bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Full integrated process to manufacture RF-MEMS and MMICs on GaN/Si substrate
Authors: Crispoldi Flavia , Pantellini Alessio , Lavanga Simone , Nanni Antonio , Romanini Paolo , Rizzi Leonardo , Farinelli Paola , Lanzieri Claudio
Published: July 2010

Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (RF-MEMS) represents a feasible solution to obtain very low power dissipation and insertion loss, very high isolation and linearity switch with respect to “solid state” technologies. In this paper, we demonstrate the full integration of RF-MEMS switches in the GaN-HEMT (Gallium Nitride/High Electron Mobility Transistor) fabrication line to develop RF-MEMS devices and LNA-MMIC (Low Noise Amplifier/Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit) prototype simultaneously in the same GaN wafer. In particular, two different coplanar wave (CPW) LNAs and a series of discrete RF-MEMS in ohmic-series and capacitive-shunt configuration have been fabricated. RF-MEMS performances reveal an insertion loss and isolation better than 1 and 15 dB, respectively, in the frequency range 20–50 GHz in the case of pure capacitive shunt switches and in the frequency range 5–35 GHz for the ohmic-series switches. Moreover, the GaN HEMT device shows an Fmaxof about 38 GHz and a power density of 6.5 W/mm, while for the best LNA-MMIC we have obtained gain better than 12 dB at 6–10 GHz with a noise figure of circa 4 dB, demonstrating the integration achievability.
Hängt die subjektive Prognose der Erwerbstätigkeit vom Migrationsstatus ab?
Authors: Kobelt Axel , Winkler Michael , Göbber Julia , Pfeiffer Wolfgang , Petermann Franz
Published: July 2010

Die psychosomatische Rehabilitation von Migranten ist in vielen Fällen nicht erfolgreich. Neben der sprachlichen Barriere wird die sozialmedizinische Situation, die Somatisierungstendenz, aber auch der häufig zu späte Zeitpunkt der Behandlung zur Erklärung herangezogen, dass Migranten sich bei Aufnahme in eine psychosomatische Rehabilitationsklinik bereits in einem fortgeschrittenen Desintegrationsprozess befinden. Fragestellung und Methodik: Es wird untersucht, welche Vorhersagevalidität der Migrationshintergrund für die subjektive Prognose der Erwerbstätigkeit unter Berücksichtigung persönlicher und umweltbezogener Faktoren hat. 640 Rehabilitanden wurden zu Beginn der stationären Rehabilitation hinsichtlich ihrer Beschwerdebelastung, ihrer Arbeitsmotivation, zum Mobbingerleben und zur subjektiven Prognose der Erwerbstätigkeit befragt. Ergebnisse: 28.5 % der Rehabilitanden hatten einen Migrationshintergrund. Die subjektive Prognose der Erwerbstätigkeit war vom Ausmaß der Beschwerdebelastung und der Motivation, sich mit arbeitsbezogenen Problemen auseinanderzusetzen, abhängig. Gleichzeitig erhöhte die Unterschichtzugehörigkeit das Risiko einer negativen Prognose. Der Einfluss des Migrationshintergrundes dagegen hatte eine nachgeordnete Bedeutung. Diskussion: Zur Verbesserung der Rehabilitationsprognose müssen persönliche und Umweltfaktoren unabhängig vom Migrationsstatus im Rehabilitationsplan berücksichtigt werden. Ein kultursensibles und arbeitsplatzbezogenes Fallmanagement könnte die Versorgung von Migranten zielführend verbessern.
Die Bedeutung von Ekel- und Angstsensitivität bei Personen mit der Verdachtsdiagnose einer Hypochondrie
Authors: Ille Rottraut , Dietmaier Gabriele , Müller Stephanie , Schienle Anne
Published: July 2010

Zentrales Merkmal bei der hypochondrischen Störung ist die Befürchtung, an einer schweren Erkrankung zu leiden. Dies führt zur Fehlinterpretation normaler Körperfunktionen. Neben dysfunktionalen Angstzuständen ist auch stark ausgeprägte Angstsensitivität störungsrelevant. Das aktuelle Hypochondriekonzept ist vorwiegend angstfokussiert, während die Bedeutung anderer Emotionen wie zum Beispiel von Ekel bisher kaum untersucht wurde. Ziel dieser Untersuchung war es herauszufinden, ob die habituelle Ekelneigung einen zusätzlichen Prädiktor für die Vorhersage von Hypochondrie darstellt. Nach einem Screening mit einem standardisierten klinischen Interview wurden 27 Personen mit und 27 Personen ohne Verdachtsdiagnose Hypochondrie in die Studie eingeschlossen und getestet. Mittels Diskriminanzanalyse wurde überprüft, ob Ekelempfindlichkeit (Neigung einer Person, mit Ekel zu reagieren) und Ekelsensitivität (Neigung, Ekelempfindungen als bedrohlich zu bewerten) für die Gruppentrennung in Personen mit und ohne Verdachtsdiagnose Hypochondrie (Kriterium: Whitely Index) relevant sind. Es zeigte sich, dass habituelle Angst, Ekelsensitivität und spezifische Bereiche der Ekelempfindlichkeit (z. B. Abneigung vor mangelhafter Hygiene) zwischen den beiden Gruppen differenzierten. Domänenspezifische Beziehungen zwischen Ekelempfindlichkeit und Hypochondrie werden diskutiert.
Interventionelle Koronarintervention – welche Indikationen sind umstritten?
Authors: Akin  , Nienaber  , Chatterjee  , Kische  , Rehders  , Schneider  , Ince  , Chatterjee
Published: July 2010

Die Weiterentwicklung der operativen und interventionellen Therapiestrategien ermöglicht es heute, nahezu alle Patienten mit komplexer Koronarpathologie adäquat zu versorgen. Diese Weiterentwicklung hat dazu geführt, dass sich das Indikationsspektrum für eine interventionelle Koronartherapie deutlich erweitert hat. Seit der SYNTAX-Studie erlebt die fundierte Risikostratifizierung und Befundbesprechung im kardiologisch-herzchirurgischen Team als Voraussetzung für eine individuell abgestimmte Therapiestrategie eine Renaissance. Grundlagen für die Risikostratifizierung sind neben dem klinischen Beschwerdebild der Patienten, das Ausmass der Ischämie, die linksventrikuläre Funktion, der koronaranatomische Schweregrad der koronaren Herzerkrankung und die Komorbidität. Vor kurzem noch umstrittene Indikationen lassen sich heute auf der Grundlage rezenter evidenzbasierter Daten unter Umständen sinnvoll interventionell behandeln; zu diesen zählen Mehrgefässinterventionen mit medikamentenbeschichteten Stents, spezielle Hauptstammstenosen und chronische Verschlüsse, wenn gewisse Umfeldbedingungen erfüllt sind.
Ionospheric feedback instability and substorm development
Authors: Streltsov A. V. , Pedersen T. R. , Mishin E. V. , Snyder A. L.
Published: July 2010

We report on ground magnetic and optical observations performed during an ionospheric heating experiment at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility in Alaska on 29 October 2008. The experiment was aimed at generation of large‐amplitude ULF electromagnetic waves by triggering and facilitating development of the ionospheric feedback instability (IFI) in the region adjacent to a bright auroral arc. In this region the downward/return magnetic field‐aligned current decreases plasma density and enhances the electric field in the ionosphere. A combination of these two effects creates favorable conditions for the instability. The experiment occurred during a period of substorm activity, but effects from the HAARP transmitter were not sufficiently intense to be detected against the background of strong natural oscillations occurring farther north from the HAARP site. Thus the experiment did not provide concrete evidence that heating of the ionosphere with powerful HF transmitters can affect IFI development or generate intense ULF electromagnetic waves. However, during the experiment ground‐based magnetometers in Alaska and Canada detected large‐amplitude ULF waves in regions where the substorm onset auroral arcs interacted with the ionosphere. The frequencies of these waves closely matched frequencies predicted by simulations of IFI for these particular geophysical conditions. These observations support the hypothesis that geomagnetic substorms, the corresponding dynamics of discrete auroral arcs, and the ionospheric feedback instability are closely connected phenomena.
Recombinant PBD‐1 (porcine beta‐defensin 1) expressed in the milk by transplanting transgenic mES‐like‐derived cells into mouse mammary gland
Authors: Huang Hai‐Jun , Gao Qi‐Shuang , Qian Yun‐Guo , Zhang Yu‐Dan , Tao Bi‐Fei , Xiang Min , Peng Jian , Jiang Si‐Wen , Hause║ Ben
Published: July 2010

ES (embryonic stem)‐derived cells have been investigated in many animal models of severe injury and degenerative disease. However, few studies have examined the ability of ES‐derived cells to improve functional outcome following partially damaged breast and also the modification of mammary tissue to produce costly proteins. This study investigates the feasibility of implanting mES‐dK (mouse ES‐derived keratinocytes‐like) cells stably transfected with a mammary gland special expression vector for the PBD‐1 (porcine beta‐defensin 1) in developing mammary glands. Our aim was to assess the ability of cell grafting to improve functional outcome following partial damage of the breast, also on the breast modification mammary tissue in mice for the production of PBD‐1 protein secreted in the milk. Our results showed that the ratios of the surviving cells labelled with the myoepithelial or luminal cell markers, EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) and CALLA, were 41.7±15.2% and 28.4±9.6%, respectively, which revealed that transplanted mES‐dK cells survived, integrated in vivo and differentiated into myoepithelial or luminal cells. In addition, Western blot analysis showed that 37.5% (3 out of 8) female transplanted mice had PBD‐1 expression in their milk and reached 0.4998, 0.5229 and 0.5195 μg/ml, respectively.
Magnetic field-driven superconductor–insulator transition in boron-doped nanocrystalline chemical vapor deposition diamond
Authors: Zhang Gufei , Vanacken J. , Van de Vondel J. , Decelle W. , Fritzsche J. , Moshchalkov V. V. , Willems B. L. , Janssens S. D. , Haenen K. , Wagner P.
Published: July 2010

The systematics of the suppression of superconductivity with increasing magnetic field in boron-doped nanocrystalline chemical vapor deposition diamond is studied in a broad temperature range. At the temperature of TS0 which is above the critical temperature, a plateau is observed in the resistivity versus temperature curve ρ(T) taken at zero magnetic field. When a magnetic field of B=BSN(N=1,2,…,5) is applied, the plateau moves to low temperature with the thermoresistivity maximum located at TSN (N=1,2,…,5). The ρ(B) curves, measured at different temperatures around TSN, intersect in the ρ-B plane at the field of B=BSN. By tuning BSN from 0 to 5 T, a series of plateaus in the ρ-T plane and the corresponding intersections in the ρ-B plane are observed. The intersections quadratically chain up in the ρ-B plane, separating the superconducting from the insulating region. The thermoresistivity maxima exponentially group up in the ρ-T plane, thus defining a phase fluctuation zone. The phase boundary, composed of the intersections and separating the superconducting states from the insulating state, is shown to be a generic consequence of granularity.
Active waveguide effects from porous anodic alumina: An optical sensor proposition
Authors: Trivinho-Strixino F. , Guerreiro H. A. , Gomes C. S. , Pereira E. C. , Guimarães F. E. G.
Published: July 2010

We present in this paper an active waveguide effect observed in porous anodic alumina (PA), which can be applied in optical sensors. The spectral position, shape, and polarization effect of the narrow waveguide modes is described. An analytical test with a commercial pesticide was performed.
Accurate modeling of fluorescence line narrowing difference spectra: Direct measurement of the single-site fluorescence spectrum
Authors: Reppert Mike , Naibo Virginia , Jankowiak Ryszard
Published: July 2010

Accurate lineshape functions for modeling fluorescence line narrowing (FLN) difference spectra (ΔFLN spectra) in the low-fluence limit are derived and examined in terms of the physical interpretation of various contributions, including photoproduct absorption and emission. While in agreement with the earlier results of Jaaniso [Proc. Est. Acad. Sci., Phys., Math. 34, 277 (1985)] and Fünfschilling et al. [J. Lumin. 36, 85 (1986)], the derived formulas differ substantially from functions used recently [e.g., M. Rätsep et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 479, 140 (2009)] to model ΔFLN spectra. In contrast to traditional FLN spectra, it is demonstrated that for most physically reasonable parameters, the ΔFLN spectrum reduces simply to the single-site fluorescence lineshape function. These results imply that direct measurement of a bulk-averaged single-site fluorescence lineshape function can be accomplished with no complicated extraction process or knowledge of any additional parameters such as site distribution function shape and width. We argue that previous analysis of ΔFLN spectra obtained for many photosynthetic complexes led to strong artificial lowering of apparent electron-phonon coupling strength, especially on the high-energy side of the pigment site distribution function.
Trapping states in CdS:Eu nanobelts studied by excitation-dependent photoluminescence
Authors: Cheng Baochang , Han Zhihui , Guo Huijun , Lin Shu , Zhang Zhaodong , Xiao Yanhe , Lei Shuijin
Published: July 2010

Pure and Eu-doped CdS nanobelts are synthesized by a thermal evaporation method. For the undoped CdS reference nanobelt, it only exhibits the emission related to free-excitons, very close to the energy of exciton absorption band, and moreover, the excitation power dependent photoluminescence (PL) data show a superlinear increase in integrated intensity with power. For the doped nanobelts, energy cannot transfer effectively between CdS host and incorporated Eu3+ ions. However, incorporated Eu3+ ions can form shallow level trap below the conduction band minimum (CBM), leading to a strong dependence of PL spectra on excitation power and energy. Under the 325 nm He–Cd laser excitation above the band gap energy, free-excitons ionize, and moreover, photogenerated electrons can relax rapidly from CBM to shallow level trap. Thus, the near-band edge (NBE) emission not only redshifts due to the renormalization of band gap but broadens more asymmetrically on its lower-energy side with power. Moreover, the power dependent NBE emission shows a sublinear property. In addition, a trap-related emission appears at higher excitation power, while the two emissions related to free-excitons and deep-levels decrease. Under the 514.5 nm Ar+ laser excitation below the band gap energy, it is just the doped nanobelts that can show the emission related to shallow level trap under the higher excitation condition.
Sulfur K-edge photofragmentation of ethylene sulfide
Authors: Stolte W. C. , Öhrwall G.
Published: July 2010

We have investigated the photofragmentation properties of the three-membered ring heterocyclic molecule ethylene sulfide or thiirane, C2H4S, by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Positive ions have been collected as a function of photon energy around the S K ionization threshold. Branching ratios were derived for all detected ions, which are informative of the decay dynamics and photofragmentation patterns of the core-excited species. We present a new assignment of the spectral features around the S K-edge.
Patriline shifting leads to apparent genetic caste determination in harvester ants
Authors: Wiernasz Diane C. , Cole Blaine J.
Published: July 2010

The harvester ant,Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, is characterized by high levels of intracolonial genetic diversity resulting from multiple mating by the queen. Within reproductively mature colonies, the relative frequency of different male genotypes (patrilines) is not stable. The difference between samples increases with time, nearing an asymptote after a year. Patriline distributions in gynes and workers display similar patterns of change. A consequence of changing patriline distributions is that workers and gynes appear to have different fathers. However, apparent genetic differences between castes are caused by changing paternity among all females. Temporal variation in the relative frequency of patrilines may be a consequence of processes that reflect sexual conflict, such as sperm clumping. Recent work documenting genotype differences between physical castes (workers and gynes; major and minor workers) in several species of ants has been interpreted as evidence of genetic caste determination. Reanalysis of these studies found little support for this hypothesis. Apparent caste determination may result from temporal variation in sperm use, rather than from fertilization bias among male ejaculates.
Global relevance of Aire binding to hypomethylated lysine-4 of histone-3
Authors: Koh Andrew S. , Kingston Robert E. , Benoist Christophe , Mathis Diane
Published: July 2010

Aire promotes the ectopic expression of a repertoire of peripheral-tissue antigens (PTAs) in thymic medullary epithelial cells (MECs) to mediate deletional tolerance and thereby prevent autoimmunity. Binding of hypomethylated histone 3 (H3)-tails by Aire's plant homeodomain (PHD) finger is essential for Aire function in cultured cell models, prompting speculation that Aire-PHD:H3-tail interactions underlie targeting of Aire to weakly transcribed loci. To evaluate the role of Aire's PHD finger in MECs on a global scale in vivo, we complemented Aire-deficient mice with a mutant of Aire that inhibits its binding to hypomethylated H3K4 residues. Although the range of Aire-targeted genes was largely unaffected in these mice, the D299A mutation caused a global dampening of Aire's transcriptional impact, resulting in an autoimmune disease similar in profile to that of their Aire-deficient counterparts. To test whether a low H3K4 methylation state is sufficient for Aire targeting, we overexpressed an H3K4-specific demethylase in an Aire-dependent cultured cell system, and determined its capacity to extend Aire's transcriptional footprint. The range and magnitude of Aire-regulated genes was largely unaffected, the only genes additionally induced by Aire in this context being those already accessed for repression. In short, Aire's H3-binding module is necessary for Aire-mediated regulation of gene expression and central tolerance induction, but this influence is unlikely to reflect a targeting mechanism solely based on the recognition of hypomethylated H3K4 residues.
γ-Zeins are essential for endosperm modification in quality protein maize
Authors: Wu Yongrui , Holding David R. , Messing Joachim
Published: July 2010

Essential amino acids like lysine and tryptophan are deficient in corn meal because of the abundance of zein storage proteins that lack these amino acids. A natural mutant,
opaque 2
(
o2
) causes reduction of zeins, an increase of nonzein proteins, and as a consequence, a doubling of lysine levels. However,
o2
’s soft inferior kernels precluded its commercial use. Breeders subsequently overcame kernel softness, selecting several quantitative loci (QTLs), called
o2
modifiers, without losing the high-lysine trait. These maize lines are known as “quality protein maize” (QPM). One of the QTLs is linked to the 27-kDa γ-zein locus on chromosome 7S. Moreover, QPM lines have 2- to 3-fold higher levels of the 27-kDa γ-zein, but the physiological significance of this increase is not known. Because the 27- and 16-kDa γ-zein genes are highly conserved in DNA sequence, we introduced a dominant RNAi transgene into a QPM line (CM105
Mo2
) to eliminate expression of them both. Elimination of γ-zeins disrupts endosperm modification by
o2
modifiers, indicating their hypostatic action to γ-zeins. Abnormalities in protein body structure and their interaction with starch granules in the F1 with
Mo2
/+;
o2
/
o2
; γRNAi/+ genotype suggests that γ-zeins are essential for restoring protein body density and starch grain interaction in QPM. To eliminate pleiotropic effects caused by
o2
, the 22-kDa α-zein, γ-zein, and β-zein RNAis were stacked, resulting in protein bodies forming as honeycomb-like structures. We are unique in presenting clear demonstration that γ-zeins play a mechanistic role in QPM, providing a previously unexplored rationale for molecular breeding.
American foreign policy and peace in the Middle East
Authors: Mady Abdel-Fattah
Published: July 2010

The purpose of this study is to answer the following question: ‘Does US foreign policy undermine peace efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories?’ Careful observations of US foreign policy during the Oslo Process reveal that the United States has indeed undermined peace efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The American position substantially departed from United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338, which the Palestinians were promised would serve as the basis for negotiations. Although the American–Israeli alliance underwent periodic adjustments, American foreign policy has, over the last decade, helped to create a framework in the Middle East wherein only Israeli needs have legitimacy. During the Oslo Process, the United States and Israel have tried to impose Israel’s plans on the Palestinians, ignoring United Nations resolutions and the international community. The evidence reveals that US foreign policy was based on double standards and unfair terms. Further, the seeming link between the aid provided by the United States to Israel and the latter’s aggressive policies toward the Palestinians makes it appear as though Washington is ‘rewarding’ such policies, that is, as if Washington is enabling Israel to deny Palestinians’ legitimate rights, violate United Nations resolutions and principles of international law, keep its military occupation forces, and expand Jewish settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
TRANSWESD: inferring cellular networks with transitive reduction
Authors: Klamt Steffen , Flassig Robert J. , Sundmacher Kai
Published: July 2010

Motivation: Distinguishing direct from indirect influences is a central issue in reverse engineering of biological networks because it facilitates detection and removal of false positive edges. Transitive reduction is one approach for eliminating edges reflecting indirect effects but its use in reconstructing cyclic interaction graphs with true redundant structures is problematic.

Results: We present TRANSWESD, an elaborated variant of TRANSitive reduction for WEighted Signed Digraphs that overcomes conceptual problems of existing versions. Major changes and improvements concern: (i) new statistical approaches for generating high-quality perturbation graphs from systematic perturbation experiments; (ii) the use of edge weights (association strengths) for recognizing true redundant structures; (iii) causal interpretation of cycles; (iv) relaxed definition of transitive reduction; and (v) approximation algorithms for large networks. Using standardized benchmark tests, we demonstrate that our method outperforms existing variants of transitive reduction and is, despite its conceptual simplicity, highly competitive with other reverse engineering methods.

Contact:  klamt@mpi-magdeburg.mpg.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cold antihydrogen: a new frontier in fundamental physics
Authors: Madsen Niels
Published: July 2010

The year 2002 heralded a breakthrough in antimatter research when the first low energy antihydrogen atoms were produced. Antimatter has inspired both science and fiction writers for many years, but detailed studies have until now eluded science. Antimatter is notoriously difficult to study as it does not readily occur in nature, even though our current understanding of the laws of physics have us expecting that it should make up half of the universe. The pursuit of cold antihydrogen is driven by a desire to solve this profound mystery. This paper will motivate the current effort to make cold antihydrogen, explain how antihydrogen is currently made, and how and why we are attempting to trap it. It will also discuss what kind of measurements are planned to gain new insights into the unexplained asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.
Science is perception: what can our sense of smell tell us about ourselves and the world around us?
Authors: Brookes Jennifer C.
Published: July 2010

Human sensory processes are well understood: hearing, seeing, perhaps even tasting and touch—but we do not understand smell—the elusive sense. That is, for the others we know what stimuli causes what response, and why and how. These fundamental questions are not answered within the sphere of smell science; we do not know what it is about a molecule that … smells. I report, here, the status quo theories for olfaction, highlighting what we do not know, and explaining why dismissing the perception of the input as ‘too subjective’ acts as a roadblock not conducive to scientific inquiry. I outline the current and new theory that conjectures a mechanism for signal transduction based on quantum mechanical phenomena, dubbed the ‘swipe card’, which is perhaps controversial but feasible. I show that such lines of thinking may answer some questions, or at least pose the right questions. Most importantly, I draw links and comparisons as to how better understanding of how small (10’s of atoms) molecules can interact so specially with large (10 000’s of atoms) proteins in a way that is so integral to healthy living. Repercussions of this work are not just important in understanding a basic scientific tool used by us all, but often taken for granted, it is also a step closer to understanding generic mechanisms between drug and receptor, for example.
Endemicity of human metapneumovirus subgenogroups A2 and B2 in Yamagata, Japan, between 2004 and 2009
Authors: Mizuta Katsumi , Abiko Chieko , Aoki Yoko , Ikeda Tatsuya , Itagaki Tsutomu , Katsushima Noriko , Matsuzaki Yoko , Hongo Seiji , Noda Masahiro , Kimura Hirokazu , Ahiko Tadayuki
Published: July 2010

To clarify a longitudinal epidemiology, we isolated 280 hMPV strains from patients with acute respiratory infections in Yamagata, Japan, between 2004 and 2009. We observed that the high season for hMPV was from winter to spring (between January and May) and the low season was in the fall (around September and October). A further molecular analysis revealed that subgenogroup A2 (A2) strains were the most commonly isolated (151/280; 53.9%), followed by B2 (108/280; 38.6%) and B1 (19/280; 6.8%). Our results suggested that A2 and B2 have been endemically in circulation as the major types almost every year, whereas other subgenogroups have appeared less frequently.
Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells in ovarian yolk sac tumors
Authors: Suzuki Shiro , Terauchi Mikio , Umezu Tomokazu , Kajiyama Hiroaki , Shibata Kiyosumi , Nawa Akihiro , Kikkawa Fumitaka
Published: July 2010

Recent evidence supports the cancer stem cell theory, that is, that malignant tumors arise from cells termed cancer stem cells or tumor‐initiating cells that have the ability to self‐renew and are responsible for maintaining the tumor. Cells with marked tumor‐initiating capacity have recently been identified in a number of solid tumors. CD133 (PROM1, human prominin‐1) has been used as a marker to detect stem cells (progenitor cells) and cancer stem cells (tumor‐initiating cells) in various tissues. Ovarian yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are rare and highly malignant. The present study was designed to evaluate the tumor‐forming ability of CD133+ cells in ovarian YST cell lines and to examine the characteristics of CD133+ cells, such as cell growth and invasiveness. Our data suggest ovarian YST to be maintained by a rare fraction of cancer stem‐like cells that express the cell surface marker CD133. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Is there a role for CCR8 in the pathogenesis of asthma?
Authors: Pease J.E.
Published: July 2010

Cite this as: J.E. Pease, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1110–1112.
Cervical cancer: cytological cervical screening in Iceland and implications of HPV vaccines
Authors: Sigurdsson K.
Published: July 2010

K. Sigurdsson Cervical cancer: cytological cervical screening in Iceland and implications of HPV vaccines

This paper reviews the Icelandic experience regarding the age‐specific effectiveness, optimal targeted age range and intervals in cervical cancer screening and the screening implications of the HPV16/18 vaccines. The background material is based on data from a screening programme with centralized records dating back to 1964, as well as from population‐based studies on the distribution of oncogenic HPV types in cancer and histologically verified CIN2‐3 lesions and from the Icelandic arm of the Future II trial with Gardasil®. The findings confirm significant increased rates in the screened population of CIN2‐3, stage IA (microinvasive) cancer since 1979, mainly in the age group 20–34 years. These lesions start to accumulate within 3 years of a normal smear. Studies on the distribution of HPV types indicate that the marketed vaccines could lower the incidence of cancer and CIN2‐3 by about 67% and 53%, respectively, after taking into account reported cross‐protection. About 65% of women below 25 years of age had lesions related to the non‐vaccine types and after the last normal smear these cases accumulated at the same frequency as cases with vaccine‐included types. Cases with combined vaccine and non‐vaccine types accumulated at a slower rate. We conclude that screening should continue to start at age 20 years, with invitations at 2‐year intervals up to age 39 years and thereafter at 4‐year intervals up to age 65–69 years. Current data support the conclusion that the optimal age for catch‐up HPV vaccination should be considered in the context of sexual practices and the data do not support changes in the lower age limit or screening intervals for the vaccinated women.
Relationship between oligomer and functional serum mannose‐binding lectin in chronic renal failure
Authors: Satomura Atsushi , Fujita Takayuki , Fuke Yoshinobu , Yanai Mitsuru , Kumasaka Kazunari , Takayama Eiichi , Hamada Hiroaki , Maruyama Toshiharu , Nakayama Tomohiro
Published: July 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (10): 865–873

Introduction  Mannose‐binding lectin (MBL) plays an important role in first‐line host defence against pathogens via the lectin pathway. The binding affinity for ligands is greatly increased by oligomerization, although the basic triplet does not bind solid phase mannan and cannot activate complement. Besides, MBL is a positive acute‐phase protein. In this study, we examined the relationship between oligomer and functional serum MBL in chronic renal failure patients who were either uraemic [Pre‐haemodialysis (pre‐HD) patients], or who were receiving maintenance haemodialysis treatment (HD patients).

Materials and methods  This study included a total of 20 Pre‐HD patients, 130 HD patients and 28 healthy subjects. The oligomer and functional serum MBL levels were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays established previously.

Results  The median serum functional MBL levels were significantly reduced in both Pre‐HD and HD patients compared with healthy subjects (P < 0·05 for both). Furthermore, the median functional MBL level in Pre‐HD patients was significantly lower than that in HD patients (P < 0·05). The median serum oligomer MBL levels in both Pre‐HD and HD patients were significantly higher compared with healthy subjects (P < 0·05 for both). Furthermore, the median oligomer MBL level in HD patients was significantly (P < 0·05) higher than that in Pre‐HD patients. The ratios of median serum functional MBL levels to oligomer MBL levels were significantly reduced in both Pre‐HD and HD patients compared with healthy subjects (P < 0·05 for both).

Conclusions  We found significant reductions in the ratios of serum functional MBL levels to oligomer MBL levels in HD and Pre‐HD patients compared with healthy subjects.
Gastric dilation and air sacculitis in Chinook salmon,Oncorhynchus tshawytscha(Walbaum); correlation of macroscopic and microscopic lesions, and relationship of the syndrome to glomerulonephritis and serum biochemistry
Authors: Lumsden J S , Wybourne B , Minamikawa M , Tubbs L
Published: July 2010

Macroscopic and microscopic assessment procedures were developed to evaluate the severity and enable diagnosis from histological samples, of gastric dilation and air sacculitis (GDAS) in Chinook salmon,Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Stomachs and swim bladders were examined from young fish with experimentally induced GDAS and from larger fish with the syndrome held in commercial saltwater net‐pens. Fish fed a diet previously known to induce GDAS had significantly wider stomachs with decreased prominence of longitudinal stomach folds that contained larger amounts of fluid (P < 0.001), and thinner stomach walls with greater inter‐nerve distances (P < 0.001), than fish fed an alternative commercial diet not associated with the syndrome. These fish also had swim bladders that were more likely to be opaque and contain more fluid (P < 0.001). These observations correlated well with selected criteria for stomach tissue (P < 0.002) and swim bladder (P < 0.04) that could be evaluated microscopically. Four stomach measurements, primarily measurements of wall or partial wall thickness and inter‐nerve distances, were suitable for discriminating between affected and non‐affected fish. A stomach width ratio, that was independent of fish weight and highly correlated with macroscopic stomach measurements (P < 0.0001), was particularly useful; this ratio was derived from the distances between both the outer border of the muscularis mucosa and mesothelium of the serosal surface to the stratum compactum. Serum biochemistry parameters (osmolality, calcium and magnesium) did not differ between fish fed different diets, but serum creatinine concentration was correlated with the microscopic thickness of the muscularis externa of the stomach wall and the total stomach thickness (P < 0.001 andP< 0.003, respectively). A glomerulonephritis was also noted in these fish. The severity of the lesion was not significantly related to GDAS nor to any serum biochemistry parameter assayed however.
The relative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on population genetic variation in the red‐cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)
Authors: BRUGGEMAN DOUGLAS J. , WIEGAND THORSTEN , FERNÁNDEZ NÉSTOR
Published: July 2010

The relative influence of habitat loss, fragmentation and matrix heterogeneity on the viability of populations is a critical area of conservation research that remains unresolved. Using simulation modelling, we provide an analysis of the influence both patch size and patch isolation have on abundance, effective population size (Ne) and FST. An individual‐based, spatially explicit population model based on 15 years of field work on the red‐cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) was applied to different landscape configurations. The variation in landscape patterns was summarized using spatial statistics based on O‐ring statistics. By regressing demographic and genetics attributes that emerged across the landscape treatments against proportion of total habitat and O‐ring statistics, we show that O‐ring statistics provide an explicit link between population processes, habitat area, and critical thresholds of fragmentation that affect those processes. Spatial distances among land cover classes that affect biological processes translated into critical scales at which the measures of landscape structure correlated best with genetic indices. Therefore our study infers pattern from process, which contrasts with past studies of landscape genetics. We found that population genetic structure was more strongly affected by fragmentation than population size, which suggests that examining only population size may limit recognition of fragmentation effects that erode genetic variation. If effective population size is used to set recovery goals for endangered species, then habitat fragmentation effects may be sufficiently strong to prevent evaluation of recovery based on the ratio of census:effective population size alone.
The landscape genetics of infectious disease emergence and spread
Authors: BIEK ROMAN , REAL LESLIE A.
Published: July 2010

The spread of parasites is inherently a spatial process often embedded in physically complex landscapes. It is therefore not surprising that infectious disease researchers are increasingly taking a landscape genetics perspective to elucidate mechanisms underlying basic ecological processes driving infectious disease dynamics and to understand the linkage between spatially dependent population processes and the geographic distribution of genetic variation within both hosts and parasites. The increasing availability of genetic information on hosts and parasites when coupled to their ecological interactions can lead to insights for predicting patterns of disease emergence, spread and control. Here, we review research progress in this area based on four different motivations for the application of landscape genetics approaches: (i) assessing the spatial organization of genetic variation in parasites as a function of environmental variability, (ii) using host population genetic structure as a means to parameterize ecological dynamics that indirectly influence parasite populations, for example, gene flow and movement pathways across heterogeneous landscapes and the concurrent transport of infectious agents, (iii) elucidating the temporal and spatial scales of disease processes and (iv) reconstructing and understanding infectious disease invasion. Throughout this review, we emphasize that landscape genetic principles are relevant to infection dynamics across a range of scales from within host dynamics to global geographic patterns and that they can also be applied to unconventional ‘landscapes’ such as heterogeneous contact networks underlying the spread of human and livestock diseases. We conclude by discussing some general considerations and problems for inferring epidemiological processes from genetic data and try to identify possible future directions and applications for this rapidly expanding field.
Immune Compartmentalization of T cell Subsets in Chemically‐induced Breast Cancer
Authors: Fahmi T. , Esendagli G. , Yilmaz G. , Kansu E. , Guc D.
Published: July 2010

In cancer, the phenotype and/or the function of T cells may differ according to their distribution through immune‐associated tissues, namely immune compartments. Here, in N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea (MNU)‐induced mammary carcinomas of rat as a relevant model for human breast tumors, the impact of tumor burden on the T cell subsets populating the tumor microenvironment, the tumor‐adjacent and ‐opposite mammary lymph nodes, and the spleen was assessed. In the tumors, ratio of CD8+ cytotoxic and CD4+ helper T cells were not significantly different than other immune compartments. On the other hand, most of these cells were further identified with CD4+ CD25hi or CD4+ Foxp3+, CD8+ Foxp3+ regulatory phenotype. The selective presence of Tregs in the mammary tumors but not in neighboring‐mammary tissue was also confirmed by the expression of Treg‐associated genes. The percentage of CD161+ NKT cells was also significantly increased especially in the tumors and mammary lymph nodes. In the lymph nodes of tumor‐bearing animals, in contrast to the spleen, total amount of CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells were increased but both of these compartments harbored high numbers of CD4+ CD25hi Treg cells. TGF‐β was determined as the major suppressive cytokine secreted by the immune cells of tumor‐bearing animals, in addition, proliferation capacity of the T cells was diminished. Hence, the differential distribution of T cell subsets through the spleen, the mammary lymph nodes and the tumor mass in MNU‐induced mammary tumor‐bearing animals may contribute to a tumor‐associated immunosuppression.
‘Kir’‐ing thyrotoxic periodic paralysis
Authors: Kang MH
Published: July 2010

Mutations in potassium channel Kir2.6 cause susceptibility to thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis

Ryan et al. (2010)

Cell 140:88–98.
Histopathological, Immunohistochemical, Lectinhistochemical and Molecular Findings in Spontaneous Bovine Abortions by Campylobacter fetus
Authors: Morrell EL , Barbeito CG , Odeón CA , Gimeno EJ , Campero CM
Published: July 2010

Contents

Bovine campylobacteriosis (BC) is a venereal disease caused by Campylobacter fetus characterized by temporary infertility with mild endometritis, early embryonic death and occasional abortions. The objectives of this study were to describe and identify C. fetus in spontaneous bovine abortion on the basis of histopathological, immunohistochemical, lectinhistochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The most frequent foetal lesion was neutrophilic bronchopneumonia and interstitial pneumonia. Other commonly observed lesions included non‐suppurative interstitial enteritis, hepatitis, pericarditis, myositis, myocarditis, and meningitis. In this study, C. fetus fetus was phenotypically classified in all bovine foetuses from lungs and abomasal fluids. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed positive stained Campylobacter organisms with typical morphology. Lectin binding patterns not showed great differences between the infected and the non‐infected groups. The most important changes were a minor peanut agglutinin (PNA) and DBA binding in the alveolar cells of the lungs and DBA globet cells in some of the C. fetus–positive foetuses. Individual variations in each lectin binding pattern complicate the evaluation of the lectins results. All foetuses positive to IHC were positive by PCR. Better efficiency of PCR was obtained from abomasal fluids than from lung tissues. The association of culture and phenotypic techniques with histopathology, IHC and PCR allowed a better characterization and description of BC.
Leptin Signalling Coordinates Lipid Oxidation with Thermogenesis and Defence Against Oxidative Stress
Authors: Solinas Giovanni
Published: July 2010

[See original article on page 955]
Evidence for suppression of spinal glial activation by dexmedetomidine in a rat model of monoarthritis
Authors: Xu Bo , Zhang Wei‐Shi , Yang Jia‐ Le , Lû Ning , Deng Xiao‐Ming , Xu Hua , Zhang Yu‐Qiu
Published: July 2010

1. Spinal glial cells play a key role in developing and maintaining allodynia and hyperalgesia following tissue inflammation. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2‐adrenoceptor (α2‐AR) agonist, has exhibited a significant analgesic effect in various rodent models of chronic pain. However, whether spinal glial activation is involved in the analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine remains unknown. The present study investigated whether spinal administration of dexmedetomidine could antagonize glial activation in the spinal dorsal horn and attenuate thermal hyperalgesia in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)‐induced ankle joint monoarthritic (MA) rats.

2. Unilateral intra‐articular injection of CFA produced a robust activation of microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord, which was associated with the development and maintenance of thermal hyperalgesia. Repeated lumbar puncture (LP) administration of dexmedetomidine (10 μg) significantly attenuated MA‐induced thermal hyperalgesia in a cumulative manner. Monoarthritis‐induced spinal glial activation was also suppressed following dexmedetomidine application. The α2A‐AR, essential for the antinociceptive effects of α2‐AR agonists, was detected in spinal neurons and glia, as well as in dorsal root ganglion primary afferent neurons, which may be implicated in dexmedetomidine‐induced suppression of spinal glial activation and antihyperalgesic effects.

3. These data provide the first evidence that blocking spinal glial activation is involved in the analgesic action of dexmedetomidine.
When is family history obtained? – Lack of timely documentation of family history among overweight and hypertensive paediatric patients
Authors: Benson Lacey , Baer Heather J. , Greco Peter J. , Kaelber David C.
Published: July 2010

Aim:  Taking a detailed family history is an inexpensive way for healthcare providers to screen patients for increased risk of various chronic conditions. Documentation of family history, however, has been shown to be incomplete in the majority of patient charts. The current study examines when family history is collected within the context of the development and diagnosis of chronic conditions in paediatrics, using hypertension and overweight/obesity as examples.

Methods:  We analysed family history data from the electronic medical records of 5485 overweight/obese and 774 hypertensive children and adolescents in a large, urban medical system in northeast Ohio. Manual review of 200 charts was also performed.

Results:  Family history information was entered prior to the development of hypertension in 13.5% of hypertensive patients with a family history of hypertension, and it was entered prior to the development of abnormal weight in 35.5% of overweight/obese patients with a family history of obesity or a related condition. Of patients with a relevant family history who received an actual diagnosis for either of these conditions, only 16.7% of hypertensive and 33.3% of overweight/obese patients had this family history documented prior to diagnosis.

Conclusions:  These results imply that paediatric providers may not use family history as a screening tool for assessing future risk of obesity and hypertension, but instead gather this information after these chronic conditions have developed, making it difficult to implement preventative or screening strategies based on familial risk.
Diagnostic accuracy of a questionnaire and simple home monitoring device in detecting obstructive sleep apnoea in a Chinese population at high cardiovascular risk
Authors: GANTNER Dashiell , GE Ji‐Yong , LI Li‐Hua , ANTIC Nick , WINDLER Sam , WONG Keith , HEELEY Emma , HUANG Shao‐Guang , CUI Ping , ANDERSON Craig , WANG Ji‐Guang , MCEVOY Doug
Published: July 2010

Background and objective:  OSA is a common condition associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity. It remains underdiagnosed globally in part due to the limited availability and technical requirements of polysomnography (PSG). The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of two simple methods for diagnosing OSA.

Methods:  Consecutive subjects identified from a community register with high CV risk were invited to complete the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire and undergo simultaneous, home, overnight PSG and ApneaLink device oximetry and nasal pressure recordings. The relative accuracies of the Berlin Questionnaire, oximetry and nasal pressure results in diagnosing PSG‐defined moderate‐severe OSA were assessed.

Results:  Of 257 eligible high CV risk subjects enrolled, 190 completed sleep studies and 143 subjects' studies were of sufficient quality to include in final analyses. Moderate‐severe OSA was confirmed in 43% of subjects. The Berlin Questionnaire had low overall diagnostic accuracy in this population. However, ApneaLink recordings of oximetry and nasal pressure areas had high diagnostic utility with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.933 and 0.933, respectively. At optimal diagnostic thresholds, oximetry and nasal pressure measurements had similar sensitivity (84% vs 86%) and specificity (84% vs 85%). Technical failure was lower for oximetry than nasal pressure (5.8% vs 18.9% of tests).

Conclusions:  In patients with high CV risk overnight single‐channel oximetry and nasal pressure measurements may provide high diagnostic accuracy and offer an accessible alternative to full PSG.