bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retaining the Mandate of Heaven: Sovereign Accountability in Ancient China
Authors: Glanville Luke
Published: November 2010

Ideas of ‘sovereignty as responsibility’ and ‘the responsibility to protect’ have become increasingly accepted by the society of states in recent years. The origins of these ideas are appropriately traced to earlier European concepts of popular resistance and humanitarian intervention. However, Europe is not unique in possessing a heritage of sovereign accountability. Almost two thousand years before sovereignty emerged in early modern Europe, philosophers in Ancient China developed remarkably similar concepts about the responsibilities of legitimate rule. Confucian scholars, in particular Mencius, argued that rulers were established by Heaven for the benefit of the people. The people, in turn, could rightfully hold their rulers to account. They had the right to banish a bad ruler and even to kill a tyrant. Moreover, a benevolent ruler was justified in waging ‘punitive war’ against the tyrannical ruler of another state, in order to punish him and to comfort the people. Recognition of this non-European heritage of sovereign accountability opens up new possibilities for dialogue between those who would promote present-day concepts of ‘sovereignty as responsibility’ and those who perceive these concepts as merely Western and alien principles grounded in Western and alien values.
Islamist Challenges to the ‘Liberal Peace’ Discourse: The Case of Hamas and the Israel—Palestine ‘Peace Process’
Authors: Mullin Corinna
Published: November 2010

This article will examine the reasons behind Israel’s and the international community’s refusal to engage Hamas in the internationally sanctioned ‘peace process’. It will be argued here that more important than the ‘strategic’ challenges Hamas is deemed to pose to this process, are the epistemological and ontological challenges the movement intrinsically poses to the dominant normative framework that underpins the process. In order to understand the roots of this challenge, I will employ the three-pronged approach of what Florian Hoffman refers to as ‘epistemological relativism’. This entails a ‘complexification’ of the normative framework on which the discourse of the peace process is based; a ‘de-exoticisation’ of the normative framework in which the Other — in this case Hamas — operates; and a ‘re-exoticisation’ of the normative framework on which the process is predicated, ‘showing its contingent and idiosyncratic nature’, and therefore creating a space in which the Other may be understood and engaged. The article will conclude by arguing that it is only once this process has been undertaken that we can begin to fathom the establishment of an enduring peace between Israel and Palestine, which is considered ‘just’ by all parties to the ‘conflict’.
Anarchism without ‘Anarchism’: Searching for Progressive Politics in the Early 21st Century
Authors: Falk Richard
Published: November 2010

Recent explorations of the anarchist heritage are to be welcomed, bringing to a contemporary intellectual audience the politically and morally inspiring thought of such major thinkers as Bakunin, Kropotkin, Proudhon and, more recently, Harold Laski and Paul Goodman. This rich tradition reminds us strongly of the relevance of anti-state traditions of reflection and advocacy, as well as the indispensable role of cooperation, non-violence, community, small-scale social organisation and local solutions for human material needs if the aspiration for a just society is ever to be rescued from its utopian greenhouse. There is every reason to celebrate this anarchist perspective for its own sake, although in a critical and discriminating manner. Non-violent anarchism has a surprising resonance in relation to the ongoing desperate search for a viable progressive politics in the aftermath of the demise of socialist thought and practice.
Democratic Insurrection: Constructing the Common in Global Resistance
Authors: Murray Daniel
Published: November 2010

The central challenge for theorists and practitioners of radical politics today is to develop forms of action and organisation that account for the specificity of diverse local struggles and promote the free transformation of individual and collective subjectivities through political action, but also provide the means for collective action on a global scale. This article examines the radical democratic theory of Chantal Mouffe, post-sovereignty cosmopolitanism of David Held and contemporary anarchist theory, in light of participant research in contemporary global resistance movements. As none of these concepts can meet the challenges facing global resistance movements today or the demands of liberty and equality, ‘democratic insurrection’ is intended as both an alternative theoretical category and a practical tool for radical politics. Defined by a complex forum—affinity—network system, democratic insurrection is based on voluntary associations and the production of the common. By expanding the democratic moments of deliberation, decision and action across time and space, democratic insurrection allows for democratic practice and acts of resistance on a range of scales and organisational forms. Radical politics today demands the theorisation and practice of democracy beyond the state and insurrection beyond armed revolt. Democratic insurrection demonstrates the possibility of such theory and practice, but must still overcome the persistence of dominant power relations that continue to plague global resistance movements from within.
Accuracy of scale models for flutter prediction of cross-ply laminated plates
Authors: Yazdi Ali A , Rezaeepazhand J.
Published: November 2010

This study demonstrates the applicability of the similitude theory and scaled models in the prediction of the flutter speed of cross-ply laminated plates subjected to supersonic flow. Such a study is important since it provides the necessary scaling laws and corresponding scale factors, which affect the accuracy of the scale models. In this study, based on structural similitude, the necessary scaling laws are derived using governing equations of the system. These scaling laws are employed to predict the flutter speed of the prototypes by projecting the flutter speed of the model. Both models with complete and partial similarities are discussed. Based on the results of this analytical study, for the special case of the ply level scaling, the complete similarity can be achieved. Furthermore, distorted models with different thicknesses, number of plies, material properties, and mode shapes than those of the prototypes are capable of predicting the flutter speeds of prototypes with good accuracy. The results of this study can be applied to the design of an accurate scale model for flutter analysis of composite plates.
Capturing the dynamics of narrative development in an oral storytelling performance: A multimodal perspective
Authors: Marlar Lwin Soe
Published: November 2010

This article investigates how the dynamics of narrative development in an oral storytelling performance can be captured so as to explain its aesthetic and communicative effectiveness. In the light of the narratological distinctions between story and discourse, an oral storytelling performance conducted by a professional storyteller in an institution in contemporary society is treated as constituting the story (i.e. content elements such as events, characters, time and location) and the storytelling discourse (i.e. expressive features employed by a storyteller during a storytelling process). It is then examined as an artistic process that ‘exploits’ more than one semiotic channel to evoke a storyworld. The performance-focused multimodal analysis shows how the interplay between verbal, vocal and visual features of the storytelling discourse produces certain interpretations and meanings of the events and characters in the story and how, through such interplay, the audience is encouraged to have relatively uniform cognitive, emotive and evaluative responses which are in line with the values and messages of the institution in/for which a particular storytelling performance is conducted. A performance-focused multimodal analysis is, therefore, suggested for capturing the dynamics of narrative development in an oral storytelling performance and for uncovering its aesthetic and communicative effectiveness.
Central Asia’s Oil and Gas Reserves
Authors: Olcott Martha Brill
Published: November 2010

This article examines the relative advantages and disadvantages the various interested actors have in increasing their position in the Caspian, and how and why the playing field for decision-making within the region has changed in recent years.
“Asiaregio”
Authors: Kaminski Bartlomiej , Kholmatov Matin , Mitra Saumya , Raballand Gaël
Published: November 2010

Despite the high level of movement of people and goods among Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, laws governing cross-border movements neither accord preferential treatment to residents of bordering regions nor provide institutional structures that would foster cross-border cooperation. Such laws constitute barriers to deepening cross-border cooperation. Moreover, decisions concerning cross-border movements of people, goods, and services are controlled by central governments: local governments cannot act on their own to cooperate with foreign entities. Consequently, and given the various degrees of decentralization in decision-making, local trans-border initiatives face serious administrative barriers. This article argues that there is the large potential for growth that lies untapped due to the obstacles to cross-border development activities and proposes adapting the institutional concept of regional cooperation between bordering regions in neighboring countries, modeled after Euroregions, to countries in Central Asian. Their advantage would lie in establishing structures for cooperation in areas ranging from commerce to culture, environment, tourism, and education.
Magnetorheological Actuators with Currentless Bias Torque for Automotive Applications
Authors: Wiehe Ansgar , Maas Jürgen
Published: November 2010

The control of door motion in automotive applications often requires a bias torque to retain an actuator mechanism in a certain position without supplying power. Therefore, two magnetorheological actuators based on magnetorheological fluids with different kinds of magnetic excitation are developed. For the currentless bias torque generation, the first approach uses permanent magnets and offers an almost linear torque characteristic, while the second actuator design utilizes hysteresis properties of magnetizable materials resulting in an ambiguous control characteristic. The main advantage of the hysteresis-based magnetorheological actuator is an optimized design with respect to space and weight. But the hysteresis phenomenon has to be compensated by appropriate control algorithms, in order to obtain a linearized torque characteristic as investigated for actuated car doors with haptic capabilities (door assistant), such as for assisted egress or obstacle avoidance.
Correlates of Psychological Distress and Major Depressive Disorder Among African American Men
Authors: Lincoln Karen D. , Taylor Robert Joseph , Watkins Daphne C. , Chatters Linda M.
Published: November 2010

This study examines the demographic correlates of depressive symptoms, serious psychological distress (SPD), and major depressive disorder (MDD; 12-month and lifetime prevalence) among a national sample of African American men. Analysis of the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) data set provides first-time substantiation of important demographic differences in depressive symptoms (measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale [CES-D]), SPD (measured by the K6), and 12-month and lifetime MDD among African American men. Findings illuminate the heterogeneity within the African American male population. Findings also demonstrate the need for additional research focusing on within-group differences and a comprehensive research and mental health promotion agenda that recognizes the importance of improving access to education and employment and promoting healthy coping behaviors, while acknowledging the larger social context in which African American men live.
Outcomes of Group Care for Youth: A Review of Comparative Studies
Authors: Lee Bethany R. , Bright Charlotte L. , Svoboda Deborah V. , Fakunmoju Sunday , Barth Richard P.
Published: November 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review empirical evidence of the effects of placement in group care compared to other interventions. Method: Two-group empirical studies were identified and effect sizes for all reported outcomes were calculated. Results: Nineteen two-group studies were found that compared group care with family foster care, treatment foster care, no placement, and different group care models. Most effects were small to moderate, with strongest effects for shorter lengths of stay for family-centered group care models and decreased delinquency for Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) compared to group care. Conclusion: Based on the limited number of two-group studies of varying quality, outcomes of group care are often worse than alternative interventions. However, some group care models seem more promising than others.
Impact forces and agility in legged robot locomotion
Authors: Bowling Alan
Published: November 2010

In this article we present a method for determining the effect of impact forces on a legged robot’s agility. Here agility is defined as the robot’s ability to change its velocity, which requires generation of acceleration. The level of achievable acceleration is determined using an analysis of dynamic performance. This results in performance curves describing how well the legged system uses impact and contact forces to accelerate itself. These capabilities are bounded by actuator torque limits and friction forces. Herein, the performance curves are examined at the termination of the impact event. The method is illustrated using a hexapod.
Gradient-based iterative identification for nonuniform sampling output error systems
Authors: Li Xie  , Huizhong Yang
Published: November 2010

The state-space models are derived for nonuniformly sampled data systems and the corresponding transfer function models are obtained. Since the information vector in the identification model contains unmeasurable true outputs, the conventional stochastic gradient algorithm cannot be applied. In order to overcome this difficulty, the gradient-based iterative identification algorithms are presented by replacing the unmeasurable variables with their iterative estimates at the previous step. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has high estimation accuracy compared with the auxiliary model-based stochastic gradient algorithm.
The Management of Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Coronary Stents Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery
Authors: Chen Tzong-Huei , Matyal Robina
Published: November 2010

Whereas the development of coronary stents has been a major breakthrough in the treatment of coronary artery disease, stent thrombosis, associated with myocardial infarction and death, has introduced a new challenge in the care of patients with coronary stents undergoing noncardiac surgery. This review presents the authors’ recommendations regarding the optimal management of such patients. Elective surgery should be postponed for at least 6 weeks and optimally 3 months for a bare-metal stent and at least 1 year for a drug-eluting stent. On the other hand, managing a patient undergoing non-elective surgery is more difficult and necessitates a case-by-case assessment of bleeding risk versus thrombotic risk based on patient comorbidities, type of stents present, details of the coronary intervention, and type of surgical procedure. Patients with a risk of bleeding that outweighs the risk of stent thrombosis should discontinue at least clopidogrel, whereas all other patients should continue dual antiplatelet therapy throughout the perioperative period.
Cardiac Output Monitoring: Is There a Gold Standard and How Do the Newer Technologies Compare?
Authors: Pugsley Jacob , Lerner Adam B.
Published: November 2010

As a principal determinant of oxygen delivery and of blood pressure, cardiac output (CO) represents an important hemodynamic variable. Its accurate measurement, therefore, is important to the clinician caring for critically ill patients in a variety of care environments. Though the first clinical measurement of CO occurred 70 years ago, it was the introduction of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) with thermodilution-based determination of CO in the 1970s that set the stage for practical and widespread clinical measurement of CO. Although the usefulness and accuracy of this technique have justified its consideration as a “practical” gold standard in CO measurement, its drawbacks have driven the search for newer, less invasive measurement techniques. The last decade has seen the introduction of several such devices into the clinical arena. This article will serve to give a brief review of the history of CO measurement, to provide a discussion of the measurement of accuracy as it relates to CO measurement, and to discuss some of the newer methods and devices for CO measurement and how they have fared against a “practical” gold standard.
Content knowledge in teaching, an investigation into an adequate ‘milieu’ for teaching dance: The case of Indian dance in France
Authors: Monique Loquet , Malini Ranganathan
Published: November 2010

Since the 1970s, scientific researchers have shown that the nature and practice of the knowledge being taught plays an important role in the organization of teaching. Teaching content, first in mathematics, then in physical education, has become the object of scientific research in didactics in France. This research questions the commonplace identification of teaching competence with pedagogy alone, as well as the sharp distinction between content and the pedagogical process. It suggests that the construction of knowledge in a given discipline is organically related to the process of its transmission. We will study the case of teaching Indian dance kathak in France, which illustrates the diversity of meanings that students encounter in order to evolve in a ‘different culture’ and to learn new knowledge. How can a well-articulated Indian dance teaching be organized, outside its own academic and cultural context? This problem is examined through the mesogenesis concept (the genesis of a ‘milieu’) and describes three stages of construction of a ‘milieu’, seen as a condition of communicability of knowledge. The results demonstrate how these stages reflect the students’ spontaneous reactions to kathak, subsequently leading them to discover its academic codes.
Transplantation of a Fresh Cadaveric Iliac Homograft After Celiac Artery Aneurysmectomy
Authors: Quintini Cristiano , Di Benedetto Fabrizio , Pinna Antonio D.
Published: November 2010

The authors describe a case of a 34-year-old woman who presented to the ER with acute epigastric pain caused by an 8-cm celiac artery aneurysm. The patient underwent total aneurysmectomy, distal splenopancreasectomy, and reconstruction of the hepatic arterial inflow using a fresh cadaveric iliac artery homograft. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 8 in good clinical condition. After 60 months of follow-up, the patient is well and with a patent vascular homograft. The use of a fresh cadaveric iliac homograft described here may represent an option in young patients with low operative risk undergoing visceral artery aneurysm repair.
Qualitative research as evidence: criteria for rigour and relevance
Authors: Freshwater D. , Cahill J. , Walsh E. , Muncey T.
Published: November 2010

This paper is about the nature and construct of evidence and its relation to qualitative research. Using a post-modern lens, we begin by defining evidence, signifying the importance of context, and use discourse as a vehicle for looking at the ways in which qualitative research evidence struggles to achieve the equivalent standing of its quantitative counterpart. In outlining the role of discourse in the creation of research paradigms, we offer a conceptual map that enables a repositioning of qualitative research in the evidence-based genre. In order to best illustrate our standpoint, we then provide two examples of qualitative, transformational research approaches and relate these to the criteria of rigour and relevance, criteria which we would argue when met are examples of high-quality evidence. Having used the examples of discourse analysis and auto-ethnography, we then conclude by exposing and decentralising the myth that surrounds the discourse of evidence-based practice, which continues, albeit unintentionally, to discredit any evidence that falls outside of its parameters.
Sex-biased transcription enhancement by a 5' tethered Gal4-MOF histone acetyltransferase fusion protein in Drosophila
Authors: Schiemann Anja H , Li Fang , Weake Vikki M , Belikoff Esther J , Klemmer Kent C , Moore Stanley A , Scott Maxwell J
Published: November 2010

Background

In male Drosophila melanogaster, the male specific lethal (MSL) complex is somehow responsible for a two-fold increase in transcription of most X-linked genes, which are enriched for histone H4 acetylated at lysine 16 (H4K16ac). This acetylation requires MOF, a histone acetyltransferase that is a component of the MSL complex. MOF also associates with the non-specific lethal or NSL complex. The MSL complex is bound within active genes on the male X chromosome with a 3' bias. In contrast, the NSL complex is enriched at promoter regions of many autosomal and X-linked genes in both sexes. In this study we have investigated the role of MOF as a transcriptional activator.

Results

MOF was fused to the DNA binding domain of Gal4 and targeted to the promoter region of UAS-reporter genes in Drosophila. We found that expression of a UAS-red fluorescent protein (DsRed) reporter gene was strongly induced by Gal4-MOF. However, DsRed RNA levels were about seven times higher in female than male larvae. Immunostaining of polytene chromosomes showed that Gal4-MOF co-localized with MSL1 to many sites on the X chromosome in male but not female nuclei. However, in female nuclei that express MSL2, Gal4-MOF co-localized with MSL1 to many sites on polytene chromosomes but DsRed expression was reduced. Mutation of conserved active site residues in MOF (Glu714 and Cys680) reduced HAT activity in vitro and UAS-DsRed activation in Drosophila. In the presence of Gal4-MOF, H4K16ac levels were enriched over UAS-lacZ and UAS-arm-lacZ reporter genes. The latter utilizes the constitutive promoter from the arm gene to drive lacZ expression. In contrast to the strong induction of UAS-DsRed expression, UAS-arm-lacZ expression increased by about 2-fold in both sexes.

Conclusions

Targeting MOF to reporter genes led to transcription enhancement and acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16. Histone acetyltransferase activity was required for the full transcriptional response. Incorporation of Gal4-MOF into the MSL complex in males led to a lower transcription enhancement of UAS-DsRed but not UAS-arm-lacZ genes. We discuss how association of Gal4-MOF with the MSL or NSL proteins could explain our results.
Slowing of axonal regeneration is correlated with increased axonal viscosity during aging
Authors: Lamoureux Phillip L , O'Toole Matthew R , Heidemann Steven R , Miller Kyle E
Published: November 2010

Background

As we age, the speed of axonal regeneration declines. At the biophysical level, why this occurs is not well understood.

Results

To investigate we first measured the rate of axonal elongation of sensory neurons cultured from neonatal and adult rats. We found that neonatal axons grew 40% faster than adult axons (11.5 µm/hour vs. 8.2 µm/hour). To determine how the mechanical properties of axons change during maturation, we used force calibrated towing needles to measure the viscosity (stiffness) and strength of substrate adhesion of neonatal and adult sensory axons. We found no significant difference in the strength of adhesions, but did find that adult axons were 3 times intrinsically stiffer than neonatal axons.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results suggest decreasing axonal stiffness may be part of an effective strategy to accelerate the regeneration of axons in the adult peripheral nervous system.
TFPI-2 is a putative tumor suppressor gene frequently inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Wang Shumin , Xiao Xue , Zhou Xiaoying , Huang Tingting , Du Chunping , Yu Nana , Mo Yingxi , Lin Longde , Zhang Jinyan , Ma Ning , Murata Mariko , Huang Guangwu , Zhang Zhe
Published: November 2010

Background

Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes play important roles in NPC tumorgenesis. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2), is a protease inhibitor. Recently, TFPI-2 was suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated whether TFPI-2 was inactivated epigenetically in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Transcriptional expression levels of TFPI-2 was evaluated by RT-PCR. Methylation status were investigated by methylation specific PCR and bisulfate genomic sequencing. The role of TFPI-2 as a tumor suppressor gene in NPC was addressed by re-introducing TFPI-2 expression into the NPC cell line CNE2.

Results

TFPI-2 mRNA transcription was inactivated in NPC cell lines. TFPI-2 was aberrantly methylated in 66.7% (4/6) NPC cell lines and 88.6% (62/70) of NPC primary tumors, but not in normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. TFPI-2 expression could be restored in NPC cells after demethylation treatment. Ectopic expression of TFPI-2 in NPC cells induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration.

Conclusions

Epigenetic inactivation of TFPI-2 by promoter hypermethylation is a frequent and tumor specific event in NPC. TFPI-2 might be considering as a putative tumor suppressor gene in NPC.
Use of simulator-based medical procedural curriculum: the learner's perspectives
Authors: Shanks David , Wong Roger Y , Roberts James M , Nair Parvathy , Ma Irene WY
Published: November 2010

Background

Simulation is increasingly used for teaching medical procedures. The goal of this study was to assess learner preferences for how simulators should be used in a procedural curriculum.

Methods

A 26-item survey was constructed to assess the optimal use of simulators for the teaching of medical procedures in an internal medicine residency curriculum. Survey domains were generated independently by two investigators and validated by an expert panel (n = 7). Final survey items were revised based on pilot survey and distributed to 128 internal medicine residents.

Results

Of the 128 residents surveyed, 106 (83%) responded. Most responders felt that simulators should be used to learn technical skills (94%), refine technical skills (84%), and acquire procedural teaching skills (87%).

Respondents felt that procedures most effectively taught by simulators include: central venous catheterization, thoracentesis, intubation, lumbar puncture, and paracentesis. The majority of learners felt that teaching should be done early in residency (97%).

With regards to course format, 62% of respondents felt that no more than 3-4 learners per simulator and an instructor to learner ratio of 1:3-4 would be acceptable.

The majority felt that the role of instructors should include demonstration of technique (92%), observe learner techniques (92%), teach evidence behind procedural steps (84%) and provide feedback (89%). Commonly cited barriers to procedural teaching were limitations in time, number of instructors and simulators, and lack of realism of some simulators.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that residents value simulator-based procedural teaching in the form of small-group sessions. Simulators should be an integral part of medical procedural education.
Absorption and translocation to the aerial part of magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles through the root of different crop plants
Authors: Cifuentes Zuny , Custardoy Laura , de la Fuente Jesús M , Marquina Clara , Ibarra M Ricardo , Rubiales Diego , Pérez-de-Luque Alejandro
Published: November 2010

The development of nanodevices for agriculture and plant research will allow several new applications, ranging from treatments with agrochemicals to delivery of nucleic acids for genetic transformation. But a long way for research is still in front of us until such nanodevices could be widely used. Their behaviour inside the plants is not yet well known and the putative toxic effects for both, the plants directly exposed and/or the animals and humans, if the nanodevices reach the food chain, remain uncertain. In this work we show that magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles forming a biocompatible magnetic fluid (bioferrofluid) can easily penetrate through the root in four different crop plants (pea, sunflower, tomato and wheat). They reach the vascular cylinder, move using the transpiration stream in the xylem vessels and spread through the aerial part of the plants in less than 24 hours. Accumulation of nanoparticles was detected in wheat leaf trichomes, suggesting a way for excretion/detoxification. This kind of studies is of great interest in order to unveil the movement and accumulation of nanoparticles in plant tissues for assessing further applications in the field or laboratory.
Evolution of the HIV-1 nefgene in HLA-B*57 Positive Elite Suppressors
Authors: Salgado Maria , Brennan Timothy P , O'Connell Karen A , Bailey Justin R , Ray Stuart C , Siliciano Robert F , Blankson Joel N
Published: November 2010

Elite controllers or suppressors (ES) are HIV-1 infected patients who maintain viral loads of < 50 copies/ml without antiretroviral therapy. CD8+ T cells are thought to play a key role in the control of viral replication and exert selective pressure on gag and nef in HLA-B*57 positive ES. We previously showed evolution in the gag gene of ES which surprisingly was mostly due to synonymous mutations rather than non-synonymous mutation in targeted CTL epitopes. This finding could be the result of structural constraints on Gag, and we therefore examined the less conserved nef gene. We found slow evolution of nef in plasma virus in some ES. This evolution is mostly due to synonymous mutations and occurs at a rate similar to that seen in the gag gene in the same patients. The results provide further evidence of ongoing viral replication in ES and suggest that the nef and gag genes in these patients respond similarly to selective pressure from the host.
Combinatorial regulation of transcription factors and microRNAs
Authors: Su Naifang , Wang Yufu , Qian Minping , Deng Minghua
Published: November 2010

Background

Gene regulation is a key factor in gaining a full understanding of molecular biology. Cis-regulatory modules (CRMs), consisting of multiple transcription factor binding sites, have been confirmed as the main regulators in gene expression. In recent years, a novel regulator known as microRNA (miRNA) has been found to play an important role in gene regulation. Meanwhile, transcription factor and microRNA co-regulation has been widely identified. Thus, the relationships between CRMs and microRNAs have generated interest among biologists.

Results

We constructed new combinatorial regulatory modules based on CRMs and miRNAs. By analyzing their effect on gene expression profiles, we found that genes targeted by both CRMs and miRNAs express in a significantly similar way. Furthermore, we constructed a regulatory network composed of CRMs, miRNAs, and their target genes. Investigating its structure, we found that the feed forward loop is a significant network motif, which plays an important role in gene regulation. In addition, we further analyzed the effect of miRNAs in embryonic cells, and we found that mir-154, as well as some other miRNAs, have significant co-regulation effect with CRMs in embryonic development.

Conclusions

Based on the co-regulation of CRMs and miRNAs, we constructed a novel combinatorial regulatory network which was found to play an important role in gene regulation, particularly during embryonic development.
Pooled week 48 safety and efficacy results from the ECHO and THRIVE phase III trials comparing TMC278 vs EFV in treatment‐naïve, HIV‐1‐infected patients
Authors: Cohen C , Molina JM , Cahn P , Clotet B , Fourie J , Grinsztejn B , Hao W , Johnson M , Supparatpinyo K , Crauwels HM , Rimsky L , Vanveggel S , Williams P , Boven K
Published: November 2010

7‐11 November 2010, Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, UK
48‐week efficacy and safety of transitioning virologically stable HIV‐1 patients from nevirapine IR 200 mg BID to nevirapine XR 400 mg QD (TRANxITION)
Authors: Arastéh K , Ward A , Plettenberg A , Livrozet JM , Cordes C , Winston A , Wang E , Quinson A
Published: November 2010

7‐11 November 2010, Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, UK
Efficacy and safety of an NRTI‐sparing regimen in antiretroviral‐naïve HIV‐infected patients: once‐daily maraviroc plus lopinavir/ritonavir
Authors: Nozza S , Galli L , Di Pietro M , Mazzotta F , Canducci F , Pogliaghi M , Chiappetta S , Galli A , Rusconi V , Salpietro S , Tambussi G , Lazzarin A
Published: November 2010

7‐11 November 2010, Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, UK
Loss of chance in Australia: Tabet v Gett [2010] HCA 12
Authors: Madden Bill , Cockburn Tina
Published: November 2010

The availability of compensation for loss of chance in clinical negligence cases appeared to be available in Australia for a time, even after the conclusion reached by the House of Lords in Gregg v Scott. However, the issue only recently came for consideration by Australia's highest appellate court, which in Tabet v Gett adopted an approach more closely aligned with the majority in Greg v Scott. Unlike the factual background to Gregg v Scott, in Tabet v Gett the patient's physical condition had already crystallized. For that reason, the Australian decision may be of interest to readers in the United Kingdom as some commentators have suggested that a factual scenario similar to that in the Australian case may have given rise to a different outcome.
Endothelin and nitric oxide as cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage / Endothelin und NO als Liquorbiomarker für cerebralen Vasospasmus nach Subarachnoidalblutung
Authors: Hegen Harald , Deisenhammer Florian
Published: November 2010

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a neurological emergency. One of the major complications is the development of delayed cerebral ischaemia due to cerebral vasospasm (CV) that significantly affects clinical outcome and accounts for up to 23% of disability and mortality related to SAH. Here, we review the literature on endothelin and nitric oxide related components as potential cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and discuss their clinical relevance to act as surrogate for CV detection and for prediction of clinical outcome. We classified recommendations for these markers as levels A to C according to the scheme approved for the European Federation of Neurological Societies guidelines. We identified significantly elevated CSF endothelin-1 concentrations in patients with SAH, especially in those who developed CV, as well as the potential role of nitrite/nitrate for clinical outcome prediction. Owing to mainly methodological shortcomings, none of the above biomarkers reached a level of recommendation that would justify implementation in clinical routine. Further prospective studies under standardised conditions are required.
Spielen Statine eine Rolle als adjuvante Therapie bei Entzündung? / Do statins play a role as an adjuvant therapy in inflammation?
Authors: Fraunberger Peter , Siegele Barbara , Walli Autar K.
Published: November 2010

Trotz der Fortschritte der Medizin stellen schwere Entzündungsreaktionen wie die Sepsis eine wesentliche Ursache für Mortalität und Morbidität auf Intensivstationen dar. Zur kausalen Therapie gehört neben der Beseitigung der auslösenden Ursache durch chirurgische Maßnahmen vor allem eine effektive Antibiose. Weiterhin werden supportive Maßnahmen wie Kreislaufunterstützung, Nierenersatztherapie, Therapie von Gerinnungsstörungen und metabolischer Entgleisung zur Therapie eingesetzt. Darüber hinaus wurde in den vergangenen Jahren eine Vielzahl von immunomodulatorischen Therapien untersucht. Hierzu gehören neutralisierende Antikörper gegen Endotoxin oder proinflam-matorische Zytokine, Kortison, Immunglobuline und spezifische Gerinnungsinhibitoren. Neuere Studien weisen darauf hin, dass Statine (HMG-CoA-Reduktase-Inhibitoren) antientzündliche Wirkung haben und eine andauernde Statintherapie mit verminderter Inzidenz bakterieller Infektionen assoziiert ist. Aus diesem Grund wurden Statine als neue adjuvante Therpaie bei schweren Entzündungen und Sepsis vorgeschlagen. Im Gegensatz zu anderen antientzündlichen Therapien wäre hier auch ein prophylaktischer Einsatz bei Hochrisikopatienten, zum Beispiel vor elektiven chirurgischen Eingriffen, möglich. In der vorliegenden Arbeit sind die pathophysiologischen Grundlagen der Sepsis sowie die experimentelle Hintergründe und die ersten klinischen Daten zum Einsatz der Statine bei Sepsis zusammengefasst.
Next-generation Sequencing und hochparallele Genexpressionsanalyse in der klinischen Diagnostik / Next-generation sequencing and massively parallel analysis of gene expression: uses in clinical diagnostics
Authors: Cullen Paul , Hoffmann Georg , Klein Hanns-Georg , Funke Harald
Published: November 2010

Die Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Hochdurchsatzsequenzierung sind selbst für Fachleute beeindruckend. Es ist heute möglich, ein komplettes Genom innerhalb weniger Tage für ca. 50.000 Euro zu erfassen. Somit rückt das Ziel des 1.000-Euro oder gar 100-Euro-Genoms und damit seine mögliche Einbettung in einen diagnostischen Kontext immer näher. Die Hochdurchsatzsequenzierung wird inzwischen in der Epigenomik, in der Populations- und medizinischen Genetik, in der Tumorgenomik, sowie in der Expressionsanalyse eingesetzt. Die Schwerpunkte der Tagung 2009 lagen auf der Bedeutung der hochparallelen Gensequenzanalyse (sog. „next generation sequencing“) für die medizinische Dia-gnostik der Zukunft, auf der bioinformatischen Auswertung sehr großer Datenmengen sowie auf Vorgehensweisen bei der Analyse von Genexpressionsdaten. Auch andere Methoden der hochparallelen Analytik wie die Massenspektro-metrie wurden vorgestellt.
Vapor Rub, Petrolatum, and No Treatment for Children With Nocturnal Cough and Cold Symptoms
Authors: Paul Ian M. , Beiler Jessica S. , King Tonya S. , Clapp Edelveis R. , Vallati Julie , Berlin Cheston M.
Published: November 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if a single application of a vapor rub (VR) or petrolatum is superior to no treatment for nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection.

METHODS:

Surveys were administered to parents on 2 consecutive days—on the day of presentation when no medication had been given the previous evening, and the next day when VR ointment, petrolatum ointment, or no treatment had been applied to their child's chest and neck before bedtime according to a partially double-blinded randomization scheme.

RESULTS:

There were 138 children aged 2 to 11 years who completed the trial. Within each study group, symptoms were improved on the second night. Between treatment groups, significant differences in improvement were detected for outcomes related to cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty; VR consistently scored the best, and no treatment scored the worst. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated the superiority of VR over no treatment for all outcomes except rhinorrhea and over petrolatum for cough severity, child and parent sleep difficulty, and combined symptom score. Petrolatum was not significantly better than no treatment for any outcome. Irritant adverse effects were more common among VR-treated participants.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a comparison of VR, petrolatum, and no treatment, parents rated VR most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child's nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection. Despite mild irritant adverse effects, VR provided symptomatic relief for children and allowed them and their parents to have a more restful night than those in the other study groups.
Field Assessment of Crop Residues for Allelopathic Effects on Both Crops and Weeds
Authors: Ferreira M. I. , Reinhardt C. F.
Published: November 2010

The use of herbicides on crop fields has created shifts in weed populations and the emergence of herbicide resistance. Because of this phenomenon, there is interest in the exploitation of allelopathic activity of crop plants. This was assessed in field experiments at the Tygerhoek Research Farm (19°54″ E, 34°08″ S), South Africa, to determine whether significant weed control could be achieved via allelopathy. This locality contains weakly developed residual soils (pH 5.1) of Mispah (Entisol) type containing 22% clay and 1.6% carbon. Uniform scattering of a quantity of plant residues preceded drilling. The rotational plant species planted into the plant residues consisted of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. variety Clipper), canola (Brassica napus L. variety ATR Hyden), wheat (Triticum aestivum variety SST 88), lupines (Lupinus albus L. variety Tanjil), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. variety SA standard), medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn. variety Parabinga), and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. variety Energa). These crops are used in crop rotation in this grain production area. Six plant species were used in the second experiment, planted at 90° angle across the first after the latter was harvested, namely barley, wheat (variety SST 027), lupines (variety Tanjil and variety Quilinock), ryegrass and ryegrass weed type (L. multiflorum × perenne). Broadleaf weeds comprised 88.5% of total weed spectrum. Medic suppressed ryegrass weed type while lupines suppressed grass weeds. An acceptable production practice using allelopathic crops for weed control will likely consist of combining continued limited amounts of herbicides with leguminous crop residues.
The effects of probiotics on Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella spp. with respect to the meat and the organs of slaughtered chickens
Authors: Ivanovic S. , Baltic M.Z. , Karabasil N. , Lilic S.
Published: November 2010

Our research deals with the effects of probiotics on Campylobacter jejuni and
Salmonella spp. with respect to the meat and organs of slaughtered chickens.
For the scope of our experiment, we used 250 one-day old chicks, divided into
5 groups. Initially, control chicken group was fed with feed not containing
probiotics. Other groups were fed with feed containing different probiotics.
Fattening-intended food was standardized for all groups. All chicken groups
were exposed to the same ambient conditions. Following 42 days period of
fattening, chickens were slaughtered. We took 30 samples of liver, intestine
and swabs from perianal region for the needs of bacteriological examination.
Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. were determined by selective media. On
the basis of obtained results, we can say that the application of probiotics
in chicken feed reduces considerably the onset of Campylobacter jejuni and
Salmonella spp. in meat and organs.
Heavy Rainfall Monitoring by Polarimetric C-Band Weather Radars
Authors: Cremonini Roberto , Bechini Renzo
Published: November 2010

Piemonte region, in the north-western Italy, is characterized by complex orography and Mediterranean influence that often causes extreme rainfall event, during the warm season. Although the region is monitored by a dense gauge network (more than one gauge per 100 km2), the ground measurements are often inadequate to properly observe intense and highly variable precipitations. Polarimetric weather radars provide a unique way to monitor rainfall over wide areas, with the required spatial detail and temporal resolution. Nevertheless, most European weather radar networks are operating at C-band, which may seriously limit quantitative precipitation estimation in heavy rainfall due to relevant power signal attenuation. Phase measurements, unlike power measurements, are not affected by signal attenuation. For this reason, polarimetric radars, for which the differential phase shift measurements are available, provide an additional way in which to estimate precipitation, which is immune to signal attenuation. In this work differential phase based rainfall estimation techniques are applied to analyze two flash-floods: the first one occurred on the Ligurian Apennines on 16 August 2006 and the second occurred on 13 September 2008, causing rain accumulations above 270 mm in few hours.
Helioxanthin Analogue 8-1 Inhibits Duck Hepatitis B Virus Replication in Cell Culture
Authors: Ying Chunxiao , Tan Shenglan , Cheng Yung-Chi
Published: November 2010

Background:

Current approved anti-HBV treatment cannot completely eliminate HBV infection, and emergence of resistant virus is an important treatment issue. Effective anti-HBV agents with different mechanisms of action on novel target sites are needed for the treatment of HBV infection and for combating the resistant virus, alone or in combination with current anti-HBV strategies. Helioxanthin analogue 8-1 displayed potent anti-HBV activity in human HBV in vitro and in animal models, with a unique antiviral mechanism. Its antiviral activity in other HBV system needs further study.

Methods:

The anti-duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) activity of 8-1, an analogue of a natural product, helioxanthin, was studied in the DHBV inducible cell line, dstet5, in comparison to and in combination with the nucleoside analogue, lamivudine (3TC).

Results:

Helioxanthin analogue 8-1 exhibited anti-DHBV activity as demonstrated by quantification of viral DNA, RNA, covalently closed circular DNA and protein synthesis. Analogue 8-1 did not affect the stability of cellular macromolecules and did not have a sustained antiviral effect after drug removal. When DHBV replication was induced, virus-harbouring cells were more susceptible to the cytotoxicity of 8-1 than non-induced cells.

Conclusions:

8-1 exhibited effective inhibition on DHBV replication. The combination of 8-1 with 3TC resulted in additional anti-DHBV activity. Viral induced cells displayed higher susceptibility to 8-1 treatment than non-induced cells. HBV X protein might not be an essential factor in the initiation of the biological activity of 8-1, as demonstrated by its absence in DHBV. These findings warrant further development of 8-1 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and its associated diseases.
Increased B Cell Proliferation and Reduced Ig Production in DREAM Transgenic Mice
Authors: Savignac Magali , Mellström Britt , Bébin Anne-Gaëlle , Oliveros Juan C. , Delpy Laurent , Pinaud Eric , Naranjo Jose R.
Published: November 2010

DREAM/KChIP-3 is a calcium-dependent transcriptional repressor highly expressed in immune cells. Transgenic mice expressing a dominant active DREAM mutant show reduced serum Ig levels. In vitro assays show that reduced Ig secretion is an intrinsic defect of transgenic B cells that occurs without impairment in plasma cell differentiation, class switch recombination, or Ig transcription. Surprisingly, transgenic B cells show an accelerated entry in cell division. Transcriptomic analysis of transgenic B cells revealed that hyperproliferative B cell response could be correlated with a reduced expression of Klf9, a cell-cycle regulator. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the defect in Ig production is associated with reduced translation rather than with increased protein degradation. Importantly, transgenic B cells showed reduced expression of the Eif4g3 gene, which encodes a protein related to protein translation. Our results disclose, to our knowledge, a novel function of DREAM in proliferation and Ig synthesis in B lymphocytes.