bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One‐Year Clinical Outcomes after Sirolimus‐Eluting Coronary Stent Implantation for Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Worldwide e‐SELECT Registry
Authors: WORTHLEY STEPHEN G. , ABIZAID ALEXANDRE , BANNING ADRIAN , BARTORELLI ANTONIO , DŽAVÍk VLADIMÍR , ELLIS STEPHEN , GAO RUNLIN , LEGRAND VICTOR , URBAN PHILIP , SPAULDING CHRISTIAN ,   for the e‐SELECT investigators
Published: February 2012

Background:

The aim was to ascertain the 1‐year clinical outcomes of 1,234 patients who underwent implantations of sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES) for acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the multinational e‐SELECT registry.

Methods:

Fifteen thousand and one hundred and forty‐seven patients treated with SES were entered in the e‐SELECT registry, of whom 1,234 presented within <24 hours of onset of acute MI.

Results:

At 1 year, the rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (5.5% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.28) were similarly low in the acute and no acute MI groups. The rates of definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST) were higher in the acute MI group (2.1%vs; 0.88%, P < 0.001). ST was a strong independent predictor of death at 1 year (HR 13.4; 95% CI 5.0, 36.0; P < 0.001) and MI (HR 58.9; 95% CI 26.9, 129.1; P < 0.001). Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) compliance at 6 months was 96.0% in the acute MI versus 94.5% in the no acute MI group (P = 0.03).

Conclusion:

In selected patients presenting within <24 hours of acute MI onset and highly compliant with DAPT, SES implantation was associated with similar rates of MACE, though higher rates of ST, as compared to no acute MI patients.

Condensed abstract  In the e‐SELECT registry which included 15,147 patients treated with sirolimus‐eluting stent (SES), we ascertained the 1‐year clinical outcomes of 1,234 patients who presented within <24 hours of acute MI onset. In acute MI patients SES implantation was associated with similar rates of MACE, though higher rates of ST, as compared to no acute MI patients (MACE: 5.5% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.28; ST: 2.1 vs. 0.88%, P < 0.001). (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:253–261)
Impact of Time to Start Treatment Following Infection with Application to Initiating HAART in HIV‐Positive Patients
Authors: Lok Judith J. , DeGruttola Victor
Published: February 2012

SummaryWe estimate how the effect of antiretroviral treatment depends on the time from HIV‐infection to initiation of treatment, using observational data. A major challenge in making inferences from such observational data arises from biases associated with the nonrandom assignment of treatment, for example bias induced by dependence of time of initiation on disease status. To address this concern, we develop a new class of Structural Nested Mean Models (SNMMs) to estimate the impact of time of initiation of treatment after infection on an outcome measured a fixed duration after initiation, compared to the effect of not initiating treatment. This leads to a SNMM that models the effect of multiple dosages of treatment on a time‐dependent outcome, in contrast to most existing SNNMs, which focus on the effect of one dosage of treatment on an outcome measured at the end of the study. Our identifying assumption is that there are no unmeasured confounders. We illustrate our methods using the observational Acute Infection and Early Disease Research Program (AIEDRP) Core01 database on HIV. The current standard of care in HIV‐infected patients is Highly Active Anti‐Retroviral Treatment (HAART); however, the optimal time to start HAART has not yet been identified. The new class of SNNMs allows estimation of the dependence of the effect of 1 year of HAART on the time between estimated date of infection and treatment initiation, and on patient characteristics. Results of fitting this model imply that early use of HAART substantially improves immune reconstitution in the early and acute phase of HIV‐infection.
Up‐regulation of miR‐210 by vascular endothelial growth factor in ex vivo expanded CD34+ cells enhances cell‐mediated angiogenesis
Authors: Alaiti Mohamad Amer , Ishikawa Masakazu , Masuda Haruchika , Simon Daniel I. , Jain Mukesh K. , Asahara Takayuki , Costa Marco A.
Published: February 2012

Ex vivo culture has been proposed as a means to augment and repair autologous cells in patients with chronic diseases, but the mechanisms governing improvement in cell function are not well understood. Although microRNAs (miRs) are increasingly appreciated as key regulators of cellular function, a role for these factors in CD34+ cell‐mediated angiogenesis has not been elucidated. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was previously shown to induce expression of certain miRs associated with angiogenesis in endothelial cells and promote survival and number of vascular colony forming units of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We sought to evaluate the role of VEGF in expansion and angiogenic function of CD34+ cells and to identify specific miRs associated with angiogenic properties of expanded cells. Umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells were effectively expanded (18‐ to 22‐fold) in culture medium containing stem cell factor (SCF), Flt‐3 ligand (Flt‐3), thrombopoietin (TPO) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) with (postEX/+VEGF) and without VEGF (postEX/noVEGF). Tube formation in matrigel assay and tissue perfusion/capillary density in mice ischaemic hindlimb were significantly improved by postEX/+VEGF cells compared with fresh CD34+ and postEX/noVEGF cells. MiR‐210 expression was significantly up‐regulated in postEX/+VEGF cells. MiR‐210 inhibitor abrogated and 210 mimic recapitulated the pro‐angiogenic effects by treatment of postEX/+VEGF and postEX/noVEGF cells respectively. Collectively, these observations highlight a critical role for VEGF in enhancing the angiogenic property of expanded cells, and identify miR‐210 as a potential therapeutic target to enhance CD34+ stem cell function for the treatment of ischaemic vascular disease.
Predictive value of early radiological findings in inflicted traumatic brain injury
Authors: Tanoue Koji , Matsui Kiyoshi , Nozawa Kumiko , Aida Noriko
Published: February 2012

Aim:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of early radiological investigations in predicting the long‐term neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with inflicted traumatic brain injury (ITBI).

Methods:  In 28 patients with ITBI, radiological investigations were performed during the acute phase of injury (0–3 days) and during the early post‐injury phase (4 days to 1 month). The clinical outcome in survivors (n = 24) was based on the Glasgow Outcome Score.

Results:  Four of 28 infants died and five were severely disabled. Six infants had moderate disability. Detection of changes in the basal ganglia (p < 0.000005) or brainstem (p < 0.01), diffuse oedema (p < 0.005), transtentorial herniation (p < 0.01), subarachnoid haemorrhage (p < 0.05) or parenchymal injury (p < 0.05) by neuroimaging during the first 3 days, and detection of changes in the basal ganglia (p < 0.0005) or brainstem (p < 0.05) or parenchymal injury (p < 0.01) during 1 month were significantly associated with poor long‐term outcome.

Conclusion:  Radiological findings during the first month were significantly associated with the long‐term outcome. Especially, basal ganglia lesions were associated with a poor outcome.
Chewing disability in older adults attributable to tooth loss and other oral conditions
Authors: Singh Kiran A. , Brennan David S.
Published: February 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00412.x

Chewing disability in older adults attributable to tooth loss and other oral conditions

Background:  This study evaluates associations between oral health‐related factors and chewing ability, and quantifies the risk contributed by each factor.

Materials and methods:  Chewing ability and information on number of teeth, dentures and dental problems over the last 12 months were collected by mailing questionnaires to a random sample of 60‐ to 71‐year‐olds from Adelaide, South Australia. Logistic regression was used to model oral status and oral symptoms as predictors of chewing disability, and to estimate the population‐attributable fraction.

Results:  A total of 444 persons responded (response rate = 68.8%). Among dentate subjects, 10.3% were chewing‐deficient, with chewing disability more prevalent (p < 0.05) among those with <21 teeth (26.4%), dentures (20.4%), painful aching in the mouth (25.4%), pain in the face (16.7%), broken/chipped teeth (15.6%), sensitive teeth (14.1%), loose teeth (37.1%), and sore gums (18.0%). Adjusted Odds ratios (OR) showed inadequate dentition (OR = 4.20), painful aching in the mouth (OR = 4.88), and presence of loose teeth (OR = 4.70) were associated with chewing disability (p < 0.01), and their population attributable fractions were 18.5%, 15.1% and 7.8% respectively.

Conclusions:  Loose teeth, number of teeth and pain in the mouth were associated with chewing disability, with an inadequate dentition and pain in the mouth contributing most to chewing disability in this population.
The Contemporary Presidency: Executive Orders and Presidential Unilateralism
Authors: RUDALEVIGE ANDREW
Published: February 2012

How should we assess unilateral tactics and their contribution to presidential power in a less‐than‐unitary executive branch? To explore this question this article examines the provenance of nearly 300 executive orders from 1947 through 1987. Archival data show that executive orders are frequently a less‐than‐perfect representation of presidential preferences, despite the assumptions of recent work on unilateral power. That is, the issuance of executive orders often involves persuasion rather than simply command: it incorporates wide consultation across the executive branch and, frequently, White House ratification of what agencies wanted to do in the first place.
Characterizations of the sequential equal contributions rule for the airport problem
Authors: Chun Youngsub , Hu Cheng‐Cheng , Yeh Chun‐Hsien
Published: February 2012

The airport problem is concerned with sharing the cost of an airstrip among airlines who need airstrips of different lengths. We investigate the implications of various axioms specifying how a rule should respond to changes in the set of airlines for airport problems. Population fairness requires that upon the arrival of a new airline, the contributions of all airlines whose costs are not less than the cost of the new airline should be affected by equal amounts. Smallest‐cost consistency requires that upon the departure of an airline with the smallest cost, if the problem is reevaluated from the viewpoint of the remaining airlines, then all the remaining airlines should contribute the same amounts as they did initially. Balanced population impact requires that the effect on the contribution from the departure of one airline to another should be the same between any two airlines. We show that each of these axioms together with other minor axioms characterizes the best‐known rule for the problem, the sequential equal contributions rule.
Incentive compatibility with interdependent preferences
Authors: Pesce Marialaura , Yannelis Nicholas C.
Published: February 2012

We introduce new concepts of incentive compatibility and efficiency for a differential information economy with interdependent preferences. Using the new definitions, we provide theorems on the consistency of efficiency and incentive compatibility.
Citizens, Interest Groups, and Local Ballot Initiatives
Authors: ADAMS BRIAN E.
Published: February 2012

The state‐level ballot initiative process has been criticized for failing to live up to the progressive ideals of a citizen‐driven, grassroots endeavor. Much less attention, however, has been paid to the initiative process on the local level. This article assesses the democratic credentials of the local initiative process by analyzing which groups sponsor initiatives and what types of issues they attempt to influence. Using a dataset of California initiatives between 2001 and 2008, I find that the local initiative process is a mix of interest group politics and citizen‐driven efforts. There are many examples of “grassroots” campaigns that resemble twentieth‐century progressives' hopes for direct democracy. By contrast, established interest groups frequently use ballot measures to accomplish their political goals, similar to dynamics observed at the statewide level. This is a result of the relatively small size of jurisdictions, which creates conditions favorable to both types of politics.

El proceso de las propuestas de ley a nivel estatal ha sido criticado por los altos ideales progresistas impulsados por los ciudadanos. Sin embargo, el proceso de iniciativas a nivel local ha recibido mucho menos atención. Este articulo evalúa las cualidades democráticas de los procesos de iniciativas ciudadanas locales analizando qué grupos patrocinan iniciativas y qué tipos de problemas tratan de influir. Usando una base de datos de las iniciativas California entre 2001 y 2008, encuentro que el proceso de las iniciativas locales es una mezcla de intereses de grupos políticos y esfuerzo impulsado por los ciudadanos. Existen muchos ejemplos de campañas “con raíces locales” que se asemejan a las expectativas progresistas del siglo veinte por una democracia directa. Por otra parte, grupos de interés establecidos usan las urnas frecuentemente para lograr sus objetivos políticos, de manera similar a la dinámica observada a nivel estatal. Este es el resultado de áreas jurídicas relativamente pequeñas, lo cual crea condiciones favorables para ambos tipos de políticas.

Related Articles:“Conditions for Efficacious Petitions,” (2011): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00314.x/abstract“Elite Frame Selection and Development in Ballot Initiative Campaigns,” (2009): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00175.x/abstract“Raiders of the Lost Vote,” (2005): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2005.tb00643.x/abstract
Issue Salience, Party Strength, and the Adoption of Health‐Care Expansion Efforts
Authors: BERNICK ETHAN M. , MYERS NATHAN
Published: February 2012

This article studies the joint effects of issue salience and party strength on health‐care expansion efforts in the American states. We contend that Democrats and Republicans fall back on their traditional policy stances when an issue is highly salient, but when it is less so, policy makers move to the more politically practical policy alternatives. We find that when health care is highly salient, Democrat‐controlled states will be more likely to support direct coverage programs, while a Republican‐controlled state will be more likely to support tax incentives. During periods of low‐issue salience, policy makers are more open to pursuing options less consonant with traditional partisan policy preferences to make progress on the issue. This important contribution to the literature indicates that the level of attention an issue receives can not only affect whether effort is made to address the problem, but the substance of the policy too.

Este artículo estudia los efectos conjuntos de la relevancia de un problema y la fuerza de un partido respecto a los esfuerzos de expansión de la cobertura médica en los estados de la unión americana. Nosotros argumentamos que Demócratas y Republicanos mantienen sus posturas políticas tradicionales cuando un problema es altamente relevante, de lo contrario, los legisladores toman una alternativa política más práctica. Hallamos que cuando la cobertura médica es altamente relevante, los estados Demócratas serán más propensos a apoyar programas de cobertura directa, mientras que los estados Republicanos serán más propensos a apoyar incentivos fiscales. Durante periodos de poca relevancia, los legisladores están más abiertos a considerar medidas con una menor consonancia política a la de su partido con el fin de lograr avances en el tema. Esta importante contribución a la literatura indica que el nivel de atención que recibe un problema no sólo afecta si se toman medidas para resolver el problema sino la solidez de la política implementada también.

Related Articles:“Implementation Theory Revisited . . . Again,” (2009): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00174.x/abstract“National Health Insurance in the U.S. and Canada,” (2009): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00211.x/abstract“Issue Salience, News Coverage, and Attention Cycles,” (1999): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2007.00113.x/abstract
Political and Social Dimensions of Civic Engagement: The Impact of Compulsory Community Service
Authors: HENDERSON AILSA , BROWN STEVEN D. , PANCER S. MARK
Published: February 2012

In 1999, the Canadian province of Ontario joined a number of other jurisdictions in requiring its high school students to complete volunteer service before graduating. The primary objective of this program, and others like it around the world, was to address declining civic engagement within society. Using a quasi‐experimental design, we explore the impact of mandatory volunteering on its stated aims. Our findings suggest that volunteering in high school has positive impacts on the political dimensions of a student's subsequent civic engagement, measured here as political involvement, political activism, political interest, and political efficacy. However, those impacts are largely conditional on two features of the volunteering experience: sustained commitment to one placement and a positive experience as evaluated by the student. High school community service seems to be unrelated to social dimensions of civic engagement, measured here as involvement in a variety of social, cultural, and religious organizations.

En 1999, la provincia canadiense de Ontario se sumó a otros distritos en requerir a sus alumnos de educación media completar un servicio voluntario antes de graduarse. El objetivo principal de este programa y otros similares alrededor del mundo fue para hacer frente a una caída en la participación cívica en la sociedad. Usamos un diseño cuasi‐experimental para explorar el impacto del servicio social obligatorio de acuerdo a sus objetivos declarados. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que el trabajo comunitario durante la educación media tiene un impacto positivo en el compromiso cívico posterior del estudiante, medido como la participación política, activismo político, interés político y eficacia política, pero que esos impactos están condicionados por dos características en la experiencia del servicio social: mantener un compromiso sostenido a una labor y el tener una experiencia positiva de acuerdo con el estudiante. El servicio social durante la educación media parece no estar relacionado a dimensiones sociales de compromiso cívico, medido en este estudio como la participación en una variedad de organizaciones sociales, culturales y religiosas.

Related Articles:“Public Service Motivation and Political Action,” (2011): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00316.x/abstract“Community Service Learning,” (2011): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2003.tb00152.x/abstract“Promoting Civic Activism,” (2002): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2002.tb00639.x/abstract
The return of degraded stream ecosystems by using positive impacts from near‐natural sections: a new practical guide for restorations
Authors: Gellert Georg , Behrens Stefan , Raschke Monika
Published: February 2012

Streams in North Rhine‐Westphalia (Germany) are frequently impacted by hydromorphological degradation leading to a loss of sensitive species and a reduction in diversity. These findings mean that the final objective of the European Water Framework Directive to achieve the good ecological status will be failed for a large number of streams. In a holistic approach, a new concept, considering the cost efficiency, has been developed to enhance habitats by morphological changes. This guide serves as a basis for stream restoration projects. The theoretical background is that near‐natural sections influence adjacent sections of medium habitat quality positively by migration of type‐specific sensitive organisms. The preconditions are a local taxa richness in the catchment area, the reduction of nutrients and organic matter, and the guarantee of free movement. This so‐called ‘spreading effect’ can be measured upstream and downstream. The length of by these means valourized sections depends on the stream type and on the biological quality component.
[BD]From Weikzahood to Mediumship: How to Master the World in Contemporary Burma
Authors: Brac de la Perrière Bénédicte
Published: February 2012

In this paper, I bring into focus the biography of a Burmese ritual specialist who combines in her practice different spiritual resources in order to master her changing world. By analysing the way in which she positions herself between different fields of practice, namely the weikza path and the spirit possession cult, I aim to show that beliefs and practices considered normatively distinct according to their relative distance from the core of Buddhism actually converge in her personal history. By bringing to light the evolution of such a specialist in terms of a “spiritual career,” I seek to illuminate changes in the religious landscape that reflect those of the overall social context. Finally, this case demonstrates that magic, as a field of practice, is fully constitutive of the way the Burmese Buddhists of today think about and manage their lives, even if it has often been regarded as deviant from normative Buddhism.
Respiratory viral infections in institutions from late stage of the first and second waves of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009, Ontario, Canada
Authors: Asner Sandra , Peci Adriana , Marchand‐Austin Alex , Winter Anne‐Luise , Olsha Romy , Kristjanson Erik , Low Donald E. , Gubbay Jonathan B.
Published: February 2012

Please cite this paper as: Asner et al. (2012) Respiratory viral infections in institutions from late stage of the first and second waves of pandemic A (H1N1) 2009, Ontario, Canada. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(3), e11–e15.

We report the impact of respiratory viruses on various outbreak settings by using surveillance data from the late first and second wave periods of the 2009 pandemic. A total of 278/345(78·5%) outbreaks tested positive for at least one respiratory virus by multiplex PCR. We detected A(H1N1)pdm09 in 20·6% of all reported outbreaks of which 54·9% were reported by camps, schools, and day cares (CSDs) and 29·6% by long‐term care facilities (LCFTs), whereas enterovirus/human rhinovirus (ENT/HRV) accounted for 62% outbreaks of which 83·7% were reported by long‐term care facilities (LCTFs). ENT/HRV was frequently identified in LTCF outbreaks involving elderly residents, whereas in CSDs, A(H1N1)pdm09 was primarily detected.
Endothelial Expression of Endocan Is Strongly Associated with Tumor Progression in Pituitary Adenoma
Authors: Cornelius Aurélie , Cortet‐Rudelli Christine , Assaker Richard , Kerdraon Olivier , Gevaert Marie‐Hélène , Prévot Vincent , Lassalle Philippe , Trouillas Jacqueline , Delehedde Maryse , Maurage Claude‐Alain
Published: February 2012

Although benign, pituitary adenomas frequently invade adjacent sinuses or recur after first surgery. To date, there is no histological marker predictive of recurrence. Angiogenic factors are candidate markers. Endocan is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells, associated with an aggressive behavior in several tumor types. Endocan expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in 18 normal post‐mortem pituitaries and in 107 patients operated for a pituitary adenoma (with a follow‐up of at least 8 years after surgery). In normal pituitaries, endocan was never observed in vessels but was detected in isolated endocrine cells. In adenoma tissue, we found a strong association between endocan immunoreactivity in endothelial cells and progression (P = 0.0009), as well as tumor size (P = 0.0012), raised mitotic count (P = 0.02) and p53 expression (P = 0.032). Morphometric analysis of the microvessels showed that the mean vessel area was significantly higher in the subgroup of tumors with an endothelial expression of endocan (P = 0.028), coherent with the neoangiogenesis process occurring in the pituitary. The immunolabeling of endocan in endothelial cells may therefore appear to be a relevant marker of aggressive behavior in pituitary tumors.
Caffeic Acid and Ferulic Acid Inhibit UVA‐Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase‐1 through Regulation of Antioxidant Defense System in Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells
Authors: Pluemsamran Thanyawan , Onkoksoong Tasanee , Panich Uraiwan
Published: February 2012

Ultraviolet A (UVA) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of premature skin aging through keratinocyte cytotoxicity and degradation of collagen, a main component of the extracellular matrix providing structural support. Oxidative stress caused by UVA irradiation can mediate induction of matrix metalloprotease‐1 (MMP‐1), a major enzyme responsible for collagen damage. Protection against UV‐mediated disturbance of antioxidant defense system has been proposed as a possible mechanism by which botanical compounds slow down skin aging process. This study therefore aimed to assess inhibitory effects of caffeic acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA), powerful plant‐based phenolic antioxidants, on UVA‐induced cytotoxicity and MMP‐1 activity and mRNA level through modulation of antioxidant defense mechanism in immortalized human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Pretreatment of the cells with CA or FA prior to UVA irradiation inhibited cytotoxicity, induction of MMP‐1 activity and mRNA and oxidant formation. Moreover, CA and FA were able to up‐regulate glutathione (GSH) content, γ‐glutamate cysteine ligase (γ‐GCL) mRNA as well as activities and mRNA expression of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in irradiated cells. In conclusion, CA and FA provided protective effects on UVA‐mediated MMP‐1 induction in HaCaT cells possibly through restoration of antioxidant defense system at the cellular and molecular level.
Single‐Pill Combination of Telmisartan/Amlodipine in Patients With Severe Hypertension: Results From the TEAMSTA Severe HTN Study
Authors: Neutel Joel M. , Mancia Giusepe , Black Henry R. , Dahlöf Bjorn , Defeo Holly , Ley Ludwin , Vinisko Richard ,   on behalf of the TEAMSTA Severe HTN Study Investigators
Published: February 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012;14:206–215. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

This 8‐week, randomized, double‐blind, controlled study compared efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan/amlodipine (T/A) single‐pill combination (SPC) vs the respective monotherapies in 858 patients with severe hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure [SBP/DBP] ≥180/95 mm Hg). At 8 weeks, T/A provided significantly greater reductions from baseline in seated trough cuff SBP/DBP (−47.5 mm Hg/−18.7 mm Hg) vs T (P<.0001) or A (P=.0002) monotherapy; superior reductions were also evident at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) goal and response rates were consistently higher with T/A vs T or A. T/A was well tolerated, with less frequent treatment‐related adverse events vs A (12.6% vs 16.4%) and a numerically lower incidence of peripheral edema and treatment discontinuation. In conclusion, treatment of patients with substantially elevated BP with T/A SPCs resulted in high and significantly greater BP reductions and higher BP goal and response rates than the respective monotherapies. T/A SPCs were well tolerated.
DNA barcoding analysis of Coleoidea (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) from Chinese waters
Authors: DAI LINA , ZHENG XIAODONG , KONG LINGFENG , LI QI
Published: February 2012

Coleoids are part of the Cephalopoda class, which occupy an important position in most oceans both at an ecological level and at a commercial level. Nevertheless, some coleoid species are difficult to distinguish with traditional morphological identification in cases when specimens are heavily damaged during collection or when closely related taxa are existent. As a useful tool for rapid species assignment, DNA barcoding may offer significant potential for coleoid identification. Here, we used two mitochondrial fragments, cytochrome c oxidase I and the large ribosomal subunit (16S rRNA), to assess whether 34 coleoids accounting for about one‐third of the Chinese coleoid fauna could be identified by DNA barcoding technique. The pairwise intra‐ and interspecific distances were assessed, and relationships among species were estimated by NJ and Bayesian analyses. High levels of genetic differentiation within Loliolus beka led to an overlap between intra‐ and interspecific distances. All remaining species forming well‐differentiated clades in the NJ and Bayesian trees were identical for both fragments. Loliolus beka possessed two mitochondrial lineages with high levels of intraspecific distances, suggesting the occurrence of cryptic species. This study confirms the efficacy of DNA barcoding for identifying species as well as discovering cryptic diversity of Chinese coleoids. It also lays a foundation for other ecological and biological studies of Coleoidea.
Two Global Challenges to Global Governance
Authors: Cerutti Furio
Published: February 2012

This article aims at clarifying the rather generic notion of global governance, by keeping its meaning as a problem from its normative usage as a project. Further, priorities should be recognized and policy issues reordered according to their relevance. The current debate easily forgets about two threats, both poisoned remnants of modernity: only nuclear weapons and climate change deserve the name of global challenges, in as much as they can hit everybody on earth and can be addressed only by universal cooperation. They challenge politics to take over an additional role, that is to become politics for the future, for the future generations’ survival under decent conditions. Because of their severity they can motivate political actors to do so in a much more compelling way than the usual array of ‘global’ concerns. There cannot be any global governance without a strategy as to how to address the two global challenges.

Policy Implications

 Stop using ‘global governance’ as a container for undifferentiated issues of large concern

 Rethink politics as a whole, politics‐as‐usual is not adequate to our post‐modern time

 To reorder the problems of global governance, recognize the primacy of the two‐only global (and lethal) challenges, the existence of nuclear weapons and man‐made climate change

 Promote a learning process in which the concern for future generations and global commons becomes a new motivation for political action

 See the real dangers in scientific terms, do not indulge in catastrophism, and do not think of world government as the only safe solution
Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus Copy Number in Different Pig Breeds is not Related to Genetic Diversity
Authors: Quereda J. J. , Herrero‐Medrano J. M. , Abellaneda J. M. , García‐Nicolás O. , Martínez‐Alarcón L. , Pallarés F. J. , Ramírez P. , Muñoz A. , Ramis G.
Published: February 2012

The risk of zoonoses is a major obstacle to xenotransplantation. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) poses a potential risk of zoonotic infection, and its control is a prerequisite for the development of clinical xenotransplantation. The copy number of PERV varies among different breeds, and it has been suggested that the PERV integrations number is increased by inbreeding. The purpose of this study was (i) to examine the copy number of PERV in different Spanish pig breeds, Spanish wild boar and commercial cross‐bred pigs from five different farms and genetic background (CCP1–CCP5) and (ii) to investigate the correlation between PERV copy number and the genetic background of the pigs in order to improve the selection of pigs for xenotransplantation. PERV copy number was determined by quantitative, real‐time polymerase chain reactions. Thirty‐four microsatellite markers were genotyped to describe the genetic diversity within populations (observed and expected heterozygosities, Ho and He, respectively) and the inbreeding coefficient (F). Pearson′s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between PERV copy number and Ho, He and F. The copy number of PERV among different pig breeds was estimated to range between three (CCP1) and 43 copies (Iberian Pig). Statistical differences were found among the studied populations concerning PERV copy number. No correlation was found between the PERV copy number and the heterozygosity (calculated at an individual level or at a population level) or the inbreeding coefficient of each population. Our data suggest that pigs inbreeding does not increase PERV copy number and support the idea that careful selection of pigs for organ donation with reduced PERV copy number will minimize the risk of retrovirus transmission to the human receptor.
Oral histories in meteoritics and planetary science—XVI: Donald D. Bogard
Authors: SEARS Derek W. G.
Published: February 2012

Abstract– Donald D. Bogard (Don, Fig. 1) became interested in meteorites after seeing the Fayetteville meteorite in an undergraduate astronomy class at the University of Arkansas. During his graduate studies with Paul Kuroda at Arkansas, Don helped discover the Xe decay products of 244Pu. After a postdoctoral period at Caltech, where he learned much from Jerry Wasserburg, Peter Eberhardt, Don Burnett, and Sam Epstein, Don became one of a number of young Ph.D. scientists hired by NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center to set up the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL) and to perform a preliminary examination of Apollo samples. In collaboration with Oliver Schaeffer (SUNY), Joseph Zähringer (Max Planck, Heidelberg), and Raymond Davis (Brookhaven National Laboratory), he built a gas analysis laboratory at JSC, and the noble gas portion of this laboratory remained operational until he retired in 2010. At NASA, Don worked on the lunar regolith, performed pioneering work on cosmic ray produced noble gas isotopes and Ar‐Ar dating, the latter for important insights into the thermal and shock history of meteorites and lunar samples. During this work, he discovered that the trapped gases in SNC meteorites were very similar to those of the Martian atmosphere and thus established their Martian origin. Among Don’s many administrative accomplishments are helping to establish the Antarctic meteorite and cosmic dust processing programs at JSC and serving as a NASA‐HQ discipline scientist, where he advanced peer review and helped create new programs. Don is a recipient of NASA’s Scientific Achievement and Exceptional Service Medals and the Meteoritical Society’s Leonard Medal.

 Donald Bogard.

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Virus‐mediated swapping of zolpidem‐insensitive with zolpidem‐sensitive GABAA receptors in cortical pyramidal cells
Authors: Sumegi Mate , Fukazawa Yugo , Matsui Ko , Lorincz Andrea , Eyre Mark D. , Nusser Zoltan , Shigemoto Ryuichi
Published: February 2012

Key points 

We generated lenti‐ and adeno‐associated viruses which were used to replace the zolpidem‐insensitive GABAA receptors of a transgenic mouse line with wild‐type, zolpidem‐sensitive ones.

The virally expressed wild‐type, zolpidem‐sensitive GABAA receptor γ2 subunits were tagged with a small immunotag (AU1).

Light microscopic fluorescent and electron microscopic freeze‐fracture immunogold labelling revealed that the virally introduced AU1‐tagged γ2 subunit‐containing receptors had a normal synaptic distribution on cortical pyramidal cells.

In vitro patch‐clamp recordings demonstrated that the insertion of this immunotag did not alter the kinetic and pharmacological properties of the virally inserted γ2 subunits.

Our results demonstrate a novel transgenic–viral pharmacogenetic approach, which allows the selective silencing of well‐defined neuronal populations in the brain.
Tendon Strain Measurements With Dynamic Ultrasound Images: Evaluation of Digital Image Correlation
Authors: Okotie Gregory , Duenwald-Kuehl Sarah , Kobayashi Hirohito , Wu Mon-Ju , Vanderby Ray
Published: February 2012

Strain is an essential metric in tissue mechanics. Strains and strain distributions during functional loads can help identify damaged and pathologic regions as well as quantify functional compromise. Noninvasive strain measurement in vivo is difficult to perform. The goal of this in vitro study is to determine the efficacy of digital image correlation (DIC) methods to measure strain in B-mode ultrasound images. The Achilles tendons of eight male Wistar rats were removed and mechanically cycled between 0 and 1% strain. Three cine video images were captured for each specimen: (1) optical video for manual tracking of optical markers; (2) optical video for DIC tracking of optical surface markers; and (3) ultrasound video for DIC tracking of image texture within the tissue. All three imaging modalities were similarly able to measure tendon strain during cyclic testing. Manual/ImageJ-based strain values linearly correlated with DIC (optical marker)-based strain values for all eight tendons with a slope of 0.970. DIC (optical marker)-based strain values linearly correlated with DIC (ultrasound texture)-based strain values for all eight tendons with a slope of 1.003. Strain measurement using DIC was as accurate as manual image tracking methods, and DIC tracking was equally accurate when tracking ultrasound texture as when tracking optical markers. This study supports the use of DIC to calculate strains directly from the texture present in standard B-mode ultrasound images and supports the use of DIC for in vivo strain measurement using ultrasound images without additional markers, either artificially placed (for optical tracking) or anatomically in view (i.e., bony landmarks and/or muscle-tendon junctions).
The Robustness and Restoration of a Network of Ecological Networks
Authors: Pocock Michael J. O. , Evans Darren M. , Memmott Jane
Published: February 2012

Networks of Networks

Quantitative networks, such as those represented by food webs, have become an important way of investigating the structure of ecological communities, but thus far only encompass a small subset of species.

Pocock
et al.

(p.
973
) have linked seven different types of ecological networks to form a network of networks. They found that although networks varied in their robustness to species loss, they did not strongly co-vary; that is, what happens to one network is unrelated to what happens to another. The networks studied were identified from an agroecosystem in the southwestern UK, a habitat in which biodiversity has suffered substantially. This study succeeded in revealing which species are potential targets for restoration of ecological function in this and other systems.
Disease Tolerance as a Defense Strategy
Authors: Medzhitov Ruslan , Schneider David S. , Soares Miguel P.
Published: February 2012

Enduring Tolerance

During an infection, the host organism deploys multiple defense strategies. Disease resistance, the process by which the immune system decreases pathogen burden is perhaps the most well-known, and certainly the mechanism that is best studied and understood. Other defense strategies range from pathogen avoidance, through tolerance of pathogen-induced tissue damage, and endurance of the overall pathogen burden.

Medzhitov
et al.

(p.
936
) review the concept of disease tolerance and suggest that particularly in animals, it is an overlooked mechanism of host defense.
The Cellular Basis of GABA
B
-Mediated Interhemispheric Inhibition
Authors: Palmer Lucy M. , Schulz Jan M. , Murphy Sean C. , Ledergerber Debora , Murayama Masanori , Larkum Matthew E.
Published: February 2012

Curbing the Other Side

The two hemispheres of the brain are connected via the corpus callosum; however, this pathway and its function are still not fully understood.

Palmer
et al.

(p.
989
) used a combination of optogenetic, calcium-imaging, and electrophysiological methods to investigate the cellular mechanism of interhemispheric inhibition of the firing frequency of neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons in rats in vivo and in vitro. They discovered that this form of inhibition involved interneurons in the top layers of the cortex that suppressed active dendritic currents synergistically recruited by back-propagating action potentials. This mechanism depended upon a γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptor–mediated mechanism acting on specific ion channels in the dendrites of pyramidal neurons.
Nanorobots Deliver
Authors: Szuromi Phillip
Published: February 2012

Cargoes stored in folded DNA origami are released when aptamers in the structure bind target protein molecules.
Targeting Ubiquitination with PARylation
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: February 2012

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation may recruit ubiquitin E3 ligases to target proteins.
Limiting Notch Signaling with Akt
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: February 2012

Without PTEN to restrain Akt activity, Notch signaling is inhibited and neural progenitor cells become depleted.
Closely Related Archaeal Haloarcula hispanica Icosahedral Viruses HHIV-2 and SH1 Have Nonhomologous Genes Encoding Host Recognition Functions
Authors: Jaakkola Salla T. , Penttinen Reetta K. , Vilén Silja T. , Jalasvuori Matti , Rönnholm Gunilla , Bamford Jaana K. H. , Bamford Dennis H. , Oksanen Hanna M.
Published: February 2012

Studies on viral capsid architectures and coat protein folds have revealed the evolutionary lineages of viruses branching to all three domains of life. A widespread group of icosahedral tailless viruses, the PRD1-adenovirus lineage, was the first to be established. A double β-barrel fold for a single major capsid protein is characteristic of these viruses. Similar viruses carrying genes coding for two major capsid proteins with a more complex structure, such asThermusphage P23-77 and haloarchaeal virus SH1, have been isolated. Here, we studied the host range, life cycle, biochemical composition, and genomic sequence of a new isolate,Haloarcula hispanicaicosahedral virus 2 (HHIV-2), which resembles SH1 despite being isolated from a different location. Comparative analysis of these viruses revealed that their overall architectures are very similar except that the genes for the receptor recognition vertex complexes are unrelated even though these viruses infect the same hosts.
Genetic Divergence of Rotavirus Nonstructural Protein 4 Results in Distinct Serogroup-Specific Viroporin Activity and Intracellular Punctate Structure Morphologies
Authors: Hyser Joseph M. , Utama Budi , Crawford Sue E. , Estes Mary K.
Published: February 2012

Nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) viroporin activity is critical for the replication and assembly of serogroup A rotavirus (RVA); however, the dramatic primary sequence divergence of NSP4s across serogroups raises the possibility that viroporin activity is not a common feature among RVs. We tested for NSP4 viroporin activity from divergent strains, including RVA (EC and Ty-1), RVB (IDIR), and RVC (Cowden). Canonical viroporin motifs were identified in RVA, RVB, and RVC NSP4s, but the arrangement of basic residues and the amphipathic α-helices was substantially different between serogroups. Using
Escherichia coli
and mammalian cell expression, we showed that each NSP4 tested had viroporin activity, but serogroup-specific viroporin phenotypes were identified. Only mammalian RVA and RVC NSP4s induced BL21-pLysS
E. coli
cell lysis, a classical viroporin activity assay. In contrast, RVA, RVB, and RVC NSP4 expression was universally cytotoxic to
E. coli
and disrupted reduction-oxidation activities, as measured by a new redox dye assay. In mammalian cells, RVB and RVC NSP4s were initially localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and trafficked into punctate structures that were mutually exclusive with RVA NSP4. The punctate structures partially localized to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) but primarily colocalized with punctate LC3, a marker for autophagosomes. Similar to RVA NSP4, expression of RVB and RVC NSP4s significantly elevated cytosolic calcium levels, demonstrating that despite strong primary sequence divergence, RV NSP4 has maintained viroporin activity across serogroups A to C. These data suggest that elevated cytosolic calcium is a common critical process for all rotavirus strains.
Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1) and LMP2A Function Cooperatively To Promote Carcinoma Development in a Mouse Carcinogenesis Model
Authors: Shair Kathy H. Y. , Bendt Katharine M. , Edwards Rachel H. , Nielsen Judith N. , Moore Dominic T. , Raab-Traub Nancy
Published: February 2012

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins latent membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LMP1 and LMP2) are frequently expressed in EBV-associated lymphoid and epithelial cancers and have complex effects on cell signaling and growth. The effects of these proteins on epithelial cell growth were assessed
in vivo
using transgenic mice driven by the keratin 14 promoter (K14). The development of papillomas and carcinomas was determined in the tumor initiator and promoter model using dimethyl benzanthracene (DMBA), followed by repeated treatments of 12-
O
-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA). In these assays, LMP1 functioned as a weak tumor promoter and increased papilloma formation. In contrast, mice expressing LMP2A did not induce or promote papilloma formation. Transgenic LMP1 mice had slightly increased development of squamous cell carcinoma; however, the development of carcinoma was significantly increased in the doubly transgenic mice expressing both LMP1 and LMP2A. DMBA treatment induces an activating mutation in the
Harvey-ras
(
H-ras

61

) oncogene, and this mutation was identified in most papillomas and carcinomas although several papillomas and carcinomas in K14-LMP1 and K14-LMP1/LMP2A mice lacked the mutation. Analysis of signaling pathways that are known to be activated by LMP1 and/or LMP2 indicated that all genotypes had high levels of activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Stat3 in carcinomas with significantly higher activation in the doubly transgenic carcinomas. These findings suggest that, in combination, LMP1 and LMP2 contribute to carcinoma progression and that this may reflect the combined effects of the proteins on activation of multiple signaling pathways. This study is the first to characterize the effects of LMP2 on tumor initiation and promotion and to identify an effect of the combined expression of LMP1 and LMP2 on the increase of carcinoma development.