bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palaeo-environments and human experience
Authors: Davies Althea
Published: April 2012

As a palaeo-ecologist, working with historians has made me look critically at the strengths and limitations of my discipline. Resisting the temptation to defer to documents that, however partial or biased, remain far closer to human experience of the land than any pollen sequence, is essential (see Davies and Watson 2007; Hamilton et al. 2009). Richard Tipping (2004) recognized this lure when he distinguished two philosophical approaches to interpreting historic landscape change. These are my starting point for offering an environmental archaeologist's response to the archaeological and interdisciplinary challenges discussed by Toby Pillatt. First, Tipping defined a ‘confirmatory’ approach, in which palaeo-ecologists have sought correlations with written records, but only to confirm documented events, not to challenge them. In this, they have usually relied on selective readings and secondary, often generalized, historical sources. Reading this paper, it is evident that this is not only a one-way process, as those discussing human experience of the environment have been led by models and issues from the environmental sciences, including contemporary concerns. Indeed, a reader of Dawson's (2009) history of Scotland's weather and climate may be forgiven for thinking that all weather was bad weather, with possibly unfavourable expectations for human experience.
Yes and No. How applicable is a focus on palaeo-weather?
Authors: Gronenborn Detlef
Published: April 2012

Toby Pillatt is right. Weather is important. Weather is important every day, as is evident from almost every news broadcast we watch or hear. This is not only true for extreme weather situations – which currently abound in the news – but for ordinary weather conditions at any time. The importance is quite clearly reflected in the numerous weather channels and weather websites and the weather forecast at the end of every news programme. Despite the ‘benefits of civilization’ which today make us often independent of outside influences, many simple daily decisions are still based on the current weather situation. Weather is our first and most immediate environmental experience. It was no different in the past. On the contrary, weather-based decisions were much more important historically than at present, both for individuals and for entire societies. No doubt, then, weather should be of concern also for historical studies. Hence Toby Pillat is right. He is also correct in stating that by involving a palaeo-weather perspective we can add much to our understanding about how past societies operated.
Women archaeologists in 20th-century Britain. Response to Rachel Pope
Authors: Hills Catherine M.
Published: April 2012

This is a response to Rachel Pope's paper on processual archaeology and gender politics. As a female archaeologist in England I have experienced much of what she describes: I was educated in England in the 1950s and 1960s, I have been a lecturer in Cambridge since 1977, and I was present at the 2006 Personal Histories event in Cambridge which sparked Rachel's thoughts. But my own experience has been different to Rachel's in many ways. I belong to a different generation and have had a different life: but I think it is important to recognize how context-determined all accounts of the past are, and how difficult it is to avoid oversimplification and bias. It is easy to use the evidence which supports an argument, and discard what does not, from which a very different picture might be created – as indeed Rachel is arguing, in parts of her paper. If we cannot achieve that for living memory then how can we approach the real complexity of life in the distant past? So this is my alternative take on some of these themes, as another, contrasting, version of events.
Instability and propagation of EMIC waves in the magnetosphere by a kappa distribution
Authors: Zhou Qinghua , Xiao Fuliang , Shi Jiankui , Tang Lijun
Published: April 2012

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are excited near the magnetic equator by anisotropic ring current ions with energies near a few tens of keV. We investigate the instability and the path‐integrated gain of EMIC waves during wave propagation. Calculations are performed by a global core density model, a field‐aligned density model and particularly the hot ring current ions modeled by a kappa distribution. Simulating results show that the instability of EMIC waves is influenced primarily by the parameters of hot ring current ions, the wave normal angle and the composition of background plasma. A larger path‐integrated gain occurs when the initial wave vector points toward lower L shells. During the storm main phase, the most common EMIC wave is the He+ band wave which occurs in the outer magnetosphere beyond the plasmapause with frequency just below the cyclotron frequency of He+. During the recovery phase, EMIC wave occurs in H+ band and He+ band with almost the same intensity in cases of interest. The O+ band EMIC waves are very weak and quite rare. This result presents a further insight into propagation and instability of EMIC waves under different geomagnetic activities.
Higher‐order statistical analysis of short wind wave fields
Authors: Caulliez Guillemette , Guérin Charles‐Antoine
Published: April 2012

Observations of along‐wind surface wave profiles were made in the large Marseille‐Luminy wind wave tank for a broad range of wind and fetch conditions. The processing of high resolution camera snapshots enables us to carry on a thorough statistical analysis of wind wave geometrical properties. We consider distinctively the four different wind wave fields characterized by a comprehensive image analysis in the range of capillary‐gravity to gravity scales. This set of data makes it possible to describe and discuss the behavior of the distribution of wave heights, longitudinal wave slopes and curvatures in terms of their second‐ and higher‐order moments as well as a function of the dominant wave scale. We calculate the autocorrelation and related functions and evidence the self‐similar nature of wind wave fields. We also derive a simple and universal expression for the structure functions of third (skewness) and fourth (kurtosis) order which are needed for the simulation of sea radar return in the microwave regime.
Intrauterine growth restriction promotes vascular remodelling following carotid artery ligation in rats
Authors: Menendez-Castro Carlos , Cordasic Nada , Schmid Matthias , Fahlbusch Fabian , Rascher Wolfgang , Amann Kerstin , Hilgers Karl F. , Hartner Andrea
Published: April 2012

Epidemiological studies revealed an association between IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and an increased risk of developing CVDs (cardiovascular diseases), such as atherosclerosis or hypertension, in later life. Whether or not IUGR contributes to the development of atherosclerotic lesions, however, is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that IUGR aggravates experimentally induced vascular remodelling. IUGR was induced in rats by maternal protein restriction during pregnancy (8% protein diet). To detect possible differences in the development of vascular injury, a model of carotid artery ligation to induce vascular remodelling was applied in 8-week-old intrauterine-growth-restricted and control rat offspring. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed in the ligated and non-ligated carotid arteries 8 weeks after ligation. IUGR alone neither caused overt histological changes nor significant dedifferentiation of VSMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells). After carotid artery ligation, however, neointima formation, media thickness and media/lumen ratio were significantly increased in rats after IUGR compared with controls. Moreover, dedifferentiation of VSMCs and collagen deposition in the media were more prominent in ligated carotids from rats after IUGR compared with ligated carotids from control rats. We conclude that IUGR aggravates atherosclerotic vascular remodelling induced by a second injury later in life.
Mechanisms of activation of the paternally expressed genes by the Prader-Willi imprinting center in the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndromes domains
Authors: Rabinovitz Shiri , Kaufman Yotam , Ludwig Guy , Razin Aharon , Shemer Ruth
Published: April 2012

The Prader-Willi syndrome/Angelman syndrome (PWS/AS) imprinted domain is regulated by a bipartite imprinting control center (IC) composed of a sequence around the
SNRPN
promoter (PWS-IC) and a 880-bp sequence located 35 kb upstream (AS-IC). The AS-IC imprint is established during gametogenesis and confers repression upon PWS-IC on the maternal allele. Mutation at PWS-IC on the paternal allele leads to gene silencing across the entire PWS/AS domain. This silencing implies that PWS-IC functions on the paternal allele as a bidirectional activator. Here we examine the mechanism by which PWS-IC activates the paternally expressed genes (PEGs) using transgenes that include the PWS-IC sequence in the presence or absence of AS-IC and
NDN
, an upstream PEG, as an experimental model. We demonstrate that PWS-IC is in fact an activator of
NDN
. This activation requires an unmethylated PWS-IC in the gametes and during early embryogenesis. PWS-IC is dispensable later in development. Interestingly, a similar activation of a nonimprinted gene (
APOA1
) was observed, implying that PWS-IC is a universal activator. To decipher the mechanism by which PWS-IC confers activation of remote genes, we performed methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) array analysis on lymphoblast cell lines that revealed dispersed, rather than continued differential methylation. However, chromatin conformation capture (3c) experiments revealed a physical interaction between PWS-IC and the PEGs, suggesting that activation of PEGs may require their proximity to PWS-IC.
Insights into proton-coupled electron transfer mechanisms of electrocatalytic H2oxidation and production
Authors: Horvath Samantha , Fernandez Laura E. , Soudackov Alexander V. , Hammes-Schiffer Sharon
Published: April 2012

The design of molecular electrocatalysts for H2oxidation and production is important for the development of alternative renewable energy sources that are abundant, inexpensive, and environmentally benign. Recently, nickel-based molecular electrocatalysts with pendant amines that act as proton relays for the nickel center were shown to effectively catalyze H2oxidation and production. We developed a quantum mechanical approach for studying proton-coupled electron transfer processes in these types of molecular electrocatalysts. This theoretical approach is applied to a nickel-based catalyst in which phosphorous atoms are directly bonded to the nickel center, and nitrogen atoms of the ligand rings act as proton relays. The catalytic step of interest involves electron transfer between the nickel complex and the electrode as well as intramolecular proton transfer between the nickel and nitrogen atoms. This process can occur sequentially, with either the electron or proton transferring first, or concertedly, with the electron and proton transferring simultaneously without a stable intermediate. The electrochemical rate constants are calculated as functions of overpotential for the concerted electron-proton transfer reaction and the two electron transfer reactions in the sequential mechanisms. Our calculations illustrate that the concerted electron-proton transfer standard rate constant will increase as the equilibrium distance between the nickel and nitrogen atoms decreases and as the pendant amines become more flexible to facilitate the contraction of this distance with a lower energy penalty. This approach identifies the favored mechanisms under various experimental conditions and provides insight into the impact of substituents on the nitrogen and phosphorous atoms.
A prominent pattern of year-to-year variability in Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall
Authors: Mishra Vimal , Smoliak Brian V. , Lettenmaier Dennis P. , Wallace John M.
Published: April 2012

The dominant patterns of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) and their relationships with the sea surface temperature and 850-hPa wind fields are examined using gridded datasets from 1900 on. The two leading empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) of ISMR over India are used as basis functions for elucidating these relationships. EOF1 is highly correlated with all India rainfall and El Niño–Southern Oscillation indices. EOF2 involves rainfall anomalies of opposing polarity over the Gangetic Plain and peninsular India. The spatial pattern of the trends in ISMR from 1950 on shows drying over the Gangetic Plain projects onto EOF2, with an expansion coefficient that exhibits a pronounced trend during this period. EOF2 is coupled with the dominant pattern of sea surface temperature variability over the Indian Ocean sector, which involves in-phase fluctuations over the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the South China Sea, and it is correlated with the previous winter’s El Niño–Southern Oscillation indices. The circulation anomalies observed in association with fluctuations in the time-varying indices of EOF1 and EOF2 both involve distortions of the low-level monsoon flow. EOF1 in its positive polarity represents a southward deflection of moist, westerly monsoon flow from the Arabian Sea across India, resulting in a smaller flux of moisture to the Himalayas. EOF2 in its positive polarity represents a weakening of the monsoon trough over northeastern India and the westerly monsoon flow across southern India, reminiscent of the circulation anomalies observed during break periods within the monsoon season.
Influenza A virus entry into cells lacking sialylated N-glycans
Authors: de Vries Erik , de Vries Robert P. , Wienholts Marleen J. , Floris Chantal E. , Jacobs Marie-Shofie , van den Heuvel Angelique , Rottier Peter J. M. , de Haan Cornelis A. M.
Published: April 2012

Influenza A virus (IAV) enters host cells after attachment of its hemagglutinin (HA) to surface-exposed sialic acid. Sialylated N-linked glycans have been reported to be essential for IAV entry [Chu VC, Whittaker GR (2004)
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
102:18153–18158], thereby implicating the requirement for proteinaceous receptors in IAV entry. Here we show, using different
N
-acetylglucosaminyl transferase 1 (GnT1)-deficient cells, that N-linked sialosides can mediate, but are not required for, entry of IAV. Entry into GnT1-deficient cells was fully dependent on sialic acid. Although macropinocytic entry appeared to be affected by the absence of sialylated N-glycans, dynamin-dependent entry was not affected at all. However, binding of HA to GnT1-deficient cells and subsequent entry of IAV were reduced by the presence of serum, which could be reversed by back-transfection of a GnT1-encoding plasmid. The inhibitory effect of serum was significantly increased by inhibition of the viral receptor-destroying enzyme neuraminidase (NA). Our results indicate that decoy receptors on soluble serum factors compete with cell surface receptors for binding to HA in the absence of sialylated N-glycans at the cell surface. This competition is particularly disturbed by the additional presence of NA inhibitors, resulting in strongly reduced IAV entry. Our results indicate that the balance between HA and NA is important not only for virion release, but also for entry into cells.
Avanti a lui tremava tutta Roma: opera, melodrama and the Resistance
Authors: O'Rawe Catherine
Published: April 2012

Italian neorealism is conventionally read as the authoritative cinematic chronicle of Italy's experience of the Second World War and the Resistance, through canonical films such as Rossellini'sRoma città aperta(Rome, Open City, 1945). It is important, however, to restore a full picture of the array of genres which narrated and refracted the Resistance experience in the post-war period. To this end, this article looks at a key genre that has been overlooked by scholarship, the opera film ormelodramma. In examiningAvanti a lui tremava tutta Roma(Before Him All Rome Trembled, Gallone, 1946), the article considers Mary Wood's contention (inItalian cinema. Oxford: Berg, 2005, 109) that in this period ‘realist cinematic conventions were insufficient for the maximum perception of the historical context’, and that the ‘affective charge’ of melodrama was essential for restoring this complexity. It assesses the appeal to the emotions produced by the film, and the ways in which this is constructed through the bodily and vocal performance of the operadivo, and questions the critical division between emotion (always viewed as excessive) and authenticity (seen in neorealism, the mode of seriousness) which has seen the opera film relegated to the margins of post-war Italian film history.
A wound-induced keratin inhibits Src activity during keratinocyte migration and tissue repair
Authors: Rotty Jeremy D. , Coulombe Pierre A.
Published: April 2012

Injury to the epidermis triggers an elaborate homeostatic response resulting in tissue repair and recovery of the vital barrier function. The type II keratins 6a and 6b (K6a and K6b) are among the genes induced early on in wound-proximal keratinocytes and maintained during reepithelialization. Paradoxically, genetic ablation of K6a and K6b results in enhanced keratinocyte migration. In this paper, we show that this trait results from activation of Src kinase and key Src substrates that promote cell migration. Endogenous Src physically associated with keratin proteins in keratinocytes in a K6-dependent fashion. Purified Src bound K6-containing filaments via its SH2 domain in a novel phosphorylation-independent manner, resulting in kinase inhibition. K6 protein was enriched in the detergent-resistant membrane (DRM), a key site of Src inhibition, and DRMs from K6-null keratinocytes were depleted of both keratin and Src. We conclude that K6 negatively regulates Src kinase activity and the migratory potential of skin keratinocytes during wound repair. Our findings may also be important in related contexts such as cancer.
Ectopic restriction of DNA repair reveals that UNG2 excises AID-induced uracils predominantly or exclusively during G1 phase
Authors: Sharbeen George , Yee Christine W.Y. , Smith Adrian L. , Jolly Christopher J.
Published: April 2012

Immunoglobulin (Ig) affinity maturation requires the enzyme AID, which converts cytosines (C) in Ig genes into uracils (U). This alone produces C:G to T:A transition mutations. Processing of U:G base pairs via U N-glycosylase 2 (UNG2) or MutSα generates further point mutations, predominantly at G:C or A:T base pairs, respectively, but it is unclear why processing is mutagenic. We aimed to test whether the cell cycle phase of U processing determines fidelity. Accordingly, we ectopically restricted UNG2 activity in vivo to predefined cell cycle phases by fusing a UNG2 inhibitor peptide to cell cycle–regulated degradation motifs. We found that excision of AID-induced U by UNG2 occurs predominantly during G1 phase, inducing faithful repair, mutagenic processing, and class switching. Surprisingly, UNG2 does not appear to process U:G base pairs at all in Ig genes outside G1 phase.
Utility of 18-kHz acoustic data for abundance estimation of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)
Authors: Saunders Ryan A. , O'Donnell Ciaran , Korneliussen Rolf J. , Fässler Sascha M. M. , Clarke Maurice W. , Egan Afra , Reid Dave
Published: April 2012

Saunders, R. A., O'Donnell, C., Korneliussen, R. J., Fässler, S. M. M., Clarke, M. W., Egan, A, and Reid, D. 2012. Utility of 18-kHz acoustic data for abundance estimation of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 1086–1098. Current acoustic survey protocols for Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) abundance estimation are principally dependent upon 38-kHz backscatter data. This can constitute a substantial problem for robust stock assessment when 38-kHz data are compromised. Research vessels now typically collect multifrequency data during acoustic surveys, which could be used to remediate such situations. Here, we investigate the utility of using 18- and 120-kHz data for herring abundance estimation when the standard 38-kHz approach is not possible. Estimates of herring abundance/biomass in the Celtic Sea (2007–2010) were calculated at 18, 38, and 120 kHz using the standard 38-kHz target-strength (TS) model and geometrically equivalent TS models at 18 and 120 kHz. These estimates were compared to assess the level of coherence between the three frequencies, and 18-kHz-derived estimates were subsequently input into standard 38-kHz-based population models to evaluate the impact on the assessment. Results showed that estimates of herring abundance/biomass from 18 and 38 kHz acoustic integration varied by only 0.3–5.4%, and acoustically derived numbers-at-age estimates were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from 1:1. Estimates at 120 kHz were also robust. Furthermore, 18-kHz-derived estimates did not significantly change the assessment model output, indicating that 18-kHz data can be used for herring stock assessment purposes.
Transthoracic echocardiography
Authors: Ángel García Fernández Miguel , Juan Gómez de Diego José
Published: April 2012

The echocardiogram is an extremely useful and versatile technique that enables collection of all relevant information on morphology and function of the heart in a wide range of clinical situations.

Echocardiography has been pivotal in the development of modern cardiology and is an indispensable tool to effectively manage cardiological patients.

The echocardiogram is a highly operator-dependent technique in which the skills of the operator in achieving optimized images and adapting the study to the possible findings is simply fundamental.1 In this chapter we will review the technical aspects involved in achieving the images required for a standard echocardiographic examination.
Assessment of right heart function and haemodynamics
Authors: Badano Luigi P. , Muraru Denisa
Published: April 2012

Assessment of right ventricular (RV) size, function, and haemodynamics has been challenging because of its unique cavity geometry. Conventional two-dimensional assessment of RV function is often qualitative. Doppler methods involving tricuspid inflow and pulmonary artery flow velocities, which are influenced by changes in pre- and afterload conditions, may not provide robust prognostic information for clinical decision making. Recent advances in echocardiographic assessment of the RV include tissue Doppler imaging, speckle-tracking imaging, and volumetric three-dimensional imaging, but they need specific training, expensive dedicated equipment, and extensive clinical validation. However, assessment of RV function is crucial, especially in patients with signs of right-sided failure and those with congenital or mitral valve diseases. This chapter aims to address the role of the various echocardiographic modalities used to assess RV and pulmonary vascular bed function. Special emphasis has been placed on technical considerations, limitations, and pitfalls of image acquisition and analysis.
Ischaemic heart disease
Authors: Nihoyannopoulos Petros , Pinto Fausto
Published: April 2012

Echocardiography with its multiple modalities plays a central role in the evaluation of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, starting from the differential diagnosis of the patient presenting with acute chest pain. In the patient presenting with acute myocardial infarction (raised troponins) whether it is with ST-segment elevation or without, echocardiography is the first imaging modality used in order to ascertain the presence and extent of LV dysfunction and the presence of complications. In the absence of myocardial infarction (negative troponins), echocardiography will play an important diagnostic role in identifying the presence of reversible myocardial ischaemia. Stress echocardiography in many institutions is now the preferred stress modality associated with imaging as it is cost-effective and does not use ionizing radiation. Finally, echocardiography plays a pivotal role in the assessment of myocardial viability since the presence and extent of viable myocardium may guide therapeutic strategies. It has been stressed that laboratories and individuals need to have experience and be accredited by the authorities so that the results of echocardiographic investigations will be credible.
Stress echocardiography
Authors: Cortigiani Lauro , Picano Eugenio
Published: April 2012

Stress echocardiography is a widely used method for assessing coronary artery disease, due to the high diagnostic and prognostic value. While inducible ischaemia predicts an unfavourable outcome, its absence is associated with a low risk of future events. The evaluation of coronary flow reserve by Doppler adds prognostic information to that of standard stress test. Stress echocardiography is indicated in cases when exercise testing is unfeasible, uninterpretable, or gives ambiguous result, and when ischaemia during the test is frequently a false positive response, as in hypertensives, women and patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Viability detection represents another application of stress echocardiography. The documentation of viable myocardium predicts an improved outcome following revascularization in ischaemic and following resynchronization therapy in idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, stress echocardiography can aid significantly in clinical decision making in patients with valvular heart disease through dynamic assessment of mitral insufficiency, transvalvular gradients and pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Among the various stress modalities, exercise is safer than pharmacologic stress, in which major complications are three times more frequent with dobutamine than with dipyridamole. Stress echocardiography provides similar accuracy than perfusion scintigraphy but a substantially lower cost, without environmental impact and with no radiation biohazards for the patient.
Tricuspid and pulmonary valves
Authors: Anwar Ashraf M. , Jan ten Cate Folkert
Published: April 2012

Right-sided heart valves are complex anatomical structures. Studies describing the morphological and functional assessment of both valves are lacking. Most echocardiographic modalities provide a qualitative rather than quantitative approach.

Echocardiography has a central role in the assessment of tricuspid regurgitation through estimation of severity, understanding the mechanism, assessment of pulmonary artery pressure, evaluation of right ventricular function, guidance towards surgery versus medical therapy, and assessment of valve competence after surgery.

Transoesophageal echocardiography is an accurate method providing a qualitative assessment of right-sided heart valves. However, the lack of good validation makes it difficult to recommend its use for a quantitative approach. Hopefully, the future will provide refinements in instrumentation and techniques leading to increased accuracy in reporting and cost-effectiveness in making clinical decisions.
Cardiomyopathies
Authors: Karatasakis G. , Athanassopoulos G.D.
Published: April 2012

Echocardiography is a key diagnostic method in the management of patients with cardiomyopathies.

The main echocardiographic findings of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are asymmetric hypertrophy of the septum, increased echogenicity of the myocardium, systolic anterior motion, turbulent left ventricular (LV) outflow tract blood flow, intracavitary gradient of dynamic nature, mid-systolic closure of the aortic valve and mitral regurgitation. The degree of hypertrophy and the magnitude of the obstruction have prognostic meaning. Echocardiography plays a fundamental role not only in diagnostic process, but also in management of patients, prognostic stratification, and evaluation of therapeutic intervention effects.

In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, echocardiography reveals dilation and impaired contraction of the LV or both ventricles. The biplane Simpson’s method incorporates much of the shape of the LV in calculation of volume; currently, three-dimensional echocardiography accurately evaluates LV volumes. Deformation parameters might be used for detection of early ventricular involvement. Stress echocardiography using dobutamine or dipyridamole may contribute to risk stratification, evaluating contractile reserve and left anterior descending flow reserve. LV dyssynchrony assessment is challenging and in patients with biventricular pacing already applied, optimization of atrio-interventricular delays should be done. Specific characteristics of right ventricular dysplasia and isolated LV non-compaction can be recognized, resulting in an increasing frequency of their prevalence. Rare forms of cardiomyopathy related with neuromuscular disorders can be studied at an earlier stage of ventricular involvement.

Restrictive and infiltrative cardiomyopathies are characterized by an increase in ventricular stiffness with ensuing diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. A variety of entities may produce this pathological disturbance with amyloidosis being the most prevalent. Storage diseases (Fabry, Gaucher, Hurler) are currently treatable and early detection of ventricular involvement is of paramount importance for successful treatment. Traditional differentiation between constrictive pericarditis (surgically manageable) and the rare cases of restrictive cardiomyopathy should be properly performed.
Pericardial disease
Authors: Cosyns Bernard , Paelinck Bernard
Published: April 2012

The ability of ultrasound to elucidate the functional and structural abnormalities of pericardial disease is powerful. Due to multimodality imaging possibilities and to its portability, echocardiography is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of pericardial disease. Although other non-invasive technologies have been developed to provide information about the pericardium, echocardiography remains the first and often only diagnostic method needed to make a definitive diagnosis and guide appropriate treatment in patients with pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, or constrictive pericarditis. It allows differential diagnosis with restrictive cardiomyopathy and can easily be performed for guiding pericardiocentesis.
Perioperative echocardiography
Authors: Feneck R. , Guarracino F.
Published: April 2012

Perioperative echocardiography is one of the fastest growing areas of echocardiography. Although transthoracic imaging has a role, intraoperative imaging is mostly undertaken using transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE).

The indications for perioperative echo have recently been re-evaluated, resulting in recognition of the ubiquitous benefit in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and recognition of the value in non-cardiac surgery and critical care also.

Although TOE is safe, it should be remembered that there may be a greater risk of traumatic damage to the soft tissues in anaesthetized patients who cannot complain of pain during probe insertion.

Perioperative imaging should be used to confirm and refine the preoperative diagnosis, detect new or unsuspected pathology, adjust the anaesthetic and surgical plan, and assess the results of surgical intervention. Using imaging to optimize myocardial function is a constantly developing technique, and one which may ensure that patients leave the operating room in the best possible condition. The use of perioperative echo in some procedures, for example, in mitral repair, is now regarded as so valuable that it is arguable that perioperative TOE should be mandatory in these cases.
Quality assurance in echocardiography
Authors: Fox K.F. , Popescu B.A.
Published: April 2012

Quality assurance (QA) in echocardiography is the systematic process of ensuring that information sent out by echo laboratories is timely, appropriate, and accurate. All aspects of a service need to be continuously monitored and optimized if quality is to be maintained and furthermore improved.

Particular focus is needed on reporting and measurement with continuous checking for reporting errors and assessment of measurement variability.

A systematic QA programme needs to be an essential part of any echo laboratory. Life-determining clinical decisions may depend on it. In this chapter we describe the background to QA, current evidence and guidelines, and a systematic approach to QA.
Development and Validation of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Models for Compounds Acting on Serotoninergic Receptors
Authors: Żydek Grażyna , Brzezińska Elżbieta
Published: April 2012

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been made on 20 compounds with serotonin (5-HT) receptor affinity. Thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) data and physicochemical parameters were applied in this study. RP2 TLC 60F254plates (silanized) impregnated with solutions of propionic acid, ethylbenzene, 4-ethylphenol, and propionamide (used as analogues of the key receptor amino acids) and their mixtures (denoted as S1–S7 biochromatographic models) were used in two developing phases as a model of drug-5-HT receptor interaction. The semiempirical method AM1 (HyperChem v. 7.0 program) and ACD/Labs v. 8.0 program were employed to calculate a set of physicochemical parameters for the investigated compounds. Correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to search for the best QSAR equations. The correlations obtained for the compounds studied represent their interactions with the proposed biochromatographic models. The good multivariate relationships (R2=0.78–0.84) obtained by means of regression analysis can be used for predicting the quantitative effect of biological activity of different compounds with 5-HT receptor affinity. “Leave-one-out” (LOO) and “leave-N-out” (LNO) cross-validation methods were used to judge the predictive power of final regression equations.
Landfill Leachate Toxicity Removal in Combined Treatment with Municipal Wastewater
Authors: Kalka J.
Published: April 2012

Combined treatment of landfill leachate and municipal wastewater was performed in order to investigate the changes of leachate toxicity during biological treatment. Three laboratory A2O lab-scale reactors were operating under the same parameters (Q-8.5–10 L/d; HRT-1.4–1.6 d; MLSS 1.6–2.5 g/L) except for the influent characteristic and load. The influent of reactor I consisted of municipal wastewater amended with leachate from postclosure landfill; influent of reactor II consisted of leachate collected from transient landfill and municipal wastewater; reactor III served as a control and its influent consisted of municipal wastewater only. Toxicity of raw and treated wastewater was determinted by four acute toxicity tests withDaphnia magna, Thamnocephalus platyurus, Vibrio fischeri,andRaphidocelis subcapitata. Landfill leachate increased initial toxicity of wastewater. During biological treatment, significant decline of acute toxicity was observed, but still mixture of leachate and wastewater was harmful to all tested organisms.
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Psoriasis
Authors: Zindancı Ilkin , Albayrak Ozlem , Kavala Mukaddes , Kocaturk Emek , Can Burce , Sudogan Sibel , Koç Melek
Published: April 2012

Background. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder in which proinflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and TNF-αincrease both locally and systematically. It is thought that chronic inflammation results in metabolic diseases and proinflammatory cytokines give rise to the development of atherogenesis, peripheral insulin resistance, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.Methods. Study consisted of 115 plaque-type psoriasis patients and 140 healthy individuals. Data including body weight, height, waist circumference, body-mass index, and arterial blood pressure were collected. Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and HDL levels were determined. International Diabetes Federation Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance were used for evaluating patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes.Results. Compared to the control group, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were found to be higher in psoriasis patients. Metabolic syndrome was increased by 3-folds in psoriasis patients and was more prevalent in women than in men. It was determined that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in psoriasis patients after the age of 40. Metabolic syndrome was not related to smoking, severity of psoriasis, and duration of disease.Conclusions. Our findings suggest that psoriasis preconditions occurrence of a group of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. For this reason, patients with psoriasis should be treated early and they should be followed with respect to metabolic diseases.
Molecular phylogeography and genetic diversity of East Asian goats
Authors: Lin B. Z. , Odahara S. , Ishida M. , Kato T. , Sasazaki S. , Nozawa K. , Mannen H.
Published: April 2012

The domestic goat is one of the most important livestock species, but its origins and genetic diversity still remain uncertain. Multiple highly divergent maternal lineages of goat have been reported in previous studies. Although one of the mitochondrial DNA lineages, lineage B, was detected only in eastern and southern Asia, the geographic distribution of these lineages was previously unclear. Here, we examine the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of Asian goats by mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphological characteristics. The analyses of a total of 1661 Asian goats from 12 countries revealed a high frequency of lineage B in Southeast Asia. The frequency of this lineage tended to be higher in mountain areas than in plain areas in Southeast Asian countries, and there was a significant correlation between its frequency and morphological traits. The results suggest an original predominance of lineage B in Southeast Asia and the recent infiltration of lineage A into Southeast Asian goats.
Overexpression of chromatin assembly factor‐1 p60, poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 and nestin predicts metastasizing behaviour of oral cancer
Authors: Mascolo Massimo , Ilardi Gennaro , Romano Maria Fiammetta , Celetti Angela , Siano Maria , Romano Simona , Luise Chiara , Merolla Francesco , Rocco Alba , Vecchione Maria Luisa , De Rosa Gaetano , Staibano Stefania
Published: April 2012

Mascolo M, Ilardi G, Romano M F, Celetti A, Siano M, Romano S, Luise C, Merolla F, Rocco A, Vecchione M L, De Rosa G & Staibano S  (2012) Histopathology Overexpression of chromatin assembly factor‐1 p60, poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 and nestin predicts metastasizing behaviour of oral cancer

Aims:  The natural history of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) is variable and difficult to predict. This study aimed to assess the value of the expression of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP‐1), chromatin assembly factor‐1 (CAF‐1)/p60 and the stem cell markers CD133, CD166, CD44, CD44v6 and nestin as markers of outcome and progression‐free survival in OSCC patients.

Methods:  Clinical data were collected from 66 patients (41 male and 25 female, aged 29–92 years) who underwent surgery for OSCC of the tongue, floor, lips, and palate. During follow‐up (range: 12–131 months), 14 patients experienced relapse/metastasis and/or death. The study was performed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin‐embedded tumour tissues, western blot analysis of tumour protein lysates and human cell lines, and RNA silencing assays. In addition, the human papillomavirus (HPV) status of primary tumours was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and viral subtyping. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the correlation between these parameters and the clinical and pathological variables of the study population.

Results and conclusions:  We found that a PARP‐1high/CAF‐1 p60high/nestinhigh phenotype characterized the OSCCs with the worst prognosis (all HPV‐negative). This may be of benefit in clinical management, since radio‐enhancing anti‐PARP‐1 and/or anti‐CAF‐1/p60 agents may allow radioresistance to be bypassed in the nestin‐overexpressing, metastasizing OSCC cells.
Association of tobacco use and periapical pathosis – a systematic review
Authors: Walter C. , Rodriguez F. R. , Taner B. , Hecker H. , Weiger R.
Published: April 2012

Walter C, Rodriguez FR, Taner B, Hecker H, Weiger R. Association of tobacco use and periapical pathosis – a systematic review. International Endodontic Journal.

The aim was to review the current evidence regarding an association between tobacco use, that is, cigarette smoking, and periapical pathosis. A systematic MEDLINE search of articles published prior to October 2011 (4th) was conducted using the keywords ‘smoking and endodontics OR smoking and periapical index’. The study selection, data preparation and validity assessment were conducted by two reviewers. Nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and represented data from 3008 individuals. The studies differed with respect to (i) study design, (ii) radiographic techniques, (iii) assessment of periapical pathosis, (iv) classification of smoking characteristics and/or (v) potential confounders accounted for in the analyses. Five of six cross‐sectional studies revealed a significant positive association (OR 1.35–16.8) between periapical pathosis and current cigarette smoking. One of three longitudinal studies indicated an increased risk (OR 1.7) of root treated teeth for current smokers. The substantial heterogeneity of the included studies limited their interpretation. Further, well‐designed studies are required to investigate the association between tobacco use and periapical pathosis.
Characterization of MENX‐associated pituitary tumours
Authors: Marinoni I. , Lee M. , Mountford S. , Perren A. , Bravi I. , Jennen L. , Feuchtinger A. , Drouin J. , Roncaroli F. , Pellegata N. S.
Published: April 2012

I. Marinoni, M. Lee, S. Mountford, A. Perren, I. Bravi, L. Jennen, A. Feuchtinger, J. Drouin, F. Roncaroli and N. S. Pellegata (2013) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology39, 256–269

Characterization of MENX‐associated pituitary tumours

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pathological features, serum hormone levels and ex vivo cultures of pituitary adenomas that occur in rats affected by MENX syndrome. MENX is multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome caused by a germline mutation in the cell cycle inhibitor p27. Characterization of MENX adenomas is a prerequisite to exploit this animal model for molecular and translational studies of pituitary adenomas. Methods: We investigated MENX pituitary adenomas with immunohistochemistry, double immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), measurement of serum hormone levels and ex vivo cultures. Results: Adenomas in MENX rats belong to the gonadotroph lineage. They start from 4 months of age as multiple neoplastic nodules and progress to become large lesions that efface the gland. Adenomas are composed of chromophobic cells predominantly expressing the glycoprotein alpha‐subunit (αGSU). They show mitotic activity and high Ki67 labelling. A few neoplastic cells co‐express gonadotropins and the transcription factor steroidogenic factor 1, together with growth hormone or prolactin and Pit‐1, suggesting that they are not fully committed to one cell lineage. Ex vivo cultures show features similar to the primary tumour. Conclusions: Our results suggest that p27 function is critical to regulate gonadotroph cells growth. The MENX syndrome represents a unique model to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms mediating the pathogenesis of gonadotroph adenomas.
Isolation and characterization of Streptomyces species from potato common scab lesions in Norway
Authors: Dees M. W. , Sletten A. , Hermansen A.
Published: April 2012

The present survey was conducted to isolate and characterize Streptomyces species from common scab lesions of potato in Norway. Bacteria were isolated from scab lesions on tubers sampled in two consecutive years at different locations in Norway spanning ∼1400 km from south to north. In total, 957 independent isolations from individual tubers were performed, with 223 putative pathogenic isolates obtained from 29 different potato cultivars and 130 different fields. Streptomyces europaeiscabiei was the most abundant species isolated from common scab lesions (69%), while 31% of the isolates obtained were S. turgidiscabies. Streptomyces scabies was not found. Pathogenicity of selected Streptomyces isolates was tested on potato. The ability of the bacterial isolates to infect potato was consistent with the presence of the txtAB operon. The results revealed no pattern in geographical distribution of S. europaeiscabiei and S. turgidiscabies; both could be found in the same field and even the same lesion. Four different pathogenicity island (PAI) genotypes were detected amongst the txtAB positive isolates: nec1+/tomA+, nec1–/tomA+, nec1+/tomA− and nec1−/tomA−. The current findings demonstrate that there is genetic variability within species and that the species are not spread solely by clonal expansion. This is thought to be the most comprehensive survey of Streptomyces species that cause common scab of potato in a European country.
Long‐distance dispersal and its influence on adaptation to host resistance in a heterogeneous landscape
Authors: Wingen L. U. , Shaw M. W. , Brown J. K. M.
Published: April 2012

Small propagules like pollen or fungal spores may be dispersed by the wind over distances of hundreds or thousands of kilometres, even though the median dispersal may be only a few metres. Such long‐distance dispersal is a stochastic event which may be exceptionally important in shaping a population. It has been found repeatedly in field studies that subpopulations of wind‐dispersed fungal pathogens virulent on cultivars with newly introduced, effective resistance genes are dominated by one or very few genotypes. The role of propagule dispersal distributions with distinct behaviour at long distances in generating this characteristic population structure was studied by computer simulation of dispersal of clonal organisms in a heterogeneous environment with fields of unselective and selective hosts. Power‐law distributions generated founder events in which new, virulent genotypes rapidly colonized fields of resistant crop varieties and subsequently dominated the pathogen population on both selective and unselective varieties, in agreement with data on rust and powdery mildew fungi. An exponential dispersal function, with extremely rare dispersal over long distances, resulted in slower colonization of resistant varieties by virulent pathogens or even no colonization if the distance between susceptible source and resistant target fields was sufficiently large. The founder events resulting from long‐distance dispersal were highly stochastic and exact quantitative prediction of genotype frequencies will therefore always be difficult.