bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La guerre de l'Afrique australe (99mecirc.)
Authors: Moynier G. , Odier E.
Published: November 2009

En nous référant à notre 98me circulaire, du 10 décembre dernier, nous nous faisons un devoir de vous communiquer la teneur d'un télégramme, qui nous a été adressé de Prétoria, le 6 courant, par la Croix-Rouge transvaalienne. Il contient des directions précises et pratiques quant à la nature des secours sanitaires dont la pénurie se fait le plus sentir, et il peut guider très utilement les Comités ou les particuliers dans le choix des envois à adresser aux représentants de la Croix-Rouge des Boers sur le théâtre de la guerre sud-africaine.
Présidence du Comité Central
Authors: Guéchoff J.-E. , Mircoff S.
Published: November 2009

Nous avons reçu du Comité central bulgare la circulaire suivante:

Sofia, le 9/21 janvier 1899.

Monsieur le Président,

Nous avons l'honneur de vous annoncer que, vu le décès denotre très regretté président, M. le Dr P. Mintchovitch, le vice-président, J.-E. Guéchoff, remplira les fonctions de président, et signera pour le Comité de la Société de la Croix-Rouge bulgare avec le secrétaire-trésorier, M. le Dr S. Mirkoff. Les autres membres du Comité, à savoir MM. le Dr D. Molloff, colonel Nikiforoff et l'ingénieur J. Veltcheff restent en fonctions comme par le passé.
Présidence de la Société cubaine
Authors: Pelaez E. Sanchez de Fuentes y
Published: November 2009

« Au Comité International de la Croix-Rouge.

« Monsieur le Président,

« Nous avons l'honneur de porter à votre connaissance que, par suite de la démission présentée, en date du 17 mai 1917, par notre vénéré Président, M. le Major général Pablo Mendieta y Montefur. de ses fonctions comme délégué officiel du Gouvernement, président de l'Assemblée suprême et du Comité exécutif de la Société nationale cubaine de la Croix-Rouge, S. E. M. le Major général Mario G. Menocal, honorable Président de la République de Cuba, a, par décret No 735, en date du 22 mai, et d'accord avec la décision de notre Assemblée suprême, réunie en séance ordinaire à cette même date, nommé comme successeur de M. le Président démissionnaire, M. le colonel Jose Marti y Zayas Buzan, chef d'état-major général de l'armée cubaine.
Les Bureaux de Renseignements sur les Prisonniers de Guerre
Authors: Thormeyer F.
Published: November 2009

Si familiarisés que nous soyons avec les nombreuses institutions sociales, qui, dans les temps modernes, s'efforcent de faire pénétrer dans la vie de l'humanité plus de justice, de pitié, de bienfaisance, la réflexion nous enseigne qu'il a fallu des siècles d'efforts et de patience pour adoucir quelque peu les lois et les usages des civilisations primitives. Il n'est pas besoin de remonter bien haut le cours des années pour retrouver, dans les rapports entre les individus, les classes de la société et les nations, des principes et des coutumes qui excitent notre étonnement et notre indignation. On s'aperçoit que, pour l'ensemble de l'humanité, le progrès moral est extrêmement lent, mais on constate aussi que ce progrès existe et persiste. Cette conviction est un puissant encouragement pour tous ceux qui, dans la mesure de leurs moyens et de leurs forces, travaillent à réaliser un idéal meilleur. C'est pourquoi l'histoire du développement de chaque progrès humanitaire présente un intérêt et un enseignement.
Rapport du Dr Troedsson, délégné de la Croix-Rouge Danoise sur son voyage en France, en août 1917
Authors: Troedsson Alex
Published: November 2009

« La Croix-Rouge Danoise a fondé, dès longtemps, un comité d'assistance pour les prisonniers de guerre russes. A cet effet elle a ouvert, avec l'assentiment du Gouvernement allemand, un bureau à Berlin.

«Fort des résultats obtenus en Allemagne, M. le ministre d'Angleterre, à Copenhague, a vivement encouragé la Croix-Rouge Danoise, en juillet 1917 (après la rupture avec les Etats-Unis) à étendre son œuvre aux prisonniers alliés. Les délégués ont obtenu facilement l'autorisation de visiter un grand nombre de camps de prisonniers français et anglais. Leur activité était cependant limitée aux besoins intellectuels des prisonniers, et avait pour objet de leur fournir des livres de toutes espèces.
Entwicklung und testtheoretische Analyse eines Erhebungsinstruments zu Präferenzen und Erleben von Patienten in Bezug auf die Beteiligung an pflegerischen Entscheidungen im Akutspital
Authors: Smoliner Andrea , Hantikainen Virpi , Mayer Hanna , Ponocny-Seliger Elisabeth , Them Christa
Published: November 2009

Patientenorientierung und Patientenbeteiligung sind wichtige Aspekte der modernen Gesundheitsbetreuung, die im Rahmen der pflegerischen Entscheidungsfindung berücksichtigt werden sollten. Auch im Konzept Evidence-based Nursing stellen die Patientenpräferenzen zur Beteiligung an Entscheidungen einen wichtigen, aber noch wenig untersuchten Bereich dar. Ziel dieser Studie war die Entwicklung und Testung eines deutschsprachigen Instruments, um die Präferenzen und das Erleben der Patienten zur Beteiligung am pflegerischen Entscheidungsprozess im Akutspital zu erheben. Die Itemgenerierung erfolgte literaturbasiert und in Zusammenarbeit mit Fachexperten auf Basis des theoretischen Modells von Charles, Gafni und Whelan (1999). Die Stichprobe zur Testung des Instruments umfasste 967 erwachsene Patienten von chirurgischen und internen Stationen aus fünf Wiener Spitälern im Zeitraum Oktober 2007 bis März 2008. Die testtheoretischen Analysen beinhalteten die Überprüfung der Internen Konsistenz, Konstruktvalidität und Kriteriumsvalidität. Die Reliabilität der Skalen «Präferenz» und «Erleben» wurde durch das Cronbach's Alpha (≥ 0,84) und die Ergebnisse der Itemanalyse bestätigt. Die Konstruktvalidität wurde durch die Abbildung des Entscheidungsmodells in den Gesamtdaten unterstützt. Die Kriteriumsvalidität (konkordante und diskriminante Validität) wurde anhand der zwei externen Kriterien der subjektiven Zufriedenheit mit der Information und der Entscheidungsfindung überprüft und sowohl auf Gesamtscoreebene als auch auf Itemebene durch die Ergebnisse unterstützt. Insgesamt gesehen stellt das entwickelte Instrument sowohl test- als auch modelltheoretisch ein ausreichend reliables und valides Instrument im Forschungsbereich von Evidence-based Nursing dar. Somit ist es imstande, neues Wissen zum Thema Patientenpräferenzen zur Beteiligung an der pflegerischen Entscheidungsfindung zu generieren.
Präferenzen und Erleben von Patienten zur Beteiligung an pflegerischen Entscheidungen im Akutspital – Eine Analyse der Übereinstimmung von Präferenz und Erleben sowie der Einflussfaktoren bezogen auf verschiedene Entscheidungstypen
Authors: Smoliner Andrea , Hantikainen Virpi , Mayer Hanna , Ponocny-Seliger Elisabeth , Them Christa
Published: November 2009

Die Patientenpräferenzen zur Beteiligung an pflegerischen Entscheidungen stellen einen zentralen Aspekt des Konzepts Evidence-based Nursing dar, welcher in der quantitativen Forschungsliteratur noch wenig beschrieben wird. Das Ziel dieser Studie war, die Präferenzen und das Erleben der Patienten zur Beteiligung am Entscheidungsprozess bei der pflegerischen Betreuung im Akutspital darzustellen. Es nahmen 967 Patienten aus fünf Wiener Spitälern mittels Fragebogenerhebung an dieser Studie teil. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass 38,5 % der Patienten den paternalistischen Entscheidungsstil bevorzugen, 42,1 % der Patienten möchten gemeinsam mit der Pflegenden und 5,7 % der Patienten möchten selbst entscheiden. Während des Spitalsaufenthalts erlebten die Patienten allerdings zu einem höheren Anteil als gewünscht die paternalistische Entscheidungsfindung. Alter, Geschlecht, Behandlungsform und Gesundheitserleben stellten sich als jene personenbezogene Charakteristika dar, die die Präferenz für die Form der Entscheidungsfindung beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie untermauern die Bedeutung der Erfassung der individuellen Patientenpräferenz hinsichtlich Mitentscheidung durch die Pflegenden, um den gesellschaftlichen, gesetzlichen und beruflichen Anforderungen einer patientenorientierten Pflege auf dem letzten Stand der wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse entsprechen zu können.
Moralische Probleme in der ambulanten Pflege – Eine deskriptive pflegeethische Untersuchung
Authors: Lauxen Oliver
Published: November 2009

Die Bedeutung der ambulanten Pflege für die Gesundheitsversorgung in Deutschland nimmt stetig zu und die Pflegekräfte, die dort beschäftigt sind, müssen sich häufig mit ethischen Fragestellungen auseinandersetzen. Ziel dieser themenzentrierten ethnografischen Studie war es, herauszufinden, welche Situationen ambulant Pflegende in ihrer täglichen Berufspraxis als moralisch problematisch erleben. Als Methode dienten problemzentrierte Interviews mit 20 Pflegekräften, die inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet wurden. Es zeigte sich, dass für die Befragten das pflegeethische Prinzip der Fürsorge zentral ist. Sie erleben moralische Probleme, wenn sie nicht gemäß diesen Prinzips handeln können oder wenn sie das Gute in einer Entscheidungssituation nicht bestimmen können. Im Einzelnen können vier Formen moralischer Probleme unterschieden werden: «Fürsorge vs. Autonomie», «Fürsorge vs. Gerechtigkeit», «Fürsorge vs. Loyalität» und «Das Gute nicht bestimmen können». Die Auseinandersetzung der Pflegenden mit moralischen Problemen ist verbesserungsbedürftig. Einerseits fehlen einigen Befragten ethische Kompetenzen, andererseits müssten geeignete Unterstützungsangebote zum Umgang mit moralischen Problemen in der ambulanten Pflege konzipiert werden.
Die elektronische Anwendung der NANDA-, NOC- und NIC-Klassifikationen und Folgerungen für die Pflegepraxis
Authors: Bernhart-Just Alexandra , Hillewerth Kathrin , Holzer-Pruss Christina , Paprotny Monika , Zimmermann Heinrich Heidi
Published: November 2009

Im Auftrag der Pflegedienstkommission des Kantons Zürich wurde ein Datenmodell entwickelt, mit welchem der Pflegeprozess elektronisch mithilfe der NANDA-, NOC- und NIC-Klassifi­kationen (NNN-Klassifikationen) abgebildet und automatisch Daten für die Kostenträgerrechnung, die Leistungserfassung in der Pflege und das Schweizerische Nursing Minimum Data Set erfasst werden können. Mit der Anwendung des Datenmodells und der elektronischen Hinterlegung der NNN-Klassifikationen erhalten Pflegefachpersonen im klinischen Alltag die Möglichkeit, auf eine Patientensituation zutreffende Pflegediagnosen, -ergebnisse und -interventionen aus den Klassifikationen und deren Verknüpfungen auszuwählen, zu planen und mit den Begrifflichkeiten der Klassifikationssysteme dokumentieren zu können. Im vorliegenden Artikel werden das entwickelte Datenmodell und dessen klinische Anwendung anhand einer Patientensituation beschrieben. Notwendige Vorarbeiten für die Implementierung der NNN-Klassifikationen in der Pflegepraxis, wie die inhaltliche Filterung und die Erstellung von Verknüpfungen unter den NNN-Klassifikationen, werden erläutert. Vor dem Hintergrund einer auf dem DAPEP-Datenmodell basierenden Pflegeprozessdokumentation werden damit verbundene Veränderungen und Anforderungen abgeleitet. Der Artikel stellt einen Diskussionsbeitrag zur Veränderung der Pflegeprozessdokumentation durch die Einbindung von Pflegeklassifikationen innerhalb elektronischer Patientendossiers dar.
Mothers who Make Things Public
Authors: Baraitser Lisa
Published: November 2009

This paper is an attempt to elaborate two concerns: those of maternal ethics, and notions of making things public. I attempt to bring these two concerns together and think them alongside one another, in hopefully productive ways. I want, in other words, to think about the ethics of what mothers ‘make public’, whether this is understood in its most rudimentary form, of enabling a child to express something, to make public an affective state, for instance, even if it is only the mother who is there to witness or receive it, through to more overt and material forms of ‘publication’ glimpsed when mothers parent in spaces we call ‘public’. This paper focuses on what happens to us all when we encounter ‘mothering’ – not in the enclosed, private, secluded spaces where we imagine mothering to take place, but in what Marc Augé has termed the ‘non-places of supermodernity’, where much of the day-to-day material practices of mothering in Western late-modern urban contexts actually occurs. As is often the case, it is when experience is dislodged from the contexts in which we expect to find it that its contours are shown up in relief, and we are called on to re-configure our understandings of experiences in ways that also shift our understandings of the contexts in which they occur. In this sense, mothering, that I am claiming ‘makes things public’, as well as occurring frequently and importantly ‘in public’, not only shows up something we may overlook about the maternal, but also deforms and reforms our understandings of ‘the public’ itself.
Youtube: A New Space for Birth?
Authors: Longhurst Robyn
Published: November 2009

Birth, in many societies, is considered to be a private affair. Although health and medical professionals usually assist, the only other people who share the birth process with mothers are their nearest and dearest. With the rise of information communication technologies, however, birth is no longer an exclusively private event. Some women are now sharing their birthing experiences with millions of viewers who are part of the online video ‘community’ YouTube Broadcast Yourself. Searching the word ‘birth’ on YouTube results in close to one million ‘hits’. This article is based on a small-scale, qualitative research project, which involved viewing and making notes on several hundred online videos of birth on YouTube and the accompanying posts and commentaries about the videos. These data were analysed through a feminist, poststructuralist and geographical lens. Throughout the article the term ‘cyber/space’ is used to highlight the mutually constituted nature of ‘real’ and virtual spaces. The article concludes that although YouTube has the potential to open up new windows on birth, this potential is not yet being realized. YouTube does not overcome or render insignificant material expressions of power, instead it typically privileges US experiences of birth, reiterates discourses of ‘good’ mothering and censors particular (mainly vaginal) representations of birth.
The Placental Body in 4D: Everyday Practices of Non-Diagnostic Sonography
Authors: Palmer Julie
Published: November 2009

Feminist scholars have long argued that the pregnant body is erased – both literally and discursively – from mainstream foetal representations. Janemaree Maher argues that the placenta, as point of distinction and connection between pregnant women and foetuses, has the radical potential to refigure understandings of pregnant embodiment and subjectivity, and offer ‘a way to begin thinking through the impasse of pregnant representation’. Drawing on Maher's notion of the ‘placental body’, this article will examine the place of the placenta in the practice of non-diagnostic 4D ultrasound scanning. The analysis seeks to connect Maher's theoretical perspective, and the rich feminist literature around foetal imaging, with observational data from my study of 4D scans. I will argue that the capacity of 3- and 4D sonography to image the placenta and umbilical cord in a way that is newly intelligible to lay viewers might present an opportunity for thinking differently about the interconnections – material and social – between pregnant women and foetuses and to relocate women as the subjects of their pregnancies.
Sociospatial Geographies of Civil War in Sierra Leone and the New Global Diamond Order: Is the Kimberley Process the Panacea?
Authors: Zulu Leo C , Wilson Sigismond A
Published: November 2009

We examine the relationship between diamonds and conflict, and performance of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in combating ‘conflict diamonds’ using Sierra Leone as a case study and theory on the social production of scale. A ‘glocalization’ process produced lawless spaces and economic opportunities for rebels to circumvent national controls through subregional networks and to access global capital to fund conflict, while KPCS arrangements stemmed conflict diamonds by restoring state regulation and transparency. We contend that the KPCS and its scaling were initially more about protecting economic interests of major diamond companies and trading countries than about ‘ethical diamonds’. The KPCS externalized costs to national governments and poor alluvial-diamond-producing countries relative to industry players; hence the discordance between near elimination of conflict diamonds globally and relative failure in these countries. Findings suggest an approach differentiated by country circumstances, and broadening the KPCS from conflict to illicit and development diamonds.
The Economic and Innovation Contribution of Universities: A Regional Perspective
Authors: Huggins Robert , Johnston Andrew
Published: November 2009

Universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) have come to be regarded as key sources of knowledge utilisable in the pursuit of economic growth. Although there have been numerous studies assessing the economic and innovation impact of HEIs, there has been little systematic analysis of differences in the relative contribution of HEIs across regions. With this paper we provide an exploration of some of these differences in the context of the UK's regions. Significant differences are found in the wealth generated by universities according to regional location and type of institution. Universities in more competitive regions are generally more productive than those located in less competitive regions. Also, traditional universities are generally more productive than their newer counterparts, with university productivity positively related to knowledge commercialisation capabilities. Weaker regions tend to be more dependent on their universities for income and innovation, but often these universities underperform in comparison with counterpart institutions in more competitive regions. We argue that uncompetitive regions lack the additional knowledge infrastructure, besides universities, which is more commonly a feature of competitive regions.
Facilitation of Responses to Degraded Targets by Non-Degraded Distractors
Authors: Ocampo Brenda , Kritikos Ada
Published: November 2009

It is well-established that distractors interfere with goal-directed responses. Our recent findings indicate that the presence of corners in degraded line drawings of distractor stimuli modulates response times and accuracy to non-degraded targets (Kritikos and Pavlis 2007, Experimental Brain Research183 159–170). In the present study we asked whether non-degraded distractors may facilitate responses to degraded targets (corners or line segments missing). We presented targets at fixation and accompanied by identical, category-congruent, or category-incongruent distractors. Participants responded to two object categories (musical instruments and tools) consisting of four line drawings. Corners-missing targets in particular were associated with greater interference from distractors than non-degraded targets. This interference was modulated when distractor locations were endogenously or exogenously cued. Findings are discussed in the context of additional processing of object features that are crucial to action.
Recognition of Emotional Expressions is Affected by Inversion and Presentation Time
Authors: Derntl Birgit , Seidel Eva-Maria , Kainz Elisabeth , Carbon Claus-Christian
Published: November 2009

It has been repeatedly shown that face inversion affects the recognition of emotional faces. However, previous results are heterogeneous concerning the affected emotions and the influence of presentation time is unclear. We examined the impact of limited presentation time (200 ms) on the face-inversion effect during recognition of basic emotions in 128 healthy young adults. Data analysis revealed differential inversion effects for emotional expressions, further modified by limitation of presentation time: when presentation was limited, we observed inversion effects for angry and neutral faces which were absent in the unlimited trials. In the unlimited condition, inversion particularly affected recognition of disgust and sadness. No general inversion effect occurred for neutral expressions. Error analysis highlighted specific confusions for the inverted condition, except for happy and neutral expressions. Hence, emotion recognition is affected by inversion—an indicator for configural processing, and presentation time—an indicator for cognitive effort of processing.
Time to Learn: Evidence for Two Types of Attentional Guidance in Contextual Cueing
Authors: Ogawa Hirokazu , Watanabe Katsumi
Published: November 2009

Repetition of the same spatial configurations of a search display implicitly facilitates performance of a visual-search task when the target location in the display is fixed. The improvement of performance is referred to as contextual cueing. We examined whether the association process between target location and surrounding configuration of distractors occurs during active search or at the instant the target is found. To dissociate these two processes, we changed the surrounding configuration of the distractors at the instant of target detection so that the layout where the participants had searched for the target and the layout presented at the instant of target detection differed. The results demonstrated that both processes are responsible for the contextual-cueing effect, but they differ in the accuracies of attentional guidance and their time courses, suggesting that two different types of attentional-guidance processes may be involved in contextual cueing.
CMap3D: a 3D visualization tool for comparative genetic maps
Authors: Duran Chris , Boskovic Zoran , Imelfort Michael , Batley Jacqueline , Hamilton Nicholas A. , Edwards David
Published: November 2009

Summary: Genetic linkage mapping enables the study of genome organization and the association of heritable traits with regions of sequenced genomes. Comparative genetic mapping is particularly powerful as it allows translation of information between related genomes and gives an insight into genome evolution. A common tool for the storage, comparison and visualization of genetic maps is CMap. However, current visualization in CMap is limited to the comparison of adjacent aligned maps. To overcome this limitation, we have developed CMap3D, a tool to compare multiple genetic maps in three-dimensional space. CMap3D is based on a client/server model ensuring operability with current CMap data repositories. This tool can be applied to any species where genetic map information is available and enables rapid, direct comparison between multiple aligned maps.

Availability and Implementation: The software is a stand-alone application written in Processing and Java. Binaries are available for Windows, OSX and Linux, and require Sun Microsystems Java Runtime Environment 1.6 or later. The software is freely available for non-commercial use from http://flora.acpfg.com.au/

Contact:  dave.edwards@uq.edu.au
Flemingia macrophylla Extract Ameliorates Experimental Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Ho Hui-Ya , Wu Jin-Bin , Lin Wen-Chuan
Published: November 2009

Flemingia macrophylla (Leguminosae), a native plant of Taiwan, is used as folk medicine. An in vitro study showed that a 75% ethanolic extract of F. macrophylla (FME) inhibited osteoclast differentiation of cultured rat bone marrow cells, and the active component, lespedezaflavanone A (LDF‐A), was isolated. It was found that oral administration of FME for 13 weeks suppressed bone loss in ovariectomized rats, an experimental model of osteoporosis. In addition, FME decreased urinary deoxypyridinoline concentrations but did not inhibit serum alkaline phosphatase activities, indicating that it ameliorated bone loss via inhibition of bone resorption. These results suggest that FME may represent a useful remedy for the treatment of bone resorption diseases, such as osteoporosis. In addition, LDF‐A could be used as a marker compound to control the quality of FME.
What's in the Literature?
Authors: Harati Y
Published: November 2009

For this issue of Journal, a few recent publications that discuss disorders of motor unit (motor neuron, nerve, neuromuscular junction, and muscle) are selected. Articles about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, hereditary neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, and myopathies that convey a salient clinical lesson are discussed. There have been many other excellent publications in the past few months, but the space constrains do not allow to include them all.
Nearby boundaries create eddies near microscopic filter feeders
Authors: Pepper Rachel E. , Roper Marcus , Ryu Sangjin , Matsudaira Paul , Stone Howard A.
Published: November 2009

We show through calculations, simulations and experiments that the eddies often observed near sessile filter feeders are frequently due to the presence of nearby boundaries. We model the common filter feeder
Vorticella
, which is approximately 50 µm across and which feeds by removing bacteria from ocean or pond water that it draws towards itself. We use both an analytical stokeslet model and a Brinkman flow approximation that exploits the narrow-gap geometry to predict the size of the eddy caused by two parallel no-slip boundaries that represent the slides between which experimental observations are often made. We also use three-dimensional finite-element simulations to fully solve for the flow around a model
Vorticella
and analyse the influence of multiple nearby boundaries. Additionally, we track particles around live feeding
Vorticella
in order to determine the experimental flow field. Our models are in good agreement both with each other and with experiments. We also provide approximate equations to predict the experimental eddy sizes owing to boundaries both for the case of a filter feeder between two slides and for the case of a filter feeder attached to a perpendicular surface between two slides.
Inactivation of alternative sigma factor 54 (RpoN) leads to increased acid resistance, and alters locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) expression in Escherichia coli O157 : H7
Authors: Riordan James T. , Tietjen Jillian A. , Walsh Coilin W. , Gustafson John E. , Whittam Thomas S.
Published: November 2009

Alternative sigma factor 54 (RpoN) is an important regulator of stress resistance and virulence genes in many bacterial species. In this study, we report on the gene expression alterations that follow rpoN inactivation in Escherichia coli O157 : H7 strain Sakai (SakairpoN : : kan), and the influence of RpoN on the acid resistance phenotype. Microarray gene expression profiling revealed the differential expression of 103 genes in SakairpoN : : kan relative to Sakai. This included the growth-phase-dependent upregulation of genes required for glutamate-dependent acid resistance (GDAR) (gadA, gadB, gadC and gadE), and the downregulation of locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) genes, which encode a type III secretion system. Upregulation of gad genes in SakairpoN : : kan during exponential growth correlated with increased GDAR and survival in a model stomach system. Complementation of SakairpoN : : kan with a cloned version of rpoN restored acid susceptibility. Genes involved in GDAR regulation, including rpoS (sigma factor 38) and gadE (acid-responsive regulator), were shown to be required for the survival of SakairpoN : : kan by the GDAR mechanism. This study describes the contribution of rpoN to acid resistance and GDAR gene regulation, and reveals RpoN to be an important regulator of stress resistance and virulence genes in E. coli O157 : H7.
Differential gene expression in the pathogenic dermatophyte Arthroderma benhamiae
in vitro versus during infection
Authors: Staib Peter , Zaugg Christophe , Mignon Bernard , Weber Johann , Grumbt Maria , Pradervand Sylvain , Harshman Keith , Monod Michel
Published: November 2009

Although dermatophytes are the most common agents of superficial mycoses in humans and animals, the molecular basis of the pathogenicity of these fungi is largely unknown. In vitro digestion of keratin by dermatophytes is associated with the secretion of multiple proteases, which are assumed to be responsible for their particular specialization to colonize and degrade keratinized host structures during infection. To investigate the role of individual secreted proteases in dermatophytosis, a guinea pig infection model was established for the zoophilic dermatophyte Arthroderma benhamiae, which causes highly inflammatory cutaneous infections in humans and rodents. By use of a cDNA microarray covering approximately 20–25 % of the A. benhamiae genome and containing sequences of at least 23 protease genes, we revealed a distinct in vivo protease gene expression profile in the fungal cells, which was surprisingly different from the pattern elicited during in vitro growth on keratin. Instead of the major in vitro-expressed proteases, others were activated specifically during infection. These enzymes are therefore suggested to fulfil important functions that are not exclusively associated with the degradation of keratin. Most notably, the gene encoding the serine protease subtilisin 6, which is a known major allergen in the related dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum and putatively linked to host inflammation, was found to be the most strongly upregulated gene during infection. In addition, our approach identified other candidate pathogenicity-related factors in A. benhamiae, such as genes encoding key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle and an opsin-related protein. Our work provides what we believe to be the first broad-scale gene expression profile in human pathogenic dermatophytes during infection, and points to putative virulence-associated mechanisms that make these micro-organisms the most successful aetiological agents of superficial mycoses.
Basal cell carcinoma arising on a chronic lymphedematous leg
Authors: UENO Takashi , FUTAGAMI Ayako , MITSUISHI Tsuyoshi , NIIMI Yayoi , SHIMODA Takako , KAWANA Seiji
Published: November 2009

We describe a case of an 82‐year‐old Japanese woman with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on the leg with secondary chronic lymphedema due to treatment for uterine cancer. Sparse tumor nests with remarkable edema of the dermis in the nodule appeared to be influenced by the chronic lymphedema. However, it remains inconclusive whether or not the tumorigenesis of the BCC was associated with chronic lymphedema in this case.
Extramammary Paget’s disease with intracytoplasmic lumen formation
Authors: TSUNEMI Yuichiro , SAEKI Hidehisa , KIKUCHI Kanako , TAMAKI Kunihiko , SATO Shinichi
Published: November 2009

Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is regarded as a malignancy most likely derived from or differentiated into apocrine sweat duct and gland. The tumor cells in EMPD usually have abundant pale cytoplasm and large pleomorphic nuclei. We present a case with EMPD where the tumor included many signet ring cells, cells with intracytoplasmic lumen formation and glandular formation. This case is interesting in that the tumor included many cells with intracytoplasmic lumen formation. Signet ring cells and glandular formation support the traditional speculation that EMPD is derived from apocrine sweat gland and intracytoplasmic lumen formation may mimic the intrafollicular apocrine duct.
Analysis of family history of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis in Japan
Authors: YAMASHITA Noriko , TAMADA Yasuhiko , KAWADA Morihiro , MIZUTANI Kimihiko , WATANABE Daisuke , MATSUMOTO Yoshinari
Published: November 2009

Palmoplantar hyperhidrosis (PPH) is a disorder characterized by excessive sweating of the palmar surfaces of the hands and feet due to emotional sweating. There have been reports based on family histories, and the involvement of genetic factors has been suggested. Among 410 PPH patients who visited our hospital from August 2006 to October 2008, onset age and family history were investigated in order to prepare pedigree charts, and family histories were confirmed in 147 patients (36%). Between the family history and negative family history (sporadic) groups, no significant differences were seen in onset age, sex or sweat volume. With regard to the patterns of incidence within families, parent–child was the most common at 58%, followed by sibling cases at 18%. The incidence of PPH in three generations was 13%. Pedigree charts prepared based on data obtained by patient interviews suggested autosomal dominant inheritance.
Prion‐like Doppel gene polymorphisms and scrapie susceptibility in portuguese sheep breeds
Authors: Mesquita P. , Batista M. , Marques M. R. , Santos I. C. , Pimenta J. , Silva Pereira M. , Carolino I. , Santos Silva F. , Oliveira Sousa M. C. , Gama L. T. , Fontes C. M. , Horta A. E. M. , Prates J. A. M. , Pereira R. M.
Published: November 2009

The establishment of an association between prion protein gene (PRNP) polymorphisms and scrapie susceptibility in sheep has enabled the development of breeding programmes to increase scrapie resistance in the European Union. Intense selection for PRNP genotype may lead to correlated selection for genes linked to PRNP. We intended to investigate if any association exists between genetic variation in prion‐like protein Doppel gene (PRND) and scrapie susceptibility, determined through PRNP genotyping. Sampling included 460 sheep from eight Portuguese breeds and the PRND gene coding region was analysed by multiple restriction fragment‐single strand conformation polymorphism (MRF‐SSCP), whereas PRNP genotyping was carried out by primer extension. A synonymous substitution (c.78G>A) was detected in codon 26 of the PRND gene, in all breeds except Churra Mondegueira. Linkage disequilibrium was found between the PRND and PRNP loci (P = 0.000). Specifically, PRND was monomorphic in the 45 animals with the more resistant ARR/ARR PRNP genotype (P = 0.003), whereas a higher frequency of PRND heterozygotes (GA) was associated with ARQ/AHQ (P = 0.029). These results constitute preliminary evidence of an association between a polymorphism in the PRND gene and scrapie susceptibility, and indicate that the possibility of undesirable consequences from widespread selection for PRNP genotype on genetic diversity and reproduction traits needs to be further investigated.
High mitochondrial differentiation levels between wild and domestic Bactrian camels: a basis for rapid detection of maternal hybridization
Authors: Silbermayr K. , Orozco‐terWengel P. , Charruau P. , Enkhbileg D. , Walzer C. , Vogl C. , Schwarzenberger F. , Kaczensky P. , Burger P. A.
Published: November 2009

Hybridization between wild species and their domestic congeners often threatens the gene pool of the wild species. The last wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) populations in Mongolia and China are examples of populations facing such a hybridization threat. To address this key issue in the conservation of wild camels, we analysed wild, hybrid and domestic Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) originating from Mongolia, China and Austria. Through screening of an 804‐base‐pair mitochondrial fragment, we identified eight mitochondrial haplotypes and found high sequence divergence (1.9%) between C. ferus and C. bactrianus. On the basis of a mitochondrial DNA sequence fixed difference, we developed a diagnostic PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) assay to differentiate between wild and domestic camel samples. We applied the assay to 81 individuals and confirmed the origin of all samples including five hybrids with known maternal ancestry. The PCR‐RFLP system was effective for both traditional (blood, skin) and non‐invasive samples (faeces, hair), as well as for museum specimens. Our results demonstrate high levels of mitochondrial differentiation between wild and domestic Bactrian camels and that maternal hybridization can be detected by a rapid and reliable PCR‐RFLP system.
Current knowledge of microRNA characterization in agricultural animals
Authors: Liu H.‐C. , Hicks J. A. , Trakooljul N. , Zhao S.‐H.
Published: November 2009

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of single‐stranded small (19–24nt) regulatory RNA that silences gene expression post‐transcriptionally. miRNAs regulate a wide range of biological processes through the recognition of complementary sequences between miRNAs and their target genes. Profiling studies in livestock have revealed that many miRNAs are species‐ and tissue‐specific, indicating that miRNAs play important roles in essential biological processes in livestock, such as muscle and organ development, the immune response and metabolism. The allelic variation of miRNA target sites and possibly in miRNAs themselves are also likely to be contributing factors to many phenotypic differences in livestock. In this review, we summarize the current miRNA studies undertaken in livestock.
SNPs in the porcine GOT1 gene improve a QTL for serum aspartate aminotransferase activity on SSC14
Authors: Reiner G. , Clemens N. , Lohner E. , Willems H.
Published: November 2009

Clinical–chemical traits are essential parameters to quantify the health status of individuals and herds, but the knowledge about their genetic architecture is sparse, especially in swine. We have recently described three QTL for serum aspartate aminotransferase activity (sAST), and one of these maps to a region on SSC14 where the aspartate aminotransferase coding gene GOT1 is located. This QTL was only apparent under the acute burden of a model disease. The aim of the present study was to characterize GOT1 as a candidate gene and to test the effects of different GOT1 SNPs as potential quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) for sAST. Nine SNPs within GOT1 were identified, and SNP c.‐793C>G significantly increased the QTL effects and narrowed the confidence interval from 90 to 15 cM. Additionally, we found a significant association of SNP c.‐793C>G in a commercial outbred line, but with reversed phase. We conclude that GOT1 is a putative candidate gene for the sAST QTL on SSC14, and that SNP c.‐793C>G is close to the responsible QTN.
A genome wide association study for QTL affecting direct and maternal effects of stillbirth and dystocia in cattle
Authors: Olsen H. G. , Hayes B. J. , Kent M. P. , Nome T. , Svendsen M. , Lien S.
Published: November 2009

Dystocia and stillbirth are significant causes of female and neonatal death in many species and there is evidence for a genetic component to both traits. Identifying causal mutations affecting these traits through genome wide association studies could reveal the genetic pathways involved and will be a step towards targeted interventions. Norwegian Red cattle are an ideal model breed for such studies as very large numbers of records are available. We conducted a genome wide association study for direct and maternal effects of dystocia and stillbirth using almost 1 million records of these traits. Genotyping costs were minimized by genotyping the sires of the recorded cows, and using daughter averages as phenotypes. A dense marker map containing 17 343 single nucleotide polymorphisms covering all autosomal chromosomes was utilized. The genotyped sires were assigned to one of two groups in an attempt to ensure independence between the groups. Associations were only considered validated if they occurred in both groups. Strong associations were found and validated on chromosomes 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 20, 22 and 28. The QTL region on chromosome 6 was refined using LDLA analysis. The results showed that this chromosome most probably contains two QTL for direct effect on dystocia and one for direct effect on stillbirth. Several candidate genes may be identified close to these QTL. Of these, a cluster of genes expected to affect bone and cartilage formation (i.e. SPP1, IBSP and MEPE) are of particular interest and we suggest that these genes are screened in candidate gene studies for dystocia and stillbirth in cattle as well as other species.
Discovery, validation and characterization of 1039 cattle single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Donthu R. , Larkin D. M. , Heaton M. P. , Lewin H. A.
Published: November 2009

We identified ∼13 000 putative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by comparison of repeat‐masked BAC‐end sequences from the cattle RPCI‐42 BAC library with whole‐genome shotgun contigs of cattle genome assembly Btau 1.0. Genotyping of a subset of these SNPs was performed on a panel containing 186 DNA samples from 18 cattle breeds including 43 trios. Of 1039 SNPs confirmed as polymorphic in the panel, 998 had minor allele frequency ≥0.25 among unrelated individuals of at least one breed. When Btau 4.0 became available, 974 of these validated SNPs were assigned in silico to known cattle chromosomes, while 41 SNPs were mapped to unassigned sequence scaffolds, yielding one SNP every ∼3 Mbp on average. Twenty‐four SNPs identified in Btau 1.0 were not mapped to Btau 4.0. Of the 1015 SNPs mapped to Btau 4.0, 959 SNPs had nucleotide bases identical in Btau 4.0 and Btau 1.0 contigs, whereas 56 bases were changed, resulting in the loss of the in silico SNP in Btau 4.0. Because these 1039 SNPs were all directly confirmed by genotyping on the multi‐breed panel, it is likely that the original polymorphisms were correctly identified. The 1039 validated SNPs identified in this study represent a new and useful resource for genome‐wide association studies and applications in animal breeding.
Interspecific relationships among growth, mortality and xylem traits of woody species from New Zealand
Authors: Russo Sabrina E. , Jenkins Kerry L. , Wiser Susan K. , Uriarte Maria , Duncan Richard P. , Coomes David A.
Published: November 2009

1. Wood density is considered a key functional trait influencing the growth and survival of woody plants and has been shown to be related to a slow–fast rate‐of‐living continuum. Wood density is, however, an emergent trait arising from several vascular properties of wood, including the diameter and frequency of xylem conduits.

2. We aimed to test the hypotheses that there is a set of inter‐related trade‐offs linked to the different functions of wood, that these trade‐offs have direct consequences for tree growth and survival and that these trade‐offs underlie the observed correlations between wood density and demographic rates. We evaluated the covariation between xylem anatomical traits among woody species of New Zealand and whether that covariation had the potential to constrain variation in wood density and demographic rates.

3. Several xylem traits were strongly correlated with each other, but wood density was not correlated with any of them. We also found no significant relationships between wood density and growth or mortality rate. Instead, growth was strongly related to xylem traits associated with hydraulic capacity (conduit diameter and a conductivity index) and to maximum height, whereas mortality rate was strongly correlated only with maximum height. The diameter and frequency of conduits exhibited a significant negative relationship, suggesting a trade‐off, which restricted variation in wood density and growth rate, but not mortality rate.

4. Our results suggest, for woody species in New Zealand, that growth rate is more closely linked to xylem traits determining hydraulic conductance, rather than wood density. We also found no evidence that denser woods conferred higher survival, or that risk of cavitation caused by wide conduits increased mortality.

5. In summary, we found little support for the idea that wood density is a good proxy for position along a fast–slow rate‐of‐living continuum. Instead, the strong, negative relationship between vessel diameter and frequency may constrain the realized diversity of demographic niches of tree species in New Zealand. Trade‐offs in function therefore have the potential to shape functional diversity and ecology of forest communities by linking selection on structure and function to population‐level dynamics.
Validation of potential therapeutic targets in alveolar soft part sarcoma: an immunohistochemical study utilizing tissue microarray
Authors: Lazar Alexander J , Lahat Guy , Myers Sarah E , Smith Kerrington D , Zou Changye , Wang Wei‐Lien , Lopez‐Terrada Dolores , Lev Dina
Published: November 2009

Aims:  The molecular signature of alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a specific der(17)t(X;17)(p11.2;q25) translocation, resulting in a chimeric transcription factor (ASPSCR1–TFE3). When this disease is no longer amenable to surgical curative intervention, uniformly efficacious therapies are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of potential molecular therapeutic targets in a cohort of ASPS tumour samples.

Methods and results:  Immunohistochemical analysis for hepatocyte growth factor, c‐Met, phosphorylated c‐Met, phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated MEK, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p53 and vimentin was performed on an ASPS tissue microarray, yielding complete data from 26 tumours. Activation of c‐Met and its downstream effectors was noted, whereas only limited EGFR expression was seen. VEGF was expressed to varying degrees. Only one sample exhibited strong nuclear p53 expression, while 10 expressed low levels. Vimentin expression was negative in the vast majority of samples (96%).

Conclusions:  There is a crucial need for better anti‐ASPS therapies. Activated c‐Met and the phosphorylation of its downstream effectors validate an intact signalling cascade probably induced by the ASPSCR1–TFE3 chimeric transcription factor. The angiogenic phenotype of these tumours is supported by increased angiogenic factor expression. Combination therapies targeting both tumour cells and angiogenesis merit further investigation.
Oncocytic versus mitochondrion‐rich follicular thyroid tumours: should we make a difference?
Authors: Tsybrovskyy Oleksiy , Rößmann‐Tsybrovskyy Martina
Published: November 2009

Aims:  To separate true oncocytic neoplasms from mitochondrion‐rich non‐oncocytic lesions based on the intracellular relationship between major cell organelles, and to establish the diagnostic and clinical relevance of this distinction.

Methods and results:  Tissue samples from 276 follicular adenomas, 194 follicular carcinomas, 162 normal thyroids and 296 non‐neoplastic lesions were classified as conventional, mitochondrion‐rich or oncocytic based on the immunohistochemically assessed quantity and intracellular distribution of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear position. Pathological and clinical features were compared among the groups. In oncocytes, densely packed mitochondria resulted in homogeneous immunolabelling of basal cytoplasmic regions, whereas ER and the nuclei were typically displaced to the apical position. This aberrant organelle distribution was not observed in non‐oncocytes, which allowed reliable distinction between oncocytic and mitochondrion‐rich lesions. Clinically, mitochondrial increase in non‐oncocytic lesions was associated with neoplasia, malignancy and higher cancer recurrence rates. Similar correlation, albeit less pronounced, was observed within the oncocytic tumour group. By contrast, oncocytic change per se was not associated with neoplasia, malignancy or cancer aggressiveness.

Conclusions:  True oncocytic neoplasms can be distinguished from mitochondrion‐rich non‐oncocytic tumours based on aberrant distribution of all major cell organelles. This distinction has immediate clinical relevance and should be implemented in practice.