bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal chemistry of natural layered double hydroxides. 2. Quintinite-1M: first evidence of a monoclinic polytype in M2+-M3+ layered double hydroxides
Authors: Krivovichev S. V. , Yakovenchuk V. N. , Zhitova E. S. , Zolotarev A. A. , Pakhomovsky Y. A. , Ivanyuk G. Yu.
Published: December 2010

Quintinite-1M, [Mg4Al2(OH)12](CO3)(H2O)3, is the first monoclinic representative of both synthetic and natural layered double hydroxides (LDHs) based on octahedrally coordinated di- and trivalent metal cations. It occurs in hydrothermal veins in the Kovdor alkaline massif, Kola peninsula, Russia. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.031 on the basis of 304 unique reflections. It is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 5.266(2), b = 9.114(2), c = 7.766(3) Å, β = 103.17(3)°, V = 362.9(2) Å3. The diffraction pattern of quintinite-1M contains sharp reflections corresponding to the layer stacking sequence characteristic of the 3R rhombohedral polytype, and rows of weak superlattice reflections superimposed upon a background of streaks of modulated diffuse intensity parallel to c*. These superlattice reflections indicate the formation of a 2-D superstructure due to Mg-Al ordering. The structure consists of ordered metal hydroxide layers and a disordered interlayer. As the unit cell contains exactly one layer, the polytype nomenclature dictates that the mineral be called quintinite-1M. The complete layer stacking sequence can be described as …=Ac1B=Ba1C=Cb1A=… Quintinite-1M is isostructural with the monoclinic polytype of [Li2Al4(OH)12](CO3)(H2O)3.
Alunite supergroup: recommended nomenclature
Authors: Bayliss P. , Kolitsch U. , Nickel E. H. , Pring A.
Published: December 2010

Minamiite has been discredited and renamed natroalunite-2c to show a double unit-cell structure and natroalunite can be designated as natroalunite-1c to show a single unit-cell structure. Kintoreite can be designated as kintoreite-1c to show the same single unit-cell structure, and IMA 1993-039 is a new superstructure of kintoreite and can be designated as kintoreite-2c to show a double unit-cell structure. Beaverite has been renamed beaverite-(Cu). The Zn-bearing beaverite of Sato et al. (2008) has been named “beaverite-(Zn)”, but data for the mineralhave not been approved by the CNMNC. Orpheite has been discredited as P-rich hinsdalite. Proposal 07-D was approved by the CNMNC.
Role of NF-κB and PPAR-γ in lung inflammation induced by monocyte-derived microparticles
Authors: Neri T. , Armani C. , Pegoli A. , Cordazzo C. , Carmazzi Y. , Brunelleschi S. , Bardelli C. , Breschi M.C. , Paggiaro P. , Celi A.
Published: December 2010

Microparticles (MP) are phospholipid vesicles shed by cells upon activation or apoptosis. Monocyte-derived MP upregulate the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators by lung epithelial cells; the molecular bases of such activity are unknown. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) have been demonstrated to be involved in the modulation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcriptional activity and inflammation.

We investigated whether the upregulation of the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines by human lung epithelial cells induced by monocyte/macrophage-derived MP involves NF-κB activation and is modulated by PPAR-γ.

MP were generated by stimulation of human monocytes/macrophages with the calcium ionophore, A23187. MP were incubated with human lung epithelial cells. NF-κB translocation was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 synthesis was assessed by ELISA and RT-PCR.

Stimulation of A549 alveolar cells with monocyte/macrophage-derived MP caused an increase in NF-κB activation and IL-8 and MCP-1 synthesis that was inhibited by pre-incubation with the PPAR-γ agonists, rosiglitazone and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin-J2. Parallel experiments with normal human bronchial epithelial cells largely confirmed the results. The effects of PPAR-γ agonists were reversed by the specific antagonist, GW9662.

Upregulation of the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators by human lung epithelial cells induced by monocyte/macrophage-derived MP is mediated by NF-κB activation through a PPAR-γ dependent pathway.
The impact of a lung cancer computed tomography screening result on smoking abstinence
Authors: van der Aalst C.M. , van Klaveren R.J. , van den Bergh K.A.M. , Willemsen M.C. , de Koning H.J.
Published: December 2010

Receiving a lung cancer computed tomography screening result might be a teachable moment for smoking cessation, but it might also unintentionally reassure smokers to continue smoking. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether test results were associated with smoking abstinence in the Dutch–Belgian Randomised Controlled Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NELSON trial).

Two random samples of male smokers who had received either only negative test results (n = 550) or one or more indeterminate test result (n = 440) were sent a questionnaire 2 yrs after randomisation.

Smokers with an indeterminate result reported more quit attempts (p = 0.02), but the prolonged abstinence rate in smokers receiving a negative test (46 (8.9%) out of 519 subjects) was comparable with the abstinence rate in smokers with one or more indeterminate results (48 (11.5%) out of 419 subjects) (p = 0.19). A statistically insignificant increase was found after one or more indeterminate test result (10.9 and 15.0%, respectively) compared with receiving only negative test results (8.9%) (p = 0.26).

In conclusion, the outcome of the screening test had no impact on future smoking abstinence in male smokers, although all results suggest more favourable implications after one or more follow-up recommendations. Screening test outcomes could be used as a teachable moment for smoking cessation.
Chronic hypoxia increases rat diaphragm muscle endurance and sodium–potassium ATPase pump content
Authors: McMorrow C. , Fredsted A. , Carberry J. , O’Connell R.A. , Bradford A. , Jones J.F.X. , O’Halloran K.D.
Published: December 2010

The effects of chronic hypoxia (CH) on respiratory muscle are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of CH on respiratory muscle structure and function, and to determine whether nitric oxide is implicated in respiratory muscle adaptation to CH.

Male Wistar rats were exposed to CH for 1–6 weeks. Sternohyoid and diaphragm muscle contractile properties, muscle fibre type and size, the density of fibres expressing sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA) 2 and sodium–potassium ATPase (Na+,K+-ATPase) pump content were determined. Muscle succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) dehydrogenase activities were also assessed. Acute and chronic blockade of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was employed to determine whether or not NO is critically involved in functional remodelling in CH muscles.

CH improved diaphragm, but not sternohyoid, fatigue tolerance in a time-dependent fashion. This adaptation was not attributable to increased SDH or NADPH dehydrogenase activities. The areal density of muscle fibres and relative area of fibres expressing SERCA2 were unchanged. Na+,K+-ATPase pump content was significantly increased in CH diaphragm. Chronic NOS inhibition decreased diaphragm Na+,K+-ATPase pump content and prevented CH-induced increase in muscle endurance.

This study provides novel insight into the mechanisms involved in CH-induced muscle plasticity. The results may be of relevance to respiratory disorders characterised by CH, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Influenza vaccination is associated with reduced severity of community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Tessmer A. , Welte T. , Schmidt-Ott R. , Eberle S. , Barten G. , Suttorp N. , Schaberg T.
Published: December 2010

Pneumonia is an important cause of influenza-associated morbidity and mortality. Influenza vaccination has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality during influenza seasons. Protection from severe pneumonia may contribute to the beneficial effect of influenza vaccination. Therefore, we investigated the impact of prior influenza vaccination on disease severity and mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Analysis from an observational, multicentre cohort study initiated by the German competence network for CAP was performed. Patients were analysed separately as an influenza season and off-season cohort. Associations between vaccination status and outcome parameters were evaluated by multivariate analyses.

In the season cohort (2,368 patients) CAP in vaccinated patients was significantly less severe according to most analysed parameters (CURB index ≥1: OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60–0.98; procalcitonin ≥2.0 ng·mL−1: OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35–0.81; procalcitonin ≥0.5 ng·mL−1: OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51–0.99) and these patients showed a significantly better overall survival within the 6-month follow-up period (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.89). Within the off-season cohort (2,632 patients) there was no significant influence of vaccination status on CAP severity or disease outcome.

In conclusion, prior influenza vaccination was associated with less severe clinical course and improved overall long-term survival in patients with CAP during influenza seasons.
Overexpression of miR-128 specifically inhibits the truncated isoform of NTRK3 and upregulates BCL2 in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Guidi Monica , Muiños-Gimeno Margarita , Kagerbauer Birgit , Martí Eulàlia , Estivill Xavier , Espinosa-Parrilla Yolanda
Published: December 2010

Background

Neurotrophins and their receptors are key molecules in the regulation of neuronal differentiation and survival. They mediate the survival of neurons during development and adulthood and are implicated in synaptic plasticity. The human neurotrophin-3 receptor gene NTRK3 yields two major isoforms, a full-length kinase-active form and a truncated non-catalytic form, which activates a specific pathway affecting membrane remodeling and cytoskeletal reorganization. The two variants present non-overlapping 3'UTRs, indicating that they might be differentially regulated at the post-transcriptional level. Here, we provide evidence that the two isoforms of NTRK3 are targeted by different sets of microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that play an important regulatory role in the nervous system.

Results

We identify one microRNA (miR-151-3p) that represses the full-length isoform of NTRK3 and four microRNAs (miR-128, miR-485-3p, miR-765 and miR-768-5p) that repress the truncated isoform. In particular, we show that the overexpression of miR-128 - a brain enriched miRNA - causes morphological changes in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells similar to those observed using an siRNA specifically directed against truncated NTRK3, as well as a significant increase in cell number. Accordingly, transcriptome analysis of cells transfected with miR-128 revealed an alteration of the expression of genes implicated in cytoskeletal organization as well as genes involved in apoptosis, cell survival and proliferation, including the anti-apoptotic factor BCL2.

Conclusions

Our results show that the regulation of NTRK3 by microRNAs is isoform-specific and suggest that neurotrophin-mediated processes are strongly linked to microRNA-dependent mechanisms. In addition, these findings open new perspectives for the study of the physiological role of miR-128 and its possible involvement in cell death/survival processes.
Integration of deep transcriptome and proteome analyses reveals the components of alkaloid metabolism in opium poppy cell cultures
Authors: Desgagné-Penix Isabel , Khan Morgan F , Schriemer David C , Cram Dustin , Nowak Jacek , Facchini Peter J
Published: December 2010

Background

Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) is the source for several pharmaceutical benzylisoquinoline alkaloids including morphine, the codeine and sanguinarine. In response to treatment with a fungal elicitor, the biosynthesis and accumulation of sanguinarine is induced along with other plant defense responses in opium poppy cell cultures. The transcriptional induction of alkaloid metabolism in cultured cells provides an opportunity to identify components of this process via the integration of deep transcriptome and proteome databases generated using next-generation technologies.

Results

A cDNA library was prepared for opium poppy cell cultures treated with a fungal elicitor for 10 h. Using 454 GS-FLX Titanium pyrosequencing, 427,369 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with an average length of 462 bp were generated. Assembly of these sequences yielded 93,723 unigenes, of which 23,753 were assigned Gene Ontology annotations. Transcripts encoding all known sanguinarine biosynthetic enzymes were identified in the EST database, 5 of which were represented among the 50 most abundant transcripts. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of total protein extracts from cell cultures treated with a fungal elicitor for 50 h facilitated the identification of 1,004 proteins. Proteins were fractionated by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE and digested with trypsin prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. Query of an opium poppy-specific EST database substantially enhanced peptide identification. Eight out of 10 known sanguinarine biosynthetic enzymes and many relevant primary metabolic enzymes were represented in the peptide database.

Conclusions

The integration of deep transcriptome and proteome analyses provides an effective platform to catalogue the components of secondary metabolism, and to identify genes encoding uncharacterized enzymes. The establishment of corresponding transcript and protein databases generated by next-generation technologies in a system with a well-defined metabolite profile facilitates an improved linkage between genes, enzymes, and pathway components. The proteome database represents the most relevant alkaloid-producing enzymes, compared with the much deeper and more complete transcriptome library. The transcript database contained full-length mRNAs encoding most alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes, which is a key requirement for the functional characterization of novel gene candidates.
An unusual case of left ventricular aneurysm in duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Du Xiaozhou , Zeglinski Matthew , Shaikh Nasir , Jassal Davinder S
Published: December 2010

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to structural heart disease, including dilated cardiomyopathy, in 90% of patients >18 years of age. Despite the ubiquity of cardiomyopathy associated with DMD, ventricular aneurysms in these patients have rarely been reported. We present a case of a basal inferoposterior aneurysm of the left ventricle in a 23-year-old male patient with DMD.
Cancers in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD): a retrospective analysis of risk factors
Authors: Petoumenos Kathy , Hui Eugenie , Kumarasamy Nagalingeswaran , Kerr Stephen J , Choi Jun Yong , Chen Yi‐Ming A , Merati Tuti , Zhang Fujie , Lim Poh‐Lian , Sungkanuparph Somnuek , Pujari Sanjay , Ponnampalavanar Sasheela , Ditangco Rosanna , Lee Christopher KC , Grulich Andrew , Law Matthew G ,   TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database
Published: December 2010

Background

This retrospective survey describes types of cancers diagnosed in HIV‐infected subjects in Asia, and assesses risk factors for cancer in HIV‐infected subjects using contemporaneous HIV‐infected controls without cancer.

Methods

TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) sites retrospectively reviewed clinic medical records to determine cancer diagnoses since 2000. For each diagnosis, the following data were recorded: date, type, stage, method of diagnosis, demographic data, medical history, and HIV‐related information. For risk factor analyses, two HIV‐infected control subjects without cancer diagnoses were also selected. Cancers were grouped as AIDS‐defining cancers (ADCs), and non‐ADCs. Non‐ADCs were further categorized as being infection related (NADC‐IR) and unrelated (NADC‐IUR).

Results

A total of 617 patients were included in this study: 215 cancer cases and 402 controls from 13 sites. The majority of cancer cases were male (71%). The mean age (SD) for cases was 39 (10.6), 46 (11.5) and 44 (13.7) for ADCs, NADC‐IURs and NADCs‐IR, respectively. The majority (66%) of cancers were ADCs (16% Kaposi sarcoma, 40% non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 9% cervical cancer). The most common NADCs were lung (6%), breast (5%) and hepatocellular carcinoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma (2% each). There were also three (1.4%) cases of leiomyosarcoma reported in this study. In multivariate analyses, individuals with CD4 counts above 200 cells/mm3 were approximately 80% less likely to be diagnosed with an ADC (p < 0.001). Older age (OR: 1.39, p = 0.001) and currently not receiving antiretroviral treatment (OR: 0.29, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of NADCs overall, and similarly for NADCs‐IUR. Lower CD4 cell count and higher CDC stage (p = 0.041) were the only independent predictors of NADCs‐IR.

Conclusions

The spectrum of cancer diagnoses in the Asia region currently does not appear dissimilar to that observed in non‐Asian HIV populations. One interesting finding was the cases of leiomyosarcoma, a smooth‐muscle tumour, usually seen in children and young adults with AIDS, yet overall quite rare. Further detailed studies are required to better describe the range of cancers in this region, and to help guide the development of screening programmes.
Inhibition of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 reduces leukocyte adhesion within the intestinal microcirculation in experimental endotoxemia in rats
Authors: Landsberger Martin , Zhou Juan , Wilk Sebastian , Thaumüller Corinna , Pavlovic Dragan , Otto Marion , Whynot Sara , Hung Orlando , Murphy Michael F , Cerny Vladimir , Felix Stephan B , Lehmann Christian
Published: December 2010

Introduction

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), the major endothelial receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein, is also involved in leukocyte recruitment. Systemic leukocyte activation in sepsis represents a crucial factor in the impairment of the microcirculation of different tissues, causing multiple organ failure and subsequently death. The aim of our experimental study was to evaluate the effects of LOX-1 inhibition on the endotoxin-induced leukocyte adherence and capillary perfusion within the intestinal microcirculation by using intravital microscopy (IVM).

Methods

We used 40 male Lewis rats for the experiments. Ten placebo-treated animals served as a control. Thirty animals received 5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intravenously. Ten endotoxemic rats remained untreated. In 10 LPS animals, we administered additionally 10 mg/kg LOX-1 antibodies. Ten further LPS animals received a nonspecific immunoglobulin (rat IgG) intravenously. After 2 hours of observation, intestinal microcirculation was evaluated by using IVM; the plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined; and LOX-1 expression was quantified in intestinal tissue with Western blot and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

LOX-1 inhibition significantly reduced LPS-induced leukocyte adhesion in intestinal submucosal venules (P < 0.05). At the protein and mRNA levels, LOX-1 expression was significantly increased in untreated LPS animals (P < 0.05), whereas in animals treated with LOX-1 antibody, expression of LOX-1 was reduced (P < 0.05). MCP-1 plasma level was reduced after LOX-1 antibody administration.

Conclusions

Inhibition of LOX-1 reduced leukocyte activation in experimental endotoxemia. LOX-1 represents a novel target for the modulation of the inflammatory response within the microcirculation in sepsis.
Results of a high-resolution airborne TEM system demonstration for unexploded ordnance detection
Authors: Doll William E. , Gamey T. Jeffrey , Holladay J. Scott , Sheehan Jacob R. , Norton Jeannemarie , Beard Les P. , Lee James L. , Hanson Andri E. , Lahti Raye M.
Published: December 2010

Airborne geophysical sensor systems using boom-mounted configurations now play an important role in characterizing ordnance-contaminated defense sites. Most of the systems developed to date have been magnetometer systems. These have proven ineffective at sites where basalt or other magnetic geologic units or soils have caused unacceptable noise in the data. Electromagnetic (EM) systems have been developed as an alternative to magnetometer systems for such sites. Recent evaluation of New Mexico field results from the new TEM-8 time-domain EM system has shown successful detection of emplaced blind-seeded ordnance items. Overall, 109 of 110 items were detected, some as small as [Formula: see text] mortars at an area with moderately magnetic geology. The TEM-8 system was also effective in mapping ordnance at a bombing target with severe geologic interference due to basalt, where a previous airborne magnetometer survey proved ineffective. Data and performance metrics for both survey areas are presented and evaluated.
Partitioned least-squares operator for large-scale geophysical inversion
Authors: Porsani Milton J. , Stoffa Paul L. , Sen Mrinal K. , Seif Roustam K.
Published: December 2010

Least-squares (LS) problems are encountered in many geophysical estimation and data analysis problems where a large number of observations (data) are combined to determine a model (some aspect of the earth structure). Examples of least squares in seismic exploration include several data processing algorithms, theoretically accurate LS migration, inversion for reservoir parameters, and background velocity estimation. A frequently encountered problem is that the volume of data in 3D is so large that the matrices required for the LS solution cannot be stored within the memory of a single computer. A new technique is described for parallel computation of the LS operator that is based on a partitioned-matrix algorithm. The classical LS method for solution of block-Toeplitz systems of normal equation (NE) to the general case of block-Hermitian and non-Toeplitz systems of NE. is generalized. Specifically, a solution of a block-Hermitian system of NE is shown that may be obtained recursively by linearly combining the solutions of lesser order that are related to the forward and backward subsystems of equations. This results in an efficient parallel algorithm in which each partitioned system can be evaluated independently. The application of the algorithm to the problem of 3D plane wave transformation is demonstrated.
Notch-dependent expression of thearchipelagoubiquitin ligase subunit in theDrosophilaeye
Authors: Nicholson Sarah C. , Nicolay Brandon N. , Frolov Maxim V. , Moberg Kenneth H.
Published: December 2010

archipelago (ago)/Fbw7 encodes a conserved protein that functions as the substrate-receptor component of a polyubiquitin ligase that suppresses tissue growth in flies and tumorigenesis in vertebrates. Ago/Fbw7 targets multiple proteins for degradation, including the G1-S regulator Cyclin E and the oncoprotein dMyc/c-Myc. Despite prominent roles in growth control, little is known about the signals that regulate Ago/Fbw7 abundance in developing tissues. Here we use the Drosophila eye as a model to identify developmental signals that regulate ago expression. We find that expression of ago mRNA and protein is induced by passage of the morphogenetic furrow (MF) and identify the hedgehog (hh) and Notch (N) pathways as elements of this inductive mechanism. Cells mutant for N pathway components, or hh-defective cells that express reduced levels of the Notch ligand Delta, fail to upregulate ago transcription in the region of the MF; reciprocally, ectopic N activation in eye discs induces expression of ago mRNA. A fragment of the ago promoter that contains consensus binding sites for the N pathway transcription factor Su(H) is bound by Su(H) and confers N-inducibility in cultured cells. The failure to upregulate ago in N pathway mutant cells correlates with accumulation of the SCF-Ago target Cyclin E in the area of the MF, and this is rescued by re-expression of ago. These data suggest a model in which N acts through ago to restrict levels of the pro-mitotic factor Cyclin E. This N-Ago-Cyclin E link represents a significant new cell cycle regulatory mechanism in the developing eye.
Impaired mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and osteoclastogenesis in mice deficient for Igf2-P2 transcripts
Authors: Hardouin Sylvie Nathalie , Guo Ruolin , Romeo Paul-Henri , Nagy Andras , Aubin Jane E.
Published: December 2010

During embryonic development, Igf2 gene transcription is highly regulated through the use of several promoters whose specific roles are not defined. Here, we show that loss-of-function of one of these promoters, Igf2-P2, results in growth defects that are temporally and quantitatively different from those seen in Igf2-null mutants. In particular, Igf2-P2 mutants exhibit skeletal abnormalities characterized by thin and short bones with reduced mineralization and medullar cavity and with altered bone remodeling. These abnormalities are associated with decreased numbers of embryonic mesenchymal chondroprogenitors, adult mesenchymal stem cells and osteoprogenitors. Differentiation of osteoprogenitors into osteoblasts is impaired in the Igf2-P2 mutant mice in a cell-autonomous manner, and osteopontin is a target of the IGF2 signaling pathway during this differentiation. Igf2-P2 mutant mice also display impaired formation of giant osteoclasts owing to a defective micro-environment. These results support a model wherein transcriptional activity of the Igf2-P2 promoter regulates the fate of mesenchymal progenitors during bone development and remodeling in the adult, and regulates osteogenesis in a cell-autonomous and non-autonomous manner.
Reconstruction of rat retinal progenitor cell lineages in vitro reveals a surprising degree of stochasticity in cell fate decisions
Authors: Gomes Francisco L. A. F. , Zhang Gen , Carbonell Felix , Correa José A. , Harris William A. , Simons Benjamin D. , Cayouette Michel
Published: December 2010

In vivo cell lineage-tracing studies in the vertebrate retina have revealed that the sizes and cellular compositions of retinal clones are highly variable. It has been challenging to ascertain whether this variability reflects distinct but reproducible lineages among many different retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) or is the product of stochastic fate decisions operating within a population of more equivalent RPCs. To begin to distinguish these possibilities, we developed a method for long-term videomicroscopy to follow the lineages of rat perinatal RPCs cultured at clonal density. In such cultures, cell-cell interactions between two different clones are eliminated and the extracellular environment is kept constant, allowing us to study the cell-intrinsic potential of a given RPC. Quantitative analysis of the reconstructed lineages showed that the mode of division of RPCs is strikingly consistent with a simple stochastic pattern of behavior in which the decision to multiply or differentiate is set by fixed probabilities. The variability seen in the composition and order of cell type genesis within clones is well described by assuming that each of the four different retinal cell types generated at this stage is chosen stochastically by differentiating neurons, with relative probabilities of each type set by their abundance in the mature retina. Although a few of the many possible combinations of cell types within clones occur at frequencies that are incompatible with a fully stochastic model, our results support the notion that stochasticity has a major role during retinal development and therefore possibly in other parts of the central nervous system.
The aetiology and influence of age and gender on the development of advanced chronic venous insufficiency in the population of patients of semi-urban county outpatient vascular clinic in Poland
Authors: Dzieciuchowicz Ł , Krasiński Z , Motowidlo K , Gabriel M
Published: December 2010

Objective

To determine the aetiology and influence of age and gender on the development of advanced chronic venous insufficiency in patients of semi-urban county outpatient vascular clinic.

Methods

One hundred and fourteen patients with venous ulcers were divided, based on the ultrasound examination, into group 1 or group 2, with or without post-thrombotic lesions in the deep venous system, respectively. The control group consisted of 352 patients with varicose veins and without leg ulceration. The demographic data and thrombotic risk factors were compared between the groups.

Results

Group 1 patients ( n = 109) were older than group 2 patients ( n = 5) and control group patients, 64.7 versus 47.2 years ( P = 0.016) and versus 53.8 years ( P < 0.001), respectively. The percentage of women did not differ between group 1 and the control group, but was lower in group 2 ( P = 0.01). The history of lower limb fracture or severe trauma increased the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with venous ulcer.

Conclusion

In the population studied, the venous leg ulcer develops mainly due to primary varicose veins and its risk increases with age and is equal for both sexes. PTS should be suspected in younger patients with a history of severe trauma or leg fracture.
Endovenous laser ablation of great saphenous veins using a 1470 nm diode laser and the radial fibre – follow-up after six months
Authors: Pannier F , Rabe E , Rits J , Kadiss A , Maurins U
Published: December 2010

Background

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is an efficient method to treat insufficient great saphenous veins (GSV) with high occlusion rates.1–5 Most studies used 810, 940 or 980 nm diode lasers and a bare fibre.1,2,6 Moderate postoperative pain and bruising are frequent findings.2,6 Laser systems with higher wavelengths like 1470 nm with a higher absorption in water show less pain and bruising after the procedure.7–9 A newly-developed fibre (radial fibre, Biolitec) emits the laser energy radially around the tip directly into the venous wall contrary to the bare fibre.9 The aim of this study was to demonstrate the outcome and side-effects after EVLA of GSV with a 1470 nm diode laser (Ceralas E, Biolitec) by using the radial fibre.

Methods

Non-randomized, prospective study including 50 unselected limbs of 50 patients with a duplex sonographically verified incompetent GSV. EVLA was performed with a 1470 nm diode laser (Ceralas E, Biolitec) and a radial fibre. In the same session all insufficient tributaries were treated by phlebectomy. Tumescent local anaesthesia with 0.05% lidocaine was applied perivenously. Laser treatment was carried out in a continuous mode with a power of 15 W. Compression stockings (30 mmHg) were applied for one month. Postinterventional checkups took place one, 10, 30 days and six months after the procedure.

Results

Three patients were lost to follow-up. The average linear endovenous energy density (LEED) was 90.8 J/cm vein (SD 35.3). At the six month follow-up all treated veins remained occluded and no new reflux in the treated segments occurred. No recurrent varicose veins had occurred so far. No severe complications such as deep venous thrombosis could be detected. In four patients at 30 days and three patients at six months local paresthesia occurred in the region of EVLA. Forty-four percent of patients did not have any pain after the treatment and 50% did not take any analgesic tablets at any time after the procedure. Postoperative ecchymoses in the track of the treated GSV was rare. In 80% of the limbs, no ecchymoses was observed after the treatment.

Conclusion

EVLA of GSV with a radially emitting laser fibre by using a 1470 nm diode laser is a safe and efficient treatment option.
Pregnancy and Diabetes Management: Advances and Controversies
Authors: Castorino Kristin , Jovanovič Lois
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND

The treatment of diabetes in pregnancy has potentially far-reaching benefits for both pregnant women with diabetes and their children and may provide a cost-effective approach to the prevention of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Early and accurate diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy is necessary for optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes.

CONTENT

Optimal control of diabetes in pregnancy requires achieving normoglycemia at all stages of a woman's pregnancy, including preconception and the postpartum period. In this review we focus on new universal guidelines for the screening and diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy, including the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, as well as the controversy surrounding the guidelines. We review the best diagnostic and treatment strategies for the pregestational and intrapartum periods, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period, and discuss management algorithms as well as the safety and efficacy of diabetic medications for use in pregnancy.

Global guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and classification have been established, and offer the potential to stop the cycle of diabetes and obesity caused by hyperglycemia in pregnancy. Normoglycemia is the goal in all aspects of pregnancy and offers the benefits of decreased short-term and long-term complications of diabetes.
Novel paper sizing agents from renewables. Part 2: Characterization of maleated high oleic sunflower oil (MSOHO)
Authors: Lackinger Elisabeth , Schmid Leo , Sartori Jürgen , Isogai Akira , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas
Published: December 2010

Maleated oils derived from high oleic sunflower oil (MSOHO) have promising applications in paper sizing as a green alternative to conventional reactive sizing agents, such as alkenyl succinic anhydride. In this study, MSOHO was comprehensively characterized analytically by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with full resonance assignment, and mass spectrometry.
From the Editor
Authors: Stuart-Buttle Carol
Published: December 2010

Apart from raising the bar on movie-making technology, Avatar draws on concepts such as brain-computer interfaces.
Rapid Decision Making on the Fire Ground: The Original Study Plus a Postscript
Authors: Klein Gary , Calderwood Roberta , Clinton-Cirocco Anne
Published: December 2010

[This is an edited version of the original, unpublished 1985 study that identified recognition-primed decision making, with a new commentary added.] The objective of this study was to examine the way in which decisions are made by highly proficient personnel, under conditions of extreme time pressure, and in environments where the consequences of the decisions could affect lives and property. The domain of fire-fighting was selected, and the research focused on the decisions made by fire ground commanders (FGCs). Interviews were conducted with 26 experienced FGCs (mean experience of 23 years). Each interview covered a critical incident that was nonroutine and that demanded expertise. A total of 156 decision points were probed in this way. In less than 12% of them was there any evidence of simultaneous comparisons and relative evaluation of two or more options. In over 80% of the decision points, the strategy was for the FGCs to use their experience to directly identify the situation as typical of a standard prototype and to identify a course of action as typical for that prototype. In this way, the FGCs handled decision points without any need to consider more than one option. A recognition-primed decision (RPD) model was synthesized from these data, which emphasized the use of recognition rather than calculation or analysis for rapid decision making.
Acid Tunneling Technology: Application Potential in Timan-Pechora Carbonates
Authors: Akhkubekov A. E. , Vasilyev V. N.
Published: December 2010

Petroleum industry needs low-cost and efficient hydrocarbon production enhancement techniques. Oil and gas reserves production need to be economic; therefore high-technology stimulation methods should be used.

The considerable part of hydrocarbon world reserves is associated with carbonate reservoirs. To enhance production in carbonate reservoirs, the conventional and special techniques are applied. Sidetracking includes heavy expenses in both money and time, since it requires rig installation and drilling crew gathering. The carbonate natural property of dissolution with acid is used in acidizing and acid fracs. Acid treatment is inefficient in thick reservoirs, thus the treatment design becomes quite complex to achieve efficient acid placement. The acid frac efficiency in carbonate reservoirs is controlled by matrix to fracture porosity ratio, whereas acid fracs in fractured reservoir with zero matrix porosity will be unefficient.

This paper describes the possibility to apply a relatively new enhancement technique – acid-tunneling – in Timan- Pechora oil province carbonate reservoirs in Russia.

In this paper the evaluation methods of vertical and multilateral well potential are specified; the productivity ratios of various multilateral well designs in dual porosity reservoirs vs. permeability anisotropy are shown; the pseudoradial skin- factor calculation procedures of multilateral well are described.

The well candidate technologic and economic selection criteria are also considered. As a result, the matrix of production enhancement technology application in Timan-Pechora oil and gas province has been developed.
Failing Policies or Failing Politicians? Policy Failures in Hungary
Authors: Hajnal Gyorgy
Published: December 2010

Existing research results concerning governments failure to run effective policies mainly concern, and emanate from, Western democracies. Therefore, it is not surprising that problems of the so-called transition countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are little discussed and understood. The articles aim is to narrow this gap in knowledge by analyzing policy failures from one of the regions countries, Hungary. The article proposes three, possibly novel, types of policy failure. The first one originates from an unusually strong imbalance between policymakers personal interests and the formal policy goals, reflecting the lack of even a minimum level of the (party) political elites ability to counteract centrifugal forces driven by individual interests. The second type of failure  coined regulatory impotence  is related to a dysfunctionally strong protection of lawbreakers right to fair procedure vis-à-vis the state. Finally, the third factor of policy failure, implementation bargain, emerges when key implementation actors, even in the lack of a proper legal mandate, set out to bargain and strike deals among themselves about the extent to which they are going to implement the given policy.
Heat transfer over a stretching porous sheet subjected to power law heat flux in presence of heat source
Authors: Kumar Hitesh
Published: December 2010

In the present investigation the boundary layer steady flow and heat transfer
of a viscous incompressible fluid due to a stretching porous sheet in
presence of heat source are studied. The equations of motion and heat
transfer are reduced to non-linear ordinary differential equations and the
exact solutions are obtained in the form of confluent hypergeometric function
(Kummer?s Function) for prescribed heat flux, when the wall is at prescribed
second order power law heat flux or the prescribed heat flux at the
stretching porous wall varies as the square of the distance from the origin.
The effects of the various parameters entering into the problem on the
temperature distribution and recovery temperature are discussed.
Influence of electronic expansion valve on the performance of small window air conditioner retrofitted with R407C and R290
Authors: Chinnaraj Chennuchetty , Govindarajan Palanisamy , Vijayan Raghavan
Published: December 2010

The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of Electronic
Expansion Valve (EEV) on the performance of window air conditioner
retrofitted with R407C and R290. The window air conditioner applying the EEV
is tested by varying the compressor inlet superheat from 0?C to 20?C. The eco
friendly refrigerant R407C has the similar thermodynamic properties as those
of R22 with an exception of temperature gliding during the phase change at
constant pressure. R290 is a hydrocarbon which also exhibits properties very
close to R22 which enables this to be used as a potential alternative to
R22.The EEV affords a precise, fast, and stable flow control for a wide range
of flow rate due to its use of an electronic control method based on an
advanced control algorithm.EEV controls the refrigerant flow through the
evaporator by means monitoring pressure and temperature at the outlet of the
evaporator and hence it shows good overall performances comparing the
capillary tube system. The Coefficient of Performance (COP) of R290 is the
maximum among the three refrigerants tested and also for all the three
refrigerants, COP is low at higher degree of superheat.
Multi-relaxation-time Lattice Boltzman model for uniform-shear flow over a rotating circular cylinder
Authors: Nemati Hasan , Farhadi Mousa , Sedighi Kurosh , Fattahi Ehsan
Published: December 2010

A numerical investigation of the two-dimensional laminar flow and heat
transfer a rotating circular cylinder with uniform planar shear, where the
free-stream velocity varies linearly across the cylinder using
Multi-Relaxation-Time Lattice Boltzmann method is conducted. The effects of
variation of Reynolds number, rotational speed ratio at shear rate 0.1,
blockage ratio 0.1 and Prandtl number 0.71 are studied. The Reynolds number
changing from 50 to 160 for three rotational speed ratios of 0, 0.5, 1 is
investigated. Results show that flow and heat transfer depends significantly
on the rotational speed ratio as well as the Reynolds number. The effect of
Reynolds number on the vortex-shedding frequency and period-surface Nusselt
numbers is overall very strong compared with rotational speed ratio. Flow and
heat conditions characteristics such as lift and drag coefficients, Strouhal
number and Nusselt numbers are studied.
Creep transition stresses of a thick isotropic spherical shell by finitesimal deformation under steady state of temperature and internal pressure
Authors: Pankaj Thakur
Published: December 2010

Creep stresses for a thick isotropic spherical shell by finitesimal
deformation under steady state temperature and internal pressure have been
derived by using Seth?s transition theory. Results are depicted graphically.
It is seen that shell made of incompressible material require higher pressure
to yield as compared to shell made of compressible material. For no thermal
effects, the result are same as given by Gupta, Bhardwaj, Rana and Hulsurkar
[1,3] and Bhardwaj, Bailey [2,4].
Tumor markers in pleural effusion caused by bronchogenic carcinoma and tuberculosis
Authors: Plavec Goran , Ninkovic Momcilo , Kozlovacki Gordana , Lazarov Angel , Tatic Vujadin
Published: December 2010

Concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbon hydrate antigen (CA) 50 were measured in pleural effusion and sera of 57 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and in 73 patients in whom the effusion was the sequelae of tuberculosis pleurisy. In the group with bronchogenic carcinomas plan cellular was confirmed in 19, micro cellular in 17, macro cellular in 2 and adenocarcinoma in 18, while in 1 patient it was not possible to determine the histopathologic structure. The diagnosis of pleural disease was established upon the cytologic examination of the effusion and histopathologic examination of the pleural sample obtained by blind percutaneous needle biopsy or following pleuroscopy. CEA concentration in the sera of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma was significantly higher than in the patients with tuberculosis (p<0.001), with sensitivity of 44% and ideal specificity and positive predictive value of 100%. In the same group highly significant difference of mean values of CEA concentrations in pleural effusion (p<0.001), was also found with sensitivity of 60%, significant specificity of 99% and positive predictive value of 97%. CA 50 concentrations in the sera of patients with lung carcinoma were significantly higher than those in the sera of patients with tuberculosis pleurisy (p<0.05), and the sensitivity was 50%, while the specificity was 94% and positive predictive value was 75%. Significantly higher was also the value in the pleural effusion (p<0.05), but the sensitivity was slightly lower - 40%, but specificity was favorable as well as the positive predictive value (94 and 86%, respectively). The results indicate the significance of the determination of CEA and CA 50 in the sera and pleural effusion in the differentiation of malignant from tuberculosis pleural effusion.
Use of disodium pamidronate bisphosphonate in patients with bone metastases of lung cancer
Authors: Rankovic Bosko , Mrdja Vladimir
Published: December 2010

Disodium pamidronate (Aredia?), a drug of the bisphosphonate group, was administered to 20 patients with pains in the bones due to secondary deposits of lung cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the analgesic effect of pamidronate to osteolytic metastases of lung cancer in the bone. In 16 (80%) patients non-small-cell lung cancer was diagnosed, and in 4 (20%) patients small-cell-lung cancer was confirmed. Intensive disseminated pains in the bones were present in all the patients. Metastases in the skeleton were confirmed by radiography and scintigraphy of the bones. Initial values of calcium in the plasma were determined in those patients. In 11 (55%) patients, initial values of calcium in the serum were normal, and in 9 (45%) patients, they were elevated. Patients with normal calcium values received 30 mg of pamidronate in 250 ml of normal saline, and patients with hypercalcaemia received 45-60 mg in 500 ml of normal saline. Analgesic effect of pamidronate was present in 12 (60%) patients, and the completely painless state was achieved in 4 out of 12 patients. Evaluation of the pain was done by questionnaire, using a simple, descriptive scale. In all 9 (100%) patients with hypercalcaemia, values of calcium in plasma were normalized. Pamidronate exerted favorable analgesic effect in the case of metastases of lung cancer in the bones in more than 50% patients. Satisfactory results were also achieved in the patients non-responsive to palliative therapy by irradiation This enables the use of opiates in lower doses.
Repeated episodes of focal cerebral ischemia in a patient with mitral valve prolapse and migraine headache
Authors: Raicevic Ranko , Jovicic Aco , Tavciovski Dragan , Markovic Ljubo , Vukotic Natasa
Published: December 2010

Migraine is episodic, paroxysmal disorder where the headache represents the central symptom and is followed with different combinations of neurological gastrointestinal and vegetative changes. Not until the diagnostic procedures were developed, ischemic lesions were verified even in the patients with ordinary migraine. This is a report of a patient with migraine headache followed twice by verified episodes of temporary ischemic attacks and verified focal ischemic lesion of cerebral parenchyma. The mitral valve prolapse was also detected. This all imposed the administration of combined prophylactic antimigrainous and anticoagulant therapy as an imperative because of the risk of the development of repeated ischemia of cerebral tissue. This association also confirmed an opinion that migraine is a wider disorder with the dominant dysfunction of limbic system.