bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Providing early intervention services for the primary care sector: the PMHT approach
Authors: McGovern A.
Published: October 2010

Primary Mental Health Teams are a state‐wide initiative of the government of Victoria to address identified gaps in mental health service delivery namely early intervention for psychosis and mental health services for high prevalence disorders. This poster will outline this dynamic community based approach to supporting and enhancing services for clients with mental health issues that are currently provided by the primary care sector. Specifically, the poster will focus on the development of a local cross sectorial approach to early psychosis with the dual aims of decreasing the duration of untreated psychosis and adopting best practice guidelines for improved outcomes for this high risk population.
Working in partnership – developing a young people's service in a rural environment
Authors: Mitchell M. , Cogan M. , Clegg C.
Published: October 2010

Specific objective  The Project reviewed – The Provision of Services for Early Psychosis in Cornwall. It looked at staff feedback, user and carers' views, base line assessment and National Guidelines of Best Practice, and proposed significant changes to meet the needs of young people.

Method  The Review was carried out under the auspices of the National Clinical Governance Team and used as its framework the RAID model of change.

Results  This resulted in a series of recommendations, which informed new developments. Current initiatives include a Health Promotion Programme, Training Strategies in Primary Care and effective partnerships with young people's services.

Conclusions  It proposes significant changes to the correct system of care by working outside the traditional healthcare settings and across the service boundaries of health, education and social care. The rurality of Cornwall provides a considerable challenge for service delivery. This review ensured that ownership rested with users, careers, staff and others who contributed and shaped its future direction.
Quetiapine treatment in early psychosis: 1 year outcomes
Authors: Kopala L. , Woodley H. , Campbell L. A. , Gallant J. , Rui Q. , Milliken H. , Whitehorn D.
Published: October 2010

Objective  To determine clinical response, dosing and adverse events associated with quetiapine treatment in early psychosis.

Method  40 Patients (33 men; 7 women; mean age 23.75) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and less than 6 months previous exposure to antipsychotic treatment, entered an open label, 2 years, flexible dose trial and were assessed with PANSS, CGI, GAF, SOFAS, ESRS, BMI and ocular exams at baseline and 6 month intervals thereafter.

Results  Among 30 patients who enrolled >1 years ago, 19 (63%) completed 1‐year assessment. Dropouts were due to insufficient clinical response (13%), nonadherence (13%) and personal choice (10%). At 1 year, significant improvement was observed on the PANSS, CGI, GAF and SOFAS. Mean dose was 559 (±207) mg/day. No drug induced EPS was noted and EPS present at baseline was reduced. Mean change in BMI was 17% (±22). No ocular changes were observed.

Conclusions  Quetiapine was well tolerated. Clinical response was similar to that achieved with other second generation antipsychotic agents in the same early psychosis programme.
My friends do not get paid: endeavors to integrate young people who experience psychosis into positive peer environments
Authors: Howard D. J.
Published: October 2010

In New Zealand, young adults commonly leave the family home and establish households with peers. For young people with psychosis, many factors create barriers towards achieving this developmentally appropriate goal. Young people who have experienced psychosis often want supportive living arrangements, where they can disclose their experience, and rely on others to include, rather than exclude, them. These people may not qualify for staffed supported accommodation, nor desire it, due to the stigma associated with institutional care, and stipendiary care givers. Likewise, independence without significant connection to positive peer groups is equally undesirable. In reality it can lead to loneliness, isolation, and vulnerability to exploitation from others. This paper will present the author's experience of both living in households with peers with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities, and his experience as a care manager in the Wellington Early Intervention Service, facilitating others to do the same. Examples will be presented.
Self‐image as a defence against stigma of being mentally ill
Authors: Drozdzowicz L.
Published: October 2010

The paper presents some findings of a prospective study on the self‐image of patients ill with schizophrenia. 57 patients were examined 3 times: 1, 3, and 7 years from the time of the first admission to hospital. As a main measuring tool of self‐image the Adjective Check List of Gough and Heilbrun was used. It was administreited in two versions: ‘Who I am?’ and ‘Who I would like to be?’ Three main conclusions emerged from the study: (1) There is a strong tendency to deny the fact of being mentally ill. This tendency is stronger at the beginning and lessens with the time. (2) The stronger the patient's tendency todeny the illness the more inappriopriate is the self‐image expressed through no divergence between real and ideal version of self‐image. (3) Those who had the highest level of self‐ acceptance and a tendency to be defencive at the beginning, show the most pessimistic self‐image after 7 years.
Cenestho‐hypohondriac disorders in schizophrenia started in adolescence period
Authors: Prokudin V.
Published: October 2010

For 10–15 years we studied the time‐course of neurosis‐like disorders in 46 patients with schizophrenia manifested in adolescence with cenetesthopathic disorders (23 patients presented the cenesthopathic–hypohondriac syndrome, in 17 cenesthopathia was attended by phobias, in six it was combined with manifestations of derealization and depersonalization). The study showed that in 87% of the patients the disease ran continuously (torpidly in 29, by the type of simple form in five and by type of paranoid form in six patients), in 13% of the patients the disease ran a paroxysm‐progressive course. In 10–15 years the clinical picture in half of the patients continued to be characterized by the leading cenestho–hypochondriac symptomatology, in one‐fourth of patients cenestho–hypochondriac disorders were transformed into hallucinational‐paranoid, in another one‐fourth of patients into either psychosis‐like or apatho‐abulic symptomatology. It is discussed the degree of progression of the disease in different variants of its course, the social and marital status of patients, the specificity of personality changes, and peculiarities of disease relapse. In patients with neurosis‐like slack‐course of disease it was the tendency of regredient dynamics and stable remissions. In patients with continuous variant (paranoid form) the degree of progredience was constantly increased and there was not a stable remissions. All patients with neurosis‐like slack course were characterized by good social rehabilitation, but paranoic patients – by desadaptation. Only 17% of adolescents became be married after 10–15 years of our study.
Insight in early psychosis: a 1 year follow‐up
Authors: Mintz A. , Addington J. , Addington D.
Published: October 2010

Insight is an important prognostic indicator in early psychosis, as its presence can enhance treatment compliance, thus reducing the risk of clinical deterioration. The Calgary Early Psychosis Programme (EPP) is a comprehensive treatment programme for individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis.

Purpose  (i) to examine insight on admission and determine if change occurred in the first year of treatment and (ii) to determine if insight was associated with other symptoms.

Methods  Participants were 180 consecutive admissions to EPP who completed a 1‐year follow‐up. Insight, positive and negative symptoms were measured with the PANSS. Depression was measured with the Calgary Depression Scale.

Results  There was a significant improvement in insight from initial to 1‐year follow‐up (P < 0.001). Insight was positively correlated with positive and negative symptoms (P < 0.001) over time. Insight was negatively correlated with depression (P < 0.001) at the initial assessment.

Conclusions  In these first episode patients, there is a significant improvement in insight over time. Insight is significantly related to positive and negative symptoms and to depression in the initial stages of the illness when the presence of depression is notable.
Changes in appearance related to psychopathology
Authors: Campo J. M. L. G. Á. , Hardy S. L. C. , Merckelbach H. L. G. J.
Published: October 2010

Objective  To determine whether changes in appearance can be seen as optional symptoms of (early) psychosis.

Method  Psychiatric patients from different diagnostic categories were being screened at the incidence of changes inappearance. The categories differed from each other to the degree in which psychotic symptoms are part of the psychopathology. The following diagnostic categories were included: schizophrenia; borderline personality disorder and mood disorders without psychotic symptoms. The study also included healthy controls. Factors related to the changes in appearance were also investigated. To investigate the relationships self‐report questionnaires were used.

Results  The Results so far (the study will be completed in May of this year) indicate that changes in appearance have the highest incidence in the schizophrenic subjects. For the healthy controls, psychosis‐proneness correlates with changes in appearance. Factors related to the changes are body image disorders and loss of identity.

Conclusion  Changes in appearance can be seen as optional symptoms of (early) psychosis.
First‐episode psychotic patients: differences in self‐rating and relatives' rating of premorbid personality traits
Authors: Neury D. , Panhuber I. , Merlo M. C. G.
Published: October 2010

Objectives  The purpose of this study is to evaluate differences in self‐rating and relatives' rating of premorbid personality traits of first‐episode patients and to look for its predictive value in early course of psychopathology. The implications of the differences in these ratings on Quality of Life after a follow‐up and on psychotherapeutic approach are also considered.

Methods  The Munich Personality Test was applied to patients and to one of their relatives. BPRS was also used as well as the Quality of Life interview of Lehman to measure social integration.

Results  We found significant differences between the self‐rating and the relatives' rating. These differences were more marked in patients who had less than 25% improvement of positive symptoms during the first week. These patients also scored lower on Quality of Life at 1‐year follow‐up. The differences in perception of premorbid personality traits may have a relation with slower improvement of psychopathology during treatment of the first episode of psychosis. Interestingly, there was a difference in Quality of Life scores even 1 year after first hospitalization.
Psychological testing and retesting of first‐episode psychotics
Authors: Lorentzen P. , Andersen P. B. , Munkner R. , Knudsen P.
Published: October 2010

Objective  To compare psychological test and retest results of 34 first‐episode psychotic patients.

Material  Patients included in ‘The Danish National Schizophrenia Project’.

Method  Six WAIS‐R subtests (Information, Vocabulary, Similarities, Picture Completion. Picture Arrangement, Block Design) and the Rorschach Test according to Exner's Comprehensive System (CNS) were given to the patient shortly after admission and 2 years later.

Results  Preliminary results from the retest show higher scores on the six WAIS‐R subtests, but no corresponding positive difference in the cognitive findings on the Rorschach Test.

Conclusion  Cognitive functions tested by WAIS‐R and Rorschach, respectively, need to be examined further.
An overview of epidemiological studies on seasonal affective disorder
Authors: Magnusson A.
Published: October 2010

Objective: To review and systematize all epidemiological studies of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Method: The relevant papers were identified by searches in Medline, Excerpta Medica, PsychLIT and other databases. The primary reports were reviewed for additional citations. The studies were classified into retrospective and prospective population surveys, surveys of patient populations and studies of seasonal variations in psychiatric illnesses other than mood disorders. Results: The prevalence estimates of SAD across 20 retrospective studies varied from 0% to 9.7%. All prospective population studies, except one, find seasonal variations in mood, depressive symptoms usually peaking in winter. SAD was more prevalent at higher northern latitudes, but the prevalence varied across ethnic groups. SAD has also been identified in children and adolescents. Seasonal exacerbations and remissions are not limited to mood disorders, it has also been found in bulimia nervosa, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric illnesses. Conclusions: The actuality of seasonal variation in mood has been documented thoroughly by both retrospective and prospective studies. In the general population, depressive symptoms peak in winter, and the most extreme form of this disposition, SAD, appears to be a relatively common disorder.
Traf7, a MyoD1 transcriptional target, regulates nuclear factor‐κB activity during myogenesis
Authors: Tsikitis Mary , Acosta‐Alvear Diego , Blais Alexandre , Campos Eric I , Lane William S , Sánchez Irma , Dynlacht Brian D
Published: October 2010

We have identified the E3 ligase Traf7 as a direct MyoD1 target and show that cell cycle exit—an early event in muscle differentiation—is linked to decreased Traf7 expression. Depletion of Traf7 accelerates myogenesis, in part through downregulation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activity. We used a proteomic screen to identify NEMO, the NF‐κB essential modulator, as a Traf7‐interacting protein. Finally, we show that ubiquitylation of NF‐κB essential modulator is regulated exclusively by Traf7 activity in myoblasts. Our results suggest a new mechanism by which MyoD1 function is coupled to NF‐κB activity through Traf7, regulating the balance between cell cycle progression and differentiation during myogenesis.
Crystal structure of zinc‐finger domain of Nanos and its functional implications
Authors: Hashimoto Hiroshi , Hara Kodai , Hishiki Asami , Kawaguchi Shigeta , Shichijo Naoki , Nakamura Keishi , Unzai Satoru , Tamaru Yutaka , Shimizu Toshiyuki , Sato Mamoru
Published: October 2010

Nanos is an RNA‐binding protein that is involved in the development and maintenance of germ cells. In combination with Pumilio, Nanos binds to the 3′ untranslated region of a messenger RNA and represses its translation. Nanos has two conserved Cys‐Cys‐His‐Cys zinc‐finger motifs that are indispensable for its function. In this study, we have determined the crystal structure of the zinc‐finger domain of zebrafish Nanos, for the first time revealing that Nanos adopts a novel zinc‐finger structure. In addition, Nanos has a conserved basic surface that is directly involved in RNA binding. Our results provide the structural basis for further studies to clarify Nanos function.
Biostratigraphy and assigning the paleosalinity by using Echinocorys and Planktonic foraminifera at Upper Maastrichtian, in Jorband section, Central Alborz, Iran
Authors: Asgharian Rostami Masood , Balmaki Behnaz , Shafiee Ardestani Meysam , Kohansal Esmail
Published: October 2010

Jorband section is located in the north slope of central Alborz, and 28 Km south of Noor. It has been sampled and index fossilic groups of planktonic foraminifera and echinoids were studied in order to assign the paleosalinity and biozonation in central Alborz. The planktonic foraminiferal biozones identified within the Upper maastrichtian sequence of the Jorband section are three zones of Contustruncana contusa, Planoglobulina brazoensis, and Racemiguembelina fructicosa. The salinity changes were also searched in this section. In three layers in Jorband section examination echinocorys genus and is drawn as a diagram which in middle of the section, the salinity mounts is fewer than the beginning and top of the section.
Electron microscopy analysis of FcRγ localization after its capture by T cells by trogocytosis
Authors: Balor Stephanie , Daëron Marc , Bruhns Pierre , Hudrisier Denis
Published: October 2010

T cells acquire various proteins from their cellular partners by the process of trogocytosis. We recently demonstrated that the FcγRIIIA receptor and its associated FcRγ are captured by T cells during their co-culture with FcγR-expressing target cells upon both antigen- or antibody-mediated stimulation. Interestingly, we found that FcR captured by T cells could bind ligands but did not transmit detectable intracellular signals or signaling-depending functions upon ligand binding suggesting their improper integration in the recipient T cell membrane. In this study, we provide morphological data in support of this hypothesis. Indeed, we show that the FcRγ-subunit, which we used as a fusion to GFP, was clearly present at the plasma membrane of donor cells, but was detected within structures that were in close contact of, but apparently not integrated in, the plasma membrane of recipient T cells.
Remarks on the number of tubulin dimers per neuron and implications for Hameroff-Penrose Orch OR
Authors: Georgiev Danko
Published: October 2010

Stuart Hameroff has wrongly estimated that a typical brain neuron has 10^7^ tubulin dimers and wrongly attributed this result to Yu and Baas, J. Neurosci. 1994; 14: 2818-2829. In this letter we show that Hameroff’s estimate is based on misunderstanding of the results provided by Yu and Baas, who actually measured the total microtubule length in a single axonal projection with length of 56 μm in a differentiating in vitro stage 3 embryonic hippocampal neuron. In order to visualize how big Hameroff’s error is, we have reconstructed two of the studied by Yu and Baas embryonic hippocampal neurons with Neuromantic v1.6.3 and compared them with previously published reconstructions of adult hippocampal neurons. Correct calculations show that an adult differentiated pyramidal neuron in vivo has approximately 1.3 × 10^9^ tubulin dimers incorporated in cytoskeletal microtubules. This estimate has profound implications for the Hameroff-Penrose Orch OR model, because it sets limitations on the number of quantum coherent neurons and implies that if 100% of the neuronal microtubules are quantum coherent for 25 ms then Hameroff-Penrose Orch OR conscious events should involve only 15 pyramidal neurons.
The INCF Digital Atlasing Program: Report on Digital Atlasing Standards in the Rodent Brain
Authors: Ng Lydia , Zaslavsky Ilya , Nissanov Jonathan , Puelles Luis , Ruffins Seth , Hawrylycz Michael , Boline Jyl , Burger Albert , Hashikawa Tsutomu , Johnson G. Allan , Verbeek Fons , Martone Maryann
Published: October 2010

The goal of the INCF Digital Atlasing Program is to provide the vision and direction necessary to make the rapidly growing collection of multidimensional data of the rodent brain (images, gene expression, etc.) widely accessible and usable to the international research community. This Digital Brain Atlasing Standards Task Force was formed in May 2008 to investigate the state of rodent brain digital atlasing, and formulate standards, guidelines, and policy recommendations.Our first objective has been the preparation of a detailed document that includes the vision and specific description of an infrastructure, systems and methods capable of serving the scientific goals of the community, as well as practical issues for achieving the goals. This report builds on the 1st INCF Workshop on Mouse and Rat Brain Digital Atlasing Systems (Boline et al., 2007, Nature Preceedings, doi:10.1038/npre.2007.1046.1) and includes a more detailed analysis of both the current state and desired state of digital atlasing along with specific recommendations for achieving these goals.
Systems Biology Graphical Notation: Entity Relationship language Level 1
Authors: Le Novère Nicolas , Moodie Stuart , Sorokin Anatoly , Schreiber Falk , Mi Huaiyu
Published: October 2010

Standard graphical representations have played a crucial role in science and engineering throughout the last century. Without electrical symbolism, it is very likely that our industrial society would not have evolved at the same pace. Similarly, specialised notations such as the Feynmann notation or the process flow diagrams did a lot for the adoption of concepts in their own fields. With the advent of Systems Biology, and more recently of Synthetic Biology, the need for precise and unambiguous descriptions of biochemical interactions has become more pressing. While some ideas have been advanced over the last decade, with a few detailed proposals, no actual community standard has emerged. The Systems Biology Graphical Notation (SBGN) is a graphical representation crafted over several years by a community of biochemists, modellers and computer scientists. Three orthogonal and complementary languages have been created, the Process Descriptions, the Entity Relationships and the Activity Flows. Using these three idioms a scientist can represent any network of biochemical interactions, which can then be interpreted in an unambiguous way. The set of symbols used is limited, and the grammar quite simple, to allow its usage in textbooks and its teaching directly in high schools. The first level of the SBGN Entity Relationship language has been publicly released. Shared by the communities of biochemists, genomicians, theoreticians and computational biologists, SBGN languages will foster efficient storage, exchange and reuse of information on signalling pathways, metabolic networks and gene regulatory maps.
Performance of the ALOGPS 2.1 program for octanol-water partition coefficient prediction with organic chemicals on the Canadian Domestic Substances List
Authors: Rayne Sierra , Forest Kaya
Published: October 2010

The KOWWIN and ALOGPS octanol-water partition coefficient (K~ow~) estimation software programs were compared for their capacity to accurately predict log K~ow~ values of 1545 organic compounds on the publicly available Domestic Substances List (DSL) from Environment Canada for which experimental data is available. Approximately equivalent log K~ow~ error statistics were observed between KOWWIN and ALOGPS against available experimental data. Substantial predictive differences were observed between the two programs for 6529 compounds not having experimental K~ow~ data on the Canadian DSL. Predictive differences of up to 40 log K~ow~ units were found between KOWWIN and ALOGPS, and in some cases, the discrepancies were sufficiently large that strongly opposing hydrophobicity classifications were obtained.
Protein folding disorders: Toward a basic biological paradigm
Authors: Wallace Rodrick
Published: October 2010

Mechanistic 'physics' models of protein folding fail to account for the observed spectrum of protein folding and aggregation disorders, suggesting that a cognitive paradigm for protein folding regulation will be needed for understanding the etiology, prevention, and treatment of these diseases.
An open source LABVIEW platform for simulating image series of fluorescent microtubules in gliding assays
Authors: Herskowitz Lawrence , Koch Steven
Published: October 2010

We describe an open-source LabVIEW software platform for generating simulated images of microtubules in gliding motility assays. We describe how the software works and how to obtain the software.
Signaling Flux Redistribution concept can switch survival to apoptosis in cancer cells
Authors: Yamada Daiki , Hayashi Kentaro , Piras Vincent , Tomita Masaru , Tsuchiya Masa , Selvarajoo Kumar
Published: October 2010

The tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in certain types of carcinoma. However, in majority of malignant tumors, it has no effect. Here we analyzed cell survival and apoptotic pathways triggered by TRAIL. A computational model based on perturbation-response approach with mass-action equations was developed. All 48 parameter values of the model were selected by genetic algorithm that minimizes deviation between experimental and simulation data for human fibrosarcoma cells. Subsequently, we show in silico knock-down of a cell survival pathway molecule could potentially enhance the activation of apoptosis through Signaling Flux Redistribution (SFR).
Thermal characterization of Plasmodium falciparum species specific proteins in Indian geographical area.
Authors: Bhardwaj Mohit , Bharadwaj Leena , Trigunayat Kritika , Trigunayat Madan Mohan
Published: October 2010

The paper reveals thermal characteristics of P.falciparum species specific proteins. These proteins determine why P. vivex species are dominant over P.falciparum in Indian geographical area. Outside human host plasmodium parasite survives in poikilothermal mosquitoes. Climatic temperature conditions greatly affect native state of P.falciparum species specific proteins in mosquitoes. Study of climatic temperature conditions in Indian geographical area reveals that Pfsd protein for Plasmodium falciparum can remain in native state between &8805;7 degree centigrade and &8804;42.6 degree centigrade temperature conditions. While their best optimum functions (activity) was noted between 25.3 degree centigrade to 33degree centigrade. Pfsd protein were found more heat susceptible for temperature minima and maxima than Pvsd proteins of P. vivex causing all time high population ratio of P.falciparum species.
Annual population rhythm of Anopheles mosquitoes in Indian subcontinent
Authors: Bhardwaj Mohit , Bharadwaj Leena , Trigunayat Kritika , Trigunayat Madan Mohan
Published: October 2010

Several organism show a rhythm based behavior in their life. Mosquitoes are surviving successfully since ancient time on earth while lots of biological creatures have been extinct. Thus it is interesting to study their population load. Climatic conditions affect mosquito population significantly so on the basis of malaria cases their population is estimated in present study in Indian geographical scenario. In this study it was found that their annual population load show a scientific rhythm. A schematic wave form representation is also presented here to show mosquito population load. This study will be helpful in malaria vector eradication and health care policies.
My experiment with open science: Why the benefits of sharing go beyond source code
Authors: Boettiger Carl
Published: October 2010

I briefly describe three themes that help maximize the benefits of an open science approach towards code, literature, discussions, and lab notebooks.
Community content building for evolutionary biology: Lessons learned from LepTree and Encyclopedia of Life
Authors: Parr Cynthia , Campbell Dana , Park John
Published: October 2010

Online resources to aid large-scale ecological and evolutionary biology are beginning to take root, only a decade behind fields such as genomics and molecular biology. One barrier has been a long tradition, in evolutionary biology at least, of work by individuals on the order of a few hundred of species rather than the thousands or hundreds of thousands necessary to understand the general evolutionary or ecological processes that explain species characteristics and distributions. Advances in collaborative and semantic software offer promise – it should be possible to develop high quality online species-level datasets for comparative analyses and even to integrate, via machine reasoning, across highly customized datasets. In this talk we will compare and contrast two approaches to assembling the data.
Robust information from phylogenetic trees?
Authors: Boettiger Carl
Published: October 2010

Traditional information criteria approaches can lead to misleading model choice in comparative phylogenetics. I present both these weaknesses and a more robust comparison by likelihood ratio. I then discuss a new class of models to capture the transition process between evolutionary regimes.
Isolation of Acidic, Basic and Neutral Metalloproteins by QPNC-PAGE
Authors: Kastenholz Bernd , Garfin David E.
Published: October 2010

A standard protocol for isolating metalloproteins in complex biological samples is presented using quantitative preparative native continuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (QPNC-PAGE)
The Teleost Taxonomy Ontology
Authors: Midford Peter , Balhoff James , Dahdul Wasila , Kothari Cartik , Lapp Hilmar , Lundberg John , Mabee Paula , Vision Todd , Westerfield Monte
Published: October 2010

The Teleost Taxonomy Ontology (TTO) is an ontology of taxonomic groups and associated names for fish (not just teleosts). This ontology has served as a source of names and taxonomic structure within the Phenoscape project since early 2008. Although the TTO is based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (CoF) and incorporates all valid species and genus names, it is also extended by the curation needs of the Phenoscape project. Names of fossil taxa not included in the CoF as well as references to specimens identi*ed only to genus (e.g., Eigenmannia sp. (Fink and Fink 1981)) are incorporated into the TTO as required by the curation needs of the Phenoscape project. As Phenoscape receives updates to the CoF, a tool called TTOUpdate merges the changes into the TTO.
A New Behavior of Nuclei during Mitosis of Lilium Hybrids
Authors: Sixiang Zheng , Feihu Liu , Chaojun Zhang , Zhilin Chen , Yuhua Ma , Pinghong Meng , Yan Zhao
Published: October 2010

Mitosis is nuclear division plus cytokinesis,and produces two identical daughter cells during prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. However, a new nucleus behavior in interspecific hybrid progenies of Lilium was observed in our experiment. Very unusual behaviors of nuclei surprisingly presented during the mitosis, such as sprouting or germination, tube-like elongation, penetrating cell membrane into a neighbor cell, the top of nuclei tube expanding, intruding and splitting of the tube-like nucleus, and micronucleus formation, and so on. Furthermore, the tetrad of meiosis was founded in mitosis of root.Routine of the unusual nucleus behaviors observed in our experiment may be summarized as nucleus germination¬— tube-like elongation— penetrating cell membrane— entering a neighbor cell—the top of nuclei tube expanding—tube ingression and splitting— formation of a new nucleus or micronucleus.Many kinds of abnormal mitosis caused by chemical and physical induction such as unequal division, chromosome bridges, lagging chromosomes, and multiple nuclei have resulted in variations of chromosome number and structure. However, this new nucleus behavior is firstly reported, these phenomena implied that the DNA maybe easily emigrates from one cell to another. Therefore, the unusual behaviors of nuclei in hybrid progenies of Lilium not only create mutations for breeding of new cultivars, also produce possibly ideal materials for exotic DNA or gene transfication with simple method in meristem. This mode of nuclei behaviors is a new addition to cytogenetics of plant of vegetative propagation and provide a new genetic mechanism of species evolution from interspecific hybridization.
11[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-type 2 evolved from an ancestral 17[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-type 2
Authors: Baker Michael
Published: October 2010

11[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-2 (11[beta]-HSD2) regulates the local concentration of cortisol that can activate the glucocorticoid receptor and mineralocorticoid receptor, as well as the concentration of 11-keto-testosterone, the active androgen in fish. Similarly, 17[beta]-HSD2 regulates the levels of testosterone and estradiol that activate the androgen receptor and estrogen receptor, respectively. Interestingly, although human 11[beta]-HSD2 and 17[beta]-HSD2 act at different positions on different steroids, these enzymes are paralogs. Despite the physiological importance of 11[beta]-HSD2 and 17[beta]-HSD2, details of their origins and divergence from a common ancestor are not known. An opportunity to understand their evolution is presented by the recent sequencing of genomes from sea urchin, a basal deuterostome, and amphioxus, a basal chordate, and the availability of substantial sequence for acorn worm and elephant shark, which together provide a more complete dataset for analysis of the origins of 11[beta]-HSD2 and 17[beta]-HSD2. BLAST searches find an ancestral sequence of 17[beta]-HSD2 in sea urchin, acorn worm and amphioxus, while an ancestral sequence of 11[beta]-HSD2 first appears in sharks. Sequence analyses indicate that 17[beta]-HSD2 in sea urchin may have a non-enzymatic activity. Evolutionary analyses indicate that if acorn worm 17[beta]-HSD2 is catalytically active, then it metabolizes novel substrate(s).
ADP-ribose polymer - a novel and general biomarker of human cancers of head & neck, breast, and cervix
Authors: Lakadong Rennie , Kataki Amal , Sharan Rajeshwar
Published: October 2010

Background:

Poly-ADP-ribosylation (PAR), a reversible post-translational modification of cellular proteins, is involved in various cellular and molecular processes including carcinogenesis (Althaus & Richter, 1987; Jacobson & Jacobson, 1989; Poirier & Moreau, 1992; Boulikas, 1993; Sharan, 2009). ADP-ribose polymer adducts are added onto target cellular proteins by this metabolic process. We hypothesize that a decrease in the concentration of total poly-ADP-ribose adducts of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proteins strongly correlates with incidence of human cancer. Methods: A novel, sensitive and convenient immunoprobe assay of poly-ADP-ribose adducts of cellular proteins has been employed using slot blots of total PBL lysate (Sharan et al, 1998; 2005; Sharan, 2009). This assay quantifies the metabolic concentration of poly-ADP-ribose adducts of cellular proteins.

Results:

Using the immunoprobe assay, we show a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001) reduction (~ 42 to 49%) in the level of poly-ADP-ribose adducts of PBL proteins of patients with advanced cancers of head & neck (H & N) region (comprising fourteen distinct types of cancers at different sites), breast and cervix in comparison to healthy controls. Conclusion: These preliminary findings may imply potential utility of the poly-ADP-ribose adducts of PBL proteins as a novel and general biomarker of human cancers with potentials of clinical and epidemiological applications.
Toward a Complete Phyloreferencing Language
Authors: Keesey T. Michael
Published: October 2010

A phyloreference is a statement indicating a taxon within a phylogenetic context. A common use for phyloreferences is in phylogenetic definitions, which tie taxonomic names to taxa via such statements. Several conventions for writing phyloreferences have been proposed, but most only cover a few “standard” forms (node, branch, and perhaps apomorphybased clades) without the capacity to represent more “exotic” forms (e.g., ancestorbased clades and qualified/modified references). In order to build a complete phyloreferencing language, the mathematical underpinnings of phylogenetic contexts must be clarified. A phylogenetic context may be modeled as a directed, acyclic graph, wherein nodes model taxonomic units and directed edges model immediate descent. Higher taxa are modeled as unions of nodes. A phyloreferencing language must minimally allow for certain classes of entity: Boolean values, sets (including taxa, relations, and the empty set), and lists (including graphs and functions). It must also minimally allow for basic operations related to logic, set theory, and graph theory. Higher structures such as declarations and piecewise constructs must also be possible. With these as a basis, functions related to phylogeny can be defined: maximal, minimal, predecessor union/intersection, successor union/intersection, exclusive predecessors, synapomorphic predecessors, clade, crown clade, and total clade. I show how such a language may be used to represent various types of phyloreference, both “standard” and “exotic”.
Names on Nodes: Automating the Application of Taxonomic Names within a Phylogenetic Context
Authors: Keesey T. Michael
Published: October 2010

Names on Nodes^1^ is an opensource^2^ Flex application which utilizes a mathematical approach to automate the application of phylogeneticallydefined names to phylogenetic hypotheses. Phylogenetic hypotheses are modeled as directed, acyclic graphs, and may be read from bioinformatics or graph files (NEXUS, NexML, Newick, and GraphML) or created de novo. Hypotheses may also be merged from multiple sources. Names on Nodes stores hypotheses as MathML, an XMLbased language for representing mathematical content and presentation. Phylogenetic definitions may be constructed using a visual editor and exported in MathML. Thus, it is possible to create a dictionary of defined names and automatically apply them to phylogenetic hypotheses. In the current version of the application, such dictionaries exist only as MathML files, but in future versions definitions may also be loaded from databases (e.g., RegNum).Additional functionality in Names on Nodes includes the ability to coarsen a phylogenetic graph (thereby simplifying it while still reflecting the overall structure) or to export it as an image file (raster or vector, potentially with semantic annotations).1. Source code available at: "http://bitbucket.org/keesey/namesonnodes-sa/":http://bitbucket.org/keesey/namesonnodes‐sa/2. MIT license
Lethal and sublethal effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) for turbot (Psetta maxima) early life stage (ELS)
Authors: Mhadhbi Lazhar , Fumega Jose , Boumaiza Moncef , Beiras Ricardo
Published: October 2010

A new toxic menace, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), is being detected in the aquatic environment all over the world. The environmental presence of PBDEs and its entry into the environment as BDE-47 and -99 make quality aquatic toxicity data necessary to assess the aquatic hazard risk of PBDs. This study examines the effects of three PBDE-47 and -99 on embryo and larval stages of the marine flatfish turbot (Psetta maxima). The acute toxicity of the three PBDEs was examined and NOEC, LOEC, LC10 and LC50 were calculated. All tested compounds caused lethal as well as nonlethal malformations during embryo development. The effects of PBDEs in the different life stages of turbot were analysed. PBDEs seemed to be teratogenic at concentrations higher than 8.14 and 16.12 µgL-1 for BDE-47 and -99 respectively, leading to prolonged delays in embryo development and consequent death (at 48 h), as well as severe malformations and mortality of larvae. PBDEs showed a higher acute toxicity for embryo-larvae (LC50 for lethal endpoints to embryos 27.35 µg BDE-47 L-1 and 38.28 µg BDE-99 L-1, and 14.13 and 29.64 µg L-1 for BDE-47 and -99, respectively for larvae). Generally, the BDE-47 seemed to cause adverse effects at comparatively low dose rates, whereas much higher doses were needed to cause the same effects with BDE-99. The results of the present study show that the acute toxicity of PBDEs decreases as the degree of bromination increases, since the order of toxicity was BDE-47 BDE-99. The major isomers also exhibited a clear toxic potential for turbot ELS although at high concentrations, above solubility saturation, pointing at particulate matter as the main via of uptake for those hydrophobic molecules.
Acute Toxicity of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid on Early Life Stages of Daphnia Magna, Siriella Armata, Paracentrotus Lividus Sea Urchin, and Turbot (Scophthalmus Maximus L.).
Authors: Mhadhbi Lazhar , Pérez Fernandez Sara , Real Conde Diego , Boumaiza Moncef , Beiras Ricardo
Published: October 2010

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant whose potential toxicity is causing great concern. In the present study, we used two crustaceans (Daphnia magna, Siriella armata), echinoid embryos (Paracentrotus lividus) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) embryos and larvae to investigate the acute toxicity of this compound. The marine species S. armata exhibited greater sensitivity than the freshwater species D. magna. In the 48-h acute toxicity test the median lethal concentration was 10.96 mg/L for S. armata and 87.46 mg/L for D. magna. In the 96h toxicity test, turbot showed the lowest EC50 (0.155 mgL-1), whilst the EC50 for S. armata was 7.92 mgL-1 which was approximately three times lower than that for sea urchin (24.12 mgL-1). The EC10 values were estimated as 0.032 mgL-1, 4.23 mgL-1 and 45.21 mgL-1 for turbot, Siriella and daphnia, respectively. The LOEC values were 75 µgL-1, 2.5 mgL-1 and 75 mgL-1 (p< 0.05) for turbot, daphnia, and Siriella, respectively. The NOEC values were estimated at 37.5 µgL-1, 1.25 mgL-1 and 50 mgL-1 (p< 0.05) for turbot, Siriella and daphnia, respectively. The order of acute toxicity was: turbot > S. armata > sea urchin > Daphnia magna. This result highlights the importance of including a marine fish in the battery of species to describe the toxicity of these compounds. Considering the persistent nature of PFOS, more research is required to determine potential consequences of long-term exposure to these compounds in aquatic ecosystems.
Cognitive Sciences and Child Poverty: Facts and Challenges
Authors: D'Angiulli Amedeo , Lipina Sebastian
Published: October 2010

In the context of cognitive neuroscience, the study of poverty and social gradients is a very young area of research where a core consensus of basic results is quickly emerging. However, as any emerging scientific discipline, the approaches used are influenced by epistemological stances inherited from other disciplines, and potentially implicit ideological systems as well. Explicitly or inadvertently, such influences can lead this critically important new area of research to methodological and ethical foundational challenges and to issues that are in need of debate (e.g., poverty definition criteria, lack of specificity when considering child poverty in terms of how children experience different type of deprivations, or lack of critics regarding social exclusion in different countries). Debate on these issues goes beyond consensus on interventions aiming at attenuating the effects of poverty on children’s development. Without an analysis of the emerging issues, scientist may dangerously risk the tendency to simplify the complexity that characterizes both phenomena of development and social inequality. The aim of the present paper is to contribute to a debate on the implicit and explicit conceptual and methodological assumptions underlying the current neurocognitive research on social inequality.
The Synthesis of Resveratrol (Thesis)
Authors: Sprouse Dustin
Published: October 2010

The purpose of this research experiment was to perform and improve the synthesis of resveratrol (CAS: 501-36-0). Resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene), a natural polyphenolic, non-flavonoid antioxidant, is a phytoalexin found naturally in many plants. The compound was synthesized using the decarbonylative Heck reaction. The modified four-step reaction generated poor yields but the spectra indicate that the overall resveratrol compound was obtained. Several improvements were made to help increase yield.
Urban Creek flow, re-aeration and ecological health
Authors: Pollard Peter , Bagraith Sam
Published: October 2010

For two years we studied the health of a lowland freshwater ecosystem, Moggill Creek, flowing through the western suburbs of Brisbane Qld, Australia. We found: Terrestrial organic carbon was most likely driving very high bacterial growth and respiration rates that removed dissolved oxygen from the water. The diversity of fish and invertebrates was high and the overhanging riparian vegetation cover limited algal and cyanobacterial production. Overall the creek was in fair to good health—Report Grade“D”. Conclusion: Water column dissolved oxygen concentrations and Creek health relied on environmental flow during rain to physically re-aerate the water to counter the high bacterial consumption of oxygen that resulted from the respiration of the organic carbon loads that were entering the ecosystem.
A normalization technique for next generation sequencing experiments
Authors: Klambauer Günter , Schwarzbauer Karin , Mayr Andreas , Hochreiter Sepp
Published: October 2010

Next generation sequencing (NGS) are these days one of the key technologies in biology. NGS' cost effectiveness and capability of finding the smallest variations in the genome makes them increasingly popular. For studies aiming at genome assembly, differences in read count statistics do not affect the outcome. However, these differences bias the outcome if the goal is to identify structural DNA characteristics like copy number variations (CNVs). Thus a normalization step must removed such random read count variations subsequently read counts from different experiments are comparable. Especially after normalization the commonly used assumption of Poisson read count distribution in windows on the chromosomes is more justified. Strong deviations of read counts from the estimated mean Poisson distribution indicate CNVs.
cn.FARMS: a probabilistic model to detect DNA copy numbers
Authors: Clevert Djork-Arné , Mitterecker Andreas , Mayr Andreas , Burger Robert , De Bondt An , Tuefferd Marianne , Talloen Willem , Göhlmann Hinrich , Hochreiter Sepp
Published: October 2010

Motivation: Existing pre-processing methods for DNA microarrays designed to detect copy number variations (CNVs) lead to high false discovery rates (FDRs). High FDRs misguide researchers especially in the medical context where CNVs are wrongly associated with diseases. We propose a probabilistic latent variable model, cn.FARMS, for array-based CNV analysis which controls the FDR without loss of sensitivity. At a DNA region, cn.FARMS constructs a model by a Bayesian maximum a posteriori estimation where the unobserved, latent variable represents the copy number that is measured by observed genetic markers (probes). The latent variable’s prior prefers parameters which represent the null hypothesis, (same copy number for all samples), from which the posterior can only deviate by a high information content in the data. The more probes agree on the region’s copy number, the less is the uncertainty about the latent variable’s value, the higher is the information content. Results: We compared cn.FARMS on a HapMap Mapping250K_Nsp and SNP6.0 benchmark data set to CRMAv2 and dChip. The comparison is based on the sex determination based on the data from the X chromosome, where males possess one copy and females two. The ROC curve serves to compare the FDR for different true positive rates. In both experiments cn.FARMS yielded the best classification results.Availability: This approach is publicly available in R at http://www.bioinf.jku.at/software
Porous Chitsan-Gelatin Scaffolds Embedded with PLGA Nanoparticles for Bone Repair
Authors: Nandagiri Vijay Kumar , Gentile Piergiergio , Chiono Valeria , Muttu Clara , Ciardelli Gianluca , Montevecchi Franco Maria , Ramtoola Ziebun
Published: October 2010

Bone regeneration can be accelerated by localized delivery of appropriate growth factors/bio active molecules. Localized delivery can be achieved by incorporating bioactive molecules within biodegradable particulate carrier system followed by embed them in a suitable porous scaffolds. These carrier system facilitates the impregnated growth factor(s) to release at a desirable rate and concentration, and to linger at injury sites for a sufficient time to recruit progenitors and stimulate tissue healing processes. In this study, an attempt has been made to engraft the porous chitosan-gelatin scaffolds with PLGA nanoparticles for localized delivery of bioactive components. Scaffolds loaded with PLGA nanoparticles were subjected to physical and mechanical characterizations such as microarchitecture analysis, swelling, porosity, mechanical properties, dissolution studies.