bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organic Control of Oilseed Rape Pests through Natural Pesticides and Mixed Cultivation with Turnip Rape
Authors: Ludwig Tobias , Jansen Eva , Trost Benjamin , Mayer Julia , Kühne Stefan , Böhm Herwart
Published: April 2011

A mixed cropping system of rapeseed and 10 % turnip rape as trap crop was compared with oilseed rape in pure stand to demonstrate the reduction of infestation by insect pests. Furthermore the application of bio-pesticides like pyrethrum/rape oil (Spruzit® Neu), spinosad (SpinTor), diatomeen earth (SiO~2~) /sunflower-oil and rock powder/water was tested. Oilseed rape showed a higher infestation by stem weevils (Ceutorhynchus spp.) in the mixed cropping system compared to rapeseed in pure stand. The reduction of the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) on the rapeseed buds resulted from higher attractiveness of turnip rape as a consequence of advanced growth. The faster development of turnip rape seems to be the important key of successful pollen beetle regulation. The application of pyrethrum and spinosad against Ceutorhynchus spp. had no effect, spinosad was the only agent that caused a reduction of the pollen beetle.
Solving mazes with memristors: a massively-parallel approach
Authors: Pershin Yuriy , Di Ventra Massimiliano
Published: April 2011

Solving mazes is not just a fun pastime. Mazes are prototype models in graph theory, topology, robotics, traffic optimization, psychology, and in many other areas of science and technology. However, when maze complexity increases their solution becomes cumbersome and very time consuming. Here, we show that a network of memristors - resistors with memory - can solve such a non-trivial problem quite easily. In particular, maze solving by the network of memristors occurs in a massively parallel fashion since all memristors in the network participate simultaneously in the calculation. The result of the calculation is then recorded into the memristors’ states, and can be used and/or recovered at a later time. Furthermore, the network of memristors finds all possible solutions in multiple-solution mazes, and sorts out the solution paths according to their length. Our results demonstrate not only the first application of memristive networks to the field of massively-parallel computing, but also a novel algorithm to solve mazes which could find applications in different research fields.
Studies in preparation of banana wine (fruit wine)
Authors: Sevda Surajbhan , Khartmol Pramod , Rodrigues Lambert
Published: April 2011

Banana is a tropical fruit, which is grown abundantly in India. It is mainly composed of soluble sugars, starch and other polysaccharides. The juice was extracted from the normal ripe fruits with the help of pectinase enzyme. Optimization of pectinase treatment was done by RSM method. Wine was prepared by using two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3283 & NCIM 3046. The size of inoculum, effective pH, temperature, level of SO2 , level of DAP for both strains was optimized. It was found that NCIM 3046 gave better results compared to the other strain. Soluble solids (SS), pH and specific gravity decreased while titratable acidity (TA) increased with increasing length of fermentation of the juice. Sensory evaluation results showed that banana wine was acceptable in terms of flavor, taste, clarity and overall characteristics. The banana wine was generally accepted & could be popularized.
Understanding economical outcomes with the mental number line
Authors: Vicario Carmelo
Published: April 2011

With this study we provide evidence that the cognitive processes involved in addition/subtraction, mapped along the mental number line, seem to mediate our understanding of trading verbs. When left-to-right culture participants read "loss" verbs, cognitive activation moves "leftward" as in arithmetical subtraction, while reading "gain" verbs activates a mental rightward space as in addition.We test this hypothesis by asking to a group of participants to use their left and right hand in judging (as correct of not) the syntactic form of several verbs meaning financial outcomes. Results show that processing “gain verbs” was associated with shorter latencies when responding with the right hand similarly when performing an addition task, while processing “loss verbs” was associated with shorter latencies when responding with the left, similarly when performing a subtraction task. This finding suggests that understanding language denoting economics outcomes covertly engages the arithmetical system in a spatially left-right dimension.
The universe of normal and cancer cell line responses to anticancer treatment: Lessons for cancer therapy
Authors: Vazquez Alexei
Published: April 2011

According to the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results report, 1,479,350 men and women will be diagnosed with and 562,340 will die of cancer of all sites in 2009, indicating that about 40% of the cancer patients do not respond well to current anticancer therapies. Using tumor and normal tissue cell lines as a model, we show this high mortality rate is rooted in inherent features of anticancer treatments. We obtain that, while on average anticancer treatments exhibit a two fold higher efficacy when applied to cancer cells, the response distribution of cancer and normal cells significantly overlap. Focusing on specific treatments, we provide evidence indicating that the therapeutic index is proportional to the fraction of cancer cell lines manifesting significantly good responses, and propose the latter as a quantity to identify compounds with best potential for anticancer therapy. We conclude that there is no single treatment targeting all cancer cell lines at a non-toxic dose. However, there are effective treatments for specific cancer cell lines, which, when used in a personalized manner or applied in combination, can target all cancer cell lines.
In silico Gene Characterization and biological annotation of Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88
Authors: Nayarisseri Anuraj , Yadav Mukesh , Lokhande Vini , Patidar Rajesh , Maynal Mayura
Published: April 2011

Genome annotation is the process of estimation of biological features from genomic data. The target of a genome annotation is to identify the key features of the genome sequence particularly, the genes and gene products. The characteristics of a gene, its products, and gene prediction programs of Aspergillus niger are discussed. Although the number of genomes in genomic databases are increasing day by day, genome-wide analyses are affected by the quality of the genome annotations. This study illustrates the importance of integrative approaches for automatic annotations of genomes of Aspergillus niger by computational methods. However, the annotation process is more complicated in Eukaryotes; we used a comparative study for gene prediction using the FgenesH algorithm by various software providers. The final annotation of Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88. has been created as a GB file in Artemis, A sequence viewer and annotation tool was developed in the anger Institute.
Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Propagating, Perpetuating, and Protecting Life
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Siddhartha
Published: April 2011

Natural agricultural production is an open system, both energy and matters are exchanged freely in this system involving interactions of geosphere (especially pedosphere), biosphere, and atmosphere. Agriculture provides crops for food and industry, fiber, fuel, auto-fuel and drugs. On one hand it faces ever escalating food prices and farmer’s suicides, and on the other hand input use efficiency is low. Present agricultural practices have made harvests toxic, mother’s milk a poison, and breathing-air venom. In this background, nanotechnology brings new hope. Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary venture-field that converge science, engineering, and agriculture and food systems into one. The Environmental Protection Agency of the US has defined nanotechnology as the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1-100 nm, where unique physical properties make novel applications possible. The triple problems of agriculture – over-dependence on supplementary irrigation, vulnerability to climate, and poor input and energy conversion to products – can be solved by using nanotechnology, provided agricultural scientists seek a chance to try and cooperate with scientists of kindred disciplines. Nanotechnology is new to agriculture; a ventured field of less than a decade old. But, already success has been achieved for manufacturing nano-pesticides and nano-fertilizer, in disease elimination in poultry, in food packaging, use of agricultural waste, nanosensors, precision agricultural practices, and in livestock and fisheries. Nanotechnology holds the potential to revolutionize agriculture and food systems in the areas of nano-fertilizers, pesticide career, microfluidics, BioMEMS, nucleic acid bioengineering, smart treatment delivery systems, nanobioprocessing, bioanalytical nanosensors, nanomaterials, bioselective surfaces, environmental processing, pathogen detection, plant/animal production, biosecurity, molecular and cellular biology, protection of the environment through the reduction and conversion of agricultural materials into valuable products, design and development of new nanocatalysts to convert vegetable oils into biobased fuels and biodegradable industrial solvents, and in controlled ecological life support system, to name a few.
Nanomaterials: Look at the Earth
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Siddhartha
Published: April 2011

Nanotechnology promises to be the greatest technological breakthrough in history, doing for our control of matter what computers did for our control of information. The origins of nanoscience can be traced to clay mineralogy and crystallography when it was discovered that clay minerals were crystalline and of micrometer size. The unit cell dimensions of clay minerals are in nanometer scale in all three axes (x, y, and z). The advantages of clays are: (i) their ordered arrangements, (ii) their large adsorption capacity, (iii) their shielding against sunlight (ultraviolet radiation), (iv) their ability to concentrate organic chemicals, and (v) their ability to serve as polymerization templates. Clay minerals in nanoforms played a catalytic role in the synthesis of the ribosome in RNA that led to genesis of life on Earth. The history of Earth suggests that the late Precambrian oxygenation led to the inception of a ‘clay mineral factory’ that triggered the radical evolutionary diversification of Neoproterozoic life due to enhanced burial of organic carbon. High activity clays protected organic matter from reoxygenation, allowing a corresponding quantity of O2 to accumulate in the environment. The inseparable association of clays with lifeforms makes them most desirable in manufacturing nanoparticles. Clays have been extensively used in industry, but as concern for environmental sustainability grows, clay minerals find new takers from all conceivable forms of industries. Nanotechnology literature is flooded with clay-polymers for their possible use in high strength material manufacturing, for ecological life support systems, removal of contaminants from water and wastes, and as catalysts in chemical reactions to reduce energy consumption.
A Semantic Model for Federated Queries Over a Normalized Corpus
Authors: Croset Samuel , Grabmüller Christoph , Rebholz-Schuhmann Dietrich
Published: April 2011

We present here a model implemented in OWL which improves information retrieval and data integration of the corpus. The model is populated with entities from CALBC and some simple queries over it are presented.
Mechanism and circuitry underlying retinal sensitization
Authors: Kastner David , Ozuysal Yusuf , Baccus Stephen
Published: April 2011

Recently we have described a population of retinal ganglion cells that increase their sensitivity after the presentation of a high contrast stimulus. This process, termed contrast sensitization is a form of short-term information storage that enables ganglion cells to store the location of a previously moving object for several seconds. Effectively, sensitizing ganglion cells make a prediction that the location of a strong stimulus at one point in time will continue to be important in the near future, even after the strong stimulus ceases. To understand how the retina can paradoxically increase its sensitivity in the face of a strong stimulus, we recorded intracellularly from sensitizing ganglion cells, and found that a depolarization of the baseline membrane potential underlies the increase in sensitivity. We then fit the membrane potential fluctuations with a model that contained two independently adapting pathways: one excitatory and one inhibitory. In this model, a strong stimulus adapts the inhibitory pathway, such that subsequent stimuli are processed with less inhibition, thus increasing sensitivity. Consistent with this model, pharmacologically blocking GABAergic inhibitory transmission eliminated sensitization. To identify interneurons that generated sensitization, we recorded intracellularly from an inhibitory amacrine cell, while simultaneously recording from a population of ganglion cells with an extracellular multielectrode array. By injecting current into the amacrine cell, we measured whether amacrine transmission changed during sensitization. Initial results indicate the presence of an amacrine cell whose transmission to ganglion cells depresses during sensitization, as predicted by the model. This effect was specific, as other types of amacrine cells did not change their transmission under the same conditions. These results lead to an understanding of sensitization whereby a strong stimulus primes the circuit to form a prediction of future input by locally removing one type of inhibition.
Microbiological Aspects and Immunity Response of Bacteria Causing Pulpitis
Authors: Dwivedi Deepak , Kushwah Sapna , Singh Dr. Vinod
Published: April 2011

The oral cavity is a very widely distributed ecosystem in which several hundred microbial species normally cohabit harmoniously. Under special conditions some microorganisms with potential are promoted, leading to inflammation & infection by induced de-mineralization of dental enamel that normally constitutes an impermeable barrier that protects the underlying dentin and the connective tissue situated in the center of the tooth & dental pulp such as pulpitis, dental caries, and periodontal infection. In inflammation of the dental pulpitis the immunity response against oral infection leads to infection and results in a high level of morbidity and economic burden to society.
A facile surfactant critical micelle concentration determination
Authors: Cai Lifeng , Gochin Miriam , Liu Keliang
Published: April 2011

Liquid surface curvature variations in microplate wells were harnessed for quantitative surfactant measurement.
Chiral calciumcatalysts for asymmetric hydroamination/cyclisation
Authors: Wixey James S. , Ward Benjamin D.
Published: April 2011

Chiral ethylene diamine ligands give a significant advance in the quest for calcium catalysts applied to stereoselective hydroamination/cyclisation.
Leptin is an effective treatment for hypothalamic amenorrhea
Authors: Chou Sharon H. , Chamberland John P. , Liu Xiaowen , Matarese Giuseppe , Gao Chuanyun , Stefanakis Rianna , Brinkoetter Mary T. , Gong Huizhi , Arampatzi Kalliopi , Mantzoros Christos S.
Published: April 2011

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-peripheral endocrine axes, leading to infertility and bone loss, and usually is caused by chronic energy deficiency secondary to strenuous exercise and/or decreased food intake. Energy deficiency also leads to hypoleptinemia, which has been proposed, on the basis of observational studies as well as an open-label study, to mediate the neuroendocrine abnormalities associated with this condition. To prove definitively a causal role of leptin in the pathogenesis of HA, we performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of human recombinant leptin (metreleptin) in replacement doses over 36 wk in women with HA. We assessed its effects on reproductive outcomes, neuroendocrine function, and bone metabolism. Leptin replacement resulted in recovery of menstruation and corrected the abnormalities in the gonadal, thyroid, growth hormone, and adrenal axes. We also demonstrated changes in markers of bone metabolism suggestive of bone formation, but no changes in bone mineral density were detected over the short duration of this study. If these data are confirmed, metreleptin administration in replacement doses to normalize circulating leptin levels may prove to be a safe and effective therapy for women with HA.
PDGFRα-positive cells in bone marrow are mobilized by high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) to regenerate injured epithelia
Authors: Tamai Katsuto , Yamazaki Takehiko , Chino Takenao , Ishii Masaru , Otsuru Satoru , Kikuchi Yasushi , Iinuma Shin , Saga Kotaro , Nimura Keisuke , Shimbo Takashi , Umegaki Noriko , Katayama Ichiro , Miyazaki Jun-ichi , Takeda Junji , McGrath John A. , Uitto Jouni , Kaneda Yasufumi
Published: April 2011

The role of bone marrow cells in repairing ectodermal tissue, such as skin epidermis, is not clear. To explore this process further, this study examined a particular form of cutaneous repair, skin grafting. Grafting of full thickness wild-type mouse skin onto mice that had received a green fluorescent protein-bone marrow transplant after whole body irradiation led to an abundance of bone marrow-derived epithelial cells in follicular and interfollicular epidermis that persisted for at least 5 mo. The source of the epithelial progenitors was the nonhematopoietic, platelet-derived growth factor receptor α-positive (Lin
−
/PDGFRα
+
) bone marrow cell population. Skin grafts release high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in vitro and in vivo, which can mobilize the Lin
−
/PDGFRα
+
cells from bone marrow to target the engrafted skin. These data provide unique insight into how skin grafts facilitate tissue repair and identify strategies germane to regenerative medicine for skin and, perhaps, other ectodermal defects or diseases.
Deactivation of Akt by a small molecule inhibitor targeting pleckstrin homology domain and facilitating Akt ubiquitination
Authors: Jo Hakryul , Lo Pang-Kuo , Li Yitang , Loison Fabien , Green Sarah , Wang Jake , Silberstein Leslie E. , Ye Keqiang , Chen Hexin , Luo Hongbo R.
Published: April 2011

The phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) binding function of pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is essential for the activation of oncogenic Akt/PKB kinase. Following the PIP3-mediated activation at the membrane, the activated Akt is subjected to other regulatory events, including ubiquitination-mediated deactivation. Here, by identifying and characterizing an allosteric inhibitor, SC66, we show that the facilitated ubiquitination effectively terminates Akt signaling. Mechanistically, SC66 manifests a dual inhibitory activity that directly interferes with the PH domain binding to PIP3 and facilitates Akt ubiquitination. A known PH domain-dependent allosteric inhibitor, which stabilizes Akt, prevents the SC66-induced Akt ubiquitination. A cancer-relevant Akt1 (e17k) mutant is unstable, making it intrinsically sensitive to functional inhibition by SC66 in cellular contexts in which the PI3K inhibition has little inhibitory effect. As a result of its dual inhibitory activity, SC66 manifests a more effective growth suppression of transformed cells that contain a high level of Akt signaling, compared with other inhibitors of PIP3/Akt pathway. Finally, we show the anticancer activity of SC66 by using a soft agar assay as well as a mouse xenograft tumor model. In conclusion, in this study, we not only identify a dual-function Akt inhibitor, but also demonstrate that Akt ubiquitination could be chemically exploited to effectively facilitate its deactivation, thus identifying an avenue for pharmacological intervention in Akt signaling.
Control of a final gating charge transition by a hydrophobic residue in the S2 segment of a K
+
channel voltage sensor
Authors: Lacroix Jérôme J. , Bezanilla Francisco
Published: April 2011

It is now well established that the voltage-sensor domains present in voltage-gated ion channels and some phosphatases operate by transferring several charged residues (gating charges), mainly arginines located in the S4 segment, across the electric field. The conserved phenylalanine
F
290
located in the S2 segment of the Shaker K channel is an aromatic residue thought to interact with all the four gating arginines carried by the S4 segment and control their transfer [Tao X, et al. (2010)
Science
328:67–73]. In this paper we study the possible interaction of the gating charges with this residue by directly detecting their movement with gating current measurements in 12
F
290
mutants. Most mutations do not significantly alter the first approximately 80–90% of the gating charge transfer nor the kinetics of the gating currents during activation. The effects of the
F
290
mutants are (
i
) the modification of a final activation transition accounting for approximately 10–20% of the total charge, similar to the effect of the ILT mutant [Ledwell JL, et al. (1999)
J Gen Physiol
113:389–414] and (
ii
) the modification of the kinetics of the gating charge movement during deactivation. These effects are well correlated with the hydrophobicity of the substituted residue, showing that a hydrophobic residue at position 290 controls the energy barrier of the final gating transition. Our results suggest that
F
290
controls the transfer of
R
371
, the fourth gating charge, during gating while not affecting the movement of the other three gating arginines.
A GATA4-regulated tumor suppressor network represses formation of malignant human astrocytomas
Authors: Agnihotri Sameer , Wolf Amparo , Munoz Diana M. , Smith Christopher J. , Gajadhar Aaron , Restrepo Andres , Clarke Ian D. , Fuller Gregory N. , Kesari Santosh , Dirks Peter B. , McGlade C. Jane , Stanford William L. , Aldape Kenneth , Mischel Paul S. , Hawkins Cynthia , Guha Abhijit
Published: April 2011

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most common and lethal primary human brain tumor, exhibits multiple molecular aberrations. We report that loss of the transcription factor GATA4, a negative regulator of normal astrocyte proliferation, is a driver in glioma formation and fulfills the hallmarks of a tumor suppressor gene (TSG). Although GATA4 was expressed in normal brain, loss of GATA4 was observed in 94/163 GBM operative samples and was a negative survival prognostic marker. GATA4 loss occurred through promoter hypermethylation or novel somatic mutations. Loss of GATA4 in normal human astrocytes promoted high-grade astrocytoma formation, in cooperation with other relevant genetic alterations such as activated Ras or loss of TP53. Loss of GATA4 with activated Ras in normal astrocytes promoted a progenitor-like phenotype, formation of neurospheres, and the ability to differentiate into astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Re-expression of GATA4 in human GBM cell lines, primary cultures, and brain tumor–initiating cells suppressed tumor growth in vitro and in vivo through direct activation of the cell cycle inhibitor P21CIP1, independent of TP53. Re-expression of GATA4 also conferred sensitivity of GBM cells to temozolomide, a DNA alkylating agent currently used in GBM therapy. This sensitivity was independent of MGMT (O-6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase), the DNA repair enzyme which is often implicated in temozolomide resistance. Instead, GATA4 reduced expression of APNG (alkylpurine-DNA-N-glycosylase), a DNA repair enzyme which is poorly characterized in GBM-mediated temozolomide resistance. Identification and validation of GATA4 as a TSG and its downstream targets in GBM may yield promising novel therapeutic strategies.
Formality of Pascal arrangements
Authors: Miller Matthew , Wakefield Max
Published: April 2011

In this paper we construct a family of subspace arrangements whose intersection lattices have the shape of Pascal’s triangle. We prove that even though the intersection lattices are not geometric, the complex complement of the arrangements are rationally formal.
Risk Factors for Parenteral Nutrition–associated Liver Disease Following Surgical Therapy for Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Authors: Duro Debora , Mitchell Paul D , Kalish Leslie A , Martin Cami , McCarthy Maggie , Jaksic Tom , Dunn James , Brandt Mary L , Nobuhara Kerilyn K , Sylvester Karl G , Moss R Lawrence , Duggan Christopher
Published: April 2011

Objective:

The aim of the study was to prospectively determine risk factors for the development of parenteral nutrition–associated liver disease (PNALD) in infants who underwent surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the most common cause of intestinal failure in children.

Patients and Methods:

From February 2004 to February 2007, we diagnosed 464 infants with NEC, of whom 180 had surgery. One hundred twenty‐seven patients were available for full analysis. PNALD was defined as serum direct bilirubin ≥2 mg/dL or ALT ≥2 × the upper limit of normal in the absence of sepsis after ≥14 days of exposure to PN.

Results:

Median gestational age was 26 weeks and 68% were boys. Seventy percent of the cohort developed PNALD and the incidence of PNALD varied significantly across the 6 study sites, ranging from 56% to 85% (P = 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified small‐bowel resection or creation of jejunostomy (odds ratio [OR] 4.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.97–12.51, P = 0.0007) and duration of PN in weeks (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.56–3.60, P < 0.0001) as independent risk factors for PNALD. Preoperative exposure to PN was also associated with the development of PNALD; the risk of PNALD was 2.6 (95% CI 1.5–4.7; P = 0.001) times greater in patients with ≥4 weeks of preoperative PN compared with those with less preoperative PN use. Breast milk feedings, episodes of infection, and gestational age were not related to the development of PNALD.

Conclusions:

The incidence of PNALD is high in infants with NEC undergoing surgical treatment. Risk factors for PNALD are related to signs of NEC severity, including the need for small‐bowel resection or proximal jejunostomy, as well as longer exposure to PN. Identification of these and other risk factors can help in the design of clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of PNALD and for clinical assessment of patients with NEC and prolonged PN dependence.
Conducting Large‐Scale Surveys in Secondary Schools: The Case of the Youth On Religion (YOR) Project
Authors: Madge Nicola , Hemming Peter J. , Goodman Anthony , Goodman Sue , Kingston Sarah , Stenson Kevin , Webster Colin
Published: April 2011

There are few published articles on conducting large‐scale surveys in secondary schools, and this paper seeks to fill this gap. Drawing on the experiences of the Youth On Religion project, it discusses the politics of gaining access to these schools and the considerations leading to the adoption and administration of an online survey. It is concluded that successful research in schools has to be planned carefully in collaboration with key members of staff, and justified as an educational activity. Providing speedy feedback was helpful to ensure schools benefited from the research and to keep them engaged with the project. © 2011 The Author(s). Children & Society © 2011 National Children’s Bureau and Blackwell Publishing Limited
Four‐Year‐Old Children’s Negotiation Strategies to Influence and Deal with a Primary Child Health Care Situation
Authors: Harder Maria , Christensson Kyllike , Söderbäck Maja
Published: April 2011

In Sweden, children’s health and development are promoted through Primary Child Health Care (PCHC) visits. The children participate in these visits from their own perspective through bodily and verbal expressions. This study explores four‐year‐old children’s expressions when they as actors take part in a PCHC situation. The conceptualisation of the children’s expressions reveals various actions that exhibit their affirmative and delaying negotiation strategies to influence and deal with these situations. For PCHC nurses, these findings may encourage to view children as negotiating participants and inspire to sensitivity when inviting children and guiding them through health visits. © 2011 The Author(s). Children & Society © 2011 National Children’s Bureau and Blackwell Publishing Limited
Mismatched human leukocyte antigen class II‐restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T cells may mediate selective graft‐versus‐leukemia effects following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Hirosawa Tomoya , Torikai Hiroki , Yanagisawa Mayumi , Kamei Michi , Imahashi Nobuhiko , Demachi‐Okamura Ayako , Tanimoto Miyoko , Shiraishi Keiko , Ito Mamoru , Miyamura Koichi , Shibata Kiyosumi , Kikkawa Fumitaka , Morishima Yasuo , Takahashi Toshitada , Emi Nobuhiko , Kuzushima Kiyotaka , Akatsuka Yoshiki
Published: April 2011

Partial human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is often performed when an HLA‐matched donor is not available. In these cases, CD8+ or CD4+ T cell responses are induced depending on the mismatched HLA class I or II allele(s). Herein, we report on an HLA‐DRB1*08:03‐restricted CD8+ CTL clone, named CTL‐1H8, isolated from a patient following an HLA‐DR‐mismatched HSCT from his brother. Lysis of a patient Epstein–Barr virus‐transformed B cell line (B‐LCL) by CTL‐1H8 was inhibited after the addition of blocking antibodies against HLA‐DR and CD8, whereas antibodies against pan‐HLA class I or CD4 had no effect. The 1H8‐CTL clone did not lyse the recipient dermal fibroblasts whose HLA‐DRB1*08:03 expression was upregulated after 1 week cytokine treatment. Engraftment of HLA‐DRB1*08:03‐positive primary leukemic stem cells in non‐obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient/γc‐null (NOG) mice was completely inhibited by the in vitro preincubation of cells with CTL‐1H8, suggesting that HLA‐DRB1*08:03 is expressed on leukemic stem cells. Finally, analysis of the precursor frequency of CD8+ CTL specific for recipient antigens in post‐HSCT peripheral blood T cells revealed a significant fraction of the total donor CTL responses towards the individual mismatched HLA‐DR antigen in two patients. These findings underscore unexpectedly significant CD8 T cell responses in the context of HLA class II. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 1281–1286)
Key aspects for successful immunoglobulin therapy of primary immunodeficiencies
Authors: Cunningham-Rundles C
Published: April 2011

Immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy is the mainstay for treatment in the majority of primary immune deficiencies. While B cell defects are the predominant conditions in man, other diseases in which T cell dysfunction is severe also require antibody replacement. In many medical practices the phenotypic overlap between immune deficiency and symptoms of asthma leads to both missed opportunities for diagnosing immune defects and inappropriate Ig treatment of asthmatic patients with normal B cell function. As steroid therapy can lower serum IgG levels, this finding alone is an insufficient indicator for Ig replacement. In the past 3 decades, there has a gradual increase in recommended and commonly used doses of parenteral immune globulin, often based on both IgG trough levels and clinical responses. Special attention to Ig doses is needed for growing children, in cases of weight loss or gain, pregnancy and for subjects in whom more rapid consumption of Ig is likely, including febrile patients or those with gastrointestinal or lung disease. While acute bacterial infections are much less common in Ig-treated subjects, a number of reports note continued evidence of inflammatory complications. Monitoring patients over time includes, at minimum, physical examination, blood counts and chemistry screening tests and IgG trough levels, at 6–12-month intervals. Other monitoring tools include spirometry and at wider intervals with those with lung disease, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity and chest computed tomography scans. With careful selection of patients and adequate therapy, an improved quality of life is possible.
Irinotecan‐induced alterations in intestinal cell kinetics and extracellular matrix component expression in the dark agouti rat
Authors: Al‐Dasooqi Noor , Bowen Joanne M. , Gibson Rachel J. , Logan Richard M. , Stringer Andrea M. , Keefe Dorothy M.
Published: April 2011

Chemotherapy‐induced mucositis is characterized by damage of mucous membranes throughout the alimentary tract (AT). Extracellular matrix (ECM) components play a vital role in maintaining mucosal barrier integrity by regulating cellular apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation of overlying epithelial cells. The aims of this study were to characterize the changes in epithelial cell kinetics and to investigate the expression of the ECM components in the gastrointestinal tract following irinotecan administration. Female dark agouti rats were treated with single 200 mg/kg dose irinotecan and killed at various time points (1, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 144 h) after treatment. Ki67 immunostaining and TUNEL were used to assess proliferation and apoptosis, respectively, in the jejunum and colon. Masson trichrome staining and picro‐sirius red staining were used to determine the level of collagen, and immunohistochemistry was used to further assess collagen IV, fibronectin and laminin 1 and 2 expression in these tissues. Irinotecan halved cellular proliferation in the jejunum and colon at 48 and 24 h, respectively, while apoptosis peaked at 6 h (P < 0.05). There was a substantial increase in total collagen deposits around crypts from 24 h in both regions. However, collagen IV expression decreased significantly in the crypt region in a delayed fashion (P < 0.05). Fibronectin expression decreased significantly in jejunum and colon from 6 to 24 h following treatment (P < 0.05). Irinotecan induced a significant alteration in epithelial cell kinetics in both the jejunum and colon, and this correlated with changes in ECM component expression. Changes in ECM expression may have a direct impact on the loss of mucosal layer integrity evident in chemotherapy‐induced mucositis.
The sedimentology and geomorphology of rock avalanche deposits on glaciers
Authors: SHUGAR DAN H. , CLAGUE JOHN J.
Published: April 2011

This article describes and compares the deposits of four large landslides on two glaciers in Alaska using field mapping and remote sensing. Digital image analysis is used to compare the sedimentological characteristics of nearly 200 000 individual surface blocks deposited by three landslides at Black Rapids Glacier in 2002. The debris sheets of one of the three landslides on Black Rapids Glacier and a landslide emplaced on Sherman Glacier in 1964 are also investigated. The three landslides on Black Rapids Glacier have undergone little post‐depositional modification by glacier flow, whereas the Sherman Glacier landslide has been transported supraglacially up to ca 1 km over the past 46 years. The three debris sheets on Black Rapids Glacier have coarse blocky rims at their distal edges, and all four debris sheets have longitudinal flowbands characterized by differences in texture and produced by shearing within the moving debris. Elongated blocks are parallel to flow, except at the perimeter of the debris sheets, where they are aligned more perpendicular to flow. Blocks on the Sherman Glacier debris sheet have been reoriented by glacier flow. The matrix shows no systematic differences with depth or distance from the source. However, it appears to become coarser over a time scale of decades due to weathering.
Detection of granulocyte antibodies using simultaneous analysis of specific granulocyte antibodies assay (SASGA)
Authors: Nguyen X. D. , Scherpf R. , Sassenhof F. , Flesch B. , Klüter H.
Published: April 2011

Objective  Granulocyte‐associated antibodies can cause several clinical granulocytopenic disorders. The monoclonal‐antibody‐specific immobilization of granulocyte antigens (MAIGA) is currently used as the standard assay to specify these antibodies. Here we describe an assay for specific analysis of granulocyte antibodies (SASGA) which is able to simultaneously detect and specify granulocyte IgG‐ and IgM‐antibodies using flow cytometry.

Methods  Bead populations with distinct fluorescence intensities were used as solid phase for immobilization of mAb. Typed granulocytes were incubated with human sera and a mix of three distinct mouse monoclonal antibodies against specific granulocyte antigens (for example CD16, CD11a, HLA class I). After cell lysis and incubation of lysate with beads, goat antibodies against human IgG and IgM antibodies were added. Seventy‐one frozen sera of donors and patients previously implicated in transfusion reactions and various underlying disorders were analysed for specific granulocyte‐binding antibodies using MAIGA and SASGA.

Results  The SASGA assay was able to simultaneously detect granulocyte‐specific antibodies for different glycoproteins. Overall, the results of MAIGA and SASGA were concordant in 92·9%. 5 sera containing anti‐HNA‐1b (n = 2) and ‐HLA class I (n = 3) were not detected by MAIGA, but were recognized by the SASGA. In serial dilution tests with sera containing anti‐HNA‐1a, ‐1b, ‐2a and HLA class I, the SASGA assay detected the antibodies at higher dilutions than MAIGA.

Conclusion  The SASGA assay permits reliable detection of specific granulocyte antibodies. Six distinct antibodies can be simultaneously determined. This method will potentially open the way to investigations on additional specific antibodies as it facilitates laboratory diagnosis.
Social Calls Provide Tree‐dwelling Bats with Information about the Location of Conspecifics at Roosts
Authors: Furmankiewicz Joanna , Ruczyński Ireneusz , Urban Radosław , Jones Gareth
Published: April 2011

Animals can use signals emitted by other animals as sources of information. Auditory signals are important in communication networks, as they can potentially convey information about the location and state of conspecifics and other species over long distances. Signalling is important in fission–fusion societies, in which animals from the same social group temporarily split into subgroups and frequently change roost sites. We used playbacks of social calls of the noctule Nyctalus noctula produced in roosts, to show how bats might maintain group cohesion and to test the hypothesis that noctules can locate conspecifics when returning from foraging trips by eavesdropping on or communicating with roosting individuals. Noctules responded strongly to broadcasted social calls. Their reactions included inspections and landing on a loudspeaker broadcasting social calls and occasional social vocalisation. Responses by other bat species to the noctule social calls were negligible. The high amplitude, low‐frequency vocalisations emitted by noctules in roosts can propagate over long distances and allow group members to announce their position. Bats can extract information about the location of roosts containing conspecifics by eavesdropping or by communication. Social calls may thus be sufficient to locate conspecifics in roosts and maintain spatial associations of groups in mammals.
Glucose uptake in the placenta, fetal brain, heart and liver related to blood flow redistribution during acute hypoxia
Authors: Tchirikov Michael , Tchirikov Miriam , Buchert Ralph , Wilke Florian , Brenner Winfried
Published: April 2011

Aim:  We used positron emission tomography (PET) with radioactive glucose (F‐18‐Fluor‐Deoxglucose [FDG]) to investigate whether acute maternal hypoxemia causes alterations of glucose uptake of fetal organs and the placenta.

Material and Methods:  Investigation was performed under normal conditions and acute hypoxemia in 16 fetal sheep between 108 and 130 days of gestation. Maternal sheep were ventilated with 1.0–1.5% isoflurane/O2/N2O during whole scanning procedure. Acute hypoxia was induced by reducing O2 in a ventilated gas mixture to achieve maternal arterial O2 saturation at a constant level of about 75% baseline. Doppler ultrasound blood flow measurements were performed in the ductus venosus (DV), umbilical artery (UA) and vein (UV). Fetal blood samples were taken by cordocentesis of UV. Dynamic positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET‐CT) scans of fetuses were acquired over 60 min after intravenous injection of 300 MBq FDG in the mother. Relative FDG uptake in the fetal brain, heart, and liver was determined on summed images from 40–60 min using manually defined volumes of interest (VOI) normalized to mean FDG uptake in placentomes.

Results:  Placental blood perfusion reduced significantly from 416.5 ± 116.4 mL/min to 253.5 ± 170.5 mL/min (mean ± SD) during hypoxia. Placental blood supply to the liver decreased from 79.5 ± 14% to 41.1% (P = 0.0001), while DV/UV ratio increased. FDG uptake of the placenta was not changed during hypoxia. Relative FDG uptake in the fetal heart was strongly increased under hypoxia (P = 0.019), whereas it did not differ in the fetal brain and liver.

Conclusion:  Fetal hypoxia is associated with decreased placental perfusion and liver blood supply. However, glucose uptake was not significantly decreased in the placenta and liver.
Why Do Companies Pay Stock Dividends? The Case of Bonus Distributions in an Inflationary Environment
Authors: Adaoglu Cahit , Lasfer Meziane
Published: April 2011

Abstract:  We assess the market valuation of an unusual form of stock dividends, referred to as bonus distributions, which are carried out by transferring the accumulated equity reserves, mainly the inflation revaluation equity reserves, to paid‐in capital leaving the total equity unchanged. In the absence of cash substitution and transaction cost effects, we find positive excess returns on the announcement dates, particularly for the financially weak firms, such as the non‐cash‐dividend‐paying firms. We relate our results to the ‘paid‐in capital hypothesis’ under which firms opt for bonus distributions to mitigate the impact of inflation on their eroding paid‐in capital, to reduce their leverage defined as debt‐to‐paid‐in‐capital ratio, and to increase their credibility and borrowing capacity in a market of limited access to external equity financing. Although our results are also consistent with the retained earnings and signaling hypotheses, we find no support for the attention‐getting, and a weak support for the liquidity enhancement hypotheses observed in other markets.
Surgical Closure of an Atrial Septal Defect Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass in a Cat
Authors: Uechi Masami , Harada Kayoko , Mizukoshi Takahiro , Mizuno Takeshi , Mizuno Masashi , Ebisawa Takashi , Ohta Yuzuru
Published: April 2011

Objective: To describe surgical repair of a large atrial septal defect (ASD) in a cat.

Study Design: Clinical report.

Animal: A 3‐year‐old, 3.3 kg, intact male Japanese domestic short‐haired cat.

Methods: A 10.2‐mm‐diameter ASD detected by echocardiography was surgically corrected because pulmonary vascular resistance‐to‐systemic vascular resistance ratio (Qp/Qs) was 3.2. Using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), open surgical repair was achieved with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e‐PTFE) graft. The priming volume of the CPB circuit was minimized by cutting the CPB tubing, and partially replacing the priming fluid with whole cat blood. To prevent hemodilution associated with use of cardioprotective agents, surgery was performed on the beating heart.

Results: At 1‐year echocardiographic evaluation, the repair was intact, and at 3 years, the cat was alive without need of medication.

Conclusions: Large ASD in a cat can be repaired using e‐PTFE under CPB.
A COMPARISON OF WATER TRAPS, CYLINDRICAL STICKY TRAPS AND SUCTION TRAPS FOR SAMPLING THYSANOPTERAN POPULATIONS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS
Authors: LEWIS T.
Published: April 2011

Thysanoptera drifting over and around a wheat field were trapped using black, green and white water traps, black cylindrical sticky traps and suction traps. Certain Taeniothrips spp., Thrips spp., and Aeolothrips spp. were strongly attracted to white but not to green or black; Limothrips cerealium Hal., Chirothrips manicatus Hal., and Stenothrips gramium Uzel were not markedly attracted to any of these colours. At crop level suction traps gave more consistent catches2) than either sticky or water traps; at higher levels, catches from sticky traps were more consistent than those from water traps. Up to 48 ft the aerial density of all species decreased with height but the rapidity of the decrease differed between species.
STUDIES IN DIURNAL RHYTHMS IX THE WATER‐RELATIONS OF SOME NOCTURNAL TROPICAL ARTHROPODS
Authors: CLOUDSLEY‐THOMPSON J. L.
Published: April 2011

The late of water‐Joss from tropical African centipedes (Rhysida nuda and Ethmostigmus trigonopodus) and millipedes (Oxydesmus platycercus and Ophistreptus sp.) is proportional to the saturation deficiency of the atmosphere. These animals therefore resemble forms from temperate and desert regions in this aspect of their physiology. Their nocturnal habits are probably related to their high rate of transpiration. The endogenous 24‐hour rhythm shows a slight retardation in constant light and an acceleration in darkness. The probable function of this is to synchronize it with diurnal environmental changes. The West African scorpion, Pandinus imperator, has a ‘critical temperature’ considerably lower than those of desert species and comparable with that of the Italian Euscorpius germanus.

UNTERSUCHUNGEN ÜBER DIURNALE RHYTHMEN IX. DIE WASSER‐VERHÄLTNISSE EINIGER NÄCHTLICHER TROPISCHER ARTHROPODEN

Bei den tropischen afrikanischen Hundertfüßlern Rhysida nuda und Ethmostigmus trigonopodus, den Tausendfüßlern Oxydesmus platycercus und Ophistreptus sp. sowie bei dem Skorpion Pandinus imperator wurden die Wasserverlustraten durch Wägen der Individuen bestimmt, die über Phosphorpentoxyd in konischen Flaschen aufgehängt wurden, die in ein Wasserbad tauchten. Die Tiere wurden jeder Temperatur 20 Minuten lang ausgesetzt, bevor der durch Evaporation bedingte Betrag des Wasserverlustes bestimmt wurde. Es wird gezeigt, daß diese Methode wertvolle Vergleiche zwischen den verschiedenen Arten zu ziehen gestattet. Sowohl bei Hundertfüßlern wie auch bei Tausendfüßlern erwies sich die Transpiration als proportional zum Sättigungsdefizit der Luft. Diese Tiere ähneln deshalb in diesem Punkte ihrer Physiologie Arten aus gemäßigten und Wüsten‐Gebieten.

Ihre nächtliche Lebensweise, die mittels Aktographen festgestellt wurde, steht wahrscheinlich in Beziehung zu der vergleichsweise hohen Wasserverlustrate. Der endogene diurnale Rhythmus zeigt eine leichte Verzögerung bei Dauerbeleuchtung und eine Beschleunigung bei Dunkelheit. Auf diese Weise wird wahrscheinlich die Periodizität dieser Tiere mit dem 24‐Stunden‐Rhythmus der Umgebung synchronisiert.

Die kritische Temperatur des westafrikanischen Skorpions Pandinus imperator liegt beträchtlich niedriger als die der Wüsten‐Arten und ähnelt der des italienischen Euscorpius germanus. Es wird vermutet, daß in diesem Falle die nächtliche Lebensweise in Beziehung steht zu der Gefährdung des größen, langsamen Tieres durch räuberische Wirbeltiere.

Es wird geschlossen, daß im allgemeinen die Transpirationsrate in Beziehung zum Habitat steht und bei Wüstenbewohnern am niedrigsten ist.