bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sobolev orthogonal polynomials and spectral differential equations
Authors: Jung I. H. , Kwon K. H. , Lee D. W. , Littlejohn L. L.
Published: June 2012

We find necessary and sufficient conditions for a spectral differential equation
\[
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper L Subscript upper N Baseline left-bracket y right-bracket left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis equals sigma-summation Underscript i equals 1 Overscript upper N Endscripts script l Subscript i Baseline left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis y Superscript left-parenthesis i right-parenthesis Baseline left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis equals lamda Subscript n Baseline y left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis">

L
N

[
y
]
(
x
)
=

∑

i
=
1

N

ℓ
i

(
x
)

y

(
i
)

(
x
)
=

λ
n

y
(
x
)

{L_N}[y](x) = \sum \limits _{i = 1}^N {{\ell _i}(x){y^{(i)}}(x) = {\lambda _n}y(x)}

\]
to have Sobolev orthogonal polynomials of solutions, which are orthogonal relative to the Sobolev (pseudo-) inner product
\[

ϕ
(
p
,
q
)
=

∫

R

p
q
d
μ
+

∫

R

p
′

q
′

d
v
,

\phi (p,q) = \int _\mathbb {R}^{} {pqd\mu + \int _\mathbb {R}^{} {p’q’dv,} }

\]
where

d
μ

d\mu

and

d
v

dv

are signed Borel measures having finite moments. This result generalizes a result by H. L. Krall, which handles the case when

d
v
=
0

dv = 0

.
𝐿₂(𝑞) and the rank two Lie groups: their construction in light of Kostant’s conjecture
Authors: Sepanski Mark R.
Published: June 2012

This paper deals with certain aspects of a conjecture made by B. Kostant in 1983 relating the Coxeter number to the occurrence of the simple finite groups

L
(
2
,
q
)

L(2,q)

in simple complex Lie groups. A unified approach to Kostant’s conjecture that yields very general results for the rank two case is presented.
On spectral geometry of minimal surfaces in 𝐂𝐏ⁿ
Authors: Shen Yi Bing
Published: June 2012

By employing the standard isometric imbedding of

C

P
n

C{P^n}

into the Euclidean space, a classification theorem for full, minimal,

2
2

-type surfaces in

C

P
n

C{P^n}

that are not

±
\pm

holomorphic is given. All such compact minimal surfaces are either totally real minimal surfaces in

C

P
2

C{P^2}

or totally real superminimal surfaces in

C

P
3

C{P^3}

and

C

P
4

C{P^4}

. In the latter case, they are locally unique. Moreover, some eigenvalue inequalities for compact minimal surfaces of

C

P
n

C{P^n}

with constant Kaehler angle are shown.
Ramanujan’s theories of elliptic functions to alternative bases
Authors: Berndt Bruce C. , Bhargava S. , Garvan Frank G.
Published: June 2012

In his famous paper on modular equations and approximations to

π
\pi

, Ramanujan offers several series representations for

1

/

π

1/\pi

, which he claims are derived from "corresponding theories" in which the classical base

q
q

is replaced by one of three other bases. The formulas for

1

/

π

1/\pi

were only recently proved by J. M. and P. B. Borwein in 1987, but these "corresponding theories" have never been heretofore developed. However, on six pages of his notebooks, Ramanujan gives approximately 50 results without proofs in these theories. The purpose of this paper is to prove all of these claims, and several further results are established as well.
Stability of optimal-order approximation by bivariate splines over arbitrary triangulations
Authors: Chui C. K. , Hong D. , Jia R. Q.
Published: June 2012

LetΔ\Deltabe a triangulation of some polygonal domain inR2{\mathbb {R}^2}andSkr(Δ)S_k^r(\Delta ), the space of all bivariateCr{C^r}piecewise polynomials of total degree⩽k\leqslant konΔ\Delta. In this paper, we construct a local basis of some subspace of the spaceSkr(Δ)S_k^r(\Delta ), wherek⩾3r+2k \geqslant 3r + 2, that can be used to provide the highest order of approximation, with the property that the approximation constant of this order is independent of the geometry ofΔ\Deltawith the exception of the smallest angle in the partition. This result is obtained by means of a careful choice of locally supported basis functions which, however, require a very technical proof to justify their stability in optimal-order approximation. A new formulation of smoothness conditions for piecewise polynomials in terms of theirB{\text {B}}-net representations is derived for this purpose.
A genealogy for finite kneading sequences of bimodal maps on the interval
Authors: Ringland John , Tresser Charles
Published: June 2012

We generate all the finite kneading sequences of one of the two kinds of bimodal map on the interval, building each sequence uniquely from a pair of shorter ones. There is a single pair at generation

0
0

, with members of length

1
1

. Concomitant with this genealogy of kneading sequences is a unified genealogy of all the periodic orbits. (See Figure 0.) Figure 0. Loci of some finite kneading sequences for a two-parameter cubic family
Equivalence relations induced by actions of Polish groups
Authors: Solecki Sławomir
Published: June 2012

We give an algebraic characterization of those sequences

(

H
n

)

({H_n})

of countable abelian groups for which the equivalence relations induced by Borel (or, equivalently, continuous) actions of

H
0

×

H
1

×

H
2

×
⋯

{H_0} \times {H_1} \times {H_2} \times \cdots

are Borel. In particular, the equivalence relations induced by Borel actions of

H
ω

{H^\omega }

,

H
H

countable abelian, are Borel iff
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper H asymptotically-equals circled-plus left-parenthesis upper F Subscript p Baseline times double-struck upper Z left-parenthesis p Superscript normal infinity Baseline right-parenthesis Superscript n Super Subscript p Superscript Baseline right-parenthesis">

H
≃

⊕
p

(

F
p

×

Z

(

p
∞

)

n
p

)

H \simeq { \oplus _p}({F_p} \times \mathbb {Z}{({p^\infty })^{{n_p}}})

, where

F
p

{F_p}

is a finite

p
p

-group,

Z

(

p
∞

)

\mathbb {Z}({p^\infty })

is the quasicyclic

p
p

-group,

n
p

∈
ω

{n_p} \in \omega

, and

p
p

varies over the set of all primes. This answers a question of R. L. Sami by showing that there are Borel actions of Polish abelian groups inducing non-Borel equivalence relations. The theorem also shows that there exist non-locally compact abelian Polish groups all of whose Borel actions induce only Borel equivalence relations. In the process of proving the theorem we generalize a result of Makkai on the existence of group trees of arbitrary height.
𝑅-trees, small cancellation, and convergence
Authors: Chermak Andrew
Published: June 2012

The "metric small cancellation hypotheses" of combinatorial group theory imply, when satisfied, that a given presentation has a solvable Word Problem via Dehn’s Algorithm. The present work both unifies and generalizes the small cancellation hypotheses, and analyzes them by means of group actions on trees, leading to the strengthening of some classical results.
Formes différentielles non commutatives et cohomologie à coefficients arbitraires
Authors: Karoubi Max
Published: June 2012

The purpose of the paper is to promote a new definition of cohomology, using the theory of non commutative differential forms, introduced already by Alain Connes and the author in order to study the relation between

K
K

-theory and cyclic homology. The advantages of this theory in classical Algebraic Topology are the following: A much simpler multiplicative structure, where the symmetric group plays an important role. This is important for cohomology operations and the investigation of a model for integral homotopy types (Formes différentielles non commutatives et opérations de Steenrod, Topology, to appear). These considerations are of course related to the theory of operads. A better relation between de Rham cohomology (defined through usual differential forms on a manifold) and integral cohomology, thanks to a "non commutative integration". A new definition of Deligne cohomology which can be generalized to manifolds provided with a suitable filtration of their de Rham complex. In this paper, the theory is presented in the framework of simplicial sets. With minor modifications, the same results can be obtained in the topological category, thanks essentially to the Dold-Thom theorem (Formes topologiques non commutatives, Ann. Sci. Ecole Norm. Sup., to appear). A summary of this paper has been presented to the French Academy: CR Acad. Sci. Paris 316 (1993), 833-836.
On the set of periods for 𝜎 maps
Authors: Leseduarte M. Carme , Llibre Jaume
Published: June 2012

Let

σ
\sigma

be the topological graph shaped like the letter

σ
\sigma

. We denote by

0
0

the unique branching point of

σ
\sigma

, and by

O

{\mathbf {O}}

and

I

{\mathbf {I}}

the closures of the components of

σ
∖
{
0
}

\sigma \backslash \{ 0\}

homeomorphics to the circle and the interval, respectively. A continuous map from

σ
\sigma

into itself satisfying that

f
f

has a fixed point in

O

{\mathbf {O}}

, or

f
f

has a fixed point and

f
(
0
)
∈

I

f(0) \in {\mathbf {I}}

is called a

σ
\sigma

map. These are the continuous self-maps of

σ
\sigma

whose sets of periods can be studied without the notion of rotation interval. We characterize the sets of periods of all

σ
\sigma

maps.
Hybrid spaces with interesting cohomology
Authors: Lesh Kathryn
Published: June 2012

Let

p
p

be an odd prime, and let

R
R

be a polynomial algebra over the Steenrod algebra with generators in dimensions prime to

p
p

. To such an algebra is associated a

p
p

-adic pseudoreflection group

W
W

, and we assume that

W
W

is of order prime to

p
p

and irreducible. Adjoin to

R
R

a one-dimensional element

z
z

, and give

R
[
z
]

R[z]

an action of the Steenrod algebra by

β
z
=
0

\beta z = 0

and

β
x
=
(

|
x
|

/

2
)
z
x

\beta x = (\left | x \right |/2)zx

for an even dimensional element

x
x

. We show that the subalgebra of elements of

R
[
z
]

R[z]

consisting of elements of degree greater than one is realized uniquely, up to homotopy, as the cohomology of a

p
p

-complete space. This space can be thought of as a cross between spaces studied by Aguade, Broto, and Notbohm, and the Clark-Ewing examples, further studied by Dwyer, Miller, and Wilkerson.
Topological entropy for finite invariant subsets of 𝑌
Authors: Li Shi Hai , Ye Xiang Dong
Published: June 2012

Let

Y
Y

be the space

{
z
∈

C

:

z
3

∈
[
0
,
1
]
}

\{ z \in {\mathbf {C}}:{z^3} \in [0,1]\}

with a metric defined by the arc length. Suppose that

f
f

is a continuous map from

Y
Y

to itself and

P
P

is a finite

f
f

-invariant subset. In this paper we construct a continuous map

C
P

{C_P}

from

Y
Y

to itself satisfying

C
P

|

P

=
f

|

P

{C_P}{|_P} = f{|_P}

which achieves the infimum topological entropies of continuous maps from

Y
Y

to itself which agree with

f
f

on

P
P

.
On the ideal class group of real biquadratic fields
Authors: Sime Patrick J.
Published: June 2012

We discuss the structure of the ideal class group of real biquadratic fieldsKK, concentrating on the case that the44-rank of the ideal class groups of the quadratic subfields ofKKis00. In this case, we give estimates for the44-rank of the ideal class group ofKK. As an example, letK=Q(p,627)K = \mathbb {Q}(\sqrt p ,\sqrt {627} ), whereppis a prime satisfying certain congruence conditions. The22-primary part of the ideal class group ofKKis then isomorphic to<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="left-parenthesis double-struck upper Z slash 4 double-struck upper Z right-parenthesis squared comma double-struck upper Z slash 4 double-struck upper Z times left-parenthesis double-struck upper Z slash 2 double-struck upper Z right-parenthesis squared">(Z/4Z)2,Z/4Z×(Z/2Z)2{(\mathbb {Z}/4\mathbb {Z})^2},\mathbb {Z}/4\mathbb {Z} \times {(\mathbb {Z}/2\mathbb {Z})^2}, or(Z/2Z)4{(\mathbb {Z}/2\mathbb {Z})^4}. Further, each of the above occurs infinitely often.
The Inverse Stable Range Functor
Authors: Young Robert S. Y.
Published: June 2012

We give an inverse construction of the stable range for general flows which may or may not admit an invariant measure. The inverse map is then shown to be a right inverse functor of the stable range functor.
Nuclear hormone receptor corepressor promotes esophageal cancer cell invasion by transcriptional repression of interferon-γ–inducible protein 10 in a casein kinase 2–dependent manner
Authors: Yoo Jung-Yoon , Choi Hyo-Kyoung , Choi Kyung-Chul , Park Soo-Yeon , Ota Ichiro , Yook Jong In , Lee Yoo-Hyun , Kim Kunhong , Yoon Ho-Geun
Published: June 2012

Aberrant expression of casein kinase 2 (CK2) is associated with tumor progression; however, the molecular mechanism by which CK2 modulates tumorigenesis is incompletely understood. In this paper, we show that CK2α phosphorylates the C-terminal domain of the nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) at Ser-2436 to stabilize the NCoR against the ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation pathway. Importantly, NCoR promoted the invasion of esophageal cancer cells in a CK2-dependent manner. By using cyclic DNA microarray analysis, we identified CXCL10/IP-10 as a novel CK2α-NCoR cascade–regulated gene. The depletion of both NCoR and HDAC3 commonly derepressed IP-10 transcription, demonstrating the functional engagement of the NCoR-HDAC3 axis in IP-10 transcriptional repression. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that c-Jun recruits NCoR-HDAC3 corepressor complexes to the (AP1 site of IP-10, leading to histone hypoacetylation and IP-10 down-regulation. Collectively these data suggest that the CK2α-NCoR cascade selectively represses the transcription of IP-10 and promotes oncogenic signaling in human esophageal cancer cells.
Strobilurin (QoI) Resistance in Populations of Erysiphe necator on Grapes in Michigan
Authors: Miles L. A. , Miles T. D. , Kirk W. W. , Schilder A. M. C.
Published: June 2012

Powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe necator, is the most common and destructive disease of grapes (Vitis spp.) worldwide. In Michigan, it is primarily controlled with fungicides, including strobilurins (quinone outside inhibitors [QoIs]). Within the United States, resistance to this class of fungicides has been reported in E. necator populations in some east coast states. Among 12 E. necator isolates collected from five Michigan vineyards in 2008, one carried the G143A single-nucleotide mutation responsible for QoI resistance. This isolate was confirmed to be resistant in a conidium germination assay on water agar amended with trifloxystrobin at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 μg/ml and salicylhydroxamic acid (100 mg/liter). The mutant isolate was able to germinate on media amended with 100 μg/ml trifloxystrobin, whereas a representative wild-type isolate did not germinate at concentrations higher than 0.1 μg/ml. In 2009, 172 isolates were collected from a total of 21 vineyards (juice and wine grapes): three vineyards with no fungicide application history (baseline sites), six research vineyards, and 12 commercial vineyards. QoI resistance was defined as the effective concentration that inhibited 50% of conidial germination (EC50) > 1 μg/ml. Isolates from baseline sites had EC50 values mostly below 0.01 μg/ml, while isolates that were highly resistant to trifloxystrobin (EC50 > 100 μg/ml) occurred in five research and three commercial wine grape vineyards at frequencies of 40 to 100% and 25 to 75% of the isolates, respectively. The G143A mutation was detected in every isolate with an EC50 > 1 μg/ml. These results suggest that fungicide resistance may play a role in suboptimal control of powdery mildew observed in some Michigan vineyards and emphasizes the need for continued fungicide resistance management.
First Report of Squash leaf curl virus in Cucurbits in Lebanon
Authors: Sobh H. , Samsatly J. , Jawhari M. , Najjar C. , Haidar A. , Abou-Jawdah Y.
Published: June 2012

During the second squash cropping season, which coincides with high whitefly populations, a high incidence of plants with severe leaf curl symptoms was observed. Many farmers reported yield losses ranging from 70 to 80%. Surveys were conducted over five cropping seasons (2008 to 2010) and covered the coastal areas of Lebanon. A total of 675 samples were collected, including cucumber (Cucumis sativus), squash (Cucurbita sp.), melon (Cucumis melo), and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). All squash samples had leaf curl symptoms, whereas 75 to 85% of cucumber, melon, and watermelon samples showed yellowing symptoms. The remaining 15 to 25% were asymptomatic. Total nucleic acids were extracted according to a small-scale CTAB protocol (4). PCR assays were initially conducted using the universal degenerate primers PAL1v1978 and PAR1c496, designed to detect DNA-A of several begomoviruses (3). Following sequencing of 22 randomly selected amplicons, BLASTN analysis showed that 19 samples were infected with Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV). SLCV specific primers: (SqA1R: 5′AGCTGTATCTTGGGCAACAGA3′ and SqA2F: 5′TATCTCCCATCTTGGCAAGG3′; amplicon size: 601 bp) were used for detection in the 675 samples. SLCV was detected in 223/249 (89%), 83/145 (57%), 129/229 (56%), and 25/52 (48%) of squash, cucumber, melon, and watermelon samples, respectively. The SLCV genome from a symptomatic squash plant collected from Akkar, North Lebanon, was amplified by rolling circle amplification (RCA) using the TempliPhi Amplification Kit (GE Healthcare). The product was used for biolistic inoculation of squash and cucumber as described (2). Severe leaf curl symptoms were observed on 7/10 of the squash seedlings (cv. Camelia F1) within 2 weeks of inoculation. However, no symptoms were observed on cucumber (cv. Beit alpha) 1 month after inoculation, even though 6/11 (54%) of the plants were positive for SLCV in PCR assays. Several primer sets were used for sequencing the full SLCV genome using the RCA product as template. The sequences were submitted to GenBank under accession numbers HM368373 and HM368374 (SLCV DNA A and B, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis showed that SLCV DNA A was most closely related to SLCV isolates from Egypt (DQ285019) and Israel (HQ184436) with 99% nucleotide identity; SLCV DNA B was most closely related to the same SLCV isolate from Israel (HQ184437) with 99% nucleotide identity. SLCV was first observed on squash in California in 1977, but was introduced during the last decade to the Mediterranean region (1) and currently is widespread all over Lebanon, posing a great threat to squash production.

References: (1) Antignus et al. Phytoparasitica 31:415, 2003. (2) Guenoune-Gelbart et al. J. Virol. Methods 168:87, 2010. (3) Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993. (4) Zhang et al. J. Virol. Methods 71:45, 1998.
Faunal isotope records reveal trophic and nutrient dynamics in twentieth century Yellowstone grasslands
Authors: Fox-Dobbs Kena , Nelson Abigail A. , Koch Paul L. , Leonard Jennifer A.
Published: June 2012

Population sizes and movement patterns of ungulate grazers and their predators have fluctuated dramatically over the past few centuries, largely owing to overharvesting, land-use change and historic management. We used
δ
13
C and
δ
15
N values measured from bone collagen of historic and recent gray wolves and their potential primary prey from Yellowstone National Park to gain insight into the trophic dynamics and nutrient conditions of historic and modern grasslands. The diet of reintroduced wolves closely parallels that of the historic population. We suggest that a significant shift in faunal
δ
15
N values over the past century reflects impacts of anthropogenic environmental changes on grassland ecosystems, including grazer-mediated shifts in grassland nitrogen cycle processes.
Evaluating the role of contracting and expanding rainforest in initiating cycles of speciation across the Isthmus of Panama
Authors: Smith Brian Tilston , Amei Amei , Klicka John
Published: June 2012

Climatic and geological changes across time are presumed to have shaped the rich biodiversity of tropical regions. However, the impact climatic drying and subsequent tropical rainforest contraction had on speciation has been controversial because of inconsistent palaeoecological and genetic data. Despite the strong interest in examining the role of climatic change on speciation in the Neotropics there has been few comparative studies, particularly, those that include non-rainforest taxa. We used bird species that inhabit humid or dry habitats that dispersed across the Panamanian Isthmus to characterize temporal and spatial patterns of speciation across this barrier. Here, we show that these two assemblages of birds exhibit temporally different speciation time patterns that supports multiple cycles of speciation. Evidence for these cycles is further corroborated by the finding that both assemblages consist of ‘young’ and ‘old’ species, despite dry habitat species pairs being geographically more distant than pairs of humid habitat species. The matrix of humid and dry habitats in the tropics not only allows for the maintenance of high species richness, but additionally this study suggests that these environments may have promoted speciation. We conclude that differentially expanding and contracting distributions of dry and humid habitats was probably an important contributor to speciation in the tropics.
A positive effect of flowers rather than eye images in a large-scale, cross-cultural dictator game
Authors: Raihani Nichola J. , Bshary Redouan
Published: June 2012

People often consider how their behaviour will be viewed by others, and may cooperate to avoid gaining a bad reputation. Sensitivity to reputation may be elicited by subtle social cues of being watched: previous studies have shown that people behave more cooperatively when they see images of eyes rather than control images. Here, we tested whether eye images enhance cooperation in a dictator game, using the online labour market Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT). In contrast to our predictions and the results of most previous studies, dictators gave away more money when they saw images of flowers rather than eye images. Donations in response to eye images were not significantly different to donations under control treatments. Dictator donations varied significantly across cultures but there was no systematic variation in responses to different image types across cultures. Unlike most previous studies, players interacting via AMT may feel truly anonymous when making decisions and, as such, may not respond to subtle social cues of being watched. Nevertheless, dictators gave away similar amounts as in previous studies, so anonymity did not erase helpfulness. We suggest that eye images might only promote cooperative behaviour in relatively public settings and that people may ignore these cues when they know their behaviour is truly anonymous.
Differential Expression of the Chlamydomonas [FeFe]-Hydrogenase-Encoding HYDA1 Gene Is Regulated by the COPPER RESPONSE REGULATOR1
Authors: Pape Miriam , Lambertz Camilla , Happe Thomas , Hemschemeier Anja
Published: June 2012

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii adapts to anaerobic or hypoxic conditions by developing a complex fermentative metabolism including the production of molecular hydrogen by [FeFe]-hydrogenase isoform1 (HYDA1). HYDA1 transcript and hydrogenase protein accumulate in the absence of oxygen or copper (Cu). Factors regulating this differential gene expression have been unknown so far. In this study, we report on the isolation of a Chlamydomonas mutant strain impaired in HYDA1 gene expression by screening an insertional mutagenesis library for HYDA1 promoter activity using the arylsulfatase-encoding ARYLSULFATASE2 gene as a selection marker. The mutant strain has a deletion of the COPPER RESPONSE REGULATOR1 (CRR1) gene encoding for CRR1, indicating that this SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN (SBP) domain transcription factor is involved in the regulation of HYDA1 transcription. Treating the C. reinhardtii wild type with mercuric ions, which were shown to inhibit the binding of the SBP domain to DNA, prevented or deactivated HYDA1 gene expression. Reporter gene analyses of the HYDA1 promoter revealed that two GTAC motifs, which are known to be the cores of CRR1 binding sites, are necessary for full promoter activity in hypoxic conditions or upon Cu starvation. However, mutations of the GTAC sites had a much stronger impact on reporter gene expression in Cu-deficient cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the CRR1 SBP domain binds to one of the GTAC cores in vitro. These combined results prove that CRR1 is involved in HYDA1 promoter activation.
Polymorphic miRNA‐mediated gene contribution to inhibitor development in haemophilia A
Authors: Bafunno V. , Santacroce R. , Chetta M. , Peyvandi F. , Sessa F. , Chinni E. , Longo V. , Margaglione M.
Published: June 2012

Development of inhibitory antibodies is perhaps the most serious complication of FVIII replacement therapy, precluding efficient clinical management of patients with haemophilia A (HA). The development and function of immune system are also regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Mutations and changes in the level of expression of some miRNA genes have been associated with the onset and progression of immunological disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate new genetic polymorphisms in loci for miRNA and their targets to evaluate whether these SNPs may confer susceptibility to inhibitor development in patients with HA. Italian HA patients with and without inhibitors and healthy controls were recruited in this study. For SNP analysis, standard DNA sequencing method was used. We have studied four SNPs, i.e. rs36101366, rs34683807, rs1803603 and rs3024496 located in the 3′UTR of F8 and IL‐10 genes. These SNPs have been checked for their frequencies in patients with and without inhibitors, but no statistically significant differences were found. Then, we have searched for other genetic variants in loci for haematopoietic‐specific miRNAs, i.e. hsa‐mir‐150, hsa‐mir‐155, hsa‐mir‐146a, hsa‐mir‐142, hsa‐mir‐181a and in a specific miRNA, hsa‐mir‐1184, i.e. predicted to be located in the intron 22 of F8 gene. For all miRNAs selected, we did not identify any sequence variation in our study population. This is the first study to demonstrate that there was no association between selected SNPs in miRNAs and their targets and the susceptibility to inhibitor development in people affected by HA.
Solvent‐free tissue processing using supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Bleuel Erik P , Roebers Thijs P C , Schulting Edwin , den Dunnen Wilfred F A
Published: June 2012

Bleuel E P, Roebers T P C, Schulting E & den Dunnen W F A  (2012) Histopathology Solvent‐free tissue processing using supercritical carbon dioxide

Aims:  Xylene is most often employed in tissue processing protocols for paraffin embedding, but poses a health hazard. The aim of this study was to evaluate a solvent‐free processing protocol that uses supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as an intermediate.

Methods and Results:  A series of tests (with bovine tissues) was run, evaluating dehydration and tissue shrinkage in our new scCO2‐based protocol as compared with routine processing using a graded ethanol and xylene series. A series of tests was then run to evaluate the significance of processing parameters for the outcome. Finally, a validation series was performed with optimal conditions, testing various human tissues with several staining methods. The tissue water content after paraffination was the same with our new scCO2‐based protocol and the routine xylene‐based protocol. Tissue shrinkage was similar with the two methods, at ∼15%, which is also similar to values in the literature. In the validation series, the human tissues showed good morphology with strong staining, probably because of stronger antigenicity.

Conclusions:  This scCO2‐based protocol has been shown to be a good solvent‐free, alternative form of tissue processing. Although not the focus of this article, the time needed for tissue processing with this new protocol is within 4 h, and there is no need to change macroscopy/sectioning protocols.
Androgen Function in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Male Huntington’s Disease Patients
Authors: Ransome M. I.
Published: June 2012

Low concentrations of circulating testosterone have been associated with dementia manifesting with advancing age and in neurodegenerative conditions. Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease with an invariably fatal outcome. Severe motor symptoms, psychosis and dementia are symptomatic hallmarks of the progression of HD that result from the dysfunction and death of neocortical and basal ganglia neurones. Treatments are directed toward manifest symptoms, although they are largely ineffectual in slowing or preventing disease progression. Emerging data have identified hypothamic pathologies in HD that result in endocrine disturbances. Clinically defined primary or secondary hypogonadism elicit low circulating testosterone concentrations and have been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in men. Examining similar neuroendocrine dysfunction in HD including the nature of manifest hypogonadism in male patients could allow an elucidation of the complex pathophysiology of HD and provide an impetus for hitherto untested testosterone replacement therapy.
Sequence‐based HLA high‐resolution typing of a bone marrow donor/recipient pair reveals the novel HLA allele HLA‐C*07:208
Authors: Zhang W. , Wang W. , He J. , Zhu F‐M. , Lv H‐J.
Published: June 2012

Nucleotide sequence of HLA‐C*07:208 allele was different from that of HLA‐C*07:02:01:01 by a single‐nucleotide substitution at position 475 G>C.
Follicular carcinoma of thyroid following successful liver transplantation – A report
Authors: Dantuluri Sri , Urs Arun , Karthik Sivaramakrishnan Venkatesh
Published: June 2012

Dantuluri S, Urs A, Karthik SV. Follicular carcinoma of thyroid following successful liver transplantation – A report.

Abstract:  Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid is a relatively rare malignancy in childhood even in paediatric solid organ transplant recipients. The risk of developing de novo malignancies after liver transplantation is higher compared to the general population. We report an 18‐yr‐old girl who had successfully undergone liver transplantation five yr earlier for neonatal sclerosing cholangitis complicated by the development of dysplastic nodules. Baseline immunosuppression was with tacrolimus and prednisolone. Mycophenolate mofetil was later added in view of steroid‐resistant episodes of graft rejection. She subsequently suffered from marked obesity and essential hypertension needing antihypertensive medication. Five yr after liver transplantation, she presented with a right‐sided thyroid swelling that was rapidly progressive with no associated lymphadenopathy and normal systemic examination. Ultrasound of her neck revealed a solid lesion in the right lobe of the thyroid gland with ill‐defined margins, and a diagnostic right thyroid lobectomy confirmed the diagnosis of follicular carcinoma with focal capsular and vascular invasion. She underwent total thyroidectomy and currently remains well on thyroxine supplements. Our report highlights the need for high level of suspicion and prompt investigation into any abnormal lesion in the long‐term follow‐up of solid organ transplant recipients.
Antibodies to the glutamate receptor in mania
Authors: Dickerson Faith , Stallings Cassie , Vaughan Crystal , Origoni Andrea , Khushalani Sunil , Yolken Robert
Published: June 2012

Dickerson F, Stallings C, Vaughan C, Origoni A, Khushalani S, Yolken R. Antibodies to the glutamate receptor in mania. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 547–553. © 2012 The Authors.Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Background:  There is evidence that the glutamatergic system is involved in the pathophysiology of mania. Antibodies to the NR2 subunits of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor have been shown to adversely affect glutamate functioning.

Methods:  We measured serum antibodies to the NR2 peptide of the NMDA receptor in 60 individuals with different subtypes of mania, including schizoaffective cases, who were assessed at up to three time points. We also measured these antibodies in 295 individuals in other psychiatric groups and in 170 non‐psychiatric controls. NR2 antibody levels were compared among groups by multivariate analyses and within the mania group by repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results:  Individuals with mania had increased levels of antibodies to the NR2 peptide compared to levels in non‐psychiatric controls when measured at the time of admission (t = 2.99, p = 0.003) and the time of evaluation (t = 2.57, p = 0.010), but not at follow‐up six months later. The levels of antibodies in individuals in other psychiatric groups did not differ significantly from the levels measured in the control population. Within the mania group, there was a significant decrease in antibody levels over the three time points of the study (F = 5.4, df = 2, p = 0.0067).

Conclusions:  NR2 antibodies are elevated during the acute phase of mania but not at follow‐up. Our findings support a role for antibodies to the NMDA receptor in the pathogenesis of acute mania.
Circumscribed alopecia areata incognita
Authors: Park Jin , Song Ki‐Hun , Nam Kyung‐Hwa
Published: June 2012

The characteristic lesion of alopecia areata is a smooth bald patch on the scalp. When there is no bald surface it is called alopecia areata incognita. To date, all cases of alopecia areata reported as so‐called ‘incognito’ have shown a diffuse involvement of the scalp as in acute telogen effluvium. Recently, we have observed two patients who showed localised hair thinning of the scalp without bald spots. Histopathologically, the lesions were typical of alopecia areata with peribulbar lymphocytic infiltrates. The response to corticosteroid treatment and its clinical course were also compatible with alopecia areata.
The increased prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in psoriatic patients: A study from South India
Authors: Madanagobalane Shraddha , Anandan Sankarasubramanian
Published: June 2012

Background:  Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease of the skin and joints. Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in psoriatic patients. Recent studies show that non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also frequent in psoriasis patients.

Objectives:  To investigate the occurrence and severity of NAFLD in South Indian psoriatic patients and healthy controls.

Methods:  In phase 1 we performed a case control study on 333 adult psoriasis patients and 330 controls matched by age, sex and body mass index. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography and liver enzymes after excluding other liver diseases. In phase 2 we compared the NAFLD subgroups in psoriasis patients and controls by determining their fibrosis, steatosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) scores.

Results:  The occurrence of NAFLD was higher in psoriasis patients than in controls (17.4 vs 7.9%; P = 0.002). NAFLD patients in the psoriasis group (n = 58) were more likely to have MS (P = 0.03) and diabetes (P = 0.02) than those with psoriasis alone (n = 254). The former group had a longer duration of psoriasis and arthritis (P = 0.003 and 0.005). Psoriasis patients with NAFLD had more severe disease as per the psoriasis area and severity index scores (P = 0.02). Psoriasis patients had more severe NAFLD than controls as reflected by the steatosis, NASH and fibrosis scores (P = 0.001, 0.003, 0.03 respectively).

Conclusion:  NAFLD is the commonest liver disease in Indian psoriatic patients when compared to controls. As NAFLD is more severe in psoriasis patients we suggest routine screening for NAFLD in this group especially when systemic therapy is considered.
Persistence of flower visitors and pollination services of a generalist tree in modified forests
Authors: NEUSCHULZ EIKE L. , GRASS INGO , BOTZAT ALEXANDRA , JOHNSON STEVEN D. , FARWIG NINA
Published: June 2012

Flower‐visiting insects provide essential pollination services to many plant species. It is thus of critical importance to understand the effects of anthropogenic landscape modification on these animals. Particularly at the landscape scale, we still lack information on how flower visitors are affected by different intensities of human disturbance. In this study, we chose six representative types of forest modification across a heterogeneous South African landscape. At 36 study sites we observed insect visitation to Celtis africana flowers in two consecutive years. This generalist tree species has small unspecialized flowers which we found to be pollinated by a diverse array of insects as well as by wind. Visitation rates to flowers of C. africana differed significantly among the six forest types and between two study years. Visitation rates were enhanced in modified forests, facilitated by a high abundance of feral honeybees (Apis mellifera). Fruit set in C. africana showed significant positive associations with insect visitation and with the diversity of flower visitors, but was only weakly predicted by forest type. Our findings imply that even though forest modification can strongly alter flower visitors, pollination services for trees with unspecialized flowers may persist at a landscape scale. We advise conservation managers to maintain modified forest fragments in addition to natural forests as these may contribute to sustain pollination services in human‐modified landscapes.
Progress in the application of notch asymptotics to the understanding of complete contacts subject to fretting fatigue
Authors: FLICEK R. , HILLS D.A. , DINI D.
Published: June 2012

This paper describes progress in the interpretation of notch fatigue data by re‐working the Williams solution to bring out the effects of mode mixity and the limits of small scale yielding. The results are displayed in KI versus KII space. Experimental results from complete fretting fatigue tests using a high strength steel alloy known as “super CMV” are then plotted out on this diagram and it is shown that the fretting damage does not significantly reduce fatigue life, while the stress localisation effects of adhered pad edges does.
Do proconvulsants modify or halt epileptogenesis? Pentylenetetrazole is ineffective in two rat models of temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Rattka Marta , Brandt Claudia , Löscher Wolfgang
Published: June 2012

In patients at risk of developing epilepsy after an initial precipitating injury to the brain, the epileptogenic latent period may offer a window of opportunity for initiating potential antiepileptogenic therapy in an attempt to prevent epilepsy from developing. One potential target for antiepileptogenesis is the development of neuronal hyperexcitability during the latent period. Surprisingly, some recent studies in models of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) have suggested that proconvulsant drugs could have favourable effects on epileptogenesis, resulting in the proposal of pursuing proconvulsant prophylaxis for epileptogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated this provocative hypothesis by experiments with the GABAA receptor antagonist pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in two TLE models, the intrahippocampal kainate model and the lithium–pilocarpine model in rats. First, we repeatedly determined the PTZ seizure threshold by i.v. infusion of the convulsant during the latent period following intrahippocampal kainate. In line with recent experiments in the lithium–pilocarpine model, the PTZ seizure threshold was significantly decreased over several days following status epilepticus. We then studied whether prolonged infusion of a proconvulsant dose of PTZ at different times after kainate or pilocarpine affected the development of epilepsy. PTZ did not prevent the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures and did not decrease their frequency or severity, but exerted only a moderate disease‐modifying effect in that spontaneous seizures in the kainate model were significantly shortened. These data indicate that administration of proconvulsant drugs such as PTZ during the latent period following SE is not a promising strategy for preventing epilepsy.
The development, distribution and density of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase 2 calcium pump in rat cochlear hair cells
Authors: Chen Qingguo , Mahendrasingam Shanthini , Tickle Jacqueline A. , Hackney Carole M. , Furness David N. , Fettiplace Robert
Published: June 2012

Calcium is tightly regulated in cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs). It enters mainly via mechanotransducer (MT) channels and is extruded by the plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA)2 isoform of the PMCA, mutations in which cause hearing loss. To assess how pump expression matches the demands of Ca2+ homeostasis, the distribution of PMCA2 at different cochlear locations during development was quantified using immunofluorescence and post‐embedding immunogold labeling. The PMCA2 isoform was confined to stereociliary bundles, first appearing at the base of the cochlea around post‐natal day (P)0 followed by the middle and then the apex by P3, and was unchanged after P8. The developmental appearance matched the maturation of the MT channels in rat OHCs. High‐resolution immunogold labeling in adult rats showed that PMCA2 was distributed along the membranes of all three rows of OHC stereocilia at similar densities and at about a quarter of the density in inner hair cell stereocilia. The difference between OHCs and inner hair cells was similar to the ratio of their MT channel resting open probabilities. Gold particle counts revealed no difference in PMCA2 density between low‐ and high‐frequency OHC bundles despite larger MT currents in high‐frequency OHCs. The PMCA2 density in OHC stereocilia was determined in low‐ and high‐frequency regions from calibration of immunogold particle counts as 2200/μm2 from which an extrusion rate of ∼200 ions/s per pump was inferred. The limited ability of PMCA2 to extrude the Ca2+ load through MT channels may constitute a major cause of OHC vulnerability and high‐frequency hearing loss.
Apparent signal of competition limiting diversification after ecological transitions from marine to freshwater habitats
Authors: Betancur‐R. Ricardo , Ortí Guillermo , Stein Ariel M. , Marceniuk Alexandre P. , Alexander Pyron R.
Published: June 2012

Adaptive radiations are typically triggered when a lineage encounters a significant range of open niche space (ecological opportunity), stemming from colonisation of new areas, extinction of competitors or key innovations. The most well‐known of these is the colonisation of new areas, through either dispersal into new regions or the invasion of novel ecological regimes. One aspect of ecological opportunity that has rarely been studied, however, is the extent to which pre‐existent competitors act to limit diversification in newly colonised adaptive zones. Herein, we show that in multiple geographically independent invasions of freshwaters by marine Sea Catfishes (Ariidae), rates of both morphological disparification and lineage diversification are inversely related to the presence and diversity of other freshwater fish lineages. Only in one region (Australia‐New Guinea) with an otherwise depauperate freshwater fauna, has an ariid invasion gained any substantial traction. This is true at both regional and community scales, suggesting that competitive constraints may be an important factor regulating adaptive radiation.
Overexpression of high mobility group box 1 with poor prognosis in patients after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Li Tao , Gui Yaping , Yuan Tao , Liao Guoqiang , Bian Cuidong , Jiang Qiquan , Huang Shengsong , Liu Bo , Wu Denglong
Published: June 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Recent studies have indicated that high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is related to the development and progression of human carcinomas. However, further studies were required to confirm the roles played by HMGB1 in clinical prostate cancer treatment.

We investigated the relationship between HMGB1 expression and the characteristics of prostate cancer, and also evaluated the significance of HMGB1 as a prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence‐free survival after radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression in human prostate cancer (PC) cell lines and its prognostic significance after radical prostatectomy (RP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to detect HMGB1 mRNA and protein expression in PC cell lines.

Immunohistochemistry coupled with the tissue microarray technique was performed to evaluate HMGB1 protein expression in 168 primary prostatectomy tissue samples.

Clinicopathological features were compared between positive and negative HMGB1 protein expression groups.

Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox analyses were applied to determine the prognostic value of HMGB1 protein expression on biochemical recurrence (BCR) for patients with PC who were undergoing RP.

RESULTS

There were three PC cells (DU145, PC‐3 and LNCaP) with overexpression of HMGB1 mRNA and protein compared to the non‐transformed immortalized prostate cell RWPE‐1.

A total of 60.1% (101/168) of the PC samples appeared to have positive protein expression of HMGB1.

HMGB1 protein expression was correlated with some clinicopathological parameters, such as pathological stage (pT) (P= 0.011), Gleason score, preoperative prostate‐specific antigen concentration and BCR (P < 0.001, respectively).

Positive HMGB1 immunostaining in patients with PC who were undergoing RP was significantly associated with poor median BCR‐free survival (23.1 months vs 15.6 months) (P < 0.001).

Multivariate analysis indicated that HMGB1 protein expression was an independent prognostic factor for BCR‐free survival after RP (hazard ratio = 2.348, 95% confidence interval = 1.373–6.361, P= 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Up‐regulation of HMGB1 mRNA and protein concentrations was confirmed in PC cells.

HMGB1 expression may contribute to the malignant progression of PC.

HMGB1 presents as a novel prognostic factor for BCR after RP.