bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why pharmacists should not sell homeopathic products
Authors: Pray W Steven
Published: November 2010

Homeopathy has grown to an alarming extent in the USA in recent decades. There are many compelling reasons for pharmacists to refuse to stock and sell these products. For instance, their safety and efficacy is unproven, patients using them may forego legitimate medical therapy, their sales yield a dishonest profit, selling them may expose the seller to legal consequences, they violate the oath of the pharmacist, they foster the encroachment of quackery in medicine, and they appeal to greed and profit motives. Pharmacists should adhere to a high professional standard that demands proven safety and efficacy in the products they sell.
Clinical trials of TCM and Parkinson's disease in China
Authors: Lim D , Chen WM , Lian XF
Published: November 2010

Chen WM, Lian XF.

Systematic evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine for treating Parkinson's disease.

Neural Regen Res 2010; 5: 602–10.
Music therapy dramatically decreases distress for women hospitalised in a high‐risk obstetrics/gynaecology setting
Authors: Wesa K , Cassileth B , Victorson D
Published: November 2010

Bauer CL, Victorson D, Rosenbloom S, Barocas J, Silver RK.

Alleviating distress during antepartum hospitalization: a randomized controlled trial of music and recreation therapy.

J Women's Health 2010; 19: 523–31.
Effect of tai chi on body balance in the elderly
Authors: Lee MS
Published: November 2010

Maciaszek J, Osiński W.

The effects of tai chi on body balance in elderly people – a review of studies from the early 21st century.

Am J Chin Med 2010; 38: 219–29.
Renewable Chemical Commodity Feedstocks from Integrated Catalytic Processing of Pyrolysis Oils
Authors: Vispute Tushar P. , Zhang Huiyan , Sanna Aimaro , Xiao Rui , Huber George W.
Published: November 2010

A Little Help from Hydrogen

Biomass may one day displace petroleum as the chemical industry's primary feedstock. Currently, though, the primary hurdle for incorporating plant-derived material into existing process feeds is the high proportion of oxygen in its molecular frameworks. Rapid heating of the biomass followed by high-temperature treatment with zeolite catalysts can yield tractable quantities of useful commodity compounds such as ethylene and benzene, but much of the carbon is wasted in the process—diverted either toward gaseous CO and CO
2
, or solid coke.

Vispute
et al.

(p.
1222
) show that an intermediate step, in which hydrogen is catalytically incorporated into the heated material prior to zeolite treatment, can substantially raise the yield of useful products by reducing susceptibility to coking.
The Evolution of Maximum Body Size of Terrestrial Mammals
Authors: Smith Felisa A. , Boyer Alison G. , Brown James H. , Costa Daniel P. , Dayan Tamar , Ernest S. K. Morgan , Evans Alistair R. , Fortelius Mikael , Gittleman John L. , Hamilton Marcus J. , Harding Larisa E. , Lintulaakso Kari , Lyons S. Kathleen , McCain Christy , Okie Jordan G. , Saarinen Juha J. , Sibly Richard M. , Stephens Patrick R. , Theodor Jessica , Uhen Mark D.
Published: November 2010

How Mammals Grew in Size

Mammals diversified greatly after the end-Cretaceous extinction, which eliminated the dominant land animals (dinosaurs).

Smith
et al.

(p.
1216
) examined how the maximum size of mammals increased during their radiation in each continent. Overall, mammal size increased rapidly, then leveled off after about 25 million years. This pattern holds true on most of the continents—even though data are sparse for South America—and implies that mammals grew to fill available niches before other environmental and biological limits took hold.
A Magnetized Jet from a Massive Protostar
Authors: Carrasco-González Carlos , Rodríguez Luis F. , Anglada Guillem , Martí Josep , Torrelles José M. , Osorio Mayra
Published: November 2010

Stellar Jets

Supersonic jets of energized charged particles are a common phenomenon in astrophysics, emanating from sources that range widely in mass: from brown dwarfs to super massive black holes in the centers of galaxies.

Carrasco-González
et al.

(p.
1209
; see the Perspective by

Ray

) present observations, of a jet emanating from a young stellar object, which show that the jet is magnetized and has characteristics that are similar to those of jets found in much larger and more massive systems. The results support the idea that all astrophysical jets are launched and collimated through the same basic mechanism, involving launching of material along magnetic field lines.
Roche Exits RNAi Field, Cuts 4800 Jobs
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: November 2010

The Swiss drug company Roche announced last week that it is stepping away from research in RNA interference, a popular approach to medical therapies and one that Roche has poured more than $400 million into over 3 years.
Septic Arthritis Caused by Legionella dumoffii in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Like Disease
Authors: Flendrie M. , Jeurissen M. , Franssen M. , Kwa D. , Klaassen C. , Vos F.
Published: November 2010

We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease on immunosuppressive treatment who developed septic arthritis of the knee involving
Legionella dumoffii
. Cultures initially remained negative. A broad-range 16S PCR using synovial fluid revealed
L. dumoffii
rRNA genes, a finding that was subsequently confirmed by positive
Legionella
culture results.
Evidence of a Recombinant Wild-Type Human Astrovirus Strain from a Kenyan Child with Gastroenteritis
Authors: Wolfaardt Marianne , Kiulia Nicholas M. , Mwenda Jason M. , Taylor Maureen B.
Published: November 2010

A human astrovirus (HAstV) strain from Kenya was characterized by nucleotide sequence analysis. Sequences from open reading frame 1a (ORF1a) clustered with genotype 6/7, those from ORF1b clustered with genotype 3, and those from ORF2 clustered with genotype 2. A recombination point in the ORF1b-ORF2 junction was identified, with a second possible recombination point within the ORF1a region.
PCR Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Avni Tomer , Leibovici Leonard , Paul Mical
Published: November 2010

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis relies on culture-based methods, which lack sensitivity and delay diagnosis. We conducted a systematic review assessing the diagnostic accuracy of PCR-based methods to detectCandidaspp. directly in blood samples. We searched electronic databases for prospective or retrospective cohort and case-control studies. Two reviewers abstracted data independently. Meta-analysis was performed using a hierarchical logistic regression model. Random-effects metaregression was performed to assess the effects of study methods and infection characteristics on sensitivity or specificity values. We included 54 studies with 4,694 patients, 963 of whom had proven/probable or possible IC. Perfect (100%) sensitivity and specificity for PCR in whole-blood samples was observed when patients with cases had candidemia and controls were healthy people. When PCR was performed to evaluate patients with suspected invasive candidiasis, the pooled sensitivity for the diagnosis of candidemia was 0.95 (confidence interval, 0.88 to 0.98) and the pooled specificity was 0.92 (0.88 to 0.95). A specificity of >90% was maintained in several analyses considering different control groups. The use of whole-blood samples, rRNA, or P450 gene targets and a PCR detection limit of ≤10 CFU/ml were associated with improved test performance. PCR positivity rates among patients with proven or probable IC were 85% (78 to 91%), while blood cultures were positive for 38% (29 to 46%). We conclude that direct PCR using blood samples had good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of IC and offers an attractive method for early diagnosis of specificCandidaspp. Its effects on clinical outcomes should be investigated.
Association of Three Bacterial Species and Periodontal Status in Chinese Adults: an Epidemiological Approach
Authors: Deng Tianzheng , Wang Lin , Lv Jing , Pang Jianliang , Liu Bing , Du Yan , Ke Jie
Published: November 2010

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
,
Porphyromonas gingivalis
, and
Tannerella forsythia
are oral pathogens associated with periodontitis. The association between these three bacteria and periodontal disease has been reported in populations of many countries. However, corresponding data in Chinese populations are still lacking. The aim of this study was to detect these pathogens in subgingival plaque collected from 468 subjects with chronic periodontitis in a group of Chinese adults by using a PCR method and to determine the degree of association between the target bacteria and periodontal status based on logistic regression analysis.
A. actinomycetemcomitans
,
P. gingivalis
, and
T. forsythia
were found in 20.5%, 70.7%, and 77.1% of the subjects, respectively. About one-third (36.1%) of subjects had chronic periodontitis. Upon univariate analysis, age, male gender, current smoking status, diabetes, and the presence of
A. actinomycetemcomitans
or
P. gingivalis
were positively associated with chronic periodontitis, whereas education and income exhibited inverse associations with chronic periodontitis. Upon multivariate analysis, education, current smoking status, diabetes, and the presence of
A. actinomycetemcomitans
and
P. gingivalis
remained significant. The adjusted odds ratios for having chronic periodontitis were 2.5 and 3.4 in subjects positive for
A. actinomycetemcomitans
and
P. gingivalis
, respectively. However, no significant association was observed between the presence of
T. forsythia
and periodontal status. This study assesses the prevalence of periodontal pathogens and chronic periodontitis and the associations with sociodemographic characteristics among this group of Chinese adults. These findings also suggest that PCR should be considered for field oral epidemiologic studies and may be necessary in investigations presenting major logistic challenges.
Novel Functions of Prototype Foamy Virus Gag Glycine- Arginine-Rich Boxes in Reverse Transcription and Particle Morphogenesis
Authors: Müllers Erik , Uhlig Tobias , Stirnnagel Kristin , Fiebig Uwe , Zentgraf Hanswalter , Lindemann Dirk
Published: November 2010

Prototype foamy virus (PFV) Gag lacks the characteristic orthoretroviral Cys-His motifs that are essential for various steps of the orthoretroviral replication cycle, such as RNA packaging, reverse transcription, infectivity, integration, and viral assembly. Instead, it contains three glycine-arginine-rich boxes (GR boxes) in its C terminus that putatively represent a functional equivalent. We used a four-plasmid replication-deficient PFV vector system, with uncoupled RNA genome packaging and structural protein translation, to analyze the effects of deletion and various substitution mutations within each GR box on particle release, particle-associated protein composition, RNA packaging, DNA content, infectivity, particle morphology, and intracellular localization. The degree of viral particle release by all mutants was similar to that of the wild type. Only minimal effects on Pol encapsidation, exogenous reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, and genomic viral RNA packaging were observed. In contrast, particle-associated DNA content and infectivity were drastically reduced for all deletion mutants and were undetectable for all alanine substitution mutants. Furthermore, GR box I mutants had significant changes in particle morphology, and GR box II mutants lacked the typical nuclear localization pattern of PFV Gag. Finally, it could be shown that GR boxes I and III, but not GR box II, can functionally complement each other. It therefore appears that, similar to the orthoretroviral Cys-His motifs, the PFV Gag GR boxes are important for RNA encapsidation, genome reverse transcription, and virion infectivity as well as for particle morphogenesis.
Gaining Replicability in a Nonhost Compromises the Silencing Suppression Activity of
Tobacco Mild Green Mosaic Virus
in a Host
Authors: Ishibashi Kazuhiro , Meshi Tetsuo , Ishikawa Masayuki
Published: November 2010

Natural isolates of
Tobacco mild green mosaic virus
(TMGMV) fail to infect tomato because the tomato tm-1 protein binds to the replication proteins of TMGMV and prevents RNA replication. Previously, we isolated a TMGMV mutant that overcomes tm-1-mediated resistance and multiplies in tomato plants. Here, we show that the causal mutations in the replication protein gene that abolish the interaction with tm-1 reduce its ability to suppress RNA silencing in host plant
Nicotiana benthamiana
. The results suggest that the multifunctionality of the replication proteins is an evolutionary constraint of tobamoviruses that restricts their host ranges.
Role of the Host Cell's Unfolded Protein Response in Arenavirus Infection
Authors: Pasqual Giulia , Burri Dominique J. , Pasquato Antonella , de la Torre Juan Carlos , Kunz Stefan
Published: November 2010

Arenaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses with a nonlytic life cycle that cause acute and persistent infections. Here, we investigated the role of the host cell's unfolded protein response (UPR) in infection of the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). In mammalian cells, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone protein GRP78/BiP functions as the principal sensor for the induction of the UPR and interacts with three mediators: kinase/endonuclease inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Acute infection with LCMV resulted in a selective induction of the ATF6-regulated branch of the UPR, whereas pathways controlled by PERK and IRE1 were neither activated nor blocked. Expression of individual LCMV proteins revealed that the viral glycoprotein precursor (GPC), but not that of other viral proteins, was responsible for the induction of ATF6. Rapid downregulation of the viral GPC during transition from acute to persistent LCMV infection restored basal levels of UPR signaling. To address a possible role of ATF6 signaling in LCMV infection, we used cells deficient in site 2 protease (S2P), a metalloprotease required for the activation of ATF6. Cells deficient in S2P showed significantly lower levels of production of infectious virus during acute but not persistent infection, indicating a requirement for ATF6-mediated signaling for optimal virus multiplication. In summary, acute LCMV infection seems to selectively induce the ATF6-regulated branch of the UPR that is likely beneficial for virus replication and cell viability, but it avoids induction of PERK and IRE1, whose activation may be detrimental for virus and the host cell.
Receptor Binding Profiles of Avian Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Subtypes on Human Cells as a Predictor of Pandemic Potential
Authors: Shelton Holly , Ayora-Talavera Guadalupe , Ren Junyuan , Loureiro Silvia , Pickles Raymond J. , Barclay Wendy S. , Jones Ian M.
Published: November 2010

The host adaptation of influenza virus is partly dependent on the sialic acid (SA) isoform bound by the viral hemagglutinin (HA). Avian influenza viruses preferentially bind the α-2,3 SA and human influenza viruses the α-2,6 isoform. Each isoform is predominantly associated with different surface epithelial cell types of the human upper airway. Using recombinant HAs and human tracheal airway epithelial cells
in vitro
and
ex vivo
, we show that many avian HA subtypes do not adhere to this canonical view of SA specificity. The propensity of avian viruses to adapt to human receptors may thus be more widespread than previously supposed.
HIV-1 Maturation Inhibitor Bevirimat Stabilizes the Immature Gag Lattice
Authors: Keller Paul W. , Adamson Catherine S. , Heymann J. Bernard , Freed Eric O. , Steven Alasdair C.
Published: November 2010

Maturation of nascent virions, a key step in retroviral replication, involves cleavage of the Gag polyprotein by the viral protease into its matrix (MA), capsid (CA), and nucleocapsid (NC) components and their subsequent reorganization. Bevirimat (BVM) defines a new class of antiviral drugs termed maturation inhibitors. BVM acts by blocking the final cleavage event in Gag processing, the separation of CA from its C-terminal spacer peptide 1 (SP1). Prior evidence suggests that BVM binds to Gag assembled in immature virions, preventing the protease from accessing the CA-SP1 cleavage site. To investigate this hypothesis, we used cryo-electron tomography to examine the structures of (noninfectious) HIV-1 viral particles isolated from BVM-treated cells. We find that these particles contain an incomplete shell of density underlying the viral envelope, with a hexagonal honeycomb structure similar to the Gag lattice of immature HIV but lacking the innermost, NC-related, layer. We conclude that the shell represents a remnant of the immature Gag lattice that has been processed, except at the CA-SP1 sites, but has remained largely intact. We also compared BVM-treated particles with virions formed by the mutant CA5, in which cleavage between CA and SP1 is also blocked. Here, we find a thinner CA-related shell with no visible evidence of honeycomb organization, indicative of an altered conformation and further suggesting that binding of BVM stabilizes the immature lattice. In both cases, the observed failure to assemble mature capsids correlates with the loss of infectivity.
Some observations on the behaviour of chloride current–voltage relations in Xenopus muscle membrane in acid solutions
Authors: Loo Donald D. F. , McLarnon James G. , Vaughan Peter C.
Published: November 2010

Chloride current–voltage relations in Xenopus laevis muscle membrane have been investigated in phosphate-buffered solution (pH 5.2–5.4) using a three-microelectrode voltage clamp. Resting chloride conductance in these conditions is about 10−4 S/cm2, approximately [Formula: see text]th that at pH 8.8. When the membrane potential is stepped from the holding (resting) potential to a more negative voltage the current rises from the initial to the steady state. The instantaneous current–voltage relation is linear and the steady-state relation shows inward-going rectification. As hyperpolarization appears to "activate" the chloride conductance, the "availability" of chloride current has been measured at the beginning of a voltage step to a standard test potential following conditioning at a variety of potentials. The relationship between the test current and the conditioning voltage is sigmoid. The normalized sigmoid curve has the same slope (absolute value) but opposite sign to that obtained in the same experiment at pH 8.8. In mildly acidic solutions (pH 6.4) the current wave form is diphasic: current initially falls then rises to the steady state. This combination of transients militates against the idea that transients are due solely to accumulation–depletion effects in restricted spaces ("unstirred layers") and a hypothesis is qualitatively outlined in which pH- and voltage-dependent effects are ascribed to a single type of channel whose orientation in the membrane is unconstrained.
Importance of monovalent ions for the fast axonal transport of proteins
Authors: Lavoie P.-A.
Published: November 2010

Proteins labeled with [35S] methionine or [3H]leucine were generated in vitro in bullfrog dorsal root ganglia and their fast axonal transport in the spinal nerves was followed during a subsequent incubation period. Incubation of the ganglia in a medium where sucrose, choline chloride, or sodium isethionate replaced NaCl caused respectively an 88, a 37, or a 76% reduction in the quantity of proteins carried by the fast axonal transport system; no decrease in synthesis of labeled proteins was observed and protein transport followed the usual time course. Incubation of desheathed spinal nerves in a medium where sucrose replaced NaCl reduced by 67% the quantity of labeled proteins which were transported past the desheathed region. Although both the axons and the dorsal root ganglia exhibit the requirement for monovalent ions to maintain fast axonal transport, the possibility that the ionic requirements of the ganglia pertain to the somal portion of the nerve cell is discussed.
ANALYTICAL MODEL OF HIGH-FREQUENCY NOISE OF SCHOTTKY-BARRIER FREQUENCY MULTIPLIERS
Authors: MAHI F. Z. , HELMAOUI A. R. , VARANI L. , PALERMO C. , SHIKTOROV P. , STARIKOV E. , GRUŽINSKIS V.
Published: November 2010

An analytical model of the high-frequency noise of frequency multipliers based on Schottky-barrier diodes (SBD) operating in series with a parallel resonant circuit under large-signal conditions is developed. Such a model, on one hand, takes into account the main intrinsic features of the SBD noise related to shot-noise, returning carriers, plasma resonance at n+n homojunctions, and, on the other hand, it incorporates the SBD noise spectrum modifications induced by the output resonant circuit. It is shown that the SBD embedding into an external circuit can produce the appearance of an extra noise due to up-down conversion of the fluctuations of the voltage drop between the SBD terminals originated by a periodic modulation of the varactor capacitance by the pumping signal.
Insulin activates epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) via phosphoinositide 3-kinase in mammalian taste receptor cells
Authors: Baquero Arian F. , Gilbertson Timothy A.
Published: November 2010

Diabetes is a profound disease that results in a severe lack of regulation of systemic salt and water balance. From our earlier work on the endocrine regulation of salt taste at the level of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), we have begun to investigate the ability of insulin to alter ENaC function with patch-clamp recording on isolated mouse taste receptor cells (TRCs). In fungiform and vallate TRCs that exhibit functional ENaC currents (e.g., amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx), insulin (5–20 nM) caused a significant increase in Na+ influx at −80 mV (EC50 = 7.53 nM). The insulin-enhanced currents were inhibited by amiloride (30 μM). Similarly, in ratiometric Na+ imaging using SBFI, insulin treatment (20 nM) enhanced Na+ movement in TRCs, consistent with its action in electrophysiological assays. The ability of insulin to regulate ENaC function is dependent on the enzyme phosphoinositide 3-kinase since treatment with the inhibitor LY294002 (10 μM) abolished insulin-induced changes in ENaC. To test the role of insulin in the regulation of salt taste, we have characterized behavioral responses to NaCl using a mouse model of acute hyperinsulinemia. Insulin-treated mice show significant avoidance of NaCl at lower concentrations than the control group. Interestingly, these differences between groups were abolished when amiloride (100 μM) was added into NaCl solutions, suggesting that insulin was regulating ENaC. Our results are consistent with a role for insulin in maintaining functional expression of ENaC in mouse TRCs.
The rat kidney contains high levels of prouroguanylin (the uroguanylin precursor) but does not express GC-C (the enteric uroguanylin receptor)
Authors: Qian Xun , Moss Nicholas G. , Fellner Robert C. , Taylor-Blake Bonnie , Goy Michael F.
Published: November 2010

The peptide uroguanylin (Ugn) regulates enteric and renal electrolyte transport. Previous studies have shown that Ugn and its receptor GC-C (a ligand-activated guanylate cyclase) are abundant in the intestine. Less is known about Ugn and GC-C expression in the kidney. Here, we identify a 9.4-kDa polypeptide in rat kidney extracts that appears, based on its biochemical and immunological properties, to be authentic prouroguanylin (proUgn). This propeptide is relatively plentiful in the kidney (∼16% of intestinal levels), whereas its mRNA is marginally present (<1% of intestinal levels), and free Ugn peptide levels are below detection limits (<0.4% of renal proUgn levels). The paucity of preproUgn-encoding mRNA and free Ugn peptide raises the possibility that the kidney might absorb intact proUgn from plasma, where the concentration of propeptide greatly exceeds that of Ugn. However, immunocytochemical analysis reveals that renal proUgn is found exclusively in distal tubular segments, sites previously shown not to accumulate radiolabeled proUgn after intravascular infusions. Thus proUgn appears to be synthesized within the kidney, but the factors that determine its abundance (rates of transcription, translation, processing, and secretion) must be balanced quite differently than in the gut. Surprisingly, we also find negligible expression of GC-C in the rat kidney, a result confirmed both by RT-PCR and by functional assays that measure Ugn-activated cGMP synthesis. Taken together, these data provide evidence for an intrarenal Ugn system that differs from the well-described intestinal system in its regulatory mechanisms and in the receptor targeted by the peptide.
Phase Modulation of the Short-Latency Crossed Spinal Response in the Human Soleus Muscle
Authors: Stubbs Peter W. , Nielsen Jørgen F. , Sinkjær Thomas , Mrachacz-Kersting Natalie
Published: November 2010

Short-latency spinally mediated interlimb reflex pathways were recently reported between the left and right soleus muscles in the human lower-limb during sitting. The aim of the current study was to establish if these pathways were observed during a functional motor task such as human gait and modulated by the gait cycle phase and/or electrical stimulation intensity. The second aim was to elucidate on the afferents involved. Two interventions were investigated. First was ipsilateral tibial nerve (iTN) stimulation at motor threshold (MT), 35% of the maximal peak-to-peak M-wave (M-Max) and 85% M-Max (85M-Max) with stimuli applied at 60×, 70×, 80×, 90×, and 100% of the gait cycle of the ipsilateral leg. Second was ipsilateral sural nerve (SuN) and medial plantar nerve (MpN) stimulation at 1, 2, and 3 perceptual threshold at 90% of the gait cycle. The root mean squared (RMS) of the contralateral soleus (cSOL) responses were analyzed in a time window, 40–55 ms (or 45–60 ms for subjects >50 y/o) following iTN stimulation. The most consistent responses occurred at 90 and 100% of the gait cycle at higher stimulation intensities of the iTN. Significantly inhibitory responses ( P = 0.006) were reported at 60 versus 80% ( P = 0.03), 90% ( P = 0.006), and 100% ( P = 0.002) and 70 versus 90% ( P = 0.02) and 100% ( P = 0.009) of the gait cycle at 85M-Max. The responses became more inhibitory with increasing stimulation intensities at 80% ( P = 0.01), 90% ( P = 0.001), and 100% ( P = 0.004) of the gait cycle. Stimulation of the MpN and SuN at all stimulation intensities demonstrated no short-latency responses. Therefore, it is unlikely that afferents within these nerves contribute to the response. This is the first study to show short-latency spinally mediated responses in the cSOL following iTN stimulation, during walking. It provides evidence for a new spinal pathway contributing to motor control and demonstrates that the response likely has functional relevance.
Short-Term Fire Effects on Small Mammal Populations and Vegetation of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Monasmith Tony J. , Demarais Stephen , Root J. Jeffrey , Britton Carlton M.
Published: November 2010

Fire is an important ecological factor in semidesert grass-shrub community dynamics, but there is a lack of designed field experiments documenting effects on vegetation and small mammals. We document effects of June prescribed fire on vegetation and small mammals on 20, 25-ha study areas in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Southern New Mexico, USA one month and one year posttreatment. Canopy cover of shrubs and grasses recovered to 68 and 27% of the preburn canopy cover, respectively, after one year. Prescribed burns during June enhanced short-term forb production by reducing competition from grasses and shrubs. Thirty thousand trap-nights yielded 1744 captures of 766 individuals of 15 small mammal species. Burns did not affect small mammal species richness and species diversity. Relative abundance of Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) was 91% greater on burned sites than on control sites one year postburn. Silky pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus) relative abundance was 221% greater on burned sites one year postburn. Chihuahuan Desert pocket mice (Chaetodipus eremicus) responded negatively to the fire, with relative abundance 170% greater on control sites (). Burning produced short-term benefits for two heteromyids, Merriam's kangaroo rats and silky pocket mice.
Krasnosel'skii-Type Fixed-Set Results
Authors: Al-Thagafi MA , Shahzad Naseer
Published: November 2010

Some new Krasnosel'skii-type fixed-set theorems are proved for the sum "Equation missing", where "Equation missing" is a multimap and "Equation missing" is a self-map. The common domain of "Equation missing" and "Equation missing" is not convex. A positive answer to Ok's question (2009) is provided. Applications to the theory of self-similarity are also given.
Isolation of BAC Clones Containing Conserved Genes from Libraries of Three Distantly Related Moths: A Useful Resource for Comparative Genomics of Lepidoptera
Authors: Yasukochi Yuji , Tanaka-Okuyama Makiko , Kamimura Manabu , Nakano Ryo , Naito Yota , Ishikawa Yukio , Sahara Ken
Published: November 2010

Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, is the second largest animal order and includes numerous agricultural pests. To facilitate comparative genomics in Lepidoptera, we isolated BAC clones containing conserved and putative single‐copy genes from libraries of three pests, Heliothis virescens, Ostrinia nubilalis, and Plutella xylostella, harboring the haploid chromosome number, n = 31, which are not closely related with each other or with the silkworm, Bombyx mori, (n = 28), the sequenced model lepidopteran. A total of 108–184 clones representing 101–182 conserved genes were isolated for each species. For 79 genes, clones were isolated from more than two species, which will be useful as common markers for analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), as well as for comparison of genome sequence among multiple species. The PCR‐based clone isolation method presented here is applicable to species which lack a sequenced genome but have a significant collection of cDNA or EST sequences.
Neglected Basal Cell Carcinomas in the 21st Century
Authors: Varga Erika , Korom Irma , Raskó Zoltán , Kis Erika , Varga János , Oláh Judit , Kemény Lajos
Published: November 2010

Although tumors on the surface of the skin are considered to be easily recognizable, neglected advanced skin neoplasms are encountered even in the 21st century. There can be numerous causes of the delay in the diagnosis: fear of the diagnosis and the treatment, becoming accustomed to a slowly growing tumor, old age, a low social milieu, and an inadequate hygienic culture are among the factors leading some people not to seek medical advice. The treatment of such advanced neoplasms is usually challenging. The therapy of neglected cases demands an individual multidisciplinary approach and teamwork. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common cutaneous tumor, usually develops in the elderly, grows slowly, and has an extremely low metastatic potential; these factors are suggesting that BCCs might well be the “ideal candidates” for neglected tumors. Five neglected advanced cases of BCC were diagnosed in our dermatological institute between 2000 and 2009. The clinical characteristics and treatment modalities of these neoplasms are discussed, together with the possible causes of the neglect.
Longitudinal Investigation of Permeability and Distribution of Macromolecules in Mouse Malignant Transformation Using PET
Authors: Rygh Cecilie B. , Qin Shengping , Seo Jai W. , Mahakian Lisa M. , Zhang Hua , Adamson Roger , Chen Jane Q. , Borowsky Alexander D. , Cardiff Robert D. , Reed Rolf K. , Curry Fitz-Roy E. , Ferrara Katherine W.
Published: November 2010

Purpose: We apply positron emission tomography (PET) to elucidate changes in nanocarrier extravasation during the transition from premalignant to malignant cancer, providing insight into the use of imaging to characterize early cancerous lesions and the utility of nanoparticles in early disease.

Experimental Design: Albumin and liposomes were labeled with 64Cu (half-life 12.7 hours), and longitudinal PET and CT imaging studies were conducted in a mouse model of ductal carcinoma in situ. A pharmacokinetic model was applied to estimate the tumor vascular volume and permeability.

Results: From early time points characterized by disseminated hyperproliferation, the enhanced vascular permeability facilitated lesion detection. During disease progression, the vascular volume fraction increased 1.6-fold and the apparent vascular permeability to albumin and liposomes increased ∼2.5-fold to 6.6 × 10−8 and 1.3 × 10−8 cm/s, respectively, with the accumulation of albumin increasing earlier in the disease process. In the malignant tumor, both tracers reached similar mean intratumoral concentrations of ∼6% ID/cc but the distribution of liposomes was more heterogeneous, ranging from 1% to 18% ID/cc compared with 1% to 9% ID/cc for albumin. The tumor-to-muscle ratio was 17.9 ± 8.1 and 7.1 ± 0.5 for liposomes and albumin, respectively, indicating a more specific delivery of liposomes than with albumin.

Conclusions: PET imaging of radiolabeled particles, validated by confocal imaging and histology, detected the transition from premalignant to malignant lesions and effectively quantified the associated changes in vascular permeability. Clin Cancer Res; 17(3); 550–9. ©2010 AACR.
Dasatinib Plus Nutlin-3 Shows Synergistic Antileukemic Activity in Both p53wild-type and p53mutated B Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemias by Inhibiting the Akt Pathway
Authors: Zauli Giorgio , Voltan Rebecca , Bosco Raffaella , Melloni Elisabetta , Marmiroli Sandra , Rigolin Gian Matteo , Cuneo Antonio , Secchiero Paola
Published: November 2010

Purpose: To analyze the effect of the combination of Dasatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, plus Nutlin-3, a nongenotoxic activator of the p53 pathway, in primary B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patient samples and B leukemic cell line models.

Experimental Design: The induction of cytotoxicity was evaluated in both primary B-CLL cell samples (n = 20) and in p53wild-type (EHEB, JVM-2) and p53deleted/mutated (MEC-2, BJAB) B leukemic cell lines. The role of Akt in modulating leukemic cell survival/apoptosis in response to Dasatinib or Dasatinib + Nutlin-3 was documented by functional experiments carried out using specific pharmacological inhibitors and by overexpression of membrane-targeted constitutively active form of Akt.

Results: The combination of Dasatinib + Nutlin-3 exhibited a synergistic cytotoxicity in the majority (19 out of 20) of B-CLL samples, including patients carrying 17p- (n = 4), and in both p53wild-type and p53deleted/mutated B leukemic cell lines. At the molecular level, Dasatinib significantly counteracted the Nutlin-3-mediated induction of the p53 transcriptional targets MDM2 and p21 observed in p53wild-type leukemic cells. Conversely, Nutlin-3 did not interfere with the ability of Dasatinib to decrease the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38/MAPK, and Akt in both p53wild-type and p53deleted/mutated B leukemic cell lines. A critical role of Akt downregulation in mediating the antileukemic activity of Dasatinib and Dasatinib + Nutlin-3 was demonstrated in experiments carried out by specifically modulating the Akt pathway.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that Dasatinib + Nutlin-3 might represent an innovative therapeutic combination for both p53wild-type and p53deleted/mutated B-CLL. Clin Cancer Res; 17(4); 1–9. ©2010 AACR.
Breakthrough Febrile Neutropenia and Associated Complications in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients Receiving Pegfilgrastim
Authors: Ng Jia Hui , Ang Xiu Yun , Tan Sze Huey , Tao Miriam , Lim Soon Thye , Chan Alexandre
Published: November 2010

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a dose-limiting complication of chemotherapy. Judicious usage of prophylactic granulocyte-colony-stimulating factors, such as pegfilgrastim, can prevent the occurrence of FN. Although studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of pegfilgrastim to prevent FN in lymphoma patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy, limited data is available to identify patients who are at risk of developing FN despite primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim (breakthrough FN). Objectives: The aim of this study is to: (1) identify clinical characteristics of patients who develop breakthrough FN, and (2) provide descriptive data on the incidence of breakthrough FN among lymphoma patients. Methods: This is a single-centre, retrospective cohort study. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients who received CHOP-based chemotherapy with pegfilgrastim between January 2007 and May 2009 were identified through the Singapore Lymphoma Registry. Patient demographics, past and present medical history, cancer treatment history and laboratory parameters were collected from electronic databases and medical records. In this study, patients did not receive oral antibiotic prophylaxis along with chemotherapy. Results: A total of 132 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age of patients was 55 years. The incidence of breakthrough FN among patients in cycle 1 and across all cycles was 4.5% and 13.6%, respectively (n = 132). 3.3% (n = 60) of the patients receiving dose-dense chemotherapy had breakthrough FN, and this was 22.2% (n = 72) in patients receiving standard dose chemotherapy. Administration of chemotherapy every 21 days (adjusted OR = 12.1, p = 0.009) and patients with positive blood cultures (adjusted OR = 18.1, p = 0.001) were strongly associated with the occurrence of breakthrough FN. Conclusion: Despite routine administration of pegfilgrastim with CHOP chemotherapy, a high proportion of patients experienced FN after chemotherapy. Identifying patients at risk for breakthrough FN events may allow the optimization of myeloid growth factor usage among lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy.
Estrogen Receptor Polymorphisms and the Vascular Effects of Hormone Therapy
Authors: Rossouw Jacques , Bray Paul , Liu Jingmin , Kooperberg Charles , Hsia Judith , Lewis Cora , Cushman Mary , Bonds Denise , Hendrix Susan , Papanicolaou George , Howard Timothy , Herrington David
Published: November 2010

Objective—

To test whether estrogen receptor polymorphisms modify the effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy on biomarkers and on risk of coronary heart disease events, stroke, or venous thromboembolism.

Methods and Results—

The design was a nested case-control study in the Women's Health Initiative trials of postmenopausal hormone therapy. The study included all cases in the first 4 years: 359 cases of coronary heart disease, 248 of stroke, and 217 of venous thromboembolism. Six
estrogen receptor-α
polymorphisms and 1
estrogen receptor-β
polymorphism were genotyped; 8 biomarkers known to be affected by hormone therapy were measured at baseline and 1 year after randomization. The polymorphisms were not associated with risk of vascular events and did not modify the increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, or venous thromboembolism due to hormone therapy. However, a reduced response of plasmin-antiplasmin to hormone therapy was noted for
estrogen receptor-1
IVS1 (intron number 1)-354 (interaction
P
<0.0001, corrected for multiple comparisons
P
=0.014) and
estrogen receptor-1
IVS1-1415 (interaction
P
<0.0001, corrected
P
=0.014).

Conclusion—

Estrogen receptor polymorphisms reduce the effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy on plasmin-antiplasmin, a marker of coagulation and fibrinolysis. However, screening for estrogen receptor polymorphisms to identify women at less risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes is not likely to be useful in making decisions about hormone therapy treatment.
Predictors of Migraine Subtypes in Young Adults With Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Pezzini Alessandro , Grassi Mario , Lodigiani Corrado , Patella Rosalba , Gandolfo Carlo , Casoni Federica , Musolino Rossella , Calabrò Rocco Salvatore , Bovi Paolo , Adami Alessandro , DeLodovici Maria Luisa , Del Zotto Elisabetta , Rota Lidia Luciana , Rasura Maurizia , Del Sette Massimo , Giossi Alessia , Volonghi Irene , Zini Andrea , Cerrato Paolo , Costa Paolo , Magoni Mauro , Iacoviello Licia , Padovani Alessandro ,   on behalf of the Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults Investigators
Published: November 2010

Background and Purpose—

The mechanisms underlying the relationship between migraine and ischemic stroke remain uncertain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of major cardiovascular risk factors, cardiac interatrial abnormalities, and additional biological markers on migraine subtypes in young adults with ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Ischemic stroke patients aged 45 years or younger were consecutively enrolled as part of the Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults. A comprehensive evaluation was performed including assessment of self-reported migraine and cardiovascular risk factors, interatrial right-to-left shunt, and genotyping to detect factor V Leiden and the G20210A mutation in the prothrombin gene.

Results—

Nine hundred eighty-one patients (mean age, 36.0±7.6 years; 50.7% women) were included. The risk of migraine with aura increased with decreasing number of cardiovascular risk factors (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.24–0.99 for 2 factors or more), increasing number of thrombophilic variants (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.05–4.68 for carriers of at least 1 of the 2), and the presence of right-to-left shunt (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.37–3.45), as compared to patients without migraine. None of these factors had influence on the risk of migraine without aura.

Conclusions—

In young adults with ischemic stroke, low cardiovascular risk profile, right-to-left shunt, and an underlying procoagulant state are predictors of migraine with aura. The biological effects of these factors should be considered in future studies aimed at investigating the mechanisms linking migraine to brain ischemia.
Logic of Science vs. Theory of Creation: The “Authority of Annihilation” in Hermann Cohen’s Logic of Origin
Authors: Wiedebach Hartwig
Published: November 2010

The difference between Hermann Cohen’s systematic philosophy and his philosophy of religion can be determined via the logical “Judgment of Contradiction,” viewed as an “Authority of Annihilation.” In Cohen’s Logic of Pure Knowledge the “Judgment of Contradiction” acts as a “means of protection” against “falsifications” that may have arisen on the pathway through the previous judgments of “origin” and “identity.” Cohen thematizes these operations in his Religion of Reason Out of the Sources of Judaism, too. However, there they do not form the grounding for natural science but rather for the knowledge of nature as creation in a strict correlation to God’s uniqueness. Any admixture between God and nature is the falseness that must be excluded via the “Authority of Annihilation.” The Being of God places the world over against the possibility of its own radical Non-Being. Yet at the same time, a second mode of Negation, a relative Nothing providing continuity for the world’s being-there (Dasein), grounded in the “Logic of Origin,” retains its validity. In Cohen’s view a Creation “in the beginning” stands side by side with a continuous “renewal of the world” (hiddush ha-‘olam).
Emmanuel Levinas’s Geopolitics: Overlooked Conversations between Rabbinical and Third World Decolonialisms
Authors: Slabodsky Santiago
Published: November 2010

In this article, I re-evaluate critiques of Levinas’s Eurocentrism by exploring his openness to decolonial theory. First, I survey Levinas’s conceptual confrontation with imperialism, showing that his early Eurocentric work (1930s‐1960s) is revised in his later writing (1970s‐1980s). Second, I explore the contextual reasons that led him to take that path, such as his previously overlooked conversations with the liberationist South American intellectual Enrique Dussel. Finally, I present the case for a revisitation of the current theoretical frameworks of Jewish thought. I explain how Levinas’s encounter with Third World discourses helps to add a needed decolonial layer to contemporary Jewish intercultural conversations.
Rape: A Problem of Crime Classification in Islamic Law
Authors: Noor Azman Mohd
Published: November 2010

In Islam, rape is considered a serious sexual crime. Since it consists of forced sexual intercourse, most of the classical jurists called it zinā bī l-ikrāh, that is, forced unlawful sexual intercourse. The question arises whether rape is part of zinā or an isolated crime. This article focuses on the notion of rape, including a definition of this crime, its punishments, and a comparison between rape and zinā in Islamic jurisprudence.
Can Electronic Agents Be Granted Legal Personality under Islamic Law? A Conceptual Rethink Is Imperative
Authors: Almajid Walid Mohammed
Published: November 2010

Most legislation, whether international or national, deals with electronic agents in a way that does not reflect the certainty of their features. In the past, only a human being could perform the functions that electronic agents do at present. Such electronic agents that are considered ‘Intelligent’ ramble quickly into various places, search for information, and carry out various stages of a transaction from product and merchant brokering through to negotiation, sales, distribution and payment. Nevertheless, legislations have classified them as communication tools. Perhaps such terminology has been chosen because of the lack of difficulty in its implementation or lack of legislation having the legal tools to recognize clearly the acts of electronic agents. In this paper, the concept ‘electronic agent’ is scrutinized and the feasibility of granting them ‘legal personality’ investigated, particularly under Islamic law. In particular, the question is asked: does the concept ‘legal personality’ really exist under Islamic law? If so, then how is it defined? In addition, in light of the definition(s) presented, how can ‘legal personality’ be attributed to electronic agents?
Sharīah and Conventional Law Objections to Derivatives: A Comparison
Authors: Kunhibava Sherin , Shanmugam Balachandran
Published: November 2010

In Islamic finance, many scholars advise against the use of derivatives, which is still in its infancy. Conventional law even voiced its objections to derivatives as early as the 17th century. This article surveys and compares the relationship between present-day legal objections to derivatives in Islamic finance and those objections held in the past by conventional finance. It was found that objections to derivatives, held by both separate fields of finance, show similarities as well as differences. For example, both Islamic and conventional finance object to the gambling nature inherent in derivative trading; in contrast, under Sharīah law, the scope of Islamic finance’s objections is broader, including other elements such as uncertainty and ignorance. Furthermore, Sharīah scholars also object to option trading that requires payment of a fee and to futures trading that involves payment of a debt with a debt.
An Interfaith Encounter at Jacob’s Well A Missiological Interpretation of John 4:4‐42
Authors: Phan Peter C.
Published: November 2010

After review various approaches and possible interpretations of John 4:4‐42 (i.e., christological, pneumatological, sacramental, liturgical, and feminist), the essay presents a missiological reading of John 4:4‐42. It shows how the text answers questions about the origin, purpose, contents, and fruits of the church’s mission. Finally, it argues that Jesus’ and the Samaritan woman’s mutual interactions represent a possible paradigm for interreligious dialogue which is an essential part of Christian mission.