bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selection and characterization of resistance to Polymyxa betae, vector of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus, derived from wild sea beet
Authors: Asher M. J. C. , Grimmer M. K. , Mutasa‐Goettgens E. S.
Published: November 2008

The plasmodiophoromycete Polymyxa betae is an obligate root parasite that transmits Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the cause of sugar beet rhizomania disease. Currently, control of this disease is achieved through the use of cultivars with monogenic (Rz1) partial resistance to the virus. To improve the level and durability of this resistance, sources of resistance to the virus vector, P. betae, were sought. Over 100 accessions of the wild sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima) from European coastal regions were evaluated for resistance in controlled environment tests. Quantification of P. betae biomass in seedling roots was achieved using recombinant antibodies raised to a glutathione‐s‐transferase expressed by the parasite in vivo. Several putative sources of resistance were identified and selected plants from these were hybridized with a male‐sterile sugar beet breeding line possessing partial virus resistance (Rz1). Evaluation of F1 hybrid populations identified five in which P. betae resistance had been successfully transferred from accessions originating from Mediterranean, Adriatic and Baltic coasts. A resistant individual from one of these populations was backcrossed to the sugar beet parent to produce a BC1 population segregating for P. betae resistance. This population was also tested for resistance to BNYVV. Amplified fragment length polymorphism and single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers were used to map resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) to linkage groups representing specific chromosomes. QTL for resistance to both P. betae and BNYVV were co‐localized on chromosome IV in the BC1 population, indicating resistance to rhizomania conditioned by vector resistance. This resistance QTL (Pb1) was shown in the F1 population to reduce P. betae levels through interaction with a second QTL (Pb2) found on chromosome IX, a relationship confirmed by general linear model analysis. In the BC1 population, vector‐derived resistance from wild sea beet combined additively with the Rz1 virus resistance gene from sugar beet to reduce BNYVV levels. With partial virus resistance already deployed in a number of high‐yielding sugar beet cultivars, the simple Pb1/Pb2 two‐gene system represents a valuable additional target for plant breeders.
Autoimmune characteristics in Japanese children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before 5 years of age
Authors: Urakami Tatsuhiko , Suzuki Junichi , Yoshida Ayako , Saito Hiroshi , Wada Mika , Takahashi Shouri , Mugishima Hideo
Published: November 2008

Background:  Several studies have shown that the autoimmune features in young children with type 1 diabetes differ from those in older pediatric patients as well as adults. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of β‐cell autoantibodies, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA), and antibodies to the protein tyrosine phosphatase‐related molecule IA‐2 (IA‐2A), at the time of diagnosis in Japanese children with type 1 diabetes who were younger than 5 years at diagnosis.

Methods:  Subjects consisted of 23 Japanese children (nine boys, 14 girls), 3.1 ± 1.3 years of age at diagnosis (range, 1.1–4.8 years). The majority had severe metabolic decompensation accompanied by complete absence of β‐cell function at diagnosis. We found 41.7% to have suffered viral infections before disease onset.

Results:  The prevalence of antibodies to GAD and IA‐2 at diagnosis in these subjects was significantly lower than those in older patients diagnosed after 5 years of age (31.6 % vs 86.3% and 47.1% vs 82.5%, P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0064, respectively). Among 17 patients in whom both antibodies were measured, only two (11.8%) had both GADA and IA‐2A, three (17.6%) had GADA alone, six (35.3%) had IA‐2A alone, and six (35.3%) had neither GADA nor IA2‐A.

Conclusions:  Non‐autoimmune mechanisms or age‐related differences in autoimmunity could be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes in young patients.
A frequency‐domain formulation of MCE method for multi‐axial random loadings
Authors: BENASCIUTTI D. , CRISTOFORI A.
Published: November 2008

Many multi‐axial fatigue limit criteria are formalized as a linear combination of a shear stress amplitude and a normal stress. To identify the shear stress amplitude, appropriate conventional definitions, as the minimum circumscribed circle (MCC) or ellipse (MCE) proposals, are in use. Despite computational improvements, deterministic algorithms implementing the MCC/MCE methods are exceptionally time‐demanding when applied to “coiled” random loading paths resulting from in‐service multi‐axial loadings and they may also provide insufficiently robust and reliable results. It would be then preferable to characterize multi‐axial random loadings by statistical re‐formulations of the deterministic MCC/MCE methods. Following an early work of Pitoiset et al., this paper presents a statistical re‐formulation for the MCE method. Numerical simulations are used to compare both statistical re‐formulations with their deterministic counterparts. The observed general good trend, with some better performance of the statistical approach, confirms the validity, reliability and robustness of the proposed formulation.
On the determination of material parameters in crack initiation laws
Authors: BRUCKNER‐FOIT A. , HUANG X.
Published: November 2008

Crack initiation along slip bands can be described by the Tanaka–Mura relation and its extensions. These relations are based on dislocation theory and determine the number of load cycles to reach a critical dislocation density for a given value of the resolved shear stress along the potential crack path. An important material parameter in these relations is the critical shear stress which is a threshold value for crack initiation, i.e. the number of cycles to crack initiation becomes infinitely high if the resolved shear stress along the potential crack path stays below this threshold value. This critical shear stress is determined using a database for microcrack initiation, microcrack growth, and coalescence obtained with a martensitic steel. The number of cracks per unit area, the so‐called crack density, was derived from this database as a function of the number of load cycles. These experimentally observed values of the crack density are compared to values obtained by simulating the crack initiation process using a random cell structure as a mesoscopic unit cell. A best fit is obtained for values of the critical shear stress between 110 and 160 MPa with the uncertainty both related to simplifications in the model and to limitations of the experimental analysis.
Anesthesia for children in Sub‐Saharan Africa – a description of settings, common presenting conditions, techniques and outcomes
Authors: OURO‐BANG’NA MAMAN ABOUDOUL‐FATAOU , KABORE RAWÉLÉGUINBASBA ARMEL FLAVIEN , ZOUMENOU EUGÈNE , GNASSINGBÉ KOMLAN , CHOBLI MARTIN
Published: November 2008

Anesthesia in developing countries deserves special attention. The most common technique is general anesthesia (with spontaneous or manually assisted ventilation). Nonmedical anesthetists with limited training and supervision and lacking the most common drugs and anesthetic equipment administer anesthesia, usually for emergency surgery. There are important safety issues, especially for pediatric anesthesia. Regarding pediatric surgery, the major workload is due to abdominal emergencies, mainly neonatal bowel obstruction or peritonitis due to typhoid perforation. The morbidity and mortality rate for these conditions is high.
Con: anesthesia for children in the developing world should be delivered by medical anesthetists
Authors: WILSON IAIN H.
Published: November 2008

Surgical care for pediatric patients in poor countries is severely limited by the availability of surgeons, healthcare resources and investment in anesthesia services. Where a surgical service exists, a shortage of trained medical anesthetists limits the care that can be delivered. Where no doctors are available to administer anesthesia, some countries have utilized nonmedical anesthesia providers to provide a service. These providers should be integrated with, and supported by, their medical colleagues to ensure safe practice. Action at governmental level is required to resolve the difficult issues described in this paper.
Domestic servants and their urban employers: a case study of Lancaster, 1880–19141
Authors: POOLEY SIÂN
Published: November 2008

It has been argued that domestic service heightened divisions of class and gender, and supported the private nuclear family in late nineteenth‐century England. This case study of one urban locality (Lancaster) between 1880 and 1914 uses qualitative and quantitative techniques, particularly longitudinal record linkage, to explore relationships between live‐in domestic servants and their employers. It is argued that there were considerable similarities between the backgrounds and life‐cycle‐related motivations of both servants and employers. Relationships were highly diverse, but service simultaneously depended upon and played a crucial role in sustaining complex, localized networks that extended far beyond the servant‐employing household.
Researching small firms and entrepreneurship: Past, present and future
Authors: Blackburn Robert , Kovalainen Anne
Published: November 2008

This paper seeks to stimulate debate on the agendas, methodologies and methods used in the field of small business and entrepreneurship. The paper raises questions regarding the research agendas pursued and provides some pointers for the direction of future research. Integral to this is the argument that there is a need to reflect on the condition of small‐business research and to raise the quality of research by employing robust research methods. This may involve questioning the role of small firms and entrepreneurship in society rather than merely advocating them and the policy measures taken when supporting and/or developing the small business sector. The dominance of specific viewpoints, the methodologies used in small business studies, and the consequences of these in relation to the development of a coherent scientific field of small business studies are also discussed. Examples of research activity are discussed to illustrate these themes. Overall, the paper argues that entrepreneurship and small business is a lucrative area for research. However, if the field of inquiry is to flourish, it needs to be approached from a more critical perspective, instead of merely accepting normative, or even strongly ideologically driven, standpoints now dominant in so many studies. This has implications for research agendas, methodologies and ultimately research methods training.
Is Liquidity Symmetric? A Study of Newly Listed Internet and Technology Stocks
Authors: MICHAYLUK DAVID , NEUHAUSER KARYN
Published: November 2008

Imbedded in liquidity measures is an implicit assumption of symmetry. Although market microstructure models rely on this assumption, there may be directional pressure that creates differences in buy and sell liquidity. This paper develops methods of assessing asymmetric liquidity and empirically examines a sample of newly listed Internet and technology stocks that are hypothesized to be especially subject to asymmetry due to the rapid inflation and deflation of the Internet bubble. Evidence of asymmetric liquidity is observed and the level of asymmetry is found to change over time. These findings suggest that the assumption of symmetry is inconsistent with more precisely constructed market liquidity measures.
Isotopic ecology ten years after a call for more laboratory experiments
Authors: Martínez del Rio Carlos , Wolf Nathan , Carleton Scott A. , Gannes Leonard Z.
Published: November 2008

About 10 years ago, reviews of the use of stable isotopes in animal ecology predicted explosive growth in this field and called for laboratory experiments to provide a mechanistic foundation to this growth. They identified four major areas of inquiry: (1) the dynamics of isotopic incorporation, (2) mixing models, (3) the problem of routing, and (4) trophic discrimination factors. Because these areas remain central to isotopic ecology, we use them as organising foci to review the experimental results that isotopic ecologists have collected in the intervening 10 years since the call for laboratory experiments. We also review the models that have been built to explain and organise experimental results in these areas.
Src‐protein tyrosine kinases are required for cocaine‐induced increase in the expression and function of the NMDA receptor in the ventral tegmental area
Authors: Schumann Johanna , Michaeli Avner , Yaka Rami
Published: November 2008

Cocaine‐induced long‐term potentiation of glutamatergic synapses in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been proposed as a key process that contributes to the development of addictive behaviors. In particular, the activation of ionotrophic glutamate NMDA receptor (NMDAR) in the VTA is critical for the initiation of cocaine sensitization. Here we show that application of cocaine both in slices andin vivoinduced an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A, but not the NR2B subunit of the NMDAR in juvenile rats. Cocaine induced an increase in the activity of both Fyn and Src kinases, and the Src‐protein tyrosine kinase (Src‐PTKs) inhibitor, 4‐amino‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐7‐(t‐butyl)pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine (PP2), abolished both cocaine‐induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A subunit and the increase in the expression of NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the VTA. Moreover, cocaine‐induced enhancement in NMDAR‐mediated excitatory post‐synaptic currents was completely abolished by PP2. Taken together, these results suggest that acute cocaine induced an increase in the expression of NMDAR subunits and enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A‐containing NMDAR through members of the Src‐PTKs. This in turn, increased NMDAR‐mediated currents in VTA dopamine neurons. These results provide a potential cellular mechanism by which cocaine triggers NMDAR‐dependent synaptic plasticity of VTA neurons that may underlie the development of behavioral sensitization.
Flexible Estimation of Differences in Treatment‐Specific Recurrent Event Means in the Presence of a Terminating Event
Authors: Pan Qing , Schaubel Douglas E.
Published: November 2008

Summary In this article, we consider the setting where the event of interest can occur repeatedly for the same subject (i.e., a recurrent event; e.g., hospitalization) and may be stopped permanently by a terminating event (e.g., death). Among the different ways to model recurrent/terminal event data, the marginal mean (i.e., averaging over the survival distribution) is of primary interest from a public health or health economics perspective. Often, the difference between treatment‐specific recurrent event means will not be constant over time, particularly when treatment‐specific differences in survival exist. In such cases, it makes more sense to quantify treatment effect based on the cumulative difference in the recurrent event means, as opposed to the instantaneous difference in the rates. We propose a method that compares treatments by separately estimating the survival probabilities and recurrent event rates given survival, then integrating to get the mean number of events. The proposed method combines an additive model for the conditional recurrent event rate and a proportional hazards model for the terminating event hazard. The treatment effects on survival and on recurrent event rate among survivors are estimated in constructing our measure and explain the mechanism generating the difference under study. The example that motivates this research is the repeated occurrence of hospitalization among kidney transplant recipients, where the effect of expanded criteria donor (ECD) compared to non‐ECD kidney transplantation on the mean number of hospitalizations is of interest.
Automated SEM/EDS Analysis of Airbag Residue.* I: Particle Identification
Authors: Berk Robert E.
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  Deployed airbags can be a valuable source of probative forensic materials. During an accident, trace evidence can be deposited on the airbag cover and in addition, the residue produced by the gas generation system is released into the passenger compartment of the vehicle as the airbag deflates. This residue can be used to associate a suspect with the vehicle at the time of the accident. This study identifies particles containing zirconium, strontium, and/or copper–cobalt along with other elements from the gas generation systems and aluminum silicon microfibers from airbag filters as the probative material which may be produced and deposited on a suspect’s hands and/or clothing. Scanning electron microscopy can be used to identify this metallic residue. Modification of the search criterion used for gunshot residue analysis allows for automated analysis of the samples. Proper collection of the airbag standard is essential to identify which materials were produced. Prompt collection of suspect samples allows the analysts the ability to make the proper identifications and associations. This analytical technique can be a probative tool in criminal investigations.
Prospective comparison of course of disability in antipsychotic‐treated and untreated schizophrenia patients
Authors: Thirthalli J. , Venkatesh B. K. , Kishorekumar K. V. , Arunachala U. , Venkatasubramanian G. , Subbakrishna D. K. , Gangadhar B. N.
Published: November 2008

Objective:  To compare the course of disability in schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotics and those remaining untreated in a rural community.

Method:  Of 215 schizophrenia patients identified in a rural south Indian community, 58% were not receiving antipsychotics. Trained raters assessed the disability in 190 of these at baseline and after 1 year. The course of disability in those who remained untreated was compared with that in those who received antipsychotics.

Results:  Mean disability scores remained virtually unchanged in those who remained untreated, but showed a significant decline (indicating decrement in disability) in those who continued to receive antipsychotics and in those in whom antipsychotic treatment was initiated (P < 0.001; group × occasion effect). The proportion of patients classified as ‘disabled’ declined significantly in the treated group (P < 0.01), but remained the same in the untreated group.

Conclusion:  Disability in untreated schizophrenia patients remains unchanged over time. Treatment with antipsychotics in the community results in a considerable reduction in disability.
Does habitat fragmentation reduce genetic diversity and subpopulation connectivity?
Authors: Mhemmed Gandour , Kamel Hessini , Chedly Abdelly
Published: November 2008

The estimation of levels of genetic variation has received considerable attention because it is generally thought to be indicative of overall species vitality and the potential for evolutionary responses to environmental changes. Here, we use allozymes markers and two distinct collections ofCakile maritima, an annual species from sandy coastal habitats (2000 generation and 2005 generation collected from 9 populations in their natural habitats), to assess the magnitude of expected genetic change. We compared genetic diversity between generations (all populations combined), and then between populations at each generation.

Based on 13 loci scored from the eight enzymes examined, a high genetic diversity was detected at both the population and generation level as compared to other herbaceous species. However, allelic richness reduction in the 2005 generation suggested restricted gene flow and a high risk of future genetic bottlenecks, if larger tracts of coastal areas disappear. Most loci showed deviation from Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium due to excess of heterozygotes in all populations suggesting that this species has an allogamic mode of reproduction.

It appears most likely that this species has experienced a recent decrease in population size, and that genetic drift in small populations has resulted in a loss of alleles occurring at low frequency. Despite the deterioration process, maintenance of high genetic diversity suggests that there are some ecological factors determining population structure.
Coupled population dynamics of endosymbionts within and between hosts
Authors: Jaenike John
Published: November 2008

Many insect species are infected with maternally transmitted endosymbionts, the most widely documented being Wolbachia. The rate of spread and equilibrium of prevalence of these infections depend on two parameters – maternal transmission fidelity and relative fitness of infected cytoplasmic lineages. Both transmission fidelity and the phenotypic effect of endosymbionts often increase with endosymbiont density within hosts. Thus, the dynamics of infection prevalence in host populations depends on processes affecting within‐host density of endosymbionts. In theory, the equilibrium prevalence of infection by male‐killing endosymbionts is much more sensitive to changes in transmission fidelity and relative fitness than is that of endosymbionts that cause cytoplasmic incompatibility. In natural populations, male‐killers exhibit much greater temporal and spatial variation in the prevalence of infection than do endosymbionts that cause cytoplasmic incompatibility. Thus, the population dynamics of endosymbiont infections, especially those that cause male‐killing, is likely to be governed by environmental and genetic variables that affect within‐host density of these infections.
When should firms invest in old capital?
Authors: Jovanovic Boyan
Published: November 2008

The present paper analyzes optimal investment policies when the production function depends on capital of various vintages. In such an environment it is natural to ask whether the firm will invest in old‐vintage capital at all. Other studies do not tell us when investment in old capital will take place. In the present paper I derive such a condition. Predictably, investment in old capital takes place if the elasticity of substitution between old and new capital is low, and when the depreciation of capital is high. However, other parameters such as the rates of technological progress and depreciation matter as well.
Labor market fluctuations in the small and in the large
Authors: Rogerson Richard , Visschers Lodewijk P. , Wright Randall
Published: November 2008

Shimer's calibrated version of the Mortensen–Pissarides model generates unemployment fluctuates much smaller than the data. Hagedorn and Manovskii present an alternative calibration that yields fluctuations consistent with the data, but this has been challenged by Costain and Reiter, who say it generates unrealistically big differences in unemployment from the differences in policy we see across countries. We argue this concern might be unwarranted, because one cannot assume that elasticities relevant for small changes work for large changes. Models with fixed factors in market or household production can generate large effects from small changes and reasonable effects from large changes. This is reminiscent of attempts to improve the labor market in the Kydland–Prescott model, especially ones incorporating household production, like Benhabib, Rogerson, and Wright.
Revisiting Hydrologic Sampling Strategies for an Accurate Assessment of Hydrologic Connectivity in Humid Temperate Systems
Authors: Ali Geneviève A. , Roy André G.
Published: November 2008

Hydrologic connectivity is crucial to our understanding of catchment dynamics, yet there is no consensus among hydrologists about what it is exactly, nor is there any unambiguous way of assessing it from field observations. This review is articulated around the questions: (i) what are the main variables to investigate? and (ii) what is the optimal sampling strategy for hydrologic connectivity prediction in humid temperate systems? Because there are multiple definitions for the concept of connectivity, we first identify the major variables to monitor. Then, the ability of several sampling schemes to meet specific criteria is assessed. None of the schemes fully complies with the criteria even if they are combined in a strategic way, and their individual performance is highly dependent on data resolution. While a two‐stage sampling is recommended, it reflects the difficulty in depicting the complex spatial patterns in hydrologic connectivity.
Incorporating Aquapheresis™ into the Hospital Setting: A Practical Approach
Authors: Peterangelo Melissa
Published: November 2008

Ultrafiltration has been utilized for volume removal for over 50 years. Recent technology advances have allowed for a simplified approach to the traditional treatment. This article focuses on the practical aspects of incorporating the newer Aquapheresis™ therapy into a hospital setting and the outcomes.
On Vs Off: Perceptions of Four Patients' Experiences of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Eckhardt Ann L. , Swanlund Susan L.
Published: November 2008

The benefits of Off‐Pump Coronary Artery Bypass surgery (OPCAB) are well documented, but little information is available that explores the patient's perception of the experience. The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in perceptions and experiences in patients who have undergone both OPCAB and on‐pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting procedures. Guided by naturalistic inquiry, semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted and audio taped with 4 men living independently. Inductive analysis of the transcripts revealed 7 themes: general comparisons, health care seeking symptoms, loss of control, faith and trust, postoperative depression, interactions with health care professionals, and sharing the life‐time experience. The findings from this study will help to guide future research in the area of cardiovascular surgery.
Delayed neovascularization in inflammation‐induced corneal neovascularization in interleukin‐10‐deficient mice
Authors: Samolov Branka , Kvanta Anders , Van Der Ploeg Ingeborg
Published: November 2008

Purpose:  To investigate the potential modulatory role of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) in the suture model for corneal neovascularization.

Methods:  Neovascularized areas were measured on corneal flat‐mounts in IL‐10−/− and wild‐type C57BL6 mice. The inflammatory cellular response was characterized with immunohistochemistry. Gene expression was measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results:  IL‐10−/− mice showed a delayed neovascular response compared to wild‐type animals at day 6 after suture, when approximately half of the cornea was neovascularized. No apparent differences in inflammatory responses or in messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for proangiogenic factors were detected in IL‐10−/− versus wild‐type mice.

Conclusion:  IL‐10 appears to have a proangiogenic effect in the suture model for corneal neovascularization that cannot be explained by either IL‐10’s anti‐inflammatory effect or apparent cross‐talk with the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A, metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9, angiopoietin (Ang)‐1 and Ang‐2.
The inability of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus to form a biofilm in vitro on dentine pretreated with ozone
Authors: Knight GM , McIntyre JM , Craig GG , Mulyani  , Zilm PS
Published: November 2008

Background:  The use of ozone therapy in the treatment of dental caries is equivocal. The aim of this study was to use an in vitro model to determine the effects of prior ozone application to dentine on biofilm formation and to measure any associated reduction in bacteria viability.

Methods:  Twenty dentine discs were bonded to the bases of 5 mL polycarbonate screw top vials. Ten dentine discs were infused with ozone for 40 seconds, 10 samples remained untreated as a control. The vials were filled with nutrient medium, sterilized and placed into the outflow from a continuous chemostat culture of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus for four weeks. At the conclusion of the experiment bacterial growth was monitored by taking optical density readings of the growth medium in each vial and the outer surface of the dentine specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy as shown by SEM analysis.

Results:  Ozone infusion prevented biofilm formation on all the treated samples while there was substantial biofilm present on the control specimens. While the average optical density of the control specimens was almost twice that of the ozone infused dentine (0.710 for the control with a SD of 0.288 and 0.446 for the ozonated samples with a SD of 0.371), the results were not significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:  This preliminary study has shown that the infusion of ozone into non‐carious dentine prevented biofilm formation in vitro from S. mutans and L. acidophilus over a four‐week period. The possibility exists that ozone treatment may alter the surface wettability of dentine through reaction with organic constituents.
Ascites is a Negative Prognostic Indicator in Chronic Hepatitis in Dogs
Authors: Raffan E. , McCallum A. , Scase T.J. , Watson P.J.
Published: November 2008

Background:Chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is common but little is known about factors associated with survival. Ascites is a well‐recognized negative prognostic indicator in humans.

Hypothesis:Ascites is a negative prognostic indicator in CH in dogs.

Animals:Thirty‐four dogs with histologically confirmed CH presented to 1 institution between 1996 and 2005.

Methods:Retrospective observational study. CH was diagnosed by histopathology of liver tissue according to the WSAVA criteria. Ascites was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. The association of ascites with survival from diagnosis or onset of owner‐reported clinical signs until death from any cause or from liver disease was analyzed. Ascitic and nonascitic groups were further analyzed for differences in treatment and sex.

Results:Fourteen of 34 dogs had ascites. Survival from diagnosis to death from liver disease was 0.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2–0.6) for ascitic dogs and 24.3 months (CI 11.4–37.1) for nonascitic dogs (P< .001), and from onset of signs to death from liver disease was 2.0 months (CI 0.0–5.6) for ascitic dogs and 33.0 months (CI 8.6–57.4) for nonascitic dogs (P= .0020). Diet and spironolactone use differed between groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Ascites is a significant negative prognostic indicator in dogs with CH. Veterinarians and owners can use this information to aid clinical decision making in affected dogs.
A Cryptand-Encapsulated Germanium(II) Dication
Authors: Rupar Paul A. , Staroverov Viktor N. , Baines Kim M.
Published: November 2008

Unlike cations of metals such as sodium or calcium, oxidized silicon and germanium centers generally require strongly bound covalent ligands. We report the synthesis and characterization of a germanium(II) dication in the form of the salt (Ge·cryptand[2.2.2])(O
3
SCF
3
)
2
. The salt is isolated in 88% yield from the reaction of cryptand [2.2.2] and an N-heterocyclic carbene complex of GeCl(O
3
SCF
3
) as an air-sensitive, white solid. The crystal structure of the salt shows minimal interaction between the cryptand-encapsulated germanium(II) ion and the two
–
O
3
SCF
3
counterions. These results suggest a widely expanded role of cryptands and related molecules in stabilizing nonmetallic cations.
Tight Regulation of Unstructured Proteins: From Transcript Synthesis to Protein Degradation
Authors: Gsponer Jörg , Futschik Matthias E. , Teichmann Sarah A. , Babu M. Madan
Published: November 2008

Altered abundance of several intrinsically unstructured proteins (IUPs) has been associated with perturbed cellular signaling that may lead to pathological conditions such as cancer. Therefore, it is important to understand how cells precisely regulate the availability of IUPs. We observed that regulation of transcript clearance, proteolytic degradation, and translational rate contribute to controlling the abundance of IUPs, some of which are present in low amounts and for short periods of time. Abundant phosphorylation and low stochasticity in transcription and translation indicate that the availability of IUPs can be finely tuned. Fidelity in signaling may require that most IUPs be available in appropriate amounts and not present longer than needed.
Chromosome Alignment and Transvection Are Antagonized by Condensin II
Authors: Hartl Tom A. , Smith Helen F. , Bosco Giovanni
Published: November 2008

Polytene chromosome structure is a characteristic of some polyploid cells where several to thousands of chromatids are closely associated with perfect alignment of homologous DNA sequences. Here, we show that
Drosophila
condensin II promotes disassembly of polytene structure into chromosomal components. Condensin II also negatively regulates transvection, a process whereby certain alleles are influenced transcriptionally via interallelic physical associations. We propose that condensin II restricts trans-chromosomal interactions that affect transcription through its ability to spatially separate aligned interphase chromosomes.
Promising the Sun
Authors: von Hippel Frank N.
Published: November 2008

Sun in a Bottle
. The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking.
By Charles Seife
. Viking (Penguin), New York, 2008. 310 pp. $25.95, C$28.50. ISBN 9780670020331.

Focusing on scientists who have attempted to harness fusion to generate power, Seife sketches the history of fusion research over the past six decades.
Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Type 18 Load and Integration Status from Low-Grade Cervical Lesion to Invasive Cervical Cancer
Authors: Cheung Jo L. K. , Cheung Tak-Hong , Ng Candy W. Y. , Yu Mei Y. , Wong Martin C. S. , Siu Shing-Shun N. , Yim So-Fan , Chan Paul K. S.
Published: November 2008

The clinical value of viral load and integration testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) remains unclear. Data on HPV type 18 (HPV18) is limited. We examined the HPV18 viral load and integration status of 78 women with normal cervix or neoplasia. While the crude viral load appeared to increase with lesion severity, the association was not significant after normalization with sample cellularity. Unlike reports for HPV16, the amino-terminal 1 region of HPV18 E2 was most frequently (71.0%) disrupted, representing the best marker for integration. A substantial proportion (57.1%) of invasive cancers harbored only the episomal genome, thus jeopardizing the clinical value of integration testing. A large proportion (41.7%) of normal/low-grade lesions showed viral integration, suggesting that integration of HPV18 starts early and is unlikely to be a sole determinant for progression. Interpretation of viral load should take into account the form of HPV infection as single infections had significantly higher viral loads than coinfections (
P
= 0.046). More data generated from routinely collected samples are warranted to verify the clinical value of viral load and integration testing. Viral load quantitation for HPV18 is premature for clinical use at this stage.
Classification of Fowl Adenovirus Serotypes by Use of High-Resolution Melting-Curve Analysis of the Hexon Gene Region
Authors: Steer Penelope A. , Kirkpatrick Naomi C. , O'Rourke Denise , Noormohammadi Amir H.
Published: November 2008

Identification of fowl adenovirus (FAdV) serotypes is of importance in epidemiological studies of disease outbreaks and the adoption of vaccination strategies. In this study, real-time PCR and subsequent high-resolution melting (HRM)-curve analysis of three regions of the hexon gene were developed and assessed for their potential in differentiating 12 FAdV reference serotypes. The results were compared to previously described PCR and restriction enzyme analyses of the hexon gene. Both HRM-curve analysis of a 191-bp region of the hexon gene and restriction enzyme analysis failed to distinguish a number of serotypes used in this study. In addition, PCR of the region spanning nucleotides (nt) 144 to 1040 failed to amplify FAdV-5 in sufficient quantities for further analysis. However, HRM-curve analysis of the region spanning nt 301 to 890 proved a sensitive and specific method of differentiating all 12 serotypes. All melt curves were highly reproducible, and replicates of each serotype were correctly genotyped with a mean confidence value of more than 99% using normalized HRM curves. Sequencing analysis revealed that each profile was related to a unique sequence, with some sequences sharing greater than 94% identity. Melting-curve profiles were found to be related mainly to GC composition and distribution throughout the amplicons, regardless of sequence identity. The results presented in this study show that the closed-tube method of PCR and HRM-curve analysis provides an accurate, rapid, and robust genotyping technique for the identification of FAdV serotypes and can be used as a model for developing genotyping techniques for other pathogens.
Identification of Plasmid-Mediated AmpC β-Lactamases in
Escherichia coli
,
Klebsiella
spp., and
Proteus
Species Can Potentially Improve Reporting of Cephalosporin Susceptibility Testing Results
Authors: Tenover Fred C. , Emery Shannon L. , Spiegel Carol A. , Bradford Patricia A. , Eells Samantha , Endimiani Andrea , Bonomo Robert A. , McGowan John E.
Published: November 2008

The goal of this study was to determine if the interpretations of extended-spectrum and advanced-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs and ASCs, respectively) for isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
would be impacted by the results of aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) testing. Fifty-three isolates of
Escherichia coli
, 21
Klebsiella
species, and 6
Proteus
species that were resistant to at least one ESC were tested by disk diffusion with ceftazidime and cefotetan disks with and without APBA. Ceftazidime disks with and without clavulanic acid (CLAV) were also tested to confirm extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) carriage. Twenty-nine (36.3%) isolates were only APBA test positive, 27 were only CLAV test positive, 2 were positive with both substrates, and 22 were negative with both substrates. Thirteen (41.9%) of the 31 APBA-test-positive isolates (all
E. coli
) tested susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, or ceftazidime. Since clinical data suggest that AmpC-producing isolates should be reported as resistant to all ESCs, APBA testing can be helpful in identifying such organisms. Screening for AmpC-producing organisms using nonsusceptibility to cefoxitin and amoxicillin-clavulanate was less specific than APBA testing; it identified ESBL as well as AmpC-producing organisms. Only 18 of 31 APBA-positive isolates were positive by PCR for an AmpC β-lactamase gene. Thus, testing with APBA could improve the accuracy of reporting ESCs, especially for
E. coli
. However, results of APBA and CLAV testing did not correlate well for isolates containing both AmpC β-lactamases and ESBLs. Thus, additional data are needed before formal recommendations can be made on changing the reporting of ASC test results.
Expression of vFLIP in a Lentiviral Vaccine Vector Activates NF-κB, Matures Dendritic Cells, and Increases CD8+T-Cell Responses
Authors: Rowe Helen M. , Lopes Luciene , Brown Najmeeyah , Efklidou Sofia , Smallie Timothy , Karrar Sarah , Kaye Paul M. , Collins Mary K.
Published: November 2008

Lentiviral vectors deliver antigens to dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo, but they do not trigger DC maturation. We therefore expressed a viral protein that constitutively activates NF-κB, vFLIP from Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), in a lentivector to mature DCs. vFLIP activated NF-κB in mouse bone marrow-derived DCs in vitro and matured these DCs to a similar extent as lipopolysaccharide; costimulatory markers CD80, CD86, CD40, and ICAM-1 were upregulated and tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-12 secreted. The vFLIP-expressing lentivector also matured DCs in vivo. When we coexpressed vFLIP in a lentivector with ovalbumin (Ova), we found an increased immune response to Ova; up to 10 times more Ova-specific CD8+T cells secreting gamma interferon were detected in the spleens of vFLIP_Ova-immunized mice than in the spleens of mice immunized with GFP_Ova. Furthermore, this increased CD8+T-cell response correlated with improved tumor-free survival in a tumor therapy model. A single immunization with vFLIP_Ova also reduced the parasite load when mice were challenged with OVA-Leishmania donovani. In conclusion, vFLIP from KSHV is a DC activator, maturing DCs in vitro and in vivo. This demonstrates that NF-κB activation is sufficient to induce many aspects of DC maturation and that expression of a constitutive NF-κB activator can improve the efficacy of a vaccine vector.
Distinct Domains within APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F Interact with Separate Regions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vif
Authors: Russell Rebecca A. , Smith Jessica , Barr Rebekah , Bhattacharyya Darshana , Pathak Vinay K.
Published: November 2008

Human APOBEC3G (A3G) and APOBEC3F (A3F) inhibit the replication of Vif-deficient human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 Vif overcomes these host restriction factors by binding to them and inducing their degradation. Thus, the Vif-A3G and Vif-A3F interactions are attractive targets for antiviral drug development, as inhibiting these interactions could allow the host defense mechanism to control HIV-1 replication. Recently, it has been reported that amino acids 105 to 156 of A3G are involved in the interaction with Vif; however, to date, the region of A3F involved in Vif binding has not been identified. Using our previously reported Vif mutants that are capable of binding to only A3G (3G binder) or only A3F (3F binder), in conjunction with a series of A3G-A3F chimeras, we have now mapped the APOBEC3-Vif interaction domains. We found that the A3G domain that interacts with the Vif YRHHY region is located between amino acids 126 and 132 of A3G, which is consistent with the conclusions reported in previous studies. The A3F domain that interacts with the Vif DRMR region did not occur in the homologous domain but instead was located between amino acids 283 and 300 of A3F. These studies are the first to identify the A3F domain that interacts with the Vif DRMR region and show that distinct domains of A3G and A3F interact with different Vif regions. Pharmacological inhibition of either or both of these Vif-A3 interactions should prevent the degradation of the APOBEC3 proteins and could be used as a therapy against HIV-1.
MAVS Dimer Is a Crucial Signaling Component of Innate Immunity and the Target of Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4A Protease
Authors: Baril Martin , Racine Marie-Eve , Penin François , Lamarre Daniel
Published: November 2008

The mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein plays a central role in innate antiviral immunity. Upon recognition of a virus, intracellular receptors of the RIG-I-like helicase family interact with MAVS to trigger a signaling cascade. In this study, we investigate the requirement of the MAVS structure for enabling its signaling by structure-function analyses and resonance energy transfer approaches in live cells. We now report the essential role of the MAVS oligomer in signal transduction and map the transmembrane domain as the main determinant of dimerization. A combination of mutagenesis and computational methods identified a cluster of residues making favorable van der Waals interactions at the MAVS dimer interface. We also correlated the activation of IRF3 and NF-κB with MAVS oligomerization rather than its mitochondrial localization. Finally, we demonstrated that MAVS oligomerization is disrupted upon expression of HCV NS3/4A protease, suggesting a mechanism for the loss of antiviral signaling. Altogether, our data suggest that the MAVS oligomer is essential in the formation of a multiprotein membrane-associated signaling complex and enables downstream activation of IRF3 and NF-κB in antiviral innate immunity.
Broad-Spectrum Inhibition of Retroviral and Filoviral Particle Release by Tetherin
Authors: Jouvenet Nolwenn , Neil Stuart J. D. , Zhadina Maria , Zang Trinity , Kratovac Zerina , Lee Youngnam , McNatt Matthew , Hatziioannou Theodora , Bieniasz Paul D.
Published: November 2008

The expression of many putative antiviral genes is upregulated when cells encounter type I interferon (IFN), but the actual mechanisms by which many IFN-induced gene products inhibit virus replication are poorly understood. A recently identified IFN-induced antiretroviral protein, termed tetherin (previously known as BST-2 or CD317), blocks the release of nascent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) particles from infected cells, and an HIV-1 accessory protein, Vpu, acts as a viral antagonist of tetherin. Here, we show that tetherin is capable of blocking not only the release of HIV-1 particles but also the release of particles assembled using the major structural proteins of a variety of prototype retroviruses, including members of the alpharetrovirus, betaretrovirus, deltaretrovirus, lentivirus, and spumaretrovirus families. Moreover, we show that the release of particles assembled using filovirus matrix proteins from Marburg virus and Ebola virus is also sensitive to inhibition by tetherin. These findings indicate that tetherin is a broadly specific inhibitor of enveloped particle release, and therefore, inhibition is unlikely to require specific interactions with viral proteins. Nonetheless, tetherin colocalized with nascent virus-like particles generated by several retroviral and filoviral structural proteins, indicating that it is present at, or recruited to, sites of particle assembly. Overall, tetherin is potentially active against many enveloped viruses and likely to be an important component of the antiviral innate immune defense.
About Non-Existence of the Molecular Ion H3++
Authors: Medel-Cobaxin Héctor , Alijah Alexander , Turbiner Alexander V.
Published: November 2008

It is shown that the molecular ion H3++ does not exist in a form of the equilateral triangle. To this end, a compact variational method is presented which is based on a linear superposition of six specially tailored, Coulomb-type trial functions containing non-linear parameters. Careful optimization of a total of fifteen parameters gives consistently lower variational results for the electronic energy than can be obtained with standard methods of quantum chemistry even with huge basis sets as large as mcc-pV7Z. Taking the proton (electron) charge as a continuous parameter the critical charges are found where the ion H3++ becomes (meta)-stable.
Mortality of First-Feeding Postlarval Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) in Culture Ponds
Authors: Johnston Thomas A. , Mathias J. A.
Published: November 2008

We examined mortality rates of postlarval walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) at the onset of exogenous feeding in extensive culture ponds. Food concentrations (≥49 zooplankters∙L−1) were apparently sufficient to support successful first feeding, and no critical period of starvation mortality was evident at this stage of life. The highest observed mortality rates were associated with interspecific or intraspecific predation pressure. At low predation pressure, mean survival from stocking to the 12-mm stage was 87% in 1988 and 90% in 1989, and instantaneous mortality rates were an order of magnitude lower than those reported for postlarval walleye in natural lakes. Mortality rates calculated over the early postlarval period (stocking to 12 mm; 9–11 d) were similar to those calculated over the entire culture period (88–107 d) when predation pressure was low. At low predation pressure and 49–159 zooplankters∙L−1, there was no significant relationship between postlarval mortality rates and zooplankton density. The condition of first-feeding postlarvae captured from the pond with the lowest mean zooplankton density (49∙L−1) was significantly higher than that of postlarvae deprived of food for 48 h. Starvation is probably not a major cause of postlarval morality when zooplankton densities are ≥50∙L−1.