is observed. In this article, fracture in Taylor rod made of AISI1045 steel is simulated using a continuum damage mechanics model. The simulation is performed in the velocity range of 300—500 m/s. It is observed that, at lower velocities, tensile cracks are observed at the outer edge of the impact surface. On the other hand, at higher velocities, the fracture is observed at the central axis (confined fracture) as well as at the outer edge leading to fragmentation. Both the results are corroborated with experimental results available in the literature.
Studies on Rate-dependent Macro-damage Evolution of Materials at High Strain Rates
Authors: Wang Li-Li , Zhou Feng-Hua , Sun Zi-Jian , Wang Yong-Zhong , Shi Shao-Qiu
Published: February 2010

Dynamic damage evolution and its influence on the constitutive relation for materials in high strain rate are experimentally and theoretically studied. It is revealed that damage evolution is a rate-dependent process depending on both strain and strain rate, and can be modeled by the thermo-activation mechanism. For polymer PMMA, PP/PA blend and concrete, the coupled damage evolution law and the rate dependent constitutive relation (DM-ZWT model) are obtained and well supported by the experimental data.
Similarity and Agreement in Self-and Other Perception: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kenny David A. , West Tessa V.
Published: February 2010

The authors examined the consistency of person perception in two domains: agreement (i.e., do two raters of the same person agree?) and similarity (i.e., does a perceiver view two persons as similar to one another?). In each domain, they compared self-judgments with judgments not involving the self (i.e., self-other agreement vs. consensus, in the case of agreement, and assumed similarity vs. assimilation, in the case of similarity). In a meta-analysis of 24 studies, they examined the effects of several moderating variables on each type of judgment. In general, moderators exerted similar effects irrespective of whether judgments of the self were involved. Group size did have stronger effects on self-other agreement and assumed similarity than on consensus and assimilation. The authors also present evidence that new measures of assumed similarity and self-other agreement using the Social Relations Model seem to be relatively independent of the moderators.
Howard and the mermaid: abjection and the Starbucks’ Foundation memoir
Authors: Phillips Mary , Rippin Ann
Published: February 2010

Using a New Historicist approach of reading by juxtaposition, an analysis is offered of two types of text; one the autobiography of Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, and the other the Starbucks logo which presents an unusual two-tailed mermaid. These texts are read alongside a medieval French romance and other historical representations of mermaids. We draw on the work of Julia Kristeva in Powers of Horror (1982) to investigate the idea of the abject. We are using abject in this context to mean a human reaction to a threatened breakdown in meaning caused by the loss of distinction between self and other. It is a space which is both feared but to which the subject is continually and repetitively drawn. The texts are explored to reveal how the abject Other, in these texts emotion, the feminine and the female reproductive sexual body, both fascinates and disgusts but cannot be excluded and leaks back. The reading contests and problematizes the customary discourse of CEO autobiography which is managerialist and heroic by uncovering a story of love, obsession and seduction which emasculates the story’s hero. Both New Historicist methodology and the concept of abjection are offered as means to develop interesting insights into discourses of organization.
Engaging with genocide: the challenge for organization and management studies
Authors: Stokes Peter , Gabriel Yiannis
Published: February 2010

Genocide has been an enduring and profoundly disturbing feature of history. Yet, scholars of organization and management have approached it in a rather limited and marginal way. In this article, the authors propose that genocide far from constituting a tragic phenomenon at the margins of contemporary society raises questions that go to the heart of organization and management studies. In particular, they argue that genocide represents a challenge for organizational theorists in two regards—first, to unlock the organizational and managerial processes that make it possible, and, second, to investigate the extent to which these processes apply to non-genocidal situations. Four particular issues are drawn out as urgently calling for further research—first, the extent to which genocide should be treated as an ‘exceptional’ event; second, the study of different types of genocide involving different forms of management, organization and violence; third, probing into the issue of whether genocide represents a failure of morality or an instance of exaggerated zeal in applying morality; and fourth, the study of the ways ‘othering’ is acted out, both at the broad level of victims and perpetrators, but also in creating a wide range of subdivisions, different degrees of victimhood and collusion, different choices and dilemmas and different modes of identity construction.
European varieties of capitalism and the international
Authors: Bruff Ian
Published: February 2010

This article develops a framework for analysing the distinctive national trajectories of European varieties of capitalism under the conditioning of ‘the international’. It does so through a critical engagement with two prominent historical materialist literatures — transnational historical materialism and uneven and combined development. I argue that, in contrast to these contributions, a nationally-oriented perspective utilizing Antonio Gramsci’s writings on ‘common sense’ has greater potential for narrowing the optic from broader concerns to fine-grained analysis. In particular, I focus on how articulations between the national and the international are constitutive of how humans make sense of the material basis for their existence.The Dutch variety of capitalism is then examined in order to demonstrate the advantages of utilizing this ‘common sense’ framework for political economy analysis.
Doing development and writing culture
Authors: Green Maia
Published: February 2010

This article explores the implications of different knowledge practices in anthropology and international development. Knowledge in development is not a straightforward matter of knowledge about context and devising actions. International development practice is knowledge explicitly constituted as a form of action. Anthropological knowledge claims to separate knowledge from action, first, by making knowledge about the past actions of others — representations — and, second, by representing its own knowledge as abstracted from its practice in the present. The absence of anthropological knowledge from development practice is not a matter of the relation between different kinds of knowledge which could be brought together, but is a product of the ontological basis of different practices.
Motion squared
Authors: Vigh Henrik
Published: February 2010

Serving as a metaphor for practice, the concept of navigation has become increasingly popular in anthropological theory. The concept seems to have almost sneaked its way into our analytical vocabulary; it is used when referring to how people act in difficult or uncertain circumstances and in describing how they disentangle themselves from confining structures, plot their escape and move towards better positions. Yet, despite its increasing popularity, the concept is most often used in an unspecified or misunderstood manner — it is generally not well defined! Building on prolonged fieldwork in Bissau, West Africa, and with West African migrants in Lisbon, Portugal, I take a second look at the concept of social navigation, clarifying the notion as an analytical optic, discarding the most unfortunate misconceptualizations of the term and elucidating the contribution that the concept can make to our understanding of the way people act in their social worlds.
Planet M
Authors: Holbraad Martin , Pedersen Morten Axel
Published: February 2010

This article examines the peculiar nature of comparison in the work of Marilyn Strathern. Contrasting her approach to more familiar arguments regarding the role of reflexivity and multi-sited ethnography in the comparative agenda of contemporary anthropology, we elucidate the logical and metaphysical tenets that underlie the particular manner in which Strathern connects and disconnects ethnographic materials (not least her juxtapositions of Melanesian and European ethnography). Focusing on her abiding distinction between ‘plural’ and ‘postplural’ approaches to analysis, we explore the role of ‘scaling’ in her anthropological project, and argue that this allows for a characteristically intense form of abstraction, which, among other things, enables her to make trans-temporal comparisons between ‘ethnographic moments’ otherwise separated by history.
Turkey’s Kurds and the Quest for Recognition
Authors: Casier Marlies
Published: February 2010

The growing literature on transnationalism documents the ways in which immigrants and refugees stay connected with their communities and countries of origin, and shows how homeland governments reach out to their former constituents. Social, financial and political ties are extended across borders. We know little, however, about the specific ways in which oppositional transnational political practices are shaped and made effective. What is more, research on transnational political practices has often limited itself to investigations of the connections between nation states. This article illustrates how transnational political practices articulate different levels of policy making (local, national, supranational) in ways that multiply the effectiveness of engagement at any one site. It will be shown that homeland political activists can effectively shape the homeland political agenda through the mobilization of immigrants’ and refugees’ associations and institutions in multilevel constructions of networks, constituting a space of political engagement that needs to be considered in its own right.
Inter-ethnic friendships in post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina
Authors: O'Loughlin John
Published: February 2010

International concerns about the continued ethnicization of Bosnian social and political life are both validated and challenged by the December 2005 public opinion study. Ordinary Bosnians are willing to consider cross-ethnic friendships and cooperation. The gap between ethnic elites and entrepreneurs and their constituents is evident still in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH). The optimistic note of this study is sounded by the fact that half of respondents in BiH want more friends from different nationalities. The differences between the three ethnic groups are not dramatic. However, 41 percent of respondents stated that all or most of their friends were from their own nationality. Analysis of the responses by geographic location and by explanations related to modernization, ethnic competition and war experiences, indicated that all proved useful in understanding the distributions. The geographic distributions indicated the primacy of the urban—rural factor for questions on current friendship networks and preferences for friends in other ethnic groups.
Cultural Exemptions, Equality and Basic Interests
Authors: Shorten Andrew
Published: February 2010

Justifications for cultural exemptions (CE) have been a controversial feature of recent discussions of multiculturalism. Some hold that CEs are justifiable (if at all) only on grounds of prudence (for instance, in order to secure political stability). According to the prudence-only view, CEs are justified inequalities. Meanwhile, some multiculturalists claim that at least some CEs are required to respect the equality of citizens from minority cultures. Sometimes this follows from a particular interpretation of what ‘luck egalitarianism’ requires, and sometimes it follows from a particular account of equality of recognition. In each case, the claim is that CEs are not justified inequalities but are justified for equality. This article rejects the prudence-only view and casts doubt on the two dominant egalitarian arguments for CEs, instead defending a version of a ‘basic interests’ argument. This approach is then shown to be supported by some widely held views about the importance of self-respect for democratic citizenship.
‘We Are the Good Guys’
Authors: Hellström Anders , Nilsson Tom
Published: February 2010

This article explores the ideological positioning of Sverigedemokraterna (SD; the Sweden Democrats) in contemporary Swedish politics. Comparative research on nationalist parties pays very little attention to SD, despite the fact that following the general elections in 2006 it came close to consolidating a permanent position in Swedish politics. In the analysis, we highlight the recurrent rhetorical figures in the public debate as manifested in the media coverage from September 2006 to May 2007. The ideological positioning of SD evolves in the interaction between its self-image and the counter arguments adopted by SD-antagonists. Although the established parties were careful to distance themselves from SD, our analysis indicates a possible taming of SD in the run-up to the general elections in 2010. The party’s monocultural nationalist messages may also become more widely accepted and still allow it to be considered as ‘one of the good guys’.
The Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions of the Word Race
Authors: Banton Michael
Published: February 2010

The word race has been used both to classify humans and to account for differences between those assigned to the resulting classes or taxa. The two dimensions (horizontal and vertical) are inherent in the conception of race. Initially, the word was used in ways that gave more expression to the sense of descent embodied in the vertical dimension. Since the early 19th century, the word has been used in ways that express the sense of classification reflected in the horizontal dimension. Some histories of thought about human origins and divisions have assumed, wrongly, that a ‘scientific concept of race’ was at some time established within anthropology.
Changes in Signal Dimension of Chaotic Ultrasonic Waves During Data Acquisition and Generation
Authors: Fasel Timothy R. , Todd Michael D.
Published: February 2010

Recent research has shown that structural interrogation using chaotic ultrasonic waves and state space reconstruction may be used beneficially in structural health monitoring processes. A low signal dimension is vital to the efficacy of this method as low-dimensional signals provide reduced processing and storage requirements and increased ability of the system to resolve damage via statistically robust computation of features. This study seeks to examine the effects that a typical data acquisition (DAQ) process has on the signal dimension by examining both simulated and experimental signals. It is concluded that the DAQ process does not substantially alter the embedded dimension of a chaotic signal as long as the digital resolution is at least 12-bits and that increased signal dimension results in decreased damage state resolution.
Treatment of Children With Speech Oral Placement Disorders (OPDs): A Paradigm Emerges
Authors: Bahr Diane , Rosenfeld-Johnson Sara
Published: February 2010

Epidemiological research was used to develop the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS). The SDCS is an important speech diagnostic paradigm in the field of speech-language pathology. This paradigm could be expanded and refined to also address treatment while meeting the standards of evidence-based practice. The article assists that process by initiating a clinical exchange of ideas on the topic of speech treatment. It explores: (a) the treatment of children with speech oral placement disorders (OPD; a new term suggested by the authors), (b) the various types of speech oral placement therapy (OPT) used to treat OPD, (c) the relationships of OPT to current motor learning theories and oral motor treatment, as well as (c) the critical need for appropriately designed, systematic research on OPT.
Review: Verbal Agitation in Dementia: The Role of Discomfort
Authors: Lemay Marianne , Landreville Philippe
Published: February 2010

Verbal agitation (VA) is a disturbing and commonly observed behavioral symptom in people with dementia. Although several different variables contribute to VA, it seems that discomfort plays an important role. The overall objective of this article is to review the relationship between VA and discomfort among people with dementia. Specifically, this article discusses the place of discomfort within the conceptualizations of VA, empirical support for the association between discomfort and VA, and practical implications of this relationship in the assessment and treatment of VA. This article contributes to a better understanding of VA and provides recommendations for prevention and effective intervention.
Effects of Apolipoprotein E-ε4 and -ε2 in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Shanghai: SCOBHI-P
Authors: Borenstein Amy R. , Mortimer James A. , Ding Ding  , Schellenberg Gerard D. , DeCarli Charles , Qianhua Zhao  , Copenhaver Cathleen , Qihao Guo  , Shugang Chu  , Galasko Douglas , Salmon David P. , Qi Dai  , Yougui Wu  , Petersen Ronald , Zhen Hong
Published: February 2010

Objective: To determine apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ε4 and -ε2 frequencies and risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in Shanghai, China. Methods: A total of 34 MCI and 34 dementia cases were recruited from an urban Memory Disorders Clinic and 32 controls were recruited from a residential community served by the clinic. Apolipoprotein E was genotyped using standard methods. Results: Among controls, frequencies were ε2, 0.11; ε3, 0.84; and ε4, 0.05; among MCI, 0.05, 0.77, and 0.18; and for dementia, 0.02, 0.84, and 0.15, respectively. In education-adjusted models, the odds ratio (OR) = 5.6 for dementia (95% CI = 1.09-29.3) and 4.7 for MCI (95% CI = 0.90-25.2) associated with any ε4 allele. The ε2 allele was inversely associated with dementia (OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.013-0.997) and MCI (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.08-1.61). Conclusions: APOE-ε4 increases and -ε2 decreases the risk of dementia vs normal cognition. Similar trends were observed for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).
A Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Trauma, Experiential Avoidance, and Disease Management in HIV-Positive MSM Using Methamphetamine
Authors: Chartier Maggie , Vinatieri Trisha , DeLonga Kathryn , McGlynn Lawrence M. , Gore-Felton Cheryl , Koopman Cheryl
Published: February 2010

With high rates of trauma among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who use methamphetamine, this preliminary pilot study examined the associations between experiential avoidance, trauma symptoms, and management of a chronic illness. Among a small sample of HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM in a California Bay Area County, greater reported experiential avoidance was significantly related to greater reported trauma and symptoms of traumatic stress. Furthermore, greater reported experiential avoidance was significantly related to reduced self-efficacy of illness management and more frequent methamphetamine use. Although further research is needed, these data suggest that addressing issues of experiential avoidance and trauma could affect behavioral choices and treatment outcomes in this high-risk population.
Biochemical characterization of three putative ATPases from a new type IV secretion system of Aeromonas veronii plasmid pAC3249A
Authors: Rangrez Ashraf Y , Abajy Mohammad Y , Keller Walter , Shouche Yogesh , Grohmann Elisabeth
Published: February 2010

Background

Type four secretion systems (TFSS) are bacterial macromolecular transport systems responsible for transfer of various substrates such as proteins, DNA or protein-DNA complexes. TFSSs encode two or three ATPases generating energy for the secretion process. These enzymes exhibit highest sequence conservation among type four secretion components.

Results

Here, we report the biochemical characterization of three ATPases namely TraE, TraJ and TraK (VirB4, VirB11 and VirD4 homologs of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfer system, respectively) from the transfer system of Aeromonas veronii plasmid pAC3249A. ATPases were expressed as His-tag fusion proteins in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. ATP binding and ATP hydrolysis experiments were performed with the purified ATPases. TraE and TraK showed strong binding to TNP-ATP and TNP-CTP (fluorescent analogs of ATP and CTP respectively) whereas TraJ showed weak binding. The optimum temperature range for the three ATPases was between 42°C and 50°C. Highest ATP hydrolysis activity for all the ATPases was observed in the presence of Mg2+ and Mn2+. However, TraJ and TraK also showed activity in the presence of Co2+. TraJ exhibited the highest specific activity of all the three ATPases with vmax 118 ± 5.68 nmol/min/mg protein and KM 0.58 ± 0.10 mM.

Conclusions

This is the first biochemical characterization of conjugative transport ATPases encoded by a conjugative plasmid from Aeromonas. Our study demonstrated that the three ATPases of a newly reported TFSS of A. veronii plasmid pAc3249A are functional in both ATP hydrolysis and ATP binding.
Development of a EST dataset and characterization of EST-SSRs in a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. Et Zucc.) Maxim
Authors: Zeng Shaohua , Xiao Gong , Guo Juan , Fei Zhangjun , Xu Yanqin , Roe Bruce A , Wang Ying
Published: February 2010

Background

Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. Et Zucc.) Maxim, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant species, has been used extensively as genuine medicinal materials. Certain Epimedium species are endangered due to commercial overexploition, while sustainable application studies, conservation genetics, systematics, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) of Epimedium is less-studied due to the lack of molecular markers. Here, we report a set of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) identified in these ESTs for E. sagittatum.

Results

cDNAs of E. sagittatum are sequenced using 454 GS-FLX pyrosequencing technology. The raw reads are cleaned and assembled into a total of 76,459 consensus sequences comprising of 17,231 contigs and 59,228 singlets. About 38.5% (29,466) of the consensus sequences significantly match to the non-redundant protein database (E-value < 1e-10), 22,295 of which are further annotated using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. A total of 2,810 EST-SSRs is identified from the Epimedium EST dataset. Trinucleotide SSR is the dominant repeat type (55.2%) followed by dinucleotide (30.4%), tetranuleotide (7.3%), hexanucleotide (4.9%), and pentanucleotide (2.2%) SSR. The dominant repeat motif is AAG/CTT (23.6%) followed by AG/CT (19.3%), ACC/GGT (11.1%), AT/AT (7.5%), and AAC/GTT (5.9%). Thirty-two SSR-ESTs are randomly selected and primer pairs are synthesized for testing the transferability across 52 Epimedium species. Eighteen primer pairs (85.7%) could be successfully transferred to Epimedium species and sixteen of those show high genetic diversity with 0.35 of observed heterozygosity (Ho) and 0.65 of expected heterozygosity (He) and high number of alleles per locus (11.9).

Conclusion

A large EST dataset with a total of 76,459 consensus sequences is generated, aiming to provide sequence information for deciphering secondary metabolism, especially for flavonoid pathway in Epimedium. A total of 2,810 EST-SSRs is identified from EST dataset and ~1580 EST-SSR markers are transferable. E. sagittatum EST-SSR transferability to the major Epimedium germplasm is up to 85.7%. Therefore, this EST dataset and EST-SSRs will be a powerful resource for further studies such as taxonomy, molecular breeding, genetics, genomics, and secondary metabolism in Epimedium species.
Genome-wide analysis of rice ClpB/HSP100, ClpC and ClpD genes
Authors: Singh Amanjot , Singh Upasana , Mittal Dheeraj , Grover Anil
Published: February 2010

Background

ClpB-cyt/HSP100 protein acts as chaperone, mediating disaggregation of denatured proteins. Previous studies have shown that ClpB-cyt/HSP100 gene belongs to the group class I Clp ATPase proteins and ClpB-cyt/HSP100 transcript is regulated by heat stress and developmental cues.

Results

Nine ORFs were noted to constitute rice class I Clp ATPases in the following manner: 3 ClpB proteins (ClpB-cyt, Os05g44340; ClpB-m, Os02g08490; ClpB-c, Os03g31300), 4 ClpC proteins (ClpC1, Os04g32560; ClpC2, Os12g12580; ClpC3, Os11g16590; ClpC4, Os11g16770) and 2 ClpD proteins (ClpD1, Os02g32520; ClpD2, Os04g33210). Using the respective signal sequences cloned upstream to GFP/CFP reporter proteins and transient expression studies with onion epidermal cells, evidence is provided that rice ClpB-m and Clp-c proteins are indeed localized to their respective cell locations mitochondria and chloroplasts, respectively. Associated with their diverse cell locations, domain structures of OsClpB-c, OsClpB-m and OsClpB-cyt proteins are noted to possess a high-level conservation.OsClpB-cyttranscript is shown to be enriched at milk and dough stages of seed development. While expression ofOsClpB-mwas significantly less as compared to its cytoplasmic and chloroplastic counterparts in different tissues, this transcript showed highest heat-induced expression amongst the 3 ClpB proteins. OsClpC1 and OsClpC2 are predicted to be chloroplast-localized as is the case with all known plant ClpC proteins. However, the fact that OsClpC3 protein appears mitochondrial/chloroplastic with equal probability and OsClpC4 a plasma membrane protein reflects functional diversity of this class. Different class I Clp ATPase transcripts were noted to be cross-induced by a host of different abiotic stress conditions. Complementation assays ofΔhsp104mutant yeast cells showed thatOsClpB-cyt,OsClpB-m,OsClpC1andOsClpD1have significantly positive effects. Remarkably,OsClpD1gene imparted appreciably high level tolerance to the mutant yeast cells.

Conclusions

Rice class I Clp ATPase gene family is constituted of 9 members. Of these 9, only 3 belonging to ClpB group are heat stress regulated. Distribution of ClpB proteins to different cell organelles indicates that their functioning might be critical in different cell locations. From the complementation assays, OsClpD1 appears to be more effective than OsClpB-cyt protein in rescuing the thermosensitive defect of the yeastScΔhsp104mutant cells.
Trichomonas vaginalis vast BspA-like gene family: evidence for functional diversity from structural organisation and transcriptomics
Authors: Noël Christophe J , Diaz Nicia , Sicheritz-Ponten Thomas , Safarikova Lucie , Tachezy Jan , Tang Petrus , Fiori Pier-Luigi , Hirt Robert P
Published: February 2010

Background

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common non-viral human sexually transmitted pathogen and importantly, contributes to facilitating the spread of HIV. Yet very little is known about its surface and secreted proteins mediating interactions with, and permitting the invasion and colonisation of, the host mucosa. Initial annotations of T. vaginalis genome identified a plethora of candidate extracellular proteins.

Results

Data mining of the T. vaginalis genome identified 911 BspA-like entries (TvBspA) sharing TpLRR-like leucine-rich repeats, which represent the largest gene family encoding potential extracellular proteins for the pathogen. A broad range of microorganisms encoding BspA-like proteins was identified and these are mainly known to live on mucosal surfaces, among these T. vaginalis is endowed with the largest gene family. Over 190 TvBspA proteins with inferred transmembrane domains were characterised by a considerable structural diversity between their TpLRR and other types of repetitive sequences and two subfamilies possessed distinct classic sorting signal motifs for endocytosis. One TvBspA subfamily also shared a glycine-rich protein domain with proteins from Clostridium difficile pathogenic strains and C. difficile phages. Consistent with the hypothesis that TvBspA protein structural diversity implies diverse roles, we demonstrated for several TvBspA genes differential expression at the transcript level in different growth conditions. Identified variants of repetitive segments between several TvBspA paralogues and orthologues from two clinical isolates were also consistent with TpLRR and other repetitive sequences to be functionally important. For one TvBspA protein cell surface expression and antibody responses by both female and male T. vaginalis infected patients were also demonstrated.

Conclusions

The biased mucosal habitat for microbial species encoding BspA-like proteins, the characterisation of a vast structural diversity for the TvBspA proteins, differential expression of a subset of TvBspA genes and the cellular localisation and immunological data for one TvBspA; all point to the importance of the TvBspA proteins to various aspects of T. vaginalis pathobiology at the host-pathogen interface.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cystic Fibrosis isolates of similar RAPD genotype exhibit diversity in biofilm forming ability in vitro
Authors: Deligianni Elena , Pattison Sally , Berrar Daniel , Ternan Nigel G , Haylock Richard W , Moore John E , Elborn Stuart J , Dooley James SG
Published: February 2010

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered to grow in a biofilm in cystic fibrosis (CF) chronic lung infections. Bacterial cell motility is one of the main factors that have been connected with P. aeruginosa adherence to both biotic and abiotic surfaces. In this investigation, we employed molecular and microscopic methods to determine the presence or absence of motility in P. aeruginosa CF isolates, and statistically correlated this with their biofilm forming ability in vitro.

Results

Our investigations revealed a wide diversity in the production, architecture and control of biofilm formation. Of 96 isolates, 49% possessed swimming motility, 27% twitching and 52% swarming motility, while 47% were non-motile. Microtitre plate assays for biofilm formation showed a range of biofilm formation ability from biofilm deficient phenotypes to those that formed very thick biofilms. A comparison of the motility and adherence properties of individual strains demonstrated that the presence of swimming and twitching motility positively affected biofilm biomass. Crucially, however, motility was not an absolute requirement for biofilm formation, as 30 non-motile isolates actually formed thick biofilms, and three motile isolates that had both flagella and type IV pili attached only weakly. In addition, CLSM analysis showed that biofilm-forming strains of P. aeruginosa were in fact capable of entrapping non-biofilm forming strains, such that these 'non-biofilm forming' cells could be observed as part of the mature biofilm architecture.

Conclusions

Clinical isolates that do not produce biofilms in the laboratory must have the ability to survive in the patient lung. We propose that a synergy exists between isolates in vivo, which allows "non biofilm-forming" isolates to be incorporated into the biofilm. Therefore, there is the potential for strains that are apparently non-biofilm forming in vitro to participate in biofilm-mediated pathogenesis in the CF lung.
Transcriptional profiling reveals the expression of novel genes in response to various stimuli in the human dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum
Authors: Peres Nalu TA , Sanches Pablo R , Falcão Juliana P , Silveira Henrique CS , Paião Fernanda G , Maranhão Fernanda CA , Gras Diana E , Segato Fernando , Cazzaniga Rodrigo A , Mazucato Mendelson , Cursino-Santos Jeny R , Aquino-Ferreira Roseli , Rossi Antonio , Martinez-Rossi Nilce M
Published: February 2010

Background

Cutaneous mycoses are common human infections among healthy and immunocompromised hosts, and the anthropophilic fungus Trichophyton rubrum is the most prevalent microorganism isolated from such clinical cases worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the transcriptional profile of T. rubrum exposed to various stimuli in order to obtain insights into the responses of this pathogen to different environmental challenges. Therefore, we generated an expressed sequence tag (EST) collection by constructing one cDNA library and nine suppression subtractive hybridization libraries.

Results

The 1388 unigenes identified in this study were functionally classified based on the Munich Information Center for Protein Sequences (MIPS) categories. The identified proteins were involved in transcriptional regulation, cellular defense and stress, protein degradation, signaling, transport, and secretion, among other functions. Analysis of these unigenes revealed 575 T. rubrum sequences that had not been previously deposited in public databases.

Conclusion

In this study, we identified novel T. rubrum genes that will be useful for ORF prediction in genome sequencing and facilitating functional genome analysis. Annotation of these expressed genes revealed metabolic adaptations of T. rubrum to carbon sources, ambient pH shifts, and various antifungal drugs used in medical practice. Furthermore, challenging T. rubrum with cytotoxic drugs and ambient pH shifts extended our understanding of the molecular events possibly involved in the infectious process and resistance to antifungal drugs.
Food seeking in spite of harmful consequences is under prefrontal cortical noradrenergic control
Authors: Latagliata Emanuele Claudio , Patrono Enrico , Puglisi-Allegra Stefano , Ventura Rossella
Published: February 2010

Background

Eating disorders are multifactorial psychiatric disorders. Chronic stressful experiences and caloric restriction are the most powerful triggers of eating disorders in human and animals. Although compulsive behavior is considered to characterize pathological excessive food intake, to our knowledge, no evidence has been reported of continued food seeking/intake despite its possible harmful consequences, an index of compulsive behavior. Brain monoamine transmission is considered to have a key role in vulnerability to eating disorders, and norepinephrine in medial prefrontal cortex has been shown to be critical for food-related motivated behavior.

Here, using a new paradigm of conditioned suppression, we investigated whether the ability of a foot-shock-paired conditioned stimulus to suppress chocolate-seeking behavior was reversed by previous exposure to a food restriction experience, thus modeling food seeking in spite of harmful consequences in mice. Moreover, we assessed the effects of selective norepinephrine inactivation in medial prefrontal cortex on conditioned suppression test in stressed and caloric restricted mice.

Results

While Control (non food deprived) animals showed a profound conditioned suppression of chocolate seeking during presentation of conditioned stimulus, previously food restricted animals showed food seeking/intake despite its possible harmful consequences. Moreover, food seeking in spite of harmful consequences was prevented by selective norepinephrine inactivation, thus showing that prefrontal cortical norepinephrine is critical also for maladaptive food-related behavior.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that adaptive food seeking/intake can be transformed into maladaptive behaviors and point to "top-down" influence on eating disturbances and to new targets for therapy of aberrant eating behaviors.
BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and protein levels in Amniotic Fluid
Authors: Cattaneo Annamaria , Bocchio-Chiavetto Luisella , Zanardini Roberta , Marchina Eleonora , Bellotti Daniela , Milanesi Elena , Moraschi Stefania , Calabrese Francesca , Barlati Sergio , Riva Marco Andrea , Gennarelli Massimo
Published: February 2010

Background

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin which plays survival- and growth-promoting activity in neuronal cells and it is involved in cellular plasticity mechanisms as it controls activity dependent synaptic transmission. A functional polymorphism (Val66Met) in the pro-region of BDNF, which affects the intracellular trafficking of proBDNF has been associated with memory and cognitive deficits as well as to an increased susceptibility for several psychiatric disorders especially those with a neurodevelopmental origin. To date, no study has evaluated the influence of the Val66Met polymorphism on BDNF levels in a peripheral system that may reflect fetal neurodevelopment. Therefore we investigated in amniotic fluids (AF) obtained from 139 healthy women during 15-17 week of pregnancy, BDNF protein levels in correlation with the Val66Met polymorphism.

Results

Interestingly we found a significant BDNF protein levels reduction in 55 Met carriers (Val/Met and Met/Met) (p = 0.002) as compared to 84 non carriers (Val/Val), and no effect of fetus gender, maternal age or gestation week on BDNF levels has been observed.

Conclusion

These results, although explorative, indicate that during fetal life the Val66Met genotype might influences BDNF protein levels in AF supporting the involvement of this polymorphism in behavioral and functional brain individual differences in the adulthood.
The origin of populations of Arabidopsis thalianain China, based on the chloroplast DNA sequences
Authors: Yin Ping , Kang Juqing , He Fei , Qu Li-Jia , Gu Hongya
Published: February 2010

Background

In the studies incorporating worldwide sampling of A. thaliana populations, the samples from East Asia, especially from China, were very scattered; and the studies focused on global patterns of cpDNA genetic variation among accessions of A. thaliana are very few. In this study, chloroplast DNA sequence variability was used to infer phylogenetic relationships among Arabidopsis thaliana accessions from around the world, with the emphasis on samples from China.

Results

A data set comprising 77 accessions of A. thaliana, including 19 field-collected Chinese accessions together with three related species (A. arenosa, A. suecica, and Olimarabidopsis cabulica) as the out-group, was compiled. The analysis of the nucleotide sequences showed that the 77 accessions of A. thaliana were partitioned into two major differentiated haplotype classes (MDHCs). The estimated divergence time of the two MDHCs was about 0.39 mya. Forty-nine haplotypes were detected among the 77 accessions, which exhibited nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.00169. The Chinese populations along the Yangtze River were characterized by five haplotypes, and the two accessions collected from the middle range of the Altai Mountains in China shared six specific variable sites.

Conclusions

The dimorphism in the chloroplast DNA could be due to founder effects during late Pleistocene glaciations and interglacial periods, although introgression cannot be ruled out. The Chinese populations along the Yangtze River may have dispersed eastwards to their present-day locations from the Himalayas. These populations originated from a common ancestor, and a rapid demographic expansion began approximately 90,000 years ago. Two accessions collected from the middle range of the Altai Mountains in China may have survived in a local refugium during late Pleistocene glaciations. The natural populations from China with specific genetic characteristics enriched the gene pools of global A. thaliana collections.
The Manchester Color Wheel: development of a novel way of identifying color choice and its validation in healthy, anxious and depressed individuals
Authors: Carruthers Helen R , Morris Julie , Tarrier Nicholas , Whorwell Peter J
Published: February 2010

Background

For the purposes of our research programme we needed a simple, reliable and validated method for allowing choice of a color in response to a series of questions. On reviewing the literature no such instrument was available and this study aimed to rectify this situation. This was achieved by developing a simple method of presenting a series of colors to people validating it in healthy volunteers and in individuals where color choice might be distorted, namely anxiety and depression.

Methods

A series of different presentations of four shades of eight colors and grey, as well as black and white were evaluated. 'Mood', 'favourite' and 'drawn to' colors were assessed in 105 healthy, 108 anxious and 110 depressed participants. The positive, neutral or negative attribution of these colors was recorded in a further 204 healthy volunteers.

Results

The circular presentation of colors was most favoured (Color Wheel). Yellow was the most 'drawn to' color and blue the commonest 'favourite' color in all subjects. Yellow was most often associated with a normal mood and grey with an anxious or depressed mood. Different shades of the same color had completely different positive or negative connotations. Reproducibility was exceptionally high when color choice was recorded in positive, neutral or negative terms.

Conclusions

The Color Wheel could be used to assess health status, mood or even treatment outcome in a variety of clinical situations. It may also have utility in circumstances where verbal communication may not be optimal, such as with children.
Chromosome 7p linkage and association study for diabetes related traits and type 2 diabetes in an African-American population enriched for nephropathy
Authors: Leak Tennille S , Langefeld Carl D , Keene Keith L , Gallagher Carla J , Lu Lingyi , Mychaleckyj Josyf C , Rich Stephen S , Freedman Barry I , Bowden Donald W , Sale Michèle M
Published: February 2010

Background

Previously we performed a linkage scan of 638 African American affected sibling pairs (ASP) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) enriched for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Ordered subset linkage analysis (OSA) revealed a linkage peak on chromosome 7p in the subset of families with earlier age of T2D diagnosis.

Methods

We fine mapped this region by genotyping 11 additional polymorphic markers in the same ASP and investigated a total of 68 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in functional candidate genes (GCK1, IL6, IGFBP1 and IGFBP3) for association with age of T2D diagnosis, age of ESRD diagnosis, duration of T2D to onset of ESRD, body mass index (BMI) in African American cases and T2D-ESRD in an African American case-control cohort. OSA of fine mapping markers supported linkage at 28 cM on 7p (near D7S3051) in early-onset T2D families (max. LOD = 3.61, P = 0.002). SNPs in candidate genes and 70 ancestry-informative markers (AIMs) were evaluated in 577 African American T2D-ESRD cases and 596 African American controls.

Results

The most significant association was observed between ESRD age of diagnosis and SNP rs730497, located in intron 1 of the GCK1 gene (recessive T2D age-adjusted P = 0.0006). Nominal associations were observed with GCK1 SNPs and T2D age of diagnosis (BMI-adjusted P = 0.014 to 0.032). Also, one IGFBP1 and four IGFBP3 SNPs showed nominal genotypic association with T2D-ESRD (P = 0.002-0.049). After correcting for multiple tests, only rs730497 remanined significant.

Conclusion

Variant rs730947 in the GCK1 gene appears to play a role in early ESRD onset in African Americans.