bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Treatment of Leukostasis in Leukemic Mantle Cell Lymphoma Using Therapeutic Leukapheresis: A Case Report
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Duc , La Rosée Paul , Nebe Thomas , Klüter Harald , Buchheidt Dieter
Published: August 2011

We describe a case of severe leukocytosis caused by leukemic mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), complicated by leukostasis with myocardial infarction in which leukapheresis was used in the initial management. A 73-year-old male presented to the emergency department because of fatigue and thoracic pain. Blood count revealed 630 × 109/L WBC (white blood cells). The electrocardiogram showed ST-elevation with an increase of troponin and creatinine kinase. The diagnosis was ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) induced and complicated by leukostasis. Immunophenotyping, morphology, cytogenetic and fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization analysis revealed the diagnosis of a blastoid variant of MCL. To remove leukocytes rapidly, leukapheresis was performed in the intensive care unit. Based on the differential blood count with 95% blasts, which were assigned to the lymphocyte population by the automatic hematology analyzer, leukapheresis procedures were then performed with the mononuclear cell standard program on the Spectra cell separator. The patient was treated with daily leukapheresis for 3 days. The WBC count decreased to 174 × 109/L after the third leukapheresis, with a 72% reduction. After the second apheresis, treatment with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisolone was started. The patient fully recovered in the further course of the treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on blastoid MCL with leukostasis associated with a STEMI that was successfully treated by leukapheresis. Effective harvest of circulating lymphoma cells by leukapheresis requires adaptation of instrument settings based on the results of the differential blood count prior to apheresis.
Adrenal Ganglioneuroma with Multifocal Retroperitoneal Extension: A Challenging Diagnosis
Authors: Oderda Marco , Cattaneo Elena , Soria Francesco , Barreca Antonella , Chiusa Luigi , Morelli Bruno , Zitella Andrea , Gontero Paolo
Published: August 2011

A ganglioneuroma (GN) is the rarest and most benign of the neuroblastic tumors and originates from neural crest cells wherever sympathetic nervous tissue exists, such as in the retroperitoneum and adrenal gland. The diagnosis can be very challenging, given the rarity and asymptomatic presentation of this neoplasia, and can be achieved only by means of histological evaluation. Although benign, a few cases of metastatic GNs have been reported in the literature. The prognosis, however, seems to be excellent after surgical resection. We describe a rare case of multifocal retroperitoneal GN, diagnosed incidentally in a 46-year-old woman, with para-aortic and adrenal localizations. After intraoperative pathological diagnosis was made, complete excision of all the visible masses was performed. The postoperative period was uneventful and she was recurrence free 3 months after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a multifocal retroperitoneal GN. Among the broad differential diagnoses of adrenal incidentalomas, an adrenal location of neuroblastic tumors should not be forgotten.
Rubin H. Flocks and Colloidal Gold Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Rosevear Henry M. , Lightfoot Andrew J. , O'Donnell Michael A. , Platz Charles E. , Loening Stefan A. , Hawtrey Charles E.
Published: August 2011

In the early 1950s, Rubin H. Flocks of the University of Iowa began to treat prostate cancer patients with colloidal gold (Au198) therapy, evolving his technique over nearly 25 years in 1515 patients. We reviewed the long-term outcomes of Flocks' prostate cancer patients as compared to those patients treated by other methods at the University of Iowa before Flocks' chairmanship. We reviewed archived patient records, Flocks' published data, and long-term survival data from the Iowa Tumor Registry to determine short- and long-term outcomes of Flocks' work with colloidal gold. We also reviewed the literature of Flocks' time to compare his outcomes against those of his contemporaries. The use of colloidal gold, either as primary or adjunctive therapy, provided short- and long-term survival benefit for the majority of Flocks' patients as compared to historical treatment options (p< 0.001). Flocks' use of colloidal gold for the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer offered short- and long-term survival benefits compared to other contemporary treatments.
Comparison between Carotid Artery Wall Thickness Measured by Multidetector Row Computed Tomography Angiography and Intimae-Media Thickness Measured by Sonography
Authors: Savić Živorad N. , Soldatović Ivan I. , Brajović Milan D. , Pavlović Aleksandra M. , Mladenović Dušan R. , Škodrić-Trifunović Vesna D.
Published: August 2011

The increased thickness of the carotid wall >1 mm is a significant predictor of coronary and cerebrovascular diseases. The purpose of our study was to assess the agreement between multidetector row computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) in measuring carotid artery wall thickness (CAWT) and color Doppler ultrasound (CD-US) in measuring intimae-media thickness (IMT). Eighty-nine patients (aged 35–81) were prospectively analyzed using a 64-detector MDCTA and a CD-US scanner. Continuous data were described as the mean value ± standard deviation, and were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Bland–Altman statistics were employed to measure the agreement between MDCTA and CD-US. CAWT ranged from 0.62 to 1.60 mm, with a mean value of 1.09 mm. IMT ranged from 0.60 to 1.55 mm, with a mean value of 1.06 mm. We observed an excellent agreement between CD-US and MDCTA in the evaluation of the common carotid artery thickness, with a bias between methods of 0.029 mm (which is a highly statistically important difference of absolute values [t = 43.289; p < 0.01] obtained by paired T test), and limits of agreement from 0.04 to 0.104. Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.9997 (95% CI 0.9996–0.9998; p < 0.01). We conclude that there is an excellent correlation between CAWT and IMT measurements obtained with the MDCTA and CD-US.
Analysis of alternative splicing associated with aging and neurodegeneration in the human brain
Authors: Tollervey James R. , Wang Zhen , Hortobágyi Tibor , Witten Joshua T. , Zarnack Kathi , Kayikci Melis , Clark Tyson A. , Schweitzer Anthony C. , Rot Gregor , Curk Tomaž , Zupan Blaž , Rogelj Boris , Shaw Christopher E. , Ule Jernej
Published: August 2011

Age is the most important risk factor for neurodegeneration; however, the effects of aging and neurodegeneration on gene expression in the human brain have most often been studied separately. Here, we analyzed changes in transcript levels and alternative splicing in the temporal cortex of individuals of different ages who were cognitively normal, affected by frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), or affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). We identified age-related splicing changes in cognitively normal individuals and found that these were present also in 95% of individuals with FTLD or AD, independent of their age. These changes were consistent with increased polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB)–dependent splicing activity. We also identified disease-specific splicing changes that were present in individuals with FTLD or AD, but not in cognitively normal individuals. These changes were consistent with the decreased neuro-oncological ventral antigen (NOVA)–dependent splicing regulation, and the decreased nuclear abundance of NOVA proteins. As expected, a dramatic down-regulation of neuronal genes was associated with disease, whereas a modest down-regulation of glial and neuronal genes was associated with aging. Whereas our data indicated that the age-related splicing changes are regulated independently of transcript-level changes, these two regulatory mechanisms affected expression of genes with similar functions, including metabolism and DNA repair. In conclusion, the alternative splicing changes identified in this study provide a new link between aging and neurodegeneration.
Thermoelastic properties and crystal structure of CaPtO3post-perovskite from 0 to 9 GPa and from 2 to 973 K
Authors: Lindsay-Scott Alex , Wood Ian G. , Dobson David P. , Vočadlo Lidunka , Brodholt John P. , Knight Kevin S. , Tucker Matthew G. , Taniguchi Takashi
Published: August 2011

ABX3post-perovskite (PPV) phases that are stable (or strongly metastable) at ambient pressure are important as analogues of PPV-MgSiO3, a deep-Earth phase stable only at very high pressure. The thermoelastic and structural properties of orthorhombic PPV-structured CaPtO3have been determined to 9.27 GPa at ambient temperature and from 2 to 973 K at ambient pressure by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction. The equation-of-state from this high-pressure study is consistent with that found by Lindsay-Scott, Wood, Dobson, Vočadlo, Brodholt, Crichton, Hanfland & Taniguchi [(2010).Phys. Earth Planet. Inter.182, 113–118] using X-ray powder diffraction to 40 GPa. However, the neutron data have also enabled the determination of the crystal structure. Thebaxis is the most compressible and thecaxis the least, with theaandcaxes shortening under pressure by a similar amount. Above 300 K, the volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion, α(T), of CaPtO3can be represented by α(T) =a0+a1(T), witha0= 2.37 (3) × 10−5 K−1anda1= 5.1 (5) × 10−9 K−2. Over the full range of temperature investigated, the unit-cell volume of CaPtO3can be described by a second-order Grüneisen approximation to the zero-pressure equation of state, with the internal energy calculatedviaa Debye model and parameters θD(Debye temperature) = 615 (8) K,V0(unit-cell colume at 0 K) = 227.186 (3) Å3,K′0(first derivative with respect to pressure of the isothermal incompressibilityK0) = 7.9 (8) and (V0K0/γ′) = 3.16 (3) × 10−17 J, where γ′ is a Grüneisen parameter. Combining the present measurements with heat-capacity data gives a thermodynamic Grüneisen parameter γ = 1.16 (1) at 291 K. PPV-CaPtO3, PPV-MgSiO3and PPV-CaIrO3have the same axial incompressibility sequence, κc > κa > κb. However, when heated, CaPtO3shows axial expansion in the form αc > αb > αa, a sequence which is not simply the inverse of the axial incompressibilities. In this respect, CaPtO3differs from both MgSiO3(where the sequence αb > αa > αcis the same as 1/κi) and CaIrO3(where αb > αc > αa). Thus, PPV-CaPtO3and PPV-CaIrO3are better analogues for PPV-MgSiO3in compression than on heating. The behaviour of the unit-cell axes of all three compounds was analysed using a model based on nearest-neighbourB—XandA—Xdistances and angles specifying the geometry and orientation of theBX6octahedra. Under pressure, all contract mainly by reduction in theB—XandA—Xdistances. On heating, MgSiO3expands (at high pressure) mainly by lengthening of the Si—O and Mg—O bonds. In contrast, the expansion of CaPtO3(and possibly also CaIrO3), at atmospheric pressure, arises more from changes in angles than from increased bond distances.
Quantitative neutron diffraction texture measurement applied to α-phase alumina and Ti3AlC2
Authors: Zhang JianFeng , Kisi Erich H. , Kirstein Oliver
Published: August 2011

Orientation distribution functions, essential for making a quantitative connection between single-crystal and polycrystal properties, have been determined for extruded α-phase alumina, hot-pressed Ti3AlC2and cold isostatically pressed Ti3AlC2using experimental pole figures recorded on the fixed-wavelength neutron diffractometer KOWARI. Some practical improvements to the calculation of the pole-figure density from the raw area-detector data, and for constructing pole figures on ann×n° hemispherical grid, are presented. The textures give some insight into particle flow during manufacture. Directly measured material textures were compared with one-dimensional pole density functions, such as the March and Rietveld functions commonly used for the correction of preferred orientation in Rietveld refinements, as a means of assessing the utility of the latter for the computation of diffraction elastic constants and other polycrystal properties from a given set of single-crystal properties.
The hydration of alite: a time-resolved quantitative X-ray diffraction approach using theG-factor method compared with heat release
Authors: Jansen Daniel , Bergold Sebastian T. , Goetz-Neunhoeffer Friedlinde , Neubauer Jürgen
Published: August 2011

The classical external-standard method derived from the work of O'Connor & Raven [Powder Diffr.(1988),3, 2–6] was used to examine the hydration of the major phase, alite, of ordinary Portland cements at different temperatures and different water/alite ratios. In order to estimate the accuracy of the method, heat-flow curves were calculated from the alite dissolution curves obtained from X-ray diffractionin situexperiments. The heat-flow curves calculated in this way were compared with heat-flow curves recorded using a calorimeter. It is shown that the calculated curves agree well with the curves obtained from heat-flow experiments.
Neutron time-of-flight diffraction used to study aged duplex stainless steel at small and large deformation until sample fracture
Authors: Baczmanski A. , Le Joncour L. , Panicaud B. , Francois M. , Braham C. , Paradowska A. M. , Wronski S. , Amara S. , Chiron R.
Published: August 2011

Owing to its selectivity, diffraction is a powerful tool for analysing the mechanical behaviour of polycrystalline materials at the mesoscale (phase and/or grain scale).In situneutron diffraction during tensile tests and elastoplastic self-consistent modelling were used to study slip phenomena occurring on crystallographic planes at small and large deformation. The critical resolved shear stresses in both phases of duplex stainless steel were found for samples subjected to different thermal treatments. The evolution of grain loading was also determined by showing the large differences between stress concentration for grains in ferritic and austenitic phases. It was found that, for small loads applied to the sample, linear elastic deformation occurs in both phases. When the load increases, austenite starts to deform plastically, while ferrite remains in the elastic range. Finally, both phases undergo plastic deformation until sample fracture. By using an original calibration of diffraction data, the range of the study was extended to large sample deformation. As a result, mechanical effects that can be attributed to damage processes initiated in ferrite were observed.
Validation of Bragg edge experiments by Monte Carlo simulations for quantitative texture analysis
Authors: Boin M. , Hilger A. , Kardjilov N. , Zhang S. Y. , Oliver E. C. , James J. A. , Randau C. , Wimpory R. C.
Published: August 2011

The ability to resolve the wavelength in neutron transmission experiments has opened up a wide range of applications investigating crystallographic structures and properties. The investigations presented in this paper apply the Bragg edge transmission technique to the study of texture in a cylindrical aluminium specimen. The feasibility of this method is the main focus of this work; hence, conventional pole-figure measurements have been conducted with neutron diffraction to provide reference data for the evaluation of the transmission results. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo simulation has been developed to emulate the experimental conditions and allow investigations of instrument effects. The results have been compared and are discussed with respect to quantitative texture analysis.
Particle statistics of a capillary specimen in synchrotron powder diffractometry
Authors: Ida T.
Published: August 2011

Particle statistics in synchrotron powder diffractometry measured in a capillary transmission mode have been theoretically and experimentally investigated. General mathematical formulae for statistical analysis of observed intensities measured by a spinner-scan method are derived. It is shown that an additional parameter to characterize the size distribution of crystallites can be evaluated from the skewness of the distribution of measured diffraction intensities obtained by the spinner-scan method applied to capillary specimens.
The effect of Cr3+doping on the crystalline perfection and optical properties of zinc tris(thiourea)sulfate, a nonlinear optical material
Authors: Kushwaha S. K. , Maurya K. K. , Haranath D. , Bhagavannarayana G.
Published: August 2011

A study of the effect of Cr3+doping in zinc tris(thiourea)sulfate (ZTS, a well known nonlinear optical material) single crystals on crystalline perfection and optical properties was carried out. Pure and chromium-doped (1 and 2 mol%) ZTS single crystals were grown by the slow evaporation solution technique. The actual concentration of chromium incorporated into the crystal lattice was found to be different, as evaluated by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. High-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) analysis revealed that chromium doping led to the creation of vacancies in the grown single crystals. The photoluminescence emission spectra of pure and doped crystals supported the HRXRD findings. The optical band gap of the single crystals increased as a result of the Cr3+doping, but their transparency in the visible region decreased. The doped crystals exhibited higher linear refractive indices than the pure crystals. The optical dielectric constant (∊), the extinction coefficient (k), the average single-oscillator energy for electronic transitions (Eo) and the oscillator strength (Ed) were evaluated for ZTS single crystals and significant changes were observed in these parameters due to the Cr3+doping.
Inflammatory activation and carbohydrate antigen‐125 levels in subjects with atrial fibrillation
Authors: De Gennaro Luisa , Brunetti Natale Daniele , Montrone Deodata , De Rosa Fiorella , Cuculo Andrea , Di Biase Matteo
Published: August 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (4): 371–375

Background  Atrial fibrillation (AF) might be associated with an inflammatory activation and reduced left ventricular (LV) function. Less is known with regard to newly introduced markers of LV dysfunction such as carbohydrate antigen‐125 (CA‐125) in subjects with AF. The aim of this study was therefore to assess possible associations between AF, inflammatory markers and CA‐125.

Methods and results  Forty‐eight consecutive patients with AF and 58 control patients in sinus rhythm were enrolled in this study. Patients with acute heart failure, chronic inflammatory or neoplastic disease were excluded from the study. Circulating levels of hs‐C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), IL‐6, soluble IL‐2 receptor (sIL‐2r), TNF‐α and CA‐125 were assessed; all patients underwent clinical examination with NYHA class assessment and echocardiography. Patients with AF were characterised by higher levels of IL‐8 (180 ± 266 vs. 39 ± 43 pg/mL, P < 0·001), sIL‐2r (987 ± 1045 vs. 680 ± 336 U/mL, P < 0·05) and TNF‐α (26 ± 25 vs. 9 ± 4 pg/mL, P < 0·001). Patients with AF duration < 6 months had higher levels of CRP (54 ± 73 vs. 12 ± 14 mg/dL, P < 0·05) and IL‐8 (251 ± 225 vs. 99 ± 123 pg/mL, P < 0·05) when compared with AF duration > 6 months. CA‐125 levels were not statistically different if comparing subjects with AF with controls and AF > 6 months with AF < 6 months. Among patients with AF, CA‐125 levels were significantly related to NYHA class, (r = 0·33, P < 0·05) as well as IL‐6 levels (r = 0·31, P < 0·05). Results remained statistically significant even after multivariable correction for age, gender and LV ejection fraction.

Results and conclusion  AF is characterised by an inflammatory activation. Impaired functional class in AF subjects might be associated with increased CA‐125 levels and higher inflammatory markers.
Metacommunity analysis of Mexican bats: environmentally mediated structure in an area of high geographic and environmental complexity
Authors: López‐González Celia , Presley Steven J. , Lozano Abraham , Stevens Richard D. , Higgins Christopher L.
Published: August 2011

Aim  We tested the hypothesis that distributions of Mexican bats are defined by shared responses to environmental gradients for the entire Mexican bat metacommunity and for each of four metaensembles (frugivores, nectarivores, gleaning insectivores, and aerial insectivores). Further, we identified the main environmental factors to which bats respond for multiple spatial extents.

Location  Mexico.

Methods  Using bat presence–absence data, as well as vegetation composition for each of 31 sites, we analysed metacommunity structure via a comprehensive, hierarchical approach that uses reciprocal averaging (RA) to detect latent environmental gradients corresponding to each metacommunity structure (e.g. Clementsian, Gleasonian, nested, random). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to relate such gradients to variation in vegetation composition.

Results  For all bat species and for each ensemble, the primary gradient of ordination from RA, which is based on species data only, recovered an axis of humidity that matched that obtained for the first axis of the CCA ordination, which is based both on vegetation attributes and on species composition of sites. For the complete assemblage as well as for aerial and gleaning insectivores, analyses revealed Clementsian or quasi‐Clementsian structures with discrete compartments (distinctive groups of species along portions of an environmental gradient) coincident with the humidity gradient and with the Nearctic–Neotropical divide. Within‐compartment analysis further revealed Clementsian or quasi‐Clementsian structures corresponding to a gradient of elevational complexity that matched the second ordination axis in CCA. Frugivores had quasi‐nested structure, whereas nectarivores had Gleasonian structure.

Main conclusions  Our hierarchical approach to metacommunity analysis detected complex metacommunity structures associated with multiple environmental gradients at different spatial extents. More importantly, the resulting structures and their extent along environmental gradients are determined by ensemble‐specific characteristics and not by arbitrarily circumscribed study areas. This property renders compartment‐level analyses particularly useful for large‐scale ecological analyses in areas where more than one gradient may exist and species sorting may occur at multiple scales.
Paternal Deprivation Affects the Development of Corticotrophin‐Releasing Factor‐Expressing Neurones in Prefrontal Cortex, Amygdala and Hippocampus of the Biparental Octodon degus
Authors: Seidel K. , Poeggel G. , Holetschka R. , Helmeke C. , Braun K.
Published: August 2011

Although the critical role of maternal care on the development of brain and behaviour of the offspring has been extensively studied, knowledge about the importance of paternal care is comparatively scarce. In biparental species, paternal care significantly contributes to a stimulating socio‐emotional family environment, which most likely also includes protection from stressful events. In the biparental caviomorph rodent Octodon degus, we analysed the impact of paternal care on the development of neurones in prefrontal‐limbic brain regions, which express corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF). CRF is a polypeptidergic hormone that is expressed and released by a neuronal subpopulation in the brain, and which not only is essential for regulating stress and emotionality, but also is critically involved in cognitive functions. At weaning age [postnatal day (P)21], paternal deprivation resulted in an elevated density of CRF‐containing neurones in the orbitofrontal cortex and in the basolateral amygdala of male degus, whereas a reduced density of CRF‐expressing neurones was measured in the dentate gyrus and stratum pyramidale of the hippocampal CA1 region at this age. With the exception of the CA1 region, the deprivation‐induced changes were no longer evident in adulthood (P90), which suggests a transient change that, in later life, might be normalised by other socio‐emotional experience. The central amygdala, characterised by dense clusters of CRF‐immunopositive neuropil, and the precentral medial, anterior cingulate, infralimbic and prelimbic cortices, were not affected by paternal deprivation. Taken together, this is the first evidence that paternal care interferes with the developmental expression pattern of CRF‐expressing interneurones in an age‐ and region‐specific manner.
Nummulitic banks in the upper Lutetian ‘Buil level’, Ainsa Basin, South Central Pyrenean Zone: the impact of internal waves
Authors: MATEU‐VICENS GUILLEM , POMAR LUIS , FERRÀNDEZ‐CAÑADELL CARLES
Published: August 2011

Nummulites,a particularly abundant and diverse genus of larger benthonic foraminifera, formed huge accumulations (banks) during the Eocene, which are often good hydrocarbon reservoirs, especially in North Africa. Despite their economical interest, these accumulations are not well‐understood and their origin is still under discussion. Reasons for this debate are the absence of livingNummulitesaccumulations and the high‐variability of facies, including the size, shape and extension of the banks, which reflect the array of processes controlling sediment production and accumulation. The nummulitic banks near Santa María de Buil, in the Ainsa Basin (South Pyrenean Foreland Basin) are composed of recurrent facies associations within mappable bed units bounded by physical surfaces. The depositional processes that produced theNummulites deshayesiaccumulations are interpreted considering the shape of the banks, the type of bounding surfaces, the distribution of sedimentary textures,Nummulitestest shapes and the associated skeletal components within the banks. This integrative analysis indicates that nummulitic banks accumulated from mass flows, with very poor sediment sorting. Textural and compositional differences among banks suggest that globoseNummulitesthrived in the shallower part of the mesophotic zone with abundant nummulithoclasts, whereas flat nummulitic forms thrived in deeper mesophotic, clay‐dominated settings. Interbedded with nummulitic banks, coral biostromes and coral mounds bearingOperculina,DiscocyclinaandAsterocyclina, representin situaccumulation near the base of the photic zone. Internal waves (waves that propagate along the pycnocline) are thought to be the triggering mechanism for the density flows. Internal waves and induced bottom currents are sporadic but strong enough to bring sediments into suspension. In contrast to surface waves (both fair‐weather and storm), whose impact is strongest near the sea surface and decreases with bathymetry, the impact of internal waves is usually strongest in the mid‐shelf region and weaker in shallow water. This explains the compositional character of the nummulitic banks.
Mesophotic coral buildups in a prodelta setting (Late Eocene, southern Pyrenees, Spain): a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic system
Authors: MORSILLI MICHELE , BOSELLINI FRANCESCA R. , POMAR LUIS , HALLOCK PAMELA , AURELL MARC , PAPAZZONI CESARE A.
Published: August 2011

Lower Priabonian coral bioherms and biostromes, encased in prodelta marls/clays, occur in the Aínsa‐Jaca piggyback basin, in the South Central Pyrenean zone. Detailed mapping of lithofacies and bounding surfaces onto photomosaics reveals the architecture of coral buildups. Coral lithosomes occur either isolated or amalgamated in larger buildups. Isolated lithosomes are 1 to 8 m thick and a few hundred metres wide; clay content within coral colonies is significant. Stacked bioherms form low‐relief buildups, commonly 20 to 30 m thick, locally up to 50 m. These bioherms are progressively younger to the west, following progradation of the deltaic complex. The lowermost skeletal‐rich beds consist of bryozoan floatstone with wackestone to packstone matrix, in which planktonic foraminifera are abundant and light‐related organisms absent. Basal coral biostromes, and the base of many bioherms, consist of platy‐coral colonies ‘floating’ in a fine‐grained matrix rich in branches of red algae. Corals with domal or massive shape, locally mixed with branching corals and phaceloid coral colonies, dominate buildup cores. These corals are surrounded by matrix and lack organic framework. The matrix consists of wackestone to packstone, locally floatstone, with conspicuous red algal and coral fragments, along with bryozoans, planktonic and benthonic foraminifera and locally sponges. Coral rudstone and skeletal packstone, with wackestone to packstone matrix, also occur as wedges abutting the buildup margins. Integrative analysis of rock textures, skeletal components, buildup anatomy and facies architecture clearly reveal that these coral buildups developed in a prodelta setting where shifting of delta lobes or rainfall cycles episodically resulted in water transparency that allowed zooxanthellate coral growth. The bathymetric position of the buildups has been constrained from the light‐dependent communities and lithofacies distribution within the buildups. The process‐product analysis used here reinforces the hypothesis that zooxanthellate corals thrived in mesophotic conditions at least during the Late Eocene and until the Late Miocene. Comparative analysis with some selected Upper Eocene coral buildups of the north Mediterranean area show similarities in facies, components and textures, and suggest that they also grew in relatively low light (mesophotic) and low hydrodynamic conditions.
Evidence for late Mesoproterozoic tectonism in northern Yukon and the identification of a Grenville‐age tectonothermal belt in western Laurentia
Authors: Milidragovic Dejan , Thorkelson Derek J. , Davis William J. , Marshall Daniel D. , Gibson H. Daniel
Published: August 2011

Terra Nova, 23, 307–313, 2011

New U‐Pb zircon dates from gneissic xenoliths in an Early Cambrian lamprophyre point to late Mesoproterozoic metamorphism and magmatism in the crust beneath northern Yukon. The data indicate a previously unrecognized thermal event in Yukon and extend the recognition of widely spaced 1.3–1.0 Ga igneous, metamorphic and tectonic events along the western margin of Laurentia. Together, these events demonstrate that the north‐western margin of Laurentia was thermally active during a period of traditionally inferred tectonic quiescence. The tectonic setting, intensity and general nature of this late Mesoproterozoic tectonothermal activity are poorly constrained, but their recognition is key to expanding our understanding of the Proterozoic geology of North America. The recognition of this event places new constraints on the palaeotectonic reconstructions of the supercontinent Rodinia.
Glucose and ethylene signalling pathways converge to regulate trans‐differentiation of epidermal transfer cells in Vicia narbonensis cotyledons
Authors: Andriunas Felicity A. , Zhang Hui‐Ming , Weber Hans , McCurdy David W. , Offler Christina E. , Patrick John W.
Published: August 2011

Transfer cells are specialized transport cells containing invaginated wall ingrowths that provide an amplified plasma membrane surface area with high densities of transporter proteins. They trans‐differentiate from differentiated cells at sites where enhanced rates of nutrient transport occur across apo/symplasmic boundaries. Despite their physiological importance, the signal(s) and signalling cascades responsible for initiating their trans‐differentiation are poorly understood. In culture, adaxial epidermal cells of Vicia narbonensis cotyledons were induced to trans‐differentiate to a transfer cell morphology. Manipulating their intracellular glucose concentrations by transgenic knock‐down of ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase expression and/or culture on a high‐glucose medium demonstrated that glucose functioned as a negative regulator of wall ingrowth induction. In contrast, glucose had no detectable effect on wall ingrowth morphology. The effect on wall ingrowth induction of culture on media containing glucose analogues suggested that glucose acts through a hexokinase‐dependent signalling pathway. Elevation of an epidermal cell‐specific ethylene signal alone, or in combination with glucose analogues, countered the negative effect of glucose on wall ingrowth induction. Glucose modulated the amplitude of ethylene‐stimulated wall ingrowth induction by down‐regulating the expression of ethylene biosynthetic genes and an ethylene insensitive 3 (EIN3)‐like gene (EIL) encoding a key transcription factor in the ethylene signalling cascade. A model is presented describing the interaction between glucose and ethylene signalling pathways regulating the induction of wall ingrowth formation in adaxial epidermal cells.
Facial asymmetry and clinical manifestations in patients with novel insertion of theTCOF1gene
Authors: Su P‐H , Liu Y‐F , Yu J‐S , Chen J‐Y , Chen S‐J , Lai Y‐J
Published: August 2011

Su P‐H, Liu Y‐F, Yu J‐S, Chen J‐Y, Chen S‐J, Lai Y‐J. Facial asymmetry and clinical manifestations in patients with novel insertion of theTCOF1gene.

This study explored the role ofTCOF1insertion mutations in Taiwanese patients with craniofacial anomalies. Twelve patients with single or multiple, asymmetrical congenital craniofacial anomalies were enrolled. Genomic DNA was prepared from leukocytes; the coding regions ofTCOF1were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Clinical manifestations were correlated to theTCOF1mutation. Six of 12 patients diagnosed with hemifacialmicrosomia exhibited a novel insertion mutation 4127 ins G (frameshift) in exon 24 in theTCOF1gene. All six patients were diagnosed with anomalies on the left side. In addition, four of these six patients had hearing impairment; three had other major anomalies; and two had developmental delay. The insertion caused a frameshift, an early truncation, the loss of two putative nuclear localization signals (residues 1404–1420 and 1424–1440), and the loss of coiled coil domain (1406–1426) in treacle protein. These findings support the existence of two regulators of growth of the mandibular condyles.
Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia: III. biophysical constraints on leaf expansion under long‐term water stress
Authors: Zhang Yanxiang , Equiza Maria Alejandra , Zheng Quanshui , Tyree Melvin T.
Published: August 2011

In this article, we measured the relative growth rate (RGR) of leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under well‐watered and water‐stressed conditions (mid‐day Ψw = leaf water potential estimated with a pressure bomb of −0.48 and −0.98 MPa, respectively). Pressure–volume (PV) curves were done on growing leaves at 25, 50 and 95% of the mature size (growth stage) in order to compute solute potential (Ψ) and turgor pressure (ΨP) as a function of Ψw. The PV curves and diurnal measurements of Ψw and RGR allowed us to evaluate the parameters (cell wall extensibility m and growth turgor threshold Y) of the Lockhart equation, RGR = m(ΨP− Y), at each growth stage. Our data showed that m and Y did change with leaf age, but the changes were slow enough to evaluate m and Y on any given day. We believe this is the first study to provide evidence that the Lockhart equation adequately quantifies leaf growth of trees over a range of time domains. The value of m linearly declined and Y linearly increased with growth stage. Also, mild drought stress caused a decline in m and increase in Y relative to controls. Although water stress caused an osmotic adjustment which, in turn, increased ΨP in stressed plants relative to controls, the RGR and final leaf sizes were reduced in water‐stressed plants because of the impact of water stress on decreased m and increased Y.
Patients’ statements and experiences concerning receiving mechanical ventilation: a prospective video‐recorded study
Authors: Karlsson Veronika , Lindahl Berit , Bergbom Ingegerd
Published: August 2011

KARLSSON V, LINDAHL B and BERGBOM I. Nursing Inquiry 2012; 19: 247–258  Patients’ statements and experiences concerning receiving mechanical ventilation: a prospective video‐recorded study

Prospective studies using video‐recordings of patients during mechanical ventilator treatment (MVT) while conscious have not previously been published. The aim was to describe patients’ statements, communication and facial expressions during a video‐recorded interview while undergoing MVT. Content analysis and hermeneutics inspired by the philosophy of Gadamer were used. The patients experienced almost constant difficulties in breathing and lost their voice. The most common types of communication techniques patients used were nodding or shaking the head. Their expressions were interpreted as stiffened facial expression, tense body position and feelings of sadness and sorrow. Nursing care for patients’ conscious during MVT is challenging as it creates new demands regarding the content of the care provided. In caring for patients undergoing MVT while conscious, establishing a caring relationship, making patients feel safe and helping them to communicate seem to be most important for alleviating discomfort and instilling hope.
Faecal impaction: in‐hospital complications and their predictors in a retrospective study on 130 patients
Authors: Halawi Houssam M. , Maasri Karim A. , Mourad Fadi H. , Barada Kassem A.
Published: August 2011

Aim  Faecal impaction may be a medical emergency. The frequency of complications of this condition and their predictors are not known. We determined the clinical presentation, the in‐hospital complications and their predictors in 130 patients diagnosed with faecal impaction.

Method  This was a retrospective study of the medical records of 130 patients who presented with faecal impaction to a tertiary care center in Beirut, Lebanon, between 1992 and 2009. The clinical outcome and complications were reviewed. The association between in‐hospital complications and other variables was determined.

Results  The mean age of the patients was 67.1 years. Ninety‐eight (75.3%) patients had at least one of the following: heart disease (36.3%), neurological disease (28.8%) or diabetes (22.6%), and 26.7% were bedridden. The site of impaction was the rectum in 66.4%. The patients were treated by manual disimpaction (34.5%), enema (89.1%) or oral laxatives (84.0%). A delay in treatment of more than 6 h occurred in 70 (53.8%) patients. In‐hospital complications occurred in 34 (24.6%) patients, the most common of which were infectious (16 cases), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (16 cases), cardiopulmonary (14 cases) and death (one patient). Time to the start of treatment was longer in patients who developed complications compared with those who did not (10.1 h vs 7.1 h; P = 0.02). Patients > 80 years of age, or patients with heart or neurological disease were at a higher risk of developing complications (P = 0.03, P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion  Treatment delay, increasing age and the presence of heart or neurological disease seem to be predictors of in‐hospital complications in patients with faecal impaction.
Instrumental and clinical studies of the facial skin tone and pigmentation of Shanghaiese women. Changes induced by age and a cosmetic whitening product
Authors: Huixia Q. , Xiaohui L. , Chengda Y. , Yanlu Z. , Senee J. , Laurent A. , Bazin R. , Flament F. , Adam A. , Piot B.
Published: August 2011

Synopsis

The pigmentation patterns of facial skin of 354 healthy Chinese women aged 18–80 years were investigated clinically and instrumentally. Chromasphere® was used to acquire pictures from the cheeks of subjects. Facial skin tone was described by L* parameter from the L,a,b system as well as Individual Typology Angle (ITA). Results show that skin tone becomes significantly darker along the life span. Both size of hyper‐pigmented spots and their contrast with surrounding skin were found increased with age. As additional study, 40 women from these 354 subjects were asked to apply daily a whitening cosmetic product for a 2‐month period. Such application led to a significantly lighter skin tone, although this study was not vehicle controlled and we cannot exclude that the increase in L* observed was in some part because of cumulative effects of previously used whitening products, there was an association with lighter skin tone as assessed through both instrumental measurements and self‐perception by most subjects.
‘Blame it on marketing’: consumers' views on unsustainable consumption
Authors: Pereira Heath M. Teresa , Chatzidakis Andreas
Published: August 2011

This paper addresses consumers' attitudes towards consumption, the extent to which excessive consumption is perceived as an environmental problem and what consumers perceive as their personal responsibility vs. that of marketing for this consumption. Findings from a focus group and a survey administered to lecturers of a university in Portugal are reported. A critical reflection upon the findings reveals that participants view consumption as excessive and mostly due to marketing, but do not associate high levels of consumption with environmental damage. The consumers surveyed did not accept personal responsibility for excessive consumption, and many of them do not perceive their actions to have a significant impact on the environment. The high educational level of our sample makes these findings of particular concern. This paper feeds the debate on sustainable marketing and expresses the need to address consumers', as well as marketing's, place in sustainability. Implications of this study are drawn and directions for future research are suggested.
N‐terminal deletion does not affect α‐synuclein membrane binding, self‐association and toxicity in human neuroblastoma cells, unlike yeast
Authors: Vamvaca Katherina , Lansbury Jr. Peter T. , Stefanis Leonidas
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 389–397.

α‐Synuclein causes Parkinson’s disease if mutated or aberrantly produced in neurons. α‐Synuclein–lipid interactions are important for the normal function of the protein, but can also contribute to pathogenesis. We previously reported that deletion of the first 10 N‐terminal amino acids dramatically reduced lipid binding in vitro, as well as membrane binding and toxicity in yeast. Here we extend this study to human neuroblastoma SHSY‐5Y cells, and find that in these cells the first 10 N‐terminal residues do not affect α‐synuclein membrane binding, self‐association and cell viability, contrary to yeast. Differences in lipid composition, membrane fluidity and cytosolic factors between yeast and neuronal cells may account for the distinct binding behavior of the truncated variant in these two systems. Retinoic acid promotes differentiation and α‐synuclein oligomer formation in neuroblastoma cells, while addition of a proteasomal inhibitor induces neurite outgrowth and toxicity to certain wild‐type and truncated α‐synuclein clones. Yeast recapitulate several features of α‐synuclein (patho)biology, but its simplicity sets limitations; verification of yeast results in more relevant model systems is, therefore, essential.
Hyperforin promotes mitochondrial function and development of oligodendrocytes
Authors: Wang Yanlin , Zhang Yanbo , He Jue , Zhang Handi , Xiao Lan , Nazarali Adil , Zhang Zhijun , Zhang Dai , Tan Qingrong , Kong Jiming , Li Xin‐Min
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 555–568.

St. John’s wort has been found to be an effective and safe herbal treatment for depression in several clinical trials. However, the underlying mechanism of its therapeutic effects is unclear. Recent studies show that the loss and malfunction of oligodendrocytes are closely related to the neuropathological changes in depression, which can be reversed by antidepressant treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effects of hyperforin, a major active component of St. John’s wort, on the proliferation, development and mitochondrial function of oligodendrocytes. The study results revealed that hyperforin promotes maturation of oligodendrocytes and increases mitochondrial function without affecting proliferation of an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line and neural stem/progenitor cells. Hyperforin also prevented mitochondrial toxin‐induced cytotoxicity in an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line. These findings suggest that hyperforin may stimulate the development and function of oligodendrocytes, which could be a mechanism of its effect in depression. Future in vitro and in vivo studies are required to further characterize the mechanisms of hyperforin.
Development and Hydrodynamic Evaluation of a Novel Inflow Cannula in a Mechanical Circulatory Support System for Bridge to Decision
Authors: Sumikura Hirohito , Toda Koichi , Takewa Yoshiaki , Tsukiya Tomonori , Ohnuma Kentaro , Sasagawa Mitsuo , Watanabe Fumikazu , Ugawa Junichi , Taenaka Yoshiyuki , Tatsumi Eisuke
Published: August 2011

Recent progress in the development of implantable rotary blood pumps realized long‐term mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for bridge to transplant, bridge to recovery, or a destination therapy. Meanwhile, a short‐term MCS system is becoming necessary for bridge to decision. We developed a novel inflow cannula for the short‐term MCS system, which gives sufficient bypass flow with minimal invasion at insertion, and evaluated its hydrodynamic characteristics. The novel inflow cannula, named the Lantern cannula, is made of elastic silicone reinforced with metal wires. The cannula tip has six slits on the side. This cannula tip can be extended to the axial direction by using an introducer and can be reduced in diameter, and the Lantern cannula enables easy insertion into the left ventricle apex with minimal invasion. The sufficient bypass flow rate can be obtained due to low pressure loss. Moreover, this Lantern shape also resists suction complication around the cannula tip. The pressure loss through the Lantern cannula was measured using a mock circulation and compared with two commercially available venous cannulae (Sarns4882, Terumo, Tokyo, Japan and Stockert V122‐28, Sorin Group, Tokyo, Japan), which have almost same diameter as the Lantern cannula. Moreover, the flow patterns around the cannula tip were numerically analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Acute animal experiment was also performed to confirm the practical effectiveness of the Lantern cannula. The pressure loss of the Lantern cannula was the lowest compared with those of the commercially available venous cannulae in in vitro experiment. CFD analysis results demonstrated that the Lantern cannula has low pressure loss because of wide inflow orifice area and a bell mouth, which were formed via Lantern shape. The highest bypass flow was obtained in the Lantern cannula because of the low pressure loss under pulsatile condition in in vivo experiments. The Lantern cannula demonstrated superior hydrodynamic characteristics as the inflow cannula in terms of pressure loss due to its specially designed Lantern shape.
POLYPHASIC CHARACTERIZATION OF DOLICHOSPERMUM SPP. AND SPHAEROSPERMOPSIS SPP. (NOSTOCALES, CYANOBACTERIA): MORPHOLOGY, 16S rRNA GENE SEQUENCES AND FATTY ACID AND SECONDARY METABOLITE PROFILES1
Authors: Zapomělová Eliška , Hrouzek Pavel , Řezanka Tomáš , Jezberová Jitka , Řeháková Klára , Hisem Daniel , Komárková Jaroslava
Published: August 2011

The genera Dolichospermum (Ralfs ex Bornet et Flahault) Wacklin, L. Hoffm. et Komárek and Sphaerospermopsis Zapomělová, Jezberová, Hrouzek, Hisem, K. Řeháková et Komárk.‐Legn. represent a highly diversified group of planktonic cyanobacteria that have been recently separated from the traditional genus Anabaena Bory ex Bornet et Flahault. In this study, morphological diversity, phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene, production of fatty acids, and secondary metabolite profiles were evaluated in 33 strains of 14 morphospecies isolated from the Czech Republic. Clustering of the strains based on 16S rRNA gene sequences corresponded to wider groups of species in terms of morphology. The overall secondary metabolite and fatty acid profiles, however, were not correlated to each other and neither were they correlated to the 16S rRNA phylogeny nor the morphology of the strains. Nevertheless, a minor part of the detected secondary metabolites (19% of all compounds) was present only in close relatives and can be thus considered as autapomorphic features.