bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Content and Form in the Narratives of Children With Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Colozzo Paola , Gillam Ronald B. , Wood Megan , Schnell Rebecca D. , Johnston Judith R.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This project investigated the relationship of content and form in the narratives of school-age children.

Method

Two samples of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and their age-matched peers (British Columbia sample,
M
age = 9;0 [years;months],
N
= 26; Texas/Kansas sample,
M
age = 7;6,
N
= 40) completed the Test of Narrative Language (TNL; Gillam & Pearson, 2004). The relative strength of content elaboration and grammatical accuracy were measured for each child using variables derived from the TNL scoring system (Study 1) and from analysis of the story texts (Study 2).

Results

Both studies indicated that, compared with age peers, the children with SLI were more likely to produce stories of uneven strength—either stories with poor content that were grammatically quite accurate or stories with elaborated content that were less grammatical.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that school-age children with SLI may struggle with the cumulative load of creating a story that is both elaborate and grammatical. They also show that the absence of errors is not necessarily a sign of strength. Finally, they underscore the value of comparing individual differences in multiple linguistic domains, including the elaboration of content, grammatical accuracy, and syntactic complexity.
Dual-Egocentre Hypothesis on Angular Errors in Visually Directed Pointing
Authors: Shimono Koichi , Higashiyama Atsuki
Published: September 2011

We examined the hypothesis that angular errors in visually directed pointing, in which an unseen target is pointed to after its direction has been seen, are attributed to the difference between the locations of the visual and kinesthetic egocentres. Experiment 1 showed that in three of four cases, angular errors in visually directed pointing equaled those in kinesthetically directed pointing, in which a visual target was pointed to after its direction had been felt. Experiment 2 confirmed the results of experiment 1 for the targets at two different egocentric distances. Experiment 3 showed that when the kinesthetic egocentre was used as the reference of direction, angular errors in visually directed pointing equaled those in visually directed reaching, in which an unseen target is reached after its location has been seen. These results suggest that in the visually and the kinesthetically directed pointing, the egocentric directions represented in the visual space are transferred to the kinesthetic space and vice versa.
A subclass of acylated anti-inflammatory mediators usurp Toll-like receptor 2 to inhibit neutrophil recruitment through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ
Authors: Long Elizabeth M. , Klimowicz Alexander C. , Paula-Neto Heitor A. , Millen Brandie , McCafferty Donna-Marie , Kubes Paul , Robbins Stephen M.
Published: September 2011

Toll-like receptors are host sentinel receptors that signal the presence of infectious nonself and initiate protective immunity. One of the primary immune defense mechanisms is the recruitment of neutrophils from the bloodstream into the infected tissue. Although neutrophils are important in host defense, they can also be responsible for damaging pathologies associated with excessive inflammation. Here, we report that the di-acylated TLR2 ligand lipoteichoic acid can directly inhibit neutrophil recruitment in vivo. This discovery allowed us to test the concept that conventional proinflammatory TLR2 ligands can be made to act as inhibitors through specific structural modifications. Indeed, lipopeptide TLR2 ligands, when modified at their acyl chains to contain linoleate, lose their capacity to induce inflammation and yield ligands that can directly inhibit the in vivo neutrophil recruitment initiated by a wide range of proinflammatory stimuli. The inhibitory capacity of LTA and these modified ligands requires the expression of TLR2, but is independent of the TLR2 signaling adaptor, MyD88. Instead, this inhibitory effect requires functional activity of the fatty acid and nuclear hormone receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Therefore, these data support a model in TLR2 biology where structural modifications of these ligands can profoundly influence host–microbial interactions. These inhibitory TLR2 ligands also have broader implications with respect to their potential use in various inflammatory disease settings.
HER2 overcomes PTEN (loss)-induced senescence to cause aggressive prostate cancer
Authors: Ahmad Imran , Patel Rachana , Singh Lukram Babloo , Nixon Colin , Seywright Morag , Barnetson Robert J. , Brunton Valerie G. , Muller William J. , Edwards Joanne , Sansom Owen J. , Leung Hing Y.
Published: September 2011

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common cancer among adult men in the Western world. Better insight into its tumor-activating pathways may facilitate the development of targeted therapies. In this study, we show that patients who develop prostate tumors with low levels of PTEN and high levels of HER2/3 have a poor prognosis. This is functionally relevant, as targeting Her2 activation to the murine prostate cooperates with Pten loss and drives CaP progression. Mechanistically, this is associated with activation of the MAPK pathway and abrogation of the Pten loss-induced cellular senescence program. Importantly, inhibition of MEK function strongly suppressed proliferation within these tumors by restoring the Pten loss-induced cellular senescence program. Taken together, these data suggest that stratification of CaP patients for HER2/3 and PTEN status could identify patients with aggressive CaP who may respond favorably to MEK inhibition.
Lotus japonicus
nodulation is photomorphogenetically controlled by sensing the red/far red (R/FR) ratio through jasmonic acid (JA) signaling
Authors: Suzuki Akihiro , Suriyagoda Lalith , Shigeyama Tamaki , Tominaga Akiyoshi , Sasaki Masayo , Hiratsuka Yoshimi , Yoshinaga Aya , Arima Susumu , Agarie Sakae , Sakai Tatsuya , Inada Sayaka , Jikumaru Yusuke , Kamiya Yuji , Uchiumi Toshiki , Abe Mikiko , Hashiguchi Masatsugu , Akashi Ryo , Sato Shusei , Kaneko Takakazu , Tabata Satoshi , Hirsch Ann M.
Published: September 2011

Light is critical for supplying carbon to the energetically expensive, nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. Here, we show that phytochrome B (phyB) is part of the monitoring system to detect suboptimal light conditions, which normally suppress
Lotus japonicus
nodule development after
Mesorhizobium loti
inoculation. We found that the number of nodules produced by
L. japonicus phyB
mutants is significantly reduced compared with the number produced of WT Miyakojima MG20. To explore causes other than photoassimilate production, the possibility that local control by the root genotype occurred was investigated by grafting experiments. The results showed that the shoot and not the root genotype is responsible for root nodule formation. To explore systemic control mechanisms exclusive of photoassimilation, we moved WT MG20 plants from white light to conditions that differed in their ratios of low or high red/far red (R/FR) light. In low R/FR light, the number of MG20 root nodules dramatically decreased compared with plants grown in high R/FR, although photoassimilate content was higher for plants grown under low R/FR. Also, the expression of jasmonic acid (JA) -responsive genes decreased in both low R/FR light-grown WT and white light-grown
phyB
mutant plants, and it correlated with decreased jasmonoyl-isoleucine content in the
phyB
mutant. Moreover, both infection thread formation and root nodule formation were positively influenced by JA treatment of WT plants grown in low R/FR light and white light-grown
phyB
mutants. Together, these results indicate that root nodule formation is photomorphogenetically controlled by sensing the R/FR ratio through JA signaling.
Imaging the Kramers–Henneberger atom
Authors: Morales Felipe , Richter Maria , Patchkovskii Serguei , Smirnova Olga
Published: September 2011

Today laser pulses with electric fields comparable to or higher than the electrostatic forces binding valence electrons in atoms and molecules have become a routine tool with applications in laser acceleration of electrons and ions, generation of short wavelength emission from plasmas and clusters, laser fusion, etc. Intense fields are also naturally created during laser filamentation in the air or due to local field enhancements in the vicinity of metal nanoparticles. One would expect that very intense fields would always lead to fast ionization of atoms or molecules. However, recently observed acceleration of neutral atoms [Eichmann et al. (2009)
Nature
461:1261–1264] at the rate of 10
15
 m/s
2
when exposed to very intense IR laser pulses demonstrated that substantial fraction of atoms remained stable during the pulse. Here we show that the electronic structure of these stable “laser-dressed” atoms can be directly imaged by photoelectron spectroscopy. Our findings open the way to visualizing and controlling bound electron dynamics in strong laser fields and reexamining its role in various strong-field processes, including microscopic description of high order Kerr nonlinearities and their role in laser filamentation [Béjot et al. (2010)
Phys Rev Lett
104:103903].
Lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is the host receptor for the binary toxin
Clostridium difficile
transferase (CDT)
Authors: Papatheodorou Panagiotis , Carette Jan E. , Bell George W. , Schwan Carsten , Guttenberg Gregor , Brummelkamp Thijn R. , Aktories Klaus
Published: September 2011

Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) causes antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Hypervirulent strains of the pathogen, which are responsible for increased morbidity and mortality of CDI, produce the binary actin-ADP ribosylating toxin
Clostridium difficile
transferase (CDT) in addition to the Rho-glucosylating toxins A and B. CDT depolymerizes the actin cytoskeleton, increases adherence and colonization of
Clostridia
by induction of microtubule-based cell protrusions and, eventually, causes death of target cells. Using a haploid genetic screen, we identified the lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor as the membrane receptor for CDT uptake by target cells. Moreover, we show that
Clostridium perfringens
iota toxin, which is a related binary actin-ADP ribosylating toxin, enters target cells via the lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor. Identification of the toxin receptors is essential for understanding of the toxin uptake and provides a most valuable basis for antitoxin strategies.
Larger groups of passerines are more efficient problem solvers in the wild
Authors: Morand-Ferron Julie , Quinn John L.
Published: September 2011

Group living commonly helps organisms face challenging environmental conditions. Although a known phenomenon in humans, recent findings suggest that a benefit of group living in animals generally might be increased innovative problem-solving efficiency. This benefit has never been demonstrated in a natural context, however, and the mechanisms underlying improved efficiency are largely unknown. We examined the problem-solving performance of great and blue tits at automated devices and found that efficiency increased with flock size. This relationship held when restricting the analysis to naive individuals, demonstrating that larger groups increased innovation efficiency. In addition to this effect of naive flock size, the presence of at least one experienced bird increased the frequency of solving, and larger flocks were more likely to contain experienced birds. These findings provide empirical evidence for the “pool of competence” hypothesis in nonhuman animals. The probability of success also differed consistently between individuals, a necessary condition for the pool of competence hypothesis. Solvers had a higher probability of success when foraging with a larger number of companions and when using devices located near rather than further from protective tree cover, suggesting a role for reduced predation risk on problem-solving efficiency. In contrast to traditional group living theory, individuals joining larger flocks benefited from a higher seed intake, suggesting that group living facilitated exploitation of a novel food source through improved problem-solving efficiency. Together our results suggest that both ecological and social factors, through reduced predation risk and increased pool of competence, mediate innovation in natural populations.
Structural and functional analysis of an essential nucleoporin heterotrimer on the cytoplasmic face of the nuclear pore complex
Authors: Yoshida Kimihisa , Seo Hyuk-Soo , Debler Erik W. , Blobel Günter , Hoelz André
Published: September 2011

So far, only a few of the interactions between the ≈30 nucleoporins comprising the modular structure of the nuclear pore complex have been defined at atomic resolution. Here we report the crystal structure, at 2.6 Å resolution, of a heterotrimeric complex, composed of fragments of three cytoplasmically oriented nucleoporins of yeast: Nup82, Nup116, and Nup159. Our data show that the Nup82 fragment, representing more than the N-terminal half of the molecule, folds into an extensively decorated, seven-bladed β-propeller that forms the centerpiece of this heterotrimeric complex and anchors both a C-terminal fragment of Nup116 and the C-terminal tail of Nup159. Binding between Nup116 and Nup82 is mutually reinforced via two loops, one emanating from the Nup82 β-propeller and the other one from the β-sandwich fold of Nup116, each contacting binding pockets in their counterparts. The Nup82-Nup159 interaction occurs through an amphipathic α-helix of Nup159, which is cradled in a large hydrophobic groove that is generated from several large surface decorations of the Nup82 β-propeller. Although Nup159 and Nup116 fragments bind to the Nup82 β-propeller in close vicinity, there are no direct contacts between them, consistent with the noncooperative binding that was detected biochemically. Extensive mutagenesis delineated hot-spot residues for these interactions. We also showed that the Nup82 β-propeller binds to other yeast Nup116 family members, Nup145N, Nup100 and to the mammalian homolog, Nup98. Notably, each of the three nucleoporins contains additional nuclear pore complex binding sites, distinct from those that were defined here in the heterotrimeric Nup82•Nup159•Nup116 complex.
Avenolide, a
Streptomyces
hormone controlling antibiotic production in
Streptomyces avermitilis
Authors: Kitani Shigeru , Miyamoto Kiyoko T. , Takamatsu Satoshi , Herawati Elisa , Iguchi Hiroyuki , Nishitomi Kouhei , Uchida Miho , Nagamitsu Tohru , Omura Satoshi , Ikeda Haruo , Nihira Takuya
Published: September 2011

Gram-positive bacteria of the genus
Streptomyces
are industrially important microorganisms, producing >70% of commercially important antibiotics. The production of these compounds is often regulated by low-molecular-weight bacterial hormones called autoregulators. Although 60% of
Streptomyces
strains may use γ-butyrolactone–type molecules as autoregulators and some use furan-type molecules, little is known about the signaling molecules used to regulate antibiotic production in many other members of this genus. Here, we purified a signaling molecule (avenolide) from
Streptomyces avermitilis
—the producer of the important anthelmintic agent avermectin with annual world sales of $850 million—and determined its structure, including stereochemistry, by spectroscopic analysis and chemical synthesis as (4
S
,10
R
)-10-hydroxy-10-methyl-9-oxo-dodec-2-en-1,4-olide, a class of
Streptomyces
autoregulator. Avenolide is essential for eliciting avermectin production and is effective at nanomolar concentrations with a minimum effective concentration of 4 nM. The
aco
gene of
S. avermitilis,
which encodes an acyl-CoA oxidase, is required for avenolide biosynthesis, and homologs are also present in
Streptomyces fradiae
,
Streptomyces ghanaensis
, and
Streptomyces griseoauranticus
, suggesting that butenolide-type autoregulators may represent a widespread and another class of
Streptomyces
autoregulator involved in regulating antibiotic production.
Growth and Survival of Age‐0 Yellow Perch across Habitats in Southwestern Lake Michigan: Early Life History in a Large Freshwater Environment
Authors: Weber Michael J. , Dettmers John M. , Wahl David H.
Published: September 2011

Processes regulating the survival of early life stages are difficult to decipher for fishes, especially those occupying multiple spatially segregated habitats in large complex systems. Although the processes occurring during the juvenile period are often thought to regulate recruitment of freshwater fishes, those occurring during prolonged pelagic larval phases may be more important to fishes inhabiting large dynamic systems, as is the case with marine larvae. To assess the importance of biotic and abiotic factors on growth and survival of a freshwater fish with a prolonged larval phase, we collected age‐0 yellow perch Perca flavescens in Lake Michigan across multiple habitats and used otoliths to estimate daily ages, hatching distributions, and growth and mortality rates. Larval yellow perch hatched near shore over a 4‐ to 6‐week period but were quickly transported offshore, where they experienced prolonged pelagic durations. Water temperature and wind events influenced growth rates, whereas water temperature, wind events, prey availability, hatching date, and growth rate affected survival across habitats. Mechanisms regulating growth and survival of yellow perch during prolonged pelagic durations (stage duration, prey, and wind events) are consistent with recruitment mechanisms typically ascribed to marine systems, suggesting that abiotic mechanisms interact with biological factors to govern recruitment of fishes in large freshwater ecosystems.
The Dashnaktsutiun and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, 1905–1911
Authors: Berberian Houri
Published: September 2011

Armenian participation in the Constitutional Revolution of Iran remains a subject fraught with ambiguities and unanswered questions. There has not been, to this date, a comprehensive study of Armenian participation, nor on the Caucasian element in general. There have been several articles and also a few biographies of major Armenian figures such as Mirza Malkom Khan (1833–1908) who, though not an active participant, was one of the principal proponents of constitutional government, or Yeprem Khan Davitian (1868–1912), who was instrumental in the battles to restore the constitution. This emphasis, in fact, is a problem. By concentrating on two key individuals, we take away from the larger dynamics and exclude other factors, and their exploits or ideas become merely the exploits and ideas of two individuals who happen to be of Armenian background.
Contested Memories: Narrative Structures and Allegorical Meanings of Iran's Pre-Islamic History
Authors: Tavakoli-Targhi Mohamad
Published: September 2011

The historical accounts of pre-Islamic Iran have diverse allegorical meanings. These meanings are embedded in narrative structures that terminate in the Muslim conquest of Iran and the death of Yazdigird III (d. 31/651 or 652), the last Sasanian king. In early “Islamicate” historiography, the accounts of ancient Iran served as an allegory of the Persian (differentially identified asFurs, 'Ajam,andMajūs)submission to Islam. The narrative termination of Persian sovereignty (sal ṭanai) coincided with the commencement of Islam and the closure of the cycle of prophecy inaugurated by Adam. The co-termination of Sasanian dynastic rule and the cycle of prophecy mark the transition to a new and “superior” moral and political order—divinely sanctioned to last until “the end of time”(ākhir-i zamāri).
Islamic Rights or Human Rights: An Iranian Dilemma
Authors: Mayer Ann Elizabeth
Published: September 2011

Human rights issues loom large in the contemporary history of Iran. Under the reign of the late shah, Iranians were deprived of basic rights and freedoms and suffered from pervasive violations of human rights, many at the hands of the regime's notorious security forces. Ironically, in official representations to the international community, the shah's government posed as a champion of human rights. In the 1960s and 1970s Iranians took a leadership role at the United Nations in promoting international human rights law, and Tehran was selected as the venue for the important 1968 UN International Conference on Human Rights. Under the shah Iran ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the United States failed to ratify until 1992 (and then only conditionally). Individual Iranians also contributed to the development of human rights principles.
The Toponymy of the Tonb Islands
Authors: Mirfendereski Guive
Published: September 2011

This essay explores the toponymy of Great and Little Tonb (pron. tōm), two islands at the entrance to the Persian Gulf overlooking the main shipping lanes near the Straits of Hormuz. In view of their close proximity to the Persian coast, the Tonbs are considered geographically Persian islands.

This essay will provide, first and foremost, a consolidated record of the islands' nomenclature, with a view to ascertaining the etymological origins of the islands' many names. Toponyms tell us about physical and human geography in a historical context. To that extent, a study of place names is not free from political and legal implications.
From Iranian Studies to Studies of Iranians in the United States
Authors: Bozorgmehr Mehdi
Published: September 2011

More than any other Factor, The Iranian Revolution of 1978–79 and its aftermath have contributed to the growth of the Iranian diaspora population worldwide. The revolution precipitated the exodus of Iranian exiles or political refugees, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran further discouraged the return of many Iranians already abroad. As a result, by about 1990, 637,500 Iranians were enumerated in official national censuses of the following ten countries on four continents: U.S., Canada, West Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, France, Norway, Australia, Israel, and Japan.

With an Iranian population—defined as persons either born in Iran or of Iranian ancestry—of 285,000 in 1990, the U.S. contained nearly half (45%) of the Iranians living in the above-mentioned Western and Asian countries. This overwhelming concentration, an availability of good data on immigrants (including Iranians), and a number of Iranian students who have become social scientists in the U.S., have encouraged research on this group.
Settlement Patterns of Iranians in the United States
Authors: Modarres Ali
Published: September 2011

In 1990, The U.S. Census Reported that 226,123 Iranian immigrants were living in the U.S., a growth of slightly under 100,000 in a tenyear period. These were individuals who either were born in Iran, or were of Iranian ancestry but born outside Iran in a country other than the U.S. The almost doubling of this population over a short period of time, combined with the group's variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, has created some of the most diverse ethnic geographies in the U.S.

Traditionally, academic theories have focused on issues regarding chain migration, port of entry, the assimilation process, ethnic economy, and labor market participation to explain the geographic distribution of various ethnic groups and their shifts over time.
Sexuality, Dating, and Double Standards: Young Iranian Immigrants in Los Angeles
Authors: Hanassab Shideh
Published: September 2011

As in Many other Countries Around the World, A Gender based double standard (one set of social and moral norms governing the male and another governing the female) has always existed in Iran. In modern Iran, prior to the 1978-79 revolution, the traditional Iranian family was patriarchal and patrilineal. From early childhood, members of each gender were initiated into their respective roles and were socialized to a double standard of sexual morality. For instance, women who sought and experienced the same privileges of sexual freedom as men were not respected, but rather became victims of social ostracism. Women suffered from many social disadvantages, and their position, in most cases, was far from equal to men's.

Because pre-revolutionary Iran was a traditional society, the issues of dating and intimate relationships, especially for young women, were sensitive. Some of the sharpest contrasts between Western values and traditional Iranian values existed in these areas.
Art: Crafts, Technology, and Material Culture
Authors: Bier Carol
Published: September 2011

Combining Aesthetic Intent with Utilitarian Value, Hand-Crafted objects may be beautiful as well as functional. Crafts rely upon human ingenuity and productivity. They encompass both the products and the processes of production that comprise most aspects of material culture. The crafts of preindustrial Iran achieved distinction for their high levels of technical and aesthetic accomplishment. At different times in Iranian history, crafts sustained local economies, generated income from trade, and brought international fame.

As with all arts, crafts tend to be culturally expressive, exhibiting styles that may be geographically and temporally defined. Determinants of style may include availability of materials, local traditions of craftsmanship, levels of state intervention and other sources of influence, as well as aesthetic preferences. In Iran, from household production for home consumption to cottage industry and commercial city workshops, and from nomadic encampments to court ateliers, crafts represent products of nomads, rural villagers, city dwellers, and courtiers.
What is this Thing called “Ethnography”?
Authors: Tapper Richard
Published: September 2011

A Multi-Volume, Multi-Author Encyclopaedia Such as this is a Desktop library; but, more than any library, it represents a set of conscious editorial decisions. The basis of these decisions (if, as is common, the editors do not make it explicit to the reader) may be inferred not just from the choice of topics, but from the balance between them, and from the length and nature of entries. In every case, choice and balance must be largely determined by the availability of previous research: if someone is known to be the world expert on X, then it makes sense to invite them to give a reasonable summary of their findings, even if in the grander political and cultural scheme it might be hard to justify. Bizarre—but delightful—anomalies are bound to result: among many in this encyclopedia, I would single out Willem Floor's two-page entry on DUNG; it is shorter, more approachable, and more inviting to the casual reader than, for example, the anomalous chapter on lizards that occupies a full 70 pages of the first volume ofThe Cambridge History of Iran.
Sasanian Persia (ca. 224–651 C.E.)
Authors: Daryaee Touraj
Published: September 2011

The Study of Sasanian History and Society has Received a Good share of attention in the past century. Hundreds of articles and several important books and monographs have contributed to our knowledge of the period. The most important monograph on the history of Iran from the third to the seventh century is that of Arthur Christensen. The book was written in the first half of the twentieth century, and although we have come to understand its shortcomings through advancing textual criticism and changing methodological strategies, it still remains the source referred to by all the scholars in this field. Shorter monographs, such as that of Klaus Schippmann, have added important information and a different approach, giving more attention to primary sources and material culture. Since Christensen's magnum opus, the most complete work on Sasanian Iran isThe Cambridge History of Iran,which covers many aspects of Sasanian history, language, and culture.
The Pahlavi Period
Authors: Chehabi H. E.
Published: September 2011

Two Decades have Passed Since the Overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy, yet the upheavals of the post-revolutionary years have preoccupied scholars so much that the detailed and dispassionate analysis of Iran under its last dynasty is still in its infancy. To be sure, important events like the 1953 coup or the Islamic revolution and major issues such as oil or U.S.-Iranian relations have received the attention they deserve. But when it comes to the long years that separate moments of crisis, we know much more about the exertions of those who opposed Pahlavi rule, be they Mosaddeqists, leftists, or Islamists, than about the activities and policies of those who actually ran the country from 1925 to 1978. This asymmetry makes many an account of Pahlavi Iran an exercise in retrospective prediction, leading all too often to the tempting but logically flawed conclusion that the fall of the dynasty was foredoomed. Scholars’ preference for studying the exceptional rather than the routine is understandable, as the former is, almost by definition, more exciting than the latter.
The Indian Subcontinent
Authors: Cole Juan R.I.
Published: September 2011

The Indian Subcontinent has been One of the Most Prominent Areas of Persian cultural efflorescence. The Parsis, with their Iranian religious heritage, have played an important role in Indian thought and commerce that continues today. Iranian Islam has since medieval times had a powerful influence, competing with Muslim currents from Central Asia and the Arabian subcontinent. From the twelfth through the nineteenth centuries, Persian was the most important administrative language for Muslim states in the area. Enormous numbers of historical chronicles, books of poetry, and Sufi works were composed in Persian by both Muslims and Hindus in these centuries, some of them classics of world literature such as the Akbarnāma or the works of Bidel. It has even been argued that in the eighteenth century more Hindus may have read the Bhagavad Gita in Persian translation than in the original Sanskrit, given the very large class of Hindu Persian scribes and administrators and the relatively smaller numbers of Sanskrit scholars. India had an important cultural, commercial, and intellectual influence on Iran, as well, an influence now largely forgotten.
Trauma and Substance Abuse Among Women in Prostitution: Implications for a Specialized Diversion Program
Authors: Wiechelt Shelly , Shdaimah Corey
Published: September 2011

This study was undertaken to inform the implementation of a specialized prostitution diversion program to help women quit prostitution and avoid criminal prosecution. Data on 17 women’s experience of trauma and substance abuse and their views on how these experiences affected their involvement in prostitution were gathered in focus groups and face-to-face interviews (including measures of substance abuse, trauma, and PTSD) conducted at a drop-in program in Baltimore, Maryland. The results indicate that the women experienced high levels of trauma and substance abuse interwoven with prostitution. Trauma-informed services and integrated substance abuse and trauma-specific treatment are needed.
Chemokine nitration prevents intratumoral infiltration of antigen-specific T cells
Authors: Molon Barbara , Ugel Stefano , Del Pozzo Federica , Soldani Cristiana , Zilio Serena , Avella Debora , De Palma Antonella , Mauri PierLuigi , Monegal Ana , Rescigno Maria , Savino Benedetta , Colombo Piergiuseppe , Jonjic Nives , Pecanic Sanja , Lazzarato Loretta , Fruttero Roberta , Gasco Alberto , Bronte Vincenzo , Viola Antonella
Published: September 2011

Tumor-promoted constraints negatively affect cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) trafficking to the tumor core and, as a result, inhibit tumor killing. The production of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) within the tumor microenvironment has been reported in mouse and human cancers. We describe a novel RNS-dependent posttranslational modification of chemokines that has a profound impact on leukocyte recruitment to mouse and human tumors. Intratumoral RNS production induces CCL2 chemokine nitration and hinders T cell infiltration, resulting in the trapping of tumor-specific T cells in the stroma that surrounds cancer cells. Preconditioning of the tumor microenvironment with novel drugs that inhibit CCL2 modification facilitates CTL invasion of the tumor, suggesting that these drugs may be effective in cancer immunotherapy. Our results unveil an unexpected mechanism of tumor evasion and introduce new avenues for cancer immunotherapy.
Regulator of calcineurin 1 mediates pathological vascular wall remodeling
Authors: Esteban Vanesa , Méndez-Barbero Nerea , Jesús Jiménez-Borreguero Luis , Roqué Mercè , Novensá Laura , Belén García-Redondo Ana , Salaices Mercedes , Vila Luis , Arbonés María L. , Campanero Miguel R. , Redondo Juan Miguel
Published: September 2011

Artery wall remodeling, a major feature of diseases such as hypertension, restenosis, atherosclerosis, and aneurysm, involves changes in the tunica media mass that reduce or increase the vessel lumen. The identification of molecules involved in vessel remodeling could aid the development of improved treatments for these pathologies. Angiotensin II (AngII) is a key effector of aortic wall remodeling that contributes to aneurysm formation and restenosis through incompletely defined signaling pathways. We show that AngII induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and vessel remodeling in mouse models of restenosis and aneurysm. These effects were prevented by pharmacological inhibition of calcineurin (CN) or lentiviral delivery of CN-inhibitory peptides. Whole-genome analysis revealed >1,500 AngII-regulated genes in VSMCs, with just 11 of them requiring CN activation. Of these, the most sensitive to CN activation was regulator of CN 1 (Rcan1). Rcan1 was strongly activated by AngII in vitro and in vivo and was required for AngII-induced VSMC migration. Remarkably, Rcan1−/− mice were resistant to AngII-induced aneurysm and restenosis. Our results indicate that aneurysm formation and restenosis share mechanistic elements and identify Rcan1 as a potential therapeutic target for prevention of aneurysm and restenosis progression.
When Climate Models Agree: The Significance of Robust Model Predictions
Authors: Parker Wendy S.
Published: September 2011

This article identifies conditions under which robust predictive modeling results have special epistemic significance—related to truth, confidence, and security—and considers whether those conditions hold in the context of present-day climate modeling. The findings are disappointing. When today’s climate models agree that an interesting hypothesis about future climate change is true, it cannot be inferred—via the arguments considered here anyway—that the hypothesis is likely to be true or that scientists’ confidence in the hypothesis should be significantly increased or that a claim to have evidence for the hypothesis is now more secure.
From Mallarmé to Mallet-Stevens: Reading Architectural Space in Man Ray's
Les Mystères du château du dé
Authors: Knowles Kim
Published: September 2011

In 1928 the wealthy aristocrat and patron of the arts Comte Charles de Noailles commissioned Man Ray to make a film about his villa in the south of France. The cubist forms of the villa, designed by the architect and set designer Robert Mallet-Stevens, made Man Ray think of Stéphane Mallarmé's modernist poem
Un coup de dés jamais n'abolira le hasard
(1897). The title of the poem would, in Man Ray's words, ‘become the theme of the film’, reflected in its own title
Les
Mystères
du château du dé
(1929). Existing analyses of the relationship between the two works tend to focus on the semi-narrative content of the film and its series of poetic intertitles, bypassing more complex formal connections. This article argues that Mallarmé's poem can be used as a starting point for the exploration of formal and conceptual patterns in the film. It concentrates particularly on Man Ray's attention to space in Mallet-Stevens's architectural design, and argues that the reading of space reflects Mallarmé's emphasis on the ‘blancs’ in
Un coup de dés
.
Differing views of Children and Parents: some cautionary tales!
Authors: Smith H.
Published: September 2011

Cite this as: H. Smith, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1344–1345.
Fatherhood Alters Behavioural and Neural Responsiveness in a Spatial Task
Authors: Franssen C. L. , Bardi M. , Shea E. A. , Hampton J. E. , Adam Franssen R. , Kinsley C. H. , Lambert K. G.
Published: September 2011

The hormones and experiences of pregnancy, parturition and lactation have been shown to dramatically remodel the female rat’s hippocampus, potentially enhancing behaviours critical for meeting the increased demands of motherhood. Previous work in our laboratory has also suggested that pup exposure, apart from pregnancy and lactation, constitutes an important influence on ancillary maternal behaviour (e.g. foraging behaviour). In the present study, we press the parental model further by examining the effect of pup exposure on the hippocampus of males from a biparental mouse species, the California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Males were either Fathers (i.e. first‐time fathers housed with a female from mating until 7 days after parturition), pup‐exposed virgins (PEV; i.e. sexually naïve males briefly exposed to pups daily for 7 days) or Virgins (i.e. never exposed to females or pups). A dry‐land maze (DLM), as used for assessing spatial learning, was employed to determine the foraging abilities of the males. The results indicated that, on the most challenging day of testing (i.e. acquisition day), California mouse Fathers demonstrated superior memory for the task compared to PEVs and Virgins. In addition to the behavioural data, significantly more fos‐immunoreactivity was observed in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampi of Fathers than PEVs or Virgins in response to the probe trial. Additionally, a trend for altered performance on the DLM was observed in the PEVs on the last day of testing, which was accompanied by the highest levels of nestin‐immunoreactivity, an indicant of neuroplasticity, of the three groups. In summary, these data suggest that, in accordance with previous observations of maternal rats, the paternal brain is similarly influenced by parental experience, as demonstrated by accompanying modifications to relevant neurobiological and behavioural responses.
Cuticular hydrocarbon pattern as a chemotaxonomy marker to assess intraspecific variability in Triatoma infestans, a major vector of Chagas' disease
Authors: CALDERÓN‐FERNÁNDEZ G. M. , GIROTTI J. R. , JUÁREZ M. P.
Published: September 2011

Triatoma infestans Klug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) populations were sampled in various localities throughout most of the species' geographic range of distribution in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru. In order to contribute to understanding of the diversity and population structure of this major vector of Chagas' disease, cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles were analysed by capillary gas chromatography and variations evaluated by statistical methods of classification and ordination. High levels of intrapopulation variation were detected, along with low levels of variability among populations. Based on relative amounts of the major odd‐numbered straight‐chain hydrocarbons n‐C27 to n‐C33, two hydrocarbon phenotypes were evident, unequally distributed along the species' geographic range. Analysis of CHC patterns showed that T. infestans populations segregate into two major groups consisting of an Andean group, which comprises specimens from Peru and most parts of Bolivia, and a non‐Andean group, which includes all specimens from Argentina and Paraguay, together with those from Tarija (Bolivia). Pyrethroid‐resistant and ‐susceptible specimens were differentiated based on relative amounts of some straight and monomethyl‐branched hydrocarbon components.
Strategies of a Bornean tropical rainforest water use as a function of rainfall regime: isohydric or anisohydric?
Authors: KUMAGAI TOMO'OMI , PORPORATO AMILCARE
Published: September 2011

Although Bornean tropical rainforests are among the moistest biomes in the world, they sporadically experience periods of water stress. The observations indicate that these ecosystems tend to have little regulation of water use, despite episodes of relatively severe drought. This water‐use behaviour is often referred to as anisohydric behaviour, as opposed to isohydric plants that regulate stomatal movement to prevent hydraulic failure. Although it is generally thought that anisohydric behaviour is an adaptation to more drought‐prone habitats, we show that anisohydric plants may also be more favoured than isohydric plants under very moist environments where there is little risk of hydraulic failure. To explore this subject, we examined the advantages of isohydric and anisohydric species as a function of the hydroclimatic environment using a stochastic model of soil moisture and carbon assimilation dynamics parameterized by field observations. The results showed that under very moist conditions, anisohydric species tend to have higher productivity than isohydric plants, despite the fact that the two plant types show almost the same drought‐induced mortality. As precipitation decreases, the mortality of anisohydric plants drastically increases whereas that of isohydric plants remains relatively constant and low; in these conditions, isohydric plants surpass anisohydric plants in their productivity.
Frequency of HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐DRB1 specificities and haplotypic associations in the population of Castilla y León (northwest‐central Spain)
Authors: Alcoceba M. , Marín L. , Balanzategui A. , Sarasquete M. E. , Chillón M. C. , Martín‐Jiménez P. , Puig N. , Santamaría C. , Corral R. , García‐Sanz R. , San Miguel J. F. , González M.
Published: September 2011

The frequencies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II specificities and haplotypic associations were determined in 1940 unrelated donors from Castilla y León and compared with other Iberian, Mediterranean and European populations. Specificities were determined using polymerase chain reaction reverse sequence‐specific oligonucleotide or polymerase chain reaction sequence‐specific primer techniques. In the analysis, 19, 29 and 13 specificities were found for HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐DRB1, respectively, with HLA‐A*02 (26%), ‐A*01 (11%), ‐B*44 (16%), ‐B*35 (10%), ‐DRB1*07 (16%) and ‐DRB1*13 (14%) showing the highest frequencies. In addition, 10 common HLA‐A‐B‐DRB1 haplotypic associations were observed, A*01‐B*08‐DRB1*03 (3%) and A*29‐B*44‐DRB1*07 (3%) being the most frequent ones. These findings indicate that the population of Castilla y León is genetically equidistant from the Portuguese and other Spanish populations and shares a common origin with other Iberian populations, in which European, Mediterranean and North African genetic components are present; this is in agreement with the historical and genetic background of the population. These data contribute to a better understanding of the genetic structure of the Iberian Peninsula and provide a healthy control population from our region that should be useful for the study of disease associations.
On the future of HLA
Authors: Thorsby E.
Published: September 2011

As the immunobiological function of the HLA (human leucocyte antigen) class I and II molecules was revealed, we have seen an explosive development of the HLA field. Today, the HLA complex occupies a central position in basic and clinical immunology. In this Opinion article, I will briefly discuss some challenges which in my opinion are more important than others in the near future of HLA, with a focus on products of the classical HLA class I and II genes. Matching for HLA antigens will continue to be of importance in organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. In the latter field, induction of graft‐versus‐leukemia effects will receive greater attention, where HLA will play a central role. It is anticipated that we will see an extensive development in our knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, where some HLA class I and II genes by far are the strongest predisposing genes. To predict and prevent autoimmune diseases will be a major challenge for the HLA field in the future. HLA will also be of increasing importance in pharmacogenomics, vaccinations and anthropology. Together, this will leave the HLA field with many new challenges and opportunities, which in the future will require more focus on functional aspects of the immunogenetics of HLA.
Maternal psychosocial factors determining the concentrations of transforming growth factor‐beta in breast milk
Authors: Kondo Naoki , Suda Yuki , Nakao Atsuhito , Oh‐Oka Kyoko , Suzuki Kohta , Ishimaru Kayoko , Sato Miri , Tanaka Taichiro , Nagai Akiko , Yamagata Zentaro
Published: September 2011

To cite this article: Kondo N, Suda Y, Nakao A, Oh‐Oka K, Suzuki K, Ishimaru K, Sato M, Tanaka T, Nagai A, Yamagata Z. Maternal psychosocial factors determining the concentrations of transforming growth factor‐beta in breast milk. Pediatr Allergy Immunology 2011: 22: 853–861.

Background:  Cytokines in breast milk may play crucial roles in the beneficial effects of breastfeeding in protecting against allergic and infectious diseases in infants. In particular, breast milk‐borne transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) has an important potential role in developing the mucosal immune system in infants. However, little is known about what factors influence TGF‐β expression in human milk. We investigated whether the behavioral and psychosocial characteristics of mothers affect breast milk TGF‐β levels.

Methods:  We conducted a survey of all 139 mothers who were lactating between February and October 2010 in Koshu City, Japan. Participants completed a questionnaire and provided breast milk at the health checkups for their 3‐month‐old child (N = 129, 93%). Breast milk was assayed for total TGF‐β2 levels by ELISA. We took an exploratory approach based on linear and ordered logistic regressions to model TGF‐β2 concentrations with their multiple potential determinants.

Results:  Mothers with depression or poor self‐rated health had higher TGF‐β2 concentrations than mothers without depression (odds ratio for a higher TGF‐β2 quartile: 3.11, 95% confidence intervals: 1.03–9.37) or those reporting better health (odds ratio: 2.34, 1.21–4.55). Smoking, drinking alcohol, probiotics supplementation, social support, and maternal history of allergic diseases were not associated with milk TGF‐β2 levels. Milk gathered between August and October or later in the afternoon (3–4 pm vs. 12–2 pm) contained less TGF‐β2.

Conclusion:  Depression, as the consequence of psychosocial stress, may be a strong determinant of TGF‐β levels in breast milk. Seasonal and daily fluctuations in milk TGF‐β2 concentrations warrant further study.