bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Routing runoff and soil particles in a distributed model with GIS: implications for soil protection in mountain agricultural landscapes
Authors: López‐Vicente M. , Navas A.
Published: January 2009

Soil erosion by water is a serious threat to crop sustainability and one of the main causes of landscape degradation in Mediterranean environments. The accurate assessment of soil erosion is a first requirement to face the problem of soil loss in highly fragile mountain environments. In this work, single flow (D8), multiple flow (MD) and combined flow (MDD) algorithms are used to compute cumulative runoff. Effective runoff is estimated after accounting infiltration and soil surface properties and added to the revised Morgan, Morgan and Finney (RMMF) model of soil erosion at the ‘Laguna Grande de Estaña’ catchment (Spanish pre‐Pyrenees). The combined flow algorithm explicitly associated to the gullies (MDD8‐G) leads to a more realistic assessment of runoff pathways. The MD algorithm generates unrealistic maps of concentrated runoff in gullies and overestimates soil erosion rates (average rate of 75 Mg ha−1 y−1). The D8 and MDD8‐G algorithms estimate similar values of soil erosion (average rates of 37 and 44 Mg ha−1 y−1, respectively). Paths, crops on steep slopes, open Mediterranean forest and sparse scrublands have the highest values of soil erosion (more than 50 Mg ha−1 y−1). The estimated rates with the MDD8‐G algorithm in control points in crops, forest and scrublands fit better with available data from 137Cs than those obtained with the D8 algorithm. Therefore, the MDD8‐G algorithm improves the quality predictions of soil erosion and is of interest to study processes of overland flow in Mediterranean environments with presence of gullies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studying the effects of Mahonia aquifolium populations on small‐scale mountain agro‐ecosystems in Hungary with the view to minimise land degradation
Authors: Hudek C. , Rey F.
Published: January 2009

After the political changeover in Hungary in 1989, many farm owners faced problems typical of a small sized farm (<1 ha) as well as a lack of various resources. This led to many farms with great horticultural backgrounds being abandoned, especially in mountainous areas where erosion control is essential for soil conservation. Severe changes can occur on soil through property abandonment. The local socio‐economic aspects must be taken into consideration as well as the problem of soil degradation as this will be a motivating factor in preservation initiatives. Under horticultural management, Mahonia aquifolium was tested to determine its efficiency in water erosion control in mountainous conditions in Hungary. Soil loss and water runoff were measured after every rainfall event at six different plots: four cultivated M. aquifolium populations with different ages (4, 12, 20 and 25 years old) and two control plots. A bare soil field and a grass field represented the control plots. The results show that as the age of the M. aquifolium populations increase, the cumulative runoff and sediment values decrease. It also showed that 2 years after setting up a new M. aquifolium plantation, the cumulative runoff decreased by 69 per cent and the cumulative soil loss decreased by 74 per cent. This indicates that a M. aquifolium population could play a significant role in erosion control within a short period of time. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vitamin D receptor modulates the neoplastic phenotype through antagonistic growth regulatory signals
Authors: Xu Haibo , McCann Mella , Zhang Zhiyu , Posner Gary H. , Bingham Victoria , El‐Tanani Mohamed , Campbell Frederick C.
Published: January 2009

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) can modulate functionally antagonistic growth regulatory pathways, involving β‐catenin/E‐cadherin on one hand and osteopontin (OPN) on the other. This study investigates effects of VDR ligand treatment on the balance of these discordant signals and on associated cell behavior. Treatment of Rama 37 or SW480 cells by 1α,25‐(OH)2 D3 or analogs suppressed β‐catenin/Lef‐1/Tcf signaling and upregulated E‐cadherin, consistent with a cancer‐inhibitory action. Conversely, treatment also increased transcription of OPN that may be implicated in tumor progression. Molecular crosstalk was observed between the antagonistic VDR‐dependent signals, in that β‐catenin/Lef‐1/Tcf molecules modulated VDR activation of OPN. Treatment effects on cell growth were related to a constitutive balance of OPN and E‐cadherin expression. No growth effects were observed in Rama 37 cells that have low OPN and high E‐cadherin expression. Conversely, treatment of Rama 37 stably transfected subclones that had high OPN and/or low level E‐cadherin induced small but significant increases of cell attachment to fibronectin, anchorage‐independent growth or invasion. This study shows that relative expression levels of key VDR downstream genes may influence growth regulation by 1α,25‐(OH)2 D3 or analogs. These findings may be relevant to the cell‐ or tissue‐specificity of vitamin D growth regulation. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatocyte growth factor induces hypoxia‐related interleukin‐8 expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Chiang Yung‐Yen
Published: January 2009

Rapid growth of cancer cells often creates insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients in the tumour nest. The frequent detection of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) in afflicted tissues suggests that IL‐8 expression could be associated with elevated levels of HIF. Recently, we found that hypoxia also upregulated the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) cells. However, the relationship between HGF and IL‐8 has not been investigated in LAD cells. In this study, we found that HGF induced IL‐8 expression in LAD. Interestingly, hypoxia also increased the level of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), a product of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DDH). When expression of DDH was suppressed by siRNA, the levels of PGF2α, HGF and IL‐8 were reduced; however, their levels returned to normal after DDH was reintroduced. These data suggest that hypoxia induces biosynthesis of PGF2α, which then activates HGF and IL‐8 expression. The results provide a reasonable explanation of how PGF2α, HGF and IL‐8 exert their effects on cancer cell metastasis. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reproducibility assessment of a multiple reference tissue method for quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced–MRI analysis
Authors: Yang Cheng , Karczmar Gregory S. , Medved Milica , Oto Aytekin , Zamora Marta , Stadler Walter M.
Published: January 2009

Bone metastases of 16 prostate cancer patients were scanned twice 1 week apart by dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) –MRI at 2‐s resolution using a two‐dimensional gradient‐echo pulse sequence. With a multiple reference tissue method (MRTM), the local tissue arterial input function (AIF) was estimated using the contrast agent enhancement data from tumor subregions and muscle. The 32 individual AIFs estimated by the MRTM, which had considerable intra‐patient and inter‐patient variability, were similar to directly measured AIFs in the literature and using the MRTM AIFs in a pharmacokinetic model to derive estimated individual cardiac outputs provided physiologically reasonable results. The MRTM individual AIFs gave better fits with smaller sum of squared errors and equally reproducible estimate of kinetic parameters compared with a previous reported population AIF measured from remote arteries. The individual MRTM AIFs were also used to obtain a mean local tissue AIF for the unique population of this study, which further improved the reproducibility of the estimated kinetic parameters. The MRTM can be applied to DCE‐MRI studies of bone metastases from prostate cancers to provide an AIF from which reproducible quantitative DCE‐MRI parameters can be derived, thus help standardize DCE‐MRI studies in cancer patients. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Borneo records of Malay tapir, Tapirus indicus Desmarest: a zooarchaeological and historical review
Authors: Cranbrook Earl of , Piper P. J.
Published: January 2009

The Malay tapir, Tapirus indicus Desmarest 1819, currently has a patchy distribution that covers parts of Myanmar, southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and the island of Sumatra. The palaeontological record extends its past range to include China and the Greater Sunda islands of Java and Borneo. A compilation of specimens from cave excavations in the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, including finds reported here for the first time, shows that Malay tapirs occurred in northern Borneo from the late Upper Pleistocene, ca. 45,000 years ago, through Holocene to near recent dates. The palaeo‐population of Borneo tended to be slightly smaller than extant Tapirus indicus of Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, but taxonomically inseparable. While undoubtedly present in the archaeological record through the activities of human cave visitors, it is likely that tapirs were not the targeted quarry of hunting practices directed mainly at bearded pigs. Their representation among overall finds of medium and large mammal remains in the Sunda region shows that tapirs were rare in all environments from Middle Pleistocene to Holocene. Their present ecology indicates that climate change of the post‐Pleistocene, with restoration of the humid tropical rainforest environment, would have reduced the extent of available habitat favourable to the species. Although no authenticated museum specimens have been obtained in Borneo, these archaeological results give plausibility to anecdotal reports of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is possible that the final disappearance of the tapir from the island was a recent phenomenon. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute hypoxia and osteoclast activity: a balance between enhanced resorption and increased apoptosis
Authors: Knowles Helen J , Athanasou Nicholas A
Published: January 2009

Osteoclasts are the primary mediators of pathological bone resorption in many conditions in which micro‐environmental hypoxia is associated with disease progression. However, effects of hypoxia on human osteoclast activity have not been reported. Mature human osteoclasts were differentiated from peripheral blood or obtained from giant cell tumour of bone. Osteoclasts were exposed to a constant hypoxic environment and then assessed for parameters including resorption (toluidine blue staining of dentine slices), membrane integrity (trypan blue exclusion), apoptosis (TUNEL, DAPI), and osteolysis‐associated enzyme activity (TRAP, cathepsin K). 24 h exposure to 2% O2 produced a 2.5‐fold increase in resorption associated with increased TRAP and cathepsin K enzyme activity. Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) siRNA completely ablated the hypoxic increase in osteoclast resorption. 24 h at 2% O2 also increased the number of osteoclasts with compromised membrane integrity from 6% to 21%, with no change in the total osteoclast number or the proportion of late‐stage apoptotic cells. Transient reoxygenation returned the percentage of trypan blue‐positive cells to normoxic levels, suggesting that osteoclasts can recover from the early stages of cell death. Repeated over an extended period, hypoxia/reoxygenation enhanced osteoclast differentiation at this pO2. These data suggest that in diseased bone, where the pO2 may fall to ≤2% O2, a delicate balance between hypoxia‐induced osteoclast activation and hypoxia‐induced osteoclast apoptosis mediates pathological bone resorption. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The significance of fetal ventriculomegaly: etiology, short‐ and long‐term outcomes
Authors: Gaglioti Pietro , Oberto Manuela , Todros Tullia
Published: January 2009

Fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly (VM) is diagnosed when the width of one or both ventricles, measured at the level of the glomus of the choroid plexus (atrium), is ≥ 10 mm. VM can result from different processes: abnormal turnover of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), neuronal migration disorders, and destructive processes. In a high percentage of cases, it is associated with structural malformations of the central nervous system (CNS), but also of other organs and systems. The rate of associated malformations is higher (≥60%) in severe VM (>15 mm) and lower (10–50%) in cases of borderline VM (10–15 mm). When malformations are not present, aneuploidies are found in 3–15% of borderline VM; the percentage is lower in severe VM. The neurodevelopmental outcome of isolated VM is normal in > 90% of cases if the measurement of ventricular width is between 10 and 12 mm; it is less favorable when the measurement is > 12 mm. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disorders of prosencephalic development
Authors: Volpe P. , Campobasso G. , De Robertis V. , Rembouskos G.
Published: January 2009

Abnormal ventral induction may result in disorders of formation, cleavage, and midline development of prosencephalic structures. Holoprosencephaly is a developmental field defect of impaired cleavage of prosencephalon. The most widely accepted classification of holoprosencephaly recognizes three major varieties: the alobar, semilobar and lobar types, according to the severity of the malformation. The brain malformations, characterized by the fusion of the cerebral hemisphere along the midline are commonly associated with facial anomalies.

Corpus callosum agenesis and septo‐optic dysplasia are disorders of prosencephalic midline development, and usually have less severe presentations but still, affected subjects may suffer from neurodevelopmental retardation, and/or endocrinologic and visual disorders.

In this article we report an up‐to‐date of pathogenesis, prenatal sonographic findings, differential diagnosis and prognosis of the aforementioned anomalies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure and property of injection‐molded polypropylene along the flow direction
Authors: Yu Xiaofeng , Wu Hong , Li Jiang , Guo Shaoyun , Qiu Jianhui
Published: January 2009

The structure and mechanical properties of injection‐molded polypropylene along the flow direction were investigated in this article. A remarkable difference was found in morphology and mechanical properties of the injection‐molded parts along the flow direction. The three‐layered structure (namely the skin, subskin, and core layer) showed a gradient distribution along the flow direction. The IR and WAXD results showed that the orientation of the subskin layer in the gate part is much higher than that in the far part. DSC analysis results indicated that the two parts (gate part and far part) of injection‐molded bar has the same degree of crystallinity that should not be responsible for the mechanical difference of the two parts. According to the measurement of residual internal stress, there is large difference between the gate part and far part, which is the main reason leading to the difference of impact behavior. The annealing treatment eliminated the internal stress, so the mechanical difference between the two parts decreased and the fracture type of the far part changed from brittle to ductile. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Organoclay‐filled caprolactam‐blocked methylenediphenyl diisocyanate‐toughened epoxy interpenetrating network matrices
Authors: Premkumar S. , Karikal Chozhan C. , Alagar M.
Published: January 2009

An interpenetrating networks of varying weight percentages (5, 10, and 15%) of caprolactam‐blocked methylenediphenyl diisocyanate(CMDI)‐toughened epoxy matrices were developed and characterized. The toughened epoxy system was further modified with 1, 3, and 5% (by wt) of organophilic montmorillonite (MMT) clay. Organoclay‐filled hybrid CMDI‐epoxy matrices, developed in the form of castings, were characterized for their thermomechanical properties. The data obtained from differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis showed that there was a significant loss in the values of glass transition temperatures (Tg) of organoclay‐filled hybrid epoxy systems when compared with that of neat epoxy resin, whereas increasing trend in thermal stability was observed. The values obtained from mechanical studies indicated that the CMDI‐toughened epoxy and organoclay‐filled CMDI‐epoxy systems were improved the mechanical properties according to its percentage concentration. From X‐ray diffraction analysis, it was observed that the presence of d001 reflections of the organophilic MMT clay in the CMDI‐toughened epoxy systems indicated the development of intercalated clay structure which in turn confirmed the formation of intercalated nanocomposites. Homogeneous surface morphologies of CMDI‐toughened epoxy and organoclay‐filled CMDI‐toughened epoxy systems were ascertained from scanning electron microscope. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
The influence of erythropoietin on cognitive function in women following chemotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Mar Fan H.G. , Park A. , Xu W. , Yi Q‐L. , Braganza S. , Chang J. , Couture F. , Tannock I.F.
Published: January 2009

Objective: Cognitive dysfunction is a potential side effect of chemotherapy, and erythropoietin might be protective. A previously reported study compared quality‐of‐life in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer who were randomized to receive epoetin‐alfa or standard care. Here, we report a non‐randomized sub‐study in which cognitive function of participants was evaluated at 12–30 months after chemotherapy.

Methods: The primary endpoint was the proportion of women with moderate–severe cognitive impairment, as measured by the High Sensitivity Cognitive Screen (HSCS). Subjects also completed the Revised Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT‐R), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Fatigue (FACT‐F) and FACT‐G self‐report questionnaires for fatigue and quality‐of‐life, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results: Of 278 patients receiving adjuvant treatment in the primary study, 87 participated in the sub‐study: 45 had received epoetin‐alfa and 42 standard care. Groups were well matched for age and type of chemotherapy. Eight patients (9%) had moderate–severe cognitive dysfunction by the HSCS: six of them in the epoietin‐alfa group (not significant). There were no significant differences in the HVLT‐R, or in fatigue, but patients who had received epoetin‐alfa reported better quality‐of‐life.

Conclusion: This study failed to demonstrate a protective effect of epoetin‐alfa against the development of delayed cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Top‐down proteomics with a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer and collision‐induced dissociation
Authors: Armirotti Andrea , Benatti Umberto , Damonte Gianluca
Published: January 2009

With slight modifications of the instrumental parameters, we demonstrate that satisfactory top‐down data can be obtained with collision‐induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometry on a quadrupole time‐of‐flight (qTOF) instrument not originally designed for this purpose. Protein identification is achieved with both N‐ and C‐terminal sequence tags and BLAST database searches. The accurate mass measurement of multiply charged fragment ions (mostly y and b‐type) supplements the limited set of cleavage sites and provides a high degree of sequence coverage (90–100%). Post‐translational modification issues can be addressed too. This approach might help those mass spectrometry (MS) core facilities that are not able to afford very high‐resolution instruments, thus expanding the benefits of top‐down protein analysis over the worldwide MS community. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A finite mixture survival model to characterize risk groups of neuroblastoma
Authors: Hunsberger Sally , Albert Paul S. , London Wendy B.
Published: January 2009

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer with patients experiencing heterogeneous survival outcomes despite aggressive treatment. Disease outcomes range from early death to spontaneous regression of the tumor followed by cure. Owing to this heterogeneity, it is of interest to identify patients with similar types of neuroblastoma so that specific types of treatment can be developed. Oncologists are especially interested in identifying patients who will be cured so that the minimum amount of a potentially toxic treatment can be given to this group of patients. We analyze a large cohort of neuroblastoma patients and develop a finite mixture model that uses covariates to predict the probability of being in a cure group or other (one or more) risk groups. A prediction method is developed that uses the estimated probabilities to assign a patient to different risk groups. The robustness of the model and the prediction method is examined via simulation by looking at misclassification rates under misspecified models. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rostro-Caudal Gradual Loss of Cellular Diversity Within the Periventricular Regions of the Ventricular System
Authors: Hermann Andreas , Suess Christian , Fauser Mareike , Kanzler Sylvia , Witt Martin , Fabel Klaus , Schwarz Johannes , Höglinger Günter U. , Storch Alexander
Published: January 2009

Neurogenesis occurs constitutively within the periventricular region (PVR) of the lateral ventricles (LV) of the adult mammalian brain. The occurrence of adult neurogenesis within the PVR outside the neurogenic niche of the LV remains controversial, but neural stem cells can be isolated from PVR of the whole ventricular system. The histological basis of this phenomenon including the regional differences of cellular phenotypes within the PVRs is still enigmatic. The occurrence of neurogenesis or manipulable progenitor cells in caudal parts of the adult brain is however one prerequisite for orthotopic regenerative approaches in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other disorders of the midbrain/brainstem. Using quantitative immunohistochemical techniques and electron microscopy, we found a rostro-caudal gradual loss of cellular diversity within the PVR throughout the whole ventricular axis with loss of transit amplifying epidermal growth factor-receptor+ type C cells in all parts caudal to the LV, a gradual reduction from rostral to caudal of both stem cells (type B cells or astrocytes) without signs of proliferation outside the PVR of the LV as well as neuroblasts-like cells (polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule [PSA-NCAM]+, but doublecortin negative cells) with a different morphology compared with neuroblasts of the PVR of the LV. Electron microscopy confirmed these immunohistochemical data. The proportion of Nestin+/CD24+ cells and Nestin+/S100β+ ependymal cells were consecutively increased in the PVR from rostral to caudal, and ultrastructural analysis showed a region-specific morphology with darker cytoplasm with occasional large lipid droplets as well as indented nuclei within the caudal PVRs. The strong correlation of neuroblast-like cells with the number of neurosphere-forming cells suggests that a quiescent subtype of PSA-NCAM+ cells might be a source of neurosphere-forming cells. We did not find any evidence for neurogenesis or the occurrence of neuroprogenitors within the substantia nigra or other parts of the midbrain/brainstem outside the PVR. Our data provide the histological framework for future studies on orthotopic regenerative approaches in PD by recruiting endogenous predopaminergic progenitors from the midbrain PVR.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Activation of Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 and Focal Adhesion Kinase by Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 Is Required for Migration of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Response to Tumor Cell-Conditioned Medium
Authors: Gao Hui , Priebe Waldemar , Glod John , Banerjee Debabrata
Published: January 2009

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) migrate to tumors both in vitro and in vivo. Gene expression profiling analysis reveals that stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is significantly upregulated in MSCs exposed to tumor cell-conditioned medium, when compared with cells treated with control medium, suggesting that SDF-1 signaling is important in mediating MSC migration. This study investigates downstream signaling during MSC migration in response to tumor cell-conditioned medium and recombinant SDF-1 protein treatments. We observed that both recombinant SDF-1 and tumor cell-conditioned medium were able to activate downstream signaling via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) as revealed by increased phosphorylation of STAT3 and ERK1/2 in human MSCs (hMSCs). Significant impairment of in vitro migration was observed in the presence of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059, whereas two Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) inhibitors completely abolished migration induced by tumor cell-conditioned medium. Impaired MSC migration correlated with decreased levels of phosphorylated STAT3 and ERK1/2, suggesting that SDF-1 stimulation activates Jak2/STAT3 as well as MEK/ERK1/2 signaling, which in turn promotes migration of MSCs toward tumor cells. Furthermore, stimulation of hMSCs with recombinant SDF-1 and tumor cell-conditioned medium also significantly activated the focal adhesion kinases (FAKs) and paxillin, which correlated with reorganization of F-actin filaments in hMSCs. Decreased phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin as well as disruption of cytoskeleton organization was observed following Jak2 and MEK inhibitor treatment. Taken together, our results provide insight into the molecular pathways responsible for MSC migration toward the tumor microenvironment and may provide the molecular basis for modifying MSCs for therapeutic purposes.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
1100 kV substation ‐ basic design/specifications of GIS for UHV AC and its verification test and site
Authors: Kobayashi Takayuki
Published: January 2009

In Japan, to satisfy the steadily increasing demand for electricity in urban areas, 1100 kV substation equipment have been developed, and a part of the 1100 kV transmission lines were constructed. 1100 kV substations would be located in the mountainous areas, so they must be made as compact as possible to meet installation space constraints and to harmonize with the natural environment. Thus, 1100 kV substations adopt Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) as the main circuit from transmission line entrance to transformer bushings. Because the substation is one of the most important items in a 1100 kV system, the equipment in 1100 kV substations requires to be of extremely high reliability. Additionally, various technologies that have not been used in 500 kV and lower systems are applied. To establish carefully the 1100 kV equipment technologies, TEPCO constructed a UHV Equipment Test Station (in the 500 kV Shin‐Haruna substation), which has the minimum component of a 1100 kV substation‐3 single‐phase transformers (3000 MVA bank) and 1 bay of GIS (8000 A). Connecting these facilities to the actual grid in 1996, a field verification test has been carried out. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Particle Swarm Optimization with velocity control
Authors: Nakagawa Naoya , Ishigame Atsushi , Yasuda Keiichiro
Published: January 2009

This paper presents a new Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique with velocity control. In the proposed method, we lead the particles from intensification to diversification by adding a random number to the velocity of the particle depending on the distance from global best position (gbest), and thereby the particles can search widely in the search space. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ubiquitin ligase Rsp5p is involved in the gene expression changes during nutrient limitation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Cardona F. , Aranda A. , del Olmo M.
Published: January 2009

Rsp5p is an essential ubiquitin ligase involved in many different cellular events, including amino acid transporters degradation, transcription initiation and mRNA export. It plays important role in both stress resistance and adaptation to the change of nutrients. We have found that ubiquitination machinery is necessary for the correct induction of the stress response SPI1 gene at the entry of the stationary phase. SPI1 is a gene whose expression is regulated by the nutritional status of the cell and whose deletion causes hypersensitivity to various stresses, such as heat shock, alkaline stress and oxidative stress. Its regulation is mastered by Rsp5p, as mutations in this gene lead to a lower SPI1 expression. In this process, Rsp5p is helped by several proteins, such as Rsp5p‐interacting proteins Bul1p/2p, the ubiquitin conjugating protein Ubc1p and ubiquitin proteases Ubp4p and Ubp16p. Moreover, a mutation in the RSP5 gene has a global effect at the gene expression level when cells enter the stationary phase. Rsp5p particularly controls the levels of the ribosomal proteins mRNAs at this stage. Rsp5p is also necessary for a correct induction of p‐bodies under stress conditions, indicating that this protein plays an important role in the post‐transcriptional fate of mRNA under nutrient starvation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PGK1, the gene encoding the glycolitic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase, acts as a multicopy suppressor of apoptotic phenotypes in S. cerevisiae
Authors: Mazzoni Cristina , Torella Mirko , Petrera Agnese , Palermo Vanessa , Falcone Claudio
Published: January 2009

In a previous paper we reported the construction of a S. cerevisiae strain lacking the essential gene LSM4, which could survive by the introduction of a truncated form of the orthologous gene from Kluyveromyces lactis. This strain showed apoptotic hallmarks and other phenotypes, including an increased sensitivity to caffeine and acetic acid. The suppression of the latter phenotype by overexpressing yeast genes allowed the isolation of PGK1, the gene encoding the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase. This gene restored normal ageing, oxygen peroxide resistance and nuclear integrity in the mutant. Other phenotypes, such as caffeine sensitivity and glycerol utilization, were also suppressed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of proton-specific ATPase activities in plume and root tissues of two co-occurring hydrocarbon seep tubeworm species Lamellibrachia luymesi and Seepiophila jonesi
Authors: Dattagupta Sharmishtha , Redding Meredith , Luley Kathryn , Fisher Charles
Published: January 2009

Lamellibrachia luymesi and Seepiophila jonesi are co-occurring species of vestimentiferan tubeworms found at hydrocarbon seepage sites on the upper Louisiana slope of the Gulf of Mexico. Like all vestimentiferans, they rely on internal sulfide-oxidizing symbiotic bacteria for nutrition. These symbionts produce hydrogen ions as a byproduct of sulfide oxidation, which the host tubeworm needs to eliminate to prevent acidosis. The hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila uses a high activity of P- and V-type H+-ATPases located in its plume epithelium to excrete protons. Unlike R. pachyptila, the seep species grow a posterior root, which they can use in addition to their plumes as a nutrient exchange surface. In this study we measured the ATPase activities of plume and root tissues collected from L. luymesi and S. jonesi, and used a combination of inhibitors to determine the relative activities of P- and V-type H+-ATPases. We found that the total H+-ATPase activity of their plumes was approximately 14 μmol h−1 g−1 wet weight, and that of their roots was between 5 and 7 μmol h−1 g−1 wet weight. These activities were more than ten times lower than those measured in R. pachyptila. We suggest that seep tubeworms might use passive channels to eliminate protons across their roots, in addition to ATP-dependant proton pumps located in their plumes and roots. In addition, we found strong differences between the types of ATPase activities in the plumes of L. luymesi and S. jonesi. While the H+-ATPase activity of L. luymesi plumes is dominated by P-type ATPases, S. jonesi has an unusually high activity of V-type H+-ATPases. We suggest that S. jonesi relies on its high V-type H+-ATPase activity to drive carbon dioxide uptake across its plume surface. L. luymesi, on the other hand, might rely partially on bicarbonate uptake across its root.
Cost analysis of a system of ad hoc theatre sessions for the management of delayed trauma cases
Authors: Basso Oreste
Published: January 2009

Background

Reducing hospital stay optimizes bed capacity. Shortage of operating time can cause some patients to have their treatment and discharge home delayed. Extra operating sessions could help in reducing such a delay. We performed a feasibility study for a simulated model of trauma lists, implemented ad- hoc to reduce time to surgery.

Materials and methods

Two hundred thirty-five consecutive trauma admissions were audited. The time required to deliver surgical treatment was recorded. Patients waiting for their operation more than 48 h from admission were allocated into a simulated system of ad hoc trauma lists, using a realistic decision-making process. The potential to reduce time-to-operation was assessed and the number of saved bed occupancy days was calculated. A cost analysis was also performed.

Results

Surgical treatment was delivered within 48 h in 193 (85%) patients, while 32 (15%) patients waited a mean of 3.8 days (3–7), because of insufficient time. To operate on these patients earlier, additional lists would have cost £38, 703, reducing the time to surgery to 1 day (0–2). This would have saved 86 days of bed occupancy, representing a savings of £17,200. Restricting the use of extra lists to the elderly patients in the cohort would have required only 11 extra lists and reduced waiting from 3 (3–4) to 1 days (0–2), for a cost of £22,407. Elderly patients’ lists would have had space left to treat additional seven younger patients, with a total saving of 51 bed occupancy days, corresponding to £10,200.

Conclusions

The system of ad hoc trauma lists is easy to organize and it appears to impact significantly on patients’ discharge and bed capacity. Direct costs to the health service are contained, as they are partially compensated by the improvement in beds availability.
Evaluating the trans Fatty Acid, CLA, PUFA and Erucic Acid Diversity in Human Milk from Five Regions in China
Authors: Li Jing , Fan Yawei , Zhang Zhiwu , Yu Hai , An Yin , Kramer John K. G. , Deng Zeyuan
Published: January 2009

Human milk was obtained from 97 healthy lactating women from five different regions in China. Twenty‐four hour dietary questionnaire identified the foods consumed that showed distinct differences in food types between cities. The southern and central regions had higher levels of total trans fatty acids (TFA) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in human milk than the northern region. The major isomers in human milk from the northern region were vaccenic and rumenic acids, whereas the other regions had a random distribution of these isomers. This was consistent with the isomer distribution in the refined vegetable oils used and their increased formation during high temperature stir‐frying. The human milk composition showed little evidence that partially hydrogenated fats were consumed, except eight mothers in Guangzhou who reported eating crackers, plus four other mothers. The TFA concentration in these human milk samples was higher (2.06–3.96%). The amount of n‐6 (1.70–2.24%) and n‐3 (0.60–1.47%) highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in human milk and the resultant ratio (1.43–2.95) showed all mothers in China had an adequate supply of HUFA in their diet. Rapeseed oil was consumed evidenced by erucic acids in human milk. The levels of erucic acid were below internationally accepted limits for human consumption. The levels of undesirable TFA and CLA isomers in human milk are a concern. Efforts to decrease the practice of high temperature stir‐frying using unsaturated oils, and a promotion to increase consumption of dairy and ruminant products should be considered in China.
The immunostimulatory effect of IL‐1β in vivo is blocked by antisense peptides complementary to the loop sequence 163–171
Authors: Boraschi Diana , Tagliabue Aldo , Miller Andrew D.
Published: January 2009

Antisense (AS) peptides complementary to the β‐bulge surface loop VQGEESNDK (Boraschi loop) of the cytokine interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) have been shown to bind IL‐1β at the Boraschi loop position, and to inhibit some of the IL‐1β‐mediated biological effects in vitro. Here we show that primary AS peptide FVITFFSLY inhibits IL‐1β‐mediated immunostimulation in vivo in a dose‐dependent fashion, while inactive on IL‐1β‐induced inflammation, an effect that takes place independently of the Boraschi loop. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an AS peptide has been used successfully in vivo.
Observation of fetal brain in a rat valproate‐induced autism model: a developmental neurotoxicity study
Authors: Kuwagata Makiko , Ogawa Tetsuo , Shioda Seiji , Nagata Tomoko
Published: January 2009

Prenatal exposure to chemicals is well known to induce developmental abnormalities in the central nervous system of children. Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) tests are important to identify neurotoxic agents and prevent neurodevelopmental disorders. We have investigated DNT, focusing on the fetal brain shortly after chemical exposure. To demonstrate a usefulness of a study focusing on the fetal brain in DNT tests, we assessed the fetal brain in a rat valproate‐induced autism model. Rats were treated with sodium valproate (VPA, 800 mg/kg) orally on gestational day (GD) 9 or 11 (VPA9 or VPA11), and the fetal brains were examined on GD16 using immunohistochemistry for serotonin (5‐HT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and TuJ1 (neuron specific class III β‐tubulin). Hypoplasia of the cortical plate was induced in both VPA9 and VPA11 groups. Abnormal migration of TH‐positive and 5‐HT neurons, possibly due to the appearance of an abnormally running nerve tract in the pons, was observed only in the VPA11 group. In addition, when we compared the incidence of these abnormalities between pregnant rats mated in our own animal facility (in‐house group), and rats purchased pregnant (supplier group), the supplier group was much more sensitive, especially to the pons abnormality. Shipping stress may affect the reproducibility of VPA‐induced DNT. The present results demonstrate that examination of the GD16 fetal brain was useful for detecting and characterizing abnormal development of the brain after VPA exposure. Further discussion was made with reference to the findings in children with autism.
Consumer decision making and aging: A commentary
Authors: Sternthal Brian , Bonezzi Andrea
Published: January 2009

Yoon, Cole and Lee's review suggests two strategies to address elderly individuals' limitations in processing information and decision making. One is accommodation, which entails designing information processing and judgment tasks so that they are compatible with the elderly's resource limitations. The other strategy involves stimulating self‐regulation. Here the premise is that elderly individuals often have the resources necessary to engage in a task, but only activate them in response to explicit directions. We discuss whether this observation reflects older individuals' inability to activate self‐regulation strategies spontaneously, or their purposive rationing of their limited resources so they remain available for more profound activities.
The Cambridge Companion to the 'Origin of Species'
Authors: Richards Robert J.
Published: January 2009

The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin is universally recognised as one of the most important science books ever written. The Origin of Species is also a work of great cultural and religious significance, in that Darwin maintained that all organisms, including humans, are part of a natural process of growth from simple forms. This Companion commemorates the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species and examines its main arguments. Drawing on the expertise of leading authorities in the field, it also provides the contexts - religious, social, political, literary, and philosophical - in which the Origin was composed. Written in a clear and friendly yet authoritative manner, this volume will be essential reading for both scholars and students. More broadly, it will appeal to general readers who want to learn more about one of the most important and controversial books of modern times.
Can coverage of schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis control programmes targeting school-aged children be improved? New approaches
Authors: MASSA K. , OLSEN A. , SHESHE A. , NTAKAMULENGA R. , NDAWI B. , MAGNUSSEN P.
Published: January 2009

Control programmes generally use a school-based strategy of mass drug administration to reduce morbidity of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in school-aged populations. The success of school-based programmes depends on treatment coverage. The community-directed treatment (ComDT) approach has been implemented in the control of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa and improves treatment coverage. This study compared the treatment coverage between the ComDT approach and the school-based treatment approach, where non-enrolled school-aged children were invited for treatment, in the control of schistosomiasis and STH among enrolled and non-enrolled school-aged children. Coverage during the first treatment round among enrolled children was similar for the two approaches (ComDT: 80·3% versus school: 82·1%, P=0·072). However, for the non-enrolled children the ComDT approach achieved a significantly higher coverage than the school-based approach (80·0 versus 59·2%, P<0·001). Similar treatment coverage levels were attained at the second treatment round. Again, equal levels of treatment coverage were found between the two approaches for the enrolled school-aged children, while the ComDT approach achieved a significantly higher coverage in the non-enrolled children. The results of this study showed that the ComDT approach can obtain significantly higher treatment coverage among the non-enrolled school-aged children compared to the school-based treatment approach for the control of schistosomiasis and STH.
Seeing the Soul
Authors: Fleming Noel
Published: January 2009

1. ‘“But aren't you saying that all that happens is that he moans, and that there is nothing behind it?” I am saying that there is nothing behind the moaning’ (‘Notes for Lectures on “Private Experience” and “Sense Data”’, The Philosophical Review, July 1968, 302). This passage seems to me to epitomize a conception of the mind and its relation to the body found in the later work of Wittgenstein. It will be convenient to write as if this is his view of the mind. He suggests elsewhere that he is not advancing philosophical theses in his later work; so maybe this view is not a philosophical thesis in some relevant sense; or maybe Wittgenstein is not wholly consistent; or maybe he puts it forward only dialectically, and in other philosophical contexts would have espoused other views of the mind as much as he espouses this one. In any case, what does this one amount to? ‘There is nothing behind the moaning.’ What does this mean?
God and Scientific Verifiability
Authors: Leslie John
Published: January 2009

What force has the Argument from Design—the attempt to argue to Design, and hence to God, from various alleged signs of it in Nature?

Some preliminary points. First: To establish the reality of God need not be to prove that there exists an actual person meriting that name. Many theologians, for example P. Tillich, have denied that God is any manner of existent. On a fairly simple and attractive interpretation, their view is that ‘God’ names the principle that ethical requirements are creatively powerful. In previous papers I tried to make sense of this principle: there is much that can be said for it. So when talking of ‘design’ I am not presupposing anything as specific as an actual designer.
Scientific Research and Discretion
Authors: Hanly Paul
Published: January 2009

In ‘Scientific Research and Moral Rectitude’ Robert Hoffman defends the scientific community against critics who maintain that ‘the researcher's claim to freedom of inquiry should be upheld only if his discovery does not adversely affect mankind….’ He uses two arguments in his defence, both of which purport to show that this sort of criticism is logically misconceived.
The Objection to Systematic Humbug
Authors: Midgley Mary
Published: January 2009

Is it quite all right to shake hands with murder in your heart?

The view that our feelings do not concern morality, that we have no duties about them, that it does not matter what we feel, so long as we act correctly, is often attributed to Kant. I am sure he did not hold it, and shall argue as much presently. Certainly it is not surprising that people have credited Kant with such a view. He did lay himself open to that suspicion, because he was too busy shooting at contrary errors to resist it.
Butler on Benevolence and Conscience
Authors: Rorty Amélie Oksenberg
Published: January 2009

It is tempting and even useful to read the history of ethics from Hobbes to Rousseau, and even to Kant, as a response to the devastation of making self-interest—the movement to the satisfaction of particular ego-oriented desires—either the basic motive, or the basic form of motivational explanation. After Hobbes, philosophical ingenuity allied with Christian sensibility to search for countervailing forces.
Time and Existence
Authors: Lloyd Genevieve
Published: January 2009

Much debate in contemporary metaphysics of time has centred on whether or not tense is essential to the understanding of a temporal reality. The rival positions in this debate are associated with two very different pictures of the relationship between time and existence. Those who argue for the dispensability of tense see the phenomenon of tense as an epistemological accretion which infects our perception of the world but is in no way essential to a complete description of reality. With respect to existence, things past and future are supposed to be on an equal footing with things present. Thus the Quinean ‘time slice’ ontology, which sees the world as a four-dimensional entity in space-time, repudiates any ontological significance to the differences between past, present and future. For the Quinean, what differences we see between past, present and future existents pertain to our limited mode of access to reality. In a perception which grasped the world as it really is tense differences would have no place. In this respect the Quinean position resembles Spinoza's claim in the Ethics that in so far as the mind conceives a thing under the dictates of reason it is affected equally, whether the idea be of a thing future, past or present.
Speciesism and the Idea of Equality
Authors: Steinbock Bonnie
Published: January 2009

Most of us believe that we are entitled to treat members of other species in ways which would be considered wrong if inflicted on members of our own species. We kill them for food, keep them confined, use them in painful experiments. The moral philosopher has to ask what relevant difference justifies this difference in treatment. A look at this question will lead us to re-examine the distinctions which we have assumed make a moral difference.
Active and Passive Euthanasia
Authors: Abrams Natalie
Published: January 2009

This paper is divided into three sections. The first presents some examples of the killing/letting die distinction. The second draws a further distinction between what I call negative and positive cases of acting or refraining. Here I argue that the moral significance of the acting/refraining distinction is different for positive and for negative cases. In the third section I apply the above distinction to euthanasia, and argue that mercy killing should be regarded as analogous to positive rather than negative cases. On the basis of this, I then support active rather than passive euthanasia.