bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravesical Botulinum Toxin for Overactive Bladder Syndrome without Detrusor Overactivity
Authors: Jackson B.L. , Burge F. , Bronjewski E. , Parkinson R.J.
Published: March 2012

Objective:

To report our experience of intravesical botulinum toxin for idiopathic overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) without detrusor overactivity (DOA) on urodynamic assessment.

Patients and methods:

Data regarding presentation, diagnosis, urodynamic findings, date and dose of treatment, and outcomes were recorded prospectively for 94 patients undergoing intravesical botulinum toxin injection for idiopathic overactive bladder syndrome at our institution. The cohort included 19 patients without DOA on urodynamics. A positive response to treatment was defined as patient-reported improvement without the need for further treatment. ICIQ-OAB and UI scores, and bladder diary parameters were also recorded. Rates of urinary retention requiring intermittent or indwelling catheterisation were noted.

Results:

The overall response rate to treatment was 82% ( n = 94). Patients without DOA ( n = 19) had a response rate of 89%, which compared favourably with a response rate of 81% in patients with DOA ( n = 75). Overall, 29% of patients who were voiding normally prior to treatment required intermittent self-catheterisation after the procedure. The requirement for self-catheterisation did not appear to be influenced by urodynamic findings.

Conclusion:

These preliminary, non-randomised data suggest that intravesical botulinum toxin injection may be efficacious in patients with OAB symptoms without DOA. Further evaluation by means of a randomised, controlled trial is suggested.
The inhibitory effect of miRNA‐1 on ET‐1 gene expression
Authors: Li Dong , He Bin , Zhang Huan , Shan Shi-Fu , Liang Qing , Yuan Wen-Jun , Ren An-Jing
Published: March 2012

There is a close correlation between endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) and microRNA‐1 (miRNA‐1) expression in the heart, but whether ET‐1 expression is regulated by miRNA‐1 warrants further research. Our results revealed multiple clues suggesting that miRNA‐1 may participate in inhibiting ET‐1 gene expression. The inhibitory effect of miRNA‐1 on recombinant luciferase reporter gene was mediated by the target sequence at the 127th nucleotide on ET‐1 3′UTR. We further confirmed that miRNA‐1 could inhibit endogenous ET‐1 gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level. Our study provides a new perspective on the regulatory mechanism of ET‐1 gene.
Are dieting-related cognitive impairments a function of iron status?
Authors: Green Michael W. , Elliman Nicola A.
Published: March 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the impairments in cognitive function observed in unsupported dieting are related to compromised Fe status. During a non-clinical intervention, overweight participants (age: 18–45 years, BMI: 25–30 kg/m2) either participated in a commercially available weight-loss regimen (n14), dieted without support (n17) or acted as a non-dieting control group (n14) for a period of 8 weeks. Measurements of cognitive function and blood chemistry were taken at a pre-diet baseline, after 1 week and 8 weeks of dieting. After 1 week, unsupported dieters displayed impaired verbal memory, executive function and slower reaction speeds than the other two groups, this difference disappearing by the end of the study. There were no significant group-related changes in blood chemistry over the course of the study, although there were group-related changes in a number of self-reported food-related cognitions. In conclusion, impaired cognition among unsupported dieters is not due to compromised Fe status and is most likely to result from psychological variables.
A universality result for endomorphism monoids of some ultrahomogeneous structures
Authors: Dolinka Igor , Mašulović Dragan
Published: March 2012

We devise a fairly general sufficient condition ensuring that the endomorphism monoid of a countably infinite ultrahomogeneous structure (i.e. a Fraïssé limit) embeds all countable semigroups. This approach not only provides us with a framework unifying the previous scattered results in this vein, but actually yields new applications for endomorphism monoids of the (rational) Urysohn space and the countable universal ultrahomogeneous semilattice.
Parasite glycans and antibody-mediated immune responses inSchistosomainfection
Authors: VAN DIEPEN ANGELA , VAN DER VELDEN NIELS S. J. , SMIT CORNELIS H. , MEEVISSEN MONIEK H. J. , HOKKE CORNELIS H.
Published: March 2012

Schistosome infections in humans are characterized by the development of chronic disease and high re-infection rates after treatment due to the slow development of immunity. It appears that anti-schistosome antibodies are at least partially mediating protective mechanisms. Efforts to develop a vaccine based on immunization with surface-exposed or secreted larval or worm proteins are ongoing. Schistosomes also express a large number of glycans as part of their glycoprotein and glycolipid repertoire, and antibody responses to those glycans are mounted by the infected host. This observation raises the question if glycans might also form novel vaccine targets for immune intervention in schistosomiasis. This review summarizes current knowledge of antibody responses and immunity in experimental and natural infections withSchistosoma, the expression profiles of schistosome glycans (the glycome), and antibody responses to individual antigenic glycan motifs. Future directions to study anti-glycan responses in schistosomiasis in more detail in order to address more precisely the possible role of glycans in antibody-mediated immunity are discussed.
When Should Philosophers Be Silent?
Authors: Decker Jason , Taliaferro Charles
Published: March 2012

Are there general precepts governing when philosophers should not conduct inquiry on a given topic? When, if ever, should a philosopher just be silent? In this paper we look at a number of practical, epistemic, and moral arguments for philosophical silence. Some are quite general, and suggest that it is best never to engage in philosophical inquiry, while others are more domain – or context – specific. We argue that these arguments fail to establish their conclusions. We do, however, try to identify and defend several substantive constraints on philosophical dialogue and inquiry. In practice, though, respecting these constraints needn't lead to much philosophical silence.
The Words of Others
Authors: Reinhardt Lloyd
Published: March 2012

The great bulk of what we are pleased to deem knowledge comes to us via the words of others. But such knowledge is limited to (mere) information or plain fact. Theoretical, Ethical and Aesthetic discourse are three regions in which, even when we accept the words of others, we transmit content with what I dub prefaces, not flatly, not in our own voice. Explanation of this is suggested: in these regions assertions claim truth without claiming knowledge. So fact-theory and fact-value differ from plain fact for similar reasons, reasons which alleviate the urge to downgrade ethical discourse to the expressive or prescriptive.
Fast analytical models of wheeled locomotion in deformable terrain for mobile robots
Authors: Jia Zhenzhong , Smith William , Peng Huei
Published: March 2012

Hazardous terrains pose a crucial challenge to mobile robots. To operate safely and efficiently, it is necessary to detect the terrain type and modify operation strategies in real-time. Fast analytical models of wheeled locomotion on deformable terrains are thus important. Based on classic terramechanics, a closed-form wheel–soil interaction model was derived by quadratic approximation of stresses along the wheel–soil interface. The bulldozing resistance and the effects of grousers were also added for more accurate prediction of wheel contact forces. A non-iterative method was proposed to estimate the entry angle, by using approximated vertical pressure acting on the wheels. The computational efficiency was improved by avoiding traditional recursive search. Real-time computation of the wheel contact forces is achieved by the terramechanics-based formula (TBF), which was developed by integrating the wheel–soil interaction model and the entry angle estimator. In addition, an automotive-inspired approach was used to integrate the TBF and the simplified vehicle dynamics model for fast simulation of mobile robots. Stability problems in numerical simulation could be avoided by this method. The above models were verified by comparing simulation results and experiment data, including single-wheel experiments and full-vehicle experiments.
Spatial management of deep-sea seamount fisheries: balancing sustainable exploitation and habitat conservation
Authors: CLARK MALCOLM R. , DUNN MATTHEW R.
Published: March 2012

Seamounts throughout the world's oceans can support diverse and abundant fish communities. Many have been subject to commercial deep-sea bottom trawl fisheries and have exhibited ‘boom and bust’ characteristics. There is growing concern about the effect of fishing on fragile and vulnerable benthic invertebrate species. This review examines why deep-sea fisheries have generally failed, and recommends measures that are necessary to improve their sustainability. Much is based on lessons learned in the south-west Pacific that may be more generally applicable to global deep-sea fisheries. Sustainable fisheries require highly precautionary feature-based catch limits, and credible and timely stock assessment advice. Management also needs to consider fishing impacts on the benthic habitat, and while reducing and spreading fishing effort on seamounts is beneficial for fish stocks, it can have a negative effect on the benthos. To balance exploitation and conservation, elements of spatial management are required, whereby some seamounts are protected before any fishing has occurred. Protected areas should include entire seamounts, and multiple seamounts in a network. A management regime should incorporate closed seamounts, open seamounts for fishing, and management of adjacent slope areas where these are important for the productivity of fish and invertebrate populations.
Umpires as Legal Realists
Authors: Blake William
Published: March 2012

During his confirmation hearings, then-judge John Roberts analogized the role of a judge to the role of a baseball umpire. Roberts argued that umpires do not make the rules; they simply apply them. Legal scholars have criticized Roberts from a legal realist perspective because the analogy misconstrues the nature of judging as formalistic. I believe Roberts also misconstrued the nature of umpiring as formalistic. Like judges, umpires must rely on their experience, rather than logic, because the rules of baseball are sometimes incomplete, indeterminate, and contradictory. On occasion, umpires even ignore the rulebook (justifiably). The judges-as-umpires analogy thus illustrates the differences between legal formalism and legal realism in a way that students can more easily understand.
Youth, Life, and Politics: Examining the Everyday in Comparative Politics
Authors: Ortuoste Maria
Published: March 2012

The traditional way of introducing comparative politics to freshmen, which is through the study of institutions, is contrasted with an alternative approach. An everyday-politics approach compares the daily struggles of global youth—how they cope in times of peace and war, and with issues of wealth and poverty, identity, education and employment, and citizenship and immigration. This approach contains four elements: juxtapositions, recognition of the vicissitudes of growing up in a more complex world, the use of stories, and social action in our daily lives. This combination “gently” introduces the concepts of comparative politics but with an emphasis on how politics affect the lives of other young people. These stories also show the various forms of political participation and political resistance in different countries. An everyday-politics approach, while still experimental, seems to yield some positive results in helping students care about politics, gaining an understanding of how much is at stake for them, and connecting them to the wider world.
Common Expositional Problems in Students' Papers and Theses
Authors: Colburn Forrest D. , Uphoff Norman
Published: March 2012

Words should be chosen and used carefully so that they convey the meaning or meanings that you intend—and do not convey any unintended or double meanings. Writing should leave little ambiguity or uncertainty about what you are referring to—unless some purposeful ambiguity is desired. Sometimes words that are abstract or superficial may be chosen to suit the writer's purpose. For example, there is a long tradition of euphemistic writing. But such use of words should be well-considered and deliberate, not the result of carelessness or indifference.
Nuclear Weapons in the 112th Congress: Politics and Policy after New START
Authors: Karako Thomas
Published: March 2012

Passed by the US House of Representatives as part of the annual defense authorization bill in May 2011, provisions of the New START Implementation Act (NSIA) represented an attempt by Congress to exercise more robust involvement in US nuclear policy, an area historically subject to a great deal of deference to the executive branch. The bill sought to implement the “grand bargain” that preceded the ratification of the New START treaty—namely, that the treaty's seven-year window of reductions to US nuclear forces should be made in tandem with a 10-year modernization program of both the weapons themselves and their aging delivery systems. The context of this arrangement was growing concern about the ability of the United States to retain a sustainable nuclear deterrent for the indefinite future. Although the NSIA provisions were abandoned during conference with the Senate in December 2011, their underlying concerns remain unresolved, and the sustainability of the nuclear enterprise is certain to reappear as a future point of controversy.
IS THE UNEXAMINED LIFE WORTH LIVING OR NOT?
Authors: Famakinwa J.O.
Published: March 2012

According to Socrates, an unexamined life is not worth living. This view is controversial. Is the unexamined life worth living or not? Most philosophers disagree about the answer. While some argue for the worthlessness of an unexamined life, others support the superfluity of self critical examination. In his recent article, Jamison pooh-poohed the claim that an unexamined life is not worth living. According to Jamison, not only is an unexamined life worth living; the rigorous examination of life should not be encouraged due to its possible negative effects on the participants and the entire society. In Jamison's view, a consistent and unregulated examination of human life produces a feeling of ecstasy (a specie of spiritual feeling) in those who engage in it. The feeling, if allowed, could endanger both the thinker and the entire society. For Jamison, “once you get a taste of this kind of thing, you do not want to give it up”. Someone who engages in self-critical examination eventually becomes entangled with it. Socrates became entangled in dialectics, became unpopular, was accused of corrupting the youth and eventually sentenced to death.
How do supervisee's learn during supervision? A Grounded Theory study of the perceived developmental process
Authors: Johnston Lynne H. , Milne Derek L.
Published: March 2012

To contribute to a model of CBT supervision, we interpreted supervisees' understanding of the processes involved in their receipt of supervision. Second, we assessed the utility of a Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM) to study supervision. Supervisees were interviewed about their experiences of supervision, within a cross-sectional, qualitative design. In-depth, face-to-face individual interviews were conducted with seven trainee clinical psychologists. Their perceptions of supervision were analysed by means of a constructivist revision of GTM. A conceptual model is presented, to show the learning process from the perspective of the supervisees. This suggests that the receipt of supervision was experienced against a developmental backdrop involving a progression along two continua: competency and awareness. A set of core processes (Reflection, Socratic Information Exchange, Scaffolding, Supervisory Alliance) were thought to interact, enabling appropriate learning across developmental stages. This was thought to facilitate movement through individualized Zones of Proximal Development (ZPD). The fidelity construct of ‘receipt’ is complex and does not lend itself to quantification and measurement using a positivistic approach. By contrast, GTM was a useful methodology to use in this context. Further research using a similar methodology may further contribute to a model of CBT supervision.
Religion, Religiosity, and the Moral Divide in Canadian Politics
Authors: Ang Adrian , Petrocik John R.
Published: March 2012

Social group conflict along regional, ethnic, linguistic, and religious cleavages is deeply embedded in the Canadian historical experience. Contemporary analyses, however, have deprecated the role of religion and religiosity in shaping Canadians' political attitudes. This analysis demonstrates that religion and religiosity are significant correlates of Canadian attitudes on moral issues, paralleling the pattern observed in the United States. It demonstrates that the religious cleavage has been a salient feature of Canadian politics for some time and considers whether the contemporary moral divide could serve as a portent of cultural-religious conflict in Canada if a “political entrepreneur” articulated an issue agenda linked to these religion-based differences.
Humanitarian engagement under counter-terrorism: a conflict of norms and the emerging policy landscape
Authors: Modirzadeh Naz K. , Lewis Dustin A. , Bruderlein Claude
Published: March 2012

This article identifies two countervailing sets of norms – one promoting humanitarian engagement with non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in armed conflict in order to protect populations in need, and the other prohibiting such engagement with listed ‘terrorist’ groups in order to protect security – and discusses how this conflict of norms might affect the capacity of humanitarian organizations to deliver life-saving assistance in areas under the control of one of these groups. Rooted in international humanitarian law (IHL), the first set of norms provides a basis for humanitarian engagement with NSAGs in non-international armed conflict for the purpose of assisting populations under their control and promoting compliance with the rules of IHL. The second set of rules attempts to curtail financial and other forms of material support, including technical training and co-ordination, to listed ‘terrorist’ organizations, some of which may qualify as NSAGs under IHL. The article highlights counter-terrorism regulations developed by the United States and the United Nations Security Council, though other states and multilateral bodies have similar regulations. The article concludes by sketching ways in which humanitarian organizations might respond to the identified tensions.
Decadal changes in the physical mechanisms of the seasonal cycle of summertime precipitation variability in Korea
Authors: Roh Joon‐Woo , Kim Kwang‐Yul , Jhun Jong‐Ghap
Published: March 2012

Summertime precipitation variability in Korea has changed significantly in recent years. To understand how the physical mechanisms of summertime precipitation in Korea vary with climate change, we analyzed observed precipitation records for 1996–2008 in comparison with those for 1979–1995 at 61 Korea Meteorological Administration stations distributed over South Korea. We investigated detailed physical changes by extracting space‐time structures of the physical mechanisms from the daily NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data over East Asia via cyclostationary EOF (CSEOF) analysis. Due to the change of low‐level circulation patterns in the Asian region, the commencement, duration, and retreat of the East Asian monsoon front has varied significantly over recent years. Specifically, the first peak of the bimodal precipitation pattern in Korea has started earlier and significantly increased in intensity. The second peak has broadened in recent years and the typical seasonal period of decreased precipitation has weakened. The strength of the sub‐seasonal component of precipitation has increased in recent years due to the strengthening of meridional circulation between the subtropics and the midlatitudes. A conspicuous change in the vertical structure of the sub‐seasonal component is observed in recent records. Increased warm and moist advection from the south and decreased cold and dry advection from the north seem to be the primary reasons for such a change. The high‐frequency component of summer precipitation with time scales shorter than 10 days is formed by the baroclinic instability observed in recent years. This component has increased by ∼25% due primarily to the strengthened dynamic and thermodynamic processes.
Properties of deep convection in tropical continental, monsoon, and oceanic rainfall regimes
Authors: Xu Weixin , Zipser Edward J.
Published: March 2012

This study compares vertical structures and properties of deep convection for continental, monsoonal, and oceanic rainfall regimes based on 13‐yr TRMM measurements. There is evident regime separation in convective structures and properties of deep convection: continental and oceanic regimes are at two ends of the spectrum, with monsoon regimes intermediate between them. For example, most of the continental rainfall (70–80%) is contributed by storms having 40‐dBZ radar echoes reaching above 6‐km, strong ice scattering signature, and lightning flashes. This indicates that continental convection is dominated by robust mixed‐phase processes such as freezing of raindrops or riming of graupel supported by strong updrafts. In contrast, less monsoon rainfall (∼40%) or very limited oceanic rainfall (∼10%) involves these vigorous microphysical processes in mixed‐phase regions. Though monsoons are intermediate in convective intensity, both current and previous studies show that their active periods are closer to oceanic regimes and their break periods are slightly closer to continental regimes. In short, this study offers novel guidance for categorization of convective properties of three regime archetypes and will be important for future regional, climatological, and modeling studies.
Storm‐induced upwelling of high pCO2 waters onto the continental shelf of the western Arctic Ocean and implications for carbonate mineral saturation states
Authors: Mathis Jeremy T. , Pickart Robert S. , Byrne Robert H. , McNeil Craig L. , Moore G. W. K. , Juranek Laurie W. , Liu Xuewu , Ma Jian , Easley Regina A. , Elliot Matthew M. , Cross Jessica N. , Reisdorph Stacey C. , Bahr Frank , Morison Jamie , Lichendorf Trina , Feely Richard A.
Published: March 2012

The carbon system of the western Arctic Ocean is undergoing a rapid transition as sea ice extent and thickness decline. These processes are dynamically forcing the region, with unknown consequences for CO2 fluxes and carbonate mineral saturation states, particularly in the coastal regions where sensitive ecosystems are already under threat from multiple stressors. In October 2011, persistent wind‐driven upwelling occurred in open water along the continental shelf of the Beaufort Sea in the western Arctic Ocean. During this time, cold (<−1.2°C), salty (>32.4) halocline water—supersaturated with respect to atmospheric CO2 (pCO2 > 550 μatm) and undersaturated in aragonite (Ωaragonite < 1.0) was transported onto the Beaufort shelf. A single 10‐day event led to the outgassing of 0.18–0.54 Tg‐C and caused aragonite undersaturations throughout the water column over the shelf. If we assume a conservative estimate of four such upwelling events each year, then the annual flux to the atmosphere would be 0.72–2.16 Tg‐C, which is approximately the total annual sink of CO2 in the Beaufort Sea from primary production. Although a natural process, these upwelling events have likely been exacerbated in recent years by declining sea ice cover and changing atmospheric conditions in the region, and could have significant impacts on regional carbon budgets. As sea ice retreat continues and storms increase in frequency and intensity, further outgassing events and the expansion of waters that are undersaturated in carbonate minerals over the shelf are probable.
Tie1 deficiency induces endothelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Garcia Julie , Sandi Maria José , Cordelier Pierre , Binétruy Bernard , Pouysségur Jacques , Iovanna Juan Lucio , Tournaire Roselyne
Published: March 2012

Endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has a significant role in embryonic heart formation and in various pathologies. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate EndMT induction remain to be elucidated. We show that suppression of receptor tyrosine kinase Tie1 but not Tie2 induces human endothelial cells to undergo EndMT and that Slug deficiency reverts this process. We find that Erk1/2, Erk5 and Akt cascades control Slug promoter activity induced by Tie1 deficiency. Interestingly, EndMT is present in human pancreatic tumour. We propose that EndMT associated with Tie1 downregulation participates in the pathological development of stroma observed in tumours.
Mobile Image Ratiometry for the Detection of Botrytis cinerea (Gray Mold)
Authors: Cooper Donald
Published: March 2012

Mobile Platform Informatics (MPI) and Smartphone Informatics (SPI) methods like Mobile Image Ratiometry (MIR) are potentially transformative point-of-use instantaneous analysis tools that are useful across a variety of industries. In agriculture, MIR-compatible immuno test strips allow early detection of a number of biotic stressors before devastating crop losses occur. Here we describe a low-cost and easy-to-use Smartphone and/or tablet-based protocol (Mobile Assay Inc., www.mobileassay.com) for the detection and on-sight instantaneous analysis of B. cinerea, a fungus that causes significant damage to a variety of plants and flowers. Early detection and tracking of the B. cinerea fungus before the visible gray mold appears has the potential to increase agricultural productivity especially in the developing world.
Characterization of a novel copper-haem c dissimilatory nitrite reductase from Ralstonia pickettii
Authors: Han Cong , Wright Gareth S. A. , Fisher Karl , Rigby Stephen E. J. , Eady Robert R. , Hasnain S. Samar
Published: March 2012

NiRs (nitrite reductases) convert nitrite into NO in the denitrification process. RpNiR (Ralstonia pickettii NiR), a new type of dissimilatory Cu-containing NiR with a C-terminal haem c domain from R. pickettii, has been cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a subunit molecular mass of 50515 Da, consistent with sequence data showing homology to the well-studied two-domain Cu NiRs, but with an attached C-terminal haem c domain. Gel filtration and combined SEC (size-exclusion chromatography)-SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) analysis shows the protein to be trimeric. The metal content of RpNiR is consistent with each monomer having a single haem c group and the two Cu sites being metallated by Cu2+ ions. The absorption spectrum of the oxidized as-isolated recombinant enzyme is dominated by the haem c. X-band EPR spectra have clear features arising from both type 1 Cu and type 2 Cu centres in addition to those of low-spin ferric haem. The requirements for activity and low apparent Km for nitrite are similar to other CuNiRs (Cu-centre NiRs). However, EPR and direct binding measurements of nitrite show that oxidized RpNiR binds nitrite very weakly, suggesting that substrate binds to the reduced type 2 Cu site during turnover. Analysis of SEC-SAXS data suggests that the haem c domains in RpNiR form extensions into the solvent, conferring a high degree of conformational flexibility in solution. SAXS data yield Rg (gyration radius) and Dmax (maximum particle diameter) values of 43.4 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm) and 154 Å compared with 28 Å and 80 Å found for the two-domain CuNiR of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans.
Beneficial effects of rosuvastatin on insulin resistance, adiposity, inflammatory markers and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice fed on a high-fat diet
Authors: Fraulob Julio Cesar , Souza-Mello Vanessa , Aguila Marcia Barbosa , Mandarim-de-Lacerda Carlos Alberto
Published: March 2012

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ST (rosuvastatin) and GZ (rosiglitazone) on IR (insulin resistance) and on liver as well as adipose tissue in mice fed on an HF (high-fat) diet. Our data show that treatment with ST resulted in a marked improvement in insulin sensitivity characterized by enhanced glucose clearance during the insulin tolerance test and a 70% decrease in the HOMA-IR (homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) index level (P=0.0008). The ST-treated mice exhibited lower gains in BM (body mass; −8%; P<0.01) and visceral fat pad thickness (−60%; P<0.01) compared with the untreated HF group. In comparison with HF-diet-fed mice, HF+ST-treated mice showed a significant reduction in hepatomegaly and liver steatosis (−6%, P<0.05; and −21%, P<0.01 respectively). In HF+ST-treated mice, the hepatic TAG (triacylglycerol) levels were reduced by 58% compared with the HF group (P<0.01). In addition, the expression of SREBP-1c (sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-1c) was decreased by 50% in the livers of HF+ST-treated mice (P<0.01) relative to the HF-diet-fed mice. The levels of resistin were lower in the HF+ST-treated group compared with the HF group (44% less, P< 0.01). In conclusion, we demonstrated that ST treatment improved insulin sensitivity and decreased liver steatosis in mice fed on an HF diet. Furthermore, ST reduced BM gains, improved the circulating levels of plasma cholesterol and TAG, and reduced hepatic TAG, which was concomitant with lower resistin levels.
Oviposition of a leaf-miner on Erythroxylum tortuosum (Erythroxylaceae) leaves: hierarchical variation of physical leaf traits
Authors: De Sibio P. R. , Rossi M. N.
Published: March 2012

Plants do not offer homogeneous supplies of the resources required by herbivorous insects as many resource traits show considerable variation both within and between plants. The distribution of variation among host-plant attributes determines the optimal spatial resolution level for insect females to select the best resource patches for oviposition. In this study, we examine whether variation in fluctuating asymmetry and size of Erythroxylum tortuosum Mart. (Erythroxylaceae) leaves influence oviposition of the specialist leaf-miner Agnippe Chambers (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). By partitioning the variance across five hierarchical levels, the oviposition pattern was investigated at the spatial resolution level where these leaf traits varied the most. We confirm that the largest variation in both these leaf attributes occurs at the leaf level. We hypothesise that leaf-miner females will respond to this variation by selecting the best leaves (resources) on which to lay their eggs. We find that the probability of oviposition is not significantly related to fluctuating asymmetry or to leaf size (oviposition preference test), suggesting that these two physical traits are not relevant to leaf-miners as indicators of resource patch quality. Therefore, although we show that females laid significantly more eggs on larger leaves, this behaviour appears not to be a result of active selection of leaves. Our results suggest that Agnippe females probably adjust their oviposition proportionally to leaf area because the relationship between egg density and leaf area was not statistically significant.
Farm Level and Geographic Predictors of Antibiotic Use in Sri Lankan Shrimp Farms
Authors: Munasinghe Nalaka , Stephen Craig , Robertson Colin , Abeynayake Preeni
Published: March 2012

Black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon farming is important for Sri Lanka's rural development plans. Consumer confidence is critical for the development and maintenance of export and domestic shrimp markets. Public concern about the use of antimicrobial drugs and chemicals on shrimp farms, however, could threaten market access. We sought to identify high-risk areas and farm-level risk factors for antimicrobial use to inform the core messages and strategic placement of extension programs to help farmers develop best management practices for antimicrobial use. We undertook a survey of 603 operating farms within the Puttalam district over 42 weeks. Lower stocking density and early harvest were associated with a lower risk of antimicrobial use, whereas standard management practices, including water treatment, feed supplements, probiotic use, pond fertilizing, disinfectant use, and pesticide use, were associated with increased risk. Spatial cluster detection found three significant clusters of antimicrobial-using farms. Antimicrobials were more likely to be used in areas with lower farm density. Some of our counterintuitive findings are discussed from a socioecological perspective. A comprehensive understanding of why antimicrobials are used on shrimp farms requires an evaluation of the physical, epidemiological, and socioeconomic factors.

Received June 10, 2011; accepted December 6, 2011
Places to Stand: The Practices and Politics of Writing Histories
Authors: Olson Christa J.
Published: March 2012

This article situates itself within recent calls for rhetorical studies to expand its regional and cultural scope, offering an analysis of rhetorical constitution in republican Ecuador. Identifying the unavoidable ethical problems that arise when rhetoricians travel, the article argues for a flexible, learning-focused approach to rhetorical historiography that neither abandons existing rhetorical concepts nor rests easily in the face of their limitations. In light of the new insights that emerge when Burke's constitutional theories encounter Ecuador's complicated constitutional scene, the article suggests that our understandings of how rhetoric works can be tempered—both bent and strengthened—by displacement.
Comparative Assessment of Antimicrobial Usage Measures in the Department of Veterans Affairs
Authors: Schirmer Patricia L. , Mercier Renee C. , Ryono Russell A. , Nguyen Nancy , Lucero Cynthia A. , Oda Gina , Holodniy Mark
Published: March 2012

We compared 2 data sources—antimicrobial orders and bar-coded medication administration (BCMA)—for calculating the number of grams used, grams used based on defined daily dose, and days of therapy at one Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 2009-2010. The number of grams used calculated from BCMA data provided the most informative antimicrobial utilization measure.
Show Me the Money: Long-Term Financial Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Authors: Beardsley James R. , Williamson John C. , Johnson James W. , Luther Vera P. , Wrenn Rebekah H. , Ohl Christopher C.
Published: March 2012

The financial impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program in operation for more than 11 years was determined by calculating the reduction in antimicrobial expenditures minus program labor costs. Depending on the method of inflation adjustment used, the program was associated with average cost savings of $920,070 to $2,064,441 per year.
Effect of β‐Glucan on Technological, Sensory, and Structural Properties of Durum Wheat Pasta
Authors: Aravind Nisha , Sissons Mike , Egan Narelle , Fellows Christopher M. , Blazek Jaroslav , Gilbert Elliot P.
Published: March 2012

β‐Glucan is known to have valuable properties for preventative health and is finding widespread use in foods. This study investigated the benefit of adding a commercial source of β‐glucan, Barley Balance (BB) flour, as a functional ingredient in spaghetti. Durum wheat semolina was substituted with BB at levels of 7.5, 15, and 20%, from which spaghetti was prepared on a laboratory scale. The substitution of BB increased the β‐glucan content of semolina from 0.3 to 6% in uncooked and 8% in cooked pasta. Antioxidant activity (measured by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) increased with BB and did not decline significantly on processing and cooking. Compared with the control, 7.5% BB had no or minimal effect on pasta cooking loss, stickiness, water absorption, aroma, and sensory texture. However, at higher doses, pasta became less yellow and more brown, firmer, of inferior aroma, more rubbery, and chewy, but less floury to the mouth. The extent of starch digestion decreased with increasing quantities of BB, suggesting that BB may lower glycemic index, with microscopy data suggesting that this decrease was mediated through the development of a more intensive fiber or fiber/protein matrix retarding enzymatic access to starch granules.
Impact of Seed Lot Infection on the Development of Black Dot and Verticillium Wilt of Potato in Washington
Authors: Dung Jeremiah K. S. , Ingram Jason T. , Cummings Thomas F. , Johnson Dennis A.
Published: March 2012

The fungi Colletotrichum coccodes and Verticillium dahliae are two pathogens of potato which are prevalent in potato field soils and seed tubers. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of seed lot infection by C. coccodes and V. dahliae on disease severity and yield using infested seed lots and fields with and without potato in their recent cropping histories. Greater incidence of C. coccodes in seed led to more root colonization in 2008 (both field types) but not in 2007 and did not influence tuber quantity or yield. Incidence of infection in seed lots by V. dahliae was not related to canopy necrosis, infection of progeny tubers, or yield. However, seed lots exhibited more V. dahliae aboveground vascular colonization, canopy necrosis, infested plant debris, and infected progeny tubers in 5-year potato rotation fields compared with long potato rotation fields. In general, foliar disease symptoms and yield reductions were not related to levels of either pathogen in seed lots. Symptoms of both diseases were more severe and yields were lower in fields with potato in their recent cropping histories, emphasizing the importance of soilborne inoculum in the development of black dot and Verticillium wilt of potato.
The nonhistone, N-terminal tail of an essential, chimeric H2A variant regulates mitotic H3-S10 dephosphorylation
Authors: Song Xiaoyuan , Bowen Josephine , Miao Wei , Liu Yifan , Gorovsky Martin A.
Published: March 2012

H2A.Y is an essential, divergent Tetrahymena thermophila histone variant. It has a long nonhistone N terminus that contains leucine-rich repeats (LRR) and an LRR cap domain with similarity to Sds22p, a regulator of yeast protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) activity in the nucleus. In growing cells, H2A.Y is incorporated into micronuclei only during S phase, which occurs immediately after micronuclear mitosis. Depletion of H2A.Y causes prolonged retention of mitosis-associated histone H3-S10 phosphorylation and mitotic abnormalities that mimic S10E mutation. In cells where H2A.Y is depleted, an inducible chimeric gene, in which the H2A.Y N terminus is attached to H2A.X, is shown to regulate micronuclear H3-S10 phosphorylation. H2A.Y can also be specifically coimmunoprecipitated with a Tetrahymena PP1 ortholog (Ppo1p). Taken together, these results argue that the N terminus of H2A.Y functions to regulate H3-S10 dephosphorylation. This striking in vivo case of “cross-talk” between a H2A variant and a specific post-translational modification of another histone demonstrates a novel function for a histone variant.
Regulation of maternal phospholipid composition and IP3-dependent embryonic membrane dynamics by a specific fatty acid metabolic event in C. elegans
Authors: Kniazeva Marina , Shen Huali , Euler Tetyana , Wang Chen , Han Min
Published: March 2012

Natural fatty acids (FAs) exhibit vast structural diversity, but the functional importance of FA variations and the mechanism by which they contribute to a healthy lipid composition in animals remain largely unexplored. A large family of acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSs) regulates FA metabolism by esterifying FA to coenyzme A. However, little is known about how particular FA–ACS combinations affect lipid composition and specific cellular functions. We analyzed how the activity of ACS-1 on branched chain FA C17ISO impacts maternal lipid content, signal transduction, and development in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. We show that expression of ACS-1 in the somatic gonad guides the incorporation of C17ISO into certain phospholipids and thus regulates the phospholipid composition in the zygote. Disrupting this ACS-1 function causes striking defects in complex membrane dynamics, including exocytosis and cytokinesis, leading to early embryonic lethality. These defects are suppressed by hyperactive IP3 signaling, suggesting that C17ISO and ACS-1 functions are necessary for optimal IP3 signaling essential for early embryogenesis. This study shows a novel role of branched chain FAs whose functions in humans and animals are unknown and uncovers a novel intercellular regulatory pathway linking a specific FA–ACS interaction to specific developmental events.
Chromatin state signatures associated with tissue-specific gene expression and enhancer activity in the embryonic limb
Authors: Cotney Justin , Leng Jing , Oh Sunghee , DeMare Laura E. , Reilly Steven K. , Gerstein Mark B. , Noonan James P.
Published: March 2012

The regulatory elements that direct tissue-specific gene expression in the developing mammalian embryo remain largely unknown. Although chromatin profiling has proven to be a powerful method for mapping regulatory sequences in cultured cells, chromatin states characteristic of active developmental enhancers have not been directly identified in embryonic tissues. Here we use whole-transcriptome analysis coupled with genome-wide profiling of H3K27ac and H3K27me3 to map chromatin states and enhancers in mouse embryonic forelimb and hindlimb. We show that gene-expression differences between forelimb and hindlimb, and between limb and other embryonic cell types, are correlated with tissue-specific H3K27ac signatures at promoters and distal sites. Using H3K27ac profiles, we identified 28,377 putative enhancers, many of which are likely to be limb specific based on strong enrichment near genes highly expressed in the limb and comparisons with tissue-specific EP300 sites and known enhancers. We describe a chromatin state signature associated with active developmental enhancers, defined by high levels of H3K27ac marking, nucleosome displacement, hypersensitivity to sonication, and strong depletion of H3K27me3. We also find that some developmental enhancers exhibit components of this signature, including hypersensitivity, H3K27ac enrichment, and H3K27me3 depletion, at lower levels in tissues in which they are not active. Our results establish histone modification profiling as a tool for developmental enhancer discovery, and suggest that enhancers maintain an open chromatin state in multiple embryonic tissues independent of their activity level.
S-Phenyl 4-methoxybenzothioate
Authors: El-Azab Adel S. , Abdel-Aziz Alaa A.-M. , El-Subbagh Hussein I. , Chantrapromma Suchada , Fun Hoong-Kun
Published: March 2012

In the molecule of the title thioester, C14H12O2S, the dihedral angle between the phenyl and benzene rings is 71.8 (3)°. The methoxy group is essentially coplanar with the benezene ring to which it is bonded, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0065 (5) Å for the non-H atoms involved. In the crystal, weak C—H...π interactions are present.
4-[(2-Carboxyethyl)amino]benzoic acid monohydrate
Authors: Jia Chunman , Chen Shangwen , Yuan Wenbing
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C10H11NO4·H2O, the carboxyl group is twisted at a dihedral angle of 6.1 (3)° with respect to the benzene ring. In the crystal, the organic molecules are linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving both carboxyl groups, forming zigzag chains propagating along theb-axis direction. The water molecules form [100] chains linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The organic molecule and water chains are cross-linked by N—H...Owaterand Owater—H...O hydrogen bonds, generating (001) sheets.
4-(4-Fluorobenzenesulfonamido)phenyl 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate
Authors: Al-Najjar Belal O. , Tengku Muhammad Tengku Sifzizul , Wahab Habibah A. , Rosli Mohd Mustaqim , Fun Hoong-Kun
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C18H13F2NO5S2, the complete molecule is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre, and the O atom and the N—H group attached to the central ring are statistically disordered. The dihedral angle between the central and terminal benzene rings is 64.03 (6)°. In the crystal, N—H...O, C—H...F and C—H...O interactions link the molecules into a three-dimensional network.
(E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-5-iodobenzylidene)hydrazinecarboxamide
Authors: Bikas Rahman , Nikbakht Sardari Samra , Hosseini Seyed Sajjad , Shahverdizadeh Gholam Hossein , Notash Behrouz
Published: March 2012

In the title molecule, C8H8IN3O2, there is an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group and the imine N atom, which generates anS(6) ring. In the crystal, the carbonyl O atom accepts two different N—H...O hydrogen bonds, which connect molecules with twoR22(8) motifs.
Bis(propane-1,3-diamine)disaccharinatonickel(II)
Authors: Kaştaş Gökhan , Kocabıyık Can
Published: March 2012

In the title complex, [Ni(C7H4NO3S)2(C3H10N2)2] or [Ni(sac)2(pen)2] (sac = saccharinate or 1,1,3-trioxo-2,3-dihydro-1λ6,2-benzothiazol-2-ide and pen = propane-1,3-diamine), the NiIIion sits on an inversion center, being coordinated by two N atoms of the sac ligands, which occupytranspositions, and four N atoms of the bidentate pen ligands to define a distorted octahedral geometry. The pen ligands chelate the metal ion, forming a six-membered ring which adopts a half-chair conformation, while the sac ligands adopt the most common coordination mode. The crystal packing is stabilized by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, which form a one-dimensional network along [010]. It is also supported by an N—H...S hydrogen bond between the amine group of the pen ligand and the sulfonyl group of the sac ligand.
(2E)-1-(2,6-Dichloro-3-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one
Authors: Praveen Aletti S. , Yathirajan Hemmige S. , Narayana Badiadka , Gerber Thomas , Hosten Eric , Betz Richard
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C15H9Cl2FO, the F atom shows positional disorder over two positions, with site-occupancy factors of 0.747 (4) and 0.253 (4). The dihedral angle between the rings is 86.37 (10)°. In the crystal, C—H...O contacts connect the molecules into chains along thecaxis. The shortest inter-centroid distance between two aromatic systems is 3.6686 (12) Å and is apparent between the halogenated rings.
(2Z)-2-{[N-(2-Formylphenyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamido]methyl}-3-(4-methylphenyl)prop-2-enenitrile
Authors: Kannan D. , Bakthadoss M. , Madhanraj R. , Murugavel S.
Published: March 2012

In the title compound, C25H22N2O3S, the sulfonyl-bound benzene ring forms dihedral angles of 36.8 (2) and 81.4 (2)°, respectively, with the formylbenzene and methylbenzene rings. The molecular conformation is stabilized by an intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond, which generates anS(5) ring motif. The crystal packing is stabilized by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which generateC(11) chains along thebaxis. The crystal packing is further stabilized by π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.927 (2) Å].
Ethyl 5-(4-aminophenyl)isoxazole-3-carboxylate
Authors: Zhao Jun-Tao , Qi Jing-Jing , Zhou You-Jun , Lv Jia-Guo , Zhu Ju
Published: March 2012

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H12N2O3, contains two molecules in which the benzene and isoxazole rings are almost coplanar, the dihedral angles between their mean planes being 1.76 (9) and 5.85 (8)°. The two molecules interact with each otherviaN—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, which link the molecules into layers parallel to theacplane. The layers stack in a parallel mode with an interlayer distance of 3.36 (7) Å.
1-[Bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4-[2-(2-methylphenoxy)ethyl]piperazine
Authors: Dai Zhao-Hui , Zhong Yan , Wu Bin
Published: March 2012

In the title molecule, C26H28F2N2O, the piperazine ring adopts a chair conformation, with the N-bonded substituents in equatorial orientations. The dihedral angle between the fluorobenzene rings is 69.10 (15).