bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Letter to Future Physicians: One Dozen Important Things You Might Not Learn Enough about During Medical Training—But Should
Authors: HEILIG STEVE , LEE PHILIP R.
Published: August 2010

Medical training is intense by design. Starting with medical school, for 4 years most of the time in the formal curriculum is filled with numerous essential topics, and, as scientific and medical knowledge increases, it is increasingly difficult to “triage” what must be learned. Efforts to insert new topics are often fraught with obstacles and resistance. Thus, it is problematic to suggest that even more be taught in those finite years of formal medical education. However, that is exactly what we propose to do here.
Commentary: An Invitation to Cross-Cultural Conversation
Authors: Bustillos Dan
Published: August 2010

The case of Mrs. J is interesting not only because of the difficult questions that the clinical ethicist must confront but also because of the intriguing way in which such cases make Western clinicians and ethicists confront their own oft-unspoken cultural ethical norms and presuppositions.
The Persistence of Physician–Parent Conflicts
Authors: GOLDWORTH AMNON
Published: August 2010

In 1985, after a long university career teaching philosophy and humanities, in which my only serious worries over the years were centered on such things as getting promoted, course preparations, and faculty affairs, I found myself confronted, as a medical ethics committee member, with a life and death issue. It concerned the care of an infant suffering from posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, for which there appeared to be no permanently effective treatment. The parents refused to consider the discontinuing of aggressive care even though this prolonged the suffering of their child. This standoff continued for 5 months, until the parents decided that it was God’s wish that aggressive treatment cease.
Streamer tip splitting in sprites
Authors: McHarg M. G. , Stenbaek‐Nielsen H. C. , Kanmae T. , Haaland R. K.
Published: August 2010

Five sprite events were observed above mesoscale thunderstorms in the midwest of the United States on 23 June 2007 with images recorded at 10,000 frames per second. We observe 75 streamer tips that propagate with no splitting and 42 streamer tips that split at some point while in the field of view. In general, streamer tips that propagate and do not split are smaller in width, and less bright. The median streamer tip radius for propagating streamer tips is 193 m, while the median value for splitting streamer tips is 389 m. Streamer tips that split become wider and brighter shortly before they are observed to split. Our observations compare favorably with theoretical models based on viscous fingering of the streamer heads leading to streamer tip splitting.
A top‐down analysis of emissions from selected Texas power plants during TexAQS 2000 and 2006
Authors: Peischl J. , Ryerson T. B. , Holloway J. S. , Parrish D. D. , Trainer M. , Frost G. J. , Aikin K. C. , Brown S. S. , Dubé W. P. , Stark H. , Fehsenfeld F. C.
Published: August 2010

Airborne measurements were taken downwind of eleven Texas power generation facilities in 2000 and 2006 as part of the two Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS) campaigns. From these measurements, we determine emission ratios of NOx (= NO + NO2), SO2, and CO to coemitted CO2 for each facility. These measurements provide an independent external assessment of reported emission ratios from continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS). During the TexAQS study years, we find the SO2/CO2 and NOx/CO2 emission ratios derived from measurements aboard the aircraft agree quantitatively with inventory values from CEMS, with standard deviations of less than ±14%. We document significant decreases in atmospheric mixing ratios of NOx as a result of emission reductions due to controls implemented at the W. A. Parish plant after TexAQS 2000. For several of the facilities, CO emissions appear relatively constant in time. Derived CO/CO2 emission ratios agree substantially better with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality inventories in 2006 than in 2000, which we attribute to better inventory data from three facilities that installed CO CEMS between the two study years and not because of any significant change in CO emissions. Other plants appear to have varying CO emissions over time, complicating comparison to annual inventory values. Finally, we use two independent NO2 measurements, along with measurements of O3, NO3, and N2O5, to quantify the fraction of NOx directly emitted as NO2 from the Oklaunion Power Plant, providing the first quantitative estimate of NO2 emissions from a power generation facility using ambient data.
Researchers Focus on Fire Clouds That Reach to the Stratosphere
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: August 2010

Volcanic eruptions are not the only violent events that can inject smoke‐colored and cauliflower‐textured clouds into the stratosphere. Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCB) storms can, too. These recently discovered phenomena are storms caused or aided by fire; they have many characteristics similar to thunderstorms, including lightning, hail, and extreme vertical height through the troposphere and into the lower stratosphere.

Common wisdom had held that “the only event that can explosively pollute the stratosphere is a volcanic eruption,” Michael Fromm, a meteorologist with the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., said at a 9 August press briefing at the 2010 Meeting of the Americas in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. “Now we know that pyroCBs can do a version of this, thanks to the heat from fire.”
Mentoring Women in Physical Oceanography: MPOWIR Pattullo Conference; Charleston, South Carolina, 23–26 May 2010
Authors: Gerber Lisa M.
Published: August 2010

Initiated in 2004, Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to Increase Retention (MPOWIR) is a community‐initiated and community‐led program aimed at providing mentoring to junior women in physical oceanography to improve their retention in the field. The centerpiece of the MPOWIR program is the Pattullo Conference, a two‐and‐a‐half‐day mentoring event held biannually. The second conference was held in South Carolina. The conference is named for June Pattullo, the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in physical oceanography. The goals of the Pattullo Conference are to build community networks among junior and senior scientists, to provide junior scientists with feedback on their current and planned research projects, to provide advice to junior scientists on their career goals, to introduce both senior and junior scientists to aspects of professional development, and to raise awareness of issues confronting junior women among the senior scientist community.
The Cytokine Response to Human Traumatic Brain Injury: Temporal Profiles and Evidence for Cerebral Parenchymal Production
Authors: Helmy Adel , Carpenter Keri LH , Menon David K , Pickard John D , Hutchinson Peter JA
Published: August 2010

The role of neuroinflammation is increasingly being recognised in a diverse range of cerebral pathologies, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). We used cerebral microdialysis and paired arterial and jugular bulb plasma sampling to characterise the production of 42 cytokines after severe TBI in 12 patients over 5 days. We compared two microdialysis perfusates in six patients: central nervous system perfusion fluid and 3.5% human albumin solution (HAS); 3.5% HAS has a superior fluid recovery (95.8 versus 83.3%), a superior relative recovery in 18 of 42 cytokines (versus 8 of 42), and a qualitatively superior recovery profile. All 42 cytokines were recovered from the human brain. Sixteen cytokines showed a stereotyped temporal peak, at least twice the median value for that cytokine over the monitoring period; day 1: tumour necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)7, IL8, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)1α, soluble CD40 ligand, GRO, IL1β, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA, MIP1β, RANTES; day 2: IL1 receptor antagonist (ra). IL6, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), chemokine CXC motif ligand 10 (IP10); days 4 to 5: IL12p70, IL10. Brain extracellular fluid concentrations were significantly higher than plasma concentrations for 19 cytokines: basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), G-CSF, IL1α, IL1 β, IL1ra, IL3, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12p40, IL12p70, IP10, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)1, MCP3, MIP1α, MIP1β, PDGF-AA, transforming growth factor (TGF)α and vascular endothelial growth factor. No clear arterio-jugular venous gradients were apparent. These data provide evidence for the cerebral production of these cytokines and show a stereotyped temporal pattern after TBI.
Nation, Race, and Affect: Senses and Sensibilities at National Heritage Sites
Authors: Crang Mike , Tolia-Kelly Divya P
Published: August 2010

This paper picks up from extensive literatures that have addressed the relationship of heritage to national identity. Much work focuses upon the symbolic construction of the past through heritage institutions, but in so doing it tends to underplay the affective experience of heritage sites. In this paper we argue that it is the felt experience and the organisation of sensibilities towards heritage which are often as important, and that these have racialised modalities. We thus look at attempts to foster civic inclusion and argue that they need to work through not just civic openness but felt exclusions and fears. We take two canonical heritage sites to exemplify these issues. First, the British Museum was chosen as an urban national institution that is conventionally seen speaking in an unemotive, pedagogical register. The history of the museum as collecting artefacts from around the world and bringing them to London is related to diasporic communities' feelings about the collections, focusing on the Oceanic gallery. The second exemplar is the English Lake District, chosen as a rural national park that is seen to mobilise more visceral affective responses, which is deeply bound up with national sensibilities but has attracted attention for racial exclusivity.
Ambiguities in Knowledge Production: Multimodal Analysis of Discourse and Dramaturgy in Public Participation GIS Experiments
Authors: Bamberg Jarkko
Published: August 2010

A web-based collaborative-argumentation mapping experiment, which was used as part of a planning process in the city of Tampere, Finland, revealed a need for analytical tools to interpret the users' meaning making with this particular public participation GIS instrument. The main reason for this was the complexity of mediated interaction between different actors in and by means of the application: written comments, graphic symbols, and aerial photographs were combined to make meaning in particular context-specific situations. An analytical framework is discussed; it is shown to have the potential to grasp this type of signification process by studying the dynamics of different semiotic means and the production of discourse and settings in practice.
The End of the Right to Buy and the Future of Social Housing in Scotland
Authors: McKee Kim
Published: August 2010

Thirty-years after the introduction of the Right to Buy — the most successful example of housing privatisation policy in the UK — the current Housing (Scotland) Bill proposes to end the scheme for both new social housing tenants and new social housing. This paper considers the implications of these modernizing reforms, in the context of housing policy divergence post-devolution. It concludes that these proposals are likely to have a significant, but mixed, impact on the future of the social rented sector in Scotland.
Will Policies Designed to Encourage Links between European Clusters Weaken their Internal Dynamics?
Authors: Derbyshire James
Published: August 2010

It is now common for policy-makers and researchers to emphasise the need for clusters to combine geographically broader linkages, with clusters in other regions and countries, with local linkages within the cluster. This has resulted in policies designed to encourage the establishment of broader linkages, such as the European Commission's encouragement of trans-national links between European clusters through its Europe INNOVA initiatives. However, through an examination of the ‘Small World’ network concept, this article suggests that clusters’ internal dynamics could be undermined by such policies and that they should therefore be implemented with caution.
Online Recruitment of Targeted Populations: Lessons Learned from a Smoking Cessation Study among Korean Americans
Authors: McDonnell Diana D. , Lee Hyun-Ju , Kazinets Gene , Moskowitz Joel M.
Published: August 2010

Korean Americans (KAs) have among the highest smoking rates in the United States. They are unlikely to participate in conventional evidence-based smoking cessation programs, preferring to quit on their own. Since KAs have good Internet access, the study's community advisory board recommended evaluating the efficacy of an online cessation program. In conjunction with the board, an Internet-based, self-help program was adapted to ensure that it was culturally and linguistically appropriate and was evaluated with a randomized trial. This article describes the real-world experience recruiting 1,261 KA participants, primarily through online methods. Paid online advertising was essential to the recruitment effort. The 31 months of advertising cost approximately $84,000, or $66.50 per study enrollee. Based on self-reports, most participants learned about the study from either a text link such as Google AdWords (44%) and/or a graphic link such as an online newspaper ad (35%). Among the methods used, Google AdWords' cost-per-click content site ads were the most cost-effective. Other types of outreach, including unpaid Internet ads, cable television, newspapers, fliers, and word of mouth, had very low reach. Geographically dispersed, linguistically unique, and privacy-oriented communities can be recruited for eHealth studies and interventions. However, a paid advertising campaign may be necessary.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire: Reliability and validity in a Spanish population
Authors: Roman‐Viñas Blanca , Serra‐Majem Lluis , Hagströmer Maria , Ribas‐Barba Lourdes , Sjöström Michael , Segura‐Cardona Ramon
Published: August 2010

Although questionnaires are useful for evaluating patterns of physical activity in populations, they need to be validated. The objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in a Spanish population. The participants wore a uniaxial MTI Actigraph (Computer Science and Application, Inc.) accelerometer for 7 days and self‐completed the IPAQ questionnaire twice, to assess its reliability. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing data from the IPAQ and data from the MTI. The final sample included 54 adults for the validity analysis and 66 adults for the reliability analysis. The correlations (r) between the IPAQ and the accelerometer were 0.29 (P<0.05) for total physical activity (MET · min−1 · day−1) versus total counts per minute, 0.30 (P<0.05) for time spent in vigorous activity, and 0.34 (P<0.05) for time spent sitting. The IPAQ showed a good reliability coefficient for total physical activity (r=0.82, P<0.05), vigorous activity (r=0.79, P<0.05), moderate activity (r=0.83, P<0.05), and time spent walking (r=0.73, P<0.05). Total time spent on work‐related physical activities (r=0.92, P<0.05), on household‐related activities (r=0.86, P<0.05), and leisure‐time physical activities (excluding walking) (r=0.82, P<0.05) showed good reliability coefficients. Bland Altman analysis showed that discrepancies between the two methods increased with the amount of moderate and vigorous physical activity undertaken. In conclusion, the long version of the IPAQ has acceptable validity for the measurement of total and vigorous physical activity, and good reliability coefficients for application in the Spanish population studied here. The questionnaire showed poor validity for reporting moderate‐intensity activity in this Spanish population.
Reliability of two metabolic systems during sport‐specific upper‐body ergometry
Authors: Sealey Rebecca M. , Leicht Anthony S. , Spinks Warwick , Sinclair Wade
Published: August 2010

In this study, we assessed the reliability of the portable Cosmed K4b2 and the laboratory‐based Powerlab 8M gas analysis systems for measuring peak physiological variables during sport‐specific upper‐body exercise, to determine the error associated with repeated physiological performance tests. Ten trained female outrigger canoeists completed two 1000‐m ergometer time trials using each gas analysis system. Peak physiological responses were analysed using a two‐way repeated‐measures analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey HSD tests. Reliability and within‐participant variability of peak responses were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and measurement bias/ratios with 95% limits of agreement (LOA), respectively. Performance and peak physiological responses were similar across trials for each individual system, although the Powerlab 8M reported significantly higher (13.6%) carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and non‐significantly higher (7.4%) oxygen consumption (VO2) than the Cosmed K4b2. Reliability of the Cosmed K4b2 was high for VCO2 (0.98) and moderate for ventilation (0.85), whereas that for the Powerlab 8M was high for VCO2 (0.97) and tidal volume (0.94) and moderate for VO2 (0.87). Overall, the two systems report similar VO2 variability (8–9%) with the Powerlab 8M reporting higher VO2 and VCO2 values than the Cosmed K4b2. Therefore, while each system is reliable, results from each of the systems should not be used interchangeably.
Differences between violent and non‐violent adolescents in terms of sport background and sport‐related psychological variables
Authors: Moesch Karin , Birrer Daniel , Seiler Roland
Published: August 2010

To date, neither theoretical approaches nor empirical findings allow clear predictions about the influence of sport engagement on youth violence. The present study uses a typological approach to investigate groups of adolescents with different characteristics of violent behaviour and cognition regarding their sport background and psychological variables associated with violent behaviour. A sample of 2438 Swiss adolescents aged 12–18 years completed five self‐report questionnaires on sport engagement, violent behaviour and cognition, self‐concept, wellbeing, and stress perception. After in‐depth data cleaning and method checking, the data of 832 participants were clustered using the Ward method. Five reliable clusters based on violent behaviour and cognition can be identified: non‐violent adolescents, adolescents at risk, violence supporters, psychological harassers, and violent adolescents. Harassers are most engaged in sports and are over‐represented among elite athletes. Violent adolescents are over‐represented in game sports with body contact, whereas non‐violent adolescents are involved in individual sports with a focus on aesthetic factors. Results further reveal that non‐violent adolescents scored highest on general self‐concept and relationship to parents, whereas harassers scored highest on general sport abilities. Moreover, harassers and violent adolescents have the least favourable values on different scales of wellbeing and stress perception. Given the cross‐sectional nature of the study, no conclusion about selection or socializing processes can be drawn. Further in‐depth consideration is needed to advance our understanding of the relationship between sport, psychological dimensions, and violence.
Dehydration and sodium deficit during indoor practice in elite European male team players
Authors: Hamouti Nassim , Coso Juan Del , Estevez Emma , Mora‐Rodriguez Ricardo
Published: August 2010

Aspects of team players' performance are negatively affected when ~ 2% body mass is lost by perspiration. Although such dehydration is likely reached during summer practice in outdoors sports, it is unclear if such dehydration is achieved during the practice of indoor sports. We assessed the fluid and electrolyte deficits of elite team players during practice for the following indoor sports: indoor soccer (n=9), basketball (n=11), volleyball (n=10), and handball (n=13). Morning hydration status was estimated by measuring urine specific gravity. Sweat rate was calculated from body mass changes and fluid intake. Sweat sodium concentration from the forearm was used to estimate whole‐body sodium losses. Over 91% of the players were moderately hypohydrated (urine specific gravity>1.020) at waking 3 h before practice. Indoor soccer players sweated at a higher rate (1.8 litres · h−1) than volleyball and handball players (1.2 and 1.1 litres · h−1, respectively; P<0.05), whereas sweat rate was not different between basketball players (1.5 litres · h−1) and the other team sport players (P>0.05). In average, 62±13% of sweat losses were replaced and teams' body mass loss did not exceed 1.2±0.3%. Sodium losses were similar among teams, averaging 1.2±0.2 g. The exercise fluid replacement habits of professional indoor team players are adequate to prevent 2% dehydration. However, most players could benefit from increasing fluid intake between workouts to offset the high prevalence of morning hypohydration.
The effect of a cycling stage race on whole‐body protein turnover
Authors: Rolleston Anna K. , Rehrer Nancy J. , Hellemans Ien J. , Rush Elaine , Murphy Cheryl , Miller Benjamin F.
Published: August 2010

Marked energy expenditure, independent of energy balance, could change whole‐body protein turnover. The aims of the present study were to determine the effect of participation in a 6‐day, 10‐stage cycling stage tour on whole‐body protein turnover in elite male cyclists, and to determine whether energy and protein turnover are related to fatigue and over‐reaching. 13C‐leucine was used to determine 18‐h whole‐body protein turnover in cyclists both before and immediately after a cycling stage race. The 18‐h period included two feeding periods to simulate a normal evening meal and a normal breakfast meal, and two fasted periods including overnight. Blood was drawn for the determination of plasma cortisol and serum ferritin on days 2, 4, and 6 and a Profile of Mood States questionnaire was administered on alternate days during the tour event for determination of markers of over‐reaching. Mean leucine rate of appearance was unchanged from pre‐ to post‐tour during both fed and fasted conditions and mean energy balance was maintained. Serum ferritin concentration declined and plasma cortisol concentration remained stable over the 6 days. Markers of overtraining were evident in one athlete who pulled out of the tour event due to fatigue on the second to last day. Our main finding was that high energy output over a 6‐day period did not significantly change protein turnover during fed, fasted or overnight conditions.
On the dynamics of Sardina pilchardus: orbits of stability and environmental forcing
Authors: Solari A. P. , Santamaría M. T. G. , Borges M. F. , Santos A. M. P. , Mendes H. , Balguerías E. , Díaz Cordero J. A. , Castro J. J. , Bas C.
Published: August 2010

Solari, A. P., Santamaría, M. T. G., Borges, M. F., Santos, A. M. P., Mendes, H., Balguerías, E., Díaz Cordero, J. A., Castro, J. J., and Bas, C. 2010. On the dynamics of Sardina pilchardus: orbits of stability and environmental forcing. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1565–1573. The dynamics of Sardina pilchardus in Iberian upwelling are examined. Spawning-stock biomass (SSB), recruitment (R), and production (R/SSB) data for the years 1978–2006 are analysed in relation to the upwelling index (UPW) and sea surface temperature (SST). The population oscillates in two relatively stable orbits (identified by multiresolution decomposition of the recruitment series) because the external forcing (UPW and SST) are the inverse of each other and the synchrony is lost between the two external variables, R and R/SSB as they shift towards steep, negative (depensatory) trends. Such mechanics may have induced recruitment failures and significant decreases in abundance of Iberian sardine. The relationships are assumed to validate a complex and dynamic continuum (multiple orbits of stability) and an alternative variable-carrying-capacity population model. Radial systems with two orbits of stability are proposed for the R/SSB and S/SSB (where S is the stock size) relationships. Results are discussed in relation to classical and alternative SR models to address stock rehabilitation and fishing mortality issues as the population shifts towards low recruitment and abundance, and critical factors to consider in developing exploitation strategies for systems with multiple orbits of stability are discussed.
First Report of Bacterial Stem and Root Rot of Sweetpotato Caused by a Dickeya sp. (Erwinia chrysanthemi) in China
Authors: Huang L. F. , Fang B. P. , Luo Z. X. , Chen J. Y. , Zhang X. J. , Wang Z. Y.
Published: August 2010

Since 2006, stem and root rot of sweetpotato has been observed in fields at a number of sweetpotato-production areas in Huidong, Haifeng, Puning, and Zhanjiang counties and Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province of China. Initially, the leaves turn yellow, and a black, water-soaked rot occurs on the bottom of the stems that gradually extends to the top of the stems. Finally, the entire plant collapses and dies. Bacteria were consistently isolated from stems of diseased seedlings by streaking on nutrient agar. Twelve representative isolates were chosen for further characterization. All strains grew at 37°C, were gram negative, facultatively anaerobic, and rod shaped with peritrichous flagella. The strains were negative for oxidase and positive for catalase and tryptophanase (indole production) They fermented glucose, reduced nitrates to nitrites, degraded pectate, produced phosphatase and lecithinase, and utilized citrate, tartrate, malonate, glucose, sucrose, fructose, and maltose, but not trehalose and lactose. These characteristics were similar to those of Erwinia chrysanthemi (Pectobacterium chrysanthemi) (1). PCR was performed on the 16S rDNA gene from isolate H12 (1,503 bp; GenBank Accession No. GU252371) with primers 27f (5′-GAGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3′) and reverse primer (5′-GGCTACCTTGTTACGACTTC-3′). Subsequently, PCR products were sequenced. Results of sequence analysis showed the sequence of isolated strain H12 was 99% identical to that of E. chrysanthemi, 99% identical to that of type strain CFBP 1269T of Dickeya dadantii (Accession No. AF520707), and 98% identical to that of type strain CFBP 1200T of D. dianthicola (Accession No. AF520708). Recently, E. chrysanthemi was transferred to Dickeya gen. nov., but it was difficult to identify the species within the genus Dickeya. Seedlings (20 to 30 cm) were planted in 10-cm-diameter plastic pots containing sterilized field soil at room temperature. Four days later, five stem tops of sweetpotato were injected with a bacteria suspension (108 CFU/ml) of approximately 100 μl to fulfill Koch's postulates. Five control plants were inoculated with sterile distilled water. The experiment was conducted three times. All plants were incubated in a chamber at 30°C with high humidity. One to two days after inoculation, symptoms were observed in all inoculated plants and appeared to be identical to those observed in the field. No symptoms were noted on the control plants. The bacterium was reisolated from symptomatic stems of sweetpotato plants. This pathogen was previously reported on sweetpotato in the United States in 1974 (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a Dickeya sp. (E. chrysanthemi) causing bacterial stem and root rot of sweetpotato in China.

References: (1) D. J. Brenner et al. Page 670 in: Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. 2nd ed. Springer, New York, 2005. (2) N. W. Schaad et al. Phytopathology 67:302, 1977.
Genome architecture marked by retrotransposons modulates predisposition to DNA methylation in cancer
Authors: Estécio Marcos R.H. , Gallegos Juan , Vallot Céline , Castoro Ryan J. , Chung Woonbok , Maegawa Shinji , Oki Yasuhiro , Kondo Yutaka , Jelinek Jaroslav , Shen Lanlan , Hartung Helge , Aplan Peter D. , Czerniak Bogdan A. , Liang Shoudan , Issa Jean-Pierre J.
Published: August 2010

Epigenetic silencing plays an important role in cancer development. An attractive hypothesis is that local DNA features may participate in differential predisposition to gene hypermethylation. We found that, compared with methylation-resistant genes, methylation-prone genes have a lower frequency of SINE and LINE retrotransposons near their transcription start site. In several large testing sets, this distribution was highly predictive of promoter methylation. Genome-wide analysis showed that 22% of human genes were predicted to be methylation-prone in cancer; these tended to be genes that are down-regulated in cancer and that function in developmental processes. Moreover, retrotransposon distribution marks a larger fraction of methylation-prone genes compared to Polycomb group protein (PcG) marking in embryonic stem cells; indeed, PcG marking and our predictive model based on retrotransposon frequency appear to be correlated but also complementary. In summary, our data indicate that retrotransposon elements, which are widespread in our genome, are strongly associated with gene promoter DNA methylation in cancer and may in fact play a role in influencing epigenetic regulation in normal and abnormal physiological states.
Structure of water-based ferrofluids with sodium oleate and polyethylene glycol stabilization by small-angle neutron scattering: contrast-variation experiments
Authors: Avdeev Mikhail V. , Feoktystov Artem V. , Kopcansky Peter , Lancz Gabor , Garamus Vasil M. , Willumeit Regine , Timko Milan , Koneracka Martina , Zavisova Vlasta , Tomasovicova Natália , Jurikova Alena , Csach Kornel , Bulavin Leonid A.
Published: August 2010

Contrast variation in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments is used to compare the structures of a water-based ferrofluid, where magnetite nanoparticles are stabilized by sodium oleate, and its mixture with biocompatible polyethylene glycol, PEG. The basic functions approach is applied, which takes into account the effects of polydispersity and magnetic scattering. Different types of stable aggregates of colloidal particles are revealed in both fluids. The addition of PEG results in a reorganization of the structure of the aggregates: the initial comparatively small and compact aggregates (about 40 nm in size) are replaced by large (more than 120 nm in size) fractal-type structures. It is postulated that these large structures are composed of single magnetite particles coated with PEG, which replaces sodium oleate. Micelle formation involving free sodium oleate is observed in both fluids. The structures of the fluids remain unchanged with increasing temperature up to 343 K. New and specific possibilities of SANS contrast variation with respect to multicomponent systems with different aggregates are considered.
CRYSTALSenhancements: dealing with hydrogen atoms in refinement
Authors: Cooper Richard I. , Thompson Amber L. , Watkin David J.
Published: August 2010

Because they scatter X-rays weakly, H atoms are often abused or neglected during structure refinement. The reasons why the H atoms should be included in the refinement and some of the consequences of mistreatment are discussed along with selected real examples demonstrating some of the features for hydrogen treatment that can be found in the software suiteCRYSTALS.
Design of a novel Peltier-based cooling device and its use in neutron diffraction data collection of perdeuterated yeast pyrophosphatase
Authors: Oksanen Esko , Dauvergne François , Goldman Adrian , Budayova-Spano Monika
Published: August 2010

H atoms play a central role in enzymatic mechanisms, but H-atom positions cannot generally be determined by X-ray crystallography. Neutron crystallography, on the other hand, can be used to determine H-atom positions but it is experimentally very challenging. Yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) is an essential enzyme that has been studied extensively by X-ray crystallography, yet the details of the catalytic mechanism remain incompletely understood. The temperature instability of PPase crystals has in the past prevented the collection of a neutron diffraction data set. This paper reports how the crystal growth has been optimized in temperature-controlled conditions. To stabilize the crystals during neutron data collection a Peltier cooling device that minimizes the temperature gradient along the capillary has been developed. This device allowed the collection of a full neutron diffraction data set.
Short-time diffusion of charge-stabilized colloidal particles: generic features
Authors: Heinen Marco , Holmqvist Peter , Banchio Adolfo J. , Nägele Gerhard
Published: August 2010

Analytical theory and Stokesian dynamics simulations are used in conjunction with dynamic light scattering to investigate the role of hydrodynamic interactions in short-time diffusion in suspensions of charge-stabilized colloidal particles. The particles are modeled as solvent-impermeable charged spheres, repelling each otherviaa screened Coulomb potential. Numerical results for self-diffusion and sedimentation coefficients, as well as hydrodynamic and short-time diffusion functions, are compared with experimental data for a wide range of volume fractions. The theoretical predictions for the generic behavior of short-time properties obtained from this model are shown to be in full accord with experimental data. In addition, the effects of microion kinetics, nonzero particle porosity and residual attractive forces on the form of the hydrodynamic function are estimated. This serves to rule out possible causes for the strikingly small hydrodynamic function values determined in certain synchrotron radiation experiments.
Identification of single photoswitchable molecules in nanopores of silica xerogels using powder diffraction
Authors: Cervellino Antonio , Schefer Jürg , Keller Lukas , Woike Theo , Schaniel Dominik
Published: August 2010

Single photoswitchable molecules of (CN3H6)2[Fe(CN)5NO] (GuNP) are embedded into nanopores of an SiO2xerogel. It is shown that it is possible to identify the structural motif (`fingerprint') of the embedded complex by analyzing neutron powder diffraction data in a limitedQrange (Q< 37 nm−1) using the Debye approach. The structural study reveals that the pores are occupied by GuNP monomers with a fill factor of 60–80%. The mutual arrangement of the anion and cations in the GuNP monomer is slightly changed (∼1% elongation), while the bond lengths within the anion and cation are changed by less than 0.2% with respect to the single-crystalline form of GuNP.
Dislocation sources and slip band nucleation from indents on silicon wafers
Authors: Wittge J. , Danilewsky A. N. , Allen D. , McNally P. , Li Z. , Baumbach T. , Gorostegui-Colinas E. , Garagorri J. , Elizalde M. R. , Jacques D. , Fossati M. C. , Bowen D. K. , Tanner B. K.
Published: August 2010

The nucleation of dislocations at controlled indents in silicon during rapid thermal annealing has been studied byin situX-ray diffraction imaging (topography). Concentric loops extending over pairs of inclined {111} planes were formed, the velocities of the inclined and parallel segments being almost equal. Following loss of the screw segment from the wafer, the velocity of the inclined segments almost doubled, owing to removal of the line tension of the screw segments. The loops acted as obstacles to slip band propagation.
LASER– a program for response-ratio refinement of time-resolved diffraction data
Authors: Vorontsov Ivan , Pillet Sébastien , Kamiński Radosław , Schmøkel Mette S. , Coppens Philip
Published: August 2010

The programLASER2010is described. It is specifically designed for the refinement of externally induced structural changes in crystalline solids, including time-resolved laser-pump X-ray probe experiments. The refinement is based on the measured relative intensity changes rather than on the integrated reflection intensities.
Development of a Single‐Meal Fish Consumption Advisory for Methyl Mercury
Authors: Ginsberg Gary L. , Toal Brian F.
Published: August 2010

Methyl mercury (meHg) contamination of fish is the leading cause of fish consumption advisories in the United States. These advisories have focused upon repeated or chronic exposure, whereas risks during pregnancy may also exist from a single‐meal exposure if the fish tissue concentration is high enough. In this study, acute exposure to meHg from a single fish meal was analyzed by using the one‐compartment meHg biokinetic model to predict maternal hair concentrations. These concentrations were evaluated against the mercury hair concentration corresponding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's reference dose (RfD), which is intended to protect against neurodevelopmental effects. The one‐compartment model was validated against blood concentrations from three datasets in which human subjects ingested meHg in fish, either as a single meal or multiple meals. Model simulations of the single‐meal scenario at different fish meHg concentrations found that concentrations of 2.0 ppm or higher can be associated with maternal hair concentrations elevated above the RfD level for days to weeks during gestation. A single‐meal fish concentration cutoff of 2.0 ppm is an important consideration, especially because this single high exposure event might be in addition to a baseline meHg body burden from other types of fish consumption. This type of single‐meal advisory requires that fish sampling programs provide data for individual rather than composited fish, and take into account seasonal differences that may exist in fish concentrations.
Home‐like versus Conventional Institutional Settings for Birth
Authors: Hodnett E.D. , Downe S. , Edwards N. , Walsh D.
Published: August 2010

Background:  Home‐like birth settings have been established in or near conventional labour wards for the care of pregnant women who prefer and require little or no medical intervention during labour and birth.

Objectives:  Primary: to assess the effects of care in a home‐like birth environment compared to care in a conventional labour ward. Secondary: to determine if the effects of birth settings are influenced by staffing or organizational models or geographical location of the birth centre.

Search strategy:  We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (18 May 2004) and handsearched eight journals and two published conference proceedings.

Selection criteria:  All randomized or quasi‐randomized controlled trials that compared the effects of a home‐like institutional birth environment to conventional hospital care.

Data collection and analysis:  Standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration Pregnancy and Childbirth Group were used. Two review authors evaluated methodological quality. Double data entry was performed. Results are presented using relative risks and 95% confidence intervals.

Main results:  Six trials involving 8677 women were included. No trials of freestanding birth centres were found. Between 29% and 67% of women allocated to home‐like settings were transferred to standard care before or during labour. Allocation to a home‐like setting significantly increased the likelihood of: no intrapartum analgesia/anaesthesia (four trials; n = 6703; relative risk (RR) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.40), spontaneous vaginal birth (five trials; n = 8529; RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06), vaginal/perineal tears (four trials; n = 8415; RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.13), preference for the same setting the next time (one trial; n = 1230; RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.65 to 1.98), satisfaction with intrapartum care (one trial; n = 2844; RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.21), and breastfeeding initiation (two trials; n = 1431; RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.09) and continuation to six to eight weeks (two trials; n = 1431; RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.10). Allocation to a home‐like setting decreased the likelihood of episiotomy (five trials; n = 8529; RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.99). There was a trend towards higher perinatal mortality in the home‐like setting (five trials; n = 8529; RR 1.83, 95% CI 0.99 to 3.38). No firm conclusions could be drawn regarding the effects of staffing or organizational models.

Authors’ conclusions:  When compared to conventional institutional settings, home‐like settings for childbirth are associated with modest benefits, including reduced medical interventions and increased maternal satisfaction. Caregivers and clients should be vigilant for signs of complications.

Citation:  Hodnett ED, Downe S, Edwards N, Walsh D. Home‐like versus conventional institutional settings for birth. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000012.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000012.pub2.
Repeat Cesarean Delivery:  What Indications Are Recorded in the Medical Chart?
Authors: Lydon‐Rochelle Mona T. , Gardella Carolyn , Cárdenas Vicky , Easterling Thomas R.
Published: August 2010

Abstract:  Background:
National surveillance estimates reported a troubling 63 percent decline in the rate of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) from 1996 (28.3%) to 2003 (10.6%), with subsequent rising rates of repeat cesarean delivery. The study objective was to examine patterns of documented indications for repeat cesarean delivery in women with and without labor. Methods:We conducted a population‐based validation study of 19 nonfederal short‐stay hospitals in Washington state. Of the 4,541 women who had live births in 2000, 11 percent (n = 493) had repeat cesarean without labor and 3 percent (n = 138) had repeat cesarean with labor. Incidence of medical conditions and pregnancy complications, patterns of documented indications for repeat cesarean delivery, and perioperative complications in relation to repeat cesarean delivery with and without labor were calculated. Results:Of the 493 women who underwent a repeat cesarean delivery without labor, “elective”(36%) and “maternal request”(18%) were the most common indications. Indications for maternal medical conditions (3.0%) were uncommon. Among the 138 women with repeat cesarean delivery with labor, 60.1 percent had failure to progress, 24.6 percent a non‐reassuring fetal heart rate, 8.0 percent cephalopelvic disproportion, and 7.2 percent maternal request during labor. Fetal indications were less common (5.8%). Breech, failed vacuum, abruptio placentae, maternal complications, and failed forceps were all indicated less than 5.0 percent. Women's perioperative complications did not vary significantly between women without and with labor. Regardless of a woman's labor status, nearly 10 percent of women with repeat cesarean delivery had no documented indication as to why a cesarean delivery was performed. Conclusions:“Elective” and “maternal request” were common indications among women undergoing repeat cesarean delivery without labor, and nearly 10 percent of women had undocumented indications for repeat cesarean delivery in their medical record. Improvements in standardization of indication nomenclature and documentation of indication are especially important for understanding falling VBAC rates. Future research should examine how clinicians and women anticipate, discuss, and make decisions about childbirth after a previous cesarean delivery within the context of actual antepartum care. (BIRTH 33:1 March 2006)
Effectiveness of a Breastfeeding Peer Coaching Intervention in Rural Scotland
Authors: Hoddinott Pat , Lee Amanda J. , Pill Roisin
Published: August 2010

Abstract:  Background:
Breastfeeding initiation in Scotland in 2000 was 63 percent, compared with over 90 percent in Norway and Sweden. Although peer support is effective in improving exclusivity of breastfeeding in countries where over 80 percent of women initiate breastfeeding, the evidence for effectiveness in countries with lower initiation is uncertain. Our primary aim was to assess whether group‐based and one‐to‐one peer breastfeeding coaching improves breastfeeding initiation and duration.
Methods:
Action research methodology was used to conduct an intervention study in 4 geographical postcode areas in rural northeast Scotland. Infant feeding outcomes at birth and hospital discharge; at 1, 2, and 6 weeks; and at 4 and 8 months were collected for 598 of 626 women with live births during a 9‐month baseline period and for 557 of 592 women with live births during a 9‐month intervention period. Groups met in 5 locations, with 266 groups meeting in the period when intervention women were eligible to attend. Data on place of birth and length of postnatal hospital stay were also collected. Control data from 10 other Health Board areas in Scotland were compared. An intention‐to participate survey about coaching participation was completed by 206 of 345 women initiating breastfeeding. Group attendance data were collected by means of 266 group diaries.
Results:
There was a significant increase in any breastfeeding of 6.8 percent from 34.3 to 41.1 percent (95% CI 1.2, 12.4) in the study population at 2 weeks after birth compared with a decline in any breastfeeding in the rest of Scotland of 0.4 percent from 44 to 43.6 percent (95% CI −1.2, 0.4). Breastfeeding rates increased compared with baseline rates at all time points until 8 months. However, the effect was not uniform across the 4 postcode areas and was not related to level of deprivation. Little difference was seen in receipt of information and knowledge about the availability of coaching among areas. All breastfeeding groups were well attended, popular, and considered helpful by participants. A minority of women (n = 14/206) participated in formal one‐to‐one coaching. Women who received antenatal, birth, and postnatal care from community midwife‐led units were more likely to be breastfeeding at 2 weeks (p = 0.007) than women who received some or all care in district maternity units.Conclusions:Group‐based and one‐to‐one peer coaching for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers increased breastfeeding initiation and duration in an area with below average breastfeeding rates. (BIRTH 33:1 March 2006)
Enhanced expression of Toll‐like receptor 2 in lesional tissues and peripheral blood monocytes of patients with oral lichen planus
Authors: OHNO Seiji , TATEISHI Yoshihisa , TATEMOTO Yukihiro , MORISHITA Keiko , SASABE Eri , YAMAMOTO Tetsuya
Published: August 2010

Some members of the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) family, which plays key roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses, are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune, chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, the role of TLR in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to understand the roles of TLR in OLP. The expression of TLR genes in OLP tissues was analyzed by cDNA microarray and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and TLR protein expression in OLP tissues and peripheral blood monocytes was examined by immunohistochemical analysis and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, TLR ligand‐induced cytokine production from peripheral blood monocytes was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Among 10 TLR genes, the average expression ratio of the genes for TLR1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10 in OLP tissues compared to that in the normal buccal mucosae was more than 1.0. In contrast, the average ratio of the genes for TLR7, 8 and 9 was less than 1.0. TLR2 but not TLR4 was highly expressed in the cells of the spinous layer and infiltrating monocytes in OLP tissues, and the mean fluorescence intensity of TLR2 on peripheral blood monocytes was significantly higher in OLP patients than in healthy controls. Furthermore, the peripheral blood monocytes from OLP patients produced considerably higher amounts of interleukin (IL)‐12 and lower amounts of IL‐10 than those from healthy controls. In OLP, the T‐helper cell (Th)1/Th2 balance appears to shift toward Th1 dominance, probably depending on the upregulation of TLR2 expression and these alterations in TLR2‐mediated immunity may be involved in the pathogenesis and maintenance of OLP.