bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of image registration based measures of regional lung ventilation from dynamic spiral CT with Xe‐CT
Authors: Ding Kai , Cao Kunlin , Fuld Matthew K. , Du Kaifang , Christensen Gary E. , Hoffman Eric A. , Reinhardt Joseph M.
Published: July 2012

Purpose:

Regional lung volume change as a function of lung inflation serves as an index of parenchymal and airway status as well as an index of regional ventilation and can be used to detect pathologic changes over time. In this paper, the authors propose a new regional measure of lung mechanics—the specific air volume change by corrected Jacobian. The authors compare this new measure, along with two existing registration based measures of lung ventilation, to a regional ventilation measurement derived from xenon‐CT (Xe‐CT) imaging.

Methods:

4DCT and Xe‐CT datasets from four adult sheep are used in this study. Nonlinear, 3D image registration is applied to register an image acquired near end inspiration to an image acquired near end expiration. Approximately 200 annotated anatomical points are used as landmarks to evaluate registration accuracy. Three different registration based measures of regional lung mechanics are derived and compared: the specific air volume change calculated from the Jacobian (SAJ); the specific air volume change calculated by the corrected Jacobian (SACJ); and the specific air volume change by intensity change (SAI). The authors show that the commonly used SAI measure can be derived from the direct SAJ measure by using the air‐tissue mixture model and assuming there is no tissue volume change between the end inspiration and end expiration datasets. All three ventilation measures are evaluated by comparing to Xe‐CT estimates of regional ventilation.

Results:

After registration, the mean registration error is on the order of 1 mm. For cubical regions of interest (ROIs) in cubes with size 20 mm × 20 mm × 20 mm, the SAJ and SACJ measures show significantly higher correlation (linear regression, averager2 = 0.75 and r2 = 0.82) with the Xe‐CT based measure of specific ventilation (sV) than the SAI measure. For ROIs in slabs along the ventral‐dorsal vertical direction with size of 150 mm × 8 mm × 40 mm, the SAJ, SACJ, and SAI all show high correlation (linear regression, average r2 = 0.88, r2 = 0.92, and r2 = 0.87) with the Xe‐CT based sV without significant differences when comparing between the three methods. The authors demonstrate a linear relationship between the difference of specific air volume change and difference of tissue volume in all four animals (linear regression, average r2 = 0.86).

Conclusions:

Given a deformation field by an image registration algorithm, significant differences between the SAJ, SACJ, and SAI measures were found at a regional level compared to the Xe‐CT sV in four sheep that were studied. The SACJ introduced here, provides better correlations with Xe‐CT based sV than the SAJ and SAI measures, thus providing an improved surrogate for regional ventilation.
Uncoupling of Substrate-Level Phosphorylation in Escherichia coli during Glucose-Limited Growth
Authors: Sharma Poonam , Hellingwerf Klaas J. , Teixeira de Mattos Maarten J. , Bekker Martijn
Published: July 2012

The respiratory chain of
Escherichia coli
contains three different cytochrome oxidases. Whereas the cytochrome
bo
oxidase and the cytochrome
bd
-I oxidase are well characterized and have been shown to contribute to proton translocation, physiological data suggested a nonelectrogenic functioning of the cytochrome
bd
-II oxidase. Recently, however, this view was challenged by an
in vitro
biochemical analysis that showed that the activity of cytochrome
bd
-II oxidase does contribute to proton translocation with an H
+
/e
−
stoichiometry of 1. Here, we propose that this apparent discrepancy is due to the activities of two alternative catabolic pathways: the pyruvate oxidase pathway for acetate production and a pathway with methylglyoxal as an intermediate for the production of lactate. The ATP yields of these pathways are lower than those of the pathways that have so far always been assumed to catalyze the main catabolic flux under energy-limited growth conditions (i.e., pyruvate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase). Inclusion of these alternative pathways in the flux analysis of growing
E. coli
strains for the calculation of the catabolic ATP synthesis rate indicates an electrogenic function of the cytochrome
bd
-II oxidase, compatible with an H
+
/e
−
ratio of 1. This analysis shows for the first time the extent of bypassing of substrate-level phosphorylation in
E. coli
under energy-limited growth conditions.
Microbial Community Structure and Activity Linked to Contrasting Biogeochemical Gradients in Bog and Fen Environments of the Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatland
Authors: Lin X. , Green S. , Tfaily M. M. , Prakash O. , Konstantinidis K. T. , Corbett J. E. , Chanton J. P. , Cooper W. T. , Kostka J. E.
Published: July 2012

The abundances, compositions, and activities of microbial communities were investigated at bog and fen sites in the Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatland of northwestern Minnesota. These sites contrast in the reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the presence or absence of groundwater inputs. Microbial community composition was characterized using pyrosequencing and clone library construction of phylogenetic marker genes. Microbial distribution patterns were linked to pH, concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, C/N ratios, optical properties of DOM, and activities of laccase and peroxidase enzymes. Both bacterial and archaeal richness and rRNA gene abundance were >2 times higher on average in the fen than in the bog, in agreement with a higher pH, labile DOM content, and enhanced enzyme activities in the fen. Fungi were equivalent to an average of 1.4% of total prokaryotes in gene abundance assayed by quantitative PCR. Results revealed statistically distinct spatial patterns between bacterial and fungal communities. Fungal distribution did not covary with pH and DOM optical properties and was vertically stratified, with a prevalence of
Ascomycota
and
Basidiomycota
near the surface and much higher representation of
Zygomycota
in the subsurface. In contrast, bacterial community composition largely varied between environments, with the bog dominated by
Acidobacteria
(61% of total sequences), while the
Firmicutes
(52%) dominated in the fen. Acetoclastic
Methanosarcinales
showed a much higher relative abundance in the bog, in contrast to the dominance of diverse hydrogenotrophic methanogens in the fen. This is the first quantitative and compositional analysis of three microbial domains in peatlands and demonstrates that the microbial abundance, diversity, and activity parallel with the pronounced differences in environmental variables between bog and fen sites.
Identification of a Gene Involved in the Synthesis of a Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor in Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Imamura Kazuhiko , Tsuyama Yoshihito , Hirata Terukage , Shiraishi Sumihiro , Sakamoto Kazutoshi , Yamada Osamu , Akita Osamu , Shimoi Hitoshi
Published: July 2012

WYK-1 is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor produced by
Aspergillus oryzae
strain AO-1. Because WYK-1 is an isoquinoline derivative consisting of three
l
-amino acids, we hypothesized that a nonribosomal peptide synthetase was involved in its biosynthesis. We identified 28 nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes in the sequenced genome of
A. oryzae
RIB40. These genes were also identified in AO-1. Among them, AO090001000009 (
wykN
) was specifically expressed under WYK-1-producing conditions in AO-1. Therefore, we constructed
wykN
gene disruptants of AO-1 after nonhomologous recombination was suppressed by RNA interference to promote homologous recombination. Our results demonstrated that the disruptants did not produce WYK-1. Furthermore, the expression patterns of 10 genes downstream of
wykN
were similar to the expression pattern of
wykN
under several conditions. Additionally, homology searches revealed that some of these genes were predicted to be involved in WYK-1 biosynthesis. Therefore, we propose that
wykN
and the 10 genes identified in this study constitute the WYK-1 biosynthetic gene cluster.
Molecular and Biochemical Analyses of the GH44 Module of CbMan5B/Cel44A, a Bifunctional Enzyme from the Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii
Authors: Ye Libin , Su Xiaoyun , Schmitz George E. , Moon Young Hwan , Zhang Jing , Mackie Roderick I. , Cann Isaac K. O.
Published: July 2012

A large polypeptide encoded in the genome of the thermophilic bacterium
Caldicellulosiruptor bescii
was determined to consist of two glycoside hydrolase (GH) modules separated by two carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Based on the detection of mannanase and endoglucanase activities in the N-terminal GH5 and the C-terminal GH44 module, respectively, the protein was designated CbMan5B/Cel44A. A GH5 module with >99% identity from the same organism was characterized previously (X. Su, R. I. Mackie, and I. K. Cann, Appl. Environ. Microbiol.
78:
2230-2240, 2012); therefore, attention was focused on CbMan5A/Cel44A-TM2 (or TM2), which harbors the GH44 module and the two CBMs. On cellulosic substrates, TM2 had an optimal temperature and pH of 85ï¿½C and 5.0, respectively. Although the amino acid sequence of the GH44 module of TM2 was similar to those of other GH44 modules that hydrolyzed cello-oligosaccharides, cellulose, lichenan, and xyloglucan, it was unique that TM2 also displayed modest activity on mannose-configured substrates and xylan. The TM2 protein also degraded Avicel with higher specific activity than activities reported for its homologs. The GH44 catalytic module is composed of a TIM-like domain and a β-sandwich domain, which consists of one β-sheet at the N terminus and nine β-sheets at the C terminus. Deletion of one or more β-sheets from the β-sandwich domain resulted in insoluble proteins, suggesting that the β-sandwich domain is essential for proper folding of the polypeptide. Combining TM2 with three other endoglucanases from
C. bescii
led to modest synergistic activities during degradation of cellulose, and based on our results, we propose a model for cellulose hydrolysis and utilization by
C. bescii
.
The Mitochondrial Dnm1-Like Fission Component Is Required for
lga2
-Induced Mitophagy but Dispensable for Starvation-Induced Mitophagy in Ustilago maydis
Authors: Nieto-Jacobo Fernanda , Pasch Denise , Basse Christoph W.
Published: July 2012

Selective elimination of mitochondria by autophagy (mitophagy) is a crucial developmental process to dispose of disintegrated or superflous organelles. However, little is known about underlying regulatory mechanisms. We have investigated mitophagy in response to conditional overexpression of the
a2
mating-type locus gene
lga2
, which encodes a small mitochondrial protein critically involved in uniparental mitochondrial DNA inheritance during sexual development of
Ustilago maydis
. In this study, we show that conditional overexpression of
lga2
efficiently triggers mitophagy that is dependent on
atg8
and
atg11
, consistent with selective autophagy.
lga2
-triggered mitophagy is preceded by mitochondrial dysfunction, including depletion of mitochondrial RNA transcripts, and is mechanistically distinct from starvation-induced mitophagy despite a common requirement for
atg11
. In particular,
lga2
-triggered mitophagy strongly depends on the mitochondrial fission factor Dnm1, but it is only slightly affected by
N
-acetylcysteine, which is an inhibitor of starvation-induced mitophagy. To further delineate the role of mitochondrial fission, we analyzed
lga2
effects in
Δfis1
mutants. This revealed that mitochondrial fragmentation was only attenuated and mitophagy was largely unaffected. In further support of a Fis1-independent role for Dnm1, mitochondrial association of green fluorescent protein-tagged Dnm1 as well as Dnm1-opposed mitochondrial fusion during sexual development were
fis1
independent. In conclusion, our results specify the role of the mitochondrial fission factor Dnm1 in mitophagy and uncover differences between mitophagy pathways in the same cellular system.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Endophytic Bacterium Burkholderia sp. Strain KJ006
Authors: Kwak Min-Jung , Song Ju Yeon , Kim Seon-Young , Jeong Haeyoung , Kang Sung Gyun , Kim Byung Kwon , Kwon Soon-Kyeong , Lee Choong Hoon , Yu Dong Su , Park Seung-Hwan , Kim Jihyun F.
Published: July 2012

Endophytes live inside plant tissues without causing any harm and may even benefit plants. Here, we provide the high-quality genome sequence of
Burkholderia
sp. strain KJ006, an endophytic bacterium of rice with antifungal activity. The 6.6-Mb genome, consisting of three chromosomes and a single plasmid, contains genes related to plant growth promotion or degradation of aromatic compounds.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus sp. Strain ST04, Isolated from a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Sulfide Chimney on the Juan de Fuca Ridge
Authors: Jung Jong-Hyun , Lee Ju-Hoon , Holden James F. , Seo Dong-Ho , Shin Hakdong , Kim Hae-Yeong , Kim Wooki , Ryu Sangryeol , Park Cheon-Seok
Published: July 2012

Pyrococcus
sp. strain ST04 is a hyperthermophilic, anaerobic, and heterotrophic archaeon isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide chimney on the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. To further understand the distinct characteristics of this archaeon at the genome level (polysaccharide utilization at high temperature and ATP generation by a Na
+
gradient), the genome of strain ST04 was completely sequenced and analyzed. Here, we present the complete genome sequence analysis results of
Pyrococcus
sp. ST04 and report the major findings from the genome annotation, with a focus on its saccharolytic and metabolite production potential.
Draft Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium bovis DSM 20582, Which Causes Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows
Authors: Schröder Jasmin , Glaub Alina , Schneider Jessica , Trost Eva , Tauch Andreas
Published: July 2012

Bovine mastitis represents the most economically important disease in dairy cows and can be caused by
Corynebacterium bovis
, a commensal in the bovine udder. The draft genome sequence provides insights into the adaptation of this bacterium to the bovine habitat and its lipolytic capabilities to utilize components of cow's milk.
Draft Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus saprophyticus subsp. saprophyticus M1-1, Isolated from the Gills of a Korean Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli Hilgendorf, after High Hydrostatic Pressure Processing
Authors: Kim Bong-Soo , Kim Chong-Tai , Park Bang Heon , Kwon Sujin , Cho Yong-Jin , Kim Namsoo , Kim Chul-Jin , Chun Jongsik , Kwak Jangyul , Maeng Jin-Soo
Published: July 2012

A bacterium designated M1-1 was isolated from the gills of a Korean rockfish,
Sebastes schlegeli
Hilgendorf, after high hydrostatic pressure processing. Studies of 16S rRNA phylogeny and comparative genomics demonstrated that the isolate belongs to
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
subsp.
saprophyticus
. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
S. saprophyticus
subsp.
saprophyticus
M1-1 (KACC 16562).
Draft Genome Sequence of the Marine Actinomycete Streptomyces sulphureus L180, Isolated from Marine Sediment
Authors: Zhao Xinqing , Geng Xiang , Chen Chao , Chen Liangyu , Jiao Wence , Yang Chao
Published: July 2012

Marine-derived actinobacteria are rich sources of valuable natural products and industrial enzymes for biotechnology applications. The marine-derived
Streptomyces sulphureus
strain L180 was isolated from the marine sediment in a sea cucumber farm at a depth of about 10 m in Dalian, China, and its 16S rRNA gene sequence was determined to have the highest identity to that of
Streptomyces sulphureus
NRRL B-1627
T
(99.65%). Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain.
Genome Sequence of Sphingobium indicum B90A, a Hexachlorocyclohexane-Degrading Bacterium
Authors: Anand Shailly , Sangwan Naseer , Lata Pushp , Kaur Jasvinder , Dua Ankita , Singh Amit Kumar , Verma Mansi , Kaur Jaspreet , Khurana Jitendra P. , Khurana Paramjit , Mathur Saloni , Lal Rup
Published: July 2012

Sphingobium indicum
B90A, an efficient degrader of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, was isolated in 1990 from sugarcane rhizosphere soil in Cuttack, India. Here we report the draft genome sequence of this bacterium, which has now become a model system for understanding the genetics, biochemistry, and physiology of HCH degradation.
Draft Genome Sequence of Serratia marcescens Strain LCT-SM213
Authors: Wang Yajuan , Yuan Yanting , Zhou Lisha , Su Qingqing , Fang Xiangqun , Li Tianzhi , Wang Junfeng , Chang De , Su Longxiang , Xu Guogang , Guo Yinghua , Yang Ruifu , Liu Changting
Published: July 2012

Serratia marcescens
is a species of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium of the family
Enterobacteriaceae
.
S. marcescens
can cause nosocomial infections, particularly catheter-associated bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and wound infections. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of
Serratia marcescens
strain LCT-SM213, which was isolated from CGMCC 1.1857.
Genome Sequence of the Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Enterobacter cloacae GS1
Authors: Shankar Manoharan , Ponraj Paramasivan , Ilakiam Devaraj , Rajendhran Jeyaprakash , Gunasekaran Paramasamy
Published: July 2012

Here, we present the genome sequence of
Enterobacter cloacae
GS1. This strain proficiently colonizes rice roots and promotes plant growth by improving plant nutrition. Analyses of the
E. cloacae
GS1 genome will throw light on the genetic factors involved in root colonization, growth promotion, and ecological success of this rhizobacterium.
The Complete Genome Sequence of Bacteriophage CP21 Reveals Modular Shuffling in Campylobacter Group II Phages
Authors: Hammerl Jens A. , Jäckel Claudia , Reetz Jochen , Hertwig Stefan
Published: July 2012

Campylobacter
group II phages described so far share a high degree of sequence similarity. We report the 182,833-bp genomic sequence of the closely related group II phage CP21 and show that it has a completely different genomic organization. As in other group II phages, the CP21 genome is composed of large modules separated by long DNA repeat regions which obviously trigger recombination and modular shuffling.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Variant
Authors: Wang Chengbao , Zhao Qin , Liang Chao , Dang Lu , Ma Yuping , Gao Jiming , Li Qiongyi , Huang Baicheng , Kong Ning , Zhang Chong , Zhou En-Min
Published: July 2012

Following the 2006 outbreaks of the highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, the causative agent was identified as the highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV). To investigate whether the HP-PRRSV variant continues circulating and accelerating evolution, we sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of the identified HP-PRRSV field strain SD16. The sequence data indicate that the HP-PRRSV variant continues to prevail and accelerate evolution, especially in the nonstructural protein.
Observational follow-up study following two cohorts of children with severe pneumonia after discharge from day care clinic/hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Ashraf Hasan , Alam Nur H , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer , Salam Mohammed Abdus , Ahmed Tahmeed , Gyr Niklaus
Published: July 2012

Objectives

To compare the features of relapse, morbidity, mortality and re-hospitalisation following successful discharge after severe pneumonia in children between a day care group and a hospital group and to explore the predictors of failures during 3 months of follow-up.

Design

An observational study following two cohorts of children with severe pneumonia for 3 months after discharge from hospital/clinic.

Setting

Day care was provided at the Radda Clinic and hospital care at a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Participants

Children aged 2–59 months with severe pneumonia attending the clinic/hospital who survived to discharge.

Intervention

No intervention was done except providing some medications for minor illnesses, if indicated.

Primary outcome measures

The primary outcome measures were the proportion of successes and failures of day care at follow-up visits as determined by estimating the OR with 95% CI in comparison to hospital care.

Results

The authors enrolled 360 children with a mean (SD) age of 8 (7) months, 81% were infants and 61% were men. The follow-up compliance dropped from 95% at first to 85% at sixth visit. The common morbidities during the follow-up period included cough (28%), fever (17%), diarrhoea (9%) and rapid breathing (7%). During the follow-up period, significantly more day care children (n=22 (OR 12.2 (95% CI 8.2–17.8))) required re-hospitalisation after completion of initial day care compared with initial hospital care group (n=11 (OR 6.1 (95% CI 3.4–10.6))). The predictors for failure were associated with tachycardia, tachypnoea and hypoxaemia on admission and prolonged duration of stay.

Conclusions

There are considerable morbidities in children discharged following treatment of severe pneumonia like cough, fever, rapid breathing and diarrhoea during 3-month period. The findings indicate the importance of follow-up for early detection of medical problems and their management to reduce the risk of death. Establishment of an effective community follow-up would be ideal to address the problem of ‘non-compliance with follow-up’.

Trial registration

The original randomised control trial comparing day care with hospital care was registered athttp://www.clinicaltrials.gov(identifierNCT00455468).
Animal athletes: a performance review
Authors: Sharp N. C. Craig
Published: July 2012

Major sporting events such as the Olympic Games highlight extraordinary human athletic achievements, performed by the extreme physical outliers of our species. However, there is a range of animal performance that goes far beyond these, both in the wild and in selectively bred ‘sports animals’ such as the racehorse, racing camel, greyhound, sled‐dog and racing pigeon. In this selective review, Craig Sharp assesses how human beings measure up in the animal athletic stakes.
Rosmarinus officinalisL. essential oil and the related compound 1,8-cineole do not induce direct or cross-protection inListeria monocytogenesATCC 7644 cultivated in meat broth
Authors: Gomes Neto Nelson Justino , Luz Isabelle Silva , Honório Wanessa Gonçalves , Tavares Adassa Gama , de Souza Evandro Leite
Published: July 2012

Listeria monocytogenes has the capability of adapting to 1 or more antimicrobial compounds or procedures applied by the food industry to control the growth and survival of microorganisms in foods. In this study, the effects of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (EO) and the related compound 1,8-cineole on the inhibition of the growth and survival of L. monocytogenes ATCC 7644 were determined. The ability of the R. officinalis EO and 1,8-cineole to induce direct and cross-protection of bacteria against various stresses (lactic acid, pH 5.2; NaCl, 3 g/100 mL; high temperature, 45 °C) was also determined. At all concentrations tested (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), ½ MIC, and ¼ MIC), both compounds inhibited the cell viability of L. monocytogenes over 120 min of exposure. Overnight exposure of L. monocytogenes to sublethal amounts of either the R. officinalis EO or 1,8-cineole in meat broth revealed no induction of direct or cross-protection against lactic acid, NaCl, or high temperature. Similarly, cells subjected to 24 h cycles of adaptation with increasing amounts (½ MIC to 2× MIC) of the EO and 1,8-cineole showed no increase in direct tolerance, as they were able to survive in growth medium containing up to ½ MIC of either substance. These results show the antimicrobial efficacy of R. officinalis EO and 1,8-cineole for use in systems, particularly as anti-L. monocytogenes compounds.
FABRICATION OPTIMIZATION OF NANOHYDROXYAPATITE ARTIFICIAL BONE SCAFFOLDS
Authors: SHUAI CIJUN , GAO CHENGDE , NIE YI , LI PENGJIAN , ZHUANG JINGYU , HU HUANLONG , PENG SHUPING
Published: July 2012

Serious microcracks often occur on the surface of nanohydroxyapatite (n-HAP) artificial bone scaffolds prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. In this study, we found that appropriate preheating before sintering can reduce and attenuate the cracks. The microstructure and morphology of sintered n-HAP were tested at different preheating temperature and laser sintering speed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The experiments showed that the cracks gradually reduced and then disappeared when the preheating temperature increased from 0°C to 600°C while other parameters remain unchanged. The n-HAP particles gradually fused and grew up, while the grain size of sintered n-HAP will be attenuated with the increase of preheating temperature. As the thermal conductivity of n-HAP increases with increased preheating temperature, the temperature drops quickly, inhibiting greatly the grain growth of n-HAP. We obtained a group of optimum parameters when the sintered n-HAP still maintains nanostructure and possesses the optimal comprehensive performances, that is, laser power is 26 W, spot diameter is 4 mm, sintering speed is 200 mm/min, layer thickness is 0.4 mm, layer density is 852 kg/m3, and optimized preheating temperature is 600°C. These data illustrated that the cracks of sintered n-HAP can be eliminated at appropriate preheating temperature and sintering speed. This provided experimental optimal condition for the preparation of artificial bone scaffolds with nanohydroxyapatite ceramics.
Reduced short-interval intracortical inhibition after eccentric muscle damage in human elbow flexor muscles
Authors: Pitman Bradley M. , Semmler John G.
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this study was to use paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to examine the effect of eccentric exercise on short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) after damage to elbow flexor muscles. Nine young (22.5 ± 0.6 yr; mean ± SD) male subjects performed maximal eccentric exercise of the elbow flexor muscles until maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force was reduced by ∼40%. TMS was performed before, 2 h after, and 2 days after exercise under Rest and Active (5% MVC) conditions with motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from the biceps brachii (BB) muscle. Peripheral electrical stimulation of the brachial plexus was used to assess maximal M-waves, and paired-pulse TMS with a 3-ms interstimulus interval was used to assess changes in SICI at each time point. The eccentric exercise resulted in a 34% decline in strength ( P < 0.001), a 41% decline in resting M-wave ( P = 0.01), changes in resting elbow joint angle (10°, P < 0.001), and a shift in the optimal elbow joint angle for force production (18°, P < 0.05) 2 h after exercise. This was accompanied by impaired muscle strength (27%, P < 0.001) and increased muscle soreness ( P < 0.001) 2 days after exercise, which is indicative of muscle damage. When the test MEP amplitudes were matched between sessions, we found that SICI was reduced by 27% in resting and 23% in active BB muscle 2 h after exercise. SICI recovered 2 days after exercise when muscle pain and soreness were present, suggesting that delayed onset muscle soreness from eccentric exercise does not influence SICI. The change in SICI observed 2 h after exercise suggests that eccentric muscle damage has widespread effects throughout the motor system that likely includes changes in motor cortex.
Influence of sympathoexcitation at high altitude on cerebrovascular function and ventilatory control in humans
Authors: Ainslie P. N. , Lucas S. J. E. , Fan J.-L. , Thomas K. N. , Cotter J. D. , Tzeng Y. C. , Burgess Keith R.
Published: July 2012

We sought to determine the influence of sympathoexcitation on dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA), cerebrovascular reactivity, and ventilatory control in humans at high altitude (HA). At sea level (SL) and following 3–10 days at HA (5,050 m), we measured arterial blood gases, ventilation, arterial pressure, and middle cerebral blood velocity (MCAv) before and after combined α- and β-adrenergic blockade. Dynamic CA was quantified using transfer function analysis. Cerebrovascular reactivity was assessed using hypocapnia and hyperoxic hypercapnia. Ventilatory control was assessed from the hypercapnia and during isocapnic hypoxia. Arterial Pco2 and ventilation and its control were unaltered following blockade at both SL and HA. At HA, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was elevated ( P < 0.01 vs. SL), but MCAv remained unchanged. Blockade reduced MAP more at HA than at SL (26 vs. 15%, P = 0.048). At HA, gain and coherence in the very-low-frequency (VLF) range (0.02–0.07 Hz) increased, and phase lead was reduced (all P < 0.05 vs. SL). Following blockade at SL, coherence was unchanged, whereas VLF phase lead was reduced (−40 ± 23%; P < 0.01). In contrast, blockade at HA reduced low-frequency coherence (−26 ± 20%; P = 0.01 vs. baseline) and elevated VLF phase lead (by 177 ± 238%; P < 0.01 vs. baseline), fully restoring these parameters back to SL values. Irrespective of this elevation in VLF gain at HA ( P < 0.01), blockade increased it comparably at SL and HA (∼43–68%; P < 0.01). Despite elevations in MCAv reactivity to hypercapnia at HA, blockade reduced ( P < 0.05) it comparably at SL and HA, effects we attributed to the hypotension and/or abolition of the hypercapnic-induced increase in MAP. With the exception of dynamic CA, we provide evidence of a redundant role of sympathetic nerve activity as a direct mechanism underlying changes in cerebrovascular reactivity and ventilatory control following partial acclimatization to HA. These findings have implications for our understanding of CBF function in the context of pathologies associated with sympathoexcitation and hypoxemia.
Respiratory depression in rats induced by alcohol and barbiturate and rescue by ampakine CX717
Authors: Ren Jun , Ding Xiuqing , Greer John J.
Published: July 2012

Barbiturate use in conjunction with alcohol can result in severe respiratory depression and overdose deaths. The mechanisms underlying the additive/synergistic actions were unresolved. Current management of ethanol-barbiturate-induced apnea is limited to ventilatory and circulatory support coupled with drug elimination. Based on recent preclinical and clinical studies of opiate-induced respiratory depression, we hypothesized that ampakine compounds may provide a treatment for other types of drug-induced respiratory depression. The actions of alcohol, pentobarbital, bicuculline, and the ampakine CX717, alone and in combination, were measured via 1) ventral root recordings from newborn rat brain stem-spinal cord preparations and 2) plethysmographic recordings from unrestrained newborn and adult rats. We found that ethanol caused a modest suppression of respiratory drive in vitro (50 mM) and in vivo (2 g/kg ip). Pentobarbital induced an ∼50% reduction in respiratory frequency in vitro (50 μM) and in vivo (28 mg/kg for pups and 56 mg/kg for adult rats ip). However, severe life-threatening apnea was induced by the combination of the agents in vitro and in vivo via activation of GABAA receptors, which was exacerbated by hypoxic (8% O2) conditions. Administration of the ampakine CX717 alleviated a significant component of the respiratory depression in vitro (50–150 μM) and in vivo (30 mg/kg ip). Bicuculline also alleviated ethanol-/pentobarbital-induced respiratory depression but caused seizure activity, whereas CX717 did not. These data demonstrated that ethanol and pentobarbital together caused severe respiratory depression, including lethal apnea, via synergistic actions that blunt chemoreceptive responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia and suppress central respiratory rhythmogenesis. The ampakine CX717 markedly reduced the severity of respiratory depression.
Activation of HER Family Signaling as a Mechanism of Acquired Resistance to ALK Inhibitors in EML4-ALK–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Tanizaki Junko , Okamoto Isamu , Okabe Takafumi , Sakai Kazuko , Tanaka Kaoru , Hayashi Hidetoshi , Kaneda Hiroyasu , Takezawa Ken , Kuwata Kiyoko , Yamaguchi Haruka , Hatashita Erina , Nishio Kazuto , Nakagawa Kazuhiko
Published: July 2012

Purpose: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) such as crizotinib show marked efficacy in patients with non–small cell lung cancer positive for the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein–like 4 (EML4)–ALK fusion protein. However, acquired resistance to these agents has already been described in treated patients, and the mechanisms of such resistance remain largely unknown.

Experimental Design: We established lines of EML4-ALK–positive H3122 lung cancer cells that are resistant to the ALK inhibitor TAE684 (H3122/TR cells) and investigated their resistance mechanism with the use of immunoblot analysis, ELISA, reverse transcription and real-time PCR analysis, and an annexin V binding assay. We isolated EML4-ALK–positive lung cancer cells (K-3) from a patient who developed resistance to crizotinib and investigated their characteristics.

Results: The expression of EML4-ALK was reduced at the transcriptional level, whereas phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2, and HER3 was upregulated, in H3122/TR cells compared with those in H3122 cells. This activation of HER family proteins was accompanied by increased secretion of EGF. Treatment with an EGFR-TKI induced apoptosis in H3122/TR cells, but not in H3122 cells. The TAE684-induced inhibition of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) and STAT3 phosphorylation observed in parental cells was prevented by exposure of these cells to exogenous EGF, resulting in a reduced sensitivity of cell growth to TAE684. K-3 cells also manifested HER family activation accompanied by increased EGF secretion.

Conclusions: EGF-mediated activation of HER family signaling is associated with ALK-TKI resistance in lung cancer positive for EML4-ALK. Clin Cancer Res; 18(22); 6219–26. ©2012 AACR.
English Weather: The Seventeenth-Century Diary of Ralph Josselin
Authors: Macadam Joyce
Published: July 2012

The seventeenth-century diary of Ralph Josselin recorded local weather conditions in Earls Colne, Essex, during a period when some of the most severe weather of the Little Ice Age occurred. A comparison of information extracted from the journal with the instrumental findings of Josselin's contemporaries, the natural proxy of tree rings, and the highly regarded Central England Temperature series corroborates current knowledge about weather conditions during an era for which sources are problematical.
Cows and Forests: Swedish Environmental History
Authors: Kardell Örjan
Published: July 2012

Sweden became a modern country only in the twentieth century. A major shift in silvicultural practices, plus an emphasis on dairy production, contributed to this national transformation at a time when, paradoxically, rural Sweden was being denuded of people and agriculturally and pastorally driven pursuits were replaced by urban-based industries and services. The introduction of cheap oil and of improvements in agricultural technologies and strategies had more to do with the development of forestry in Sweden during the twentieth century than any of forestry's own achievements did during the same period. The southern third of Sweden benefited more from these innovations than did the two northernmost thirds.
Israel’s Scriptures in Paul’s narrative theology
Authors: Wright N. T.
Published: July 2012

Study of Paul’s use of Scripture has searched for ‘allusions’ and ‘echoes’, generating a reaction which claims that Paul could not have intended such detailed reference because his hearers would not have understood it. This article develops the former quest, and answers the latter objection, with the suggestion that Paul saw the larger story of Israel coming to fruition in the gospel: his allusions and echoes are to earlier moments in the single narrative in which Jesus’ death and resurrection were decisive moments and which Paul believes himself to be carrying forward in its new phase.
Interpretatioquaerensintellectum – ‘Translation seeking understanding’
Authors: Frick Peter
Published: July 2012

This essay is a personal reflection on my experience as a translator in the translation project Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works English (DBWE). The purpose of these reflections is to make intelligible my experience of translating Bonhoeffer as a distinctly hermeneutic engagement on three distinct but interrelated levels. First, the translation of words; second, the translation of ideas, concepts, paragraphs, sections and so on; and third, the translation of the author as a person, in this case, the attempt to understand Bonhoeffer’s thought and life.
Improving balance control and self-reported lower extremity function in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized control trial
Authors: Melzer Itshak , Oddsson Lars IE
Published: July 2012

Objectives:

To evaluate the effect of a group-based functional and specific balance training programme that included dual-task exercises on balance function in healthy older adults.

Design:

A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

General community.

Participants:

Sixty-six community-dwelling older adults (age 77.0 ± 6.5 years), without functional balance impairment were recruited and allocated at random to an intervention group ( n = 33) or a reference group ( n = 33).

Intervention:

The intervention group received 24 training sessions over three months that included perturbation as well as dual-task exercises. The reference group received no intervention.

Outcome measures:

The voluntary step execution times during single- and dual-task conditions, stabilogram-diffusion analysis in upright standing, and self-reported physical function; all were measured assessed at baseline and at the end of intervention. The intervention group was retested after six months.

Results:

Compared with the reference group, participation in group-based functional and specific balance training led to faster voluntary step execution times under single-task ( P = 0.02; effect size (ES) = 0.34) and dual-task ( P = 0.036; ES = 0.55) conditions; lower transition displacement and shorter transition time of the stabilogram-diffusion analysis under eyes-closed conditions ( P = 0.007, ES = 0.30 and P = 0.08, ES = 0.44, respectively); and improved self-reported lower extremity function ( P = 0.006, ES = 0.37). Effects were lost at six-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

Functional and specific balance training can improve voluntary stepping and balance control in healthy older non-fallers, parameters previously found to be related to increased risk of falls and injury in older adults.
Enhanced toughness and shape memory behaviors of toughed epoxy resin
Authors: Zhang Chun-Hua , Wei Hui-Ge , Liu Yu-Yan , Tan Hui-Feng , Guo Zhanhu
Published: July 2012

This paper reports on an approach to enhance the toughness of shape memory epoxy by using polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether (G) as the toughening agent. The mechanical properties and shape memory behavior of the toughened resin systems with different loading level of G were studied, respectively. Results of the torsional braid analysis (TBA) test indicated that G had good compatibility with the epoxy resin matrix and induced a decrease in the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the toughened systems when compared to that of the neat resin system; and the decrease in Tg scaled with the content of G added in the system. Impact strength tests showed that the impact strength was improved significantly by adding G into the resin system and it increased by a factor of 13.7 for the system with 13 wt.% content of G. In addition, the toughened systems were found to yield during the impact strength test whereas brittle fracture occurred for the neat epoxy resin system; this behavior could be further confirmed by the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the shape memory behavior tests, strain fixity ratio reached as high as 98.9% for toughened systems with 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 wt.% of G. Toughened systems also displayed changed shape recovery behavior that was comparable with that of the neat epoxy resin system during shape memory process.
Robust fractional order controller based on improved particle swarm optimization algorithm for the wind turbine equipped with a doubly fed asynchronous machine
Authors: Sedraoui Moussa , Boudjehem Djalil
Published: July 2012

In this paper, an improvement of the particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. The aim of this algorithm is to determine the optimal parameters of a robust fractional order controller which guarantees stability and robustness of required nominal performances. Controllers with fractional order are first obtained by a previous transformation of the multi-objective optimization problem into an equivalent single-optimization problem, and then solved by the proposed improved particle swarm optimization algorithm. In order to examine the stability and performance robustness, this controller is applied on an ill-conditioned wind turbine equipped with a doubly fed asynchronous machine, where the system dynamics is modeled by an unstructured output multiplicative uncertainty model. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed synthesis method, where the control is compared (for the same design frequency-domain specifications) for both the robust fractional order controller such as that designed through the standard particle swarm optimization algorithm and that obtained by resolving the multi-objective optimization problem.
Unicystic Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Presenting as a Salivary Duct Cyst
Authors: Qannam Ahmed , Bello Ibrahim O. , Al-Kindi Mohammad , Al-Hindi Maryam
Published: July 2012

A cystic swelling in the parotid gland should lead to a differential diagnosis that includes benign cystic lesion of the gland, benign tumors that are frequently associated with cystic degeneration or entirely cystic de novo, or even a malignant neoplasm. The case presented is that of a cystic parotid swelling of 2 years’ duration in a 52-year-old female patient. The clinical differentials in the present case were reviewed and were entirely different from the final histological diagnosis of low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The uniqueness of this case is the very rare unicystic presentation of the lesion. The authors also discuss why the clinical and radiological investigations were not suggestive of the final diagnosis.
Judging risk for multiple diseases: The role of disease worry
Authors: Senay Ibrahim , Hensley-Alford Sharon , Kaphingst Kimberly A.
Published: July 2012

Risk perceptions and disease worry of 1,959 healthy adults were measured in a telephone-based survey. In the model for each of eight health conditions, people’s perceived risk was related to their worry for that condition ( p < .0001) and their worry for the other seven conditions ( p < .001). There was also an interaction indicating that the less people were worried about a certain condition, the more their worry about the other seven conditions increased their risk perception for that condition ( p < .0001). The results are important for preventing biased risk perceptions in multiple-disease contexts.
Good teachers and deviant learners? The meeting of practices in university level international education
Authors: Tange Hanne , Jensen Iben
Published: July 2012

The article focuses on the impact of internationalization on university lecturers’ practice. Based on interviews with 36 employees from Danish universities, we discuss what internationalization means for the classroom relationship between university teachers and international students. The article is inspired by an intercultural communication model that highlights how respondents’ reliance on a simplified image of self and other leads them to the construction of a perception of international students from a deficit perspective. Following an examination of perceived differences in learning approach, classroom practices and student/staff roles, we propose that an intercultural pedagogy be developed, underlining the need for a symmetrical learning and teaching platform in international education.
Internationalization assessment in schools: Theoretical contributions and practical implications
Authors: Yemini Miri
Published: July 2012

Cosmopolitan, international capital has become an integral ingredient in the set of competencies considered to provide a competitive edge and to be required for affective citizenship in the 21st century. Recently, internationalization of education has become a more common phenomenon in local schools around the world, serving as a tool to provide youth with cosmopolitan capital and relevant capabilities for the future. Although the academic debate on international schools and internationalization is flourishing, few attempts have been made to characterize and measure the intensity of the internationalization process at the school level outside the International Baccalaureate (IB) context. This article focuses on the need for internationalization assessment in schools, and presents a theoretical framework and an initial set of indicators for such assessment. The purpose of this study is to propose a new direction in educational policy research, which reflects the increased political and economic salience of internationalization in schools.
Butch Tops and Femme Bottoms? Sexual Positioning, Sexual Decision Making, and Gender Roles Among Young Gay Men
Authors: Johns Michelle Marie , Pingel Emily , Eisenberg Anna , Santana Matthew Leslie , Bauermeister José
Published: July 2012

Gender and power are theoretical constructs linked to discussions of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among heterosexual couples. Despite the fact that HIV rates are rising among young men who have sex with men in the United States, work examining the role of gender in sexual decision making of young men who have sex with men remains in its infancy. Through qualitative interviews with 34 young gay men (YGM), the authors seek to contribute to the literature in this area by focusing on the ways that YGM understand and enact sexual positions during anal sex. The authors’ results highlight the diversity of YGM’s sexual preferences, as well as the high degree of sexual fluidity. Ideas of gender appear to inform part of this process; however, YGM critiqued conventional gender norms and emphasized the centrality of relationships (i.e., casual vs. romantic) in their sexual decision making. The authors discuss the importance of considering gender and interpersonal factors when designing HIV/AIDS prevention messages for YGM.