bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Diabetic Retinopathy Genes through a Genome-Wide Association Study among Mexican-Americans from Starr County, Texas
Authors: Fu Yi-Ping , Hallman D. Michael , Gonzalez Victor H. , Klein Barbara E. K. , Klein Ronald , Hayes M. Geoffrey , Cox Nancy J. , Bell Graeme I. , Hanis Craig L.
Published: September 2010

To identify genetic loci for severe diabetic retinopathy, 286 Mexican-Americans with type 2 diabetes from Starr County, Texas, completed physical examinations including fundus photography for diabetic retinopathy grading. Individuals with moderate-to-severe non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were defined as cases. Direct genotyping was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Mapping 100 K Set, and SNPs passing quality control criteria were used to impute markers available in HapMap Phase III Mexican population (MXL) in Los Angeles, California. Two directly genotyped markers were associated with severe diabetic retinopathy at aP-value less than .0001: SNP rs2300782 (P=6.04×10−5) mapped to an intron region of CAMK4 (calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV) on chromosome 5, and SNP rs10519765 (P=6.21×10−5) on chromosomal 15q13 in the FMN1 (formin 1) gene. Using well-imputed markers based on the HapMap III Mexican population, we identified an additional 32 SNPs located in 11 chromosomal regions with nominal association with severe diabetic retinopathy atP-value less than .0001. None of these markers were located in traditional candidate genes for diabetic retinopathy or diabetes itself. However, these signals implicate genes involved in inflammation, oxidative stress and cell adhesion for the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Towards a Reproducible Synthesis of High Aspect Ratio Gold Nanorods
Authors: Koeppl Susanne , Solenthaler Christian , Caseri Walter , Spolenak Ralph
Published: September 2010

The seed-mediated method in presence of high concentrations of CTAB is frequently implemented in the preparation of high aspect ratio gold nanorods (i.e., nanorods with aspect ratios of 5 or more); however, the reproducibility has still been limited. We rendered the synthesis procedure simpler, decreased the susceptibility to impurities, and improved the reproducibility of the product distribution. As a result of the high aspect ratios, longitudinal plasmon absorptions were shifted up to very high absorption maxima of 1955 nm in UV-vis-NIR spectra (since this band is completely covered in aqueous solution by the strong absorption of water, the gold species were embedded in poly(vinyl alcohol) films for UV-vis-NIR measurements). Finally, the directed particle growth in (110) direction leads to the conclusion that the adsorption of CTAB molecules at specific crystal faces accounts for nanorod growth and not cylindrical CTAB micelles, in agreement with other observations.
In Situ Investigation of the Silicon Carbide Particles Sintering
Authors: Niu Yu , Xu Feng , Hu Xiaofang , Zhao Jianhua , Miao Hong , Wu Xiaoping , Zhang Zhong
Published: September 2010

A real-time observation of the microstructure evolution of irregularly shaped silicon carbide powders during solid state sintering is realized by using synchrotron radiation computerized topography (SR-CT) technique. The process of sintering neck growth and material migration during sintering are clearly distinguished from 2D and 3D reconstructed images. The sintering neck size of the sample is presented for quantitative analysis of the sintering kinetics during solid state sintering. The neck size-time curve is obtained. Compared with traditional sintering theories, the neck growth exponent (7.87) obtained by SR-CT experiment is larger than that of the two-sphere model. Such condition is discussed and shown in terms of sintering neck growth, in which the sintering process slows down when the particle shape is irregular rather than spherical.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammation in Obesity and Diabetes
Authors: Hummasti Sarah , Hotamisligil Gökhan S.
Published: September 2010

Abstract:

Obesity is a major problem worldwide that increases risk for a wide range of diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. As such, it is increasingly important to understand how excess adiposity can perturb normal metabolic functions. It is now clear that this disruption involves not only pathways controlling lipid and glucose homeostasis but also integration of metabolic and immune response pathways. Under conditions of nutritional excess, this integration can result in a metabolically driven, low-grade, chronic inflammatory state, referred to as “metaflammation,” that targets metabolically critical organs and tissues to adversely affect systemic homeostasis. Endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction is another important feature of chronic metabolic disease that is also linked to both metabolic and immune regulation. A thorough understanding of how these pathways intersect to maintain metabolic homeostasis, as well as how this integration is altered under conditions of nutrient excess, is important to fully understand, and subsequently treat, chronic metabolic diseases.
Re-visit to the school nurse and adolescents’ medicine use
Authors: Borup Ina K , Andersen Anette , Holstein Bjørn E
Published: September 2010

Objective: To examine if students who re-visit the school nurse use medicines differently than other students when exposed to aches and psychological problems.

Methods: The study includes all 11-, 13- and 15-year-old students from a random sample of schools in Denmark, response rate 87 per cent, n = 5,205. The data collection followed the internationally standardized HBSC questionnaire. This study includes an item about students’ re-visits to the school nurse, items about frequency of four complaints (headache, stomach-ache, difficulties in getting to sleep, and nervousness) and medicine use in the past month for these four complaints.

Results: In total, 8.6 per cent of the students had re-visited the school nurse. There was a strong and graded association between frequency of complaints and medicine use for the relevant complaint. Students who re-visited the school nurse had higher odds for medicine use than other students. The association between frequency of complaints and medicine use was stronger among students who had not re-visited the school nurse as compared to the students who had re-visited the school nurse. One example is the OR (95 per cent CI) for medicine use for headache among students who experienced headache monthly vs. seldom/never and at least weekly vs. seldom/never. Among students who did not re-visit the school nurse, the OR estimates were 5.32 (4.61–6.14) and 13.6 (10.5–17.6) and among students who did, OR estimates were 3.65 (2.32–5.75) and 7.07 (3.58–14.0).

Conclusion: The school nurse may reduce the students’ proneness to use medicine when they experience complaints.
Food for Thought, Thought for Food: Consumption, Identity, and Ethnography
Authors: Cherry Elizabeth , Ellis Colter , DeSoucey Michaela
Published: September 2010

Movements associated with lifestyle and consumption politics have gained increasing visibility in society and in sociological research, but scholars’ methodological insights for studying these issues have lagged behind. How might the lifestyles and consumption practices of researchers themselves shape data collection, and how might these movements affect researchers? The authors offer a collaborative, reflexive analysis of their experiences conducting fieldwork on three different consumption movements centered on food production. Building on feminist and symbolic interactionist methodological literature, they show how their own “consumption identities” affected their data collection, analyses, and written work. The authors also discuss how conducting research on consumption and lifestyle movements may also affect researchers’ own identities and practices. They conclude by discussing how their process of “collaborative reflexivity” brings new insight into feminist methodological concerns for reflexivity.
Ideal Selves as Resources for the Situated Practice of Identity
Authors: Wieland Stacey M.B.
Published: September 2010

Identity construction is often emphasized as an active process that results in the development of a distinctive, coherent self. This study considers what it means to frame identity construction as a situated communicative practice that draws on ideal selves, normative expectations about whom one should be. Based on qualitative fieldwork, this study demonstrates how participants drew on two ideal selves—one who delivers and one who practices wellbeing—in their identity constructions and leveraged the value of moderation to construct identities that achieved both ideals. This study suggests that a communicative perspective focused on the situated practice of identity enables scholars to attend to how socially constructed ideals of whom one should be shape identity construction.
Goodness-of-fit tests for correlated paired binary data
Authors: Tang Man-Lai , Pei Yan-Bo , Wong Weng-Kee , Li Jia-Liang
Published: September 2010

We review a few popular statistical models for correlated binary outcomes, present maximum likelihood estimates for the model parameters, and discuss model selection issues using a variety of goodness-of-fit test statistics. We apply bootstrap strategies that are computationally efficient to evaluate the performance of goodness-of-fit statistics and observe that generally the power and the type I error rate of the goodness-of-fit statistics depend on the model under investigation. Our simulation results show that careful choice of goodness-of-fit statistics is an important issue especially when we have a small sample and the outcomes are highly correlated. Two biomedical applications are included.
Queer anarchist autonomous zones and publics: Direct action vomiting against homonormative consumerism
Authors: Jeppesen Sandra
Published: September 2010

Global anarchist movements and queer politics are integrating in mutually informing ways. The characteristics of this synthesis include liberatory theories and practices of embodied genders and sexualities in private and public, direct actions to visibilize and extend queer publics, and queer intersections with capitalism, the environment, race, disability, public space, private property and citizenship, among others. This article will critically analyze three cases of anti-consumerist vomiting, including an erotic performance, a punk zine, and a Pink Panthers direct action, to investigate the politics of queer anarchist autonomous publics that extend the anti-homophobic and antiheteronormative politics of queer counterpublics toward challenging homonormativity through intersectional anti-oppression and liberatory value-practices.
Constructing anarchist sexuality: Queer identity, culture, and politics in the anarchist movement
Authors: Portwood-Stacer Laura
Published: September 2010

This article explores the articulation of queer sexuality with anarchist identity. Drawing on interviews and participant observation in the contemporary North American anarchist movement, I show that queer critique is typical among self-identified anarchists. Anarchist movement culture serves as a medium for the circulation of discourses around sexuality and anarchist identity, as well as supports individuals in their own queer practices of resistance against dominant sexual norms. However, subcultural investments in notions of authenticity may serve to detract from the political potential to be found within anarchist culture. This article ultimately concludes that the strong movement culture and its investment in authentic identity can prove useful for anarchist political projects, but that ‘anarchonormativity’ must be wielded strategically, taking into account its many potential effects.
Bridging the divide between queer theory sage and anarchism
Authors: Shepard Benjamin
Published: September 2010

Much of the struggle for a queer public commons involves tactics and philosophical understandings embraced by anarchists and queers alike. A few of these overlapping positions include: an embrace of the insurrectionary possibilities of pleasure; a rejection of social controls and formal hierarchies in favor of mutual aid networks and DIY community building; the use of direct action; and a culture of resistance. The interconnections between these movements are often under-theorized and under-valued. Yet, rather than build on these linkages, much of today’s queer theory finds itself facing a divide separating theory from practice. This article explores this divide in relation to historically-informed examples of current queer activist practices in which queers and anarchists share common cause. The examples highlight the links between anarchism and efforts aimed at reproductive health and sexual self-determination, public assembly, and battles against social prohibitions and vice squads. The article concludes with a call for a mutual engagement between queer activism and anarchism.
Of words and fog
Authors: Course Magnus
Published: September 2010

This article explores the role of analogies derived from language in the ethnographic description and analysis of non-Western ontologies. Focusing in particular on the rhetorical analogy of subject and object central to descriptions of Amerindian perspectival ontologies, I suggest that such analogies may well obscure as much as they reveal. Utilizing an account of ontological transformation drawn from my own research among the Mapuche of southern Chile, I suggest that the analogy of subject and object suggests to speakers of European languages a radical discontinuity and therefore obscures the subtleties of the transformation at stake. Through the presentation of alternative grammatical paradigms present in Amerindian languages themselves, I suggest that grammars necessarily contain implicit ontologies which, when used analogically to represent non-linguistic phenomena, may seriously distort the ethnographic data they are intended to clarify.
Government Monitoring and Political Participation in the United States: The Distinct Roles of Anger and Anxiety
Authors: Best Samuel J. , Krueger Brian S.
Published: September 2010

The past decade has spurred interest in the potential connection between U.S. government monitoring and political activity. Interestingly, these recent studies demonstrate that rather than chilling political activity, government monitoring in the United States positively associates with political engagement. This article seeks to determine why, for ordinary Americans, government monitoring positively relates to political participation. We argue that the balance of discrete negative emotional reactions to government monitoring provides an answer. We propose that U.S. government monitoring generates more anger than anxiety. Furthermore, we suggest that anger about government monitoring will positively associate with political activity whereas anxiety about monitoring will negatively associate with political engagement. We find support for these hypotheses using data drawn from a unique probability sample survey of U.S. residents. The dominant and discrete reaction of anger about monitoring trumps the less common reaction of anxiety, which leads to a net positive association with political activity.
Sinus Pericranii: Case Report
Authors: Aburto-Murrieta Yolanda , Bonifacio-Delgadillo Dulce , Balderrama Bañares Jorge , Zenteno Castellanos Marco A.
Published: September 2010

Sinus pericranii (SP) is an abnormal communication between the intracranial and extracranial venous drainage pathways. Treatment of this condition has mainly been recommended for aesthetic reasons and prevention of hemorrhage. The authors report a conservative treatment for the potentially lethal complications.
‘A Curious Chapter in the Manual of Animation’: Stan VanDerBeek’s Animated Spatial Politics
Authors: Buchan Suzanne
Published: September 2010

This article aims to flesh out how Stan VanDerBeek created what Time magazine in 1964 rather glibly described as ‘a curious chapter in the manual of animation’. The main focus is on his pre-computer painted and puppet animation and collage animation works. After considering relevant terminologies, the author explores VanDerBeek’s own writings to see how and why his artistic and cultural philosophy could be expressed using animation techniques. After a discussion of a stop-motion puppet film and a painted film, she introduces, via Modernist contexts of collage and photomontage, some of VanDerBeek’s many collage and cutout animation films, proposing how his visual neologisms bear comparison with James Joyce’s portmanteau technique. She then undertakes an aesthetic and socio-political analysis of his praxis within found footage genres and techniques, and suggests viewer strategies for watching his works. The article concludes by describing some of VanDerBeek’s manifold poetics and aesthetics as ‘a curious chapter’ within the continuum of political photomontage and independent animation production.
Endometriosis With Bladder Involvement
Authors: Bloom Rachel , LaRusso Salvatore
Published: September 2010

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue is found outside of the uterus. The ectopic endometrial tissue may be found in a variety of places but commonly involves the peritoneal surfaces of the pelvis. Rarely implants of endometriosis can be seen in other areas such as the bladder and urinary tract. When conducting routine transvaginal sonography (TVS) on a woman in her late 40s with pelvic pain, a mass was noted in the bladder that was later confirmed as endometriosis via laparoscopic surgery. This case report demonstrates the appearance of bladder endometriosis on TVS and reviews its clinical presentation as well as pathophysiology.
Matrix metalloproteinase-25 has a functional role in mouse secondary palate development and is a downstream target of TGF-β3
Authors: Brown Graham D , Nazarali Adil J
Published: September 2010

Background

Development of the secondary palate (SP) is a complex event and abnormalities during SP development can lead to cleft palate, one of the most common birth disorders. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are required for proper SP development, although a functional role for any one MMP in SP development remains unknown. MMP-25 may have a functional role in SP formation as genetic scans of the DNA of human cleft palate patients indicate a common mutation at a region upstream of the MMP-25 gene. We report on the gene expression profile of MMP-25 in the developing mouse SP and identify its functional role in mouse SP development.

Results

MMP-25 mRNA and protein are found at all SP developmental stages in mice, with the highest expression at embryonic day (E) 13.5. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization localize MMP-25 protein and mRNA, respectively, to the apical palate shelf epithelial cells and apical mesenchyme. MMP-25 knockdown with siRNA in palatal cultures results in a significant decrease in palate shelf fusion and persistence of the medial edge epithelium. MMP-25 mRNA and protein levels significantly decrease when cultured palate shelves are incubated in growth medium with 5 μg/mL of a TGF-β3-neutralizing antibody.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate: (i) MMP-25 gene expression is highest at E12.5 and E13.5, which corresponds with increasing palate shelf growth downward alongside the tongue; (ii) MMP-25 protein and mRNA expression predominantly localize in the apical epithelium of the palate shelves, but are also found in apical areas of the mesenchyme; (iii) knockdown of MMP-25 mRNA expression impairs palate shelf fusion and results in significant medial edge epithelium remaining in contacted areas; and (iv) bio-neutralization of TGF-β3 significantly decreases MMP-25 gene expression. These data suggest a functional role for MMP-25 in mouse SP development and are the first to identify a role for a single MMP in mouse SP development.
Gene expression following induction of regeneration in Drosophila wing imaginal discs. Expression profile of regenerating wing discs
Authors: Blanco Enrique , Ruiz-Romero Marina , Beltran Sergi , Bosch Manel , Punset Adrià , Serras Florenci , Corominas Montserrat
Published: September 2010

Background

Regeneration is the ability of an organism to rebuild a body part that has been damaged or amputated, and can be studied at the molecular level using model organisms.Drosophilaimaginal discs, which are the larval primordia of adult cuticular structures, are capable of undergoing regenerative growth after transplantation andin vivoculture into the adult abdomen.

Results

Using expression profile analyses, we studied the regenerative behaviour of wing discs at 0, 24 and 72 hours after fragmentation and implantation into adult females. Based on expression level, we generated a catalogue of genes with putative role in wing disc regeneration, identifying four classes: 1) genes with differential expression within the first 24 hours; 2) genes with differential expression between 24 and 72 hours; 3) genes that changed significantly in expression levels between the two time periods; 4) genes with a sustained increase or decrease in their expression levels throughout regeneration. Among these genes, we identified members of the JNK and Notch signalling pathways and chromatin regulators. Through computational analysis, we recognized putative binding sites for transcription factors downstream of these pathways that are conserved in multipleDrosophilids, indicating a potential relationship between members of the different gene classes. Experimental data from genetic mutants provide evidence of a requirement of selected genes in wing disc regeneration.

Conclusions

We have been able to distinguish various classes of genes involved in early and late steps of the regeneration process. Our data suggests the integration of signalling pathways in the promoters of regulated genes.
Evolution of duplicated IgH loci in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Authors: Yasuike Motoshige , de Boer Johan , von Schalburg Kristian R , Cooper Glenn A , McKinnel Linda , Messmer Amber , So Stacy , Davidson William S , Koop Ben F
Published: September 2010

Background

The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus possesses two parallel IgH isoloci (IGH-A and IGH-B), that are related to the genomic duplication event in the family Salmonidae. These duplicated IgH loci in Atlantic salmon provide a unique opportunity to examine the mechanisms of genome diversity and genome evolution of the IgH loci in vertebrates. In this study, we defined the structure of these loci in Atlantic salmon, and sequenced 24 bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones that were assembled into the IGH-A (1.1 Mb) and IGH-B (0.9 Mb) loci. In addition, over 7,000 cDNA clones from the IgH variable (VH) region have been sequenced and analyzed.

Results

The present study shows that the genomic organization of the duplicated IgH loci in Atlantic salmon differs from that in other teleosts and other vertebrates. The loci possess multiple Cτ genes upstream of the Cμ region, with three of the Cτ genes being functional. Moreover, the duplicated loci possess over 300 VH segments which could be classified into 18 families. This is the largest number of VH families currently defined in any vertebrate. There were significant structural differences between the two loci, indicating that both IGH-A and -B loci have evolved independently in the short time after the recent genome duplication approximately 60 mya.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the duplication of the IgH loci in Atlantic salmon significantly contributes to the increased diversity of the antibody repertoire, as compared with the single IgH locus in other vertebrates.
Characterization of the beta amyloid precursor protein-like gene in the central nervous system of the crab Chasmagnathus. Expression during memory consolidation
Authors: Fustiñana Maria Sol , Ariel Pablo , Federman Noel , Freudenthal Ramiro , Romano Arturo
Published: September 2010

Background

Human β-amyloid, the main component in the neuritic plaques found in patients with Alzheimer's disease, is generated by cleavage of the β-amyloid precursor protein. Beyond the role in pathology, members of this protein family are synaptic proteins and have been associated with synaptogenesis, neuronal plasticity and memory, both in vertebrates and in invertebrates. Consolidation is necessary to convert a short-term labile memory to a long-term and stable form. During consolidation, gene expression and de novo protein synthesis are regulated in order to produce key proteins for the maintenance of plastic changes produced during the acquisition of new information.

Results

Here we partially cloned and sequenced the beta-amyloid precursor protein like gene homologue in the crab Chasmagnathus (cappl), showing a 37% of identity with the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster homologue and 23% with Homo sapiens but with much higher degree of sequence similarity in certain regions. We observed a wide distribution of cappl mRNA in the nervous system as well as in muscle and gills. The protein localized in all tissues analyzed with the exception of muscle. Immunofluorescence revealed localization of cAPPL in associative and sensory brain areas. We studied gene and protein expression during long-term memory consolidation using a well characterized memory model: the context-signal associative memory in this crab species. mRNA levels varied at different time points during long-term memory consolidation and correlated with cAPPL protein levels

Conclusions

cAPPL mRNA and protein is widely distributed in the central nervous system of the crab and the time course of expression suggests a role of cAPPL during long-term memory formation.
A specialist-generalist classification of the arable flora and its response to changes in agricultural practices
Authors: Fried Guillaume , Petit Sandrine , Reboud Xavier
Published: September 2010

Background

Theory in ecology points out the potential link between the degree of specialisation of organisms and their responses to disturbances and suggests that this could be a key element for understanding the assembly of communities. We evaluated this question for the arable weed flora as this group has scarcely been the focus of ecological studies so far and because weeds are restricted to habitats characterised by very high degrees of disturbance. As such, weeds offer a case study to ask how specialization relates to abundance and distribution of species in relation to the varying disturbance regimes occurring in arable crops.

Results

We used data derived from an extensive national monitoring network of approximately 700 arable fields scattered across France to quantify the degree of specialisation of 152 weed species using six different ecological methods. We then explored the impact of the level of disturbance occurring in arable fields by comparing the degree of specialisation of weed communities in contrasting field situations.

The classification of species as specialist or generalist was consistent between different ecological indices. When applied on a large-scale data set across France, this classification highlighted that monoculture harbour significantly more specialists than crop rotations, suggesting that crop rotation increases abundance of generalist species rather than sets of species that are each specialised to the individual crop types grown in the rotation. Applied to a diachronic dataset, the classification also shows that the proportion of specialist weed species has significantly decreased in cultivated fields over the last 30 years which suggests a biotic homogenization of agricultural landscapes.

Conclusions

This study shows that the concept of generalist/specialist species is particularly relevant to understand the effect of anthropogenic disturbances on the evolution of plant community composition and that ecological theories developed in stable environments are valid in highly disturbed environments such as agro-ecosystems. The approach developed here to classify arable weeds according to the breadth of their ecological niche is robust and applicable to a wide range of organisms. It is also sensitive to disturbance regime and we show here that recent changes in agricultural practices, i.e. increased levels of disturbance have favoured the most generalist species, hence leading to biotic homogenisation in arable landscapes.
Large aortic aneurysm mimicking a cardiac tumor
Authors: Liao Zhen-Yu , Tsai Jui-Peng , Kuo Jen-Yuan , Hung Chung-Lieh
Published: September 2010

Introduction

Extrinsic left atrial compression caused by a displaced, crooked descending thoracic aorta is rare. This anomaly may mimic primary cardiac tumors or metastatic neoplasms from the first look.

Case presentation

We reported a 78-year-old woman presented to our emergency room with back pain, increased exercise intolerance and intermittent angina. She also had one syncopal event 1 month ago and gastric cancer post gastrectomy history. Subsequent chest plain film showed no mediastinum widening.

Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed and revealed a heterogeneous mass as large as 2.3 × 2.4 cm occupying the left atrium (LA). Three-dimensional echocardiography vividly demonstrated that LA was constrained between the aortic valve (AV) and a luminal structure with pulsatile character suggestive of the aorta.

Conclusions

We successfully demonstrated the detailed structure and location of an anomalous descending aorta on the oblique imaging plane of RT-3DE, which may not be readily available by traditional 2D method.
Head and neck cancers in France: an analysis of the hospital medical information system (PMSI) database
Authors: Lacau St Guily Jean , Borget Isabelle , Vainchtock Alexandre , Rémy Vanessa , Takizawa Claire
Published: September 2010

Background

With 16,005 new cases and 5,406 related deaths in 2005, France is particularly concerned by Head and Neck (H&N) cancers. In addition to tobacco and alcohol, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been reported as a risk factor for H&N cancers. The literature on the burden of these cancers in Europe is scarce. This study was performed to assess the medical and economical burden of hospitalisations for H&N cancers in France.

Methods

The French national hospital database (PMSI), in which admissions to public and private hospitals are recorded, was retrospectively analysed to assess the annual number of patients hospitalised for H&N cancers and associated hospital costs from the healthcare payer perspective. ICD-10 codes (16 codes classified as oral cavity, oropharynx, pharynx, salivary glands and larynx) were used to extract admissions for these cancers. Hospital stays, chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions were extracted to assess patients' management. Costs of admissions were obtained from French official tariffs.

Results

In 2007, there were 36 268 patients hospitalised for H&N cancers, of whom 81% were men, corresponding to 60 200 hospital stays and 287 846 sessions of chemo- or radio-therapy. Oropharynx cancer was the most frequent (28% of patients), followed by oral cavity cancer (25% of patients). The peak of frequency was observed in the 55-59 years age group. Patients were mainly treated in medicine (48%) and surgery (23%) units. Mean annual cost per patient ranged from €2 764 to €7 673 leading to a total hospital cost of €323 millions in 2007 (including hospitalization and expensive drugs). With 26% of H&N cancers attributable to HPV infections, 9 430 patients were hospitalized due to HPV-related H&N cancers, representing €138 million in 2007.

Conclusion

Even without taking into account the rehabilitation costs, the hospital burden of H&N cancers is considerable.
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Influences Chromatin Remodeling in Mouse Spermatids by Affecting Content of Transition Protein 2 mRNA and Histone Displacement
Authors: Chioccarelli Teresa , Cacciola Giovanna , Altucci Lucia , Lewis Sheena E. M. , Simon Luke , Ricci Giulia , Ledent Catherine , Meccariello Rosaria , Fasano Silvia , Pierantoni Riccardo , Cobellis Gilda
Published: September 2010

Marijuana smokers and animals treated with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal component of marijuana, show alterations of sperm morphology suggesting a role for cannabinoids in sperm differentiation and/or maturation. Because the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) activation appears to play a pivotal role in spermiogenesis, the developmental stage where DNA is remodeled, we hypothesized that CNR1 receptors might also influence chromatin quality in sperm. We used Cnr1 null mutant (Cnr1−/−) mice to study the possible role of endocannabinoids on sperm chromatin during spermiogenesis. We demonstrated that CNR1 activation regulated chromatin remodeling of spermatids by either increasing Tnp2 levels or enhancing histone displacement. Comparative analysis of wild-type, Cnr1+/−, and Cnr1−/− animals suggested the possible occurrence of haploinsufficiency for Tnp2 turnover control by CNR1, whereas histone displacement was disrupted to a lesser extent. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the genetic loss of Cnr1 decreased sperm chromatin quality and was associated with sperm DNA fragmentation. This damage increased during epididymal transit, from caput to cauda. Collectively, our results show that the expression/activity of CNR1 controls the physiological alterations of DNA packaging during spermiogenesis and epididymal transit. Given the deleterious effects of sperm DNA damage on male fertility, we suggest that the reproductive function of marijuana users may also be impaired by deregulation of the endogenous endocannabinoid system.
A Novel Antagonistic Effect of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein System on Prolactin Actions in Regulating Steroidogenesis by Granulosa Cells
Authors: Nakamura Eri , Otsuka Fumio , Inagaki Kenichi , Miyoshi Tomoko , Yamanaka Ryutaro , Tsukamoto Naoko , Suzuki Jiro , Ogura Toshio , Makino Hirofumi
Published: September 2010

To investigate the mechanism by which prolactin (PRL) regulates follicular steroidogenesis in the ovary, we examined the functional roles of PRL in steroidogenesis using rat oocyte/granulosa cell coculture and focusing on the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) system. The expression of long and short forms of PRL receptor (PRLR) were detected in both oocytes and granulosa cells, and PRL effectively up-regulated PRLR expression in granulosa cells in the presence of FSH. PRL suppressed FSH-induced estradiol production and increased FSH-induced progesterone production in granulosa cells. The PRL effects on FSH-induced progesterone were blocked by coculture with oocytes, implying roles of oocyte-derived factors in suppression of progesterone production in PRL-exposed granulosa cells. In accordance with the data for steroids, FSH-induced aromatase expression was suppressed by PRL, whereas FSH-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, P450scc (P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 levels were amplified by PRL. However, forskolin- and N6,O2-dibutyryl cAMP-induced steroid levels and FSH- and forskolin-induced cAMP were not affected by PRL, suggesting that PRL action on FSH-induced steroidogenesis was not due to cAMP-protein kinase A regulation. Treatment with a BMP-binding protein, noggin, facilitated PRL-induced estradiol reduction, and noggin increased PRL-induced progesterone production in FSH-treated granulosa cells cocultured with oocytes, suggesting that endogenous BMPs reduce progesterone but increase estradiol when exposed to high concentrations of PRL. PRL increased the expression of BMP ligands in oocyte/granulosa cell coculture and augmented BMP-induced phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic 1/5/8 signaling by reducing inhibitory phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic 6 expression through the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. In addition to STAT activation, PRL enhanced FSH-induced MAPK phosphorylation in granulosa cells, in which ERK activation was preferentially involved in suppression of FSH-induced estradiol. Furthermore, noggin treatment enhanced PRLR signaling including MAPK and STAT. Considering that BMPs suppressed PRLR in granulosa cells, it is likely that the BMP system in growing follicles plays a key role in antagonizing PRLR signaling actions in the ovary exposed to high concentrations of PRL.
Activin A Regulates Porcine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β-Subunit Transcription via Cooperative Actions of SMADs and FOXL2
Authors: Lamba Pankaj , Wang Ying , Tran Stella , Ouspenskaia Tamara , Libasci Vanessa , Hébert Terence E. , Miller Gregory J. , Bernard Daniel J.
Published: September 2010

Activins stimulate FSH synthesis and secretion by pituitary gonadotrope cells. Activin A induction of porcine and murine FSHβ (Fshb) gene transcription in immortalized gonadotropes is dependent on homolog of Drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) proteins as well as the forkhead transcription factor L2 (FOXL2). Using both heterologous and homologous cell models, we demonstrate that FOXL2 functionally synergizes with SMAD3/4 to stimulate porcine Fshb promoter-reporter activity. We further show that endogenous FOXL2 and SMAD2/3 physically interact in homologous cells. We identify two composite cis-elements of adjacent FOXL2 and SMAD binding sites in the proximal porcine Fshb promoter that mediate activin A, FOXL2, and SMAD3 actions. FOXL2 can bind these elements independently of SMADs, whereas SMAD3/4 binding requires high-affinity FOXL2 binding. Conversely, FOXL2 alone is insufficient to regulate Fshb transcription and requires SMADs to induce promoter activity. Collectively, our data suggest a model in which activins stimulate formation and nuclear accumulation of SMAD3/4 complexes, which interact with FOXL2 bound to at least two proximal promoter elements. This association stabilizes SMAD3/4 binding to adjacent SMAD binding elements. SMAD-FOXL2 complexes then mediate activation of transcription through a currently unknown mechanism. Conservation of one of the two composite cis-elements suggests that this may form part of a general mechanism whereby activins regulate Fshb subunit transcription and FSH synthesis.
New Functional Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys from First-Principles Calculations
Authors: Entel Peter , Siewert Mario , Dannenberg Antje , Gruner Markus Ernst , Wuttig Manfred
Published: September 2010

An overview is given of new ferromagnetic Heusler alloys like Ni-Co-(Al, Ga, Zn), Co-Ni-(Al, Ga, Zn), Fe-Ni-(Al, Ga, Zn) and Fe-Co-(Al, Ga, Zn), which are compared with today's mostly investigated systems such as Ni-Mn-Z (Z = Al, Ga, In, Sn, Sb). The investigations are based on first-principles as well as Monte Carlo calculations. For some new systems, the simulations of atomic structure and magnetic and electronic properties allow to predict higher Curie and martensitic transformation temperatures than those of prototypical Ni-Mn-Z materials. Some of the new materials may be distinguished for devices which exploit the magnetic shape memory effect. Interestingly, in general, all off-stoichiometric alloys display competing antiferromagnetic correlations, which may be important for devices using the magnetocaloric effect. The Curie temperatures are obtained from Monte Carlo simulations using magnetic exchange parameters from ab initio calculations while the structural instability is inferred from local minima in the ab initio total energy curves as a function of the tetragonal distortion. The manifestation of phonon softening as a precursor of structural transformations is present in the austenitic phase of most of the calculated ferromagnetic shape-memory alloys. However, quite remarkably, we find that phonon softening is absent in a few systems such as Co2NiGa.
Synthesis of Fe3O4/ZnO Core-shell Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy Applications
Authors: Beltran Huarac Juan C. , Singh Surinder P. , Tomar Maharaj S. , Peňa Sandra , Rivera Luis , Perales-Perez Oscar
Published: September 2010

The use of nanoparticles as carriers of photosensitizer (PS) molecules for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much interest on core-shell nanosize structures. Herein, we used a simple aqueous solution method to synthesize Fe3O4/ZnO core-shell nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed the presence of well defined peaks corresponding to Fe3O4 and ZnO in as-synthesized nanocrystals. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements showed that these nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic behavior of the core with no coercivity nor remanence. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed the presence of Zn1/2 and Zn3/2 species on the surface of nanocrystals. Photoluminescence measurements showed excitonic emission of ZnO co-existing with a weak and broad defect- related green emission at room temperature. The generation of singlet oxygen was monitored via the photooxidation of diphenyl-1,3-isobenzofuran (DPBF) with different light sources, followed by absorption spectroscopy at 409 nm. The capability of synthesized nanoparticles to generate singlet oxygen has also been verified.
Slope variation and population structure of tree species from different ecological groups in South Brazil
Authors: Bianchini Edmilson , Garcia Cristina C. , Pimenta José A. , Torezan José M.D.
Published: September 2010

Size structure and spatial arrangement of 13 abundant tree species were determined in a riparian forest fragment inParaná State, South Brazil (23"16'S and 51"01'W). The studied species were Aspidosperma polyneuron Müll. Arg., Astronium graveolens Jacq. and Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng) Harms (emergent species); Alseis floribunda Schott, Ruprechtia laxiflora Meisn. and Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (shade-intolerant canopy species); Machaerium paraguariense Hassl, Myroxylum peruiferum L. and Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler ex Miq.) Engl. (shade-tolerant canopy species); Sorocea bonplandii (Baill.) Bürger, Trichilia casaretti C. Dc, Trichilia catigua A. Juss. and Actinostemon concolor (Spreng.) Müll. Arg. (understory small trees species). Height and diameter structures and basal area of species were analyzed. Spatial patterns and slope correlation were analyzed by Moran's / spatial autocorrelation coefficient and partial Mantel test, respectively. The emergent and small understory species showed the highest and the lowest variations in height, diameter and basal area. Size distribution differed among emergent species and also among canopy shade-intolerant species. The spatial pattern ranged among species in all groups, except in understory small tree species. The slope was correlated with spatial pattern for A. polyneuron, A. graveolens, A. floribunda, R. laxiflora, M. peruiferum and T. casaretti. The results indicated that most species occurredin specific places, suggesting that niche differentiation can be an important factor in structuring the tree community.
OSL age determinations of Pleistocene fluvial deposits in Central Amazonia
Authors: Soares Emílio A.A. , Tatumi Sonia H. , Riccomini Claudio
Published: September 2010

Absolute dating methods have been used in chronological studies of geological processes and sedimentary units of Quaternary age in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Although radiocarbon dating has been very useful in archaeological research and soil studies, the temporal interval of this method is inefficient in evaluating the sedimentation aspects and geological events from the beginning of the Quaternary in the Amazon basin. The use of crystal luminescence dating has been one of the most promising tool for determining the absolute dating of Quaternary deposits in the Amazonian region. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, following the MAR and SAR protocols, in a tectonic-sedimentary study of Quaternary fluvial deposits in the confluence area of the Negro and Solimões rivers, indicated ages from 1.3 (Holocene) to about 67.4 kyears (Late Pleistocene) for these sediments. Low radioactive isotope concentrations were found about 2ppm for 235U and 238U; 5ppm for 232Th; and the 40K concentrations were almost zero. A comparison was made between MAR and SAR protocols taking into account the fluvial depositional process.
Mid- to Late-Holocene estuarine infilling processes studied by radiocarbon dates, high resolution seismic and biofacies at Vitoria Bay, Espirito Santo, Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Bastos Alex C. , Vilela Claudia G. , Quaresma Valéria S. , Almeida Fabiana K.
Published: September 2010

Vitoria Bay is a 20 km long estuary, morphologically narrow, with a microtidal regime and, as other modern estuaries, was formed during the last post-glacial transgression. The estuarine bed morphology is characterised by a main natural channel limited by tidal flats with developed mangroves. Original radiocarbon dates were obtained for the site. Five radiocarbon ages ranging from 1,010 to 7,240 years BP were obtained from two sedimentary cores, which represent a 5 m thick stratigraphic sequence. The results indicate that, until about 4,000 cal. yrs BP, environmental conditions in Vitoria Bay were still of an open bay, with a free and wide connection with marine waters. During the last 4,000 yrs, the bay has experienced a major regression phase, by becoming more restricted in terms of seawater circulation and probably increasing tidal energy. Three main stratigraphic surfaces were recognised, which limit trangressive, trangressive/highstand and regressive facies. The present channel morphology represents a tidal scouring surface or a tidal diastem, which erodes and truncates regressive facies bedding. Foraminiferal biofacies, which change from marine to brackish and mangrove tidal-flat environments, support the seismic stratigraphic interpretation. Absence of mangrove biofacies at one of the two cores is also an indication of modern tidal ravinement.
Serum neutralization with different types and subtypes of bovine herpesvirus 1 and 5
Authors: Holz Carine Lidiane , Cibulski Samuel Paulo , Teixeira Thais Fumaco , Batista Helena Beatriz C.R. , Dezen Diógenes , Campos Fabrício Souza , Varela Ana Paula M. , Roehe Paulo Michel
Published: September 2010

The serum neutralization (SN) test is the gold standard method to measure neutralizing antibodies to bovine herpesviruses. However, in view of the further subdivisions of bovine herpesviruses in types/subtypes, defining which virus to use at challenge in SN tests may be difficult. In view of that, this study was carried out to re-evaluate (SN) sensitivity with different types/subtypes of bovine herpesviruses types 1 (BoHV-1) and 5 (BoHV-5) as challenge viruses. Bovine sera (n=810) were collected from two distinct geographic regions and tested by SN with three type 1 viruses (BoHV-1.1 strains "Los Angeles" and "EVI123/98"; BoHV-1.2a strain "SV265/96") and three type 5 viruses (BoHV-5a strain "EVI88/95"; BoHV-5b strain "A663" and BoHV-5c "ISO97/95"). SN tests were performed with a 1 hour incubation of the serum-virus mixtures at 37ºC against 100 TCID50 of each of the viruses. SN sensitivity varied greatly depending on the challenge virus used in the test. The highest sensitivity (327 positive/810 total sera tested; 40.37%) was attained when the positive results to the six viruses were added together. No association could be found between any particular type or subtype of virus and the sensitivity of the test. When positive results to each single strain were considered, SN sensitivity varied from 41.7% to 81.7%, depending on the virus and the geographic region of origin of the sera. Variation was detected even when challenge viruses belonged to the same subtype, where disagreement between positive results reached 41%. These results indicate that one hour incubation SN tests against single viruses, as performed here, may display a significantly low sensitivity (p=0.05); performing SN tests against a number of different viruses may increase considerably SN sensitivity. Furthermore, the choice of virus used for challenge is critical in SN tests. In addition, sera from different geographic regions may give rise to disagreeing results with different strains of BoHV-1 and BoHV-5. This might be particularly relevant for control programs and in international trade, were maximum sensitivity should be targeted.