bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunoregulatory roles of eosinophils: a new look at a familiar cell
Authors: Akuthota P. , Wang H. B. , Spencer L. A. , Weller P. F.
Published: July 2008

Eosinophils are usually considered as end‐stage degranulating effector cells of innate immunity. However, accumulating evidence has revealed additional roles for eosinophils that are immunoregulatory in nature in both the adaptive and innate arms of immunity. Specifically, eosinophils have key immunoregulatory roles as professional antigen‐presenting cells and as modulators of CD4+ T cell, dendritic cell, B cell, mast cell, neutrophil, and basophil functions. This review addresses the emerging immunoregulatory roles of eosinophils with a focus on recent data that support this new paradigm. Recognizing both the effector and immunoregulatory functions of eosinophils will enable a fuller understanding of the roles of eosinophils in allergic airways inflammation and may be pertinent to therapies that target eosinophils both for their acute and ongoing immunomodulatory functions.
The impact of added sugar consumption on overall dietary quality in Irish children and teenagers
Authors: Joyce T. , Gibney M. J.
Published: July 2008

Background  There is concern that added sugar may dilute micronutrients and displace nutrient dense foods from the diet.

Methods  The data for this analysis was based on the National Children’s Food Survey and National Teen Food Survey, which used 7‐day food diaries to collect food and beverage intake data in representative samples of Irish children (5–12 years, n = 594) and teenagers (13–17 years, n = 441) respectively.

Results  High consumption of added sugars was associated with a decrease in the micronutrient density of the diet and increased prevalence of dietary inadequacies in children and teenagers. The decrease in micronutrient density was significant for several micronutrients, including magnesium (P < 0.001), calcium (P < 0.01 children; P < 0.001 teenagers), zinc (P < 0.05) and vitamins B12 (P < 0.01 children; P < 0.001 teenagers) and C (P < 0.05). There was wide variation in the micronutrients for which prevalence of dietary inadequacies increased depending on gender and population group.

Conclusions  Clinical data are required before conclusions can be made on whether micronutrient dilution is a concern in Ireland. A change in the consumption of several foods across level of added sugar intake may explain the decrease in the intake of several micronutrients and the decrease in the compliance with macronutrient recommendations in high consumers of added sugars in children and teenagers.
Leaf nitrogen remobilisation for plant development and grain filling
Authors: Masclaux‐Daubresse C. , Reisdorf‐Cren M. , Orsel M.
Published: July 2008

A major challenge of modern agriculture is to reduce the excessive input of fertilisers and, at the same time, to improve grain quality without affecting yield. One way to achieve this goal is to improve plant nitrogen economy through manipulating nitrogen recycling, and especially nitrogen remobilisation, from senescing plant organs. In this review, the contribution of nitrogen remobilisation efficiency (NRE) to global nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and tools dedicated to the determination of NRE are described. An overall examination of the physiological, metabolic and genetic aspects of nitrogen remobilisation is presented.
Natural developmental variations in leaf and plant senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Balazadeh S. , Parlitz S. , Mueller‐Roeber B. , Meyer R. C.
Published: July 2008

Leaf senescence is a developmentally regulated process that contributes to nutrient redistribution during reproductive growth and finally leads to tissue death. Manipulating leaf senescence through breeding or genetic engineering may help to improve important agronomic traits, such as crop yield and the storage life of harvested organs. Here, we studied natural variations in the regulation of plant senescence among 16 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. Chlorophyll content and the proportion of yellow leaves were used as indicator parameters to determine leaf and plant senescence respectively. Our study indicated significant genotype effects on the onset and development of senescence. We selected three late‐ and five early‐senescence accessions for further physiological studies. The relationship between leaf and plant senescence was accession‐dependent. There was a significant correlation between plant senescence and the total number of leaves, siliques and plant bolting age. We monitored expression of two senescence marker genes, SAG12 and WRKY53, to evaluate progression of senescence. Our data revealed that chlorophyll content does not fully reflect leaf age, because even fully green leaves had already commenced senescence at the molecular level. Integrating senescence parameters, such as the proportion of senescent leaves, at the whole plant level provided a better indication of the molecular status of the plant than single leaf senescence parameters.
Investigation of QTL regions on Chromosome 17 for genes associated with meat color in the pig
Authors: Fan B. , Glenn K.L. , Geiger B. , Mileham A. , Rothschild M.F.
Published: July 2008

Previous studies have uncovered several significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) relevant to meat colour traits mapped at the end of SSC17 in the pig. Furthermore, results released from the porcine genome sequencing project have identified genes underlying the entire QTL regions and can further contribute to mining the region for likely causative genes. Ten protein coding genes or novel transcripts located within the QTL regions were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Linkage mapping and association studies were carried out in the ISU Berkshire × Yorkshire (B × Y) pig resource family. The total length of the new SSC17 linkage map was 126.6 cM and additional markers including endothelin 3 (EDN3) and phosphatase and actin regulator 3 (PHACTR3) genes were assigned at positions 119.4 cM and 122.9 cM, respectively. A new QTL peak was noted at approximately 120 cM, close to the EDN3 gene, and for some colour traits QTL exceeded the 5% chromosome‐wise significance threshold. The association analyses in the B × Y family showed that the EDN3 BslI and PHACTR3 PstI polymorphisms were strongly associated with the subjective colour score and objective colour reflectance measures in the loin, as well as average drip loss percentage and pH value. The RNPC1 DpnII and CTCFL HpyCH4III polymorphisms were associated with some meat colour traits. No significant association between CBLN4, TFAP2C, and four novel transcripts and meat colour traits were detected. The association analyses conducted in one commercial pig line found that both EDN3 BslI and PHACTR3 PstI polymorphisms were associated with meat colour reflectance traits such as centre loin hue angle and Minolta Lightness score. The present findings suggested that the EDN3 and PHACTR3 genes might have potential effects on meat colour in pigs, and molecular mechanisms of their functions are worth exploring.
Cross‐Cultural Perspectives on Physician and Lay Models of the Common Cold
Authors: Baer Roberta D. , Weller Susan C. , De Alba García Javier García , Salcedo Rocha Ana L.
Published: July 2008

We compare physicians and laypeople within and across cultures, focusing on simi‐larities and differences across samples, to determine whether cultural differences or lay–professional differences have a greater effect on explanatory models of the common cold. Data on explanatory models for the common cold were collected from physicians and laypeople in South Texas and Guadalajara, Mexico. Structured interview materials were developed on the basis of open‐ended interviews with samples of lay informants at each locale. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information from each sample on causes, symptoms, and treatments for the common cold. Consensus analysis was used to estimate the cultural beliefs for each sample. Instead of systematic differences between samples based on nationality or level of professional training, all four samples largely shared a single‐explanatory model of the common cold, with some differences on subthemes, such as the role of hot and cold forces in the etiology of the common cold. An evaluation of our findings indicates that, although there has been conjecture about whether cultural or lay–professional differences are of greater importance in understanding variation in explanatory models of disease and illness, systematic data collected on community and professional beliefs indicate that such differences may be a function of the specific illness. Further generalizations about lay–professional differences need to be based on detailed data for a variety of illnesses, to discern patterns that may be present. Finally, a systematic approach indicates that agreement across individual explanatory models is sufficient to allow for a community‐level explanatory model of the common cold.
Joyce/Ibsen: Dialectics of Aesthetic Modernism
Authors: San Juan Jr E.
Published: July 2008

From his early review of Ibsen’sWhen We Dead Awakento the 1903 essay onCatiline, Joyce never failed to acknowledge Ibsen’s powerful influence. Joyce locates the playwright’s genius not so much in his technical virtuosity as in his worldview. Uncannily Joyce anticipated the shrewd comment of one scholar who perceived Ibsen’s obsession with the “conflict between the ethical and acquisitive personalities.” But Ibsen’s allegorical realism transcends that conflict by diagnosing the social milieu in which libertarian individualism (as Friedrich Engels noted) was inscribed. The constant dialectic of freedom and necessity in Ibsen’s work informs the “didactic pathos” which Georg Lukács admired. Joyce appreciated Ibsen’s socially conscious individualism for what it is historically: a defiance of the commodifying world of bourgeois society interpellated in a satiric mirror (Ibsen’s astute critical self‐awareness) without which a paralyzing nihilism may be the only alternative. Joyce’s engagement with the theme of exile echoes Ibsen’s concern with art and its pedagogical, heuristic function in modern life as well as the artist’s fidelity to his vocation as a touchstone of the integrity of a rebel‐artist’s fight for freedom and truth in solidarity with all the exploited and oppressed.
Polarized intrinsic neural reflexes in response to colonic elongation
Authors: Dickson Eamonn J. , Hennig Grant W. , Heredia Dante J. , Lee Hyun‐Tai , Bayguinov Peter O. , Spencer Nick J. , Smith Terence K.
Published: July 2008

Propulsion in both small and large intestine is largely mediated by the peristaltic reflex; despite this, transit through the shorter colon is at least 10 times slower. Recently we demonstrated that elongating a segment of colon releases nitric oxide (NO) to inhibit peristalsis. The aims of this study were to determine if colonic elongation was physiologically significant, and whether elongation activated polarized intrinsic neural reflexes. Video imaging monitored fecal pellet evacuation from isolated guinea‐pig colons full of pellets. Recordings were made from the circular muscle (CM) and longitudinal muscle (LM) in flat sheet preparations using either intracellular microelectrode or Ca2+ imaging techniques. Full colons were 158.1 ± 6.1% longer than empty colons. As each pellet was expelled, the colon shortened and pellet velocity increased exponentially (full 0.34, empty 1.01 mm s−1). In flat sheet preparations, maintained circumferential stretch generated ongoing peristaltic activity (oral excitatory and anal inhibitory junction potentials) and Ca2+ waves in LM and CM. Colonic elongation (140% of its empty slack length) applied oral to the recording site abolished these activities, whereas anal elongation significantly increased the frequency and amplitude of ongoing peristaltic activity. Oral elongation inhibited the excitation produced by anal elongation; this inhibitory effect was reversed by blocking NO synthesis. Pelvic nerve stimulation elicited polarized responses that were also suppressed by NO released during colonic elongation. In conclusion, longitudinal stretch excites specific mechosensitive ascending and descending interneurons, leading to activation of polarized reflexes. The dominance of the descending inhibitory reflex leads to slowed emptying of pellets in a naturally elongated colon.
A SHORT REVIEW OF ELEMENTARY PROPERTIES AND POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS OF DEFORMED q-ALGEBRA DERIVED FROM NON-EXTENSIVE TSALLIS ENTROPY
Authors: STRZAŁKA DOMINIK , GRABOWSKI FRANCISZEK
Published: July 2008

Tsallis entropy introduced in 1988 is considered to have obtained new possibilities to construct generalized thermodynamical basement for statistical physics expanding classical Boltzmann–Gibbs–Shannon thermodynamics for non-equilibrium states. During the last two decades this q-generalized theory has been successfully applied to a considerable amount of physically interesting complex phenomena. The authors would like to present a short rewiev, the applications and the elementary properties of some operators in deformed q-algebra derived from Tsallis definition of non-extensive entropy based on the definitions of the q-logarithm and the q-exponential. The new definition of the q-root is also introduced.
SPIN INJECTION INTO TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON GAS THROUGH A SPIN-FILTERING INJECTOR
Authors: WANG Y. , LIU A. P. , BAO J. , XU X. G. , JIANG Y.
Published: July 2008

In this paper, large spin polarization and magnetoconductance in a ferromagnet (FM)/ferromagnetic insulator (FI)/two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG)/non-magnetic insulator (I)/FM hybrid structure are theoretically predicted by introducing a spin-filtering injector. In the framework of coherent tunneling model, the electron transmission probability, spin polarization and magnetoconductance in the hybrid structure all oscillate with the electron density within the 2DEG channel. A complete single-mode spin injection would be realized by designing a well-defined geometry to adjust the competition between the spin-dependent tunneling of the conductive electrons and spin-filtering effect of the FI barrier.
SCHEME FOR CONCENTRATION OF UNKNOWN ENTANGLED ATOMIC STATES
Authors: LIAO YAN-LIN , ZHAO YAN
Published: July 2008

We proposed a physical scheme to concentrate unknown non-maximally entangled atomic states via cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) techniques. In this scheme, the unique advantage is that the effects of the cavity decay and thermal field have been eliminated by using a classical driving field. The discussion indicates that it can be realized by current technologies.
DISCRETIZATION METHOD OF HYDRODYNAMIC EQUATIONS FOR SIMULATION OFGaNMESFETs
Authors: ROKN-ABADI M. REZAEE , ARABSHAHI H. , BENAM M. R.
Published: July 2008

A finite discretization method in two dimensions has been developed and used to model electron transport in wurtzite phase GaN MESFETs. The model is based on the solutions of the highly-coupled nonlinear hydrodynamic partial differential equations. These solutions allow us to calculate the electron drift velocity and other device parameters as a function of the applied electric field. This model is able to describe inertia effects which play an increasing role in different fields of micro and optoelectronics where simplified charge transport models like drift-diffusion model and energy balance model are no longer applicable. Results of numerical simulations are shown for a two-dimensional GaN MESFET device which are in fair agreement with other theoretical or experimental methods.
GRAPHS COSPECTRAL WITH H(3, q) WHICH ARE DISJOINT UNIONS OF AT MOST THREE COMPLETE GRAPHS
Authors: Bang S. , Koolen J. H.
Published: July 2008

Let a connected graph Γ be locally disjoint union of at most three complete graphs and let Γ be cospectral with the Hamming graph H(3, q) (q ≥ 2). In this paper, we show that Γ is either the Hamming graph H(3, q) or the dual graph of H(3, 3) (i.e., the graph whose vertices are the triangles of H(3, 3) and two triangles are adjacent if they intersect).
SEMIGROUP PROPERTIES OF BOOLEAN OPERATIONS
Authors: Butkote R. , Denecke K.
Published: July 2008

A clone is a set of operations defined on a base set A which is closed under composition and contains all the projection operations. There are several ways to regard a clone as an algebraic structure (see e.g. [3]). If f, g1, … , gn: An→ A are n-ary operations defined on A, then by [Formula: see text] for all a1, … , an∈ A an n + 1-ary operation on the set On(A) of all n-ary operations can be defined. From this operation one can derive a binary operation + by [Formula: see text] and obtains a semigroup (On(A); +). In this paper we study semigroup properties of this semigroup and its subsemigroups.
ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF LARGEST EIGENVALUE OF MATRICES ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLETELY EVEN FUNCTIONS (MOD r)
Authors: Hong Shaofang
Published: July 2008

Given an arbitrary strictly increasing infinite sequence [Formula: see text] of positive integers, let Sn = {x1,…, xn} for any integer n ≥ 1. Let q ≥ 1 be a given integer and f an arithmetical function. Let [Formula: see text] be the eigenvalues of the matrix (f(xi, xj)) having f evaluated at the greatest common divisor (xi, xj) of xi and xj as its i, j-entry. We obtain a lower bound depending only on x1 and n for [Formula: see text] if (f * μ)(d) < 0 whenever d|x for any x ∈ Sn, where g * μ is the Dirichlet convolution of f and μ. Consequently we show that for any sequence [Formula: see text], if f is a multiplicative function satisfying that f(pk) → ∞ as pk → ∞, f(2) > 1 and f(pm) ≥ f(2)f(pm−1) for any prime p and any integer m ≥ 1 and (f *μ)(d) > 0 whenever d|x for any [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] approaches infinity when n goes to infinity.
CLASSIFICATION AND ENUMERATION OF BASES IN Pk(2)
Authors: Lau D. , Miyakawa M.
Published: July 2008

Let k ≥ 2, Ek := {0, 1,…, k – 1}, and let Pk denote the set of all k-valued logical functions, i.e., of maps [Formula: see text] for n = 1, 2, … We denote by Pk(2) the set of all functions of Pk whose range contains no more than two elements. The set Pk(2) is a closed set (or class) with respect to the usual superposition operations and all maximal closed subsets of Pk(2) are known. For each f ∈ Pk(2) we determine its characteristic vectors with respect to the maximal classes and give an explicit formula for the total number of the characteristic vectors in terms of the numbers of the equivalence relations on Ek. Then we show that P3(2) has exactly 75 characteristic vectors and 33,678 classes of bases, and show that the cardinality of an arbitrary basis for P3(2) is 3, 4 or 5.
Myxococcus—from Single-Cell Polarity to Complex Multicellular Patterns
Authors: Kaiser Dale
Published: July 2008

Myxococcus xanthus creates complex and dynamic multicellular patterns as it swarms. The cells have two polar gliding engines: pulling type IV pili at their leading pole and pushing slime secretory nozzles at their lagging pole. Evidence is presented that slime secretion is vital for cell survival and that the peptidoglycan/cytoskeleton serves as a template to keep both engines oriented in the same direction. Swarming requires that each cell periodically reverse its gliding direction. For the leading pole to become the trailing pole, old engines are inactivated at both ends while new engines are being created at both ends. Reversal is initiated by a small G-protein reversal switch; a pulse of frzE∼P from a reversal clock triggers MglA to bind GTP. Mgl·GTP then recognizes the engines that are currently in use and inactivates both of them. Meanwhile, new engines appear as instructed by the template, and the cell starts to glide in the opposite direction.
Rhomboid Proteases and their Biological Functions
Authors: Freeman Matthew
Published: July 2008

The rhomboids are a well-conserved family of intramembrane serine proteases, which are unrelated to the classical soluble serine proteases. Their active site is buried within the plane of the membrane, and they cleave substrates in or near transmembrane domains. Although recently discovered, it is becoming clear that rhomboids control many important cellular functions. This review briefly describes recent biochemical and structural work that begins to explain how proteolysis occurs in a hydrophobic environment, but then focuses more extensively on the emerging biological functions of rhomboids. Although the function of most rhomboids is not yet known, they have already been implicated in growth factor signaling, mitochondrial function, host cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites, and protein translocation across membranes in bacteria. By exploiting cellular membrane trafficking machinery, rhomboids have evolved novel strategies to regulate proteolysis.
The Organization of the Bacterial Genome
Authors: Rocha Eduardo P.C.
Published: July 2008

Many bacterial cellular processes interact intimately with the chromosome. Such interplay is the major driving force of genome structure or organization. Interactions take place at different scales—local for gene expression, global for replication—and lead to the differentiation of the chromosome into organizational units such as operons, replichores, or macrodomains. These processes are intermingled in the cell and create complex higher-level organizational features that are adaptive because they favor the interplay between the processes. The surprising result of selection for genome organization is that gene repertoires change much more quickly than chromosomal structure. Comparative genomics and experimental genomic manipulations are untangling the different cellular and evolutionary mechanisms causing such resilience to change. Since organization results from cellular processes, a better understanding of chromosome organization will help unravel the underlying cellular processes and their diversity.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in high-fat diet-induced obesity: role of suppression of forkhead transcription factor and atrophy gene transcription
Authors: Fang Cindy X. , Dong Feng , Thomas D. Paul , Ma Heng , He Leilei , Ren Jun
Published: July 2008

Cellular hypertrophy is regulated by coordinated pro- and antigrowth machineries. Foxo transcription factors initiate an atrophy-related gene program to counter hypertrophic growth. This study was designed to evaluate the role of Akt, the forkhead transcription factor Foxo3a, and atrophy genes muscle-specific RING finger (MuRF)-1 and atrogin-1 in cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction associated with high-fat diet-induced obesity. Mice were fed a low- or high-fat diet for 6 mo along with a food-restricted high-fat weight control group. Echocardiography revealed decreased fractional shortening and increased end-systolic diameter and cardiac hypertrophy in high-fat obese but not in weight control mice. Cardiomyocytes from high-fat obese but not from weight control mice displayed contractile and intracellular Ca2+ defects including depressed maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening, prolonged duration of shortening/relengthening, and reduced intracellular Ca2+ rise and clearance. Caspase activities were greater in high-fat obese but not in weight control mouse hearts. Western blot analysis revealed enhanced basal Akt and Foxo3a phosphorylation and reduced insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and Foxo3a without changes in total protein expression of Akt and Foxo3a in high-fat obese hearts. RT-PCR and immunoblotting results displayed reduced levels of the atrogens atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, the upregulated hypertrophic markers GATA4 and ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor-α, as well as the unchanged calcineurin and proteasome ubiquitin in high-fat obese mouse hearts. Transfection of H9C2 myoblast cells with dominant-negative Foxo3a adenovirus mimicked palmitic acid (0.8 mM for 24 h)-induced GATA4 upregulation without an additive effect. Dominant-negative Foxo3a-induced upregulation of pAkt and repression of phosphatase and tensin homologue were abrogated by palmitic acid. These results suggest a cardiac hypertrophic response in high-fat diet-associated obesity at least in part through inactivation of Foxo3a by the Akt pathway.
A New Simple Performance Test Focused on Agility in Elderly People: The Ten Step Test
Authors: Miyamoto Kenzo , Takebayashi Hideaki , Takimoto Koji , Miyamoto Shoko , Morioka Shu , Yagi Fumio
Published: July 2008

Background: Not only the reduction of muscle strength or balance, but also the reduction of the agility are regarded as important factors of falls in elderly people. If an agility test for elderly people is established, the precision of the fall prediction rises and can be used for individual training. Objectives: To develop a new performance test focused on agility for elderly people and to evaluate the usefulness of this test. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The Welfare Center of Kagami Town, Kagami Town Office, etc., Kochi, Japan. Participants: 828 community-dwelling, independent adults aged 20–99 years with no obvious cognitive or functional disability, were randomly recruited from Kagami town and the surrounding areas. Measurements: The Ten Step Test (TST, a new performance test), motor reaction time (MRT), knee extensor isometric strength, single leg standing time (SLST), and some other tests were used to evaluate the criterion-related validity and the content validity. TST was developed as a modified version of other step tests which require the subjects to place the whole foot on a block, then return it to the floor. In addition, female participants over 70 were asked whether or not they had fallen in the past year. Results: Excellent reliability for TST was found for interrelation (intra-class correlation coefficients, ICC = 0.96), and re-test reliability was sufficient (ICC = 0.86). Evidence for criterion-related validity was found through high single correlation with the timed supine-to-stand (r = 0.68) and high single correlation with MRT (r = 0.59). In addition, content validity was found through low correlation with knee extensor strength (–0.35) and SLST (–0.36) in 112 women over 70 years of age. The error rate by TST to predict falls (35.2%) was lower than the error rate by muscle strength (44.4%) and the balance (38.7%). TST confirmed decline after 50 years of age, and it conformed to a cubic curve. Conclusion: The findings indicate that TST is a reliable measure of agility, and it can help to predict the risk of falls. The decline of agility accelerates after 50 years of age. It shows that the decline of agility differs from the decline of leg muscle strength and balance.
Differential Distribution of Immunoreactive Angiotensinogen in the Hind-Brain and Spinal Cord of Neonatal and Adult Rats
Authors: Sood P.P. , Richoux J.P. , Panigel M. , Bouhnik J. , Wegmann R.
Published: July 2008

The present communication deals with the cytochemical localization of angiotensinogen (ATG) immunoactivity in the hind-brain and spinal cord of neonatal (1-day-old) and adult (3-month-old pregnant) female rats. In the neonatal hind-brain, the immunoreactive cells were more numerous than in that of adult rats. In the adult rat hind-brain, the number of ATG-positive cells was quite limited in each nucleus. Further, in some nuclei, only neurons or neuroglia were positive, while in others the immunoactivity was observed in both the components. Spinal cords of neonatal rats showed a few undifferentiated ATG-positive cells in the grey matter. Contrary to this, the spinal cord of adult animals contained numerous immunoreactive glial cells in the grey matter, fasciculus cuneatus and fasciculus gracilis. Immunoactivity in the neurons was localized in the Nissl bodies.
Anatomical Variations of the Intracavernous Branches of the Internal Carotid Artery with Reference to the Relationship of the Internal Carotid Artery and Sixth Cranial Nerve
Authors: Nuza Ayşe Beliz , Taner Doğan
Published: July 2008

Thirty cavernous sinuses were dissected and examined using microsurgical methods under a magnification of × 10 and × 16. The anatomical variations of the intracavernous branches of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the anatomical relationship of the sixth nerve with the ICA are described and discussed in relation to the findings from other microsurgical works.
Fine Structure of the Retinal Photoreceptors of the Ranch Mink Musteia vison
Authors: Brαekevelt C.R.
Published: July 2008

The structure of the retinal photoreceptors of the ranch mink (Mustela vison) has been investigated by light and electron microscopy. In this mammalian species, the photoreceptors can be readily differentiated and adequately described by the classical terminology of rods and cones with the rods being the more numerous. Rods are long slender cells while cones are shorter and stouter in appearance. Both rods and cones are highly differentiated and extremely polarized cells consisting of an outer segment, a non-motile connecting cilium, an inner segment, a nuclear region and a synaptic process extending to an expanded synaptic ending. Morphological differences are noted between rods and cones for most of the various regions of these cells. While rods reach to the cell body of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, larger apical processes from the RPE extend to the shorter cone cells, so that both photoreceptor types are in intimate contact with the retinal epithelial cells.
Ultrastructural and Histological Studies on Closure of the Mouse Ductus arteriosus
Authors: Tada T. , Kishimoto H.
Published: July 2008

The ductus arteriosus in mice was studied by light and electron microscopy for a certain time span (from day 15 of gestation to 16 weeks after birth). In the intima, subendothelial intimal cells began to appear at day 17 of gestation, while actual constriction of the ductus arteriosus progressed rapidly after birth, beginning always at the site adjacent to the ductus arteriosus-aorta junction. At 3 h postnatally, the ductus arteriosus showed complete occlusion (functional closure), which was due mainly to constriction of the medial smooth muscle cells. At this stage, intimal cells (endothelial and subendothelial intimal cells), which occupied the ductal lumen, demonstrated ultrastructural features of undifferentiated cells. However, all the intimal cells 3 weeks after birth and thereafter were revealed to have electron-microscopic features of mature smooth muscle cells. The smooth muscle cells of the media and intima decreased progressively in number with advancing deposition of stromal collagen and elastic fibers in the ductal wall.
Ultrastructural Changes in the Gracile Nucleus of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Tay S.S.W. , Wong W.C.
Published: July 2008

The present study reports ultrastructural changes in the gracile nucleus of male Wistar rats after alloxan-induced diabetes. During the acute phase (3–7 days) degenerating electron-dense dendrites and axon terminals were dispersed in the neuropil. Degenerating dendrites were characterized by an electron-dense cytoplasm, swollen mitochondria, dilated endoplasmic reticulum and randomized ribosomes. Degenerating axon terminals were characterized by an electron-dense cytoplasm and clustering of small spherical agranular vesicles. Degenerating axon terminals may form the central element or part of a synaptic glomerulus. Macrophages were present in the neuropil and in the process of engulfing neuronal elements. During the medium phase (1–6 months) most of the degenerating dendrites and axon terminals had been engulfed or removed by macrophages. During the late phase (9–12 months), a second wave of degeneration occurred in the gracile nucleus, similar to the acute phase.
Arterial Repair after Microvascular Anastomosis
Authors: Macchiarelli G.M. , Familiari G. , Caggiati A. , Magliocca F.M. , Riccardelli F.R. , Mianf A. , Motta P.M.
Published: July 2008

In order to study the morphological aspects of endothelial regeneration and vascular wall reaction after microvascular anastomosis, rat femoral arteries were sectioned and successively sutured (end-to-end anastomosis) with microsurgical techniques. Control arteries and anastomosed vessels (recovered after 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 360 days) were studied by means of scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The reendothelialization phenomena started after 7 days and were mainly evident at 21 days. Areas of subendothelial connective tissue with fibrin deposition remained exposed to the blood stream up to 21–30 days. Thrombus formations or post-anastomotic stenosis have been occasionally observed. Regenerating endothelium showed evident morphological differences from the control. These changes mainly consisted of shortened cell length, absence of pinocytotic vesicles, presence of cytoplasmic prolongations, and microvillous proliferations. The arterial wall showed subintimal thickening. The anastomotic site appeared completely covered by new endothelium after 30–60 days. Subintimal vascular wall changes (thickening of the media) as well as slight alterations of endothelial cells (shortened length, reduced number of pinocytotic vesicles) were evident in 60-day vessels. Lumen reduction, due to the protruding of endothelial-covered sutures, was occasionally observed in 60- to 120-day arteries. Endothelial cell morphology normalized after 60–120 days. However, thickening of the media and occasional lumen reduction were observed also after 180–360 days. Although the endothelial regeneration phenomena were clearly evident after 2 weeks, nevertheless the reestablishment of arterial wall took longer time. In fact, paralleled SEM and TEM observations made it possible to recognize three different kinds of arterial changes: (1) Temporary changes consisting of a highly thrombogenic exposed subintimal connective tissue (1–30 days) and of regenerating endothelium morphologically different from control endothelium (14–60 days); (2) permanent changes characterized by thickening of the media, and (3) occasional changes corresponding to reduction of the vessel caliber. Temporary changes may be shortened by adequate therapy. Endothelial changes may represent the sign of an impaired endothelial function. Permanent changes are due to a hyperplastic-inflammatory reaction, and are probably related to the natural history of arterial wall injury. Occasional changes may be related to poor microsurgical technique. Therefore, these alterations should be taken into consideration when setting therapeutic protocols and evaluating the reasons for arterial anastomosis failure.
Quantitative Analysis of Postnatal Myelin Sheath Development in the Dorsal Funiculus of Rat
Authors: Noppeney R.
Published: July 2008

Postnatal development of myelin sheaths in the dorsal funiculus of rats has been studied qualitatively by light microscopy and morphometry. A distinction is made between Goll’s tract and Burdach’s tract, and, furthermore, inside Goll’s tract the cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas are compared. The induction of myelinization is influenced by a critical range of axon thicknesses. Between the 15th and 20th days of postnatal maturation there is a minimal growth reaction in the dorsal funiculus, but after the 20th day up to the 120th day extensive growth of the myelin sheath can be seen. Burdach’s tract shows earlier and faster development of the myelin sheath than Goll’s tract cervically, which leads to the conclusion that epicritical sensitivity matures earlier in the upper extremity. Concerning Goll’s tract in the lumbar area of the dorsal funiculus, faster maturation than in the thoracic and cervical areas can be seen.
Effects of Castration and Sex Steroids on Sexually Dimorphic Development of the Mouse Submandibular Gland
Authors: Sawada K. , Noumura T.
Published: July 2008

The aims of this study were to characterize sexual dimorphism in the submandibular glands of young adult mice and to determine how sex differences arise during postnatal development. In the mouse submandibular glands, prominent sexual dimorphism was observed at 30 days of age, when the male gland was superior in both the relative occupied area (ROA) and the mitotic rate of the granular convoluted tubules (GCT) to those of the female. By neonatal castration, this sexual dimorphism was abolished, and the intraglandular structures of castrated males were similar to those of normal females. In castrated mice of both sexes daily treatment with testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone for 10 days from 20 days induced only the ROA of the GCT to increase to the normal male levels but not those of the other three regions of the glands, the acini, intercalated ducts and excretory striated ducts. Testosterone responsiveness of the glands, considering both the glandular weight gain and the mitotic rate of the GCT, was significantly higher in castrated males than in castrated females. On the other hand, 17β-estradiol had no effect on the glands of castrated mice. Therefore, the present study suggests that the testicular hormones are responsible for the masculine development of GCT of the glands but not the ovarian hormones and that there is a sex difference in the responsiveness of the glands to testosterone, which is more effective in males than in females.
Monoclonal Antibodies against a Human Juxtaglomerular Epithelioid Granular Cell Tumour
Authors: Andreessen R. , Baier W. , Corvol P. , Pinet F. , Celio M.R.
Published: July 2008

With the exception of the renin-angiotensin system, the molecular composition of juxtaglomerular epithelioid granular cells (JEG cells) is unknown. We demonstrate the molecular peculiarities of these modified smooth muscle cells using monoclonal antibodies produced against a benign human JEG-cell tumour. Six out of 29 different clones produced antibodies that label JEG cells nearly exclusively. Antibodies from the other clones recognize JEG cells but also granularly or homogeneously distributed antigens of proximal tubule cells. This suggests antigenic similarity between granules of JEG cells and lysosomes of proximal tubule cells. Other clones produce antibodies which tag different cytoplasmic membranes or even mast cells. The antibodies directed exclusively against JEG cells promise to be useful tools to study their physiology and pathology.
Structure and Ultrastructure of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Cells in Goats in Anoestrus, Gestation and Milk Production
Authors: Navarro J.A. , Gómez M.A. , Sánchez J. , Gómez S. , Bernabé A.
Published: July 2008

The structural and ultrastructural characteristics of adrenocorticotropic hormone cells in adult female goats in anoestrus, gestation and milk production were studied with an immunohistochemical method (peroxidase-antiperoxidase). Only one cellular type has been identified and is characterized by numerous secretory granules of different electron density and an average diameter of 275 nm. During pregnancy these cells increase in number and size, and there is a frequent presence of vacuoles. During lactation the number and size of the cells decreases but without reaching the state observed in anoestrus and the involution of the cytoplasmic vacuolizations which appear in pregnancy.
Comparative Mapping of Acetylcholinesterase and Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Diaphorase in the Rabbit Dorsal Thalamus
Authors: Caballero-Bleda M.C. , Fernandez B. , Puelles L.
Published: July 2008

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) diaphorase enzymatic activities was mapped histochemically in the dorsal thalamus of the rabbit. A comparison of the resulting patterns helped in the histochemical delimitation of a number of nuclei as well as in the detection of some subdivisions, that showed differential expression of these enzymes. It was observed that AChE and NADH diaphorase tend to appear in a complementary fashion in many dorsal thalamic neuropiles, so that intense activity of the one was accompanied by low activity of the other. However coincident expression of both enzymes was also obtained in a small number of areas. The correlation of these patterns with other chemo-architectonic and hodologic data does not yet disclose an explanation of these regularities, which however suggest some functional significance.
Postnatal Effects of Nicotine on First Molar Development in the CD-1 Mouse
Authors: Saad A.Y.
Published: July 2008

Young CD-1 mice, 4 days old, exposed to 0.1% nicotine sulfate on gestational days 6–20 were compared with untreated pups of the same age to determine its effect on the development of mandibular first molars. Pregnant mice were given intraperitoneal injections of nicotine at a dose of 1.67 mg/kg/day. Pups were then decapitated, their entire mandibles were excised, routinely prepared and embedded in paraffin, sectioned in the frontal plane and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination of developing lower first molars. The results demonstrated that the process of odontogenesis appears retarded in nicotine-treated animals while the molars of the control group revealed dentin and enamel formation. It was concluded that nicotine has a detrimental effect on molar development. Nicotine may interfere with cellular maturation of the tooth germ indicating that this effect is prenatal and extends postnatally.
Isolation and Culture of Human Decidual Capillary Endothelial Cells in Serum-Free Medium Supplemented with Human Uterine Angiogenic Factor
Authors: Lindenbaum E.S. , hanger N. , Beach D.
Published: July 2008

Human decidual capillary endothelial (HDCE) cells obtained from decidual fragments of legally induced first-trimester terminations of pregnancies, were cultured in a serum-free medium supplemented with human uterine angiogenic factor (HUAF). The method of isolating the cells from the decidual tissue is described. Identification of the decidual endothelial cells was based on light- and electron-microscopic observations as well as on antifactor VIII immu-noperoxidase-staining technique. The HDCE cell culture in the serum-free medium lasted for 25 weeks through eight subcultures. The cells frozen in glycerin yielded 80% viability after thawing. Electron-microscopic observations of the monolayer demonstrated Weibel-Palade bodies desmosomes and tight junctions. HUAF is mitogenic to HDCE at 10–100 ng/ml. The dependency of HDCE cells grown in culture on HUAF may explain in part the mechnism involved in the dynamic vascular expansion occurring during gestation.
Atrioventricular and Ventriculoatrial Branches of the Coronary Arteries in Human Hearts
Authors: Tose D. , DiDio L.J.A. , Baptista C.A.C. , Miglino M.A.
Published: July 2008

Atrioventricular (AV) and ventriculoatrial (VA) branches of the coronary arteries are vessels which supply simultaneously atrial and ventricular walls by means of recurrent rami. The terminology indicates the name of the main vessel followed by the name of the recurrent vessel both combined in an adjective. These branches establish a vascular ‘suture’ across the coronary sulcus in front (superficially to) or behind (deeply to) the trunks of the right coronary artery and of the left coronary artery (circumflex artery). The AV and VA branches, found in 95% of 40 human hearts, should be considered a normal characteristic of the coronary circulation and an important anatomical factor for the clinical interpretation of pathological cardiac phenomena.
Effects of N-Methyl-N’-Nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine and Deoxycholic Acid on Processes of Tumorous Transformation of Rat Visceral Yolk Sac
Authors: Zusman I. , Zimber A. , Gdalevitch H. , Yaffe P. , Pinus H.
Published: July 2008

The possibility to use the rat visceral yolk sac as a model for the study of processes of cell transformation was studied. Yolk sac teratocarcinomas could be induced using the method of in vitro culture of yolk sacs in a medium containing a direct carcinogen and a tumor promoter with subsequent transplantation under the renal or testicular capsule of syngeneic rats. Biochemical, electron-microscopic and immunohistochemical methods were used to study the characteristic changes that accompanied cellular transformation. It was shown that even a short-term (3 h) exposure of the yolk sac cells to N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine with or without deoxycholic acid in vitro decreased significantly the rate of yolk sac transport and changed their developmental potential with manifestation of carcinogenic antigens (polyclonal keratins, monoclonal vimentin and smooth muscle actin). This cancerous transformation was promoted following their in vivo transplantation into special anatomic sites.
Immunohistochemical Study of Creatine Kinase Isozymes in the Human Upper Limb Bud
Authors: Shinohara H. , Oguni M. , Tanaka O. , Kato K.
Published: July 2008

Creatine kinase (CK) is involved in the production of ATP and is composed of two immunologically distinct subunits, B (CK-B) and M (CK-M). In the differentiation of myoblasts, the isozyme of CK changes from CK-B to CK-M. In the present study, the expression of CK subunits was studied immunohistochemically in the upper limb bud of human embryos (Carnegie stages 13–21). It was found that CK-B and CK-M immunoreactive cells appeared at stage 15 and at stage 18, respectively.
Ramification Pattern of Intermetacarpal Branches of the Deep Branch (Ramus profundus) of the Ulnar Nerve in the Human Hand
Authors: Homma T. , Sakai T.
Published: July 2008

The branching pattern of the deep branch (ramus profundus) of the ulnar nerve and its relation with the target were analyzed in the human hand by an improved dissection method. After sending off branches to the hypothenar muscles, the r. profundus branched off an ulnar stem and a radial stem to the fourth, to the third and to the second intermetacarpal spaces, respectively, in this order, and an ulnar stem to the first to become terminal branches. The ulnar stems included an ulnar interosseous branch and a superficial articular branch in addition to a lumbrical branch in the third and fourth intermetacarpal spaces. The radial stems included only a radial interosseous branch. The branching pattern of the ulnar stems as well as its topographical relationship with the radial stems indicated a fundamental spatial arrangement of the branches in the intermetacarpal spaces: the lumbrical, superficial articular, ulnar interosseous and radial interosseous branches were arranged fundamentally in this order from ulnar to radial in each space; the first three branches may form a common trunk. The present observations demonstrate that individual nerves in the extremities may have a regular branching pattern, contrary to most of the previous observations.
Changes in Prolactin Cells Caused by Partial Hepatectomy in the Rat
Authors: Hirano N. , Shiino M.
Published: July 2008

In order to study ultrastructure alterations in prolactin (PRL)-secreting cells, PRL cells of the anterior pituitary glands of partially hepatectomized female rats were observed by the protein A-gold procedure with the electron microscope. Simultaneously, their serum PRL and estradiol (E2) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. After about 70% hepatectomy PRL cells were remarkably changed, that is active granule extrusion, prominent Golgi vesicles and a hypertrophic rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed. These changes were most remarkable on day 3 after the operation. Significant increases in serum PRL and E2 were also seen following partial hepatectomy. It ma y be assumed that the morphological changes in PRL cells and the elevation of serum PRL were probably due to surgical stress and to the diminution of E2 receptors in the liver after partial hepatectomy in the rat.