bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutron scattering study of the classical antiferromagnet MnF2: a perfect hands-on neutron scattering teaching courseSpecial issue on Neutron Scattering in Canada.
Authors: Yamani Z. , Tun Z. , Ryan D. H.
Published: November 2010

We present the classical antiferromagnet MnF2 as a perfect demonstration system for teaching a remarkably wide variety of neutron scattering concepts. The nature of antiferromagnetism and the magnetic Hamiltonian in this classical antiferromagnet are discussed. The transition temperature to the Neel state, the value of magnetic moment in the ordered state, the critical scattering close to the phase transition, spin waves associated with the ordering of the moments, as well as their dispersion and temperature dependences are determined experimentally. Parameters such as the Neel transition temperature and exchange coupling constants obtained from the experiments agree reasonably well with the previously published data. In addition, details of how an inelastic neutron scattering experiment is performed by means of triple-axis spectroscopy are provided.
Neurexin-1, a presynaptic adhesion molecule, localizes at the slit diaphragm of the glomerular podocytes in kidneys
Authors: Saito Akira , Miyauchi Naoko , Hashimoto Taeko , Karasawa Tamaki , Han Gi Dong , Kayaba Mutsumi , Sumi Tomoyuki , Tomita Masayuki , Ikezumi Yohei , Suzuki Kenji , Koitabashi Yasushi , Shimizu Fujio , Kawachi Hiroshi
Published: November 2010

The slit diaphragm connecting the adjacent foot processes of glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) is the final barrier of the glomerular capillary wall and serves to prevent proteinuria. Podocytes are understood to be terminally differentiated cells and share some common features with neurons. Neurexin is a presynaptic adhesion molecule that plays a role in synaptic differentiation. Although neurexin has been understood to be specifically expressed in neuronal tissues, we found that neurexin was expressed in several organs. Several forms of splice variants of neurexin-1α were detected in the cerebrum, but only one form of neurexin-1α was detected in glomeruli. Immunohistochemical study showed that neurexin restrictedly expressed in the podocytes in kidneys. Dual-labeling analyses showed that neurexin was colocalized with CD2AP, an intracellular component of the slit diaphragm. Immunoprecipitation assay using glomerular lysate showed that neurexin interacted with CD2AP and CASK. These observations indicated that neurexin localized at the slit diaphragm area. The staining intensity of neurexin in podocytes was clearly lowered, and their staining pattern shifted to a more discontinuous patchy pattern in the disease models showing severe proteinuria. The expression and localization of neurexin in these models altered more clearly and rapidly than that of other slit diaphragm components. We propose that neurexin is available as an early diagnostic marker to detect podocyte injury. Neurexin coincided with nephrin, a key molecule of the slit diaphragm detected in a presumptive podocyte of the developing glomeruli and in the glomeruli for which the slit diaphragm is repairing injury. These observations suggest that neurexin is involved in the formation of the slit diaphragm and the maintenance of its function.
αV-Integrins mediate the mechanoprotective action of osteopontin in podocytes
Authors: Schordan Sandra , Schordan Eric , Endlich Karlhans , Endlich Nicole
Published: November 2010

Increased mechanical load in podocytes due to glomerular hypertension is one of the important factors leading to podocyte damage and chronic kidney disease. In previous studies, we have shown that mechanical stretch increases osteopontin (OPN) expression in podocytes and that exogenous OPN is mechanoprotective via facilitating cytoskeletal reorganization of podocytes. In the present study, we asked whether the mechanoprotective effect of OPN in podocytes is mediated through specific integrins and whether endogenous OPN of podocytes is required for mechanoprotection. Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes and primary podocytes (PP) from OPN−/−and OPN+/+mice were used. Cyclic biaxial mechanical stretch (0.5 Hz, 7% linear strain) was applied for up to 3 days. Stretch-induced cell loss was ∼30% higher in OPN−/−PP compared with OPN+/+PP. Increased cell loss of OPN−/−PP was rescued by OPN coating. Analysis of integrin expression by RT-PCR, application of RGD and SLAYGLR peptides and anti-integrin antibodies, small-interfering RNA knockdown of integrins, and application of kinase inhibitors identified αV-integrins (αVβ1, αVβ3, and αVβ5) to mediate the mechano-protective effect of OPN in podocytes involving focal adhesion kinase, Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Our results demonstrate that endogenous OPN of podocytes plays a nonredundant role in podocyte adaptation to mechanical stretch, and that OPN signaling via αV-integrins may represent a relevant therapeutical target in podocytes.
Beneficial metabolic adaptations due to endurance exercise training in the fasted state
Authors: Van Proeyen Karen , Szlufcik Karolina , Nielens Henri , Ramaekers Monique , Hespel Peter
Published: November 2010

Training with limited carbohydrate availability can stimulate adaptations in muscle cells to facilitate energy production via fat oxidation. Here we investigated the effect of consistent training in the fasted state, vs. training in the fed state, on muscle metabolism and substrate selection during fasted exercise. Twenty young male volunteers participated in a 6-wk endurance training program (1–1.5 h cycling at ∼70% V̇o2max, 4 days/wk) while receiving isocaloric carbohydrate-rich diets. Half of the subjects trained in the fasted state (F; n = 10), while the others ingested ample carbohydrates before (∼160 g) and during (1 g·kg body wt−1·h−1) the training sessions (CHO; n = 10). The training similarly increased V̇o2max (+9%) and performance in a 60-min simulated time trial (+8%) in both groups ( P < 0.01). Metabolic measurements were made during a 2-h constant-load exercise bout in the fasted state at ∼65% pretraining V̇o2max. In F, exercise-induced intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) breakdown was enhanced in type I fibers ( P < 0.05) and tended to be increased in type IIa fibers ( P = 0.07). Training did not affect IMCL breakdown in CHO. In addition, F (+21%) increased the exercise intensity corresponding to the maximal rate of fat oxidation more than did CHO (+6%) ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, maximal citrate synthase (+47%) and β-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (+34%) activity was significantly upregulated in F ( P < 0.05) but not in CHO. Also, only F prevented the development exercise-induced drop in blood glucose concentration ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, F is more effective than CHO to increase muscular oxidative capacity and at the same time enhances exercise-induced net IMCL degradation. In addition, F but not CHO prevented drop of blood glucose concentration during fasting exercise.
Total Marrow Irradiation: A New Ablative Regimen as Part of Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Somlo George , Spielberger Ricardo , Frankel Paul , Karanes Chatchada , Krishnan Amrita , Parker Pablo , Popplewell Leslie , Sahebi Firoozeh , Kogut Neil , Snyder David , Liu An , Schultheiss Timothy , Forman Stephen , Wong Jeffrey Y. C.
Published: November 2010

Purpose: To establish feasibility, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and potential efficacy of ablative dose total marrow irradiation (TMI) delivered by helical tomotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Experimental Design: Patients with responding or stable MM received tandem autologous stem cell transplants, first with melphalan 200 mg/m2, and 60 days or later with TMI. TMI doses were to be escalated from 1,000 cGy by increments of 200 cGy. All patients received thalidomide and dexamethasone maintenance.

Results: Twenty-two of 25 enrolled patients (79%) received tandem autologous stem cell transplantation (TASCT): TMI was administered at a median of 63.5 days (44–119) after melphalan. Dose-limiting toxicities at level 5 (1,800 cGy) included reversible grade 3 pneumonitis, congestive heart failure, and enteritis (1), and grade 3 hypotension (1). The estimated median radiation dose to normal organs was 11% to 81% of the prescribed marrow dose. Late toxicities included reversible enteritis (1), and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis during maintenance therapy (2). The complete and very good partial response rates were 55% and 27% following TASCT and maintenance therapy. At a median of 35 months of follow-up (21–50+ months), progression-free and overall survival for all patients were 49% (95% CI, 0.27–0.71) and 82% (0.67–1.00).

Conclusion: Ablative dose TMI as part of TASCT is feasible, and the complete response rate is encouraging. Careful monitoring of late toxicities is needed. Further assessment of this modality is justified at the 1,600 cGy MTD level in MM patients who are candidates for ASCT. Clin Cancer Res; 17(1); 174–82. ©2010 AACR.
Determination of Umbilical Catheter Placement Using Anatomic Landmarks
Authors: Vali Payam , Fleming Sarah E. , Kim Jae H.
Published: November 2010

Background: The placement of umbilical catheters is an essential part of initial newborn resuscitation and stabilization in the delivery room and later in the neonatal intensive care unit. While a variety of calculations have been derived based on patient morphometrics to determine the insertional length of the catheters, these equations remain inexact. Objective: To determine a new method to calculate umbilical catheter insertion length using the anatomic pathway of catheters on lateral radiographs. Methods: This was a retrospective study of infants who had umbilical catheters placed in our institution based on a diagnostic imaging database from 2004 to 2007 for all lateral abdominal and corresponding chest radiographs with umbilical vein and/or artery catheters in neonates. From a total of 82 umbilical venous catheter (UVC) and 55 umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) radiographs, the anatomic pathways were traced using Sigmascan Pro v4.0 software. An equation was derived for both UVC and UAC lengths that best approximated the traced length. Results: The UVC length could be a simple measurement from the umbilicus to the mid-xiphoid-to-bed distance, measured on the lateral aspect of the abdomen (r2 = 0.90). The UAC length was approximated by the following regression equation: 1.1 × (xiphoid-ASIS + umbilicus-ASIS) + 1.6, where ASIS is the anterior superior iliac spine (r2 = 0.94). Conclusions: Anatomic path-based calculations of umbilical catheters can accurately predict radiographic measured lengths. Prospective studies to validate this method against actual inserted length are required before promoting this approach.
Reproductive biology of two sympatric colubrid snakes, Chironius flavolineatus and Chironius quadricarinatus, from the Brazilian Cerrado domain
Authors: Pinto Roberta Richard , Marques Otavio Augusto Vuolo , Fernandes Ronaldo
Published: November 2010

The reproductive biology of Chironius flavolineatus and C. quadricarinatus from the Brazilian Cerrado domain is described, including sexual maturity, female fecundity, and reproductive cycles of males and females. Egg-laying is recorded here for the first time for C. quadricarinatus. Males of both species attain sexual maturity with a smaller snout-vent length than females. Females of C. flavolineatus have an extended reproductive cycle with egg production during the wet season, whereas males exhibit year-round sperm production. Chironius quadricarinatus has continuous reproductive cycles in both sexes. Differences in reproductive pattern between these two sympatric species are probably related to phylogenetic constraints on intrageneric lineages of Chironius.
Photographic identification in reptiles: a matter of scales
Authors: Pellitteri-Rosa Daniele , Maiocchi Veronica , Scali Stefano , Racina Luca , Cavigioli Luca , Sacchi Roberto , Fasola Mauro , Galeotti Paolo , Gentilli Augusto , Tettamanti Serena , Pupin Fabio
Published: November 2010

Photographic identification is a promising marking technique alternative to the toe-clipping, since it is completely harmless, cheap, and it allows long time identification of individuals. Its application to ecological studies is mainly limited by the time consuming to compare pictures within large datasets and the huge variation of ornamentation patterns among different species, which prevent the possibility that a single algorithm can effectively work for more than few species. Scales of Reptiles offer an effective alternative to ornamentations for computer aided identification procedures, since both shape and size of scales are unique to each individual, thus acting as a fingerprint like ornamentation patterns do. We used the Interactive Individual Identification System (I3S) software to assess whether different individuals of two species of European lizards (Podarcis muralis and Lacerta bilineata) can be reliably photographically identified using the pattern of the intersections among pectoral scales as fingerprints. We found that I3S was able to identify different individuals among two samples of 21 individuals for each species independently from the error associated to the ability of the operators in collecting pictures and in digitizing the pattern of intersections among pectoral scales. In a database of 1043 images of P. muralis collected between 2007 and 2008, the software recognized 98% of recaptures within each year, and 99% of the recaptures between years. In addition, 99% and 96% of matches were ranked among the top five, and no more than 5 minutes were needed for digitizing and processing each image. The lepidosis of reptiles is a reliable alternative to ornamentation patterns in photographic identification of reptiles, which can be effectively analysed using the I3S software. This result represents a significant improvement in photographic identification of reptiles since (i) this procedure can be easily extended to most other species of reptiles, (ii) all kind of individuals within a species can be marked (i.e., young, subadults and adults) despite the differences in ornamentation patterns, and (iii) it is the only technique for species, like the western green lizard, which lack a clear ornamentation pattern.
Īrān-o Tūran: On Iranian (and Quasi-Iranian) in the Ruhnama
Authors: Shapira Dan
Published: November 2010

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, political élites of some of the former Soviet republics, especially the Turkic-speaking ones, found themselves in ideological limbo. The first President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov (Saparmyrat Nyýazow), has trodden his way out from the vacuum of legitimacy in the most original and interesting manner. In 2001, Niyazov, known also as Turkmenbashi (Türkmenbaşy), made public his book, Ruhnama, which later has been translated into about fifty languages. The book, appealing to the Oğuz Turkic heritage of the Turkmen nation, to her remote Parthian past, and to vague Islamic cultural inheritance, was supposed to provide guidelines for nation-building and cohesiveness. Atatürk's Nutuk was one of the literary models of Niyazov's book. Having fixed the newly-invented national mythology in writing, Niyazov was not only shaping his society in the desirable manner, but also legitimising his own rule. This paper analyses fragments of different—and not identical—versions of the first part of the work in several languages, mostly in Turkmen, Turkish, Russian, and English. The author suggests that the text of the Ruhnama was updated several times, with different translations reflecting different stages of fixing the original; the English text was translated faithfully from the elaborated Turkish translation, not from the Turkmen.
Understanding the Middle East Peace Process: A historical institutionalist approach
Authors: Dannreuther Roland
Published: November 2010

This article challenges the common assumption that the external actors involved in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) are driven either by neo-realist strategic competition or by the constraining power of domestic lobbies, or by a mixture of both. Such implicit assumptions are evident in the controversial argument of the power of the ‘Israel lobby’ as promoted by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. This article argues that approaches based on such assumptions fail to explain adequately the policies adopted not only by the United States, but also by other key external actors who have been historically engaged in the MEPP — the Soviet Union and the European Union. A better explanatory framework is provided by treating the MEPP as an institution and by applying a historical institutionalist approach to the development of the MEPP, using such concepts as critical junctures, path dependence and positive feedback to analyse how the main external actors involved in the MEPP came to adopt their distinctive national approaches to the peace process. In particular, it is the responses of these actors to certain critical junctures, most notably but not exclusively to the period of the 1967 and 1973 Arab–Israeli wars, that has had a particularly strong influence on policy formulation. For the US case, the creative policymaking of Henry Kissinger during the period after the 1973 war, which was subsequently incorporated into the US conceptualization of the MEPP, provides powerful and generally unrecognized insights into the initial puzzle identified by Walt and Mearsheimer — the consistent and almost unconditional support given to Israel by the United States despite the strategic problems this creates for broader US Middle East policy.
Health Promotion Practice and the Road Ahead: Addressing Enduring Gaps and Encouraging Greater Practice-to-Research Translation
Authors: Rivera Mark D. , Birnbaum Amanda S.
Published: November 2010

A decade ago, Lancaster and Roe described four critical gaps (i.e., communications, accessibility, credibility, and expectations) between research and practice in health education and health promotion that formed the framework for this department. Despite considerable attention and some progress, these gaps persist and are barriers to interaction and translation between health promotion and health education research and practice. Looking to the next several years as the new Associate Editors for this department, we renew the department’s commitment toward addressing these enduring gaps around which we frame new questions and invite continued dialogue.
Endothelial von Willebrand factor regulates angiogenesis
Authors: Starke Richard D. , Ferraro Francesco , Paschalaki Koralia E. , Dryden Nicola H. , McKinnon Thomas A. J. , Sutton Rachel E. , Payne Elspeth M. , Haskard Dorian O. , Hughes Alun D. , Cutler Daniel F. , Laffan Mike A. , Randi Anna M.
Published: November 2010

The regulation of blood vessel formation is of fundamental importance to many physiological processes, and angiogenesis is a major area for novel therapeutic approaches to diseases from ischemia to cancer. A poorly understood clinical manifestation of pathological angiogenesis is angiodysplasia, vascular malformations that cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Angiodysplasia can be associated with von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common bleeding disorder in man. VWD is caused by a defect or deficiency in von Willebrand factor (VWF), a glycoprotein essential for normal hemostasis that is involved in inflammation. We hypothesized that VWF regulates angiogenesis. Inhibition of VWF expression by short interfering RNA (siRNA) in endothelial cells (ECs) caused increased in vitro angiogenesis and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 (VEGFR-2)–dependent proliferation and migration, coupled to decreased integrin αvβ3 levels and increased angiopoietin (Ang)–2 release. ECs expanded from blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells of VWD patients confirmed these results. Finally, 2 different approaches, in situ and in vivo, showed increased vascularization in VWF-deficient mice. We therefore identify a new function of VWF in ECs, which confirms VWF as a protein with multiple vascular roles and defines a novel link between hemostasis and angiogenesis. These results may have important consequences for the management of VWD, with potential therapeutic implications for vascular diseases.
Development of a recombinant antithrombin variant as a potent antidote to fondaparinux and other heparin derivatives
Authors: Bianchini Elsa P. , Fazavana Judicael , Picard Veronique , Borgel Delphine
Published: November 2010

Heparin derivative-based therapy has evolved from unfractionated heparin (UFH) to low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) and now fondaparinux, a synthetic pentasaccharide. Contrary to UFH or LMWHs, fondaparinux is not neutralized by protamine sulfate, and no antidote is available to counteract bleeding disorders associated with overdosing. To make the use of fondaparinux safer, we developed an antithrombin (AT) variant as a potent antidote to heparin derivatives. This variant (AT-N135Q-Pro394) combines 2 mutations: substitution of Asn135 by a Gln to remove a glycosylation site and increase affinity for heparins, and the insertion of a Pro between Arg393 and Ser394 to abolish its anticoagulant activity. As expected, AT-N135Q-Pro394 anticoagulant activity was almost abolished, and it exhibited a 3-fold increase in fondaparinux affinity. AT-N135Q-Pro394 was shown to reverse fondaparinux overdosing in vitro in a dose-dependent manner through a competitive process with plasma AT for fondaparinux binding. This antidote effect was also observed in vivo: administration of AT-N135Q-Pro394 in 2.5-fold molar excess versus plasma AT neutralized 86% of the anti-Xa activity within 5 minutes in mice treated with fondaparinux. These results clearly demonstrate that AT-N135Q-Pro394 can reverse the anticoagulant activity of fondaparinux and thus could be used as an antidote for this drug.
The multifaceted granulysin
Authors: Zitvogel Laurence , Kroemer Guido
Published: November 2010

Granulysin is a cytolytic and proinflammatory peptide contained in the cytotoxic granules of NK cells and CTL. Unexpectedly, granulysin also recruits and activates dendritic cells via TLR4/Myd88, playing the role of an immune adjuvant. Hence, in contrast to classical alarmins released by early leukocytes, granulysin is the first alarmin to be released from lymphocytes.
Endogenous expression of ASLV viral proteins in specific pathogen free chicken embryos: relevance for the developmental biology research field
Authors: McNally Minda M , Wahlin Karl J , Canto-Soler M Valeria
Published: November 2010

Background

The use of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) eggs in combination with RCAS retrovirus, a member of the Avian Sarcoma-Leukosis Virus (ASLV) family, is of standard practice to study gene function and development. SPF eggs are certified free of infection by specific pathogen viruses of either exogenous or endogenous origin, including those belonging to the ASLV family. Based on this, SPF embryos are considered to be free of ASLV viral protein expression, and consequently in developmental research studies RCAS infected cells are routinely identified by immunohistochemistry against the ASLV viral proteins p19 and p27. Contrary to this generally accepted notion, observations in our laboratory suggested that certified SPF chicken embryos may endogenously express ASLV viral proteins p19 and p27. Since these observations may have significant implications for the developmental research field we further investigated this possibility.

Results

We demonstrate that certified SPF chicken embryos have transcriptionally active endogenous ASLV loci (ev loci) capable of expressing ASLV viral proteins, such as p19 and p27, even when those loci are not capable of producing viral particles. We also show that the extent of viral protein expression in embryonic tissues varies not only among flocks but also between embryos of the same flock. In addition, our genetic screening revealed significant heterogeneity in ev loci composition even among embryos of the same flock.

Conclusions

These observations have critical implications for the developmental biology research field, since they strongly suggest that the current standard methodology used in experimental studies using the chick embryo and RCAS vectors may lead to inaccurate interpretation of results. Retrospectively, our observations suggest that studies in which infected cells have been identified simply by pan-ASLV viral protein expression may need to be considered with caution. For future studies, they point to a need for careful selection and screening of the chick SPF lines to be used in combination with RCAS constructs, as well as the methodology utilized for qualitative analysis of experimental results. A series of practical guidelines to ensure research quality animals and accuracy of the interpretation of results is recommended and discussed.
Expression of genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in murine fetal lungs in late gestation
Authors: Simard Marc , Côté Mélissa , Provost Pierre R , Tremblay Yves
Published: November 2010

Background

Lung maturation is modulated by several factors, including glucocorticoids. Expression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-related components, with proposed or described local regulatory systems analogous to the HPA axis, was reported in peripheral tissues. Here, HPA axis-related genes were studied in the mouse developing lung during a period overlapping the surge of surfactant production.

Methods

Expression of genes encoding for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptors (CRHR) 1 and 2beta, CRH-binding protein, proopiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptor 2 (MC2R), and glucocorticoid receptor was quantified by real-time PCR and localized by in situ hydridization in fetal lungs at gestational days (GD) 15.5, 16.5, and 17.5, and was also quantified in primary mesenchymal- and epithelial cell-enriched cultures. In addition, the capability of CRH and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate pulmonary expression of enzymes involved in the adrenal pathway of glucocorticoid synthesis was addressed, as well as the glucocorticoid production by fetal lung explants.

Results

We report that all the studied genes are expressed in fetal lungs according to different patterns. On GD 15.5, Mc2r showed peaks in expression in samples that have previously presented high mRNA levels for glucocorticoid synthesizing enzymes, including 11beta-hydroxylase (Cyp11b1). Crhr1 mRNA co-localized with Pomc mRNA in cells surrounding the proximal epithelium on GD 15.5 and 16.5. A transition in expression sites toward distal epithelial cells was observed between GD 15.5 and 17.5 for all the studied genes. CRH or ACTH stimulation of genes involved in the adrenal pathway of glucocorticoid synthesis was not observed in lung explants on GD 15.5, whereas CRH significantly increased expression of 21-hydroxylase (Cyp21a1) on GD 17.5. A deoxycorticosterone production by fetal lung explants was observed.

Conclusions

Temporal and spatial modulations of expression of HPA axis-related genes in late gestation are consistent with roles for these genes in lung development. Our data are likely to lead to valuable insights in relation to lung diseases originating from lung immaturity.
Potent and persistent antibody responses against the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV spike protein in recovered patients
Authors: Cao Zhiliang , Liu Lifeng , Du Lanying , Zhang Chao , Jiang Shibo , Li Taisheng , He Yuxian
Published: November 2010

Background

The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV not only mediates receptor-binding but also induces neutralizing antibodies. We previously identified the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S protein as a major target of neutralizing antibodies in animal models and thus proposed a RBD-based vaccine. However, the antigenicity and immunogenicity of RBD in humans need to be characterized.

Results

Two panels of serum samples from recovered SARS patients were included and the antibody responses against the RBD were measured by ELISA and micro-neutralization assays. We found that the RBD of S protein induced potent antibody responses in the recovered SARS patients and RBD-specific antibodies could persist at high titers over three year follow-up. Furthermore, affinity purified anti-RBD antibodies possessed robust neutralizing activity.

Conclusion

The RBD of SARS-CoV is highly immunogenic in humans and mediates protective responses and RBD-based vaccines and diagnostic approaches can be further developed.
Parkinson-related parkin reduces α-Synuclein phosphorylation in a gene transfer model
Authors: Khandelwal Preeti J , Dumanis Sonya B , Feng Li Rebekah , Maguire-Zeiss Kathleen , Rebeck GW , Lashuel Hilal A , Moussa Charbel EH
Published: November 2010

Background

α-Synuclein aggregates in Lewy bodies and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of a group of neurodegenerative disorders, known as "Synucleinopathies", including Parkinson's disease. Parkin mutations result in loss of parkin E3-ubiquitin ligase activity and cause autosomal recessive early onset parkinsonism.

Results

We tested how these two genes interact by examining the effects of parkin on post-translational modification of α-Synuclein in gene transfer animal models, using a lentiviral gene delivery system into the striatum of 2-month old male Sprague Dawley rats.

Viral expression of wild type α-Synuclein caused accumulation of α-Synuclein and was associated with increased cell death and inflammation. α-Synuclein increased PLK2 levels and GSK-3β activity and increased the levels of phosphorylated α-Synuclein and Tau. Parkin co-expression reduced the levels of phosphorylated α-Synuclein and attenuated cell death and inflammation. Parkin reduced PLK2 levels and increased PP2A activation.

Conclusions

These data suggest that parkin reduces α-Synuclein levels and alters the balance between phosphatase and kinase activities that affect the levels of phosphorylated α-Synuclein. These results indicate novel mechanisms for parkin protection against α-Synuclein-induced toxicity in PD.
Phase stability via nonlinear optimization: A case study
Authors: Misra Somanath , Chopra Satinder
Published: November 2010

Accurate wavelet estimation is crucial in the deconvolution of seismic data. As per the convolution model, the recorded seismic trace is the result of convolution of the Earth's unknown reflectivity series with the propagating seismic source wavelet along with the additive noise. The deconvolution of the source wavelet from the recorded seismic traces provides useful estimates of the Earth's unknown reflectivity and comes in handy as an aid to geological interpretation. This deconvolution process usually involves estimation of a wavelet, before it is removed by digital filtering. Because the Earth's reflectivity and seismic noise are both unknown, the wavelet estimation process is not easy. Statistical methods estimate the wavelet using the statistical properties of the seismic data and are based on certain mathematical assumptions. The most commonly used method assumes that the wavelet is minimum phase and that the amplitude spectrum and the autocorrelation of the wavelet are the same as the amplitude spectrum and the autocorrelation of the seismic traces, within a scale factor, in the time zone from where the wavelet is extracted (stationary assumption).
Angle gathers from reverse time migration
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xu Sheng , Tang Bing , Bai Bing , Huang Yan , Huang Tony
Published: November 2010

Reverse time migration (RTM), based on directly solving the two-way wave equation, provides a natural way to deal with large lateral velocity variations and imposes no dip limitations on the seismic images. It has become a standard migration tool for subsalt imaging in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the adoption of wide-azimuth (WAZ) data acquisition provides better subsurface illumination and more azimuthal information, which significantly aids imaging beneath complex overburdens. Because WAZ data are richer in the propagation directions of the waves recorded, RTM and WAZ acquisition go hand-in-hand.
Systemic Delivery of TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) Elevates Levels of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and Prevents Type 1 Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice
Authors: Kang Soojeong , Park Eun-Jin , Joe Yeonsoo , Seo Eunhui , Park Mi-Kyoung , Seo Su-Young , Chung Hae-Young , Yoo Young Hyun , Kim Duk Kyu , Lee Hye-Jeong
Published: November 2010

Recent studies have demonstrated that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a modulator of the immune response. The relation between TRAIL and type 1 diabetes (T1D) as an autoimmune inflammatory disease in vivo is relatively unknown. To explore the potential role of TRAIL in the development of T1D, we examined its in vivo effects in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. NOD mice at 7 wk of age were iv injected with an adenovirus carrying either human TRAIL (Ad.hTRAIL) or β-galactosidase genes. Blood glucose was monitored weekly, and the expression of hTRAIL was evaluated in plasma and liver of mice. To investigate whether hTRAIL elicits its effect through the induction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), we examined the concentration of plasma TIMP-1 by ELISA and the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) by gelatin zymography. Here, we show that Ad.hTRAIL-transduced mice had significantly reduced blood glucose levels and markedly increased production of TIMP-1 compared with control β-galactosidase animals. Pancreatic tissue isolated from Ad.hTRAIL-treated NOD mice showed reduced MMP activities associated with significantly improved insulitis. In addition, TIMP-1 in vitro suppressed cytokine-induced apoptosis in insulin-producing INS-1 cells. These results indicate that T1D can be prevented by TRAIL overexpression through enhancement of TIMP-1 function. Elevated TIMP-1 production inhibits the activity of MMPs, which may contribute to suppress the transmigration of diabetogenic T cells into the pancreatic islets and protects pancreatic β-cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis. Therefore, TRAIL and TIMP-1 induction may be potential targets to prevent development of T1D.
Using implementation intentions to overcome the effect of mood on risky behaviour
Authors: Webb Thomas L. , Sheeran Paschal , Totterdell Peter , Miles Eleanor , Mansell Warren , Baker Shyam
Published: November 2010

Two experiments investigated whether forming an if–then plan or implementation intention could break the link between mood and risky behaviour. In Expt 1, participants planned how to deal with unpleasant moods. Next, as part of an ostensibly unrelated experiment, participants underwent a disguised mood induction before rating their willingness to perform a series of risky behaviours. Unpleasant mood increased subsequent risk willingness among participants who did not form a plan but did not influence risk willingness among participants who formed an implementation intention. In Expt 2, mood arousal was manipulated and participants then undertook a gambling task. One‐half of the sample formed implementation intentions that focused attention on the odds of winning. Greater arousal led to more risky betting among control participants. However, forming an implementation intention promoted good risk awareness and, consequently, shielded participants' task performance from the effects of arousal. Taken together, the findings suggest that people can strategically avoid the detrimental effect of unpleasant mood and arousal on risk by forming implementation intentions directed at controlling either the experience of mood or the risky behaviour.
Pirate radio in the 1980s: a case study of Thessaloniki's pirate radio
Authors: Theodosiadou Sophia
Published: November 2010

This study attempts to shed light on the profile of Greek radio pirates in the 1980s. The study draws on a series of 34 in-depth interviews with radio pirates of that period in Thessaloniki, a city of particular interest for the growth and development of the pirate radio phenomenon
in Greece. Some of the most important topics on which the interviews focused were respondents' educational, social and economic backgrounds, besides exploring the definition of a pirate and the motives for broadcasting pirate radio. Qualitative analysis was used to explain the results of the
interviews.
Anacrusis in Eddic Meters Fornyrðislag and Málaháttr. Reevaluation and Reinvigoration
Authors: Suzuki Seiichi
Published: November 2010

This is a comparative investigation of anacrusis – optional occurrence in verseinitial position of one or more unstressed syllables – in two Eddic meters, fornyrðislag and málaháttr, with particular reference to type A1 (/ × / ×) with anacrusis. Through a statistics-based close comparison with their West Germanic cognates, Beowulf and the Heliand, I will determine the synchronic identity of anacrusis in the two Norse meters and provide a diachronic account of its divergent treatment in the respective metrical systems: in fornyrðislag anacrusis was implemented only sparingly and exclusively for the minimal variant of type A1 with the monosyllabic first drop; by contrast, in málaháttr the metrical device was manipulated as a fifth metrical position to be added almost obligatorily to the lightest variant of type A1 in the b-verse in which the first drop was occupied by a word-final unstressed syllable -x#.
Wider den Mythos des Unnahbaren. Zu Joachim Bumkes neuer ›Parzival‹-Ausgabe
Authors: Schöller Robert
Published: November 2010

Since the year 1833 Karl Lachmann's edition has been the basis for every literary analysis of ›Parzival‹. The new edition by Joachim Bumke derived from the St. Gallen manuscript D provides for the first time a basic text that complies with today's requirements. The current article deals with the principles of Bumke's edition and discusses the consequences this new textual basis could have for the text analysis.
Figurative language understanding in LCCM Theory
Authors: Evans Vyvyan
Published: November 2010

While cognitive linguists have been successful at providing accounts of the stable knowledge structures (conceptual metaphors) that give rise to figurative language, and the conceptual mechanisms that manipulate these knowledge structures (conceptual blending), relatively less effort has been thus far devoted to the nature of the linguistic mechanisms involved in figurative language understanding. This paper presents a theoretical account of figurative language understanding, examining metaphor and metonymy in particular. This account is situated within the Theory of Lexical Concepts and Cognitive Models (LCCM Theory). LCCM Theory (Evans, Cognitive Linguistics 17: 491–534, 2006, How words mean: Lexical concepts, cognitive models and meaning construction, Oxford University Press, 2009b) is a cognitively realistic model of lexical representation and semantic compositionality, providing, it is argued, an account of figurative language which complements the ‘backstage’ cognition perspective of Conceptual Blending Theory. It also integrates the notion of conceptual metaphor within the account provided of figurative language understanding. The paper introduces the key mechanisms involved in figurative language understanding arising from language use. The paper also provides a programmatic account of how conceptual metaphors are integrated with linguistic knowledge in figurative language use. It is argued the present proposals flesh out a key aspect of the conceptual integration perspective promoted by Fauconnier and Turner, with which LCCM Theory is continuous. In part, the paper attempts to advance the prospect of a ‘joined up’ cognitive linguistic account of figurative language understanding.
Using corpus methodology for semantic and pragmatic analyses: What can corpora tell us about the linguistic expression of emotions?
Authors: Oster Ulrike
Published: November 2010

The aim of this paper is to explore some of the possibilities, advantages and difficulties of corpus-based analyses of semantic and pragmatic aspects of language in one particular field, namely the linguistic expression of emotion concepts. For this purpose, a methodological procedure is proposed and an exemplary analysis of the emotion concept “fear” in English is performed. The procedure combines Kövecses' lexical approach and Stefanowitsch's metaphorical pattern analysis with additional concepts from corpus linguistics such as semantic preference and semantic prosody. The results of the study show that such a corpus-based analysis of emotion words offers several advantages. Firstly, by exploring the surroundings of the search word in a vast amount of text, we are not only able to find evidence of conceptual metaphor and metonymy that structure the emotion concept and of related emotion concepts, but also we can enrich the description of the emotion concept with information from a series of dimensions and add a pragmatic viewpoint by revealing an explicit or implicit evaluation of the emotion. The second advantage offered by a corpus-based approach lies in the possibility of quantifying results, i.e., comparing the frequency, productivity and creative use of individual metaphors and metonymies, which is especially interesting in view of contrastive studies.
Humor appreciation and sensation seeking: Invariance of findings across culture and assessment instrument?
Authors: Carretero-Dios Hugo , Ruch Willibald
Published: November 2010

It was hypothesized that sensation seeking (SS) is able to predict both the structure and content of jokes and cartoons. Five hypotheses were derived and tested in two samples from Spain and Germany comprising a total of 434 participants. The basic pattern of correlations was replicated for the two samples, and for the different measures of humor appreciation (3-WD, EAHU) and sensation seeking (AISS, SSS). Experience Seeking and Novelty were predictive of low appreciation of incongruity-resolution humor and high appreciation of nonsense humor. Disinhibition and Intensity were positively correlated with funniness of sexual, black, man-disparagement and woman-disparagement humor, and negatively with their aversiveness. When the structure variance from the content categories was removed, the correlations between appreciation of humor contents and sensation seeking increased. This confirmed that structure and content have to be separated both theoretically and empirically in studies of appreciation of content categories.
Humor in intimate relationships: Ties among sense of humor, similarity in humor and relationship quality
Authors: Barelds Dick P. H. , Barelds-Dijkstra Pieternel
Published: November 2010

The present study examined relations between different aspects of humor and relationship quality. Participants, 114 married or cohabiting heterosexual couples from the general community, with a mean relationship length of 22 years, completed a number of measures assessing these two themes. We expected different aspects of humor of both partners to be positively related to relationship quality. In addition, we expected partners to resemble each other with regard to the different aspects of humor, and similarity with regard to humor to be related positively to relationship quality. The hypotheses were partially confirmed. APIM analyses revealed only one significant actor and one significant partner effect of sense of humor. Partners did resemble each other with regard to sense of humor, but couple similarity with regard to sense of humor was unrelated to relationship quality.
The faces of humor: Humor as catalyst of face in the context of the British and the Spanish Parliament
Authors: Márquez Aurelia Carranza
Published: November 2010

This study analyzes the use of humor in specific political contexts following different linguistic perspectives that deal with politeness (Leech, Principles of pragmatics, Longman, 1983; Brown and Levinson, Politeness: Some universals in language use, Cambridge University Press, 1987; Fraser, Journal of Pragmatics 14: 219–236, 1990; Givón, English grammar: A function-based introduction, John Benjamins, 1993) under a “social practices” view (Chouliaraki and Fairclough, Discourse in late modernity: Rethinking critical discourse analysis, Edinburg University Press, 1999; Harri, Discourse & Society, 12: 451–472, 2001). Humor is not inherently polite or impolite, but rather, it can be viewed as a discursive strategy used by the speaker to achieve a particular goal in a particular context. However, the speaker is not completely free. S/he is conditioned by certain social and cultural factors that are not negotiable. The main aim of this study is to arrive at some of these cultural factors through the analysis of the use of humor and its application to the concept of face (Goffman, Interaction ritual: Essays in face to face behaviour, Doubleday, 1967; Brown and Levinson, Politeness: Some universals in language use, Cambridge University Press, 1987) in the context of a Parliamentary debate in Spain and Great Britain on a common topic: domestic violence.
Generalizing over lexicons to predict consonant mastery
Authors: Beckman Mary E. , Edwards Jan
Published: November 2010

When they first begin to talk, children show characteristic consonant errors, which are often described in terms that recall Neogrammarian sound change. For example, a Japanese child's production of the word
Juristisches Übersetzen zwischen Sprachvergleich und Rechtsvergleich
Authors: Arntz Reiner
Published: November 2010

Linguistic and conceptual differences between legal languages are closely related to the distance between the corresponding legal systems. This is illustrated by a comparison of Anglo-American law texts on the one hand and texts and terminology from continental systems like French and German law on the other hand. Special problems arise in officially multilingual states like Switzerland which has one common legal system and four different legal languages. All legal documents in these languages are considered as original texts, not as translations. The same principle applies to the European Union where all documents have to be absolutely equivalent and linguistically authentic in each of the 23 official languages.
Quasi das Gleiche mit anderen Worten – einige terminologische und translatologische Allusionen und Illusionen
Authors: Schmitt Peter A.
Published: November 2010

Terminology theory aims at unambiguous communication. However, as this article shows, even some established terms and concepts of terminology theory leave room for interpretation. The author, chairman of DIN standardization committee NA 105.00-01 AA (principles of terminology theory), addresses standardization (in DIN 2342) and usage of the German terms “Terminologie”, “Terminus”, “Polysemie”, “Quasisynonymie”, and “Homonymie”.
GaAs/AlGaAs photonic crystals for VCSEL-type semiconductor lasers
Authors: Kruszka R. , Ekielski M. , Gołaszewska K. , Korwin-Mikke K. , Sidor Z. , Wzorek M. , Pierścińska D. , Sarzała R. , Czyszanowski T. , Piotrowska A.
Published: November 2010

The results of modelling of the influence of photonic crystal on the performance of VCSEL-type semiconductor laser structure are shown and indicate that the use of those structures would significantly improve the working parameters of the devices. The method of fabrication of photonic crystals in the Bragg mirrors of GaAs/AlGaAs-based VCSELs is presented.