bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miR-141 as a regulator of the mitochondrial phosphate carrier (Slc25a3) in the type 1 diabetic heart
Authors: Baseler Walter A. , Thapa Dharendra , Jagannathan Rajaganapathi , Dabkowski Erinne R. , Croston Tara L. , Hollander John M.
Published: October 2012

Dysfunctional mitochondria are central in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Mitochondrial proteomic alterations resulting from diabetes mellitus have been reported although the mechanisms driving changes in proteomic signatures are unknown. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been considered as potential regulators of proteins. The goal of this study was to determine whether miRNAs play a role in diabetes-induced mitochondrial proteomic alterations. Quanitative RT-PCR miRNA screening in diabetic mice, 5 wk following multiple low-dose streptozotocin treatment was associated with alteration in the expression of 29 miRNAs in the diabetic heart compared with control. Among those miRNAs upregulated in the diabetic heart was miR-141 ( P < 0.002). miRNA target prediction analyses identified miR-141 as a potential regulator of the inner mitochondrial membrane phosphate transporter, solute carrier family 25 member 3 (Slc25a3), which provides inorganic phosphate to the mitochondrial matrix and is essential for ATP production. With the use of a luciferase reporter construct with a Slc25a3 3′-untranslated region (UTR) target sequence, overexpression of miR-141 downregulated luciferase activity levels confirming miR-141/Slc25a3 3′-UTR binding. miR-141 overexpression in HL-1 cells elicited a decrease in Slc25a3 protein content, ATP production and a decrease in ATP synthase activity, similar to the diabetic phenotype ( P < 0.05, for both). Diabetic interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) displayed decreased Slc25a3 protein content, which was inversely correlated with increased miR-141 expression. Further, diabetic IFM ATP synthase activity was also decreased ( P < 0.05). Together these results indicate that miR-141 can regulate Slc25a3 protein expression in the diabetic heart. Further, diabetes-induced miRNA changes may influence mitochondrial proteomes and functional processes such as mitochondrial ATP production.
Arginine plus proline supplementation elicits metabolic adaptation that favors wound healing in diabetic rats
Authors: Raynaud-Simon A. , Belabed L. , Le Naour G. , Marc J. , Capron F. , Cynober L. , Darquy S.
Published: October 2012

Diabetic patients with wounds are at risk of protein malnutrition, have low arginine plasma levels, and suffer from delayed wound healing. We sought to determine the efficacy of arginine plus proline supplementation on protein and amino acid metabolism and on wound repair in a model of diabetic rats. Eighteen 11-wk-old Zucker diabetic fatty fa/fa male rats underwent a 7-cm abdominal skin incision with implantation of sponges and daily excision of full-thickness round sections of dorsal skin for 5 days. They were randomized to be fed with either a standard formula (S group, Clinutren Iso), a high-protein and arginine (ARG) plus proline (PRO)-enriched formula (ARG+PRO group, Clinutren Repair), or an isonitrogenous isoenergetic control formula (IC group). Nitrogen balance was calculated daily. The rats were euthanized on day 5, and plasma glucose, insulin, amino acids, skin epithelialization, and angiogenesis were measured. In macrophages, we assessed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase expression, production of nitric oxide (NO) and amino acid metabolism. Both the ARG+PRO and IC groups showed improved nitrogen balance. ARG plus PRO supplementation increased proline and branched-chain amino acid plasma concentrations and improved angiogenesis. Arginase and iNOS expressions in macrophages were reduced, together with NO and citrulline production. In diabetic rats, ARG plus PRO supplementation improves wound angiogenesis and favors whole body protein metabolism. Low macrophage iNOS expression at day 5 may reflect a low inflammatory state in the wounds, favoring wound closure.
Molecular, functional, and gene expression analysis of zebrafish hypoxia-inducible factor-3α
Authors: Zhang Peng , Lu Ling , Yao Qing , Li Yun , Zhou Jianfeng , Liu Yunzhang , Duan Cunming
Published: October 2012

Hypoxia-inducible factors 1–3 (HIF1–3) are transcription factors that regulate gene expression in response to hypoxia. Compared with our extensive understanding of HIF-1 and HIF-2, our knowledge of HIF-3 is limited. In this study, we characterized the zebrafish hif-3α gene and determined its temporal and spatial expression, physiological regulation, and biological activity. We show that the chromosomal location, gene structure, and protein structure of zebrafish hif-3α are similar to its mammalian orthologs. When tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein and transfected into cultured cells, zebrafish Hif-3α was localized in the nucleus and stimulated reporter gene expression in a hypoxia response element-dependent manner. During early development, hif-3α mRNA was detected in all tissues with higher levels in the head. This expression pattern became more apparent in larvae at the 72, 96, and 120 hours post fertilization stages. In the adult stage, hif-3α mRNA was detected in all examined tissues with the highest levels in the ovary. Hypoxia treatment increased Hif-3α protein levels in both embryos and adults. Hypoxia also increased hif-3α mRNA expression levels, and this regulation was tissue-specific. Expression of a stabilized form of Hif-1α in zebrafish embryos increased the expression of igfbp-1a, a Hif-1 target gene, whereas it did not change hif-3α mRNA levels, suggesting that hif-3α is not a Hif-1α target. These results provide new information about the structural and functional conservation, spatial and temporal expression, and physiological regulation of hif-3α in a teleost model organism.
Regulation of the renal Na+-Cl−cotransporter by phosphorylation and ubiquitylation
Authors: Gamba Gerardo
Published: October 2012

The activity of the renal thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter (NCC) in the distal convoluted tubule plays a key role in defining arterial blood pressure levels. Increased or decreased activity of the NCC is associated with arterial hypertension or hypotension, respectively. Thus it is of major interest to understand the activity of NCC using in vivo models. Phosphorylation of certain residues of the amino-terminal domain of NCC has been shown to be associated with its activation. The development of phospho-specific antibodies against these sites provides a powerful tool that is helping to increase our understanding of the molecular physiology of NCC. Additionally, NCC expression in the plasma membrane is modulated by ubiquitylation, which represents another major mechanism for regulating protein activity. This work presents a review of our current knowledge of the regulation of NCC activity by phosphorylation and ubiquitylation.
Theories of pain: from specificity to gate control
Authors: Moayedi Massieh , Davis Karen D.
Published: October 2012

Several theoretical frameworks have been proposed to explain the physiological basis of pain, although none yet completely accounts for all aspects of pain perception. Here, we provide a historical overview of the major contributions, ideas, and competing theories of pain from ancient civilizations to Melzack and Wall's Gate Control Theory of Pain.
Activity of pectoral fin motoneurons during two swimming gaits in the larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) and localization of upstream circuit elements
Authors: Green Matthew H. , Hale Melina E.
Published: October 2012

In many animals, limb movements transition between gait patterns with increasing locomotor speed. While for tetrapod systems several well-developed models in diverse taxa (e.g., cat, mouse, salamander, turtle) have been used to study motor control of limbs and limb gaits, virtually nothing is known from fish species, including zebrafish, a well-studied model for axial motor control. Like tetrapods, fish have limb gait transitions, and the advantages of the zebrafish system make it a powerful complement to tetrapod models. Here we describe pectoral fin motoneuron activity in a fictive preparation with which we are able to elicit two locomotor gaits seen in behaving larval zebrafish: rhythmic slow axial and pectoral fin swimming and faster axis-only swimming. We found that at low swim frequencies (17–33 Hz), fin motoneurons fired spikes rhythmically and in coordination with axial motoneuron activity. Abductor motoneurons spiked out of phase with adductor motoneurons, with no significant coactivation. At higher frequencies, fin abductor motoneurons were generally nonspiking, whereas fin adductor motoneurons fired spikes reliably and nonrhythmically, suggesting that the gait transition from rhythmic fin beats to axis-only swimming is actively controlled. Using brain and spinal cord transections to localize underlying circuit components, we demonstrate that a limited region of caudal hindbrain and rostral spinal cord in the area of the fin motor pool is necessary to drive a limb rhythm while the full hindbrain, but not more rostral brain regions, is necessary to elicit the faster axis-only, fin-tucked swimming gait.
The Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Cross-Sectional Cancer Area in Node-Positive Breast Cancer: A Comparison with N Stage and Lymph Node Ratio
Authors: Li Yanxia , Holmes Earle , Shah Karan , Albuquerque Kevin , Szpaderska Anna , Erşahin Çağatay
Published: October 2012

The number of positive axillary lymph nodes (LNs) is the only node-related factor for prognostic evaluation of breast cancer recognized by AJCC (TNM staging). However, N staging may not completely reflect LN tumor involvement due to the erroneous count of LNs in the presence of matted LNs and different tumor volume in LNs. Additionally, the positive/total LN ratio (LNR) has been shown to outperform N staging in survival prediction. In our study, to better quantify the tumor involvement of axillary LNs, we measured the cross-sectional cancer area (CSCA) of the positive LNs in 292 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2000 in our institution and compared its prognostic value to that of number of positive LNs (metLN)/N stage and LNR. Statistical analyses of these three LN-related factors were performed by Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox's regression model. Patients were divided into three groups based on the different LN CSCA (<50, 50–500, and >500 mm2), or LNR (<0.1, 0.1–0.65, and >0.65), or N stage (N1–N3). Multivariate analysis demonstrated LNR was the most significant LN-related survival predictor with hazard ratio (HR) 25.0 (), compared to the metLN (HR 0.09, ) and CSCA (HR 2.24, ).
Sporadic Intra-Abdominal Desmoid: A Rare Presentation as a Hepatic Mass
Authors: Gupta Shahana , Ray Udipta , Chatterjee Souvik , Kumar Sanjeev , Satapathy Ayusman , Chatterjee Shamita , Choudhury Tamal Kanti
Published: October 2012

We report an unusual presentation of a sporadic intra-abdominal desmoid tumour, possibly arising from the diaphragm, masquerading as a hepatic mass in a young female without any history of surgery or trauma. Histopathology ruled out a hepatic origin of the tumour as was inferred from pre- and intraoperative evaluation. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity of lesional fibroblastic cells forβ-catenin and negativity for CD34, CD117, EMA, SMA, desmin, vimentin, cytokeratin, and ALK1 thereby confirming the diagnosis of a desmoid tumour. There exist only a few reports in the literature on desmoids related to the diaphragm, but only one on a diaphragmatic desmoid that is possibly primary.
Evaluation of Strength and Irradiated Movement Pattern Resulting from Trunk Motions of the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
Authors: Gontijo Luciana Bahia , Pereira Polianna Delfino , Neves Camila Danielle Cunha , Santos Ana Paula , Machado Dionis de Castro Dutra , Bastos Victor Hugo do Vale
Published: October 2012

Introduction. The proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a physiotherapeutic concept based on muscle and joint proprioceptive stimulation. Among its principles, the irradiation is the reaction of the distinct regional muscle contractions to the position of the application of the motions.Objective. To investigate the presence of irradiated dorsiflexion and plantar flexion and the existing strength generated by them during application of PNF trunk motions.Methods. The study was conducted with 30 sedentary and female volunteers, the PNF motions of trunk flexion, and extension with the foot (right and left) positioned in a developed equipment coupled to the load cell, which measured the strength irradiated in Newton.Results. Most of the volunteers irradiated dorsal flexion in the performance of the flexion and plantar flexion during the extension motion, both presenting an average force of 8.942 N and 10.193 N, respectively.Conclusion. The distal irradiation in lower limbs became evident, reinforcing the therapeutic actions to the PNF indirect muscular activation.
Refinements of Inequalities among Difference of Means
Authors: Shi Huan-Nan , Li Da-Mao , Zhang Jian
Published: October 2012

In this paper, for the difference of famous means discussed by Taneja in 2005, we study the Schur-geometric convexity in (0, ∞) × (0, ∞) of the difference between them. Moreover some inequalities related to the difference of those means are obtained.
Lymphoma of the Cervix
Authors: Parnis Juanita , Camilleri David J. , Babic Darko , DeGaetano James , Savona-Ventura Charles
Published: October 2012

Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma of the uterine cervix is a very rare diagnosis. A 54-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of postmenopausal bleeding per vaginum. On examination, a friable, fungating lesion was seen on the cervix. Histology revealed a CD 20 positive high-grade non-Hodgkin’s diffuse large B cell lymphoma from cervical biopsies and endometrial curettage. She was diagnosed as stage IE after workup and subsequently treated with six cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy of the involved field.
Pott’s Puffy Tumor: An Uncommon Clinical Entity
Authors: Suwan Phillip T. , Mogal Suvarna , Chaudhary Subhash
Published: October 2012

Although first described in 1760, Pott’s puffy tumor is a lesser known clinical entity. Often seen as a complication of frontal sinusitis, Pott’s is a frontal bone osteomyelitis with an associated subperiosteal abscess. Patients present with a fluctuant swelling of the scalp. The diagnosis is often confirmed with computed tomography (CT). Prompt surgical and medical treatments are the rule as there is the potential for significant morbidity if not quickly diagnosed and treated. Herein, we describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of an 8-year-old female presenting with Pott’s puffy tumor.
The Tutte Polynomial of Some Matroids
Authors: Merino Criel , Ramírez-Ibáñez Marcelino , Rodríguez-Sánchez Guadalupe
Published: October 2012

The Tutte polynomial of a graph or a matroid, named after W. T. Tutte, has the important universal property that essentially any multiplicative graph or network invariant with a deletion and contraction reduction must be an evaluation of it. The deletion and contraction operations are natural reductions for many network models arising from a wide range of problems at the heart of computer science, engineering, optimization, physics, and biology. Even though the invariant is #P-hard to compute in general, there are many occasions when we face the task of computing the Tutte polynomial for some families of
graphs or matroids. In this work, we compile known formulas for the Tutte polynomial of some families of graphs and matroids. Also, we give brief explanations of the techniques that were used to find the formulas. Hopefully, this will be useful for researchers in Combinatorics and elsewhere.
Strong Convergence of the Iterative Methods for Hierarchical Fixed Point Problems of an Infinite Family of Strictly Nonself Pseudocontractions
Authors: Xu Wei , Wang Yuanheng
Published: October 2012

This paper deals with a new iterative algorithm for solving hierarchical fixed point problems of an infinite family of pseudocontractions in Hilbert spaces by yn = βnSxn + (1 − βn)xn, , and ∀n ≥ 0, where Ti : C ↦ H is a nonself ki‐strictly pseudocontraction. Under certain approximate conditions, the sequence {xn} converges strongly to , which solves some variational inequality. The results here improve and extend some recent results.
Plant Feeding in an Omnivorous Mirid,Dicyphus hesperus: Why Plant Context Matters
Authors: Gillespie David R. , VanLaerhoven Sherah L. , McGregor Robert R. , Chan Shannon , Roitberg Bernard D.
Published: October 2012

True omnivores that feed on both plant and animal tissues are not additive combinations of herbivore and predator (carnivore). Because true omnivores must distribute adaptive feeding decisions among two disparate tissue types, understanding the context that plants provide for foraging is important to understand their role in food webs. We varied prey and plant resources to investigate the plant context in an omnivorous true bug,Dicyphus hesperus. The contribution of plant species to fitness was unimportant in water acquisition decisions, but affected numbers of prey consumed over longer periods. In plant communities, in the absence of prey,D. hesperusmoved to plants with the highest resource quality. Unlike pure predators facing declining prey, omnivores can use a nondepleting resource to fund future foraging without paying a significant cost. However, the dual resource exploitation can also impose significant constraints when both types of resources are essential. The presence of relatively profitable plants that are spatially separate from intermediate consumer populations could provide a mechanism to promote stability within food webs with plant-feeding omnivores. The effects of context in omnivores will require adding second-order terms to the Lotka-Volterra structure to explicitly account for the kinds of interactions we have observed here.
The Multiple Gamma-Functions and the Log-Gamma Integrals
Authors: Wang X.-H. , Lu Y.-L.
Published: October 2012

In this paper, which is a companion paper to [W], starting from the Euler integral which appears in a generalization of Jensen’s formula, we shall give a closed form for the integral of log . This enables us to locate the genesis of two new functions and considered by Srivastava and Choi. We consider the closely related functionA(a)and the Hurwitz zeta function, which render the task easier than working with the functions themselves. We shall also give a direct proof of Theorem 4.1, which is a consequence of [CKK, Corollary 1.1], though.
Solitonic Solutions for Homogeneous KdV Systems by Homotopy Analysis Method
Authors: Ali Mohammed , Alquran Marwan , Mohammad Mahmoud
Published: October 2012

We study two‐component evolutionary systems of a homogeneous KdV equations of second and third order. The homotopy analysis method (HAM) is used for analytical treatment of these systems. The auxiliary parameter h of HAM is freely chosen from the stability region of the h‐curve obtained for each proposed system.
Design and Analysis of Printed Yagi-Uda Antenna and Two-Element Array for WLAN Applications
Authors: Run-Nan Cai , Ming-Chuan Yang , Shu Lin , Xing-Qi Zhang , Xin-Yue Zhang , Xiao-Feng Liu
Published: October 2012

A printed director antenna with compact structure is proposed. The antenna is fed by a balanced microstrip-slotline and makes good use of space to reduce feeding network area and the size of antenna. According to the simulation results of CST MICROWAVE STUDIO software, broadband characteristics and directional radiation properties of the antenna are explained. The operating bandwidth is 1.8 GHz–3.5 GHz with reflection coefficient less than −10 dB. Antenna gain in band can achieve 4.5–6.8 dBi, and the overall size of antenna is smaller than0.34λ0×0.58λ0. Then the antenna is developed to a two-element antenna array, working frequency and relative bandwidth of which are 2.15–2.87 GHz and 28.7%, respectively. Compared with antenna unit, the gain of the antenna array has increased by 2 dB. Thus the proposed antenna has characteristics of compact structure, relatively small size, and wideband, and it can be widely used in PCS/UMTS/WLAN/ WiMAX fields.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation with Renoportal Anastomosis for a Patient with Congenital Absence of the Portal Vein
Authors: Uchida Hajime , Sakamoto Seisuke , Shigeta Takanobu , Hamano Ikumi , Kanazawa Hiroyuki , Fukuda Akinari , Karaki Chiaki , Nakazawa Atsuko , Kasahara Mureo
Published: October 2012

A congenital absence of the portal vein (CAPV) is a rare disorder that may lead to an intrapulmonary shunt. A 14-year-old male with CAPV underwent living donor liver transplantation with a left lobe graft from his father. The portal vein reconstruction was achieved with a renoportal anastomosis using an interpositional graft from the native collateral vein, because portal venous system directly drains to the left renal vein without constructing the confluence of superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein. The patient is doing well with a normal liver function and mild hypoxemia.
Further Results on Derivations of Ranked Bigroupoids
Authors: Jun Young Bae , Kim Hee Sik , Roh Eun Hwan
Published: October 2012

Further properties on (X, ∗, &)‐self‐(co)derivations of ranked bigroupoids are investigated, and conditions for an (X, ∗, &)‐self‐(co)derivation to be regular are provided. The notion of ranked ∗‐subsystems is introduced, and related properties are investigated.
Digital Noise Generator Design Using Inverted 1D Tent Chaotic Map
Authors: Palacios-Luengas Leonardo , Duchen-Sánchez Gonzalo Isaac , Aragón-Vera José Luis , Vázquez-Medina Rubén
Published: October 2012

This paper shows a digital noise generator designed in FPGA, based on a variant of the one‐dimensional (1D) chaotic tent map (T‐1D). The T‐1D map is a piecewise linear 1D chaotic map that defines the statistical behavior of the generated sequences using its control parameter. In this way, the proposed noise generator is a highly competitive alternative in cryptographic systems when the statistical behavior of the sequences is closer to the uniform statistical distribution. The proposed system uses the inverted tent chaotic map (IT‐1D), which has the same statistical behavior as the T‐1D map. The fundamental algorithm used in this system was developed based on a 64‐bit double precision format according to the numerical representation of floating point numbers defined in the IEEE‐754 standard. The proposed system is analized using mechanical statistic tools and some statistical tests defined in the NIST 800‐22SP (USA) standard. The main contribution of this work is the possibility of generating binary sequence of pseudorandom appearance by a procedure implemented in an FPGA device that translates real numbers to natural numbers preserving the statistical properties of sequences of real numbers that can be generated with the tent chaotic map in its original definition domain.
Persistence of Avian Influenza Viruses in Various Artificially Frozen Environmental Water Types
Authors: Shoham Dany , Jahangir Alam , Ruenphet Sakchai , Takehara Kazuaki
Published: October 2012

Background. This study investigates the viable persistence of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in various types of artificially frozen environmental water and evaluates the feasibility of similar occurrence taking place in nature, and allowing for prolonged abiotic virus survival, with subsequent biotic viral recirculation. Methods. Fresh, brackish, and salty water, taken in Japan from aquatic biotopes regularly visited by migratory waterfowl, were seeded with AIVs. We monthly monitored the viability of the seeded viruses in the frozen state at −20°C and −30°C, for 12 months. We also monitored virus viability following repeatedly induced freezing and thawing. Results. The viruses exhibited considerable viable persistence all along that period of time, as well as during freezing-thawing cycles. Appreciable, yet noncrucial variances were observed in relation to some of the parameters examined. Conclusions. As typical waterborne pathogens of numerous northerly aquatic birds, AIVs are innately adapted to both the body temperature of their hosts (40°C to 42°C) and, presumably, to subzero temperatures of frozen lakes (down to −54°C in parts of Siberia) occupied and virus-seeded by subclinically infected birds, prior to freezing. Marked cryostability of AIVs appears to be evident. Preservation in environmental ice has significant ecophylogenetic and epidemiological implications, potentially, and could account for various unexplained phenomena.
Study on Thermodynamic Properties for Binary Systems of Water + L‐Cysteine Hydrochloride Monohydrate, Glycerol, and D‐Sorbitol at Various Temperatures
Authors: Koohyar F. , Rostami A. A. , Chaichi M. J. , Kiani F.
Published: October 2012

Viscosities, refractive indices, and densities for aqueous solution of L‐cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate ([LCHCMH]) and D‐sorbitol, and also densities (ρ), refractive indices (nD), excess molar volumes (VE), and change of refractive indices on mixing (ΔnD) for aqueous solution of glycerol have been measured at several mole fractions and temperatures (between T = 303.15 K and T = 323.15 K) at atmospheric pressure. The measurements were carried out using a vibrating‐tube density meter for density, an Abbe refractometer for refractive index, and an Ubbelohde viscometer for viscosity. From these data for aqueous solution of glycerol, the excess molar volumes and the change of refractive indices on mixing were calculated and fitted to the Redlich‐Kister polynomial equation. Also for aqueous solutions of [LCHCMH], glycerol, and D‐sorbitol, the density and refractive indices were fitted with the experimental equations to estimate the adjustable parameters and relative deviations. It has been observed for aqueous solution of glycerol that the excess molar volumes and change of refractive indices on mixing increase and decrease with increasing temperature, respectively.
Antimicrobial Activity of Some Derivatives of 1,4‐Dihydropyridines
Authors: Mehta Prabha , Verma Prabha
Published: October 2012

Hantzsch reported the synthesis of functionalized 1,4‐dihydropyridines via three‐component condensation of an aromatic aldehyde, ketoester, and ammonium hydroxide. This multicomponent reaction is of much importance due to excellent pharmacological properties of dihydropyridines. In this account, we synthesized some halo‐ and nitrophenyl dihydropyridines and evaluated their antimicrobial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by microdilution technique in Mueller Hinton broth. The MICs were recorded after 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. These results showed that these compounds exhibited significant to moderate activities against both Gram‐(+) and Gram‐(−) organisms.
Effective Plasmid DNA and Small Interfering RNA Delivery to Diseased Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Slanina H. , Schmutzler M. , Christodoulides M. , Kim K.S. , Schubert-Unkmeir A.
Published: October 2012

Expression of exogenous DNA or small interfering RNA (siRNA) in vitro is significantly affected by the particular delivery system utilized. In this study, we evaluated the transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA and siRNA into human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) and meningioma cells, which constitute the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, a target of meningitis-causing pathogens. Chemical transfection methods and various lipofection reagents including Lipofectamin™, FuGene™, or jetPRIME®, as well as physical transfection methods and electroporation techniques were applied. To monitor the transfection efficiencies, HBMEC and meningioma cells were transfected with the reporter plasmid pTagGFP2-actin vector, and efficiency of transfection was estimated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. We established protocols based on electroporation using Cell Line Nucleofector® Kit V with the Amaxa® Nucleofector® II system from Lonza and the Neon® Transfection system from Invitrogen resulting in up to 41 and 82% green fluorescent protein-positive HBMEC, respectively. Optimal transfection solutions, pulse programs and length were evaluated. We furthermore demonstrated that lipofection is an efficient method to transfect meningioma cells with a transfection efficiency of about 81%. Finally, we applied the successful electroporation protocols to deliver synthetic siRNA to HBMEC and analyzed the role of the actin-binding protein cortactin in Neisseria meningitidis pathogenesis.
Colonization of Caenorhabditis elegans by Bacillus nematocida B16, a Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogen
Authors: Niu Qiu-Hong , Huang Xiaowei , Hui Fengli , Huang Siliang , Ke Tao , Zhang Ke-Qin , Zhang Lin
Published: October 2012

Background: Soil-dwelling Bacillus nematocida B16 can kill Caenorhabditis elegans via a Trojan horse-like mechanism. However, colonization is a key problem that must be solved during the infection process. Aims: To study the molecular mechanism involved in the colonization of B. nematocida B16 against the host C. elegans. Methods: GFP-expressing strain B16g was constructed and its nematocidal activity was assayed. ‘Feeding transfer’ experiments were carried out separately using of B16 and B16g strains to explore the colonization mode of the bacteria. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the interactions between fluorescent signal and the quantity of bacteria in the intestine. A mariner-based transposon called TnYLB-1 was also applied in the random mutagenesis of B16 to screen the mutants with impaired colonization of nematode worms and identify potential localization-related genes. Results and Conclusion: A small inoculum of the bacteria resulted in its proliferation in the C. elegans intestine. The fluorescence signal was enhanced with increasing bacterial density in the intestine. Several candidate genes with possibly important roles in colonization were found. These results provide a solid foundation for further elucidation of the infection process at the molecular level and enrichment of our knowledge of bacterial pathogenesis.
Gender Differences in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Hospital-Based Multicenter Prospective Study
Authors: Bueno Alves Monique , Freitas de Carvalho João José , Álvares Andrade Viana Georgiana , Borges Machado Cícera , Fortunato Cardoso dos Santos Bento , Cendoroglo Neto Miguel , Sampaio Silva Gisele
Published: October 2012

Gender differences are well described for patients with ischemic stroke. Conversely, sex disparities in stroke presentation, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were not previously studied. Our objective was to compare the frequency of risk factors, management patterns, symptoms at presentation, complication rates, and outcomes between genders in patients with ICH in Fortaleza, Brazil. Methods: Data were prospectively collected from patients admitted to 19 hospitals in Fortaleza with a diagnosis of ICH by trained research coordinators from June 2009 to October 2010. Daily visits to the selected hospitals were performed, and all patients admitted with a diagnosis of ICH were prospectively evaluated. Results: We evaluated 364 patients, 47.5% of whom were women. Men were younger (59.3 ± 14.58 years vs. 66.3 ± 14.6 years, p < 0.001), more frequently smokers (33.1 vs. 16.6%, p < 0.01) and had a higher frequency of alcohol abuse (48.5 vs. 8.2%, p < 0.01) than women. Women had a trend to have more dyslipidemia (41.1 vs. 31.3%, p = 0.12). Clinical presentation was similar between genders including the presence of motor and sensory deficits, headache, and depressed level of consciousness at presentation. Men had more speech disturbances than women (63.6 vs. 52.7%, p = 0.04). The time interval from symptoms onset to hospital admission was longer in women (25.1 ± 82.4 h vs. 7.9 ± 50.3 h, p = 0.08). Complication rates including pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis were not different between genders. Mortality was similar in both sexes (females: 35.8% vs. males: 33%, p = 0.66). Men were more frequently independent at discharge when evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (mRS ≤2: 19.7% in men and 8.1% in women, p < 0.01). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age, pre-stroke disability, depressed consciousness at admission, and female gender were independent predictors of poor outcome at discharge. Conclusion: Overall risk factors for ICH in men and women were similar in our series. Men had a higher frequency of alcohol abuse and smoking. Women were older, had an increased time length from symptoms onset to hospital admission and had a worse prognosis at discharge. A better understanding of the gender disparities in patients with ICH will hopefully lead to better outcomes in both sexes in the future.
Prevalence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Helal Imed , Reed Berenice , Mettler Pamela , Mc Fann Kim , Tkachenko Oleksandra , Yan Xiang-Dong , Schrier Robert W.
Published: October 2012

Background: This study evaluates the prevalence of cardiovascular events in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. Methods: We distributed surveys to 1,439 subjects from our ADPKD research database. In total, 426 subjects completed and returned surveys; 7 of these were from children and were excluded from the study. Results: The patients who responded were female (63.2%), nonHispanic (88.1%) and white (93.6%). The mean age of the total group was 53.2 ± 13.7 years; 82.8% had a family history of ADPKD and 32.5% had reached end-stage renal disease (ESRD). With respect to cardiovascular risk factors, 86.6% were hypertensive with a mean age at diagnosis of 36.9 ± 12.9 years and hypertension was significantly more prevalent in males. In addition, 19.6% of the subjects were obese, 20.8% were smokers, 8.7% had diabetes, 45.7% had high cholesterol and 17.8% were sedentary. The most prevalent self-reported cardiovascular events were arrhythmias (25.9%), evidence of peripheral vascular disease (16.5%), heart valve problems (14.4%), cardiac enlargement (9.5%), stroke or cerebral bleeding (7.5%), myocardial infarction (6%) and brain aneurysm (5.0%). The most commonly used antihypertensive medications were renin-angiotensin inhibitors used by 75% of ADPKD patients. Older ADPKD patients and those at ESRD had a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular events. Conclusion: These findings support the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and events in ADPKD patients which contribute to a greater mortality risk. Due to the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the ADPKD population, early diagnosis and clinical intervention are recommended.
Prediction of Rice Production in the Philippines Using Seasonal Climate Forecasts
Authors: Koide Naohisa , Robertson Andrew W. , Ines Amor V. M. , Qian Jian-Hua , DeWitt David G. , Lucero Anthony
Published: October 2012

Predictive skills of retrospective seasonal climate forecasts (hindcasts) tailored to Philippine rice production data at national, regional, and provincial levels are investigated using precipitation hindcasts from one uncoupled general circulation model (GCM) and two coupled GCMs, as well as using antecedent observations of tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures, warm water volumes (WWV), and zonal winds (ZW). Contrasting cross-validated predictive skills are found between the “dry” January–June and “rainy” July–December crop-production seasons. For the dry season, both irrigated and rain-fed rice production are shown to depend strongly on rainfall in the previous October–December. Furthermore, rice-crop hindcasts based on the two coupled GCMs, or on the observed WWV and ZW, are each able to account for more than half of the total variance of the dry-season national detrended rice production with about a 6-month lead time prior to the beginning of the harvest season. At regional and provincial levels, predictive skills are generally low. The relationships are found to be more complex for rainy-season rice production. Area harvested correlates positively with rainfall during the preceding dry season, whereas the yield has positive and negative correlations with rainfall in June–September and in October–December of the harvested year, respectively. Tropical cyclone activity is also shown to be a contributing factor in the latter 3-month season. Hindcasts based on the WWV and ZW are able to account for almost half of the variance of the detrended rice production data in Luzon with a few months’ lead time prior to the beginning of the rainy season.
Impact of Surface Parameter Uncertainties within the Canadian Regional Ensemble Prediction System
Authors: Lavaysse Christophe , Carrera Marco , Bélair Stéphane , Gagnon Normand , Frenette Ronald , Charron Martin , Yau M. K.
Published: October 2012

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of uncertainties in surface parameter and initial conditions on numerical prediction with the Canadian Regional Ensemble Prediction System (REPS). As part of this study, the Canadian version of the Interactions between Soil–Biosphere–Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface scheme has been coupled to Environment Canada’s numerical weather prediction model within the REPS. For 20 summer periods in 2009, stochastic perturbations of surface parameters have been generated in several experiments. Each experiment corresponds to 20 simulations differing by the perturbations at the initial time of one or several surface parameters or prognostic variables. The sensitivity to these perturbations is quantified especially for 2-m temperature, 10-m wind speed, cloud fraction, and precipitation up to 48-h lead time. Spatial variability of these sensitivities over the North American continent shows that soil moisture, albedo, leaf area index, and SST have the largest impacts on the screen-level variables. The temporal evolution of these sensitivities appears to be closely linked to the diurnal cycle of the boundary layer. The surface perturbations are shown to increase the ensemble spread of the REPS for all screen-level variables especially for 2-m temperature and 10-m wind speed during daytime. A preliminary study of the impact on the ensemble forecast has shown that the inclusion of the surface perturbations tends to significantly increase the 2-m temperature and 10-m wind speed skill.
“Stakes Is High”
Authors: Houchen Diedre
Published: October 2012

This article explores practitioner inquiry and culturally relevant pedagogy to create academic success with students facing high school exit examinations in Reading. In Florida, about one-third of African American students passed the test in 2010. Student perspectives on achievement, school processes, and engagement were incorporated with strategic practice to create a collaborative, classroom environment. Culturally relevant pedagogy, literacy theory, and English language arts instruction were integrated with student’s perspectives in curriculum design and instruction.
Design of a Basic System of Indicators for Monitoring and Evaluating Spanish Cooperation’s Culture and Development Strategy
Authors: Coll-Serrano Vicente , Carrasco-Arroyo Salvador , Blasco-Blasco Olga , Vila-Lladosa Luis
Published: October 2012

Objective:

This article describes the process implemented in order to define and build up a Basic Monitoring and Evaluation System for Spanish Cooperation’s Culture and Development Strategy (CD-S).

Research Design:

Delphi techniques were used to assess a wide catalogue of indicators for each of the strategic areas included in the CD-S. Afterward, those indicators considered most suitable for monitoring and evaluating purposes were selected based on the assessments provided by a panel of experts.

Results:

As a consequence, the resulting system, made up by a total of 80 indicators, was designed to be a practical, manageable, and targeted tool for its potential users, who include managers and technical officers who map out strategy together with stakeholders involved in its implementation, and specifically with staff at cultural centers abroad and in technical aid offices.
From Era of Plenty to Era of Overflow
Authors: De Meulenaere Jonas , Van den Broeck Wendy , Lievens Bram
Published: October 2012

This article focuses on how viewers decide what to watch in a context of almost infinite video content availability and a lasting expansion of the process of digitization. We investigate to what extent viewers apply an active search process toward video content. Therefore we applied a focus group methodology. Seven focus group sessions were conducted, totaling 47 participants. We found that this process is guided by a combination of contextual, content-related, and personal factors, which simultaneously free as well as restrict the viewer in his choice. Moreover it can be concluded that a gradual shift is taking place in who fulfills the gatekeeper’s role.
HIV, Globalization and Topology: Of Prepositions and Propositions
Authors: Michael Mike , Rosengarten Marsha
Published: October 2012

In this article we explore how two enactments of HIV – the UN’s AIDS Clock and clinical trials for an HIV biomedical prevention technology or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – entail particular globalizing and localizing dynamics. Drawing on Latour’s and Whitehead’s concept of proposition, and Serres’ call for a philosophy of prepositions, we use the composite notion of pre/pro-positions to trace the shifting topological status of HIV. For example, we show how PrEP emerges through topological entwinements of globalizing biomedical standardization, localizing protests against PrEP trials and globalizing ethical principles. We go on to examine how our own analysis manifests a parallel topological pattern in which we deploy a globalizing argument about the localizing of the globalizing found in the AIDS Clock and the PrEP trails. Finally, we consider how the movement of ‘topology’ into the social sciences might itself benefit from a topological treatment.
Digital Design and Topological Control
Authors: Parisi Luciana
Published: October 2012

At the turn of the 21st century, topology, the mathematical study of spatial properties that remain the same under the continuous deformation of objects, has come to invest all fields of aesthetics and culture. In particular, the algebraic topology of continuity has added to the digital realm of binary information, the on and off states of 0s and 1s, an invariant property (e.g. a continuous function), which now governs the relation between different forms of data. As this invariant function of continual transformation has entered the field of automated computation, the culture of binary digits has shifted towards a new level of calculation derived from the introduction of temporal quantities into finite sets of algorithmic instructions and parameters. This new level of topological computation, it will be argued, defines new operative procedures of control, constantly adding axioms at the limit of calculation through an invariant function that establishes a smooth or uninterrupted connectivity between distinct data. The establishment of a continual function between distinct forms of data is based on homeomorphism or topological isomorphism between data objects, of which parametricism, as the new global style for architecture and design, is a perfect example.
Mapping and the Politics of Web Space
Authors: Rogers Richard
Published: October 2012

This article concerns efforts to see politics in web space. It is a network-topological approach in which the mappings of web space over the past decade have resulted in specific political geometries (roundtables, spheres, lists, etc.). In the web as hyperspace period, random site generators invited surfers to jumpcut through space. Mapping was performed for sites’ backlinks, showing distinctive ‘politics of association’. In the web as public sphere period, circle maps served as virtual roundtables. What if the web were to decide who should sit at the table? As ideas about the shapes the web accommodated shifted from public spheres to networks, the maps displayed ‘issue spaces’ – clusters of actors engaged in the same issue area, but now central or marginal. Finally, in what is dubbed as the revenge of geography, in the current locative period, maps show the distributed geography of engagement. Actors are temporarily ‘based’ and travelling physically from event to event, with tracing and other social software showing their routes. The article treats the shift in focus away from the ‘metaphysics’ of software-enabled spaces online (the ‘virtual’ topologies) to critiques of the new ‘trace routes’ (followed by mobile network actors) now that cyberspace is grounded.
Cultural Topology: The Seven Bridges of Königsburg, 1736
Authors: Shields Rob
Published: October 2012

In an example of Enlightenment ‘engaged research' and public intellectual practice, Euler established the basis of topology and graph theory through his solution to the puzzle of whether a stroll around the seven bridges of 18th-century Königsberg (Kaliningrad) was possible without having to cross any given bridge twice. This ‘Manifesto' argues that, born in a form of cultural studies, topology offers 21st-century researchers a model for mapping the dynamics of time as well as space, allowing the rigorous description of events, situations, changing cultural formations and social spatializations. Law and Mol's network spaces, Serre's folded time, Massey’s ‘power geometries’, Lefebvre's ‘production of space’ and ‘rhythmanalysis’ can be developed through a cultural topological sensitivity that allows time to be understood as not only progressive but cyclical, relationships and the ‘reach’ of power can be understood through ‘knots', and a topology of experience to model the ‘plushness of the Real' via extra- and over-dimensioned time-spaces that capture nuance while drawing on systematic conceptual resources.
Reducing harm from tobacco use
Authors: McNeill Ann , Munafò Marcus R
Published: October 2012

If current trends in smoking prevalence continue, even with the implementation of enhanced tobacco control measures, millions of smokers will continue to fall ill and die as a direct result of their smoking. Many of these will be from the most deprived groups in society – smoking continues to be one of the strongest drivers of health inequalities. The personal costs of this morbidity and mortality, as well as costs to business and the economy, are unequalled and will therefore remain high for several decades to come. However, there is an addition to the tobacco control armoury that could have a marked impact on public health, but it requires radical action to be taken. This would be to embrace harm reduction, but this approach is as controversial in the case of tobacco as it is in the case of illicit drugs from where it derives. However, harm reduction remains the Cinderella of the three major strategies for reducing smoking-related harm, the others being prevention and cessation. Here we make the case that harm reduction has an important role to play in reducing the health burden of tobacco use.
Une approche « hétéro-statistique » et graphique des masses de données d’enquête – le logiciel PointG
Authors: Champely Stéphane , Lefèvre Brice , Thomas Julie , Ferez Sylvain
Published: October 2012

A “Hetero-statistical” and Graphical Approach for Massive Survey Data – The PointG Software. In sociology, one is often confronted with the problem of graphic presentations based on processing massive quantities of data from questionnaire surveys. Moreover, potential users can be of low statistical expertise, thus requiring relatively easy to use software such as PointG with drop-down menus. It is aimed at facing the difficulties due to the mass of collected quantitative data, both at the strategic, tactical and operational levels of statistical processing. It offers conventional ways of analysis going from univariate to multivariate data, but also automates treatments on groups of variables and calculates the size of overall and local effects. Apart from the graphic aspects, its distinctive “hetero-statistic” approach permits the user not to worry about the nature of the variables in bivariate analyses and during regression and factor analysis. PointG was developed within the powerful distribution free R programming environment.