bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lebenslange Heilung mittels Gentransfer – Realität oder Utopie? Stabiler versus transienter Gentransfer
Authors: Lipps Hans‐Joachim , Hammerschmidt Wolfgang , Ehrhardt Anja
Published: April 2011

In der modernen molekularen Medizin ist ein stabiler Gentransfer vor allem bei der lebenslangen Behandlung von Erbkrankheiten und bei der Therapie von chronisch‐infektiösen Erkrankungen erforderlich. In diesem Artikel haben wir die Möglichkeiten des stabilen Gentransfers dargestellt und diskutiert. Prinzipiell unterscheidet man hierbei Ansätze, die zur somatischen Integration in das Wirtsgenom führen, oder Ansätze die auf nichtintegrierenden und somit episomalen Systemen basieren. Obwohl die Entwicklung der integrierenden Systeme auch im Hinblick auf die präklinische Testung weiter fortgeschritten ist, werden verbesserte episomale Systeme in der Zukunft weiterhin eine wichtige Rolle spielen, da diese das Risiko der Genotoxität, also die Veränderungen des Expressionsmusters der transduzierten Zelle, signifikant verringern würden. Aufgrund der größeren Erfahrung mit integrierenden Systemen sind diese bereits heute in der klinischen Testung Realität. Es ist aber anzunehmen, dass in der Zukunft die episomalen Systeme mit weiterer Entwicklung eine zunehmend wichtigere Rolle spielen werden.
Prävention der Insertionsmutagenese. Unvermeidbar oder beherrschbar?
Authors: Baum Christopher
Published: April 2011

Insertionsmutagenese beschreibt einen Formenkreis genotoxischer Effekte der Integration von Transgenen im zellulären Genom. Gefürchtet ist insbesondere die Aktivierung zellulärer Proto‐Onkogene durch transkriptionelle Deregulation oder strukturelle Änderung der kodierten Proteine. Klinische Konsequenzen mit Induktion schwerer Nebenwirkungen hat die Insertionsmutagenese bislang nur nach der genetischen Modifikation von Blutstamm‐ und Vorläuferzellen gezeigt. Als wesentliche Einflussgrößen wurden das Integrationsmuster der Genvektoren, die Art des Transgen‐Promotors, die Art der Zielzelle und die Selektionsbedingungen im Organismus identifiziert. Entsprechend leiten sich rationale Ansätze für eine wirksame Prävention dieses grundlegenden Risikos der Gentherapie ab. Die Weiterentwicklung der Genvektoren, eine proaktive, hypothesengetriebene Toxikologie und risikoadaptierte klinische Studien wirken zusammen, um die Gefahren der Insertionsmutagenese zu bannen und das Potenzial der Gentherapie mit der gebotenen Sicherheit zu erschließen.
Regulatorische Aspekte der Gentherapie. Neue Infrastruktur für “Advanced Therapies”
Authors: Granzer Ulrich
Published: April 2011

Gentherapeutika wurden als die Wunderwaffe im Kampf gegen viele Erkrankungen gesehen. Bis heute hat es allerdings noch kein Arzneimittel dieser neuen Therapieklasse zur Zulassung gebracht. Dies liegt zum einen an erheblichen technischen Schwierigkeiten bei der Herstellung von Gentherapeutika, die aber mittlerweile gelöst sind, zum anderen aber auch daran, dass viele neue andere Arzneimittel wie monoklonale Antikörper, Proteine zur Enzymersatztherapie und gezielt wirkende kleine Moleküle Einzug in die Therapie gehalten haben, gegen die sich die Gentherapie noch durchsetzen muss. Neue Ansätze mit verbesserten Genkonstrukten und Transduktionssystemen sind aber in der Entwicklung und versprechen in naher Zukunft auf dem Gebiet einige Erfolge.

Der Gesetzgeber hat auf diese neue Zulassungsherausforderung mit der Schaffung einer passenden Infrastruktur reagiert. Das CAT als neues Komitee steht für die Herausforderung Gentherapie als europäisches Gremium zur Verfügung.
Drug prescriptions of adults with adolescent depression in a community sample
Authors: Päären Aivar , von Knorring Lars , Jonsson Ulf , Bohman Hannes , Olsson Gunilla , von Knorring Anne‐Liis
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The prescription drugs have, to our knowledge, not been much studied in epidemiological samples with long‐term follow‐up. Accordingly, our purpose was to analyze the use of prescription drugs in adults with adolescent depression.

Methods

A population‐based cohort of adolescents (n = 2465) was screened for the presence of depressive symptoms and diagnosed according to a structured interview. Totally, 362 individuals were identified as depressed and compared with 250 non‐depressed controls. The prescription drugs were evaluated at the age of 29–31 years from a register kept by the National Health and Welfare Board.

Results

The formerly depressed females received significantly more prescription drugs, such as antidepressants, antiepileptics, antibacterials, antimycotics, and antihistamines for systemic use as well as other drugs, compared with controls (15.6 ± 27.4 vs 8.2 ± 7.4 recipes, p < 0.001). Formerly depressed males did not differ from controls regarding prescription drugs.

Conclusions

The females but not males with adolescent depression subsequently received more prescription drugs than non‐depressed peers. Depressed female adolescents received more psychotropic and non‐psychotropic drugs later in life compared to the non‐depressed. This might be as a result of physical illnesses, different treatment‐seeking behaviors, or somatizing reactions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Poly(L‐glutamic acid) grafted with oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate): Thermal phase transition, secondary structure, and self‐assembly
Authors: Ding Jianxun , Xiao Chunsheng , Zhao Li , Cheng Yilong , Ma Lili , Tang Zhaohui , Zhuang Xiuli , Chen Xuesi
Published: April 2011

Thermoresponsive and pH‐responsive graft copolymers, poly(L‐glutamate)‐g‐oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) and poly(L‐glutamic acid‐co‐(L‐glutamate‐g‐oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate))), were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomers and subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization of 2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate. The thermoresponsiveness of graft copolymers could be tuned by the molecular weight of oligo(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) (OMEO3MA), composition of poly(L‐glutamic acid) (PLGA) backbone and pH of the aqueous solution. The α‐helical contents of graft copolymers could be influenced by OMEO3MA length and pH of the aqueous solution. In addition, the graft copolymers exhibited tunable self‐assembly behavior. The hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and critical micellization concentration values of micelles were relevant to the length of OMEO3MA and the composition of biodegradable PLGA backbone. The Rh could also be adjusted by the temperature and pH values. Lastly, in vitro methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay revealed that the graft copolymers were biocompatible to HeLa cells. Therefore, with good biocompatibility, well‐defined secondary structure, and mono‐, dual‐responsiveness, these graft copolymers are promising stimuli‐responsive materials for biomedical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Controlled synthesis of polyepichlorohydrin with pendant cyclic carbonate functions for isocyanate‐free polyurethane networks
Authors: Brocas Anne‐Laure , Cendejas Gabriel , Caillol Sylvain , Deffieux Alain , Carlotti Stephane
Published: April 2011

Poly(allyl glycidyl ether) and poly(allyl glycidyl ether‐co‐epichlorohydrin) were prepared by monomer‐activated anionic polymerization. Quantitative and controlled polymerization of allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) giving high molar mass polyether was achieved in a few hours at room temperature in toluene using tetraoctylammonium salt as initiator in presence of an excess of triisobutylaluminum ([i‐Bu3Al]/[NOct4Br] = 2−4). Following the same polymerization route, the copolymerization of AGE and epichlorohydrin yields in a living‐like manner gradient‐type copolymers with controlled molar masses. Chemical modification of the pendant allyl group into cyclic carbonate was then investigated and the corresponding polymers were used as precursors for the isocyanate‐free synthesis of polyurethane networks in presence of a diamine. Formation of crosslinked materials was followed and characterized by infrared and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Synthesis of poly(m‐phenylene) and poly(m‐phenylene)‐block‐ poly(3‐hexylthiophene) with low polydispersities
Authors: Ohshimizu Kaoru , Takahashi Ayumi , Higashihara Tomoya , Ueda Mitsuru
Published: April 2011

Well‐defined poly(m‐phenylene) (PMP), which is poly(1,3‐dibutoxy‐m‐phenylene), was successfully synthesized via Grignard metathesis polymerization. PMP with a reasonably high number‐average molecular weight (Mn) of 25,900 and a very low polydispersity index of 1.07 was obtained. The polymerization of a Grignard reagent monomer, 1‐bromo‐2,4‐dibutoxy‐5‐chloromagnesiobenzene, proceeded in a chain‐growth manner, probably due to the meta‐substituted design producing a short distance between the MgCl and Br groups and thereby making a smooth nickel species (CNiC) transfer to the intramolecular chain end (CNiBr) over a benzene ring. PMP showed a good solubility in the common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, CH2Cl2, and CHCl3. Furthermore, a new block copolymer comprised of PMP and poly(3‐hexylthiophene) was also prepared. The tapping mode atomic force microscopy image of the surface of the block copolymer thin film on a mica substrate showed a nanofibril morphology with a clear contrast. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.
Synthesis and crystallization behavior study of syndiotactic polystyrene‐g‐isotactic polypropylene (sPS‐g‐iPP) graft copolymers
Authors: Huang HuaHua , Niu Hui , Dong Jin‐Yong
Published: April 2011

Based on coordination polymerization mechanism only, novel stereoregular graft copolymers with syndiotactic polystyrene main chain and isotactic polypropylene side chain (sPS‐g‐iPP) were synthesized via two steps of catalytic reactions. First, a chain transfer reaction was initiated by a chain transfer complex composed of a styrene derivative, 1,2‐bis(4‐vinylphenyl)ethane, and hydrogen in propylene polymerization mediated by rac‐Me2Si[2‐Me‐4‐Ph(Ind)]2ZrCl2 and MAO, which gave iPP macromonomer bearing a terminal styryl group (iPP‐t‐St). Then the iPP‐t‐St macromonomers of varied molecular mass were engaged in syndiospecific styrene polymerization over a typical mono‐titanocene catalyst (CpTiCl3/MAO) under different conditions to produce sPS‐g‐iPP graft copolymers of varied structure. With an effective purification process, well‐defined sPS‐g‐iPP copolymers were obtained, which were then subjected to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical micrograph (POM) studies. The graft copolymers were generally found with dual melting and crystallization temperatures, which were ascribable respectively to the sPS backbone and iPP graft. However, it was revealed that the two segments displayed largely different melting and crystallization behaviors than sPS homopolymer and the precursory iPP‐t‐St macromonomer. Consequently, the graft copolymer exhibited much distinctive crystalline morphologies when compared with their individual components. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.
The effect of heat treatment on water sorption in polylactide and polylactide composites via changes in glass‐transition temperature and crystallization kinetics
Authors: Du An , Koo Donghun , Ziegler Mary , Cairncross Richard A.
Published: April 2011

Water sorption into polylactide (PLA) and polylactide‐montmorillonite (PLLA‐MONT) composites containing 5 wt % of montmorillonite (MONT) under different heat treatment conditions was studied using the quartz crystal microbalance/heat conduction calorimetry (QCM/HCC) technique. Results showed that water sorption in neat polymer films and composite films increased with heat treatment temperature up to 120 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure the glass‐transition temperature and isothermal crystallization kinetics of all samples. The mobility of the amorphous domain in all samples increased with heat treatment temperature, indicated by the decrease in glass‐transition temperature. PLA composites crystallized at a much faster rate than neat PLA did because MONT acted as a nucleating agent. Under the same heat treatment condition, water sorption in PLLA‐MONT composites was always higher than that in neat PLA due to the presence of the hydrophilic hydroxyl groups on the surface of MONT particles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Revisiting the Ramachandran plot from a new angle
Authors: Zhou Alice Qinhua , O'Hern Corey S. , Regan Lynne
Published: April 2011

The pioneering work of Ramachandran and colleagues emphasized the dominance of steric constraints in specifying the structure of polypeptides. The ubiquitous Ramachandran plot of backbone dihedral angles (ϕ and ψ) defined the allowed regions of conformational space. These predictions were subsequently confirmed in proteins of known structure. Ramachandran and colleagues also investigated the influence of the backbone angle τ on the distribution of allowed ϕ/ψ combinations. The “bridge region” (ϕ ≤ 0° and −20° ≤ ψ ≤ 40°) was predicted to be particularly sensitive to the value of τ. Here we present an analysis of the distribution of ϕ/ψ angles in 850 non‐homologous proteins whose structures are known to a resolution of 1.7 Å or less and sidechain B‐factor less than 30 Å2. We show that the distribution of ϕ/ψ angles for all 87,000 residues in these proteins shows the same dependence on τ as predicted by Ramachandran and colleagues. Our results are important because they make clear that steric constraints alone are sufficient to explain the backbone dihedral angle distributions observed in proteins. Contrary to recent suggestions, no additional energetic contributions, such as hydrogen bonding, need be invoked.
Correlations for mass transfer from a liquid spill: Comparisons and recommendations
Authors: Khajehnajafi Shahryar , Pourdarvish Reza
Published: April 2011

Accurate estimation of mass evaporation from a liquid spill is of great concern in the area of hazard analysis. The chemical properties, especially its boiling point with respect to ambient temperature, play a major role in the result of evaporation rate. Many models have been proposed for estimating evaporation rate from a boiling or evaporating pool. The objective of this article is to apply the proposed correlations to good quality pool evaporation data and compare their accuracy. Based on current analysis, we recommend the use of the Churchill model for pool evaporation. This model applies to the range of flow regimes from laminar to turbulent. The model provides convective mass and heat transfer coefficients for a complete range of Re, Pr, and Sc. We also present the individual heat sources forming the pool heat budget to get a feel for the relative importance of individual components in pool evaporation. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2011.
Dependability evaluation of integrated circuits at design time against laser fault injection
Authors: Li Huiyun , Yuan Hai
Published: April 2011

Laser fault injection has been proved to be a useful tool for attacks on integrated circuits. Transistors hit by a pulse of photons causes them to conduct transiently, thereby introducing transient logic errors, such as register value modifications, memory dumping, and so on. Attackers can make use of this abnormal behavior and extract sensitive information that the devices try to protect. This paper demonstrates laser fault injection attacks on very‐large‐scale integration circuits in a semi‐invasive way for the purpose of validating fault tolerant design and performance. Then, the paper presents a simulation methodology to evaluate the dependability of the integrated circuit design against laser fault injection attacks at design time. This simulation methodology involves exhaustively scanning the layout, incorporating the exposed cells into a circuit simulator, and examining the response of the circuit in detail. Experiments conducted on the same test chip spot the same vulnerabilities, thus indicating the validity of the proposed simulation methodology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation power analysis of Trivium
Authors: Jia Yanyan , Hu Yupu , Wang Fenghe , Wang Hongxian
Published: April 2011

Correlation power analysis (CPA) has been a powerful and thoroughly studied threat for implementations of block ciphers and public key algorithms but not yet for stream ciphers. This paper proposes a novel CPA attack on the hardware‐oriented stream cipher Trivium, one of the finally chosen ciphers by the eSTREAM project. Based on the Hamming distance model, the proposed attack exploits the resynchronization phase of Trivium. By choosing proper initial value vectors, the algorithmic noise of the device is completely eliminated. Furthermore, a novel concept of modified correlation coefficients is introduced, which can be used to describe the relation between the hypothetical power consumption values and the measured power consumption values. Through the calculation of modified correlation coefficients, the effect of the electronic noise is significantly decreased and values of the hypotheses can be discriminated uniquely by the highest modified correlation coefficient. According to the recovered hypotheses, many equations on the secret key bits can be obtained, which will be sequentially solved to extract the secret key of Trivium. Compared with Fischer's differential power analysis attack on Trivium, the proposed algorithm is more efficient and robust. Finally, a simulation attack is mounted to confirm the efficiency of the algorithm. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A framework for evaluating technology readiness, system quality, and program performance of U.S. DoD acquisitions
Authors: Azizian Nazanin , Mazzuchi Thomas , Sarkani Shahram , Rico David F.
Published: April 2011

Although U.S. weapon systems are among the best in the world, defense acquisition programs have a historical track record for being vulnerable to enormous risks in the form of cost overruns, schedule delays, and poor technical performance. Based on assessments of selected defense acquisition programs, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that premature selection and use of insufficiently mature technologies is a driving cause of these risks. By means of policies, initiatives, and best practices, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is mandating the use of Technology Readiness Assessments (TRAs) throughout the acquisition lifecycle in an effort to curtail these risks. However, the extent to which defense acquisition programs adhere to assessing technology maturity through the TRA process and the degree of relationship to quality of U.S. military systems and performance of programs is debatable. To address this shortcoming, a framework was developed to measure the extent of correlation between TRA and key enabling engineering activities, system quality, and program performance. The framework was developed in conjunction with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the DoD, the Intelligence Community (IC), and the Institute of Defense Analysis (IDA) and empirically examined using a sample of 223 engineers, program managers, and executives from various U.S. DoD acquisition programs. The results suggest that, although conducting a formal TRA is not a significant predictor of system quality or program performance, there are engineering activities called for in a TRA that have strongly correlation to these factors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adaptive multiplayer approach for risk‐based decision‐making: 2006 Virginia Gubernatorial Inauguration
Authors: Agrawal Abhinav B. , Barker Kash , Haimes Yacov Y.
Published: April 2011

This paper introduces a multiplayer framework to collaboratively characterize sources of system risk from multiple expert perspectives, integrating several tools for holistic risk identification and risk management elicitation: the Adaptive Multiplayer Hierarchical Holographic Model (AMP‐HHM), the Risk Filtering, Ranking, and Management methodology, and the Partitioned Multiobjective Risk Method. Applicable to a broad set of systems engineering risk applications, the framework is illustrated with a case study focusing on risk assessment and management for the 2006 Gubernatorial Inauguration held in Williamsburg, VA, for which 272 different areas of risk were identified by collaborative means. Management options for three scenarios were defined, and their impacts on the inauguration were evaluated through expected and upper‐tail risk measures. As a final step, the analysis determined a set of noninferior options that can be used by decision‐makers to craft security strategies. A computer tool was developed to assist in the AMP‐HHM process, demonstrating the efficacy of the framework in collaborative work without synchronicity and regardless of geography. While the framework has been applied to a defense risk analysis in this paper, it can easily be applied to any problem where experts from disparate backgrounds, expertise, or geographies are working together to solve an unstructured, multidimensional problem. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural biology of poly(A) site definition
Authors: Yang Qin , Doublié Sylvie
Published: April 2011

3′ processing is an essential step in the maturation of all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and is a tightly coupled two‐step reaction: endonucleolytic cleavage at the poly(A) site is followed by the addition of a poly(A) tail, except for metazoan histone mRNAs, which are cleaved but not polyadenylated. The recognition of a poly(A) site is coordinated by the sequence elements in the mRNA 3′ UTR and associated protein factors. In mammalian cells, three well‐studied sequence elements, UGUA, AAUAAA, and GU‐rich, are recognized by three multisubunit factors: cleavage factor Im (CFIm), cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF), and cleavage stimulation factor (CstF), respectively. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, UA repeats and A‐rich sequence elements are recognized by Hrp1p and cleavage factor IA. Structural studies of protein–RNA complexes have helped decipher the mechanisms underlying sequence recognition and shed light on the role of protein factors in poly(A) site selection and 3′ processing machinery assembly. In this review we focus on the interactions between the mRNA cis‐elements and the protein factors (CFIm, CPSF, CstF, and homologous factors from yeast and other eukaryotes) that define the poly(A) site. WIREs RNA 2011 2 732–747 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.88

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA–Protein Complexes

RNA Processing > 3' End Processing
Chiral Heterobimetallic Gold(I) Ferrocenyldithiophosphonato Complexes
Authors: Karakus Mehmet , Lönnecke Peter , Hildebrand Mike , Hey‐Hawkins Evamarie
Published: April 2011

Chiral and non‐chiral ferrocenyldithiophosphonates [tBuNH3][Fe(η5‐C5H5){η5‐C5H4P(OR)S2}] were prepared from [Fe(η5‐C5H5){η5‐C5H4PS(μ‐S)}]2 and the respective alcohol ROH [R = bornyl (1), myrtenyl (2), adamantyl (3)] and tBuNH2 as base. The reaction with [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) gave the corresponding chiral (1a, 2a) and non‐chiral (3a) heterobimetallic dimeric gold(I) ferrocenyldithiophosphonato complexes [Au{Fe(η5‐C5H5)(η5‐C5H4P(OR)(μ‐S)2)}]2 [R = bornyl (1a), myrtenyl (2a), adamantyl (3a)]. Compounds 1–3 and 1a–3a were characterised spectroscopically (IR, 1H, 13C, 31P NMR) and by mass spectrometry, and the chiral heterobimetallic dimeric gold(I) ferrocenyldithiophosphonato complex 1a was also structurally characterised by X‐ray crystallography.
Structure and Thermal Properties of Lithium Cyanate
Authors: Hennings Erik , Schmidt Horst , Voigt Wolfgang
Published: April 2011

The synthesis, structural, and thermal characterization of lithium cyanate are reported in this work. LiOCN forms crystals in the trigonal crystal system. The structure was solved in the space group R$\bar{3}$m. It is isomorphous to the structure of sodium cyanate. In the temperature range from –90 °C up to the melting point no phase transition was observed. Furthermore the vibrational Raman spectrum was measured. The system KOCN‐LiOCN shows a dystecticum and the new phase was confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction.
Iterative description of freezing and thawing processes in porous materials
Authors: Alsabry A. , Wilmanski K.
Published: April 2011

The paper is devoted to the construction of an iterative procedure of calculation of mechanical properties of water saturated porous materials subject to freezing and thawing processes. The procedure consists of two steps. The first is the solution of equations for the linear poroelastic medium with material parameters depending on current porosity which measures the frost damage. The second one, based on the Gurson‐Tvergaard‐Needleman model of plastic deformations with porosity as a measure of damage, yields, among other quantities, the relation for porosity changes caused by freezing. Relations between material parameters and varying porosity follow from the micro‐macro procedure which yields Gassmann and Epstein relations for compressibilities and permeability in the classical linear poroelasticity.
Comparative use of forest habitats by roe deer and moose in a human‐modified landscape in southeastern Norway during winter
Authors: Tinoco Torres Rita , Carvalho J. C. , Panzacchi M. , Linnell J. D. C. , Fonseca C.
Published: April 2011

The negative impact of anthropogenic disturbance and land‐use changes on large mammals is generally recognized within conservation biology. In southeastern Norway, both moose (Alces alces) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) occur throughout human‐modified landscapes, facilitating an interesting comparative study of their habitat use. By using pellet group counts, we looked at the importance of forest structure, vegetation characteristics and human disturbance (e.g., distance to the nearest house, nearest paved road, and nearest edge between field and forest) in shaping the winter distribution of both species at multiple spatial scales, in non‐agricultural habitats. Moose occurred more often in areas with higher densities of heather and Vaccinium sp. in the ground layer, and used areas with more open forest structure. The proportion of built‐up areas, within a 1,000‐m buffer, negatively influenced moose occurrence. Roe deer occurred more often in areas with deciduous trees and patches with juniper and Vaccinium sp. in the ground layer, used areas near roads less, but were significantly associated with areas near the field–forest ecotone. The proportion of built‐up areas positively influenced roe deer distribution within a 2,500‐m buffer. Roe deer seem to be able to persist in more human‐dominated landscapes, possibly due to the availability of field–forest edges providing both high‐quality fodder and cover in close proximity. Moose, on the contrary, did not show any preference for areas associated with human disturbance, and their distribution was only associated with patches providing food.
Synaptic Wnt signaling—a contributor to major psychiatric disorders?
Authors: Okerlund Nathan D. , Cheyette Benjamin N. R.
Published: April 2011

Wnt signaling is a key pathway that helps organize development of the nervous system. It influences cell proliferation, cell fate, and cell migration in the developing nervous system, as well as axon guidance, dendrite development, and synapse formation. Given this wide range of roles, dysregulation of Wnt signaling could have any number of deleterious effects on neural development and thereby contribute in many different ways to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Some major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorders, are coming to be understood as subtle dysregulations of nervous system development, particularly of synapse formation and maintenance. This review will therefore touch on the importance of Wnt signaling to neurodevelopment generally, while focusing on accumulating evidence for a synaptic role of Wnt signaling. These observations will be discussed in the context of current understanding of the neurodevelopmental bases of major psychiatric diseases, spotlighting schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. In short, this review will focus on the potential role of synapse formation and maintenance in major psychiatric disorders and summarize evidence that defective Wnt signaling could contribute to their pathogenesis via effects on these late neural differentiation processes.
Effects of Oil Extraction Methods on Physical and Chemical Properties of Red Salmon Oils (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Authors: Yin Huaixia , Solval Kevin Mis , Huang Jiaqi , Bechtel Peter J. , Sathivel Subramaniam
Published: April 2011

The following four methods were used to extract salmon oil from red salmon heads: RS1 involved a mixture of ground red salmon heads and water, no heat treatment, and centrifugation; RS2 involved ground red salmon heads (no water added), heat treatment, and centrifugation; RS3 involved a mixture of ground red salmon heads and water, heat treatment, and centrifugation; and RS4 involved ground red salmon heads, enzymatic hydrolysis, enzyme inactivation by heat and centrifugation. The four extracted oil samples were evaluated for chemical, thermal, and rheological physical properties. The RS4 process recovered significantly higher amounts of crude oil from red salmon heads than the other three extraction methods, while containing a higher % of free fatty acids and higher peroxide values than RS1, RS2, and RS3 oils. Oleic acid, eicosenoic acid, EPA, and DHA were the predominant fatty acids accounting for about 60% of all unsaturated fatty acids. The RS1, RS2, RS3, and RS4 extractions contained 9.3, 9.05, 9.35, and 9.45% of EPA and 8.8, 8.55, 9.0, and 9.1% of DHA in the oil, respectively. Weight losses of the oils increased with increasing temperatures between 200 and 500 °C. The % weight losses at 500 °C were 94.50, 94.58, 94.94, and 95.47% for RS2, RS1, RS3, and RS4, respectively. The apparent viscosities of all the oil samples decreased with the increases in the temperature. The RS1 extract was more viscous (P < 0.05) than those of RS2, RS3, and RS4 between 0 and 25 °C.
Small amplitude shape oscillations of a spherical liquid drop with surface viscosity
Authors: LYUBIMOV D. V. , KONOVALOV V. V. , LYUBIMOVA T. P. , EGRY I.
Published: April 2011

The analysis of surface oscillations of liquid drops allows measurements of the surface tension and viscosity of the liquid. For small oscillations of spherical drops with a free surface, classical formulae by Rayleigh and Lamb relate these quantities to the frequency and damping of the oscillations. In many cases, however, the drop's surface is covered by a surface film, typically an oxide layer or a surfactant, exhibiting a rheological behaviour different from the bulk fluid. It is the purpose of this paper to investigate how such surface properties influence the oscillation spectrum of a spherical drop. For small bulk shear viscosity, the cases of small, finite and large surface viscosities are discussed, and the onset of aperiodic motion as a function of the surface parameters is also derived.
Vortex-induced vibrations of a long flexible cylinder in shear flow
Authors: BOURGUET REMI , KARNIADAKIS GEORGE E. , TRIANTAFYLLOU MICHAEL S.
Published: April 2011

We investigate the in-line and cross-flow vortex-induced vibrations of a long cylindrical tensioned beam, with length to diameter ratio L/D = 200, placed within a linearly sheared oncoming flow, using three-dimensional direct numerical simulation. The study is conducted at three Reynolds numbers, from 110 to 1100 based on maximum velocity, so as to include the transition to turbulence in the wake. The selected tension and bending stiffness lead to high-wavenumber vibrations, similar to those encountered in long ocean structures. The resulting vortex-induced vibrations consist of a mixture of standing and travelling wave patterns in both the in-line and cross-flow directions; the travelling wave component is preferentially oriented from high to low velocity regions. The in-line and cross-flow vibrations have a frequency ratio approximately equal to 2. Lock-in, the phenomenon of self-excited vibrations accompanied by synchronization between the vortex shedding and cross-flow vibration frequencies, occurs in the high-velocity region, extending across 30% or more of the beam length. The occurrence of lock-in disrupts the spanwise regularity of the cellular patterns observed in the wake of stationary cylinders in shear flow. The wake exhibits an oblique vortex shedding pattern, inclined in the direction of the travelling wave component of the cylinder vibrations. Vortex splittings occur between spanwise cells of constant vortex shedding frequency. The flow excites the cylinder under the lock-in condition with a preferential in-line versus cross-flow motion phase difference corresponding to counter-clockwise, figure-eight orbits; but it damps cylinder vibrations in the non-lock-in region. Both mono-frequency and multi-frequency responses may be excited. In the case of multi-frequency response and within the lock-in region, the wake can lock in to different frequencies at various spanwise locations; however, lock-in is a locally mono-frequency event, and hence the flow supplies energy to the structure mainly at the local lock-in frequency.
Does International Law Promote the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes? Evidence from the Study of Territorial Conflicts since 1945
Authors: HUTH PAUL K. , CROCO SARAH E. , APPEL BENJAMIN J.
Published: April 2011

In this article, we explain the role of international law in the resolution of territorial disputes from 1945 to 2000. In doing so, we focus on three outcomes of interest. First, when do states choose to revise the territorial status quo through negotiations instead of force? Second, when are states able to reach a final settlement? Third, when do states prefer a process of legal dispute resolution (i.e., adjudication or arbitration) to bilateral negotiations? To answer these questions, we argue that when the legal principles relevant to the dispute are unambiguous and clearly favor one side, a law-based focal point will emerge. This focal point, in turn, facilitates the settlement process by helping leaders overcome distribution problems, a central obstacle in reaching a final agreement. We find strong and consistent empirical support for our hypotheses regarding international law and peaceful dispute resolution.
High bone concentrations of homocysteine are associated with altered bone morphology in humans
Authors: Holstein Joerg H. , Herrmann Markus , Splett Christina , Herrmann Wolfgang , Garcia Patric , Histing Tina , Klein Moritz , Kurz Karsten , Siebel Thomas , Pohlemann Tim , Menger Michael D.
Published: April 2011

Accumulation of homocysteine andS-adenosylhomocysteine in bone has been shown to be associated with reduced bone quality in rats. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether high bone concentrations of homocysteine andS-adenosylhomocysteine as well as a low methylation capacity are related to an impaired bone morphology in humans. Concentrations of homocysteine and its precursorsS-adenosylhomocysteine andS-adenosylmethionine were measured in femoral bone samples of eighty-two males and females (age 71 (sd8) years) who underwent elective hip arthroplasty. Cancellous bone structure was analysed by histomorphometry. In addition, blood was sampled to measure serum concentrations of homocysteine. Results of bone and serum analyses were grouped for individuals with high or low bone concentrations of homocysteine,S-adenosylhomocysteine andS-adenosylmethionine, as well as for individuals with a high or a low methylation capacity, which is indicated by a low or a highS-adenosylhomocysteine:S-adenosylmethionine ratio (n41, each). Histomorphometry showed a higher trabecular separation and a lower trabecular thickness, trabecular number and trabecular area in individuals with high bone concentrations of homocysteine andS-adenosylhomocysteine compared with individuals with low bone concentrations of homocysteine andS-adenosylhomocysteine. There was no association between theS-adenosylhomocysteine:S-adenosylmethionine ratio and bone morphology. It was found that 48 % of bone homocysteine was bound to the collagen of the extracellular bone matrix. Blood analyses demonstrated a significant correlation between serum and bone homocysteine. The results of the present study indicate an association between altered bone morphology and elevated bone concentrations of homocysteine andS-adenosylhomocysteine, but not between altered bone morphology and methylation capacity.
Effect of the continuous intake of probiotic-fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on fever in a mass outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis and the faecal microflora in a health service facility for the aged
Authors: Nagata Satoru , Asahara Takashi , Ohta Toshihisa , Yamada Toshihiko , Kondo Shigemi , Bian Lei , Wang Chongxin , Yamashiro Yuichiro , Nomoto Koji
Published: April 2011

For conducting effective risk management in long-stay elderly people at a health service facility, we performed an open case-controlled study to evaluate the effect of the intake of probiotic-fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS-fermented milk) on norovirus gastroenteritis occurring in the winter season during the intake period. A total of seventy-seven elderly people (mean age 84 years) were enrolled in the study. During a 1-month period, there was no significant difference in the incidence of norovirus gastroenteritis between the LcS-fermented milk-administered (n 39) and the non-administered (n 38) groups; however, the mean duration of fever of >37°C after the onset of gastroenteritis was 1·5 (sd 1·7) d in the former and 2·9 (sd 2·3) d in the latter group, showing a significant shortening in the former group (P < 0·05). RT-quantitative PCR analysis targeting ribosomal RNA showed both Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus to be significantly dominant, whereas Enterobacteriaceae decreased in faecal samples from the administered group (n 10, mean age 83 years), with a significant increase in faecal acetic acid concentration. Continuous intake of LcS-fermented milk could positively contribute to the alleviation of fever caused by norovirus gastroenteritis by correcting the imbalance of the intestinal microflora peculiar to the elderly, although such consumption could not protect them from the disease.
Marginal selenium status in northern Tasmania
Authors: Beckett Jeffrey M. , Ball Madeleine J.
Published: April 2011

Se plays many important roles in humans. Marginal Se status has been associated with adverse health effects including an increased risk of chronic disease such as cancer. There are few Australian data, but the population of Tasmania, Australia, is potentially at risk of marginal Se status. A cross-sectional study of 498 men and women aged 25–84 years was undertaken to assess the Se status of the northern Tasmanian population. Se status was assessed using dietary estimates and measures of serum Se and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Mean Se intakes were 77·4 (sd31·3) and 65·1 (sd23·7) μg/d for men and women, respectively; 27 % of the subjects consumed less than the Australian/New Zealand estimated average requirement. Mean serum Se concentration was 89·1 (sd15·1) μg/l; 83 % of the study subjects had serum Se concentrations below 100 μg/l and 60 % had serum Se concentration below 90 μg/l, suggesting that Se status in many subjects was inadequate for maximal GPx activity. This was supported by the positive association between serum Se and serum GPx (P < 0·001), indicating that enzyme activity was limited by Se concentrations. The lowest mean serum Se concentrations were observed in the oldest age ranges; however, the prevalence of marginal Se status was similar across age ranges and did not appear to be influenced by sex or socio-economic status. The prevalence of marginal Se status was high in all sex and age subgroups, suggesting that the northern Tasmanian population could benefit from increasing Se intakes.
Sex- and age-specific immunomodulatory effects of dietary soya protein isolate and isoflavones in rats
Authors: Cornish Stephen M. , Wood Carla M. , L'Abbé Mary R. , Gilani G. Sarwar , Cooke Gerard M. , Curran Ivan H. , Xiao Chao Wu
Published: April 2011

The present study examined, using rats as a model, the effects of sex and age of exposure to dietary soya components on serum total and soya-specific antibody content. In Expt 1, Sprague–Dawley rats at 50 d of age were fed diets containing 20 % casein or 20 % alcohol-washed soya protein isolate (SPI) with or without supplemental isoflavones (ISF, 250 mg/kg diet) for 70, 190 or 310 d. The offspring were fed the same diets as their parents. In Expt 2, juvenile Sprague–Dawley rats at 30 d of age were fed diets containing 20 % casein with or without supplemental ISF (50 mg/kg diet) or increasing amounts of alcohol-washed SPI (5, 10 or 20 %) for 90 d. Exposure of rats to dietary SPI before the age of 28 d increased serum total IgA and IgM, and induced the production of SPI-specific IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE antibodies. Feeding of juvenile or adult rats with SPI elevated serum total IgA in females, while the opposite occurred in males, and markedly stimulated the production of SPI-specific IgM in females and IgG in males. Our data suggest that the effects of soya proteins and ISF on the production of serum total and SPI-specific antibodies appear to be sex dependent and also related to the age of exposure to soya in rats. However, the physiological significance of these immune responses remains to be determined.
Contrecoup injury in patients with traumatic temporal bone fracture
Authors: Asha'Ari Z A , Ahmad R , Rahman J , Kamarudin N , Wan Ishlah L
Published: April 2011

Objective:

To study the prevalence and patterns of contrecoup injury in traumatic temporal bone fracture cases.

Method:

A prospective, cohort study was undertaken of all patients with traumatic head injury admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Malaysia within an 18-month period. High resolution computed tomography scans of the brain and skull base were performed in indicated cases, based on clinical findings and Glasgow coma score. Patients with a one-sided temporal bone fracture were selected and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging performed in all cases. Contrecoup injury incidence, type, severity and outcome were recorded.

Results:

Of 1579 head injury cases, 81 (5.1 per cent) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Temporal bone fractures were significantly associated with intracranial injuries (p < 0.001). The incidence of a contrecoup injury in cases with temporal bone fracture was 13.6 per cent. Contrecoup injury was significantly associated with petrous temporal bone fracture (p < 0.01). The commonest contrecoup injury was cerebral contusion, followed by extradural haematoma and subdural haematoma.

Conclusion:

Contrecoup injury is not uncommon in cases of temporal bone fracture, and is significantly associated with petrous temporal bone fracture.
Coblation of rhinophyma
Authors: Timms M , Roper A , Patrick C
Published: April 2011

Introduction:

Rhinophyma is a disfiguring hypertrophy of the skin of the tip of the nose.

Objective:

To assess the new technique of coblation of rhinophyma.

Study design:

Case series of six patients.

Results:

All patients had a good cosmetic result. Comparison with existing techniques showed advantages due to the lower tissue temperature involved.

Conclusion:

Coblation of rhinophyma is an effective treatment with few side effects.
Determinants of life-history traits in a fish ectoparasite: a hierarchical analysis
Authors: LOOT G. , POULET N. , BROSSE S. , TUDESQUE L. , THOMAS F. , BLANCHET S.
Published: April 2011

Objective.Unravelling the determinants of parasite life-history traits in natural settings is complex. Here, we deciphered the relationships between biotic, abiotic factors and the variation in 4 life-history traits (body size, egg presence, egg number and egg size) in the fish ectoparasiteTracheliastes polycolpus. We then determined the factors affecting the strength of the trade-off between egg number and egg size.Methods.To do so, we used 4-level (parasite, microhabitat, host and environment) hierarchical models coupled to a field database.Results.Variation in life-history traits was mostly due to individual characteristics measured at the parasite level. At the microhabitat level (fins of fish hosts), parasite number was positively related to body size, egg presence and egg number. Higher parasite number on fins was positively associated with individual parasite fitness. At the host level, host body size was positively related to the individual fitness of the parasite; parasites were bigger and more fecund on bigger hosts. In contrast, factors measured at the environmental level had a weak influence on life-history traits. Finally, a site-dependent trade-off between egg number and egg size existed in this population.Conclusion.Our study illustrates the importance of considering parasite life-history traits in a hierarchical framework to decipher complex links between biotic, abiotic factors and parasite life-history traits.
A case-controlled study of Dientamoeba fragilis infections in children
Authors: BANIK G. R. , BARRATT J. L. N. , MARRIOTT D. , HARKNESS J. , ELLIS J. T. , STARK D.
Published: April 2011

Dientamoeba fragilis is a pathogenic protozoan parasite that is implicated as a cause of human diarrhoea. A case-controlled study was conducted to determine the clinical signs associated with D. fragilis infection in children presenting to a Sydney Hospital. Treatment options are also discussed. Stool specimens were collected from children aged 15 years or younger and analysed for the presence of D. fragilis. In total, 41 children were included in the study along with a control group. Laboratory diagnosis was performed by microscopy of permanently stained, fixed faecal smears and by real-time PCR. Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 40/41 (98%) of these children with dientamoebiasis, with diarrhoea (71%) and abdominal pain (29%) the most common clinical signs. Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 2% of cases. The most common anti-microbial used for treatment was metronidazole (n=41), with complete resolution of symptoms and clearance of parasite occurring in 85% of cases. A treatment failure rate occurred in 15% of those treated with metronidazole. Follow-up treatment comprised of an additional course of metronidazole or iodoquinol was needed in order to achieve complete resolution of infection and symptoms in this group. This study demonstrates the pathogenic potential of D. fragilis in children and as such it is recommended that all laboratories must routinely test for this organism and treat if detected.