bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immortalization of bovine mammary epithelial cells alone by human telomerase reverse transcriptase
Authors: Zhao Chen‐Fu , Hu Hong‐Yu , Meng Lu , Li Qian‐Qian , Lin AI‐Xing
Published: February 2010

Immortal bovine mammary epithelial cell lines are useful for providing an efficient indicator for transgene expression and for the technological improvement of genetic modification. The preparation of hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase)‐mediated immortalized MECs (mammary epithelial cells) requires a down‐regulation of p16INK4a. Here, we report the establishment of two immortal bovine MEC lines by expression of hTERT gene alone under serum‐containing culture conditions. This two cell lines maintain the general characteristics of MECs and have been stably passed more than 200 generations accompanying telomere extension, and were identified as non‐malignant transformation. Investigation on transcriptional profile showed a similar down‐regulation in both p16INK4a and p53. By comparing with non‐immortal hTERT‐positive MECs, we speculated that there are some spontaneous p16INK4a‐reduced cells under normal culture conditions and the immortalization required for a co‐ordinate repression of p53 and p16INK4a signalling pathways. Interestingly, two immortal cell lines showed a significant distinction in proliferation rate, implying that other mechanisms might be involved in proliferation control.
Metal-dielectric structures for high power electron cyclotron resonance ion source
Authors: Stiebing K. E. , Schachter L. , Dobrescu S.
Published: February 2010

Metal-dielectric (MD)-structures in electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) devices (partially) restore the plasma ambipolarity and supply cold electrons to the plasma. Both effects lead to an enhancement of the plasma electron density and temperature and significantly increase the performance of this type of ion source. At the same time, MD-structures are well suited to reduce the heat load on cold masses by Bremsstrahlung radiation. Here, we report on experiments at high microwave powers to test the practical use of MD-structures for new, high performance ECRISs with their much higher power densities. The comparatively long conditioning times can be shortened by covering only those parts of the source with MD-structures, which are essential for the improvement.
Analyses of high power negative ion accelerators for ITER neutral beam injector (invited)
Authors: Kashiwagi M. , Taniguchi M. , Dairaku M. , Grisham L. R. , Hanada M. , Mizuno T. , Tobari H. , Umeda N. , Watanabe K. , Sakamoto K. , Inoue T.
Published: February 2010

In JAEA, research and developments to realize high power accelerator (1 MeV, 40 AD− ion beams for 3600 s) for ITER have been carried out experimentally and numerically utilizing a five stage MAMuG (Multiaperture, Multigrid) accelerator. In this paper, the extension of the gap length, which is required to improve the voltage holding capability, is examined in two dimensional beam optics analyses and also from view point of stripping loss of ions. In order to suppress excess power loadings due to the direct interception of negative ions, which is issued in long pulse tests, the beamlet deflection is analyzed in three dimensional multibeamlet analyses. The necessary modifications shown above are applied to the MAMuG accelerator for coming long pulse tests in JAEA and ITER.
An innovative high-power constant-current pulsed-arc power-supply for a high-density pulsed-arc-plasma ion-source using a LaB6-filament
Authors: Ueno A. , Oguri H. , Ikegami K. , Namekawa Y. , Ohkoshi K. , Tokuchi A.
Published: February 2010

An innovative high-power constant-current (CC) pulsed-arc (PA) power-supply (PS) indispensable for a high-density PA plasma ion-source using a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) filament was devised by combining a constant-voltage (CV) PA-PS, which is composed of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switch, a CV direct-current (dc) PS and a 270 mF capacitor with a CC-PA-PS, which is composed of an IGBT-switch, a CC-dc-PS and a 400 μH inductor, through the inductor. The hybrid-CC-PA-PS succeeded in producing a flat arc-pulse with a peak power of 56 kW (400 A×140 V) and a duty factor of more than 1.5% (600 μs×25 Hz) for Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) H− ion-source stably. It also succeeded in shortening the 99% rising-time of the arc-pulse-current to about 20 μs and tilting up or down the arc-pulse-current arbitrarily and almost linearly by changing the setting voltage of its CV-dc-PS.
The deuteron injector progress of the Peking University Neutron Imaging Facility project
Authors: Ren H. T. , Peng S. X. , Zhang M. , Zhou Q. F. , Song Z. Z. , Yuan Z. X. , Lu P. N. , Xu R. , Zhao J. , Yu J. X. , Lu Y. R. , Guo Z. Y. , Chen J. E.
Published: February 2010

A deuteron radio frequency quadrupoles injector h has been developed at Peking University. A permanent magnetic electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source is used in the injector system. A 50 keV 100 mA proton beam has been extracted from the ECR ion source and the measured normalized rms emittance is 0.11–0.14π mm mrad. A deuteron beam has also been extracted at 50 kV with 83 mA total current and its emittance is less than 0.18π mm mrad. The proton beam transmission has been investigated on a low energy beam transport test bench, and up to 93% transmission can be reached. The new injector with two solenoids has been designed and is being constructed. All the development results will be presented in this paper.
Development of an H− ion source for Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex upgrade
Authors: Ohkoshi K. , Namekawa Y. , Ueno A. , Oguri H. , Ikegami K.
Published: February 2010

A cesium (Cs) free H− ion source driven with a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) filament was adopted as an ion source for the first stage of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). At present, the maximum H− ion current produced by the ion source is 38 mA, using which J-PARC can produce a proton beam power of 0.6 MW by accelerating it with the 181 MeV linac and the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron. In order to satisfy the beam power of 1 MW required for the second stage of the J-PARC in the near future, we have to increase the ion current to more than 60 mA. Therefore, we have started to develop a Cs-seeded ion source by adding an external Cs-seeding system to a J-PARC test ion source that has a structure similar to that of the J-PARC ion source except for the fact that the plasma chamber is slightly larger. As a result, a H− ion current of more than 70 mA was obtained from the ion source using a tungsten filament instead of a LaB6 filament with a low arc discharge power of 15 kW (100 V, 150 A).
Upgrade of the extraction system of permanent magnet electron cyclotron resonance ion source
Authors: Zhang M. , Peng S. X. , Ren H. T. , Song Z. Z. , Yuan Z. X. , Zhou Q. F. , Lu P. N. , Xu R. , Zhao J. , Yu J. X. , Chen J. E. , Guo Z. Y. , Lu Y. R.
Published: February 2010

A set of new ion extraction electrodes have been designed for the permanent magnetic electron cyclotron resonance ion source at Peking University to improve beam quality and transmission. PBGUNS has been used to optimize the extraction electrodes and simulate the beam behavior at the extraction region. The experiments showed that with the new system, the beam half divergence angle can be less than 40 mrad and the normalized rms emittance is about 0.13π mm mrad when the extracted current is 100 mA at 50 keV in pulse mode. The voltage of the suppression electrode has great effect on beam divergence. The effect of the microwave power and gas flow is also studied.
Improvement of voltage holding capability in the 500 keV negative ion source for JT-60SA
Authors: Tanaka Y. , Hanada M. , Kojima A. , Akino N. , Shimizu T. , Ohshima K. , Inoue T. , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi M. , Kashiwagi M. , Umeda N. , Tobari H. , Grisham L. R. ,   JT-60 NBI Group
Published: February 2010

Voltage holding capability of JT-60 negative ion source that has a large electrostatic negative ion accelerator with 45 cm×1.1 m acceleration grids was experimentally examined and improved to realize 500 keV, 22 A, and 100 s D− ion beams for JT-60 Super Advanced. The gap lengths in the acceleration stages were extended to reduce electric fields in a gap between the large grids and at the corner of the support flanges from the original 4–5 to 3–4 kV/mm. As a result, the voltage holding capability without beam acceleration has been successfully improved from 400 to 500 kV. The pulse duration to hold 500 kV reached 40 s of the power supply limitation.
Structural and electronic properties of dual plasma codeposited mixed-phase amorphous/nanocrystalline thin films
Authors: Adjallah Y. , Anderson C. , Kortshagen U. , Kakalios J.
Published: February 2010

A dual-plasma codeposition system capable of synthesizing thin films of mixed-phase materials consisting of nanoparticles of one type of material embedded within a thin film semiconductor or insulator matrix is described. This codeposition process is illustrated by the growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films containing silicon nanocrystalline inclusions (a/nc-Si:H). A capacitively coupled flow-through plasma reactor is used to generate silicon nanocrystallites of diameter 5 nm, which are entrained by a carrier gas and introduced into a capacitively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor with parallel plate electrodes, in which a-Si:H is synthesized. The structural and electronic properties of these mixed-phase a/nc-Si:H films are investigated as a function of the silicon nanocrystal concentration. At a moderate concentration (crystalline fraction 0.02–0.04) of silicon nanocrystallites, the dark conductivity is enhanced by up to several orders of magnitude compared to mixed-phase films with either lower or higher densities of nanoparticle inclusions. These results are interpreted in terms of a model whereby in films with a low nanocrystal concentration, conduction is influenced by charges donated into the a-Si:H film by the inclusions, while at high nanocrystal densities electronic transport is affected by increased disorder introduced by the nanoparticles.
A center-of-mass principle for the multiparticle Schrödinger equation
Authors: Mohlenkamp Martin J.
Published: February 2010

The center-of-mass principle is the key to the rapid computation of the interaction of a large number of classical particles. Electrons governed by the multiparticle Schrödinger equation have a much more complicated interaction mainly due to their spatial extent and the antisymmetry constraint on the total wave function of the combined electron system. We present a center-of-mass principle for quantum particles that accounts for this spatial extent, the antisymmetry constraint, and the potential operators. We use it to construct an algorithm for computing a size-consistent approximate wave function for large systems with simple geometries.
The Brookhaven National Laboratory electron beam ion source for RHIC
Authors: Alessi J. G. , Barton D. , Beebe E. , Bellavia S. , Gould O. , Kponou A. , Lambiase R. , Lockey R. , McNerney A. , Mapes M. , Marneris Y. , Okamura M. , Phillips D. , Pikin A. I. , Raparia D. , Ritter J. , Snydstrup L. , Theisen C. , Wilinski M.
Published: February 2010

As part of a new heavy ion preinjector that will supply beams for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Radiation Laboratory, construction of a new electron beam ion source (EBIS) is now being completed. This source, based on the successful prototype Brookhaven National Laboratory Test EBIS, is designed to produce milliampere level currents of all ion species, with q/m=(1/6)−(1/2). Among the major components of this source are a 5 T, 2-m-long, 204 mm diameter warm bore superconducting solenoid, an electron gun designed to operate at a nominal current of 10 A, and an electron collector designed to dissipate ∼300 kW of peak power. Careful attention has been paid to the design of the vacuum system, since a pressure of 10−10 Torr is required in the trap region. The source includes several differential pumping stages, the trap can be baked to 400 C, and there are non-evaporable getter strips in the trap region. Power supplies include a 15 A, 15 kV electron collector power supply, and fast switchable power supplies for most of the 16 electrodes used for varying the trap potential distribution for ion injection, confinement, and extraction. The EBIS source and all EBIS power supplies sit on an isolated platform, which is pulsed up to a maximum of 100 kV during ion extraction. The EBIS is now fully assembled, and operation will be beginning following final vacuum and power supply tests. Details of the EBIS components are presented.
Studies of emittance of multiply charged ions extracted from high temperature superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source, PKDELIS
Authors: Rodrigues G. , Lakshmy P. S. , Kumar Sarvesh , Mandal A. , Kanjilal D. , Baskaran R. , Roy A.
Published: February 2010

For the high current injector project at Inter University Accelerator Centre, a high temperature superconducting electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source, PKDELIS, would provide the high charge state ions. The emittance of the ECR ion source is an important parameter to design further beam transport system and to match the acceptances of the downstream radio frequency quadrupole and drift tube linac accelerators of the high current injector. The emittance of the analyzed beam of PKDELIS ECR source has been measured utilizing the three beam size technique. A slit and two beam profile monitors positioned at fixed distances from each other were used to measure the beam size. The digitized beam profiles have been analyzed to determine the emittance of various multiply charged ions. The variation of emittance with gas mixing, ultrahigh frequency power, and extraction energy are discussed in this presentation.
Enhancement of silicon nanostructures generation using dual wavelength double pulse femtosecond laser under ambient condition
Authors: Sivakumar M. , Tan Bo , Venkatakrishnan Krishnan
Published: February 2010

In this study we propose a unique method to increase the weblike silicon nanofibrous structures formation using dual wavelength double pulse femtosecond laser radiation under ambient condition. The augmentation of nanostructures is evidenced from the difference in nanofibrous structure layer thickness. Enhancement in generation is explained through the increase in excited state electrons with double pulse as compared to single pulse. Moreover the absorption characteristic of irradiated surface undergoes significant changes after the first pulse (515 nm) which enhances absorption for the second pulse (1030 nm) and consequently results in an increase in nanostructures.
In situ optical emission study on the role of C2 in the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Motaung David Edmond , Moodley Mathew Kisten , Manikandan E. , Coville Neil J.
Published: February 2010

In situ optical emission spectroscopy was used to study the temporal and spatial behavior of laser induced plasmas in the laser-furnace synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). A graphite composite target located within a sealed quartz tube with a chemical stoichiometric composition of 95:4:1 at. wt % of carbon, yttrium, and nickel, respectively, was ablated by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser delivering colinear, focused laser pulses of 1064 and 532 nm temporarily separated by 20 ns. The ablation process was done at a furnace temperature of 1273 K in a flow of argon gas at either 150 or 200 SCCM (SCCM denotes cubic centimeter per minute at STP). The pressure was varied (100, 400, and 600 Torr) for each gas flow setting. The temporal and spatial behavior of the emission intensity associated with C2 Swan bands (d Π3g−a Π3u) was investigated and found to be influenced by the pressure and flow rate of the argon gas. At conditions optimal to SWCNT production, a sharp drop in C2 intensity followed by a rise in C2 intensity was observed. The temporal and spatial behavior of the electron density was determined by the Stark broadening profile of the CII emission peak at 283.7 nm and was found to decrease with the adiabatic expansion of the plume. We propose that the sharp drop in C2 intensity and the rise in electron density and electron temperature observed in this study are due to the accompanying rapid nucleation and growth of SWCNTs.
Scanning tunneling microscope study of striated carbon ridges in few-layer epitaxial graphene formed on 4H-silicon carbide (0001¯)
Authors: Harrison S. E. , Capano M. A. , Reifenberger R.
Published: February 2010

Atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscope images of carbon ridge defects found in few-layer graphene formed on the C-face (0001¯) of 4H-silicon carbide reveal a striated exterior surface formed from out-of-plane distortions of the hexagonal graphene lattice. While ridge formation is likely explained by compressive in-plane stresses coupled with the small values of the bending modulus for few-layer graphene, the striated structure along the ridges argues for a localized unidirectional stress in the material directed along the ridge length.
Effect of indium fluctuation on the photovoltaic characteristics of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well solar cells
Authors: Lai K. Y. , Lin G. J. , Lai Y.-L. , Chen Y. F. , He J. H.
Published: February 2010

Severe In fluctuation was observed in In0.3Ga0.7N/GaN multiple quantum well solar cells using scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The high In content and fluctuation lead to low fill factor (FF) of 30% and energy conversion efficiency (η) of 0.48% under the illumination of AM 1.5G. As the temperature was increased from 250 to 300 K, FF and η were substantially enhanced. This strong temperature-dependent enhancement is attributed to the additional contribution to the photocurrents by the thermally activated carriers, which are originally trapped in the shallow quantum wells resulting from the inhomogeneous In distribution.
Three-dimensional bulk metamaterials operating in the terahertz range
Authors: Miyamaru Fumiaki , Kuboda Shiro , Taima Kazuo , Takano Keisuke , Hangyo Masanori , Takeda Mitsuo Wada
Published: February 2010

Three-dimensional bulk metamaterials that operate in the terahertz (THz) frequency range were fabricated by stacking 100 two-dimensional sheets containing metallic split-ring resonators (SRR) on thin polyethylene terephthalate film substrates. The THz magnetic resonance for the incident magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the SRR structure was measured. We also investigated the dependence of the magnetic resonant strength on the metal thickness.
Communications: A nonperturbative quantum master equation approach to charge carrier transport in organic molecular crystals
Authors: Wang Dong , Chen Liping , Zheng Renhui , Wang Linjun , Shi Qiang
Published: February 2010

We present a nonperturbative quantum master equation to investigate charge carrier transport in organic molecular crystals based on the Liouville space hierarchical equations of motion method, which extends the previous stochastic Liouville equation and generalized master equation methods to a full quantum treatment of the electron-phonon coupling. Diffusive motion of charge carriers in a one-dimensional model in the presence of nonlocal electron-phonon coupling was studied, and two different charge carrier diffusion mechanisms are observed for large and small average intermolecular couplings. The new method can also find applications in calculating spectra and energy transfer in various types of quantum aggregates where the perturbative treatments fail.
Lattice thermal conductivity of MgO at conditions of Earth’s interior
Authors: Tang Xiaoli , Dong Jianjun
Published: February 2010

Thermal conductivity of the Earth’s lower mantle greatly impacts the mantle convection style and affects the heat conduction from the core to the mantle. Direct laboratory measurement of thermal conductivity of mantle minerals remains a technical challenge at the pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions relevant to the lower mantle, and previously estimated values are extrapolated from low P-T data based on simple empirical thermal transport models. By using a numerical technique that combines first-principles electronic structure theory and Peierls–Boltzmann transport theory, we predict the lattice thermal conductivity of MgO, previously used to estimate the thermal conductivity in the Earth, at conditions from ambient to the core-mantle boundary (CMB). We show that our first-principles technique provides a realistic model for the P-T dependence of lattice thermal conductivity of MgO at conditions from ambient to the CMB, and we propose thermal conductivity profiles of MgO in the lower mantle based on geotherm models. The calculated conductivity increases from 15 –20 W/K-m at the 670 km seismic discontinuity to 40 –50 W/K-m at the CMB. This large depth variation in calculated thermal conductivity should be included in models of mantle convection, which has been traditionally studied based on the assumption of constant conductivity.
Follistatin-like-1, a diffusible mesenchymal factor determines the fate of epithelium
Authors: Umezu Tomohiro , Yamanouchi Hiromi , Iida Yusuke , Miura Masataka , Tomooka Yasuhiro
Published: February 2010

Mesenchyme is generally believed to play critical roles in “secondary induction” during organogenesis. Because of the complexity of tissue interactions in secondary inductions, however, little is known about the precise mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. We have demonstrated that, in mouse oviductal development, the mesenchyme determines the fate of undetermined epithelial cells to become secretory or cilial cells. We have established a model for studying secondary induction by establishing clonal epithelial and mesenchymal cell lines from perinatal p53
−/−
mouse oviducts. The signal sequence trap method collected candidate molecules secreted from mesenchymal cell lines. Naive epithelial cells exposed to Follistatin-like-1 (Fstl1), one of the candidates, became irreversibly committed to expressing a cilial epithelial marker and differentiated into ciliated cells. We concluded that Fstl1 is one of the mesenchymal factors determining oviductal epithelial cell fate. This is a unique demonstration that the determination of epithelial cell fate is induced by a single diffusible factor.
Update on the hyper immunoglobulin M syndromes
Authors: Davies E. Graham , Thrasher Adrian J.
Published: February 2010

The Hyper‐immunoglobulin M syndromes (HIGM) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders resulting in defects of immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR), with or without defects of somatic hypermutation (SHM). They can be classified as defects of signalling through CD40 causing both a humoral immunodeficiency and a susceptibility to opportunistic infections, or intrinsic defects in B cells of the mechanism of CSR resulting in a pure humoral immunodeficiency. A HIGM picture can also be seen as part of generalized defects of DNA repair and in antibody deficiency syndromes, such as common variable immunodeficiency. CD40 signalling defects may require corrective therapy with bone marrow transplantation. Gene therapy, a potential curative approach in the future, currently remains a distant prospect. Those with a defective CSR mechanism generally do well on immunologoblulin replacement therapy. Complications may include autoimmunity, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in some cases, a predisposition to lymphoid malignancy.
The importance of tacit knowledge in practices of care
Authors: Reinders H.
Published: February 2010

Background  The paper argues that a high quality personal relationship between professionals and clients is a necessary condition of professional knowledge. This epistemological claim is developed against the background of current methods of quality assessment that rely on objectively measurable ‘indicators’.

Method  A philosophical analysis regarding the nature of professional knowledge in the care sector. The analysis proceeds from Michael Polanyi's concept of tacit knowledge to account for the personal dimension of professional expertise in the care sector.

Results  Quantitative methods of quality assessment understand ‘quality of care’ as being independent from the professional who generates it. Consequently, quality assessment as currently practiced necessarily renders the personal dimension of professional knowledge invisible, thereby excluding it from managerial attention and support. To indicate the relevance of Polanyi's concept of tacit knowledge, the paper offers some observations from the practice of care in a group home for people with intellectual disabilities.

Conclusion  The paper concludes that a high quality relationship between professionals and their clients is crucial for quality of care. This relationship generates the positive interaction that enables professionals to gain adequate insight in the needs of their clients.
Liver transplantation using elderly donors: a risk factor analysis
Authors: Kim Dae Y. , Moon Jang , Island Eddie R. , Tekin Akin , Ganz Susan , Levi David , Selvaggi Gennaro , Nishida Seigo , Tzakis Andreas G.
Published: February 2010

Kim DY, Moon J, Island ER, Tekin A, Ganz S, Levi D, Selvaggi G, Nishida S, Tzakis AG. Liver transplantation using elderly donors: a risk factor analysis.  Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 270–276. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Survival after liver transplantation is negatively impacted by use of elderly deceased donors, but excluding them would increase waiting times and waiting list mortality. We reviewed our experience with liver transplantation (LT) utilizing livers from deceased donors 65 yr of age and older to identify those factors that impact graft survival. All adult patients (≥18 yr old) who underwent primary LT using deceased donor livers from donors aged ≥65 yr between February 1995 and November 2003 were included. With multivariate analysis we found four unfavorable characteristics significantly associated with higher post‐transplant graft failure rate. These characteristics are hepatitis C as an etiology of liver disease, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score >20, serum glucose level of donor >200 mg/dL at the time of liver recovery, and skin incision to aortic cross‐clamp time >40 minutes in the donor surgery. The five‐yr estimated graft survival rates having 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 unfavorable characteristics were 100%, 82.0%, 81.7%, 39.3%, and 25.0%, respectively (p < 0.05). Our data demonstrated good graft survival can be achieved in LT using elderly donor liver allografts with appropriate patient selection, donor blood glucose management and efficient liver recovery with minimal manipulation of the liver during donor surgery.
Acute renal failure early after heart transplantation: risk factors and clinical consequences
Authors: Gude Einar , Andreassen Arne K. , Arora Satish , Gullestad Lars , Grov Ingelin , Hartmann Anders , Leivestad Torbjørn , Fiane Arnt E. , Geiran Odd R. , Vardal Mari , Simonsen Svein
Published: February 2010

Gude E, Andreassen AK, Arora S, Gullestad L, Grov I, Hartmann A, Leivestad T, Fiane AE, Geiran OR, Vardal M, Simonsen S. Acute renal failure early after heart transplantation: risk factors and clinical consequences.  Clin Transplant 2010: 24: E207–E213. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Limited information exists about acute renal failure (ARF) early after heart transplantation (HTx). We correlated pre‐, per‐, and post‐operative patient and donor parameters to the risk of developing ARF. We also analyzed the consequences of ARF on kidney function after HTx, risk of later need for chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation, and mortality. In a retrospective study from 1983 to 2007, 145 (25%) of 585 HTx recipients developed ARF, defined as ≥26.4 micromol/L or ≥50% increase in serum creatinine from pre‐operatively to the seventh day post‐HTx and/or the need of early post‐operative dialysis. Independent risk factors for ARF were intravenous cyclosporine immediately post‐operatively (odds ratio [OR] 2.16, 95% CI 1.34–3.50, p = 0.02), donor age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.04, p = 0.02), and pre‐operative cardiac output (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.71, p = 0.003). The development of ARF was a predictor for short‐term survival (≤3 months) ranging from 98% for patients who improved their creatinine after HTx vs. 79% for those in need of dialysis (p < 0.001). However, ARF did not predict subsequent end stage renal disease in need of dialysis or renal transplantation. ARF is a common complication post‐HTx. As ARF is associated with short‐term survival, post‐operative strategies of preserving renal function have the potential of reducing mortality. Of avoidable risk factors, the use of intravenous CsA should be discouraged.
Are hybrid species more fit than ancestral parent species in the current hybrid species habitats?
Authors: DONOVAN L. A. , ROSENTHAL D. R. , SANCHEZ‐VELENOSI M. , RIESEBERG L. H. , LUDWIG F.
Published: February 2010

Hybrid speciation is thought to be facilitated by escape of early generation hybrids into new habitats, subsequent environmental selection and adaptation. Here, we ask whether two homoploid hybrid plant species (Helianthus anomalus,H. deserticola) diverged sufficiently from their ancestral parent species (H. annuus,H. petiolaris) during hybrid speciation so that they are more fit than the parent species in hybrid species habitats. Hybrid and parental species were reciprocally transplanted into hybrid and parental habitats.Helianthus anomaluswas more fit than parental species in theH. anomalusactively moving desert dune habitat. The abilities to tolerate burial and excavation and to obtain nutrients appear to be important for success in theH. anomalushabitat. In contrast,H. deserticolafailed to outperform the parental species in theH. deserticolastabilized desert dune habitat, and several possible explanations are discussed. The home site advantage ofH. anomalusis consistent with environmental selection having been a mechanism for adaptive divergence and hybrid speciation and supports the use ofH. anomalusas a valuable system for further assessment of environmental selection and adaptive traits.
Effects of systemic potato response to wounding and jasmonate on the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Sternorryncha: Aphididae)
Authors: Brunissen L. , Vincent C. , Le Roux V. , Giordanengo P.
Published: February 2010

Plant induced responses are activated by multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, and may affect the interactions between a plant and phytophagous insects. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different stresses inflicted to potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) on the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). Abiotic wounding, biotic wounding by Leptinotarsa decemlineata and treatment with volatile methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were evaluated with regard to the orientation behaviour, the feeding behaviour and the development of the potato aphids. Dual‐choice olfactometry showed that plants treated with MeJA lost their attractiveness for the potato aphids, while both abiotic and biotic wounding did not alter the orientation of aphids. Electropenetrography revealed that the feeding behaviour of aphids was only slightly disturbed by a previous L. decemlineata wounding, while it was highly disturbed by mechanical wounding and MeJA treatment. Aphid nymph survival was reduced on mechanically wounded plants, the pre‐reproductive period was lengthened and the fecundity reduced on plants treated with MeJA. Our results bring new information about the effects of various stresses inflicted to S. tuberosum on M. euphorbiae. We showed that wounding and MeJA treatment induced an antixenosis resistance in potato plants against M. euphorbiae, which may influence aphid colonization processes.
Flexible pneumocystoscopy for double J stenting during laparoscopic and robot assisted pyeloplasty: Our experience
Authors: Fiori Cristian , Morra Ivano , Di Stasio Andrea , Grande Susanna , Scarpa Roberto Mario , Porpiglia Francesco
Published: February 2010

We present our results in terms of feasibility, safety and efficacy of flexible pneumocystoscopy during double J stenting in patients undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP). The patient is placed on the flank at a 45° angle. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty according to the Anderson–Hynes technique is carried out by transperitoneal access. After completing the running suture of the posterior wall of the uretero‐pyelic anastomosis, the double J stent is placed in a retrograde manner with a pneumocystoscopy using flexible cystoscope. Thirty‐six patients were prospectively evaluated; 28 of these were treated with standard LP and 8 with robot‐assisted LP. Mean operative time was 124 min, whereas double J stenting time was 4.2 min (2–6). We observed one case of cranial migration of the stent, forcing us to repeat the procedure, which was completed without complications. No ancillary procedures or X‐ray control were necessary. Retrograde double J stenting using flexible pneumocystoscopy during laparoscopic and robot assisted pyeloplasty is feasible, easy, safe and effective. The procedure can be completed without changing the patient's position and without the use of X‐ray.
VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS COGNITION: A COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH TO SELF‐UNDERSTANDING IN THREE MONOTHEIST CONTEXTS
Authors: Reimer Kevin S. , Dueck Alvin C. , Neufeld Garth , Steenwyk Sherry , Sidesinger Tracy
Published: February 2010

This study considered representations of divine and human others in the self‐understanding of monotheists from three religions. Self‐understanding was conceptualized on the basis of semantic and episodic knowledge in narrative response data. Given the importance of social context in the formation of cognitive schemas, the project emphasized self‐understanding in a comparative religious design. The sample included sixty nominated religious exemplars who responded to a structured interview. Schemas were subsequently mapped for Jews, Muslims, and Christians by comparison of self and other representations in a computational model known as latent semantic analysis (LSA). Findings indicated that representation of the divine is far removed from parents in cognitive schemas for all participants. Unlike Jews and Christians, Muslims appear to represent human others on the basis of self‐understanding which principally references the divine. When considered in a computational semantic space, exemplars generally represent the self in a manner corresponding with divine and peer figures.
COSMOLOGY FROM ALPHA TO OMEGA: RESPONSE TO REVIEWS
Authors: Russell Robert John
Published: February 2010

I gratefully acknowledge and respond here to four reviews of my recent book, Cosmology from Alpha to Omega. Nancey Murphy stresses the importance of showing consistency between Christian theology and natural science through a detailed examination of my recent model of their creative interaction. She suggests how this model can be enhanced by adopting Alasdair MacIntyre's understanding of tradition in order to adjudicate between competing ways of incorporating science into a wider worldview. She urges the inclusion of ethics in my model and predicts that this would successfully challenge the competing naturalist tradition in contemporary society. John F. Haught weighs the alternatives of viewing divine action as objective versus subjective and of divine action at one level in nature or at all levels. He asks whether physics is fundamental to nature, arguing instead that metaphysics should be considered as fundamental. Michael Ruse assesses occasional versus universal divine action, the problems raised to divine action when it is related to quantum mechanics, and the way these relations exacerbate the challenge of natural theodicy. As an alternative he suggests viewing God as outside time and acting through unbroken natural law. Willem B. Drees discusses my use of the bridge metaphor for the relation between theology and science, the implications when science is inspired by theology, the role of contingency and necessity in the anthropic principle/many‐worlds debate, and the challenge of cosmology to eschatology with the ensuing problem of theodicy.
Corpus callosum morphology of Williams syndrome: relation to genetics and behavior
Authors: Schmitt J Eric , Eliez Stephan , Warsofsky Ilana S , Bellugi Ursula , Reiss Allan L
Published: February 2010

As the largest interhemispheric commissure in the brain, the corpus callosum is of particular interest in disorders that may preferentially affect white matter development such as Williams syndrome (WS). Individuals with WS possess a remarkable array of neurobehavioral peaks and valleys, including deficits in visuospatial ability, mathematics, and attention, but with relative preservation of language and affect. Our study measured the corpus callosum and its primary subdivisions using high‐resolution MRI in 20 individuals with WS (13 females and seven males; mean age 28.5, SD 8.3 years; range 19 to 44 years) and 20 age‐ and sex‐matched control participants (mean age 28.5, SD 8.2 years; range 19 to 48 years). Total midsagittal corpus callosum area was reduced (F=4.5, p=0.04, df=36) in the WS population. The area of the splenium (F=12.4, p=0.001,df=36) and isthmus (F=9.4, p=0.004, df=36) were disproportionately reduced in WS beyond the absolute reduction of the entire corpus callosum. These reductions are in concordance with other neuroanatomical findings of decreased parietooccipital volumes as well as the observed visuospatial problems associated with WS.
Auditory function at 14 years of age of very‐low‐birthweight children
Authors: Davis Noni M , Doyle Lex W , Ford Geoffrey W , Keir Eddie , Michael Jenny , Rickards Anne L , Kelly Elaine A , Callanan Catherine
Published: February 2010

The aim of the study was to determine audiological function at 14 years of age of very‐low‐birthweight (VLBW 1500g) children compared with a cohort of normal birthweight (NBW >2499g) children. Participants were consecutive surviving preterm children of birthweight <1000 g born between 1977 and 1982 (n=86) and of birthweight 1000 to 1500g born between 1980 and 1982 (n=124) and randomly selected NBW children born between 1981 and 1982 (n=60). Audiometric tests included pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, stapedius muscle reflexes, and measures of central auditory processing. Psychometric tests included measures of IQ, academic achievement, and behaviour. There were no significant differences in rates of hearing impairment, abnormal tympanograms, figure‐ground problems, or digit recall between VLBW children and NBW control children. VLBW children had higher rates of some central auditory processing problems, which in turn were associated with poorer intellectual, academic, and behavioural progress.
Dentition and histology in titanosaurian dinosaur embryos from Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: GARCÍA RODOLFO A. , CERDA IGNACIO A.
Published: February 2010

Abstract:  Exceptionally preserved sauropod embryos from the Late Cretaceous Anacleto Formation in Auca Mahuevo (Neuquén Province, Argentina) have provided fundamental information on titanosaurian ontogeny. This paper describes the dental composition, disposition and microstructure of the specimens. Embryonic teeth show size disparity, with lengths that vary from 1 to 3 mm and diameters ranging from 0.15 to 0.26 mm, with the most frequent length values between 2.5 and 3 mm. Apparently, a typical ‘pencil‐like’ tooth morphology and a dental formula of Pm 4, M 7–8/D10? remained constant during titanosaurian ontogeny, whereas the arrangement of teeth in the skull shows notable ontogenetic changes. Absence of wear facets on teeth suggests a lack of prenatal chewing movements. The enamel proportion is significantly higher in embryos than in mature titanosaurs, which suggests that this relationship varies during ontogeny. Embryonic bony tissue is composed of highly vascularized, cellular woven bone. The absence of osteonal tissue, the high degree of vascularization, the presence of numerous osteocytes and poor development of periosteal bone reveals that the Auca Mahuevo titanosaurs would have had a high early growth rate and that they were buried at a relatively advanced embryonic stage.
Population persistence in a landscape context: the case of endangered arctic fox populations in Fennoscandia
Authors: Herfindal Ivar , Linnell John D. C. , Elmhagen Bodil , Andersen Roy , Eide Nina E. , Frafjord Karl , Henttonen Heikki , Kaikusalo Asko , Mela Matti , Tannerfeldt Magnus , Dalén Love , Strand Olav , Landa Arild , Angerbjörn Anders
Published: February 2010

Anthropogenic fragmentation of habitat and populations is recognized as one of the most important factors influencing loss of biodiversity. Since it is difficult to quantify demographic parameters in small populations, we need alternative methods to elucidate important factors affecting the viability of local populations. The Fennoscandian arctic fox inhabits a naturally fragmented alpine tundra environment, but historic anthropogenic impacts have further fragmented its distribution. After almost 80 yr of protection, the population remains critically endangered. Both intrinsic factors (related to the isolation and size of sub‐populations) and extrinsic factors (related to environmental conditions influencing patch quality and interspecific competition) have been proposed as explanations for the lack of population growth. To distinguish between these hypotheses, we conducted a spatially explicit analysis that compares areas where the species has persisted with areas where it has become locally extinct. We used characteristics of the fragments of alpine tundra habitat and individual arctic fox breeding dens (including both currently active dens and historically active dens) within the fragments to evaluate the importance of habitat characteristics and connectivity in explaining variation in persistence within a fragment. The number of reproductive events in a fragment was related to the size of the fragment, but not more than expected following a 1:1 relationship, suggesting little effect of fragment size on the relative number of reproductions. The likelihood of a den being used for breeding was positively associated with factors minimising interspecific competition as well as increasing within‐fragment connectivity. These results support the idea that the failure of Fennoscandian arctic fox to recover is caused by demographic factors that can be related to fine‐scale Allee or Allee‐like effects, as well as environmental influences related to increased competition and exclusion by red foxes.
Thalidomide–dexamethasone as up‐front therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: thrombophilic alterations, thrombotic complications, and thromboprophylaxis with low‐dose warfarin
Authors: Cini Michela , Zamagni Elena , Valdré Lelia , Palareti Gualtiero , Patriarca Francesca , Tacchetti Paola , Legnani Cristina , Catalano Lucio , Masini Luciano , Tosi Patrizia , Gozzetti Alessandro , Cavo Michele
Published: February 2010

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication of myeloma therapy recently observed with the increasing use of up‐front thalidomide and dexamethasone (thal–dex). The pathogenesis of thal‐induced VTE is not well recognized, and the role of prothrombotic factors, especially of thrombophilic abnormalities, is not yet determined.

Material and methods: Two hundred and sixty‐six patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) were primarily treated with thal–dex in preparation for subsequent high‐dose therapy and autologous stem‐cell transplantation. Out of these 266 patients, 190 were evaluated for thrombophilic alterations at baseline, and 125 of them were also re‐assessed after thal–dex therapy.

Results: The presence of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms among patients with MM was superimposable to that of normal controls and was associated with a twofold increase in the relative risk of VTE. aAPCR and elevated factor VIII levels were frequent, albeit transient, alterations and were not associated with a significant increase in the risk of VTE. Two hundred and forty‐six patients received a thromboprophylaxis with fixed low‐dose warfarin (1.25 mg/day) during thal–dex therapy. Of these patients (or 10.6%), 26 had symptomatic VTE events. Their patients‐years rate of VTE (35.5%) was significantly lower in comparison with the 86.2% rate recorded among the first 19 patients who initially entered the study and did not receive any kind of thromboprophylaxis (P = 0.043).

Conclusions: On the basis of these data, a baseline thrombophilic work up is not recommended in patients with receiving up‐front thal–dex. For these patients, fixed low‐dose warfarin may be a valuable prophylaxis against VTE.
Comparison of human RNase 3 and RNase 7 bactericidal action at the Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacterial cell wall
Authors: Torrent Marc , Badia Marina , Moussaoui Mohammed , Sanchez Daniel , Nogués M. Victòria , Boix Ester
Published: February 2010

The eosinophil cationic protein/RNase 3 and the skin‐derived RNase 7 are two human antimicrobial RNases involved in host innate immunity. Both belong to the RNase A superfamily and share a high cationicity and a common structural architecture. However, they present significant divergence at their primary structures, displaying either a high number of Arg or Lys residues, respectively. Previous comparative studies with a membrane model revealed two distinct mechanisms of action for lipid bilayer disruption. We have now compared their bactericidal activity, identifying some features that confer specificity at the bacterial cell wall level. RNase 3 displays a specific Escherichia coli cell agglutination activity, which is not shared by RNase 7. The RNase 3 agglutination process precedes the bacterial death and lysis event. In turn, RNase 7 can trigger the release of bacterial cell content without inducing any cell aggregation process. We hypothesize that the RNase 3 agglutination activity may depend on its high affinity for lipopolysaccharides and the presence of an N‐terminal hydrophobic patch, and thus could facilitate host clearance activity at the infection focus by phagocytic cells. The present study suggests that the membrane disruption abilities do not solely explain the protein bacterial target preferences and highlights the key role of antimicrobial action at the bacterial cell wall level. An understanding of the interaction between antimicrobial proteins and their target at the bacterial envelope should aid in the design of alternative peptide‐derived antibiotics.