bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Study Connecting Youth With Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties to Summer Work Experiences
Authors: Carter Erik W. , Trainor Audrey A. , Ditchman Nicole , Owens Laura
Published: February 2011

Despite the potential contributions of adolescent employment to postschool success, many youth who experience emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBD) do not access these opportunities. This intervention study examined the effects of a package of strategies designed to increase access to summer work experiences. Fifty-seven youth with EBD from seven high schools were randomly assigned to intervention and comparison groups. A significantly higher proportion of youth in the intervention group were employed toward the end of the summer relative to youth from their same schools in the comparison group. Intervention components were rated as feasible to implement and acceptable to relevant stakeholders. Steps to sharpen the intervention’s ability to address the transition-related needs of youth with EBD are discussed.
Expressivity and televisual characterization
Authors: Bednarek Monika
Published: February 2011

This article discusses expressivity (emotion, attitude, ideology) in televisual characterization. Drawing on views from professional practice (scriptwriting handbooks), media/television studies and stylistics, it first provides an overview of televisual characterization before arguing for the usefulness of considering expressive meanings in its analysis. The article then introduces linguistic and paralinguistic expressive resources, and a model for analysing expressive character identity is briefly described which aims to combine semiotic and cognitive (Culpeper, 2001) aspects as well as micro-, meso- and macro-levels of analysis. Expressive identity is also discussed with respect to dynamics, stability, individual and social identity. Quantitative and qualitative linguistic studies of characterization are also considered. The aim of the article is to contribute to research on expressivity in stylistics and to provide a springboard for future research on televisual characterization.
A Re-examination of the Infant Industry Argument for Protection
Authors: Panagariya Arvind
Published: February 2011

Though a logically tight case for infant industry protection has never been made, proprotection authors have claimed its truth since at least its statement by Alexander Hamilton in 1791. In the 1970s and the 1980s, the argument had receded into the background following its influential critiques by trade economists James Meade, Harry Johnson and Robert Baldwin. But globalisation critics have recently revived it giving it new guises. This requires a fresh response from pro-free trade economists so that the fog is removed yet again and clear thinking restored. Accordingly, in this paper, I revisit the argument and its logical flaws. I demonstrate that the new packaging provided by proprotection authors cannot hide the fundamental logical flaws in the argument. Nor is there compelling evidence of successful infant industry promotion once the costs and benefits are both taken into account instead of just the benefits. The argument is often pegged on externalities. But once the precise source of the externality is pinned down, protection as an instrument to correct it turns out to be ineffective.
An Analysis of the Special Safeguard Mechanism with Particular Reference to India
Authors: MacLaren Donald
Published: February 2011

The Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) is intended to provide contingent protection to poor farmers in developing countries from negative shocks to import prices or from surges in imports. The effects of stochastic import prices and volumes are analysed in a partial equilibrium framework to illustrate the issues involved. The simplicity of the mechanisms for contingent protection illustrated through geometry are contrasted with the modalities that were proposed in July 2008. These are the choice between an import price trigger or an import quantity trigger. The triggers have been incorporated into a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model by Hertel et al. (2010) and stochastic simulations conducted in order to compare their effects on the levels and volatility of key variables. The conclusion is that the quantity trigger is less effective in achieving the principal objective of the SSM.
Framing ambiguity: insider/outsiders and the successful legitimation project of the socially responsible mutual fund industry
Authors: Markowitz Linda , Cobb Denise , Hedley Mark
Published: February 2011

This article uses a Bourdieuian notion of organizational field and social movement’s frame analysis to understand the successful legitimation project of the socially responsible (SR) mutual fund industry. We show how institutional entrepreneurs, as both insiders and outsiders of the dominant organizational field, compete with existing mutual fund logics and become a legitimate presence in the mutual fund industry. The SR mutual fund industry has grown exponentially since its introduction in the 1970s, even though the product it sells is ambiguous in nature (Wood, 2000). Thus, while the product could be perceived as subversive, as the SR industry is arguing that companies should act ‘responsible’ in their efforts to make money, the reality is that industry innovators do not disrupt the existing mutual fund logic of ‘fiduciary responsibility’ in order to legitimate themselves. Rather, SR institutional entrepreneurs use their social location in multiple organizational fields to argue that consumers can ‘make money while doing good’. Such a frame is not completely subversive nor completely compliant with the existing logic, yet it successfully appeals to both mutual fund insiders and social movement outsiders.
Analyzing the Effect of Anti-Abortion U.S. State Legislation in the Post-CaseyEra
Authors: New Michael J.
Published: February 2011

Much of the academic literature that analyzes U.S. state-level restrictions on abortion focuses on parental involvement laws and the extent to which abortion is publicly funded through Medicaid. However, one shortcoming common to all of these studies is that they fail to analyze informed consent laws and other types of anti-abortion legislation that received constitutional protection through the U.S. Supreme Court's decision inPlanned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey(1992). In this study, a series of regressions on a comprehensive time series cross-sectional data set provides evidence that several types of state-level anti-abortion legislation result in statistically significant declines in both the abortion rate and the abortion ratio. Furthermore, a series of natural experiments provide further evidence that abortion restrictions are correlated with reductions in the incidence of abortion.
Formal and Perceived Leadership Power in U.S. State Legislatures
Authors: Battista James Coleman
Published: February 2011

While there is a growing literature on the factors linked to the power held by leaders in state legislatures, the complexity of leadership power as a concept makes assessing it difficult. The author demonstrates that measures of formal leadership power derived from the written rules are uncorrelated with survey measures capturing legislators' own assessments of their leader's strength. These differences have practical importance, with each type of measure yielding different substantive findings in models predicting leadership power.
Adding value to clinical trial registries: insights from Australian Cancer Trials Online, a website for consumers
Authors: Dear Rachel , Barratt Alexandra , Askie Lisa , McGeechan Kevin , Arora Sheena , Crossing Sally , Currow David , Tattersall Martin
Published: February 2011

Background Clinical trials registries are now operating in the USA, Europe, Australia, China, and India and more are planned. Trial registries could be an excellent source of information about clinical trials for patients and others affected by cancer as well as health care professionals, but may be difficult for patients to navigate and use.

Purpose An opportunity arose in Australia to develop a consumer friendly cancer clinical trials website (Australian Cancer Trials Online (ACTO), www.australiancancertrials.gov.au ) using an automated data feed from two large clinical trial registries. In this article, we describe aspects of this new website, and explore ways in which such a website may add value to clinical trial data which are already collected and held by trial registries.

Methods The development of ACTO was completed by a Web company working in close association with staff at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), and with consumer representatives. Data for the website were sourced directly and only from clinical trial registries, thus avoiding the creation of an additional trials database. It receives an automated, daily data feed of newly registered cancer clinical trials from both the ANZCTR and Clinical Trials.gov.

Results The development of ACTO exemplifies the advantage of a local clinical trial registry working with consumers to provide accessible information about cancer clinical trials to meet consumers’ information needs. We found that the inclusion of a lay summary added substantial value for consumers, and recommend that consideration be given to adding a lay summary to the mandatory data items collected by all trial registries. Furthermore, improved navigation, decision support tools, and consistency in data collection between clinical trial registries will also enable consumer websites to provide additional value for users.

Limitations Clinical trial registration is not compulsory in Australia. If the additional cancer items (including a lay summary) are not provided by registrants of cancer trials on ANZCTR, this can compromise the quality and usefulness of the data for the end-user, in this case consumers, as they may encounter gaps in the data.

Conclusion Expanding the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set to include this additional information, particularly the lay summary, would be valuable. A well-coordinated system of clinical trial registration is critical to the success of efforts to provide better access for all to inform about clinical trials.
Cognitive dysfunction with aging and the role of inflammation
Authors: Simen Arthur A. , Bordner Kelly A. , Martin Mark P. , Moy Lawrence A. , Barry Lisa C.
Published: February 2011

As the average lifespan continues to climb because of advances in medical care, there is a greater need to understand the factors that contribute to quality of life in the elderly. The capacity to live independently is highly significant in this regard, but is compromised by cognitive dysfunction. Aging is associated with decreases in cognitive function, including impairments in episodic memory and executive functioning. The prefrontal cortex appears to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of advancing age. Although the mechanism of age-related cognitive decline is not yet known, age-related inflammatory changes are likely to play a role. New insights from preclinical and clinical research may give rise to novel therapeutics which may have efficacy in slowing or preventing cognitive decline with advancing age.
Treosulfan-based conditioning regimens for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with primary immunodeficiency: United Kingdom experience
Authors: Slatter Mary A. , Rao Kanchan , Amrolia Persis , Flood Terry , Abinun Mario , Hambleton Sophie , Nademi Zohreh , Goulden Nick , Davies Graham , Qasim Waseem , Gaspar Hubert B. , Cant Andrew , Gennery Andrew R. , Veys Paul
Published: February 2011

Children with primary immunodeficiency diseases, particularly those less than 1 year of age, experience significant toxicity after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with busulfan- or melphalan-based conditioning. Treosulfan causes less veno-occlusive disease than busulfan and does not require pharmacokinetic monitoring. We report its use in 70 children. Children received 42 g/m2 or 36 g/m2 with cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg (n = 30) or fludarabine 150 mg/m2 (n = 40), with alemtuzumab in most. Median age at transplantation was 8.5 months (range, 1.2-175 months); 46 (66%) patients were 12 months of age or younger. Donors were as follows: matched sibling donor, 8; matched family donor, 13; haploidentical, 4; and unrelated, 45. Median follow-up was 19 months (range, 1-47 months). Overall survival was 81%, equivalent in those age less or greater than 1 year. Skin toxicity was common. Veno-occlusive disease occurred twice with cyclophosphamide. Eighteen patients (26%) had graft-versus-host disease, and only 7 (10%) greater than grade 2. Two patients rejected; 24 of 42 more than 1 year after transplantation had 100% donor chimerism. The remainder had stable mixed chimerism. T-cell chimerism was significantly better with fludarabine. Long-term follow-up is required, but in combination with fludarabine, treosulfan is a good choice of conditioning for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in primary immunodeficiency disease.
Genome-wide discovery of missing genes in biological pathways of prokaryotes
Authors: Chen Yong , Mao Fenglou , Li Guojun , Xu Ying
Published: February 2011

Background

Reconstruction of biological pathways is typically done through mapping well-characterized pathways of model organisms to a target genome, through orthologous gene mapping. A limitation of such pathway-mapping approaches is that the mapped pathway models are constrained by the composition of the template pathways, e.g., some genes in a target pathway may not have corresponding genes in the template pathways, the so-called “missing gene” problem.

Methods

We present a novel pathway-expansion method for identifying additional genes that are possibly involved in a target pathway after pathway mapping, to fill holes caused by missing genes as well as to expand the mapped pathway model. The basic idea of the algorithm is to identify genes in the target genome whose homologous genes share common operons with homologs of any mapped pathway genes in some reference genome, and to add such genes to the target pathway if their functions are consistent with the cellular function of the target pathway.

Results

We have implemented this idea using a graph-theoretic approach and demonstrated the effectiveness of the algorithm on known pathways of E. coli in the KEGG database. On all KEGG pathways containing at least 5 genes, our method achieves an average of 60% positive predictive value (PPV) and the performance is increased with more seed genes added. Analysis shows that our method is highly robust.

Conclusions

An effective method is presented to find missing genes in biological pathways of prokaryotes, which achieves high prediction reliability on E. coli at a genome level. Numerous missing genes are found to be related to knwon E. coli pathways, which can be further validated through biological experiments. Overall this method is robust and can be used for functional inference.
A clique-based method for the edit distance between unordered trees and its application to analysis of glycan structures
Authors: Fukagawa Daiji , Tamura Takeyuki , Takasu Atsuhiro , Tomita Etsuji , Akutsu Tatsuya
Published: February 2011

Background

Measuring similarities between tree structured data is important for analysis of RNA secondary structures, phylogenetic trees, glycan structures, and vascular trees. The edit distance is one of the most widely used measures for comparison of tree structured data. However, it is known that computation of the edit distance for rooted unordered trees is NP-hard. Furthermore, there is almost no available software tool that can compute the exact edit distance for unordered trees.

Results

In this paper, we present a practical method for computing the edit distance between rooted unordered trees. In this method, the edit distance problem for unordered trees is transformed into the maximum clique problem and then efficient solvers for the maximum clique problem are applied. We applied the proposed method to similar structure search for glycan structures. The result suggests that our proposed method can efficiently compute the edit distance for moderate size unordered trees. It also suggests that the proposed method has the accuracy comparative to those by the edit distance for ordered trees and by an existing method for glycan search.

Conclusions

The proposed method is simple but useful for computation of the edit distance between unordered trees. The object code is available upon request.
High-throughput peptide quantification using mTRAQ reagent triplex
Authors: Yoon Joo Young , Yeom Jeonghun , Lee Heebum , Kim Kyutae , Na Seungjin , Park Kunsoo , Paek Eunok , Lee Cheolju
Published: February 2011

Background

Protein quantification is an essential step in many proteomics experiments. A number of labeling approaches have been proposed and adopted in mass spectrometry (MS) based relative quantification. The mTRAQ, one of the stable isotope labeling methods, is amine-specific and available in triplex format, so that the sample throughput could be doubled when compared with duplex reagents.

Methods and results

Here we propose a novel data analysis algorithm for peptide quantification in triplex mTRAQ experiments. It improved the accuracy of quantification in two features. First, it identified and separated triplex isotopic clusters of a peptide in each full MS scan. We designed a schematic model of triplex overlapping isotopic clusters, and separated triplex isotopic clusters by solving cubic equations, which are deduced from the schematic model. Second, it automatically determined the elution areas of peptides. Some peptides have similar atomic masses and elution times, so their elution areas can have overlaps. Our algorithm successfully identified the overlaps and found accurate elution areas. We validated our algorithm using standard protein mixture experiments.

Conclusions

We showed that our algorithm was able to accurately quantify peptides in triplex mTRAQ experiments. Its software implementation is compatible with Trans-Proteomic Pipeline (TPP), and thus enables high-throughput analysis of proteomics data.
Multi-genome identification and characterization of chlamydiae-specific type III secretion substrates: the Inc proteins
Authors: Dehoux Pierre , Flores Rhonda , Dauga Catherine , Zhong Guangming , Subtil Agathe
Published: February 2011

Background

Chlamydiaeare obligate intracellular bacteria that multiply in a vacuolar compartment, the inclusion. Several chlamydial proteins containing a bilobal hydrophobic domain are translocated by a type III secretion (TTS) mechanism into the inclusion membrane. They form the family of Inc proteins, which is specific to this phylum. Based on their localization, Inc proteins likely play important roles in the interactions between the microbe and the host. In this paper we sought to identify and analyze, using bioinformatics tools, all putative Inc proteins in published chlamydial genomes, including an environmental species.

Results

Inc proteins contain at least one bilobal hydrophobic domain made of two transmembrane helices separated by a loop of less than 30 amino acids. Using bioinformatics tools we identified 537 putative Inc proteins across seven chlamydial proteomes. The amino-terminal segment of the putative Inc proteins was recognized as a functional TTS signal in 90% of theC. trachomatisandC. pneumoniaesequences tested, validating the data obtainedin silico. We identified amacrodomain in several putative Inc proteins, and observed that Inc proteins are enriched in segments predicted to form coiled coils. A surprisingly large proportion of the putative Inc proteins are not constitutively translocated to the inclusion membrane in culture conditions.

Conclusions

The Inc proteins represent 7 to 10% of each proteome and show a great degree of sequence diversity between species. The abundance of segments with a high probability for coiled coil conformation in Inc proteins support the hypothesis that they interact with host proteins. While the large majority of Inc proteins possess a functional TTS signal, less than half may be constitutively translocated to the inclusion surface in some species. This suggests the novel finding that translocation of Inc proteins may be regulated by as-yet undetermined mechanisms.
Modified mallampati classification as a clinical predictor of peroral esophagogastroduodenoscopy tolerance
Authors: Huang Hsin-Hung , Lee Meei-Shyuan , Shih Yu-Lueng , Chu Heng-Cheng , Huang Tien-Yu , Hsieh Tsai-Yuan
Published: February 2011

Background

Unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is simpler and safer than sedated EGD; however, approximately 40% of patients cannot tolerate it. Early identification of patients likely to poorly tolerate unsedated EGD is valuable for improving compliance. The modified Mallampati classification (MMC) has been used to evaluate difficult tracheal intubation and laryngoscope insertion. We tried to assess the efficacy of MMC to predict the tolerance of EGD in unsedated patients.

Methods

Two hundred patients who underwent an unsedated diagnostic EGD were recruited. They were stratified according to the view of the oropharynx as either MMC class I + II (good view) or class III + IV (poor view). EGD tolerance was assessed in three ways: gag reflex by endoscopist assessment, patient satisfaction by interview, and the degree of change in vital signs.

Results

MMC was significantly correlated to gag reflex (P < 0.001), patient satisfaction (P = 0.028), and a change of vital signs (P = 0.024). Patients in the poor view group had a 3.87-fold increased risk of gag reflex (P < 0.001), a 1.78-fold increased risk of unsatisfaction (P = 0.067), and a 1.96-fold increased risk of a change in vital signs (P = 0.025) compared to those in the good view group.

Conclusions

MMC appears to be a clinically useful predictor of EGD tolerance. Patients with poor view of oropharynx by MMC criteria may be candidates for sedated or transnasal EGD.
Health status and lifestyle factors as predictors of depression in middle-aged and elderly Japanese adults: a seven-year follow-up of the Komo-Ise cohort study
Authors: Tanaka Hisashi , Sasazawa Yosiaki , Suzuki Shosuke , Nakazawa Minato , Koyama Hiroshi
Published: February 2011

Background

Depression is a common mental disorder. Several studies suggest that lifestyle and health status are associated with depression. However, only a few large-scale longitudinal studies have been conducted on this topic.

Methods

The subjects were middle-aged and elderly Japanese adults between the ages of 40 and 69 years. A total of 9,650 respondents completed questionnaires for the baseline survey and participated in the second wave of the survey, which was conducted 7 years later. We excluded those who complained of depressive symptoms in the baseline survey and analyzed data for the remaining 9,201 individuals. In the second-wave survey, the DSM-12D was used to determine depression. We examined the risks associated with health status and lifestyle factors in the baseline survey using a logistic regression model.

Results

An age-adjusted analysis showed an increased risk of depression in those who had poor perceived health and chronic diseases in both sexes. In men, those who were physically inactive also had an increased risk of depression. In women, the analysis also showed an increased risk of depression those with a BMI of 25 or more, in those sleeping 9 hours a day or more and who were current smokers. A multivariate analysis showed that increased risks of depression still existed in men who had chronic diseases and who were physically inactive, and in women who had poor perceived health and who had a BMI of 25 or more.

Conclusions

These results suggest that lifestyle and health status are risk factors for depression. Having a chronic disease and physical inactivity were distinctive risk factors for depression in men. On the other hand, poor perceived health and a BMI of 25 or more were distinctive risk factors for depression in women. Preventive measures for depression must therefore take gender into account.
The relationship of air pollution and surrogate markers of endothelial dysfunction in a population-based sample of children
Authors: Poursafa Parinaz , Kelishadi Roya , Lahijanzadeh Ahmadreza , Modaresi Mohammadreza , Javanmard Shaghayegh Haghjouy , Assari Raheleh , Amin Mohammad Mehdi , Moattar Faramarz , Amini Abbasgholi , Sadeghian Babak
Published: February 2011

Background

This study aimed to assess the relationship of air pollution and plasma surrogate markers of endothelial dysfunction in the pediatric age group.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009-2010 among 125 participants aged 10-18 years. They were randomly selected from different areas of Isfahan city, the second large and air-polluted city in Iran. The association of air pollutants' levels with serum thrombomodulin (TM) and tissue factor (TF) was determined after adjustment for age, gender, anthropometric measures, dietary and physical activity habits.

Results

Data of 118 participants was complete and was analyzed. The mean age was 12.79 (2.35) years. The mean pollution standards index (PSI) value was at moderate level, the mean particular matter measuring up to 10 μm (PM10) was more than twice the normal level. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TF had significant relationship with all air pollutants except than carbon monoxide, and TM had significant inverse relationship with ozone. The odds ratio of elevated TF was significantly higher in the upper vs. the lowest quartiles of PM10, ozone and PSI. The corresponding figures were in opposite direction for TM.

Conclusions

The relationship of air pollutants with endothelial dysfunction and pro-coagulant state can be an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis from early life. This finding should be confirmed in future longitudinal studies. Concerns about the harmful effects of air pollution on children's health should be considered a top priority for public health policy; it should be underscored in primordial and primary prevention of chronic diseases.
S100A7/psoriasin expression in the human lung: unchanged in patients with COPD, but upregulated upon positive S. aureusdetection
Authors: Andresen Ellen , Lange Christoph , Strodthoff Daniela , Goldmann Torsten , Fischer Nicole , Sahly Hany , Branscheid Detlev , Heine Holger
Published: February 2011

Background

Progressive airway inflammation and susceptibility to the airway colonisation and infection are characteristic for the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are central to the function of the innate host immune response against microbial pathogens and are regulators of inflammation and immunity. S100A7/psoriasin, a recently described AMP, is an essential component of the human epithelia against invading pathogens and acts as an effector molecule of the host innate defence in the skin. We hypothesized that S100A7/psoriasin is involved in the airway mucosal immunity and differently regulated and expressed in the lung during progression of COPD.

Methods

S100A7/psoriasin gene expression was assessed in bronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cells of healthy controls and COPD patients. Using confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry, the protein expression of S100A7/psoriasin was investigated.

Results

Here, we report that S100A7/psoriasin, the major antimicrobial peptide of the human skin, is constitutively expressed in perinuclear granules of human bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. Whereas typical activators of the innate immune response like TLR ligands and cytokines induced the upregulation of CXCL-8 mRNA and release of CXCL-8 by epithelial cells, S100A7/psoriasin mRNA expression was not modulated. To investigate a potential association of S100A7/psoriasin with COPD, S100A7/psoriasin mRNA expression was assessed in bronchial biopsies and BAL fluid cells of patients at different stages of COPD and controls. Overall, 10 healthy individuals and 34 COPD patients were enrolled in this study. We found an association of S100A7/psoriasin mRNA expression with bacterial detection in the tracheobronchial system (p = 0.0304), which was the strongest in individuals positive for with S. aureus (p = 0.0005). However, S100A7/psoriasin mRNA expression was not altered during the progression of COPD.

Conclusions

S100A7/psoriasin gene expression is unchanged in the airways during COPD. The newly identified association of S100A7/psoriasin with S. aureus may provide new insights into the antimicrobial defence response of the human airways, leading to the induction of S100A7/psoriasin upon microbial challenge.
Properties of silicon dioxide layers with embedded metal nanocrystals produced by oxidation of Si:Me mixture
Authors: Novikau Andrei , Gaiduk Peter , Maksimova Ksenia , Zenkevich Andrei
Published: February 2011

A two-dimensional layers of metal (Me) nanocrystals embedded in SiO2 were produced by pulsed laser deposition of uniformly mixed Si:Me film followed by its furnace oxidation and rapid thermal annealing. The kinetics of the film oxidation and the structural properties of the prepared samples were investigated by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The electrical properties of the selected SiO2:Me nanocomposite films were evaluated by measuring C-V and I-V characteristics on a metal-oxide-semiconductor stack. It is found that Me segregation induced by Si:Me mixture oxidation results in the formation of a high density of Me and silicide nanocrystals in thin film SiO2 matrix. Strong evidence of oxidation temperature as well as impurity type effect on the charge storage in crystalline Me-nanodot layer is demonstrated by the hysteresis behavior of the high-frequency C-V curves.
Heat transfer augmentation in nanofluids via nanofins
Authors: Vadasz Peter
Published: February 2011

Theoretical results derived in this article are combined with experimental data to conclude that, while there is no improvement in the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids beyond the Maxwell's effective medium theory (J.C. Maxwell, Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, 1891), there is substantial heat transfer augmentation via nanofins. The latter are formed as attachments on the hot wire surface by yet an unknown mechanism, which could be related to electrophoresis, but there is no conclusive evidence yet to prove this proposed mechanism.
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: an update
Authors: Kanakaris Nikolaos K , Roberts Craig S , Giannoudis Peter V
Published: February 2011

A large number of scientists from a wide range of medical and surgical disciplines have reported on the existence and characteristics of the clinical syndrome of pelvic girdle pain during or after pregnancy. This syndrome refers to a musculoskeletal type of persistent pain localised at the anterior and/or posterior aspect of the pelvic ring. The pain may radiate across the hip joint and the thigh bones. The symptoms may begin either during the first trimester of pregnancy, at labour or even during the postpartum period. The physiological processes characterising this clinical entity remain obscure. In this review, the definition and epidemiology, as well as a proposed diagnostic algorithm and treatment options, are presented. Ongoing research is desirable to establish clear management strategies that are based on the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the escalation of the syndrome's symptoms to a fraction of the population of pregnant women.
Characterization of an H10N8 influenza virus isolated from Dongting lake wetland
Authors: Zhang Hongbo , Xu Bing , Chen Quanjiao , Chen Jianjun , Chen Ze
Published: February 2011

Background

Wild birds, especially those in wetlands and aquatic environments, are considered to be natural reservoirs of avian influenza viruses. It is accepted that water is an important component in the transmission cycle of avian influenza virus. Monitoring the water at aggregation and breeding sites of migratory waterfowl, mainly wetland, is very important for early detection of avian influenza virus. The epidemiology investigation of avian influenza virus was performed in Dongting lake wetland which is an international important wetland.

Results

An H10N8 influenza virus was isolated from Dongting Lake wetland in 2007. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the virus was generated by multiple gene segment reassortment. The isolate was lowly pathogenic for chickens. However, it replicated efficiently in the mouse lung without prior adaptation, and the virulence to mice increased rapidly during adaptation in mouse lung. Sequence analysis of the genome of viruses from different passages showed that multiple amino acid changes were involved in the adaptation of the isolates to mice.

Conclusions

The water might be an important component in the transmission cycle of avian influenza virus, and other subtypes of avian influenza viruses (other than H5, H7 and H9) might evolve to pose a potential threat to mammals and even humans.
"Surface epithelial changes" in uterine endometrioid carcinoma mimicking micropapillary serous borderline tumor of ovary: report of two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Singh Kamaljeet , Simon Rochelle A , Zhang Cunxian , Quddus M Ruhul
Published: February 2011

We encountered two cases of endometrioid carcinoma of uterus with extensive surface epithelial changes (SECs) mimicking serous borderline tumor (SBT) of the ovary. The first case was a well-differentiated endometrioid carcinoma arising in a background of complex atypical hyperplasia. The second case was moderately-differentiated endometrioid carcinoma with squamous and mucinous differentiation. The SECs comprised of thin microapapillae without hierarchal branching, lined by cuboidal cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and mild to moderate nuclear atypia. These areas were reminiscent of SBTs of ovary, micropapillary type. This report expands the existing spectrum of SECs. Serous borderline tumor of ovary like surface epithelial changes could be misleading if present in an endometrial biopsy or curettings. Therefore, knowledge of this morphologic variation is important.
Phase i study of 'dose-dense' pemetrexed plus carboplatin/radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Shen Xinglei , DeNittis Albert , Werner-Wasik Maria , Axelrod Rita , Gilman Paul , Meyer Thomas , Treat Joseph , Curran Walter J , Machtay Mitchell
Published: February 2011

Background

This phase I study investigates the feasibility of carboplatin plus dose-dense (q2-week) pemetrexed given concurrently with radiotherapy (XRT) for locally advanced and oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Eligible patients had Stage III or IV (oligometastatic) NSCLC. Patients received XRT to 63 Gy in standard fractionation. Patients received concurrent carboplatin (AUC = 6) during weeks 1 and 5 of XRT, and pemetrexed during weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7 of XRT. The starting dose level (level 1) of pemetrexed was 300 mg/m2. Following the finding of dose limiting toxicity (DLT) in dose level 1, an amended dose level (level 1A) continued pemetrexed at 300 mg/m2, but with involved field radiation instead of extended nodal irradiation. Consolidation consisted of carboplatin (AUC = 6) and pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) q3 weeks × 2 -3 cycles.

Results

Eighteen patients were enrolled. Fourteen patients are evaluable for toxicity analysis. Of the initial 6 patients treated on dose level 1, two experienced DLTs (one grade 4 sepsis, one prolonged grade 3 esophagitis). There was one DLT (grade 5 pneumonitis) in the 8 patients treated on dose level 1A. In 16 patients evaluable for response (4 with oligometastatic stage IV disease and 12 with stage III disease), the median follow-up time is 17.8 months. Thirteen of 16 patients had in field local regional response. The actuarial median survival time was 28.6 months in all patients and 34.7 months (estimated) in stage III patients.

Conclusions

Concurrent carboplatin with dose-dense (q2week) pemetrexed at 300 mg/m2 with involved field XRT is feasible and encouraging in patients with locally advanced and oligometastatic NSCLC.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00330044
Superior canal dehiscence in a patient with three failed stapedectomy operations for otosclerosis: a case report
Authors: Lehmann Martin , Ebmeyer Jörg , Upile Tahwinder , Sudhoff Holger H
Published: February 2011

Introduction

This case illustrates that superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome can be associated with a "pseudo"-conductive hearing loss, a symptom that overlaps with the clinical appearance of otosclerosis.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 48-year-old German Caucasian woman presenting with hearing loss on the left side and vertigo. She had undergone three previous stapedectomies for hearing improvement. Reformatted high-resolution computed tomographic scanning and the patient's history confirmed the diagnosis of concurrent canal dehiscence syndrome.

Conclusion

Failure of hearing improvement after otosclerosis surgery may indicate an alternative underlying diagnosis which should be explored by further appropriate evaluation.
Prevalence of HIV among injection drug users in Georgia
Authors: Chikovani Ivdity , Goguadze Ketevan , Ranade Sudit , Wertlieb Mollie , Rukhadze Natia , Gotsadze George
Published: February 2011

Background

Injection drug use remains a major risk factor for HIV transmission in Georgia. The study aims to characterize the prevalence of HIV among injection drug users in Georgia.

Methods

A cross‐sectional, anonymous bio‐behavioural survey to assess knowledge and behaviour in injection drug users in combination with laboratory testing on HIV status was conducted in five Georgian cities (Tbilisi, Gori, Telavi, Zugdidi and Batumi) in 2009. A snowball sample of 1127 eligible injection drug user participants was investigated.

Results

Odds of HIV exposure were increased for injection drug users of greater age, with greater duration of drug use and with a history of imprisonment or detainment (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

More research is required to analyze the determinants of HIV risk in Georgian injection drug users. The imprisoned population and young injection drug users may be appropriate target groups for programmes aimed at preventing HIV transmission.
Dynamic arterial elastance to predict arterial pressure response to volume loading in preload-dependent patients
Authors: Monge García Manuel Ignacio , Gil Cano Anselmo , Gracia Romero Manuel
Published: February 2011

Introduction

Hemodynamic resuscitation should be aimed at achieving not only adequate cardiac output but also sufficient mean arterial pressure (MAP) to guarantee adequate tissue perfusion pressure. Since the arterial pressure response to volume expansion (VE) depends on arterial tone, knowing whether a patient is preload-dependent provides only a partial solution to the problem. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of a functional evaluation of arterial tone by dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn), defined as the pulse pressure variation (PPV) to stroke volume variation (SVV) ratio, to predict the hemodynamic response in MAP to fluid administration in hypotensive, preload-dependent patients with acute circulatory failure.

Methods

We performed a prospective clinical study in an adult medical/surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital, including 25 patients with controlled mechanical ventilation who were monitored with the Vigileo® monitor, for whom the decision to give fluids was made because of the presence of acute circulatory failure, including arterial hypotension (MAP ≤65 mmHg or systolic arterial pressure <90 mmHg) and preserved preload responsiveness condition, defined as a SVV value ≥10%.

Results

Before fluid infusion, Eadyn was significantly different between MAP responders (MAP increase ≥15% after VE) and MAP nonresponders. VE-induced increases in MAP were strongly correlated with baseline Eadyn (r2 = 0.83; P < 0.0001). The only predictor of MAP increase was Eadyn (area under the curve, 0.986 ± 0.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84-1). A baseline Eadyn value >0.89 predicted a MAP increase after fluid administration with a sensitivity of 93.75% (95% CI, 69.8%-99.8%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 66.4%-100%).

Conclusions

Functional assessment of arterial tone by Eadyn, measured as the PVV to SVV ratio, predicted arterial pressure response after volume loading in hypotensive, preload-dependent patients under controlled mechanical ventilation.
Bringing order to protein disorder through comparative genomics and genetic interactions
Authors: Bellay Jeremy , Han Sangjo , Michaut Magali , Kim TaeHyung , Costanzo Michael , Andrews Brenda J , Boone Charles , Bader Gary D , Myers Chad L , Kim Philip M
Published: February 2011

Background

Intrinsically disordered regions are widespread, especially in proteomes of higher eukaryotes. Recently, protein disorder has been associated with a wide variety of cellular processes and has been implicated in several human diseases. Despite its apparent functional importance, the sheer range of different roles played by protein disorder often makes its exact contribution difficult to interpret.

Results

We attempt to better understand the different roles of disorder using a novel analysis that leverages both comparative genomics and genetic interactions. Strikingly, we find that disorder can be partitioned into three biologically distinct phenomena: regions where disorder is conserved but with quickly evolving amino acid sequences (flexible disorder); regions of conserved disorder with also highly conserved amino acid sequences (constrained disorder); and, lastly, non-conserved disorder. Flexible disorder bears many of the characteristics commonly attributed to disorder and is associated with signaling pathways and multi-functionality. Conversely, constrained disorder has markedly different functional attributes and is involved in RNA binding and protein chaperones. Finally, non-conserved disorder lacks clear functional hallmarks based on our analysis.

Conclusions

Our new perspective on protein disorder clarifies a variety of previous results by putting them into a systematic framework. Moreover, the clear and distinct functional association of flexible and constrained disorder will allow for new approaches and more specific algorithms for disorder detection in a functional context. Finally, in flexible disordered regions, we demonstrate clear evolutionary selection of protein disorder with little selection on primary structure, which has important implications for sequence-based studies of protein structure and evolution.
Biphasic activity of CD137 ligand-stimulated monocytes on T cell apoptosis and proliferation
Authors: Shaqireen Kwajah M M , Mustafa Nurulhuda , Holme Andrea L , Pervaiz Shazib , Schwarz Herbert
Published: February 2011

CD137L (4-1BBL) is a member of the TNFSF and is expressed on APCs as a transmembrane protein. Reverse signaling by CD137L in monocytes causes cell activation and differentiation to mature inflammatory DCs that can stimulate T cell proliferation. However, CD137L agonists have also been reported to induce apoptosis in PBMCs. This study aimed at clarifying these seemingly opposing activities. We find that the dying cells within PBMCs are T cells and that this T cell death is dependent on monocytes and correlates with the monocyte:T cell ratio. This CD137L-induced, monocyte-mediated T cell apoptosis is reminiscent of MDCD, and both are cell contact-dependent. T cell death is not mediated by CD95 or DR4 or -5 but by ROS produced by the T cells. T cell apoptosis is restricted to the first 24 h of stimulation, and at later time-points, the monocytes differentiate to inflammatory DCs under the influence of CD137L signaling and acquire the capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation from Day 4 onward. This biphasic activity may contribute to infection-induced T cell attrition, where in the early phase (<24 h) of an infection, massive T cell apoptosis occurs before the antigen-specific T cells expand.
Autoinflammation: translating mechanism to therapy
Authors: Doherty Taylor A , Brydges Susannah D , Hoffman Hal M
Published: February 2011

Autoinflammatory syndromes are a clinically heterogeneous collection of diseases characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune system. The hereditary recurrent fever disorders were the first to be defined as autoinflammatory. Several of the responsible genes are now known to encode proteins forming multimeric complexes called inflammasomes, which are intracellular “danger sensors” that respond to a variety of different signals by activating caspase-1, responsible for cleavage and subsequent release of bioactive IL-1β. This discovery of the causative link between autoinflammation and IL-1β maturation has led to a significantly improved understanding of the mechanisms of innate immunity, as well as life-altering treatments for patients. Targeting IL-1β for the treatment of autoinflammatory syndromes is an excellent example of the power of translational research. Given the central role of inflammation in many complex multigenic diseases, these treatments may benefit larger numbers of patients in the future. Here, we review current treatment strategies of autoinflammatory diseases with a focus on IL-1 antagonism.
Leptin Deficiency and Diet-Induced Obesity Reduce Hypothalamic Kisspeptin Expression in Mice
Authors: Quennell Janette H. , Howell Christopher S. , Roa Juan , Augustine Rachael A. , Grattan David R. , Anderson Greg M.
Published: February 2011

The hormone leptin modulates a diverse range of biological functions, including energy homeostasis and reproduction. Leptin promotes GnRH function via an indirect action on forebrain neurons. We tested whether leptin deficiency or leptin resistance due to a high-fat diet (HFD) can regulate the potent reproductive neuropeptide kisspeptin. In mice with normalized levels of estradiol, leptin deficiency markedly reduced kisspeptin gene expression, particularly in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), and kisspeptin immunoreactive cell numbers in the rostral periventricular region of the third ventricle (RP3V). The HFD model was used to determine the effects of diet-induced obesity and central leptin resistance on kisspeptin cell number and gene expression. DBA/2J mice, which are prone to HFD-induced infertility, showed a marked decrease in kisspeptin expression in both the RP3V and ARC and cell numbers in the RP3V after HFD. This is the first evidence that kisspeptin can be regulated by HFD and/or increased body weight. Next we demonstrated that leptin does not signal (via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 or 5, or mammalian target of rapamycin) directly on kisspeptin-expressing neurons in the RP3V. Lastly, in leptin receptor-deficient mice, neither GnRH nor kisspeptin neurons were activated during a preovulatory-like GnRH/LH surge induction regime, indicating that leptin's actions on GnRH may be upstream of kisspeptin neurons. These data provide evidence that leptin's effects on reproductive function are regulated by kisspeptin neurons in both the ARC and RP3V, although in the latter site the effects are likely to be indirect.