bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MÜSİAD, the Green Capital of Turkey, and Armenia
Authors: Kluge Pascal
Published: November 2010

In Armenian-Turkish relations, politics reached a breakthrough in October 2009 with the signing of the Swiss-mediated protocols, whereby it was agreed to open the common borders and establish diplomatic relations. This outcome generally met with great praise internationally. However, as there was also strong domestic and international resistance to the rapprochement, the process soon stalled and the protocols were suspended. Politics failed. In such a situation, is it possible for social organisations to step in and press the process ahead? Stressing the economic advantages of a further rapprochement, MÜSİAD, as an influential entrepreneurs' association in Turkey, is in favour of amelioration of Armenian-Turkish relations and an opening of the borders. Yet, it is also positioned at the junction of political Islam and political economics and, thus, might have reservations against Turkey's Christian neighbour. As the situation is complex, there are various factors influencing the stance of this interest group towards the issue: its view of historical questions, its role vis-à-vis the institutions of political Islam, the economic entanglement within the region, and the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. Relations with Azerbaijan Republic seem to be particularly relevant in this matter. Azerbaijan reacted negatively to the protocols because it wants to isolate Armenia and thus stifle the latter's military help to the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that declared its independence in 1992. The strong economic connections between Turkey and Azerbaijan Republic and, more importantly, the linguistic and religious bonds between the two countries pushed MÜSİAD into a pro-Azerbaijani stance and simultaneously pulled it away from the peace process with Armenia. MÜSİAD's close bonds to the conservative-religious AKP-government of Turkey, which was one of the signatories of the protocols, explain this reaction even more. It is, thus, not the cultural-religious differences with Armenia, but the close relationship to Azerbaijan Republic, which governs the process. In addition, seeing as MÜSİAD regards the Armenian genocide claims categorically as unjustified and false, viewing them solely as malevolent interferences of foreign powers in the Turkish interests, one has to conclude that the organisation is only limitedly capable of changing the course of Turkey's relations with Armenia. Hence, the one-sided approach to historical questions and the close Turkish-Azerbaijani relations with their economic and cultural implications collide with the organisation's explicit objective to improve relations with Armenia.
Legislative Approaches towards Human Trafficking in Pre- versus Post-Islamic Revolution Iran
Authors: Fehresti Zahra
Published: November 2010

Human trafficking, in particular the trafficking of women and children, is considered a syndicated international phenomenon, and numerous international agreements have consequently been signed to combat the crime. Iran is one of the many countries that passed legislated laws to battle this evil industry. In the present article, the author examines and compares Iran's legislative approaches towards human trafficking before and after the Islamic Revolution. The Iranian legislation combating human trafficking generally suffers from some serious shortcomings; particularly, the inconsistency regarding this issue between the civil and the Islamic Penal Codes and Iran's Constitution is its most prominent weakness.
A Ground Validation Network for the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission
Authors: Schwaller Mathew R. , Morris K. Robert
Published: November 2010

A prototype Validation Network (VN) is currently operating as part of the Ground Validation System for NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The VN supports precipitation retrieval algorithm development in the GPM prelaunch era. Postlaunch, the VN will be used to validate GPM spacecraft instrument measurements and retrieved precipitation data products.

The period of record for the VN prototype starts on 8 August 2006 and runs to the present day. The VN database includes spacecraft data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) and coincident ground radar (GR) data from operational meteorological networks in the United States, Australia, Korea, and the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Satellite and ground radar data products are collected whenever the PR satellite track crosses within 200 km of a VN ground radar, and these data are stored permanently in the VN database. VN products are generated from coincident PR and GR observations when a significant rain event occurs.

The VN algorithm matches PR and GR radar data (including retrieved precipitation data in the case of the PR) by calculating averages of PR reflectivity (both raw and attenuation corrected) and rain rate, and GR reflectivity at the geometric intersection of the PR rays with the individual GR elevation sweeps. The algorithm thus averages the minimum PR and GR sample volumes needed to “matchup” the spatially coincident PR and GR data types. The result of this technique is a set of vertical profiles for a given rainfall event, with coincident PR and GR samples matched at specified heights throughout the profile.

VN data can be used to validate satellite measurements and to track ground radar calibration over time. A comparison of matched TRMM PR and GR radar reflectivity factor data found a remarkably small difference between the PR and GR radar reflectivity factor averaged over this period of record in stratiform and convective rain cases when samples were taken from high in the atmosphere. A significant difference in PR and GR reflectivity was found in convective cases, particularly in convective samples from the lower part of the atmosphere. In this case, the mean difference between PR and corrected GR reflectivity was −1.88 dBZ. The PR–GR bias was found to increase with the amount of PR attenuation correction applied, with the PR–GR bias reaching −3.07 dBZ in cases where the attenuation correction applied is >6 dBZ. Additional analysis indicated that the version 6 TRMM PR retrieval algorithm underestimates rainfall in case of convective rain in the lower part of the atmosphere by 30%–40%.
Incorporating Ice Crystal Scattering Databases in the Simulation of Millimeter-Wavelength Radar Reflectivity
Authors: Molthan Andrew L. , Petersen Walter A.
Published: November 2010

The Canadian CloudSat/Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) Validation Project (C3VP) was designed to acquire aircraft, surface, and satellite observations of particle size distributions during cold season precipitation events for the purposes of validating and improving upon satellite-based retrievals of precipitation and the representation of cloud and precipitation processes within numerical weather prediction schemes. During an intensive observation period on 22 January 2007, an instrumented aircraft measured ice crystal size distributions, ice and liquid water contents, and atmospheric state parameters within a broad shield of precipitation generated by a passing midlatitude cyclone. The 94-GHz CloudSat radar acquired vertical profiles of radar reflectivity within light to moderate snowfall, coincident with C3VP surface and aircraft instrumentation. Satellite-based retrievals of cold season precipitation require relationships between remotely sensed quantities, such as radar reflectivity or brightness temperature, and the ice water content present within the sampled profile.

In this study, three methods for simulating CloudSat radar reflectivity are investigated by comparing Mie spheres, single dendrites, and fractal aggregates represented within scattering databases or parameterizations. It is demonstrated that calculations of radar backscatter from nonspherical crystal shapes are required to represent the vertical trend in CloudSat radar reflectivity for this particular event, as Mie resonance effects reduce the radar backscatter from precipitation-sized particles larger than 1 mm. Remaining differences between reflectivity from nonspherical shapes and observations are attributed to uncertainty in the mass–diameter relationships for observed crystals and disparities between naturally occurring crystals and shapes assumed in the development of ice crystal scattering databases and parameterizations.
Embeddable and locatable spinning
Authors: Weilin Xu  , Zhigang Xia  , Xin Wang  , Jun Chen  , Weigang Cui  , Wenxiang Ye  , Cailing Ding  , Xungai Wang
Published: November 2010

A novel spinning method: embeddable and locatable spinning, is reported for the first time in this paper. Analysis of the key restrictions of the conventional and some novel ring-spinning were studied; evolvement and principles of embeddable and locatable spinning were then introduced. Analysis indicated that embeddable and locatable spinning could overcome the existing restrictions of ring spinning and improve the spinning performance of fiber strands as well as the quality of the resulting yarn. Super-fine and colorful figured yarns could be produced successfully, and most fibers shorter than can be spun in traditional spinning could be well embedded into a yarn by embeddable and locatable spinning method; even staple fibers of low qualities could be used to produce a fine yarn of high qualities in the novel spinning system. This novel spinning method shows huge application potentials in textile industry by improving the yarn quality, developing super-fine yarn, and increasing fiber utilization rate.
Mathematical modelling of 3D woven fabrics for CAD/CAM software
Authors: Xiaogang Chen
Published: November 2010

Weaving is one of the key technologies that are used in organising unidirectional fibrous materials into 2D sheet and 3D shaped geometrical architectures for applications such as textile composites. It has been demonstrated that the conventional weaving technology has the potential to produce textile assemblies which have many different types of 3D shaped fabrics, and this approach has obvious advantages in the provision of a sizeable quantity of 3D shaped fabric and in cost reduction. However, the design of such 3D shaped woven fabrics may be complicated especially when the shape and micro structures are complex. This paper reviews the mathematical modelling of different types of 3D weaves which have been successfully used in developing CAD/CAM software for 3D fabrics. The types of weaves described here include single-layer, 3D orthogonal, 3D angle interlock, and 3D cellular. Results from different CAD programmes are also demonstrated.
Understanding the Consequences of Municipal Discretion
Authors: Wood Curtis
Published: November 2010

In this study of municipalities over 25,000 in population in 49 U.S. states, the author tests whether municipal discretion makes a difference in terms of municipal fiscal performance. The author finds that municipalities located in states that grant more municipal discretion levy less property tax per capita, receive less state aid per capita, and levy less total taxes per capita. However, there is not a statistical correlation between the scope of municipal discretion and total outstanding debt, expenditures per capita, and employees per 1,000 in population. The results demonstrate that public officials in empowered municipalities do not abuse their authority by imposing unwarranted property, sales, income, and business taxes, and calls into question the notion that municipal officials in empowered states are more likely to become spendthrifts than are municipal officials in less empowered states. The author posits that officials in empowered municipalities may experience the perfect storm unless they use their expanded powers to improve the financial health of the municipality; enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of municipal public services/programs; and partner with their cohorts across geo-political boundaries to ensure the well-being of all citizens.
Reporting Results to a Skeptical Audience
Authors: Greer Rachelle R.
Published: November 2010

In response to recent budget and program cuts, assessment reports may more than ever determine the viability of government-funded programs. Generated by agencies to justify further funding, assessment reports develop, measure, and detail the knowledge that workshop participants receive. Writing these reports can be difficult, especially if the audience does not see value in continuing the program. This article emphasizes the importance of persuasive strategies in report writing by analyzing a case study of a public administrator’s struggle to write a persuasive assessment report for a soft-skills training seminar. The article finds that classical rhetorical strategies (ethos, logos, and pathos) can be successfully incorporated into assessment reports; however, writers may encounter difficulty when introducing pathos. The article concludes by providing public administrators with a set of guidelines for persuading a skeptical audience.
The Process of Family Waiting During Surgery
Authors: Trimm Donna R. , Sanford Julie T.
Published: November 2010

In 2006, there were 46 million surgical procedures performed in the United States, all of which would have typically included waiting by the family and/or friends. A grounded-theory approach was used to examine the experiences of waiting family members during surgery of a loved one. A convenience sample of 32 family members of patients undergoing surgery were interviewed in two surgical waiting rooms. Constant comparison of the data was performed until saturation of categories was achieved. The resulting middle-range theory, maintaining balance during the wait, described the family member’s struggle for balance during the surgical wait. Four domains were identified: focusing on the patient, passing the time, interplay of thoughts and feelings, and giving and/or receiving support. Study findings showed that understanding this struggle for balance during a surgery is imperative for nurses who often interact with family members and need to address their needs.
Enhanced killing of human B-cell lymphoma targets by combined use of cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) cultures and anti-CD20 antibodies
Authors: Pievani Alice , Belussi Camilla , Klein Christian , Rambaldi Alessandro , Golay Josée , Introna Martino
Published: November 2010

We have investigated combining adoptive immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) GA101 or rituximab to optimize B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) therapy. CIK cultures alone demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against B-NHL cell lines or freshly isolated samples in either an autologous or allogeneic combination. This natural cytotoxicity (NC) was mainly due to the predominating CD3+CD56+ CIK population (40%–75%) present in the cultures. The addition of anti-CD20 mAb GA101 or rituximab further increased cytotoxicity by 35% and 15%, respectively. This enhancement was mainly due to antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by the 1%–10% NK cells contaminating CIK cultures. The addition of human serum (HS) inhibited NK-cell activation induced by rituximab, but not activation induced by GA101.Overall lysis in presence of serum, even of a resistant B-NHL cell line, was significantly increased by 100 μg/mL of rituximab, but even more so by GA101, with respect to CIK cultures alone. This was due to the combined action of complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC), ADCC, and CIK-mediated NC. These data suggest that rituximab, and even more so GA101, could be used in vivo to enhance CIK therapeutic activity in B-NHL.
FNAIT: the fetus pleads guilty!
Authors: Kaplan Cécile
Published: November 2010

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) resulting from fetal platelet destruction by maternal alloantibodies is the most common cause of severe fetal thrombocytopenia and of neonatal thrombocytopenia in maternity wards.1 The pathophysiology is largely unknown. The fetus has long been considered as an “innocent bystander.”
Gremlin: vexing VEGF receptor agonist
Authors: Claesson-Welsh Lena
Published: November 2010

Gremlins are mischievous creatures in English folklore, believed to be the cause of otherwise unexplainable breakdowns (the word gremlins is derived from the Old English “gremian” or “gremman,” “to vex”). Gremlin (or Gremlin-1) is also the designation of a secreted protein that is known to regulate bone formation during development. In this issue of Blood, Mitola et al report the novel role of Gremlin as a VEGFR2 agonist1 and the function of the Gremlin protein seems vexing indeed.
BMP-2: a culprit for anemia in myeloma
Authors: Ludwig Heinz
Published: November 2010

Maes and colleagues1 have found increased BMP-2 in the blood of multiple myeloma patients as an important stimulator of hepcidin in addition to other well-known mediators of hepcidin induction. These findings were obtained by transfection of human liver HuH7 cells with reporter constructs for the hepcidin promoter carrying either mutations in BMP-response elements or in STAT3-binding sites.
Bioactive conformational generation of small molecules: A comparative analysis between force-field and multiple empirical criteria based methods
Authors: Bai Fang , Liu Xiaofeng , Li Jiabo , Zhang Haoyun , Jiang Hualiang , Wang Xicheng , Li Honglin
Published: November 2010

Background

Conformational sampling for small molecules plays an essential role in drug discovery research pipeline. Based on multi-objective evolution algorithm (MOEA), we have developed a conformational generation method called Cyndi in the previous study. In this work, in addition to Tripos force field in the previous version, Cyndi was updated by incorporation of MMFF94 force field to assess the conformational energy more rationally. With two force fields against a larger dataset of 742 bioactive conformations of small ligands extracted from PDB, a comparative analysis was performed between pure force field based method (FFBM) and multiple empirical criteria based method (MECBM) hybrided with different force fields.

Results

Our analysis reveals that incorporating multiple empirical rules can significantly improve the accuracy of conformational generation. MECBM, which takes both empirical and force field criteria as the objective functions, can reproduce about 54% (within 1Å RMSD) of the bioactive conformations in the 742-molecule testset, much higher than that of pure force field method (FFBM, about 37%). On the other hand, MECBM achieved a more complete and efficient sampling of the conformational space because the average size of unique conformations ensemble per molecule is about 6 times larger than that of FFBM, while the time scale for conformational generation is nearly the same as FFBM. Furthermore, as a complementary comparison study between the methods with and without empirical biases, we also tested the performance of the three conformational generation methods in MacroModel in combination with different force fields. Compared with the methods in MacroModel, MECBM is more competitive in retrieving the bioactive conformations in light of accuracy but has much lower computational cost.

Conclusions

By incorporating different energy terms with several empirical criteria, the MECBM method can produce more reasonable conformational ensemble with high accuracy but approximately the same computational cost in comparison with FFBM method. Our analysis also reveals that the performance of conformational generation is irrelevant to the types of force field adopted in characterization of conformational accessibility. Moreover, post energy minimization is not necessary and may even undermine the diversity of conformational ensemble. All the results guide us to explore more empirical criteria like geometric restraints during the conformational process, which may improve the performance of conformational generation in combination with energetic accessibility, regardless of force field types adopted.
An Sp185/333 gene cluster from the purple sea urchin and putative microsatellite-mediated gene diversification
Authors: Miller Chase A , Buckley Katherine M , Easley Rebecca L , Smith L Courtney
Published: November 2010

Background

The immune system of the purple sea urchin,Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is complex and sophisticated. An important component of sea urchin immunity is theSp185/333gene family, which is significantly upregulated in immunologically challenged animals. TheSp185/333genes are less than 2 kb with two exons and are members of a large diverse family composed of greater than 40 genes. TheS. purpuratusgenome assembly, however, contains only sixSp185/333genes. This underrepresentation could be due to the difficulties that large gene families present in shotgun assembly, where multiple similar genes can be collapsed into a single consensus gene.

Results

To understand the genomic organization of theSp185/333gene family, a BAC insert containingSp185/333genes was assembled, with careful attention to avoiding artifacts resulting from collapse or artificial duplication/expansion of very similar genes. Twelve candidate BAC assemblies were generated with varying parameters and the optimal assembly was identified by PCR, restriction digests, and subclone sequencing. The validated assembly contained sixSp185/333genes that were clustered in a 34 kb region at one end of the BAC with five of the six genes tightly clustered within 20 kb. TheSp185/333genes in this cluster were no more similar to each other than to previously sequencedSp185/333genes isolated from three different animals. This was unexpected given their proximity and putative effects of gene homogenization in closely linked, similar genes. All six genes displayed significant similarity including both 5' and 3' flanking regions, which were bounded by microsatellites. Three of theSp185/333genes and their flanking regions were tandemly duplicated such that each repeated segment consisted of a gene plus 0.7 kb 5' and 2.4 kb 3' of the gene (4.5 kb total). Both edges of the segmental duplications were bounded by different microsatellites.

Conclusions

The high sequence similarity of theSp185/333genes and flanking regions, suggests that the microsatellites may promote genomic instability and are involved with gene duplication and/or gene conversion and the extraordinary sequence diversity of this family.
A comparative genome-wide study of ncRNAs in trypanosomatids
Authors: Doniger Tirza , Katz Rodolfo , Wachtel Chaim , Michaeli Shulamit , Unger Ron
Published: November 2010

Background

Recent studies have provided extensive evidence for multitudes of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts in a wide range of eukaryotic genomes. ncRNAs are emerging as key players in multiple layers of cellular regulation. With the availability of many whole genome sequences, comparative analysis has become a powerful tool to identify ncRNA molecules. In this study, we performed a systematic genome-wide in silico screen to search for novel small ncRNAs in the genome of Trypanosoma brucei using techniques of comparative genomics.

Results

In this study, we identified by comparative genomics, and validated by experimental analysis several novel ncRNAs that are conserved across multiple trypanosomatid genomes. When tested on known ncRNAs, our procedure was capable of finding almost half of the known repertoire through homology over six genomes, and about two-thirds of the known sequences were found in at least four genomes. After filtering, 72 conserved unannotated sequences in at least four genomes were found, 29 of which, ranging in size from 30 to 392 nts, were conserved in all six genomes. Fifty of the 72 candidates in the final set were chosen for experimental validation. Eighteen of the 50 (36%) were shown to be expressed, and for 11 of them a distinct expression product was detected, suggesting that they are short ncRNAs. Using functional experimental assays, five of the candidates were shown to be novel H/ACA and C/D snoRNAs; these included three sequences that appear as singletons in the genome, unlike previously identified snoRNA molecules that are found in clusters. The other candidates appear to be novel ncRNA molecules, and their function is, as yet, unknown.

Conclusions

Using comparative genomic techniques, we predicted 72 sequences as ncRNA candidates in T. brucei. The expression of 50 candidates was tested in laboratory experiments. This resulted in the discovery of 11 novel short ncRNAs in procyclic stage T. brucei, which have homologues in the other trypansomatids. A few of these molecules are snoRNAs, but most of them are novel ncRNA molecules. Based on this study, our analysis suggests that the total number of ncRNAs in trypanosomatids is in the range of several hundred.
Phenotype, functions and fate of adoptively transferred tumor draining lymphocytes activated ex vivo in mice with an aggressive weakly immunogenic mammary carcinoma
Authors: Miller Catriona HT , Graham Laura , Bear Harry D
Published: November 2010

Background

Regression of established tumors can be induced by adoptive immunotherapy with tumor draining lymph node lymphocytes activated with bryostatin and ionomycin. We hypothesized that tumor regression is mediated by a subset of the transferred T lymphocytes, which selectively infiltrate the tumor draining lymph nodes and proliferatein vivo.

Results

Adoptive transfer of B/I activated tumor draining lymphocytes induces regression of advanced 4T1 tumors, and depletion of CD8, but not CD4 T cells, abrogated tumor regression in mice. The predominant mediators of tumor regression are CD8+ and derived from CD62L-T cells. Transferred lymphocytes reached their peak concentration (10.5%) in the spleen 3 days after adoptive transfer and then rapidly declined. Adoptively transferred cells preferentially migrated to and/or proliferated in the tumor draining lymph nodes, peaking at day 5 (10.3%) and remained up to day 28. CFSE-stained cells were seen in tumors, also peaking at day 5 (2.1%). Bryostatin and ionomycin-activated cells proliferated vigorouslyin vivo, with 10 generations evident in the tumor draining lymph nodes on day 3. CFSE-stained cells found in the tumor draining lymph nodes on day 3 were 30% CD8+, 72% CD4+, 95% CD44+, and 39% CD69+. Pre-treatment of recipient mice with cyclophosphamide dramatically increased the number of interferon-gamma producing cells.

Conclusions

Adoptively transferred CD8+ CD62LlowT cells are the principal mediators of tumor regression, and host T cells are not required. These cells infiltrate 4T1 tumors, track preferentially to tumor draining lymph nodes, have an activated phenotype, and proliferatein vivo. Cyclophosphamide pre-treatment augments the anti-tumor effect by increasing the proliferation of interferon-gamma producing cells in the adoptive host.
High level transgenic expression of soybean (Glycine max) GmERF and Gmubi gene promoters isolated by a novel promoter analysis pipeline
Authors: Hernandez-Garcia Carlos M , Bouchard Robert A , Rushton Paul J , Jones Michelle L , Chen Xianfeng , Timko Michael P , Finer John J
Published: November 2010

Background

Although numerous factors can influence gene expression, promoters are perhaps the most important component of the regulatory control process. Promoter regions are often defined as a region upstream of the transcriptional start. They contain regulatory elements that interact with regulatory proteins to modulate gene expression. Most genes possess their own unique promoter and large numbers of promoters are therefore available for study. Unfortunately, relatively few promoters have been isolated and characterized; particularly from soybean (Glycine max).

Results

In this research, a bioinformatics approach was first performed to identify members of the Gmubi (
G.

m

ax
ubiquitin) and the GmERF (
G

.

m

ax
Ethylene Response Factor) gene families of soybean. Ten Gmubi and ten GmERF promoters from selected genes were cloned upstream of the gfp gene and successfully characterized using rapid validation tools developed for both transient and stable expression. Quantification of promoter strength using transient expression in lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) cotyledonary tissue and stable expression in soybean hairy roots showed that the intensity of gfp gene expression was mostly conserved across the two expression systems. Seven of the ten Gmubi promoters yielded from 2- to 7-fold higher expression than a standard CaMV35S promoter while four of the ten GmERF promoters showed from 1.5- to 2.2-times higher GFP levels compared to the CaMV35S promoter. Quantification of GFP expression in stably-transformed hairy roots of soybean was variable among roots derived from different transformation events but consistent among secondary roots, derived from the same primary transformation events. Molecular analysis of hairy root events revealed a direct relationship between copy number and expression intensity; higher copy number events displayed higher GFP expression.

Conclusion

In this study, we present expression intensity data on 20 novel soybean promoters from two different gene families, ubiquitin and ERF. We also demonstrate the utility of lima bean cotyledons and soybean hairy roots for rapid promoter analyses and provide novel insights towards the utilization of these expression systems. The soybean promoters characterized here will be useful for production of transgenic soybean plants for both basic research and commercial plant improvement.
Statistics teaching in medical school: Opinions of practising doctors
Authors: Miles Susan , Price Gill M , Swift Louise , Shepstone Lee , Leinster Sam J
Published: November 2010

Background

The General Medical Council expects UK medical graduates to gain some statistical knowledge during their undergraduate education; but provides no specific guidance as to amount, content or teaching method. Published work on statistics teaching for medical undergraduates has been dominated by medical statisticians, with little input from the doctors who will actually be using this knowledge and these skills after graduation. Furthermore, doctor's statistical training needs may have changed due to advances in information technology and the increasing importance of evidence-based medicine. Thus there exists a need to investigate the views of practising medical doctors as to the statistical training required for undergraduate medical students, based on their own use of these skills in daily practice.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed to investigate doctors' views about undergraduate training in statistics and the need for these skills in daily practice, with a view to informing future teaching. The questionnaire was emailed to all clinicians with a link to the University of East Anglia Medical School. Open ended questions were included to elicit doctors' opinions about both their own undergraduate training in statistics and recommendations for the training of current medical students. Content analysis was performed by two of the authors to systematically categorise and describe all the responses provided by participants.

Results

130 doctors responded, including both hospital consultants and general practitioners. The findings indicated that most had not recognised the value of their undergraduate teaching in statistics and probability at the time, but had subsequently found the skills relevant to their career. Suggestions for improving undergraduate teaching in these areas included referring to actual research and ensuring relevance to, and integration with, clinical practice.

Conclusions

Grounding the teaching of statistics in the context of real research studies and including examples of typical clinical work may better prepare medical students for their subsequent career.
HIV-1 subtype C envelope characteristics associated with divergent rates of chronic disease progression
Authors: Archary Derseree , Gordon Michelle L , Green Taryn N , Coovadia Hoosen M , Goulder Philip JR , Ndung'u Thumbi
Published: November 2010

Background

HIV-1 envelope diversity remains a significant challenge for the development of an efficacious vaccine. The evolutionary forces that shape the diversity of envelope are incompletely understood. HIV-1 subtype C envelope in particular shows significant differences and unique characteristics compared to its subtype B counterpart. Here we applied the single genome sequencing strategy of plasma derived virus from a cohort of therapy naïve chronically infected individuals in order to study diversity, divergence patterns and envelope characteristics across the entire HIV-1 subtype C gp160 in 4 slow progressors and 4 progressors over an average of 19.5 months.

Results

Sequence analysis indicated that intra-patient nucleotide diversity within the entire envelope was higher in slow progressors, but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07). However, intra-patient nucleotide diversity was significantly higher in slow progressors compared to progressors in the C2 (p = 0.0006), V3 (p = 0.01) and C3 (p = 0.005) regions. Increased amino acid length and fewer potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGs) were observed in the V1-V4 in slow progressors compared to progressors (p = 0.009 and p = 0.02 respectively). Similarly, gp41 in the progressors was significantly longer and had fewer PNGs compared to slow progressors (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02 respectively). Positive selection hotspots mapped mainly to V1, C3, V4, C4 and gp41 in slow progressors, whereas hotspots mapped mainly to gp41 in progressors. Signature consensus sequence differences between the groups occurred mainly in gp41.

Conclusions

These data suggest that separate regions of envelope are under differential selective forces, and that envelope evolution differs based on disease course. Differences between slow progressors and progressors may reflect differences in immunological pressure and immune evasion mechanisms. These data also indicate that the pattern of envelope evolution is an important correlate of disease progression in chronic HIV-1 subtype C infection.
Role of aspartyl-(asparaginyl)-β-hydroxylase mediated notch signaling in cerebellar development and function
Authors: Silbermann Elizabeth , Moskal Peter , Bowling Nathaniel , Tong Ming , de la Monte Suzanne M
Published: November 2010

Background

Aspartyl-(Asparaginyl)-β-Hydroxylase (AAH) is a hydroxylating enzyme that promotes cell motility by enhancing Notch-Jagged-HES-1 signaling. Ethanol impaired cerebellar neuron migration during development is associated with reduced expression of AAH.

Methods

To further characterize the role of AAH in relation to cerebellar development, structure, and function, we utilized an in vivo model of early postnatal (P2) intracerebro-ventricular gene delivery to silence AAH with small interfering RNA (siAAH), or over-express it with recombinant plasmid DNA (pAAH). On P20, we assessed cerebellar motor function by rotarod testing. Cerebella harvested on P21 were used to measure AAH, genes/proteins that mediate AAH's downstream signaling, i.e. Notch-1, Jagged-1, and HES-1, and immunoreactivity corresponding to neuronal and glial elements.

Results

The findings demonstrated that: 1) siAAH transfection impaired motor performance and blunted cerebellar foliation, and decreased expression of neuronal and glial specific genes; 2) pAAH transfection enhanced motor performance and increased expression of neuronal and glial cytoskeletal proteins; and 3) alterations in AAH expression produced similar shifts in Notch-1, Jagged-1, and HES-1 protein or gene expression.

Conclusions

The results support our hypothesis that AAH is an important mediator of cerebellar development and function, and link AAH expression to Notch signaling pathways in the developing brain.
Man-animal relationships in Central Nepal
Authors: Lohani Usha
Published: November 2010

Background

Nepal is small in size but rich in bio-cultural diversity. The rugged terrain of the country is home to a number of unique assemblages of fauna, some of which are endemic. Not only faunal resources the country also harbors some very ancient populations whose interrelationship with these diverse faunal resources is very intimate and thus demands scientific study. Animals play important role in both material and spiritual spheres of their life. There are more than hundred groups of such populations in the country and the group Tamang is one of these. The present paper studies Tamang-animal relationships in central Nepal.

There is a growing trend of scientific ethnozoological studies all across the globe, but this field is yet in its infancy in Nepal. The country is losing important fauna as well as ancient human cultures at the advent of development processes. As a result, ethnozoological knowledge is also teetering on the brink of extinction.

Methods

Ethnozoological data were collected by applying different participatory approaches techniques such as semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal, key informant interviews and focus group discussions.

Quantitative data were obtained by employing a household level questionnaire survey. Data were collected from the period of September 2004 to August 2005.

Most of the animals were identified up to the species level with the help of standard taxonomic keys.

Results

The Tamang community treasures knowledge on various uses of 41 genera belonging to 28 families. Out of total number of animals, 14.6% belong to the Invertebrate group and the rest to the Vertebrate group. Of the total uses 58% fall in the food and medicinal use category, 16% in the magico-religious use category, 18% in the category of omen indication, and 2% each in the categories such as weather forecasting, trophy, ethnomusical and taboos.

Conclusions

The Tamang maintain strong ties with animals both at a material as well as spiritual level. While some animals are the sources of important traditional medicines, others are omen indicators and weather forecasters. High priority should be given in conservation of those animals which are of high consensus value to the community.
Spontaneous regression of curve in immature idiopathic scoliosis - does spinal column play a role to balance? An observation with literature review
Authors: Modi Hitesh N , Suh Seung-Woo , Yang Jae-Hyuk , Hong Jae-Young , Venkatesh KP , Muzaffar Nasir
Published: November 2010

Background

Child with mild scoliosis is always a subject of interest for most orthopaedic surgeons regarding progression. Literature described Hueter-Volkmann theory regarding disc and vertebral wedging, and muscular imbalance for the progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, many authors reported spontaneous resolution of curves also without any reason for that and the rate of resolution reported is almost 25%. Purpose of this study was to question the role of paraspinal muscle tuning/balancing mechanism, especially in patients with idiopathic scoliosis with early mild curve, for spontaneous regression or progression as well as changing pattern of curves.

Methods

An observational study of serial radiograms in 169 idiopathic scoliosis children (with minimum follow-up one year) was carried. All children with Cobb angle < 25° and who were diagnosed for the first time were selected. As a sign of immaturity at the time of diagnosis, all children had Risser sign 0. No treatment was given to entire study group. Children were divided in three groups at final follow-up: Group A, B and C as children with regression, no change and progression of their curves, respectively. Additionally changes in the pattern of curve were also noted.

Results

Average age was 9.2 years at first visit and 10.11 years at final follow-up with an average follow-up of 21 months. 32.5% (55/169), 41.4% (70/169) and 26% (44/169) children exhibited regression, no change and progression in their curves, respectively. 46.1% of children (78/169) showed changing pattern of their curves during the follow-up visits before it settled down to final curve. Comparing final fate of curve with side of curve and number of curves it did not show any relationship (p > 0.05) in our study population.

Conclusion

Possible reason for changing patterns could be better explained by the tuning/balancing mechanism of spinal column that makes an effort to balance the spine and result into spontaneous regression or prevent further progression of curve. If this which we called as "tuning/balancing mechanism" fails, curve will ultimately progress.
Workshop report: “Towards a Cure: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them”
Authors: Jefferys Richard J
Published: November 2010

On 16 and 17 July 2010, immediately prior to the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria, the International AIDS Society held a workshop on the important topic of moving beyond antiretroviral therapy and addressing HIV persistence. “Towards a Cure: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them” was chaired by Nobel laureate Françoise Barré‐Sinoussi and co‐sponsored by the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung, the National Institutes of Health, Sidaction and the Treatment Action Group. This article gives an overview of the findings presented at the workshop; complete abstracts are included in this supplement to the Journal of the International AIDS Society.

16‐17 July 2010, International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them, Vienna, Austria
Purging the HIV‐1 reservoir through the disruption of the PD‐1 pathway
Authors: DaFonseca S , Chomont N , El Far M , Boulassel R , Routy J , Sékaly R
Published: November 2010

16‐17 July 2010, International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them, Vienna, Austria
Most HIV DNA in PBMC is present in non‐gut homing, resting memory CD4+ T cells with a ß7‐CD38‐CD127 high phenotype
Authors: Koelsch KK , Xu Y , Bailey M , McBride K , Seddiki N , Suzuki K , Murray J , Cooper DA , Kelleher AD , Zaunders J
Published: November 2010

16‐17 July 2010, International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them, Vienna, Austria
Where are macrophage‐tropic viruses?
Authors: Schnell G , Joseph S , Spudich S , Price R , Swanstrom R
Published: November 2010

16‐17 July 2010, International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them, Vienna, Austria
Tetherin restricts direct cell‐cell viral transfer and transmission of HIV‐1
Authors: Kuhl BD , Sloan RD , Donahue DA , Bar‐Magen T , Liang C , Wainberg MA
Published: November 2010

16‐17 July 2010, International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them, Vienna, Austria
Time to Bloom
Authors: Tikoo Shweta , Sengupta Sagar
Published: November 2010

Bloom Syndrome (BS) is an autosomal recessive disorder due to mutation in Bloom helicase (referred in literature either as BLM helicase or BLM). Patients with BS are predisposed to almost all forms of cancer. BS patients are even today diagnosed in the clinics by hyper-recombination phenotype that is manifested by high rates of Sister Chromatid Exchange. The function of BLM as a helicase and its role during the regulation of homologous recombination (HR) is well characterized. However in the last few years the role of BLM as a DNA damage sensor has been revealed. For example, it has been demonstrated that BLM can stimulate the ATPase and chromatin remodeling activities of RAD54 in vitro. This indicates that BLM may increase the accessibility of the sensor proteins that recognize the lesion. Over the years evidence has accumulated that BLM is one of the earliest proteins that accumulates at the site of the lesion. Finally BLM also acts like a "molecular node" by integrating the upstream signals and acting as a bridge between the transducer and effector proteins (which again includes BLM itself), which in turn repair the DNA damage. Hence BLM seems to be a protein involved in multiple functions - all of which may together contribute to its reported role as a "caretaker tumor suppressor". In this review the recent literature documenting the upstream BLM functions has been elucidated and future directions indicated.
GM-CSF-induced, bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells can expand natural Tregs and induce adaptive Tregs by different mechanisms
Authors: Bhattacharya Palash , Gopisetty Anupama , Ganesh Balaji B , Sheng Jian Rong , Prabhakar Bellur S
Published: November 2010

In our earlier work, we had shown that GM-CSF treatment of CBA/J mice can suppress ongoing thyroiditis by inducing tolerogenic CD8α− DCs, which helped expand and/or induce CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs. To identify the primary cell type that was affected by the GM-CSF treatment and understand the mechanism by which Tregs were induced, we compared the effect of GM-CSF on matured spDCs and BMDC precursors in vitro. Matured spDCs exposed to GM-CSF ex vivo induced only a modest increase in the percentage of Foxp3-expressing T cells in cocultures. In contrast, BM cells, when cultured in the presence of GM-CSF, gave rise to a population of CD11c+CD11bHiCD8α− DCs (BMDCs), which were able to expand Foxp3+ Tregs upon coculture with CD4+ T cells. This contact-dependent expansion occurred in the absence of TCR stimulation and was abrogated by OX40L blockage. Additionally, the BMDCs secreted high levels of TGF-β, which was required and sufficient for adaptive differentiation of T cells to Foxp3+ Tregs, only upon TCR stimulation. These results strongly suggest that the BMDCs differentiated by GM-CSF can expand nTregs and induce adaptive Tregs through different mechanisms.
Characterizing the gas-hydrate stability zone using a vertical hydrophone array
Authors: Chapman Ross , Morley Mike , Geresi Erika , McGee Tom , Higley Paul
Published: November 2010

This paper describes a set of unconventional seismic experiments designed to characterize the subsurface hydrate distribution at Mississippi Canyon Block 798 in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The sea floor at the survey site lies within the hydrate stability zone and heat-flow data indicate that the zone may be 400 m thick. Sediments near the sea floor are characterized by relatively weak seismic reflections. It is possible that the weak reflectivity partially is due to dispersed distribution of hydrates within the fine-grained sediments. The data were acquired using a vertical hydrophone array deployed at the sea bottom. Two different approaches were used at the site; one used a conventional seismic source, and the other used the noise generated by the ship. The results from the experiments indicate that the vertical array performs well for high-resolution characterization of the gas-hydrate stability zone.
A practical approach to compensate for diodic effects of PS converted waves
Authors: Dai Hengchang , Li Xiang-Yang
Published: November 2010

In inhomogeneous media, PS converted waves often suffer from severe diodic effects. The traveltime and amplitude of PS converted waves may be different in the forward and reverse shooting directions, giving rise to different stacking velocities of PS converted waves and velocity ratios. These effects, compounded with the asymmetric raypath of PS converted waves, will further increase the difficulties and costs in processing PS converted-wave data. One common method to solve this problem is to separate a data set into two volumes with different shooting directions (e.g., negative or positive offset directions). Different values of the PS converted-wave velocities are used to process the two data sets separately and the two results are combined in the final stage. The problem with this method is that sometimes it is difficult to correlate the data sets and the final combined result may be degraded. In this paper, we propose a method to overcome this problem and apply this method to a 2D data set for improving the PS converted-wave imaging.