bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus Genetically Redirected to the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Exhibits Effective Antitumor Activity against a Malignant Glioblastoma
Authors: Verheije Monique H. , Lamfers Martine L. M. , Würdinger Thomas , Grinwis Guy C. M. , Gerritsen Winald R. , van Beusechem Victor W. , Rottier Peter J. M.
Published: May 2009

Coronaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses with features attractive for oncolytic therapy. To investigate this potential, we redirected the coronavirus murine hepatitis virus (MHV), which is normally unable to infect human cells, to human tumor cells by using a soluble receptor (soR)-based expression construct fused to an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor targeting moiety. Addition of this adapter protein to MHV allowed infection of otherwise nonsusceptible, EGF receptor (EGFR)-expressing cell cultures. We introduced the sequence encoding the adaptor protein soR-EGF into the MHV genome to generate a self-targeted virus capable of multiround infection. The resulting recombinant MHV was viable and had indeed acquired the ability to infect all glioblastoma cell lines tested in vitro. Infection of malignant human glioblastoma U87ΔEGFR cells gave rise to release of progeny virus and efficient cell killing in vitro. To investigate the oncolytic capacity of the virus in vivo, we used an orthotopic U87ΔEGFR xenograft mouse model. Treatment of mice bearing a lethal intracranial U87ΔEGFR tumor by injection with MHVsoR-EGF significantly prolonged survival compared to phosphate-buffered saline-treated (P= 0.001) and control virus-treated (P= 0.004) animals, and no recurrent tumor load was observed. However, some adverse effects were seen in normal mouse brain tissues that were likely caused by the natural murine tropism of MHV. This is the first demonstration of oncolytic activity of a coronavirus in vivo. It suggests that nonhuman coronaviruses may be attractive new therapeutic agents against human tumors.
Viruses in the Anopheles A, Anopheles B, and Tete Serogroups in the
Orthobunyavirus
Genus (Family
Bunyaviridae
) Do Not Encode an NSs Protein
Authors: Mohamed Maizan , McLees Angela , Elliott Richard M.
Published: May 2009

Viruses in the genus
Orthobunyavirus
, family
Bunyaviridae
, have a genome comprising three segments (called L, M, and S) of negative-sense RNA. Serological studies have classified the >170 named virus isolates into 18 serogroups, with a few additional as yet ungrouped viruses. Until now, molecular studies and full-length S-segment nucleotide sequences were available for representatives of eight serogroups; in all cases, the S segment encodes two proteins, N (nucleocapsid) and NSs (nonstructural), in overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) that are translated from the same mRNA. The NSs proteins of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) and California serogroup viruses have been shown to play a role in inhibiting host cell mRNA and protein synthesis, thereby preventing induction of interferon (IFN). We have determined full-length sequences of the S segments of representative viruses in the Anopheles A, Anopheles B, and Tete serogroups, and we report here that these viruses do not show evidence of having an NSs ORF. In addition, these viruses have rather longer N proteins than those in the other serogroups. Most of the naturally occurring viruses that lack the NSs protein behaved like a recombinant BUNV with the NSs gene deleted in that they failed to prevent induction of IFN-β mRNA. However, Tacaiuma virus (TCMV) in the Anopheles A serogroup inhibited IFN induction in a manner similar to that of wild-type BUNV, suggesting that TCMV has evolved an alternative mechanism, not involving a typical NSs protein, to antagonize the host innate immune response.
Total synthesis of the potent antifungal agents bengazole C and E
Authors: Enríquez-García Álvaro , Ley Steven V.
Published: May 2009

The bengazoles are marine natural products with unique structure, containing two oxazole rings flanking a single carbon. They show very potent antifungal activity. The total syntheses of bengazole C and E are described following a convergent route which involves diastereoselective cycloaddition of an appropriately substituted nitrile oxide with a butane-1,2-diacetal-protected alkenediol as the key step.
Characteristics of Filamentous Bacteria Isolated from a Gill Disease of Salmonids
Authors: Wakabayashi H. , Egusa S. , Fryer J. L.
Published: May 2009

The morphological, physiological, and serological characteristics of 15 cultures of filamentous bacteria isolated in Japan (five isolates) and Oregon from cultured salmonids suffering from bacterial gill disease were determined and compared. The strains from each area were uniform in characteristics and apart from minor differences in temperature and salinity tolerances, each geographic group of isolates was physiologically similar. Serologically, however, although all strains possessed a common antigen, the Japanese and Oregon strains were distinct. It was found that all strains could readily colonize the gill epithelium of juvenile rainbow trout causing an asymptomatic infection, but in some experiments fatal gill disease was irregularly produced.Key words: bacterial gill disease, filamentous bacteria, salmonids
The Role of Fishes in the Regulation of Phosphorus Availability in Lakes
Authors: Nakashima Brian S. , Leggett William C.
Published: May 2009

Several hypotheses concerning the contribution of fishes to nutrient dynamics in lakes were examined. The maximum quantity of excreted phosphorus by fishes was found to be negligible (< 0.33%) when compared to the demand for this element by the seston. Zooplankton (cladocerans and copepods) excretion supplied up to 12% of the daily summer orthophosphate requirements of the seston. The pool of total phosphorus present in the open water fish community was approximately equivalent to that present in the seston while the total phosphorus biomass in zooplankton was only 22 to 40% of that in the seston. Daily incorporation of total phosphorus into fish tissue and losses as fecal phosphorus could constitute up to 40% of total phosphorus in the seston lost due to sedimentation from the epilimnion depending on the feeding habits of the dominant fish species. Nutrient release due to the decomposition of fish carcasses supplied up to 20% of the allochthonous phosphorus entering the south basin in the spring. The prey of the adult fish community is predominantly benthic and littoral in origin. However, the role of predation in structuring benthic and littoral prey populations and its effect on nutrient dynamics is unknown.Key words: budget, excretion, Lake Memphremagog, nutrients, Perca flavescens, yellow perch; phosphorus, population estimate
Slow Swimming and Cyclical "Fishing" Behavior in Aglantha Digitale (Hydromedusae: Trachylina)
Authors: Mackie G. O.
Published: May 2009

Aglantha perform regular "fishing" cycles, swimming up with tentacles contracted, and floating down with tentacles extended. The upward orientation of the swimming phase depends on input from the statocysts. In a 2-m tall tank, Aglantha showed a migration pattern toward the surface during the day and away at night. Slow swimming in Aglantha involves graded, nonpropagative muscle responses. Input from the tentacles is excitatory, and from conducting epithelia inhibitory to slow swimming. The nervous pathways mediating slow swimming are distinct from the giant axons mediating fast (escape) swimming described in earlier papers. There is no protective "crumpling" response.Key words: jellyfish, swimming, statocyst, vertical, migration, diurnal, zooplankton, hydromedusae, pacemaker, escape
CELLULAR AUTOMATA MODEL FOR UNSIGNALIZED T-SHAPED INTERSECTION
Authors: LI XIN-GANG , GAO ZI-YOU , JIA BIN , ZHAO XIAO-MEI
Published: May 2009

In this paper, the unsignalized T-shaped intersection is modeled by a cellular automata model. The main street and the minor street join at the intersection. As to the traffic flow is not controlled by traffic lights, conflict happens between the vehicles from minor street and that from main street. Two different crash avoiding rules are used to dispose the conflicts. In the first rule, the priorities are given to the driving-ahead vehicle and the vehicle on the main street. In the second rule, the vehicle that reaches the conflicting point earlier enters into the intersection. The flux on each lane depending on the inflow rates is studied in detail. The capacity of the system is also investigated. Our simulation results suggest that the two rules do not take the same effect on the capacity under different traffic conditions.
CASCADING FAILURES IN BARABÁSI–ALBERT SCALE-FREE NETWORKS WITH A BREAKDOWN PROBABILITY
Authors: WANG JIAN-WEI , RONG LI-LI
Published: May 2009

In this paper, adopting the initial load of a node j to be [Formula: see text], where kj is the degree of the node j and α is a tunable parameter that controls the strength of the initial load of a node, we propose a cascading model with a breakdown probability and explore cascading failures on a typical network, i.e., the Barabási–Albert (BA) network with scale-free property. Assume that a failed node leads only to a redistribution of the load passing through it to its neighboring nodes. According to the simulation results, we find that BA networks reach the strongest robustness level against cascading failures when α = 1 and the robustness of networks has a positive correlation with the average degree 〈k〉, not relating to the different breakdown probabilities. In addition, it is found that the robustness against cascading failures has an inversely proportional relationship with the breakdown probability of an overload node. Finally, the numerical simulations are verified by the theoretical analysis.
LOCATION ESTIMATION OF MOBILE SYSTEMS USING PASSIVE RFID TAGS IN AN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
Authors: PARK JAHNG HYON , JI YONG-KWAN
Published: May 2009

This paper presents methods of localization of mobile systems using recent Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. We consider an indoor environment where RFID tags are implanted along the wall or in objects in the room. If the absolute position and orientation of a tag are read by an RF reader, a mobile system can estimate its location using the information saved in the tags. A reader-tag model is obtained through experiments in order to derive relative positions and orientations between an antenna and an RFID tag. To estimate the location, we propose two estimation methods. One uses a single RFID tag and the other uses multi-RFID tags. Experimental results show that the proposed methods can provide good performance for mobile system localization in an indoor environment.
Oxidative stress-induced alternative splicing of transformer 2β (SFRS10) and CD44 pre-mRNAs in gastric epithelial cells
Authors: Takeo Keiko , Kawai Tomoko , Nishida Kensei , Masuda Kiyoshi , Teshima-Kondo Shigetada , Tanahashi Toshihito , Rokutan Kazuhito
Published: May 2009

The tra2β gene encoding an alternative splicing regulator, transformer 2-β (Tra2β), generates five alternative splice variant transcripts ( tra2β 1– 5). Functionally active, full-length Tra2β is encoded by tra2β 1 isoform. Expression and physiological significance of the other isoforms, particularly tra2β 4, are not fully understood. Rat gastric mucosa constitutively expressed tra2β 1 isoform and specifically generated tra2β 4 isoform that includes premature termination codon-containing exon 2, when exposed to restraint and water immersion stress. Treatment of a gastric cancer cell line (AGS) with arsenite (100 μM) preferentially generated tra2β 4 isoform and caused translocation of Tra2β from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in association with enhanced phosphorylation during the initial 4–6 h (acute phase). Following the acute phase, AGS cells continued upregulated tra2β 1 mRNA expression, and higher amounts of Tra2β were reaccumulated in their nuclei. Treatment with small interference RNAs targeting up-frameshift-1 or transfection of a plasmid containing tra2β 1 cDNA did not induce tra2β 4 isoform expression and did not modify the arsenite-induced expression of this isoform, suggesting that neither the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay nor the autoregulatory control by excess amounts of Tra2β participated in the tra2β 4 isoform generation. Knockdown of Tra2β facilitated skipping of the central variable region of the CD44 gene and suppressed cell growth. In contrast, overexpression of Tra2β stimulated combinatorial inclusion of multiple variable exons in the region and cell growth. The similar skipping and inclusion of the variable region were observed in arsenite-treated cells. Our results suggest that Tra2β may regulate cellular oxidative response by changing alternative splicing of distinct genes including CD44.
Tamoxifen inhibits BK channels in chick cochlea without alterations in voltage-dependent activation
Authors: Tong Mingjie , Duncan R. Keith
Published: May 2009

Large-conductance, Ca2+-activated, and voltage-gated potassium channels (BK, BKCa, or Maxi-K) play an important role in electrical tuning in nonmammalian vertebrate hair cells. Systematic changes in tuning frequency along the tonotopic axis largely result from variations in BK channel kinetics, but the molecular changes underpinning these functional variations remain unknown. Auxiliary β1 have been implicated in low-frequency tuning at the cochlear apex because these subunits dramatically slow channel kinetics. Tamoxifen (Tx), a (xeno)estrogen compound known to activate BK channels through the β-subunit, was used to test for the functional presence of β1. The hypotheses were that Tx would activate the majority of BK channels in hair cells from the cochlear apex due to the presence of β1 and that the level of activation would exhibit a tonotopic gradient following the expression profile of β1. Outside-out patches of BK channels were excised from tall hair cells along the apical half of the chicken basilar papilla. In low-density patches, single-channel conductance was reduced and the averaged open probability was unaffected by Tx. In high-density patches, the amplitude of ensemble-averaged BK current was inhibited, whereas half-activation potential and activation kinetics were unaffected by Tx. In both cases, no tonotopic Tx-dependent activation of channel activity was observed. Therefore, contrary to the hypotheses, electrophysiological assessment suggests that molecular mechanisms other than auxiliary β-subunits are involved in generating a tonotopic distribution of BK channel kinetics and electric tuning in chick basilar papilla.
Loss of ovarian function in the VCD mouse-model of menopause leads to insulin resistance and a rapid progression into the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Romero-Aleshire Melissa J. , Diamond-Stanic Maggie K. , Hasty Alyssa H. , Hoyer Patricia B. , Brooks Heddwen L.
Published: May 2009

Factors comprising the metabolic syndrome occur with increased incidence in postmenopausal women. To investigate the effects of ovarian failure on the progression of the metabolic syndrome, female B6C3F1 mice were treated with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) and fed a high-fat (HF) diet for 16 wk. VCD destroys preantral follicles, causing early ovarian failure and is a well-characterized model for the gradual onset of menopause. After 12 wk on a HF diet, VCD-treated mice had developed an impaired glucose tolerance, whereas cycling controls were unaffected [12 wk AUC HF mice 13,455 ± 643 vs. HF/VCD 17,378 ± 1140 mg/dl/min, P < 0.05]. After 16 wk on a HF diet, VCD-treated mice had significantly higher fasting insulin levels (HF 5.4 ± 1.3 vs. HF/VCD 10.1 ± 1.4 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and were significantly more insulin resistant (HOMA-IR) than cycling controls on a HF diet (HF 56.2 ± 16.7 vs. HF/VCD 113.1 ± 19.6 mg/dl·μU/ml, P < 0.05). All mice on a HF diet gained more weight than mice on a standard diet, and weight gain in HF/VCD mice was significantly increased compared with HF cycling controls. Interestingly, even without a HF diet, progression into VCD-induced menopause caused a significant increase in cholesterol and free fatty acids. Furthermore, in mice fed a standard diet (6% fat), insulin resistance developed 4 mo after VCD-induced ovarian failure. Insulin resistance following ovarian failure (menopause) was prevented by estrogen replacement. Studies here demonstrate that ovarian failure (menopause) accelerates progression into the metabolic syndrome and that estrogen replacement prevents the onset of insulin resistance in VCD-treated mice. Thus, the VCD model of menopause provides a physiologically relevant means of studying how sex hormones influence the progression of the metabolic syndrome.
The calcineurin inhibitor FK506 (tacrolimus) is associated with transient metabolic acidosis and altered expression of renal acid-base transport proteins
Authors: Mohebbi Nilufar , Mihailova Marija , Wagner Carsten A.
Published: May 2009

Calcineurin inhibitors like FK506 (tacrolimus) are routinely used for immunosuppression following transplantation. Its use is limited by many side effects, including renal tubular acidosis (RTA), mainly of the distal type. In this study, rats were treated with FK506 and at baseline (after 9 days) systemic acid-base status was similar to that in control animals. However, FK506-treated rats given NH4Cl in the drinking water for 2 days developed a more severe metabolic acidosis than control animals. Urine pH was more alkaline, but net acid excretion was normal. After 7 days of acid load, all differences related to acid-base homeostasis were equalized in both groups. Protein abundance of type IIa Na-Picotransporter, type 3 Na+/H+exchanger, and electrogenic Na+-bicarbonate cotransporter, and both a4 and B2 subunits of the vacuolar H+-ATPase were reduced under baseline conditions, while induction of metabolic acidosis enhanced protein abundance of these transporters in FK506-treated animals. In parallel, protein expression of AE1 was reduced at baseline and increased together with pendrin during NH4Cl loading in FK506 rats. Protein abundance of the Na+-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1 was reduced under baseline conditions but remained downregulated during metabolic acidosis. Morphological analysis revealed an increase in the relative number of non-type A intercalated cells in the connecting tubule and cortical collecting duct at the expense of principal cells. Additionally, subcellular distribution of the a4 subunit of the vacuolar H+-ATPase was affected by FK506 with less luminal localization in the connecting tubule and outer medullary collecting duct. These data suggest that FK506 impacts on several major acid-base transport proteins in the kidney, and its use is associated with transient metabolic acidosis and altered expression of key renal acid-base transport proteins.
Influence of Sound Source Location on the Behavior and Physiology of the Precedence Effect in Cats
Authors: Dent Micheal L. , Tollin Daniel J. , Yin Tom C. T.
Published: May 2009

Psychophysical experiments on the precedence effect (PE) in cats have shown that they localize pairs of auditory stimuli presented from different locations in space based on the spatial position of the stimuli and the interstimulus delay (ISD) between the stimuli in a manner similar to humans. Cats exhibit localization dominance for pairs of transient stimuli with |ISDs| from ∼0.4 to 10 ms, summing localization for |ISDs| < 0.4 ms and breakdown of fusion for |ISDs| > 10 ms, which is the approximate echo threshold. The neural correlates to the PE have been described in both anesthetized and unanesthetized animals at many levels from auditory nerve to cortex. Single-unit recordings from the inferior colliculus (IC) and auditory cortex of cats demonstrate that neurons respond to both lead and lag sounds at ISDs above behavioral echo thresholds, but the response to the lag is reduced at shorter ISDs, consistent with localization dominance. Here the influence of the relative locations of the leading and lagging sources on the PE was measured behaviorally in a psychophysical task and physiologically in the IC of awake behaving cats. At all configurations of lead-lag stimulus locations, the cats behaviorally exhibited summing localization, localization dominance, and breakdown of fusion. Recordings from the IC of awake behaving cats show neural responses paralleling behavioral measurements. Both behavioral and physiological results suggest systematically shorter echo thresholds when stimuli are further apart in space.
Neuronal Correlates of Instrumental Learning in the Dorsal Striatum
Authors: Kimchi Eyal Y. , Torregrossa Mary M. , Taylor Jane R. , Laubach Mark
Published: May 2009

We recorded neuronal activity simultaneously in the medial and lateral regions of the dorsal striatum as rats learned an operant task. The task involved making head entries into a response port followed by movements to collect rewards at an adjacent reward port. The availability of sucrose reward was signaled by an acoustic stimulus. During training, animals showed increased rates of responding and came to move rapidly and selectively, following the stimulus, from the response port to the reward port. Behavioral “devaluation” studies, pairing sucrose with lithium chloride, established that entries into the response port were habitual (insensitive to devaluation of sucrose) from early in training and entries into the reward port remained goal-directed (sensitive to devaluation) throughout training. Learning-related changes in behavior were paralleled by changes in neuronal activity in the dorsal striatum, with an increasing number of neurons showing task-related firing over the training period. Throughout training, we observed more task-related neurons in the lateral striatum compared with those in the medial striatum. Many of these neurons fired at higher rates during initiation of movements in the presence of the stimulus, compared with similar movements in the absence of the stimulus. Learning was also accompanied by progressive increases in movement-related potentials and transiently increased theta-band oscillations (5–8 Hz) in simultaneously recorded field potentials. Together, these data suggest that representations of task-relevant stimuli and movements develop in the dorsal striatum during instrumental learning.
Electrical Microstimulation of the Fastigial Oculomotor Region in the Head-Unrestrained Monkey
Authors: Quinet Julie , Goffart Laurent
Published: May 2009

It has been shown that inactivation of the caudal fastigial nucleus (cFN) by local injection of muscimol leads to inaccurate gaze shifts in the head-unrestrained monkey and that the gaze dysmetria is primarily due to changes in the horizontal amplitude of eye saccades in the orbit. Moreover, changes in the relationship between amplitude and duration are observed for only the eye saccades and not for the head movements. These results suggest that the cFN output primarily influences a neural network involved in moving the eyes in the orbit. The present study further tested this hypothesis by examining whether head movements could be evoked by electrical microstimulation of the saccade-related region in the cFN. Long stimulation trains (200–300 ms) evoked staircase gaze shifts that were ipsi- or contralateral, depending on the stimulated site. These gaze shifts were small in amplitude and were essentially accomplished by saccadic movements of the eyes. Head movements were observed in some sites but their amplitudes were very small (mean = 2.4°). The occurrence of head movements and their amplitude were not enhanced by increasing stimulation frequency or intensity. In several cases, electrically evoked gaze shifts exhibited an eye-head coupling that was different from that observed in visually triggered gaze shifts. This study provides additional observations suggesting that the saccade-related region in the cFN modulates the generation of eye movements and that the deep cerebellar output region involved in influencing head movements is located elsewhere.
Heat-Induced Action Potential Discharges in Nociceptive Primary Sensory Neurons of Rats
Authors: Greffrath Wolfgang , Schwarz Stefan T. , Büsselberg Dietrich , Treede Rolf-Detlef
Published: May 2009

Although several transducer molecules for noxious stimuli have been identified, little is known about the transformation of the resulting generator currents into action potentials (APs). Therefore we investigated the transformation process for stepped noxious heat stimuli (42–47°C, 3-s duration) into membrane potential changes and subsequent AP discharges using the somata of acutely dissociated small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons (diameter ≤32.5 μm) of adult rats as a model for their own peripheral terminals. Three types of heat-induced membrane potential changes were differentiated: type 1, heat-induced AP discharges (∼37% of the neurons); type 2, heat-induced membrane depolarization (40%); and type 3, responses not exceeding those of switching the superfusion (23%). Warming neurons from room temperature to 35°C increased their background conductance, nearly doubled the AP threshold current, and led to smaller and narrower APs. Adaptation of heat-induced AP discharges was seen in about half of the type 1 neurons. The remaining half displayed accelerating discharges to both heat stimuli and depolarizing current injection. Repeated heat stimulation induced marked suppression of AP discharges. Under rapid calcium buffering using BAPTA, repolarization of heat-induced APs stopped at a plateau potential slowly decreasing from +16.5 ± 2.9 to −2.2 ± 5.5 mV, resulting in no further AP discharges. This study demonstrates that heat-induced AP discharges can be elicited in the soma of a subgroup of DRG neurons. These discharges display suppression on repetitive stimulation, but either adaptation or sensitization during prolonged stimuli. AP threshold and AP shape during these discharges suggest temperature dependence of background conductance and repolarizing currents.
Synaptic Interactions Between Forelimb-Related Motor Cortex Neurons in Behaving Primates
Authors: Smith W. S. , Fetz E. E.
Published: May 2009

We investigated the synaptic interactions between neighboring motor cortex cells in monkeys generating isometric ramp-and-hold torques about the wrist. For pairs of cortical cells the response patterns were determined in response-aligned averages and their synaptic interactions were identified by cross-correlation histograms. Cross-correlograms were compiled for 215 cell pairs and 84 (39%) showed significant features. The most frequently found feature (65/84 = 77%) was a central peak, straddling the origin and representing a source of common synaptic input to both cells. One third of these also had superimposed lagged peaks, indicative of a serial excitatory connection. Pure lagged peaks and lagged troughs, indicative of serial excitatory or inhibitory linkages, respectively, both occurred in 5% of the correlograms with features. A central trough appeared in 13% of the correlograms. The magnitude of the synaptic linkage was measured as the normalized area of the correlogram feature. Plotting the strength of synaptic interaction against response similarity during alternating wrist torques revealed a positive relationship for the correlated cell pairs. A linear fit yielded a positive slope: the pairs with excitatory interactions tended to covary more often than countervary. This linear fit had a positive offset, reflecting a tendency for both covarying and countervarying cells to have excitatory common input. Plotting the cortical location of the cell pairs showed that the strongest interactions occurred between cells separated by <400 microns. The correlational linkages between cells of different cortical layers showed a large proportion of common input to cells in layer V.
Characteristics of Rostral Solitary Tract Nucleus Neurons With Identified Afferent Connections That Project to the Parabrachial Nucleus in Rats
Authors: Suwabe Takeshi , Bradley Robert M.
Published: May 2009

Afferent information derived from oral chemoreceptors is transmitted to second-order neurons in the rostral solitary tract nucleus (rNST) and then relayed to other CNS locations responsible for complex sensory and motor behaviors. Here we investigate the characteristics of rNST neurons sending information rostrally to the parabrachial nucleus (PBN). Afferent connections to these rNST-PBN projection neurons were identified by anterograde labeling of the chorda tympani (CT), glossopharyngeal (IX), and lingual (LV) nerves. We used voltage- and current-clamp recordings in brain slices to characterize the expression of both the transient A-type potassium current, IKA and the hyperpolarization-activated inward current, Ih, important determinants of neuronal repetitive discharge characteristics. The majority of rNST-PBN neurons express IKA, and these IKA-expressing neurons predominate in CT and IX terminal fields but were expressed in approximately half of the neurons in the LV field. rNST-PBN neurons expressing Ih were evenly distributed among CT, IX and LV terminal fields. However, expression patterns of IKA and Ih differed among CT, IX, and LV fields. IKA-expressing neurons frequently coexpress Ih in CT and IX terminal fields, whereas neurons in LV terminal field often express only Ih. After GABAA receptor block all rNST-PBN neurons responded to afferent stimulation with all-or-none excitatory synaptic responses. rNST-PBN neurons had either multipolar or elongate morphologies and were distributed throughout the rNST, but multipolar neurons were more often encountered in CT and IX terminal fields. No correlation was found between the biophysical and morphological characteristics of the rNST-PBN projection neurons in each terminal field.
Effect of HF Concentration on Physical and Electronic Properties of Electrochemically Formed Nanoporous Silicon
Authors: Kumar Pushpendra , Lemmens Peter , Ghosh Manash , Ludwig Frank , Schilling Meinhard
Published: May 2009

The most common fabrication technique of porous silicon (PS) is electrochemical etching of a crystalline silicon wafer in a hydrofluoric (HF) acid‐based solution. The electrochemical process allows for precise control of the properties of PS such as thickness of the porous layer, porosity, and average pore diameter. The effect of HF concentration in the used electrolyte on physical and electronic properties of PS was studied by visual color observation, measuring nitrogen sorption isotherm, field emission type scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It was found that with decrease in HF concentration, the pore diameter increased. The PS sample with large pore diameter, that is, smaller nanocrystalline size of Si between the pores, was found to lead to a pronounced photoluminescence peak. The systematic rise of photoluminescence peak with increase of pore diameter and porosity of PS was attributed to quantum confinement. The changes in nanocrystalline porous silicon were also clearly observed by an asymmetric broadening and shift of the optical silicon phonons in Raman spectra. The change in electronic properties of PS with pore diameter suggests possibilities of use of PS material as a template for fundamental physics as well as an optical material for technological applications.
Expression Patterns of Cardiac Myofilament Proteins
Authors: Theis Jeanne L. , Bos J. Martijn , Theis Jason D. , Miller Dylan V. , Dearani Joseph A. , Schaff Hartzell V. , Gersh Bernard J. , Ommen Steve R. , Moss Richard L. , Ackerman Michael J.
Published: May 2009

Background—

Mutations in myofilament proteins, most commonly
MYBPC3
-encoded myosin-binding protein C and
MYH7
-encoded β-myosin heavy chain, can cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Despite significant advances in structure-function relationships pertaining to the cardiac sarcomere, there is limited knowledge of how a mutation leads to clinical HCM. We, therefore, set out to study expression and localization of myofilament proteins in left ventricular tissue of patients with HCM.

Methods and Results—

Frozen surgical myectomy specimens from 47 patients with HCM were examined and genotyped for mutations involving 8 myofilament-encoding genes. Myofilament protein levels were quantified by Western blotting with localization graded from immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections. Overall, 25 of 47 (53%) patients had myofilament-HCM, including 12 with MYBPC3-HCM and 9 with MYH7-HCM. As compared with healthy heart tissue, levels of myofilament proteins were increased in patients manifesting a mutation in either gene. Patients with a frameshift mutation predicted to truncate MYBPC3 exhibited marked disturbances in protein localization as compared with missense mutations in either
MYBPC3
or
MYH7
.

Conclusions—

In this first expression study in human HCM tissue, increased myofilament protein levels in patients with either
MYBPC3
- or
MYH7-
mediated HCM suggest a poison peptide mechanism. Specifically, the mechanism of dysfunction may vary according to the genetic subgroup suggested by a distinctly abnormal distribution of myofilament proteins in patients manifesting a truncation mutation in
MYBPC3
.
Value of Exercise Treadmill Testing in the Risk Stratification of Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Shah Sanjiv J. , Thenappan Thenappan , Rich Stuart , Sur James , Archer Stephen L. , Gomberg-Maitland Mardi
Published: May 2009

Background—

The ability of the Naughton-Balke exercise treadmill test, an objective indicator of exercise capacity, to predict abnormal hemodynamics and mortality in pulmonary hypertension is unknown.

Methods and Results—

We performed a cohort study of 603 patients with pulmonary hypertension from 1982 to 2006, and studied the utility of exercise treadmill test as a predictor of abnormal hemodynamics and death. We used multivariable linear regression to determine whether exercise capacity, measured in metabolic equivalents, was associated with abnormal hemodynamics, and we used a Cox proportional hazards model to determine whether decreased exercise capacity predicted death. Mean age was 50�15 years, 76% were women, 63% had World Health Organization category I pulmonary arterial hypertension, and 23% were World Health Organization functional classes I and II. Mean exercise capacity was 3.7�2.2 metabolic equivalents. Decreased exercise capacity was independently associated with elevated right atrial and mean pulmonary artery pressure, decreased cardiac index, and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. During median follow-up of 4.6 years, 36% of the patients died. Decreased exercise capacity was associated with mortality (multivariable hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.37 for each 1-metabolic equivalent decrease in exercise capacity;
P
=0.031;
P
=0.052 after adjusting for invasive hemodynamic variables). Decreased exercise capacity also predicted mortality in functional classes I–II patients, 24% of whom died (hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.26 for each 1-metabolic equivalent decrease in exercise capacity;
P
=0.032), although this association did not persist after adjusting for invasive hemodynamic variables (
P
=0.63).

Conclusions—

Reduced exercise capacity on exercise treadmill test is associated with worse hemodynamics and is a predictor of mortality in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Evaluation of α
v
β
3
Integrin-Targeted Positron Emission Tomography Tracer
18
F-Galacto-RGD for Imaging of Vascular Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Mice
Authors: Laitinen Iina , Saraste Antti , Weidl Eliane , Poethko Thorsten , Weber Axel W. , Nekolla Stephan G. , Leppänen Pia , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Hölzlwimmer Gabriele , Walch Axel , Esposito Irene , Wester Hans-Jürgen , Knuuti Juhani , Schwaiger Markus
Published: May 2009

Background—

18
F-Galacto-RGD is a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer binding to α
v
β
3
integrin that is expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells in atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, we evaluated
18
F-galacto-RGD for imaging vascular inflammation by studying its uptake into atherosclerotic lesions of hypercholesterolemic mice in comparison to deoxyglucose.

Methods and results—

Hypercholesterolemic LDLR
−/−
ApoB
100/100
mice on a Western diet and normally fed adult C57BL/6 control mice were injected with
18
F-galacto-RGD and
3
H-deoxyglucose followed by imaging with a small animal PET/CT scanner. The aorta was dissected 2 hours after tracer injection for biodistribution studies, autoradiography, and histology. Biodistribution of
18
F-galacto-RGD was higher in the atherosclerotic than in the normal aorta. Autoradiography demonstrated focal
18
F-galacto-RGD uptake in the atherosclerotic plaques when compared with the adjacent normal vessel wall or adventitia. Plaque-to-normal vessel wall ratios were comparable to those of deoxyglucose. Although angiogenesis was not detected,
18
F-galacto-RGD uptake was associated with macrophage density and deoxyglucose accumulation in the plaques. Binding to atherosclerotic lesions was efficiently blocked in competition experiments. In vivo imaging visualized
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F-galacto-RGD uptake colocalizing with calcified lesions of the aortic arch as seen in CT angiography.

Conclusions—

18
F-Galacto-RGD demonstrates specific uptake in atherosclerotic lesions of mouse aorta. In this model, its uptake was associated with macrophage density.
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F-Galacto-RGD is a potential tracer for noninvasive imaging of inflammation in atherosclerotic lesions.
Planning the Peace and Enforcing the Surrender: Deterrence in the Allied Occupations of Germany and Japan
Authors: Willard-Foster Melissa
Published: May 2009

Much is known about the efforts of the United States to democratize, reconstruct, and deliver humanitarian aid to Germany and Japan after their defeat in World War II. Much less is known about the willingness of the United States to use coercive tactics to deter and counter resistance to its military occupation of the two countries. Many of the scholars and politicians who consider the occupations of Germany and Japan to be models for success, largely because of their peaceful outcomes, often overlook the initial period of occupation, in which latent violence figured prominently. An understanding of this early period, however, is crucial to assessing the determinants of peace.
A Monte Carlo Study of the Effect of Item Characteristic Curve Estimation on the Accuracy of Three Person-Fit Statistics
Authors: St-Onge Christina , Valois Pierre , Abdous Belkacem , Germain Stéphane
Published: May 2009

To date, there have been no studies comparing parametric and nonparametric Item Characteristic Curve (ICC) estimation methods on the effectiveness of Person-Fit Statistics (PFS). The primary aim of this study was to determine if the use of ICCs estimated by nonparametric methods would increase the accuracy of item response theory—based PFS for small sample sizes. Using three recognized PFS (lz, ECI2 z, and ECI4z), four estimation methods were compared: two parametric methods (the two-parameter logistic model and three-parameter logistic model) and two nonparametric methods (Nadaraya-Watson's regression and the local logistic regression). Finally, matrices of 100- and 1,000-answer vectors were generated for this Monte Carlo study. For both large and small sample sizes, the accuracy of the PFS was greater when used with the parametric models.
Contact Between Grandchildren and Their Grandparents in Early Adulthood
Authors: Geurts Teun , Poortman Anne-Rigt , van Tilburg Theo , Dykstra Pearl A.
Published: May 2009

Using cross-sectional data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study ( N = 1,231), this study examines the relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents across early adulthood. Age is used as a proxy for change during the grandchild’s life course and the influence of major life course characteristics is examined. Results indicate that the majority of young adult grandchildren have contact with their grandparents, but the average frequency is low. Age differences in contact frequency suggest a decline in grandparent—grandchild contact across early adulthood. Multilevel analyses show that grandchildren’s employment status, partner, and parenthood status do not affect contact frequency with grandparents. Rather, the results point at the importance of the parental home for facilitating grandparent—grandchild contact as age-related differences are accounted for by whether grandchildren left the parental home. Furthermore, most of the variance in grandparent—grandchild contact is attributable to differences between family of the mother’s and family of the father’s side.
“Should Be Fun—Not!”
Authors: Whalen Juanita M. , Pexman Penny M. , Gill Alastair J.
Published: May 2009

According to Kreuz's principle of inferability, speakers tend to employ nonliteral language when it can reasonably be perceived by their conversational partner. In a computer-mediated communicative setting, such as e-mail, this suggests that the e-mail writer might use discourse tools that facilitate comprehension on the part of the recipient. The present study examined rates of usage for various forms of nonliteral language in 210 e-mail messages written by young adults. In 94.30% of all e-mails there was at least one nonliteral statement, and participants used an average of 2.90 nonliteral statements per e-mail. Results showed that forms of nonliteral language that are typically deemed to be riskier, such as sarcasm, were used much less frequently than other less risky forms, such as hyperbole, and were marked with discourse markers more often. This indicates that e-mail authors are sensitive to the risky nature of nonliteral language use in e-mail, yet are savvy to the tools available to them in this communicative medium.
The Language of Lyrics
Authors: Pettijohn Terry F. , Sacco Donald F.
Published: May 2009

The lyrical content of Billboard No. 1 songs for each year from 1955 to 2003 was investigated across changes in U.S. social and economic conditions. Consistent with the environmental security hypothesis, popular song lyrics were predicted to have more meaningful themes and content when social and economic conditions were threatening. Trends for more meaningful, comforting, and romantic lyric ratings were observed in more threatening social and economic times. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software, songs with more words per sentence, a focus on the future, and greater mention of social processes and intergroup themes were popular during threatening social and economic conditions. Limitations and possible implications are discussed.
Linguistic Predictors of Mindfulness in Written Self-Disclosure Narratives
Authors: Moore Susan D. , Brody Leslie R.
Published: May 2009

This study investigated whether relative changes in cognitive, emotion, temporal, and self-reference word frequencies in repeated narratives predicted improvements in mindfulness skills (i.e., nonjudgmental acceptance of present-moment experiences, observing and describing present stimuli, and acting with awareness) subsequent to narrative self-disclosure. Participants wrote repeated narratives of traumatic or daily events over 3 days. Mindfulness was assessed at baseline and 4 to 8 weeks posttask. Results indicated that relative increases in cognitive processing words (among traumatic events participants and women in both conditions) and present tense words (among all participants) significantly predicted increases in nonjudgmental acceptance, describing, or overall mindfulness. Increases in present tense words appeared to partially mediate the higher mindfulness outcomes of participants writing about daily events when compared with those writing about trauma. The findings suggest that linguistic changes in self-disclosure narratives are associated with improvements in specific mindfulness skills.
Second Language Competence in the Italian-Speaking Population of Alto Adige/Südtirol
Authors: Paladino Maria-Paola , Poddesu Luciana , Rauzi Manuel , Vaes Jeroen , Cadinu Mara , Forer Doris
Published: May 2009

Stereotype threat theory suggests that a negative stereotype about a social group can undermine the performance of group members in a stereotype-relevant domain. The present research examines this in the domain of second language (L2) competence. Two studies were conducted to test the effects of stereotype threat on L2 performance in a group of Italian-speaking people living in Alto Adige/Südtirol (AA/ST), a bilingual region of Italy. Participants were members of the Italian-speaking community who are generally not very proficient in L2 (i.e., German). When reminded of the negative stereotype, participants who highly identified with the domain (i.e., German language; Study 1) and those who believed that their linguistic group was in a disadvantaged position in AA/ST (Study 2) underperformed in a German language test. These findings are discussed in relation with people's mastery of L2 in bilingual contexts and their consequences for the study of stereotype threat.
Home Training, Local Corticosteroid Injection, or Radial Shock Wave Therapy for Greater Trochanter Pain Syndrome
Authors: Rompe Jan D. , Segal Neil A. , Cacchio Angelo , Furia John P. , Morral Antonio , Maffulli Nicola
Published: May 2009

Background

There are no controlled studies testing the efficacy of various nonoperative strategies for treatment of greater trochanter pain syndrome.

Hypothesis

The null hypothesis was that local corticosteroid injection, home training, and repetitive low-energy shock wave therapy produce equivalent outcomes 4 months from baseline.

Study Design

Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods

Two hundred twenty-nine patients with refractory unilateral greater trochanter pain syndrome were assigned sequentially to a home training program, a single local corticosteroid injection (25 mg prednisolone), or a repetitive low-energy radial shock wave treatment. Subjects underwent outcome assessments at baseline and at 1, 4, and 15 months. Primary outcome measures were degree of recovery, measured on a 6-point Likert scale (subjects with rating completely recovered or much improved were rated as treatment success), and severity of pain over the past week (0–10 points) at 4-month follow-up.

Results

One month from baseline, results after corticosteroid injection (success rate, 75%; pain rating, 2.2 points) were significantly better than those after home training (7%; 5.9 points) or shock wave therapy (13%; 5.6 points). Regarding treatment success at 4 months, radial shock wave therapy led to significantly better results (68%; 3.1 points) than did home training (41%; 5.2 points) and corticosteroid injection (51%; 4.5 points). The null hypothesis was rejected. Fifteen months from baseline, radial shock wave therapy (74%; 2.4 points) and home training (80%; 2.7 points) were significantly more successful than was corticosteroid injection (48%; 5.3 points).

Conclusion

The role of corticosteroid injection for greater trochanter pain syndrome needs to be reconsidered. Subjects should be properly informed about the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment options, including the economic burden. The significant short-term superiority of a single corticosteroid injection over home training and shock wave therapy declined after 1 month. Both corticosteroid injection and home training were significantly less successful than was shock wave therapy at 4-month follow-up. Corticosteroid injection was significantly less successful than was home training or shock wave therapy at 15-month follow-up.