bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Emotional Reactions for Negative Services: The Impact of Efficacy Beliefs and Stage in Process
Authors: Gelfand Miller Elizabeth , Luce Mary Frances , Kahn Barbara E. , Conant Emily F.
Published: April 2009

This article examines consumers' emotional reactions for a specific negative service—a mammography screening test—and measures how such reactions are influenced by the consumer's stage in the screening process and her beliefs in the efficacy of the test. Stage in process moderates the relationship between test efficacy beliefs and stress, such that those obtaining screening tests feel more stress as their belief in the efficacy of mammography increases while those obtaining follow-up diagnostic tests feel less stress as their belief in the efficacy of mammography increases. Process measures indicate that fear of a positive mammogram result is uniquely associated with stress for those receiving a screening mammogram, while uncertainty regarding diagnosis is uniquely associated with stress for those receiving a diagnostic mammogram. Implications for better managing the testing experience and for understanding negative services more generally are discussed.
Sex offender as homo sacer
Authors: Spencer Dale
Published: April 2009

The political and legal theory of Giorgio Agamben, specifically his concept of homo sacer, can be usefully deployed to understand the regulation and treatment of sex offenders. It is argued that the sex offender can be conceived of as a non-citizen or bare life — the homo sacer — and that this elucidates the degrees of violence and forms of abjection visited upon sex offenders in western societies. Through the institution of laws aimed at protecting communities from sex offenders, specifically community notification and civil commitment laws, there is the production of a ban, whereby the sex offender is displaced into a lawless space — a camp. In this `camp', the sex offender is subjected to GPS electronic monitoring, surgical/chemical castration and various other forms of sovereign violence at the hands of professionals and anti-paedophile vigilante groups. This article shows that in the exertion of sovereign power, where the sex offender is placed in the ambiguous terrain of the camp, there is a restoration of order and maintenance of the sacred.
Evaluation of Criteria for Developing Traffic Safety Materials for Latinos
Authors: Streit-Kaplan Erica L. , Miara Christine , Formica Scott W. , Gallagher Susan Scavo
Published: April 2009

This quantitative study assessed the validity of guidelines that identified four key characteristics of culturally appropriate Spanish-language traffic safety materials: language, translation, formative evaluation, and credible source material. From a sample of 190, the authors randomly selected 12 Spanish-language educational materials for analysis by 15 experts. Hypotheses included that the experts would rate materials with more of the key characteristics as more effective (likely to affect behavioral change) and rate materials originally developed in Spanish and those that utilized formative evaluation (e.g., pilot tests, focus groups) as more culturally appropriate. Although results revealed a weak association between the number of key characteristics in a material and the rating of its effectiveness, reviewers rated materials originally created in Spanish and those utilizing formative evaluation as significantly more culturally appropriate. The findings and methodology demonstrated important implications for developers and evaluators of any health-related materials for Spanish speakers and other population groups.
Demonstrating the Merits of the Peer Research Process: A Northern Ireland Case Study
Authors: Burns Stephanie , Schubotz Dirk
Published: April 2009

This article discusses the benefits and challenges of involving peer researchers in social research projects. A research project on pupil participation in policy making on school bullying in Northern Ireland's schools was commissioned by the Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and undertaken by the National Children's Bureau in conjunction with researchers from Queen's University Belfast in fourteen schools across Northern Ireland, utilizing a mixed methods approach. We trained and employed nine 15—18-year-old peer researchers to support them in this project. After the project's completion, we conducted interviews with six of the peer researchers to investigate how they experienced their involvement in the research. We discuss the findings from these interviews and contextualize in a review of literature on research involving children and young people.
Intraoperative Endoleak During EVAR: Frequency, Nature, and Significance
Authors: Sampaio Sergio M. , Shin Susanna H. , Panneton Jean M. , Andrews James C. , Bower Thomas C. , Cherry Kenneth J. , Duncan Audra A. , Kalra Manju , Gloviczki Peter
Published: April 2009

Objective: Endoleaks are critical complications of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study sought to determine the frequency and nature of intraoperative endoleaks and their impact on postoperative endoleak-related events. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent EVAR at our institution. The impact of intraoperative endoleaks on postoperative endoleak rates and endoleak-related reintervention rates were assessed. Results: From December 18, 1996, to May 21, 2003, 241 patients underwent EVAR. An endoleak was observed during 126 (52.3%) procedures. Type I endoleaks were observed in 63 (26.1%) cases: 35 proximal and 31 distal endoleaks (3 cases at both attachments). Angioplasty, additional cuff placement, or stenting corrected 59 (89.4%) of these endoleaks. A total of 71 type II intraoperative endoleaks (29.5%) and 8 type IV endoleaks (3.3%) were observed without any attempted corrective maneuvers. Ten type III endoleaks (4.2%) occurred but all resolved with angioplasty or additional cuff placement. In all, 86 (35.7%) endoleaks persisted on completion angiogram. Patients with a type I or type II intraoperative endoleak were more likely to have an endoleak at 1.5 years (31.4% vs. 21.6%, P = .018). Reinterventions were required more often after an intraoperative type I endoleak (10% vs. 4%, P = .003). Patients with intraoperative endoleaks demonstrated a trend toward less postoperative aneurysm diameter reduction at 2 years (43.8% vs. 74.5%, P = .104). Conclusion: The presence of a type I or a type II endoleak during EVAR significantly increases the likelihood of a postoperative endoleak and should prompt a high degree of suspicion during follow-up.
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease: How Much Is Enough?
Authors: Carnethon Mercedes R.
Published: April 2009

Physical inactivity is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, although physical activity is recommended as a component of healthy lifestyle, the amount (intensity, duration, and frequency) of physical activity required to protect against coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease (ie, stroke) is unclear. In general, there is a graded inverse association of physical activity with CHD and total cardiovascular disease (the combination of CHD and stroke). The patterns of association between physical activity dose and stroke are less clear; individual studies suggest a threshold effect for benefits, whereas meta-analytic studies report a graded inverse association. Despite known differences in physical activity behaviors between men and women, the patterns of association between dose of activity and cardiovascular diseases are similar by gender. Observational studies of walking behaviors and one recent clinical trial suggest that lower “doses” of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, with very few specific cautions, there is enough evidence to recommend to healthy adults that any activity is beneficial and that more activity is even better.
Assortative mating among Lake Malawi cichlid fish populations is not simply predictable from male nuptial colour
Authors: Blais Jonatan , Plenderleith Martin , Rico Ciro , Taylor Martin I , Seehausen Ole , van Oosterhout Cock , Turner George F
Published: April 2009

Background

Research on the evolution of reproductive isolation in African cichlid fishes has largely focussed on the role of male colours and female mate choice. Here, we tested predictions from the hypothesis that allopatric divergence in male colour is associated with corresponding divergence in preference.

Methods

We studied four populations of the Lake Malawi Pseudotropheus zebra complex. We predicted that more distantly-related populations that independently evolved similar colours would interbreed freely while more closely-related populations with different colours mate assortatively. We used microsatellite genotypes or mesh false-floors to assign paternity. Fisher's exact tests as well as Binomial and Wilcoxon tests were used to detect if mating departed from random expectations.

Results

Surprisingly, laboratory mate choice experiments revealed significant assortative mating not only between population pairs with differently coloured males, but between population pairs with similarly-coloured males too. This suggested that assortative mating could be based on non-visual cues, so we further examined the sensory basis of assortative mating between two populations with different male colour. Conducting trials under monochromatic (orange) light, intended to mask the distinctive male dorsal fin hues (blue v orange) of these populations, did not significantly affect the assortative mating by female P. emmiltos observed under control conditions. By contrast, assortative mating broke down when direct contact between female and male was prevented.

Conclusion

We suggest that non-visual cues, such as olfactory signals, may play an important role in mate choice and behavioural isolation in these and perhaps other African cichlid fish. Future speciation models aimed at explaining African cichlid radiations may therefore consider incorporating such mating cues in mate choice scenarios.
Histone acetylations mark origins of polycistronic transcription in Leishmania major
Authors: Thomas Sean , Green Amanda , Sturm Nancy R , Campbell David A , Myler Peter J
Published: April 2009

Background

Many components of the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery have been identified in kinetoplastid protozoa, but they diverge substantially from other eukaryotes. Furthermore, protein-coding genes in these organisms lack individual transcriptional regulation, since they are transcribed as long polycistronic units. The transcription initiation sites are assumed to lie within the 'divergent strand-switch' regions at the junction between opposing polycistronic gene clusters. However, the mechanism by which Kinetoplastidae initiate transcription is unclear, and promoter sequences are undefined.

Results

The chromosomal location of TATA-binding protein (TBP or TRF4), Small Nuclear Activating Protein complex (SNAP50), and H3 histones were assessed in Leishmania major using microarrays hybridized with DNA obtained through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-chip). The TBP and SNAP50 binding patterns were almost identical and high intensity peaks were associated with tRNAs and snRNAs. Only 184 peaks of acetylated H3 histone were found in the entire genome, with substantially higher intensity in rapidly-dividing cells than stationary-phase. The majority of the acetylated H3 peaks were found at divergent strand-switch regions, but some occurred at chromosome ends and within polycistronic gene clusters. Almost all these peaks were associated with lower intensity peaks of TBP/SNAP50 binding a few kilobases upstream, evidence that they represent transcription initiation sites.

Conclusion

The first genome-wide maps of DNA-binding protein occupancy in a kinetoplastid organism suggest that H3 histones at the origins of polycistronic transcription of protein-coding genes are acetylated. Global regulation of transcription initiation may be achieved by modifying the acetylation state of these origins.
Sequence analysis of percent G+C fraction libraries of human faecal bacterial DNA reveals a high number of Actinobacteria
Authors: Krogius-Kurikka Lotta , Kassinen Anna , Paulin Lars , Corander Jukka , Mäkivuokko Harri , Tuimala Jarno , Palva Airi
Published: April 2009

Background

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiota is characterised by an abundance of uncultured bacteria most often assigned in phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Diversity of this microbiota, even though approached with culture independent techniques in several studies, still requires more elucidation. The main purpose of this work was to study whether the genomic percent guanine and cytosine (%G+C) -based profiling and fractioning prior to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis reveal higher microbiota diversity, especially with high G+C bacteria suggested to be underrepresented in previous studies.

Results

A phylogenetic analysis of the composition of the human GI microbiota of 23 healthy adult subjects was performed from a pooled faecal bacterial DNA sample by combining genomic %G+C -based profiling and fractioning with 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. A total of 3199 partial 16S rRNA genes were sequenced. For comparison, 459 clones were sequenced from a comparable unfractioned sample. The most important finding was that the proportional amount of sequences affiliating with the phylum Actinobacteria was 26.6% in the %G+C fractioned sample but only 3.5% in the unfractioned sample. The orders Coriobacteriales, Bifidobacteriales and Actinomycetales constituted the 65 actinobacterial phylotypes in the fractioned sample, accounting for 50%, 47% and 3% of sequences within the phylum, respectively.

Conclusion

This study shows that the %G+C profiling and fractioning prior to cloning and sequencing can reveal a significantly larger proportion of high G+C content bacteria within the clones recovered, compared with the unfractioned sample in the human GI tract. Especially the order Coriobacteriales within the phylum Actinobacteria was found to be more abundant than previously estimated with conventional sequencing studies.
Members of miR-169 family are induced by high salinity and transiently inhibit the NF-YA transcription factor
Authors: Zhao Botao , Ge Liangfa , Liang Ruqiang , Li Wei , Ruan Kangcheng , Lin Hongxuan , Jin Youxin
Published: April 2009

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed small RNAs with a length of about 21 nt. MiRNAs silence their target genes at the post-transcriptional level. In plants, miRNAs play various developmental and physiological roles by cleavaging mRNAs predominantly. Drought and high salinity are the most severe environmental abiotic stresses and cause crop losses all over the world.

Results

In this study, we identified miR-169g and miR-169n (o) as high salinity-responsive miRNAs in rice. MiR-169n and miR169o were in a miRNA cluster with a distance of 3707 base pairs (bp). The high degree of conservation and close phylogenic distance of pre-miR-169n and pre-miR-169o indicated that they were derived from a very recent tandem duplication evolutionary event. The existence of a cis-acting abscisic acid responsive element (ABRE) in the upstream region of miR-169n (o) suggested that miR-169n (o) may be regulated by ABA. In our previous study, we found that miR-169g was induced by the osmotic stress caused by drought via a dehydration-responsive element (DRE). Thus, our data showed that there were both overlapping and distinct responses of the miR-169 family to drought and salt stresses. We also showed that these miR-169 members selectively cleaved one of the NF-YA genes, Os03g29760, which is a CCAAT-box binding transcription factor and participates in transcriptional regulation of large number genes. Finally, we found one or more ath-miR-169 member that was also induced by high salinity.

Conclusion

We identified members of the miR-169 family as salt-induced miRNAs and analyzed their evolution, gene organization, expression, transcriptional regulation motif and target gene. Our data also indicated that the salt-induction of some miR-169 members was a general property in plants.
Removing celiac disease-related gluten proteins from bread wheat while retaining technological properties: a study with Chinese Spring deletion lines
Authors: van den Broeck Hetty C , van Herpen Teun WJM , Schuit Cees , Salentijn Elma MJ , Dekking Liesbeth , Bosch Dirk , Hamer Rob J , Smulders Marinus JM , Gilissen Ludovicus JWJ , van der Meer Ingrid M
Published: April 2009

Background

Gluten proteins can induce celiac disease (CD) in genetically susceptible individuals. In CD patients gluten-derived peptides are presented to the immune system, which leads to a CD4+ T-cell mediated immune response and inflammation of the small intestine. However, not all gluten proteins contain T-cell stimulatory epitopes. Gluten proteins are encoded by multigene loci present on chromosomes 1 and 6 of the three different genomes of hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) (AABBDD).

Results

The effects of deleting individual gluten loci on both the level of T-cell stimulatory epitopes in the gluten proteome and the technological properties of the flour were analyzed using a set of deletion lines of Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring. The reduction of T-cell stimulatory epitopes was analyzed using monoclonal antibodies that recognize T-cell epitopes present in gluten proteins. The deletion lines were technologically tested with respect to dough mixing properties and dough rheology. The results show that removing the α-gliadin locus from the short arm of chromosome 6 of the D-genome (6DS) resulted in a significant decrease in the presence of T-cell stimulatory epitopes but also in a significant loss of technological properties. However, removing the ω-gliadin, γ-gliadin, and LMW-GS loci from the short arm of chromosome 1 of the D-genome (1DS) removed T-cell stimulatory epitopes from the proteome while maintaining technological properties.

Conclusion

The consequences of these data are discussed with regard to reducing the load of T-cell stimulatory epitopes in wheat, and to contributing to the design of CD-safe wheat varieties.
Erratum to: Raltegravir, elvitegravir, and metoogravir: the birth of "me-too" HIV-1 integrase inhibitors
Authors: Serrao Erik , Odde Srinivas , Ramkumar Kavya , Neamati Nouri
Published: April 2009

Correction to Erik Serrao, Srinivas Odde, Kavya Ramkumar and Nouri Neamati: Raltegravir, elvitegravir, and metoogravir: the birth of "me-too" HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. Retrovirology 2009, 6:25. Since the recent publication of our article (Neamati, Retrovirology 2009, 6:25), we have noticed an error which we would like to correct and we would like to apologise to the readers for this mistake.
Induction of p21CIP1/WAF1expression by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax requires transcriptional activation and mRNA stabilization
Authors: Zhang Ling , Zhi Huijun , Liu Meihong , Kuo Yu-Liang , Giam Chou-Zen
Published: April 2009

HTLV-1 Tax can induce senescence by up-regulating the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21CIP1/WAF1 and p27KIP1. Tax increases p27KIP1 protein stability by activating the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) precociously, causing degradation of Skp2 and inactivation of SCFSkp2, the E3 ligase that targets p27KIP1. The rate of p21CIP1/WAF1 protein turnover, however, is unaffected by Tax. Rather, the mRNA of p21CIP1/WAF1 is greatly up-regulated. Here we show that Tax increases p21 mRNA expression by transcriptional activation and mRNA stabilization. Transcriptional activation of p21CIP1/WAF1 by Tax occurs in a p53-independent manner and requires two tumor growth factor-β-inducible Sp1 binding sites in the -84 to -60 region of the p21CIP1/WAF1 promoter. Tax binds Sp1 directly, and the CBP/p300-binding activity of Tax is required for p21CIP1/WAF1 trans-activation. Tax also increases the stability of p21CIP1/WAF1 transcript. Several Tax mutants trans-activated the p21 promoter, but were attenuated in stabilizing p21CIP1/WAF1 mRNA, and were less proficient in increasing p21CIP1/WAF1 expression. The possible involvement of Tax-mediated APC/C activation in p21CIP1/WAF1 mRNA stabilization is discussed.
Constraint-based analysis of metabolic capacity of Salmonella typhimurium during host-pathogen interaction
Authors: Raghunathan Anu , Reed Jennifer , Shin Sookil , Palsson Bernhard , Daefler Simon
Published: April 2009

Background

Infections with Salmonella cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Replication of Salmonella typhimurium inside its host cell is a model system for studying the pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial infections. Genome-scale modeling of bacterial metabolic networks provides a powerful tool to identify and analyze pathways required for successful intracellular replication during host-pathogen interaction.

Results

We have developed and validated a genome-scale metabolic network of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 (iRR1083). This model accounts for 1,083 genes that encode proteins catalyzing 1,087 unique metabolic and transport reactions in the bacterium. We employed flux balance analysis and in silico gene essentiality analysis to investigate growth under a wide range of conditions that mimic in vitro and host cell environments. Gene expression profiling of S. typhimurium isolated from macrophage cell lines was used to constrain the model to predict metabolic pathways that are likely to be operational during infection.

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that there is a robust minimal set of metabolic pathways that is required for successful replication of Salmonella inside the host cell. This model also serves as platform for the integration of high-throughput data. Its computational power allows identification of networked metabolic pathways and generation of hypotheses about metabolism during infection, which might be used for the rational design of novel antibiotics or vaccine strains.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits TNF-α-induced apoptotic events in acinar cells from nonobese diabetic mice submandibular glands
Authors: Calafat Mario , Larocca Luciana , Roca Valeria , Hauk Vanesa , Pregi Nicolás , Nesse Alcira , Pérez Leirós Claudia
Published: April 2009

Introduction

The role of apoptotic secretory epithelium as a pro-inflammatory triggering factor of exocrine dysfunction is currently explored in Sjogren's syndrome patients and in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has anti-inflammatory effects in various models of chronic inflammation. Our goal was to analyse the effect of TNF-α on apoptotic mediators in isolated acinar cells from NOD submandibular gland and their modulation by VIP.

Methods

Acinar cells were isolated from submandibular glands of 16-week-old NOD females with salivary flow decline. Age-matched BALB/c females or eight-week-old NOD females were used as controls. Apoptotic mediators and TNF-α receptor expression were assessed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR, caspase 3 activity was assessed by optical density at 405 nm with Ac-DEVD-pNA as a substrate and chromatin condensation by Hoechst stain. They were evaluated in resting conditions and after a 3.5 or 6 hours of culture with TNF-α. VIP effects in acinar cells were assessed at 100 nM in TNF-α-treated cultures and VIP receptor functional assays by radio immunoassay (cAMP) or enzymatic detection (amylase).

Results

NOD acinar cells at 16 weeks present an increased expression of TNF-α receptor1 together with increased Bax, tumour protein 53-induced nuclear protein1α (TP53INP1α), caspase 3 activity and chromatin condensation. Acini from NOD mice were more sensitive to TNF-α-induced increases of apoptotic mediators than control cells. VIP inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptotic events through functional VPAC1 receptors coupled to the protein kinase A (PKA) signalling pathway.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that acinar cells isolated from submandibular glands of NOD mice with salivary dysfunction are more sensitive to apoptosis induced by TNF-α which could be prevented by VIP through a PKA-mediated pathway.
C-reactive protein velocity to distinguish febrile bacterial infections from non-bacterial febrile illnesses in the emergency department
Authors: Paran Yael , Yablecovitch Doron , Choshen Guy , Zeitlin Ina , Rogowski Ori , Ben-Ami Ronen , Katzir Michal , Saranga Hila , Rosenzweig Tovit , Justo Dan , Orbach Yaffa , Halpern Pinhas , Berliner Shlomo
Published: April 2009

Introduction

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a real-time and low-cost biomarker to distinguish febrile bacterial infections from non-bacterial febrile illnesses. We hypothesised that measuring the velocity of the biomarker instead of its absolute serum concentration could enhance its ability to differentiate between these two conditions.

Methods

We prospectively recruited adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) who presented to the emergency department with fever. We recorded their data regarding the onset of fever and accompanying symptoms. CRP measurements were obtained upon admission. CRP velocity (CRPv) was defined as the ratio between CRP on admission and the number of hours since the onset of fever. Patients were diagnosed by clinical symptoms, blood cultures and imaging studies, and the diagnoses were confirmed by an infectious disease specialist. The efficacy of CRPv as a diagnostic marker was evaluated by using receiver operator curves (ROC). Excluded were patients who did not know the time fever started with certainty, patients with malignancy, patients with HIV infection and patients who had been using antibiotics upon presentation.

Results

Of 178 eligible patients, 108 (60.7%) had febrile bacterial infections (mean CRP: 63.77 mg/L, mean CRPv: 3.61 mg/L/hour) and 70 (39.3%) had non-bacterial febrile illnesses (mean CRP: 23.2 mg/L, mean CRPv: 0.41 mg/L/hour). The area under the curve for CRP and CRPv were 0.783 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.717 to 0.850) and 0.871 (95% CI = 0.817 to 0.924), respectively. In a 122-patient subgroup with a CRP level of less than 100 mg/L, the area under the curve increased from 0.689 (95% CI = 0.0595 to 0.782) to 0.842 (95% CI = 0.77 to 0.914) by using the CRPv measurements.

Conclusions

CRPv improved differentiation between febrile bacterial infections and non-bacterial febrile illnesses compared with CRP alone, and could identify individuals who need prompt therapeutic intervention.
Inhaled aerosolised recombinant human activated protein C ameliorates endotoxin-induced lung injury in anaesthetised sheep
Authors: Waerhaug Kristine , Kuzkov Vsevolod V , Kuklin Vladimir N , Mortensen Rica , Nordhus Kåre C , Kirov Mikhail Y , Bjertnaes Lars J
Published: April 2009

Introduction

We recently demonstrated that intravenously infused recombinant human activated protein C (APC) attenuates ovine lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury. In this study, our aim was to find out whether treatment with inhaled aerosolised APC (inhAPC) prevents formation of increased lung densities and oedema and derangement of oxygenation during exposure to LPS.

Methods

Sheep were anaesthetised during placement of intravascular introducers. After one to four days of recovery from instrumentation, the animals were re-anaesthetised, endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated throughout a six-hour experiment where the sheep underwent quantitative lung computed tomography. Sheep were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a sham-operated group (n = 8) receiving inhaled aerosolised saline from two hours after the start of the experiment; a LPS group (n = 8) receiving an intravenous infusion of LPS 20 ng/kg per hour and, after two hours, inhaled aerosolised saline over the next four hours; a LPS+inhAPC group (n = 8) receiving an intravenous infusion of LPS 20 ng/kg per hour and, after two hours, aerosolised APC 48 μg/kg per hour inhaled throughout the experiment. Data were analysed with analysis of variance; P less than 0.05 was regarded as significant.

Results

An infusion of LPS was associated with a reduction of well-aerated lung volume and a rapid fall in arterial oxygenation that were both significantly antagonised by inhaled APC. Pulmonary vascular pressures and extravascular lung water index increased significantly during exposure to LPS, but inhaled APC had no effect on these changes.

Conclusions

Inhalation of aerosolised APC attenuates LPS-induced lung injury in sheep by preventing a decline in the volume of aerated lung tissue and improving oxygenation.
Activated Ask1-MKK4-p38MAPK/JNK Stress Signaling Pathway in Human Omental Fat Tissue May Link Macrophage Infiltration to Whole-Body Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Blüher Matthias , Bashan Nava , Shai Iris , Harman-Boehm Ilana , Tarnovscki Tanya , Avinaoch Eliezer , Stumvoll Michael , Dietrich Arne , Klöting Nora , Rudich Assaf
Published: April 2009

Context: Adipose tissue in obesity is thought to be exposed to various stresses, predominantly in intraabdominal depots. We recently reported that p38MAPK and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not ERK and inhibitory-κB kinase β, are more highly expressed and activated in human omental (OM) adipose tissue in obesity.

Objective: The aim was to investigate upstream components of the pathways that culminate in activation of p38MAPK and JNK.

Setting and Patients: Phosphorylation and expression of kinases were studied in paired samples of OM and sc adipose tissue from lean and obese subjects of two different cohorts (n = 36 and n = 196) by Western and real-time PCR analyses. The association with fat distribution, macrophage infiltration, insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism was assessed by correlation analyses.

Results: The amount of phosphorylated forms of the kinases provided evidence for an activated stress-sensing pathway consisting of the MAP3K Ask1 (but not MLK3 or Tak1), and the MAP2Ks MKK4, 3/6, (but not MKK7), specifically in OM. OM Ask1-mRNA was more highly expressed in predominantly intraabdominally obese persons and most strongly correlated with estimated visceral fat. Diabetes was associated with higher OM Ask1-mRNA only in the lean group. In OM, macrophage infiltration strongly correlated with Ask1-mRNA, but the obesity-associated increase in Ask1-mRNA could largely be attributed to the adipocyte cell fraction. Finally, multivariate regression analyses revealed OM-Ask1 as an independent predictor of whole-body glucose uptake in euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps.

Conclusions: An Ask1-MKK4-p38MAPK/JNK pathway reflects adipocyte stress associated with adipose tissue inflammation, linking visceral adiposity to whole-body insulin resistance in obesity.
Endocytic trafficking of activated EGFR is AP-2 dependent and occurs through preformed clathrin spots
Authors: Rappoport Joshua Z. , Simon Sanford M.
Published: April 2009

The removal of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from the cell surface by endocytosis is triggered by receptor activation, but many facets of EGFR trafficking remain unresolved. We employed total internal fluorescence microscopy to elucidate the dynamics of activated EGFR at the cell surface through live-cell imaging. The results of these studies demonstrate that: (1) EGFR does not localize to caveolae in live cells either before or after activation; (2) EGFR does localize to clathrin-coated pits, but only after activation; (3) activation does not result in the formation of new clathrin-coated pits; (4) activated EGFR clusters at sites of preformed clathrin lattices; (5) The AP-2 complex is involved in the internalization of activated EGFR. Using imaging techniques to show the endocytic sorting of activated EGFR for the first time in live cells, these studies suggest a refinement of the model for EGFR entry.
Identification of dyneins that localize exclusively to the proximal portion of Chlamydomonas flagella
Authors: Yagi Toshiki , Uematsu Keigo , Liu Zhongmei , Kamiya Ritsu
Published: April 2009

The movements of cilia and flagella are driven by multiple species of dynein heavy chains (DHCs), which constitute inner- and outer-dynein arms. In Chlamydomonas, 11 DHC proteins have been identified in the axoneme, but 14 genes encoding axonemal DHCs are present in the genome. Here, we assigned each previously unassigned DHC gene to a particular DHC protein and found that DHC3, DHC4 and DHC11 encode novel, relatively low abundance DHCs. Immunofluorescence microcopy revealed that DHC11 is localized exclusively to the proximal ∼2 μm region of the ∼12 μm long flagellum. Analyses of growing flagella suggested that DHC3 and DHC4 are also localized to the proximal region. By contrast, the DHC of a previously identified inner-arm dynein, dynein b, displayed an inverse distribution pattern. Thus, the proximal portion of the flagellar axoneme apparently differs in dynein composition from the remaining portion; this difference might be relevant to the special function performed by the flagellar base.
Statistical analysis of ytterbium-doped fibre laser cutting of dry pine wood
Authors: Hernandez-Castaneda J C , Sezer H K , Li L
Published: April 2009

This paper reports a statistical analysis of the laser wood cutting process. The laser cutting of wood is a multi-factor process and correct combination of the parameters involved is needed to achieve high quality and optimum process efficiency. In this paper a design of experiments and statistical modelling approach is used to investigate the significant process parameters by consideration of parameter interactions. A high brightness, 1 kW IPG single mode ytterbium-doped fibre laser was used to cut dry pine wood samples. The investigated parameters include laser power, focal plane position, traverse speed, gas pressure, number of passes, and cutting direction. Results are compared against a number of response factors defining the process efficiency (i.e. kerf depth, mass removal, and specific energy consumption) and the cut quality (i.e. heat-affected zone, kerf width, and edge surface roughness). It is reported that the majority of these process characteristics are significantly affected by the structure of the wood under test.
An analytical solution of a two-dimensional temperature field in a hollow cylinder under a time periodic boundary condition using Fourier series
Authors: Atefi G , Abdous M A , Ganjehkaviri A , Moalemi N
Published: April 2009

The objective of this article is to derive an analytical solution for a two-dimensional temperature field in a hollow cylinder, which is subjected to a periodic boundary condition at the outer surface, while the inner surface is insulated. The material is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic with time-independent thermal properties. Because of the time-dependent term in the boundary condition, Duhamel's theorem is used to solve the problem for a periodic boundary condition. The periodic boundary condition is decomposed using the Fourier series. This condition is simulated with harmonic oscillation; however, there are some differences with the real situation. To solve this problem, first of all the boundary condition is assumed to be steady. By applying the method of separation of variables, the temperature distribution in a hollow cylinder can be obtained. Then, the boundary condition is assumed to be transient. In both these cases, the solutions are separately calculated. By using Duhamel's theorem, the temperature distribution field in a hollow cylinder is obtained. The final result is plotted with respect to the Biot and Fourier numbers. There is good agreement between the results of the proposed method and those reported by others for this geometry under a simple harmonic boundary condition.
Models for Determination of Solar Energy Potential
Authors: Bakirci Kadir
Published: April 2009

Many solar energy systems require monthly average meteorological data as a basis for design. In the study, it was investigated whether existing solar radiation models are suitable to determine the values of solar radiation, and new empirical equations were developed which correlate the monthly average daily global radiation using sunshine hour data. The correlation models were compared by using statistical error tests such as mean bias error (MBE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The new correlation models demonstrate close agreement with the observed data. An application of this study was performed using the experimental data measured for Erzurum, Turkey.
Challenges and Opportunities for Bio-Diesel Production in Turkey
Authors: Balat Havva , Öz Cahide
Published: April 2009

This paper will discuss the main challenges and opportunities for sustainable production of bio-diesel fuel in Turkey. Turkey's energy demand has risen rapidly as a result of economic and social development over the past two decades. As in many other countries, Turkey is heavily dependent on fossil fuels to meet its energy requirements. Fossil fuels account for approximately 88% of the country's total primary energy consumption. Turkey imports three major sources of energy, and its dependence on imported fossil fuels is expected to increase even further. At present, Turkey's oil production met only 7% of demand, the rest was imported. In spite of Turkey's heavy dependence on fossil fuels for energy demand, the country has a large potential for development of renewable resources of every type. Bio-fuels can provide an opportunity for Turkey to decrease its dependence on foreign oil, eliminate irregularities in agriculture, create new employment opportunities, decrease rural depopulation, and sustainable energy development. Turkey has a large area of suitable agricultural land for the production of bio-fuel crops. Unfortunately, only about 4–5% of total cultivable area is used for cultivating bio-fuel crops. The vegetable oil sector, which is considered to be one of the strengths of the Turkish agriculture and process industry, could be reformed to meet bio-diesel production demands.
Transforming Renewal Processes for Simulation of Nonstationary Arrival Processes
Authors: Gerhardt Ira , Nelson Barry L.
Published: April 2009

Simulation models of real-life systems often assume stationary (homogeneous) Poisson arrivals. Therefore, when nonstationary arrival processes are required, it is natural to assume Poisson arrivals with a time-varying arrival rate. For many systems, however, this provides an inaccurate representation of the arrival process that is either more or less variable than Poisson. In this paper we extend techniques that transform a stationary Poisson arrival process into a nonstationary Poisson arrival process (NSPP) by transforming a stationary renewal process into a nonstationary, non-Poisson (NSNP) arrival process. We show that the desired arrival rate is achieved and that when the renewal base process is either more or less variable than Poisson, then the NSNP process is also more or less variable, respectively, than an NSPP. We also propose techniques for specifying the renewal base process when presented properties of, or data from, an arrival process and illustrate them by modeling real arrival data.
NMR spectroscopy and ion pairing: Measuring and understanding how ions interact
Authors: Pregosin Paul S.
Published: April 2009

Pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion and Overhauser NMR data together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations afford a qualitative estimation of the amount of ion pairing, as well as insight into the structures of a variety of inorganic, organic, and organometallic salts.
Mapping catalytic promiscuity in the alkaline phosphatase superfamily
Authors: Jonas Stefanie , Hollfelder Florian
Published: April 2009

"Promiscuous" enzymes possess activities in addition to their native ones. Promiscuous activities could be remnants from an evolutionary ancestor that has been adapted to fulfil a new function following gene duplication. Alternatively, the observation of promiscuity could indicate that an enzyme has the potential to evolve into a new catalyst. Thus, the observation of promiscuity defines functional relationships in enzyme superfamilies. Crosswise promiscuity can provide an additional layer of connectivity between members of a - usually structurally defined - superfamily to establish a system for tracking the emergence and interconversion of enzymatic function. The systematic analysis of measured promiscuous rates may serve as a basis for drawing up phylogenetic relationships based on the potential for catalysis and may be useful for active use in directed evolution, suggesting evolutionary "short cuts". We review recent observations of catalytic promiscuity in members of the alkaline phosphatase (AP) superfamily that exhibit reciprocal relationships of crosswise promiscuity with rate accelerations (k
cat/K
M)/k
2 between 106 and 1018. Specifically, we focus on the mechanistic features that appear to form the basis of catalytic promiscuity in this superfamily.
Diaphragm development in cytokinetic vegetative cells of brown algae
Authors: Katsaros Christos , Motomura Taizo , Nagasato Chikako , Galatis Basil
Published: April 2009

We studied development of the cytokinetic diaphragm (i.e., the membranous septum formed during cytokinesis) in vegetative cells of the brown algae Sphacelaria rigidula, Halopteris congesta and Dictyota dichotoma after cryofixation-freeze-substitution. Cytokinesis began by the gathering of organelles and large vesicles between daughter nuclei following telophase. Subsequently, a thin cytoplasmic strand was formed along this plane, where endoplasmic reticulum (ER), dictyosome vesicles and particular membranous elements, the flat cisternae, were accumulated. Their fusion formed a patchy diaphragm with irregular gaps. Fine tubular channels perforated the diaphragm during all stages of its formation. Following diaphragm completion, cell wall material was deposited in it. The new walls had ER-free plasmodesmata. In D. dichotoma, diaphragm development did not follow a definite pattern, i.e., centripetal or centrifugal, a phenomenon also confirmed in H. congesta. In contrast, in apical cells of S. rigidula the diaphragm started developing from the periphery, growing to some extent centripetally. In these cells, local cell wall deposition was greatest at the division site. In apical cells in which cytokinesis was experimentally inhibited a ring of wall material was usually deposited at the cytokinetic plane.
Normal Cone Function Requires the Interphotoreceptor Retinoid Binding Protein
Authors: Parker Ryan O. , Fan Jie , Nickerson John M. , Liou Gregory I. , Crouch Rosalie K.
Published: April 2009

11-cis-retinal is the light-sensitive component in rod and cone photoreceptors, and its isomerization to all-transretinal in the presence of light initiates the visual response. For photoreceptors to function normally, all-transretinal must be converted back into 11-cis-retinal through a series of enzymatic steps known as the visual cycle. The interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) is a proposed retinoid transporter in the visual cycle, but rods inIrbp−/−mice have a normal visual cycle. While rods are primarily responsible for dim light vision, the ability of cones to function in constant light is essential to human vision and may be facilitated by cone-specific visual cycle pathways. We analyzed the cones inIrbp−/−mice to determine whether IRBP has a cone-specific visual cycle function. Cone electroretinogram (ERG) responses were reduced inIrbp−/−mice, but similar responses fromIrbp−/−mice at all ages suggest that degeneration does not underlie cone dysfunction. Furthermore, cone densities and opsin levels inIrbp−/−mice were similar toC57BL/6(wild-type) mice, and both cone opsins were properly localized to the cone outer segments. To test for retinoid deficiency inIrbp−/−mice, ERGs were analyzed before and after intraperitoneal injections of 9-cis-retinal. Treatment with 9-cis-retinal produced a significant recovery of the cone response inIrbp−/−mice and shows that retinoid deficiency underlies cone dysfunction. These data indicate that IRBP is essential to normal cone function and demonstrate that differences exist in the visual cycle of rods and cones.
Conditional Inactivation of Androgen Receptor Gene in the Nervous System: Effects on Male Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Responses
Authors: Raskin Kalina , de Gendt Karel , Duittoz Anne , Liere Philippe , Verhoeven Guido , Tronche François , Mhaouty-Kodja Sakina
Published: April 2009

Testosterone (T) profoundly influences central sexual differentiation and functions. In the brain, T signals either directly through androgen receptor (AR) or indirectly through estrogen receptor (ER) following aromatization into E2 (17-β-estradiol). As T, through AR, also controls peripheral male sexual differentiation, the relative contribution of central AR in T-mediated regulation of behavioral and neuroendocrine responses still remains unclear. To address this question, we generated, by using Cre-loxP technology, mice selectively lacking AR expression in the nervous system. The mutant male urogenital tract was normally developed, and mice were able to produce offspring. Nonetheless, sexual motivation and performance as well as aggressive behaviors were affected. Only a low percentage of males displayed a complete sexual behavior and offensive attacks. The latency to show masculine behaviors was increased and copulation length prolonged. Erectile activity during mating was also altered. These alterations occurred despite increased levels of T and its metabolites, and an unaffected number of ERα-immunoreactive cells. Olfactory preference and neuronal activation, mapped by Fos immunoreactivity, following exposure to estrus female-soiled bedding were also normal. At comparable T levels, greater differences in masculine behaviors were observed between gonadectomized control and mutant males.ARinvalidation in the nervous system also disrupted the somatotropic axis since mutant males exhibited growth retardation and decreased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I. Our findings show that central AR is required in T-induced regulation of male-typical behaviors and gonadotrope and somatotropic axes. This genetic model offers a unique opportunity in the understanding of AR's role in cerebral functions of T.
A Nuclear Actin Function Regulates Neuronal Motility by Serum Response Factor-Dependent Gene Transcription
Authors: Stern Sina , Debre Evaine , Stritt Christine , Berger Jürgen , Posern Guido , Knöll Bernd
Published: April 2009

Neuronal motility relies on actin treadmilling. In addition to regulating cytoskeletal dynamics in the cytoplasm, actin modulates nuclear gene expression. We present a hitherto unappreciated cross talk of actin signaling with gene expression governing neuronal motility. Toward this end, we used a novel approach using mutant actins either favoring (G15S) or inhibiting (R62D) F-actin assembly. Overexpressing these mutant actins in mouse hippocampal neurons not only modulated growth-cone function but also neurite elongation, which was ambiguous by traditional pharmacological interference. G15S actin enhanced neurite outgrowth and filopodia number. In contrast, R62D reduced neurite length and impaired growth-cone filopodia formation. Growth-cone collapse induced by ephrin-As, a family of repulsive axon guidance molecules, is impaired upon R62D expression, resulting in perseverance of ring-shaped F-actin filaments. R62D-induced phenotypes strongly resemble neurons lacking SRF (Serum Response Factor). SRF controls gene transcription of various actin isoforms (e.g.,Actb,Acta1) and actin-binding proteins (e.g.,Gsn) and is the archetypical transcription factor to study actin interplay with transcription. We show that neuronal motility evoked by these actin mutants requires SRF activity. Further, constitutively active SRF partially rescues R62D-induced phenotypes. Conversely, actin signaling regulates neuronal SRF-mediated gene expression. Notably, a nucleus-resident actin (R62DNLS) also regulates SRF's transcriptional activity. Moreover, R62DNLSdecreases neuronal motility similar to the cytoplasmic R62D actin mutant although R62DNLShas no access to cytoplasmic actin dynamics. Thus, herein we provide first evidence that neuronal motility not only depends on cytoplasmic actin dynamics but also on the availability of actin to modulate nuclear functions such as gene transcription.