bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Organic Additives on Calcium Sulfate Scaling in Pipes
Authors: Hoang Tung A. , Ang H. Ming , Rohl Andrew L.
Published: August 2009

A comprehensive study of the effects of nine organic additives on the formation of calcium sulfate scale in a pipe system was conducted using a multiple pipe flow system. Several factors that influence the inhibitory capability of phosphonic and carboxylic additives such as their chemical structure, their concentration, and the run time were closely scrutinized. Results showed that the organic additives influence the deposition of calcium sulfate on the walls of a pipe flow system at various levels. The superiority of the phosphonic additives, especially N,N,N′,N′-ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid (EDTP) and nitrilotrimethylenephosphonic acid (NTMP), to other organic compounds with respect to scale prevention is discussed thoroughly. For the first time, it was demonstrated that a solution with a given concentration of inhibitor that is continuously refreshed in a pipe reactor becomes less effective over time. The morphology of the scales formed in the presence of different additives is also studied, using scanning electron microscopy.
UV Light Stability of α-Cyclodextrin/Resveratrol Host - Guest Complexes and Isomer Stability at Varying pH
Authors: Allan Kerrilee E. , Lenehan Claire E. , Ellis Amanda V.
Published: August 2009

trans-Resveratrol is an antioxidant that readily isomerizes to the cis isomer under UV irradiation. Here we report on the UV-Visible analysis of the stability of both trans- and cis-resveratrol isomers in the presence of UV light over a pH range of 2.0–9.0 in a phosphate-borate buffer that contains sodium dodecyl sulphate and acetonitrile. The molar absorptivity of the trans-resveratrol solution absorbing at 320 nm (3.88 eV) and 305 nm (4.07 eV) was 33000 and 34000 M–1 cm–1, respectively. Results indicate that trans-resveratrol has a slower isomerization within a pH range of 5.0–8.0. A pH > 8.0 results in almost immediate isomerization of the sample, whereas at pH 2.0 a photo-degradation product appears at 260 nm (4.77 eV). This was not apparent at pH 8.0. By including trans-resveratrol into a trans-resveratrol/α-cyclodextrin host–guest inclusion complex in pH 8.0 buffer isomerization was greatly reduced, with enhanced trans-resveratrol photostability.
Co-occurrence of two tadpole shrimp, Triops cf. australiensis (Branchiopoda:Notostraca), lineages in middle Paroo, north-western New South Wales, with the first record of Triops hermaphrodites for the Australian continent
Authors: Murugan Gopal , Obregón-Barboza Hortencia , Maeda-Martínez Alejandro M. , Timms Brian V.
Published: August 2009

The only species of the genus Triops in Australia, T. australiensis, is found to reproduce by gonochorism. Morphological and reproductive data and molecular analyses of fragments of mitochondrial genes 12S rRNA (12S) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) indicate that a Triops population from the middle Paroo in north-western New South Wales is composed of two different entities, Triops cf. australiensis lineage A, and T. cf. australiensis lineage B. Gonad histology in individuals with ovisacs of lineage A revealed no evidence of testicular tissue; however, large testicular lobes were found in individuals with ovisacs of lineage B, indicating that they were anatomically hermaphrodites. This is the first record of Australian hermaphroditic Triops. For each lineage, a single haplotype of each gene was obtained. Molecular genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the closer relationship and monophyly of the two lineages with T. australiensis (GenBank) when compared with Triops species from other continents. COI haplotypes of lineage A and lineage B differed by 7.7% from each other and differed by 10.2% and 9.6% from a published T. australiensis sequence, respectively. The 12S haplotypes of lineage A and lineage B differed by 3.3% from each other and differed by 2% and 2.5% from a published T. australiensis sequence, respectively. Our results suggest that the two co-occurring Triops lineages probably represent two species that are distinct from T. australiensis.
Age and seasonal changes in the semiochemicals of the sternal gland secretions of male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: Tobey J. R. , Nute T. R. , Bercovitch F. B.
Published: August 2009

Male koalas communicate with conspecifics using scent markings from their sternal scent gland. We examined age and seasonal changes in the profile of organic compounds produced by koala sternal glands. Scent exudates from 12 male koalas were collected over a one-year period and analysed by direct-injection gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) of the methanol extract. Carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols were found to dominate the scent mixture. Thirty-seven compounds were identified by comparison of their spectra with those in the Wiley 138K library. The identity, complexity and relative concentrations of these compounds were found to vary both seasonally and by age of the individuals, with the most odorous and complex mixtures occurring during the mating season. We suggest that seasonal and age differences in the complexity of the chemical composition of the koala scent gland exudate provides evidence that olfactory communication probably has important ramifications for male reproductive success in the wild.
Natural history of the slaty grey snake (Stegonotus cucullatus) (Serpentes:Colubridae) from tropical north Queensland, Australia
Authors: Trembath Dane F. , Fearn Simon , Undheim Eivind Andreas Baste
Published: August 2009

Slaty grey snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus) are medium to large members of the Colubridae that are common throughout the eastern and northern tropics of Australia. Although intensive field studies have been conducted on populations in the Northern Territory for over 10 years, no ecological data have been presented on free-ranging specimens of populations inhabiting tropical north Queensland. During a 10-year period we collected opportunistic data on 120 free-ranging specimens from the seasonally Wet Tropics in north Queensland. These snakes provided data on body sizes, activity times, food habits and reproduction. Male S. cucullatus were larger than females and had larger heads. More snakes were found during the warmer, humid parts of the year (wet season). S. cucullatus ate a wide range of vertebrate prey, including reptile eggs that were obtained seasonally. Females produced one clutch per year, and no relationship was found between maternal snout–vent length and clutch size.
So long as it's near water: variable roosting behaviour of the large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus)
Authors: Campbell Susan
Published: August 2009

The choice of day roosts by microbats influences energetics, social interactions and breeding success. In Australia, the large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus) is dependent on waterways for foraging. However, the extent to which the species relies upon, and selects roosts within, riparian habitat is unknown. I studied the roosting behaviour of this species around a water reservoir near Melbourne, Victoria, during the summers from October 2002 to April 2005. I radio-tracked 31 bats to 17 tree roosts; colony size averaged 6.0 ± 1.6 bats and individuals used 1.3 ± 0.1 roosts during the tracking period (average 6.2 ± 0.6 days). Two roosts were also located in crevices in an old aqueduct tunnel, housing colonies of 10.8 ± 0.6 bats. Colonies emerged earlier from tunnel crevices (25.0 ± 3.6 min after sunset, range 6–53 min), compared with conspecifics in tree roosts (45.6 ± 2.1 min after sunset, range 10–83 min). Roost trees and cavities differed from available habitat trees and cavities in terms of smaller entrance areas to used (182.2 ± 49.3 cm2) versus unused (328.0 ± 61.8 cm2) cavities. The primary force driving roost selection by M. macropus appears to be proximity of suitable waterways for foraging. Retention and maintenance of extensive riparian habitat, as well as the preservation of other structures used for roosting, are the most important conservation strategies for management of the day-roosting habitat of M. macropus.
Temperature effects on metabolic rate and torpor in southern forest bats (Vespadelus regulus)
Authors: Turbill Christopher
Published: August 2009

I measured the metabolic rate (MR) of four male southern forest bats (Vespadelus regulus; 5.5 g) exposed to a diurnal increase in air temperature (Ta) from 13 to 26°C, simulating conditions in natural tree roosts. Three bats remained in torpor throughout the day, despite the rise in Ta, whereas one bat aroused at a Ta of 25.2°C and was normothermic for 108 min until re-entering torpor when Ta declined in the afternoon. All bats aroused shortly after lights off. Torpid MR increased exponentially with rising Ta, yet even at 26°C remained only 16% of minimum resting MR at the same Ta. Rest-phase energy expenditure (12 h), including the estimated cost of an evening arousal, ranged from 0.62 to 1.23 kJ. Thus, torpor provides these small bats with an enormous reduction in energy consumption even at Ta close to their thermoneutral zone.
Deubiquitinating enzyme USP33/VDU1 is required for Slit signaling in inhibiting breast cancer cell migration
Authors: Yuasa-Kawada Junichi , Kinoshita-Kawada Mariko , Rao Yi , Wu Jane Y.
Published: August 2009

Slit regulates migration of not only neurons, but also nonneuronal cells, such as leukocytes and cancer cells. Slit effect on cancer cell migration has not been well-characterized. In this study, we used several different assays to examine Slit effect on breast cancer cell migration in vitro. We show that ubiquitin-specific protease 33 (USP33)/VDU1, originally identified as a von Hippel–Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL) protein-interacting deubiquitinating enzyme, binds to the Robo1 receptor, and that USP33 is required for Slit responsiveness in breast cancer cells. Slit induces redistribution of Robo1 from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane in a USP33-dependent manner. Slit impairs directional migration of breast cancer cells without affecting their migration speed. This inhibitory effect is Robo-mediated and USP33-dependent. These data uncover a previously unknown function of USP33 and reveal a new player in Slit-Robo signaling in cancer cell migration.
Sequence physical properties encode the global organization of protein structure space
Authors: Rackovsky S.
Published: August 2009

It is demonstrated that, properly represented, the amino acid composition of protein sequences contains the information necessary to delineate the global properties of protein structure space. A numerical representation of amino acid sequence in terms of a set of property factors is used, and the values of those property factors are averaged over individual sequences and then over sets of sequences belonging to structurally defined groups. These sequence sets then can be viewed as points in a 10-dimensional space, and the organization of that space, determined only by sequence properties, is similar at both local and global scales to that of the space of protein structures determined previously.
Molecular determinants of fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation and gating of the Orai channels
Authors: Lee Kyu Pil , Yuan Joseph P. , Zeng Weizhong , So Insuk , Worley Paul F. , Muallem Shmuel
Published: August 2009

Ca
2+
influx by store-operated Ca
2+
influx channels (SOCs) mediates many cellular functions regulated by Ca
2+
, and excessive SOC-mediated Ca
2+
influx is cytotoxic and associated with disease. One form of SOC is the CRAC current that is mediated by Orai channels activated by STIM1. A fundamental property of the native CRAC and of the Orais is fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation, which limits Ca
2+
influx to guard against cellular damage. The molecular mechanism of this essential regulatory mechanism is unknown. We report here the fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation is mediated by three conserved glutamates in the C termini (CT) of Orai2 and Orai3, which show prominent fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation compared with Orai1. Transfer of the CT between the Orais transfers both the extent of channel opening and the mode of fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation. Fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation of the Orais also requires a domain of STIM1; fragments of STIM1 that efficiently open Orai channels do not evoke fast inactivation unless they include an anionic sequence that is C-terminal to the STIM1-Orai activating region (SOAR). Our studies suggest that Orai CT are necessary and sufficient to control pore opening and uncover the molecular mechanism of fast Ca
2+
-dependent inactivation that has implications for Ca
2+
influx by SOC in physiological and pathological states.
Basonuclin 2 has a function in the multiplication of embryonic craniofacial mesenchymal cells and is orthologous to disco proteins
Authors: Vanhoutteghem Amandine , Maciejewski-Duval Anna , Bouche Cyril , Delhomme Brigitte , Hervé Françoise , Daubigney Fabrice , Soubigou Guillaume , Araki Masatake , Araki Kimi , Yamamura Ken-ichi , Djian Philippe
Published: August 2009

Basonuclin 2 is a recently discovered zinc finger protein of unknown function. Its paralog, basonuclin 1, is associated with the ability of keratinocytes to multiply. The basonuclin zinc fingers are closely related to those of the
Drosophila
proteins disco and discorelated, but the relation between disco proteins and basonuclins has remained elusive because the function of the disco proteins in larval head development seems to have no relation to that of basonuclin 1 and because the amino acid sequence of disco, apart from the zinc fingers, also has no similarity to that of the basonuclins. We have generated mice lacking basonuclin 2. These mice die within 24 h of birth with a cleft palate and abnormalities of craniofacial bones and tongue. In the embryonic head, expression of the basonuclin 2 gene is restricted to mesenchymal cells in the palate, at the periphery of the tongue, and in the mesenchymal sheaths that surround the brain and the osteocartilagineous structures. In late embryos, the rate of multiplication of these mesenchymal cells is greatly diminished. Therefore, basonuclin 2 is essential for the multiplication of craniofacial mesenchymal cells during embryogenesis. Non-
Drosophila
insect databases available since 2008 reveal that the basonuclins and the disco proteins share much more extensive sequence and gene structure similarity than noted when only
Drosophila
sequences were examined. We conclude that basonuclin 2 is both structurally and functionally the vertebrate ortholog of the disco proteins. We also note the possibility that some human craniofacial abnormalities are due to a lack of basonuclin 2.
Mechanism of ADP-ribosylation removal revealed by the structure and ligand complexes of the dimanganese mono-ADP-ribosylhydrolase DraG
Authors: Berthold Catrine L. , Wang He , Nordlund Stefan , Högbom Martin
Published: August 2009

ADP-ribosylation is a ubiquitous regulatory posttranslational modification involved in numerous key processes such as DNA repair, transcription, cell differentiation, apoptosis, and the pathogenic mechanism of certain bacterial toxins. Despite the importance of this reversible process, very little is known about the structure and mechanism of the hydrolases that catalyze removal of the ADP-ribose moiety. In the phototrophic bacterium
Rhodospirillum rubrum
, dinitrogenase reductase-activating glycohydrolase (DraG), a dimanganese enzyme that reversibly associates with the cell membrane, is a key player in the regulation of nitrogenase activity. DraG has long served as a model protein for ADP-ribosylhydrolases. Here, we present the crystal structure of DraG in the holo and ADP-ribose bound forms. We also present the structure of a reaction intermediate analogue and propose a detailed catalytic mechanism for protein de-ADP-ribosylation involving ring opening of the substrate ribose. In addition, the particular manganese coordination in DraG suggests a rationale for the enzyme's preference for manganese over magnesium, although not requiring a redox active metal for the reaction.
Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: A prospective controlled randomized study
Authors: NAPPI CARMINE , TOMMASELLI GIOVANNI ANTONIO , MORRA ILARIA , MASSARO MARIANGELA , FORMISANO CARMEN , DI CARLO COSTANTINO
Published: August 2009

Objective. To compare the effects of bovine lactoferrin with ferrous sulfate on iron nutritional status and to evaluate their tolerability in 100 pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia. Design. Prospective, randomized, controlled, double blind trial. Setting. Obstetrics clinic of a University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Population. One‐hundred pregnant, healthy women to be treated either with one capsule of 100 mg bovine lactoferrin twice a day (Group A; n = 49) and 520 mg ferrous sulfate once a day (Group B; n = 48). Methods. After 30 days, we evaluated hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, serum iron and total iron‐ binding capacity (TIBC) values. All women were asked to keep a diary of five potential gastrointestinal side effects (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation). For each symptom, patients had to rate its severity according to a scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 3 (severe). Main outcome measures. Hb level before and after treatment. Secondary outcomes were serum ferritin, serum iron and TIBC levels and the difference in symptom scores between groups. Results. In Groups A and B, Hb, serum ferritin and iron were significantly increased while TIBC was significantly reduced in comparison with basal values. No significant differences were observed between Groups A and B. The median scores of abdominal pain and constipation were significantly higher in patients treated with ferrous sulfate in comparison with those treated with bovine lactoferrin. Conclusions. The results show that bovine lactoferrin has the same efficacy as ferrous sulfate in restoring iron deposits with significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
Validation of disease registration in pregnant women in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway
Authors: ENGELAND ANDERS , BJØRGE TONE , DALTVEIT ANNE KJERSTI , VOLLSET STEIN EMIL , FURU KARI
Published: August 2009

Objective. To evaluate the reliability of maternal disease registration in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). Study design. Validation study. Setting. The two nationwide population‐based registries, the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) and the MBRN, were linked using a unique personal identification number. Population. Pregnant women (n = 108,489), pregnancies (lasting more than 22 weeks) starting at March 30, 2004 onwards and ending before January 1, 2007, registered in MBRN. Main outcome measures. Registrations of maternal diagnoses (diabetes, asthma, and epilepsy) in MBRN compared to their dispensal of prescribed medicines as an indication of disease. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of diabetes, epilepsy, and asthma in the MBRN were calculated using information from NorPD as the ‘gold standard.’ Methods. Validation study comparing maternal diagnoses in MBRN with prescriptions of drugs and reimbursement codes registered in NorPD. Results. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of diabetes (any type) and diabetes type 1 in MBRN were estimated to be 72% (95% confidence interval: 69–74) and 90% (86–93%). For epilepsy and asthma, the sensitivity of MBRN was estimated to be 74% (69–78) and 51% (49–52), respectively. For asthma, the sensitivity increased to over 70% when it was restricted to individuals with more serious disease. Conclusions. The sensitivity of the registration of type 1 diabetes was 90%, while the sensitivity for any type of diabetes was lower and similar to the sensitivity of the registration of epilepsy. The registration of asthma overall was 51%, but considerably higher for more serious asthma. Except for diabetes type 1, the medical disease diagnoses in the MBRN should be dealt with carefully.
Cesarean section in morbidly obese women: supra or subumbilical transverse incision?
Authors: TIXIER HERVÉ , THOUVENOT SÉGOLÈNE , COULANGE LAURÈNE , PEYRONEL CAROLINE , FILIPUZZI LAURENCE , SAGOT PAUL , DOUVIER SERGE
Published: August 2009

The obstetrician is more and more frequently faced with the decision to perform a cesarean section in obese women. We describe a technique of supra or subumbilical transverse cesarean section (depending on the height of the projection of the upper edge of the pubic symphysis) specifically designed for morbidly obese women with a voluminous panniculus. We evaluated feasibility and associated morbidity in a retrospective descriptive series of 18 patients operated between 2003 and 2008. We assessed the quality of access to the lower uterine segment and facility to extract the fetus. The mean body mass index was 47.7 kg/m2 (range 40.1–60.8). The incision was subumbilical in 13 women (72.2%) and supraumbilical in 27.7%. With this technique, the exposition, the section of the lower uterine segment, and extraction of the baby are simple. It can be easily generalized and quickly learnt.
Fever in pregnancy and offspring mortality – a longitudinal study of a cohort from 1927 to 1937 on the Faroe Islands
Authors: HELMSDAL GUNNHILD , OLSEN SJÚRÐUR F.
Published: August 2009

In a birth cohort from 1927 to 1937 consisting of 4,208 individuals, we examined the relation between complications in pregnancy and offspring adult mortality. Patterns of increased mortality were observed in the group of males whose mothers had experienced fever during pregnancy, i.e. with all‐cause mortality (rate ratio 1.505; 95% CI 1.084–1.926; p = 0.057), premature death (rate ratio 1.943; 95% CI 1.486–2.400; p = 0.004), and with cancer (rate ratio 2.625; 95% CI 1.845–3.405; p = 0.015). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an association between fever in pregnancy and offspring mortality.
Is antenatal steroid treatment effective in preterm IUGR fetuses?
Authors: TORRANCE HELEN L. , DERKS JAN B. , SCHERJON SICCO A. , WIJNBERGER LIA D. , VISSER GERARD H.A.
Published: August 2009

There are no randomized studies on the effect of antenatal corticosteroids in preterm intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses. Fetal lung maturation has been postulated to be enhanced in these fetuses, which may result in little benefit of steroid treatment. Furthermore, corticosteroid treatment may be detrimental, as has been shown in IUGR animal models. The objective of this study was to review the available literature on antenatal steroid treatment of the IUGR fetus. All available reports on antenatal steroid treatment of IUGR and small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses published prior to October 2007 were included in this review. IUGR fetuses are a subgroup of SGA fetuses that are small due to placental insufficiency, which is reflected in abnormal Doppler examination of the umbilical artery. The main outcome measures were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and neonatal mortality. No difference in neonatal mortality was seen in any of the reviewed studies and RDS, IVH, and NEC incidence did not differ between treated and untreated IUGR fetuses. In SGA fetuses, results on RDS incidence and intracranial outcome were inconclusive. Antenatal steroid treatment does not seem to have an effect on neonatal mortality or morbidity in IUGR fetuses. In SGA fetuses, it remains unclear if antenatal steroid treatment is beneficial due to heterogeneous populations and treatment regimes. A randomized controlled trial should be performed to confirm prior results and answer further questions regarding antenatal steroid treatment of these fetuses.
Association between colonization with Group B Streptococcus and preterm delivery: A systematic review
Authors: VALKENBURG‐VAN DEN BERG ARIJAAN W. , SPRIJ ARWEN J. , DEKKER FRIEDO W. , DÖRR P. JOEP , KANHAI HUMPHREY H.H.
Published: August 2009

Up to 36% of pregnant women are colonized with Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Preterm delivery in colonized mothers is a risk factor for early onset neonatal GBS disease, but whether maternal GBS genital colonization is related to preterm delivery is unclear. The objective of this review was to determine the relationship between maternal colonization with GBS and preterm delivery. Pubmed searches and reference lists of all selected publications were used to find studies reporting on the relationship between maternal GBS colonization and preterm delivery. Study characteristics were abstracted, and validity scores were performed. To assess the relationship between GBS colonization and pregnancy outcome, four‐fold prognostic tables were constructed for each study. Out of more than 60 full‐text articles, 16 follow‐up studies and four case control studies were included in this review. Follow‐up studies were divided into ‘cohort studies,’ in which cultures were taken early in pregnancy and which reported on pregnancy outcome, and ‘cross‐sectional studies’, in which cultures were collected during delivery. Studies differed widely in methods, validity score, and GBS prevalence. The combined estimate from a random effect meta‐analysis of the 11 cohort studies was 1.06 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.95–1.19) and for the five cross‐sectional studies 1.75 (95% CI 1.43–2.14). For the case control studies, the pooled odds ratio was 1.59 (95% CI 1.03–2.44). This systematic review did not show an association between maternal GBS colonization during pregnancy and preterm delivery. However, in case of preterm delivery, there is an increased risk of subsequent maternal GBS colonization.
The role of modifiable pre‐pregnancy risk factors in preventing adverse fetal outcomes among women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Authors: INKSTER MELANIE E. , FAHEY TOM P. , DONNAN PETER T. , LEESE GRAHAM P. , MIRES GARY J. , MURPHY DEIRDRE J.
Published: August 2009

We investigated the fetal outcomes of pregnancy in women with pre‐existing diabetes in relation to pre‐pregnancy risk factors using a community‐based cohort of women in Tayside, Scotland. There were 211 pregnancies in 132 women with insulin‐requiring type 1 and 2 diabetes between January 1993 and December 2005. Adverse fetal outcome was classified as spontaneous miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, neonatal death, or congenital malformation and occurred in 61 (29%) pregnancies. Mothers with poor glycemic control pre‐conceptually and at booking (HbA1c = 7.5%) had almost a three‐fold increase in adverse fetal outcome compared with mothers having fair control, odds ratio (OR) 2.59 (95% CI 1.11–6.03), and 2.71 (95% CI 1.39–5.28), respectively. Mothers who were still smoking at the booking visit had a two‐fold increase in adverse fetal outcome (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.09–4.10). Further improvement in the management of diabetes and pregnancy is needed through enhanced preconception services addressing the full spectrum of modifiable risk factors.
Sinusoidal Smooth Pursuit Eye Tracking at Different Stimulus Frequencies: Position Error and Velocity Error Before Catch-Up Saccades in Schizophrenia and in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Fabisch Karin , Fitz Werner , Fabisch Hans , Haas-Krammer Alexandra , Klug Günter , Zapotoczky Stephan , Kapfhammer Hans-Peter
Published: August 2009

Objective: The aim of the present study was to ascertain the extent of impairment of position error and velocity error processing in eye tracking dysfunction in schizophrenic and depressive patients.

Method: A total of 21 schizophrenic and 19 unipolar depressive patients and 21 healthy controls were subjected to an eye tracking test with electro-oculography using horizontal sinusoidal stimuli with frequencies of 0.2–0.7 Hz. Position error and velocity error were measured over a saccade-free range of 200 ms before catch-up saccades at 50 ms intervals.

Results: For position error, the schizophrenia patients displayed increased values particularly compared to controls, more rarely compared to depressive patients, depending on the stimulus frequency used. The increase in stimulus frequency did not lead to an increase in position error in any group of subjects over a prolonged period. For velocity error, in contrast, the study groups differed only in a few, isolated pre-saccadic intervals. The increase in stimulus frequency, however, led to an increase in velocity error in the schizophrenia patients over the entire 200 ms interval. The depressive patients did not differ notably from the controls, neither in terms of position error nor velocity error.

Conclusions: Eye tracking dysfunction in schizophrenia can be described as follows with regard to position error and velocity error: On the one hand, there is an increased position error tolerance largely independent of stimulus frequency, possibly due to an impairment of processing localization information. On the other hand, velocity processing is more severely impaired by an increase in stimulus frequency.
Pseudoneurotic Schizophrenia Revisited
Authors: Connor Karen O. , Nelson Barnaby , Walterfang Mark , Velakoulis Dennis , Thompson Andrew
Published: August 2009

Objectives: ‘Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia’ was a diagnostic term coined in the 1940s by Hoch and Polatin. It described a subgroup of patients who presented with prominent anxiety symptoms, which masked a latent psychotic disorder. Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia as a diagnostic entity has fallen out of clinical use.

Methods: Described herein is a case that meets the Hoch and Polatin definition of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia.

Results: The history of the concept is reviewed and a discussion is given of why it was forgotten.

Conclusion: The concepts that underlie the diagnostic entity of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia remain relevant to current practice. Recent findings in patients with an emerging psychotic disorder lend modern support to the idea that schizophrenia may present with significant neurotic symptoms.
Exploring Clinical Characteristics of Bipolar Depression: Internal Structure of the Bipolar Depression Rating Scale
Authors: Chang Jae Seung , Ahn Yong Min , Yu Han Young , Park Hye Jean , Lee Kyu Young , Kim Se Hyun , Kim Yong Sik
Published: August 2009

Objective: Due to its pleomorphic phenomenology, the clinical features of bipolar depression are difficult to assess. The objective of the present study was therefore to explore the internal structure of the Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS) in terms of the phenomenological characteristics of bipolar depression.

Methods: Sixty patients with DSM-IV bipolar depression completed the BDRS, depression and excitement subscales of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-D and PANSS-E), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery–Äsberg Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale. The internal structure of the BDRS was explored through hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) using Ward's method and multidimensional scaling (MDS).

Results: From 20-item BDRS data, the HCA yielded two symptom clusters. The first cluster included 12 items of conventional depressive symptoms. The second cluster included eight items of mixed symptoms. The MDS identified a depressive–mixed dimension. The depressive symptom cluster showed a more cohesive and conglomerate cluster structure on the MDS map compared to the mixed symptom cluster. After controlling for the effects of treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms, strong positive correlations were observed between the BDRS and other depression rating scales, and the BDRS also weakly correlated with the YMRS and the PANSS-E.

Conclusions: The internal structure of BDRS appears to be sensitive to complex features of bipolar depression. Hence, the BDRS may have an advantage in evaluating clinical changes in patients with bipolar depression within the therapeutic process.
Research quality assessment in education: Impossible science, possible art?
Authors: Bridges David
Published: August 2009

For better or for worse, the assessment of research quality is one of the primary drivers of the behaviour of the academic community with all sorts of potential for distorting that behaviour. So, if you are going to assess research quality, how do you do it? This article explores some of the problems and possibilities, with particular reference to the UK Research Assessment Exercise and discussion around the proposed new Research Excellence Framework and the ongoing work of the Framework 7 European Education Research Quality Indicators project (EERQI). It begins by asking whether there are any meaningful generic criteria of quality which can be applied to research, and tension between such criteria and the diverse and sometimes contradictory requirements of educational research. It then looks at attempts to identify measurable indicators of quality, including consideration of the location of the publication, citation and download counts, and approaches based semantic analysis of machine readable text—but finds all these quasi ‘scientific’ attempts at quality assessment wanting (hence the ‘impossible science’). This is all the more the case because of their attachment to extrinsic correlates of quality rather than intrinsic characteristics of quality and hence the probability that the measures will induce behaviours not conducive to quality enhancement. Instead the article turns to a different approach. This is better expressed perhaps as quality ‘appreciation’, ‘discernment’ or even ‘connoisseurship’ and is rooted in the arts and humanities rather than in (quasi) science. It considers whether this might offer a better approximation to the kind of judgement involved in quality assessment of a piece of research writing than the sort of metrics approaches favoured in current discussion.
One-dimensional-ratio measures of atrophy progression in multiple sclerosis as evaluated by longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Martola J. , Stawiarz L. , Fredrikson S. , Hillert J. , Bergström J. , Flodmark O. , Aspelin P. , Wiberg M. Kristoffersen
Published: August 2009

Background: For decades, normalized one-dimensional (1D) measures have been used in the evaluation of brain atrophy. In multiple sclerosis (MS), the use of normalized linear measures over longitudinal follow-up remains insufficiently documented.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between different regional atrophy measures and disability in MS patients over four decades in a longitudinal cross-sectional study.

Material and Methods: 37 consecutively selected MS patients were included. At baseline, patients had a range of disease duration (1–33 years) and age (24–65 years). Each patient was followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for a mean of 9.25 years (range 7.3–10 years). Four 1D measures were applied at three time points on axial 5-mm T1-weighted images. Three clinical MS subgroups were represented: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Results: There were significant changes in all 1D ratios during follow-up. The Evans ratio (ER) and the bifrontal ratio (BFR) were associated with the development of disability. Changes of ER and BFR reflected more aggressive disease progression, as expressed by MS severity score (MSSS).

Conclusion: All four normalized ratios showed uniform atrophy progression, suggesting a consistent rate of atrophy over long-term disease duration independent of MS course. Disability status correlated with 1D measures, suggesting that serial evaluation of Evans and bifrontal ratios might contribute to the radiological evaluation of MS patients.
Multidetector computed tomography in the preoperative workup of hilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Kim Hyoung Jung , Lee Dong Ho , Lim Joo Won , Ko Young Tae
Published: August 2009

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is associated with a dismal prognosis; however, curative resection may offer a chance of cure. Various factors should be considered in the surgical planning for curative resection. These factors include extent of bile duct involvement, relationship between portal vein and tumor involvement, diffuse hepatoduodenal ligament infiltration, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal seeding, and hepatic volume. Using high-quality volume data from multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) and adequate postprocessing images, radiologists can provide various types of information, imperative for curative resection of a hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This review illustrates the role of MDCT in the preoperative workup of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Detection of pulmonary embolism using dual-energy computed tomography and correlation with cardiovascular measurements: a preliminary study
Authors: Zhang Long Jiang , Yang Gui Fen , Zhao Yan E. , Zhou Chang Sheng , Lu Guang Ming
Published: August 2009

Background: Detection of a suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) has been the focus of considerable research over the past few decades. Recently developed dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) scanners with dual-energy mode have been used to detect PE, but the studies on this topic are few.

Purpose: To assess the clinical value of dual-source, dual-energy CT (DECT) for the diagnosis of suspected PE and to correlate with cardiovascular measurements.

Material and Methods: 31 patients with suspected PE underwent contrast-enhanced DSCT scanning with dual-energy mode. Dedicated software for lung perfusion blood volume (PBV) was used in postprocessing. The numbers and locations of PE in PBV images and CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) were recorded. Sensitivity and specificity were measured, comparing to CTPA as a standard of reference. The relationship between range of iodine mapping abnormality in PBV images and cardiovascular measurements was analyzed.

Results: 33 DECT scans were performed in 31 patients. Seventeen patients had PE, while 14 patients had negative results. Filling defects were detected in pulmonary arteries in 44 pulmonary lobar and 99 segmental arteries. Compared to CTPA as a standard of reference, sensitivity and specificity of PBV images were 93.8% and 93.3% on a per-patient basis, 93.2% and 94.7% on a per-lobe basis, and 76.1% and 97.6% on a per-segment basis, respectively. Spearman correlation test showed good positive correlation between the right ventricle (RV)/left ventricle (LV) diameter ratio and pulmonary lobes with emboli for PBV images ( R=0.663; P=0.004).

Conclusion: DECT can provide morphological and functional information of the whole lung in a single contrast-enhanced acquisition; the perfusion defects visualized in PBV images appear to have a positive relationship with the patients’ right heart dysfunction.
Golgi-associated cPLA2α Regulates Endothelial Cell–Cell Junction Integrity by Controlling the Trafficking of Transmembrane Junction Proteins
Authors: Regan-Klapisz Elsa , Krouwer Vincent , Langelaar-Makkinje Miriam , Nallan Laxman , Gelb Michael , Gerritsen Hans , Verkleij Arie J. , Post Jan Andries
Published: August 2009

In endothelial cells specifically, cPLA2α translocates from the cytoplasm to the Golgi complex in response to cell confluence. Considering the link between confluence and cell–cell junction formation, and the emerging role of cPLA2α in intracellular trafficking, we tested whether Golgi-associated cPLA2α is involved in the trafficking of junction proteins. Here, we show that the redistribution of cPLA2α from the cytoplasm to the Golgi correlates with adherens junction maturation and occurs before tight junction formation. Disruption of adherens junctions using a blocking anti-VE-cadherin antibody reverses the association of cPLA2α with the Golgi. Silencing of cPLA2α and inhibition of cPLA2α enzymatic activity using various inhibitors result in the diminished presence of the transmembrane junction proteins VE-cadherin, occludin, and claudin-5 at cell–cell contacts, and in their accumulation at the Golgi. Altogether, our data support the idea that VE-cadherin triggers the relocation of cPLA2α to the Golgi and that in turn, Golgi-associated cPLA2α regulates the transport of transmembrane junction proteins through or from the Golgi, thereby controlling the integrity of endothelial cell–cell junctions.
Temporal variability in southern North Sea epifauna communities after the cold winter of 1995/1996
Authors: Neumann Hermann , Reiss Henning , Rakers Sebastian , Ehrich Siegfried , Kröncke Ingrid
Published: August 2009

Neumann, H., Reiss, H., Rakers, S., Ehrich, S., and Kröncke, I. 2009. Temporal variability in southern North Sea epifauna communities after the cold winter of 1995/1996. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 2233–2243. Epifauna communities in the southeastern North Sea were studied from 1998 to 2008 to evaluate the effect of hydroclimatic change in community structure. The spatial analysis revealed four communities along the West and North Frisian coasts, on the Oyster Ground, and on the Dogger Bank. The variability between communities was caused mainly by differing abundance of widespread species such as Asterias rubens, probably reflecting differences in environmental conditions, e.g. temperature variation and food supply. Community structure varied between 1998–2000 and 2003–2008 at the shallow West and North Frisian coasts. The hypothesis is that epibenthic communities in these areas were severely affected by the cold winter of 1995/1996, resulting in the outbreak of the opportunistic brittlestar Ophiura albida and followed by characteristic post-disturbance succession stages from 1998 to 2000. The period between 2003 and 2008 was characterized by a continuous decrease in O. albida and by an increase in other species and diversity in the coastal areas. In contrast, secondary production increased in all four areas after 2003, probably because of an increase in sea surface temperature (SST) and in the length of the warming season. We conclude that the cold winter affected epifauna mainly in shallow areas and that the increasing SST influenced the epifauna in the entire southeastern North Sea mainly through an increased food supply.
Fluctuating mate preferences in a marine fish
Authors: Lehtonen Topi K. , Wong Bob B. M. , Lindström Kai
Published: August 2009

According to theory, directional female choice for male sexual ornaments is expected to erode underlying genetic variation. Considerable attention, in this regard, has been given to understanding the ubiquity of heritable genetic variation in both female choice and male sexual traits. One intriguing possibility emerging from this work is that persistent genetic variation could be maintained, over time, by variation in female mate preferences. Here, we report the results of a four-year study showing significant year-to-year fluctuations in mate preferences in a small marine fish, the sand goby,
Pomatoschistus minutus
. Although the average size of mature fish varied across years, we were unable to find direct evidence linking this variation to differences in female preferences among years. Our results, nevertheless, underscore the importance of temporal fluctuations in female mate preferences, as these can have important consequences for understanding variation in sexual traits and the intensity of sexual selection.
Use of computational fluid dynamics to study forces exerted on prey by aquatic suction feeders
Authors: Skorczewski Tyler , Cheer Angela , Cheung Samson , Wainwright Peter C.
Published: August 2009

Suction feeding is the most commonly used mechanism of prey capture among aquatic vertebrates. Most previous models of the fluid flow caused by suction feeders involve making several untested assumptions. In this paper, a Chimera overset grids approach is used to solve the governing equations of fluid dynamics in order to investigate the assumptions that prey do not interact with the flow and that the flow can be modelled as a one-dimensional flow. Results show that, for small prey, both neglecting the prey and considering prey interaction give similar calculated forces exerted on the prey. However, as the prey item increases in size toward the size of the gape, its effect on the flow becomes more pronounced. This in turn affects both the magnitude of the hydrodynamic forces imparted to the prey and the time when maximum force is delivered. Maximum force is delivered most quickly to intermediate sized prey, about one-third of mouth diameter, and most slowly to prey less than 7 per cent or greater than 67 per cent of mouth diameter. This suggests that the effect of prey size on the timing of suction forces may have substantial consequences for the feeding ecology of suction feeders that are known to prefer prey between 25 and 50 per cent of mouth diameter. Moreover, for a 15 cm fish with a 15 mm gape, assuming a radial one-dimensional flow field can result in underestimating the maximum force exerted on a 5 mm diameter spherical prey 1 gape distance from the mouth by up to 28.7 per cent.
Analysis of PHOTOPERIOD SENSITIVITY5 Sheds Light on the Role of Phytochromes in Photoperiodic Flowering in Rice
Authors: Andrés Fernando , Galbraith David W. , Talón Manuel , Domingo Concha
Published: August 2009

A great number of plants synchronize flowering with day length. In rice (Oryza sativa), photoperiod is the primary environmental cue that triggers flowering. Here, we show that the s73 mutant, identified in a γ-irradiated Bahia collection, displays early flowering and photoperiodic insensitivity due to a null mutation in the PHOTOPERIOD SENSITIVITY5 (SE5) gene, which encodes an enzyme implicated in phytochrome chromophore biosynthesis. s73 mutant plants show a number of alterations in the characteristic diurnal expression patterns of master genes involved in photoperiodic control of flowering, resulting in up-regulation of the floral integrator Heading date3a (Hd3a). Early heading date1 (Ehd1), an additional rice floral activator, was also highly expressed in the s73 mutant, suggesting that SE5 represses Ehd1 in wild-type plants. Silencing of Ehd1 in both Bahia and s73 backgrounds indicated that SE5 regulates Ehd1 expression. The data also indicate that SE5 confers photoperiodic sensitivity through regulation of Hd1. These results provide direct evidence that phytochromes inhibit flowering by affecting both Hd1 and Ehd1 flowering pathways.
Plant-Derived Sucrose Is a Key Element in the Symbiotic Association between Trichoderma virens and Maize Plants
Authors: Vargas Walter A. , Mandawe John C. , Kenerley Charles M.
Published: August 2009

Fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma colonize the rhizosphere of many plants, resulting in beneficial effects such as increased resistance to pathogens and greater yield and productivity. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern the recognition and association between Trichoderma and their hosts are still largely unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that plant-derived sucrose (Suc) is an important resource provided to Trichoderma cells and is also associated with the control of root colonization. We describe the identification and characterization of an intracellular invertase from Trichoderma virens (TvInv) important for the mechanisms that control the symbiotic association and fungal growth in the presence of Suc. Gene expression studies revealed that the hydrolysis of plant-derived Suc in T. virens is necessary for the up-regulation of Sm1, the Trichoderma-secreted elicitor that systemically activates the defense mechanisms in leaves. We determined that as a result of colonization of maize (Zea mays) roots by T. virens, photosynthetic rate increases in leaves and the functional expression of tvinv is crucial for such effect. In agreement, the steady-state levels of mRNA for Rubisco small subunit and the oxygen-evolving enhancer 3-1 were increased in leaves of plants colonized by wild-type T. virens. We conclude that during the symbiosis, the sucrolytic activity in the fungal cells affects the sink activity of roots, directing carbon partitioning toward roots and increasing the rate of photosynthesis in leaves. A discussion of the role of Suc in controlling the fungal proliferation on roots and its pivotal role in the coordination of plant-microbe associations is provided.