bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paratrichodorus divergens sp. n., a new potential virus vector of tobacco rattle virus and additional observations on P. hispanus Roca & Arias, 1986 from Portugal (Nematoda: Trichodoridae)
Authors: de Almeida Santos Maria Susana Newton , Decraemer Wilfrida , de Almeida Maria Teresa Martins , de Oliveira Abrantes Isabel Maria
Published: October 2005

During a survey of trichodorids in continental Portugal, a new trichodorid species, Paratrichodorus divergens sp. n., was found. It is described and illustrated with specimens from the type locality together with additional morphometric data and photographs of specimens obtained from soil samples collected in seven other localities. The species is characterised in the female by distinct drop-like to triangular oblique vaginal sclerotisations diverging outwards and sperm cells usually distributed all through the uteri, and in the male by thin, almost straight, striated spicules, the two posteriormost precloacal supplements being located relatively close to one another and usually opposite the distal third of the retracted spicules, presence of a slightly bilobed cloacal lip and sperm cells with a sausage-shaped nucleus. Paratrichodorus divergens sp. n. most closely resembles P. hispanus Roca & Arias, 1986 with which it often occurs in mixed populations. Additional information is also provided for P. hispanus. Coding of the features of the new species is given following the identification key of Decraemer and Baujard.
A synopsis of the genus Bursaphelenchus Fuchs, 1937 (Aphelenchida: Parasitaphelenchidae) with keys to species
Authors: Kulinich Oleg , Mota Manuel , Vieira Paulo , Ryss Alexander
Published: October 2005

The 75 valid species of the genus Bursaphelenchus are listed together with their synonyms. Diagnostic characters and their states are discussed and illustrated. Tabular and traditional text keys are provided for the genus. Two new subspecies are proposed to distinguish populations of B. piniperdae and B. poligraphi, as described by Rühm (1956), from the original descriptions of these species published by Fuchs (1937). Known records of Bursaphelenchus species with their associated natural vectors, plants and plant families are given. Dendrograms of species relationships (UPGMA, standard distance: mean character difference) based on combined taxonomic characters and also on spicule characters only, are provided. Discussion as to whether the species groups are natural or artificial (and therefore purely diagnostic) is based on their relationships in the dendrogram and the vector and associated plant ranges of the species. Of the six species groups distinguished, two appear to represent natural assemblages, these being the xylophilus-group (with ten species) and the hunti-group (seven species), of which two, B. cocophilus and B. dongguanensis, form the cocophilus-cluster which is separated on the dendrogram from the main clusters. The remaining four species groups appear to be artificial and purely diagnostic in function, namely the aberrans-group (four species); the eidmanni-group (six species); the borealis-group (five species), and the piniperdae-group (43 species). Two new subspecies, both in the piniperdae-group, viz. B. piniperdae ruehmpiniperdae n. subsp. and B. poligraphi ruehmpoligraphi n. subsp., are proposed and diagnosed from B. piniperdae piniperdae and B. poligraphi poligraphi the respective type subspecies. Bursaphelenchus dongguanensis is regarded as being a valid member of the genus and its transfer to Parasitaphelenchus is rejected.
Rhabditis (Oscheius) colombiana n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a necromenic associate of the subterranean burrower bug Cyrtomenus bergi (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) from the Cauca Valley, Colombia
Authors: Stock S. Patricia , Caicedo Ana , Calatayud Paul
Published: October 2005

Rhabditis (Oscheius) colombiana n. sp. is described as a necromenic associate of the burrower bug Cyrtomenus bergi (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) collected in the Cauca Valley, Colombia. The new species resembles others of the insectivora-group, viz, Rhabditis (O.) insectivora Körner, 1954 and Rhabditis (O.) lucianii Maupas, 1919, in a number of morphological and life history traits, but can be separated by a combination of morphological and morphometric characters. The most distinctive morphological features that separate R. (O.) colombiana n. sp. from these two Rhabditis species are the total size of both males and females, which are much shorter and slimmer in the new species; the size of the male spicules and the values of ratios b and c. Additionally, molecular data (18S rDNA sequences) and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the distinctiveness of this species when compared to a number of other Rhabditis (Oscheius) species.
Xiphinema petersmithi Malan, Swart, Meyer & Heyns, 1997, a junior synonym of X. vuittenezi Luc, Lima, Weischer & Flegg, 1964 (Nematoda: Longidoridae)
Authors: Barsi László
Published: October 2005

In the original description of Xiphinema petersmithi, 1997 the species was differentiated from X. vuittenezi, 1964 by its slightly shorter body length and the presence of spines in the uterus. Subsequently, the presence of uterine spines, although not mentioned in the original description, was confirmed in X. vuittenezi. Seven female and two pre-adult paratypes of X. petersmithi were studied and compared with X. vuittenezi. The X. petersmithi paratypes and X. vuittenezi populations studied could not be consistently differentiated by body length. Because of the presence of small spindle-shaped spines in the uteri of both species and the overlapping body length, there is no consistent character to differentiate the two species. Xiphinema petersmithi is therefore proposed as a junior synonym of X. vuittenezi.
Capitalists without a Class
Authors: Tsai Kellee S.
Published: October 2005

This article questions predictions about China’s democratic potential based on rising incomes in the private sector. For private entrepreneurs to constitute a democratizing force, structural theories expect two causal links: first, class formation; and second, collective action. This article examines national surveys of business owners, proposes a typology of entrepreneurs’ political behavior, and concludes that class formation has not occurred among private entrepreneurs. The absence of a common basis for identity and interaction challenges the hypothesis that China’s new capitalists might engage in collective action to demand democracy. Entrepreneurs should, thus, be examined at a lower level of abstraction rather than lumped into a catchall capitalist “middle class.” Taking into account the employment background, social networks, and local political conditions of people in apparently similarly situated groups is essential for explaining political dynamics in transitional contexts where the identities and interests of new economic actors are mediated by prereform experiences.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Single-Versus Multiple-Occupancy Rooms in Acute Care Environments
Authors: Chaudhury Habib , Mahmood Atiya , Valente Maria
Published: October 2005

Private patient rooms have become the industry standard in the United States based on the assumption that they reduce the rate of hospital-acquired infections, facilitate patient care and management, and afford greater therapeutic benefits for patients. The objective of this article is to reviewand analyze the existing literature to identify the empirical evidence related to the advantages and disadvantages of single versus multiple-occupancy patient rooms in hospitals. Three substantive areas were identified for synthesis of the review: (a) first and operating cost of hospitals, (b) infection control, and (c) health care facility management and hospital design and therapeutic impacts. The analysis reveals that private patient rooms reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, allow for greater flexibility in operation and management, and have positive therapeutic impacts on patients. This review highlights the need to consider room occupancy issues along with other patient care issues and environmental and management policies.
Informing the Development of Domestic Energy Efficiency Initiatives
Authors: Parnell Rosie , Larsen Olga Popovic
Published: October 2005

This article challenges the assumptions of the techno-economic paradigm that has dominated U.K. energy policy and associated domestic energy efficiency programs since the 1970s. The process of development of an alternative conceptual framework, the everyday householder-centered approach, is described. The study began with semistructured interviews with domestic energy efficiency program providers, the results of which guided a subsequent literature review. The developed framework was structured around three core traits of the everyday householder in the context of information and advice programs for domestic energy efficiency: self-interest, energy knowledge, and cognitive capacity. The conceptual framework is presented for practical application in guiding the development of effective information and advice-focused domestic energy efficiency programs.
Is a New Urban Development Model Building Greener Communities?
Authors: Youngentob Kara , Hostetler Mark
Published: October 2005

Although neotraditional architecture largely focuses on promoting sense of community (SOC), it has the potential to influence environmentalism in residents as well. In October 2002, the authors conducted a mail survey of 1,611 middleclass homeowners in Gainesville, Florida, to determine if there were differences in SOC and environmental behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge among homeowners from three development types (traditional, post–World War II, and neotraditional). The neotraditional community reported the strongest SOC among the development types. In terms of environmental behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge, however, the neotraditional communitywas not more environmentally friendly than were the post– World War II communities and it was considerably less so than was the traditional community. The results suggest that neotraditional design could play a role in influencing homeowners'SOC but that it may not go far enough in terms of promoting the environmental behaviors and awareness needed to form sustainable communities.
Cities and Empires
Authors: Keene Derek
Published: October 2005

This article reflects on the ways in which cities—from the ancient world to the present and in four continents—have expressed and transmitted imperial ideas. Different types of empires are considered: territorial, commercial, nomadic, dispositional, and reactive. The cities themselves might be central sites of rule, often incorporating symbols of power imported from earlier empires; outposts of commerce or rule; military encampments; or some mixture of these. Strategies of imperial rule and the forms of the cities themselves are often shaped by the traditions of the ruling group or by reference to the political and cosmological systems of other empires deemed worthy of emulation. At the same time, the city forms and governmental structures of lands taken into an empire often are absorbed and used by the empire itself, sometimes even after the empire has been dissolved.
City, Museums for the People, and New Media (1900-1933/1934)
Authors: von Saldern Adelheid
Published: October 2005

The article deals with the educational intentions of and the discourses on popularization of museums by the new media. The use of radio by museums as a means of attracting more people will be reconstructed from the turn of the century to the Nationalist Socialist period. Looking at the Hamburg, the article demonstrates how the city Heimatmuseum, the Museum of Hamburg History, and its director, Professor Otto Lauffer, cooperated with the Hamburg radio station Norag and one of its program directors, Dr. Kurt Stapelfeldt. The cooperation of the two men was based on similar ideas of Volk, Stamm, and Heimatand demonstrates the use of the most modern media at the time for the popularization of a conservative, attractively prepared concept. Although there was a bias for the rural past, their Heimatconcept was not anti-urban per se. Instead, they wanted the cities to search their identities in the peculiarities of the old rural culture of their region. Lauffer and Stapelfeldt considered their work apolitical; in fact, their concept was directed against the modern republican and democratic political culture of the Weimer Republic, and therefore it belonged to the pre-story of the Third Reich.
Planning Urbanization and Urban Growth in the Socialist Period
Authors: Bernhardt Christoph
Published: October 2005

This article argues that socialist cities were fundamentally shaped by both “modern” and “traditional” concepts of urbanism, showing major shifts throughout time and remarkable differences from one city to another. After an examination of the planners’ debates in the Soviet Union during the 1930s, the three East German cities of Eisenhuttenstadt, Schwedt, and Berlin Marzahn are analyzed to show common features as well as the different pathways of urban development. Special attention is given to the relationship between inner-urban transformation and “extensive urbanism,” and to the question of socialist environmental problems and lifestyles. It is claimed that the socialist pathway of urban development differed considerably from the process of suburbanization in the Western countries and can be interpreted as an attempt to realize “socialist utopias” by forming socialist men, socialist families, and socialist neighborhoods with the help of urbanism.
A School-Based Application of Modified Habit Reversal for Tourette Syndrome Via a Translator
Authors: Gilman Rich , Connor Nancy , Haney Michelle
Published: October 2005

A school-based modified habit reversal intervention was utilized with an adolescent diagnosed with Tourette syndrome who recently immigrated from Mexico. Because the student possessed little proficiency of the English language, an interpreterwas needed to help implement the procedure. The frequency of motor tics markedly decreased from baseline to intervention across classroom settings. Results of two follow-up phases revealed that motor tic levels remained below those observed in the baseline phase. Implications and limitations of these findings are noted.
Race, Performance, and Baseball Card Values
Authors: Hewitt John D. , Muñoz Robert , Oliver William L. , Regoli Robert M.
Published: October 2005

This study reports on a search for racial disparities in the value of baseball cards for Black and White members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF). The study's sample of 51 players was derived from the population of the 96 players elected to the HOF since 1936 by the Baseball Writers of America. Although the authors found that race produced no statistical difference in Black and White players' card values, they did observe that players' career performance plus the availability of a player's card (scarcity) exerted a significant effect on the value of cards. The study concludes with a discussion of possible interpretations of these findings.
Union Disaffection and Social Identity
Authors: Lévesque Christian , Murray Gregor , Queux Stéphane Le
Published: October 2005

This article examines union members’evaluation of the relevance of unions and their identification with a traditional collective value frame for union action. It seeks to take account of the impact of increasing labor market heterogeneity, declining instrumentality, and the behavior of unions and employers. Using Canadian data gathered from individual union members and their local union leaders, the study finds that new labor market identities are notlinked to weaker belief in the relevance of unions but are associated with weaker identification with the traditional value frame. Although declining instrumentality and hostile employer behavior are associated with greater identification with traditional value frames, greater union democracy is associated with less membership disaffection on both the relevance of unions and their collective modes of action. Union democracy is therefore found to be a key tool to address membership disaffection and to generate collective identities for a renewed union project.
Lessons From Living-Wage Campaigns
Authors: Luce Stephanie
Published: October 2005

This article looks at 10 years of living-wage campaigns to draw out lessons for labor-movement revitalization. Living-wage advocates have succeeded in passing legislation, building labor-community coalitions, raising awareness on economic development and wage issues, assisting new union organizing and winning raises for already unionized workers. Unions could also benefit by following lessons based on the living-wage movement. For example, labor must develop long-term allies, create a moral vision of its own, work from inside and outside the political process to pass and then enforce laws, and do a better job at involving rank-and-file members.
Anonymous Communication in Organizations
Authors: Scott Craig R. , Rains Stephen A.
Published: October 2005

The two exploratory studies reported here examine use and appropriateness of anonymous communication in the workplace and how they relate to key demographic and organizational variables. In Study 1, use of traditional suggestion boxes, written feedback, and caller-identification blocking were the three most used forms of anonymous communication. In addition, open-ended responses suggested several situations and explanations for anonymity appropriateness. Study 2 identified six types of situations that differ in the extent to which anonymous organizational communication is appropriate (from highest to lowest): organizational surveys and/or assessments, formal evaluations, use of technology, informal evaluations, general use, and firing. In both studies, anonymity use and appropriateness are significantly related to the quality of relationships with key others at work.
Antibiotics for Life-Threatening Illness
Authors: Hara Jill , Stone Susan
Published: October 2005

Infection is a common reason for seeking treatment in the emergency department. Appropriate and timely therapy for these patients is critical. The therapy of most infectious presentations in the emergency department is empiric, with little information published about the infectious etiology and/or pathogen(s). Optimal antibiotic therapy in these patients involves the selection of the appropriate agent(s), the proper dosing regimen, timely administration, and close therapeutic monitoring. To make these decisions, health care providers must be aware of the appropriate diagnostic criteria, likely pathogens for the suspected site of infection, the latest antimicrobial products, and current antimicrobial resistance patterns and trends. Health care providers are also charged with the task of avoiding unnecessary or inappropriate antimicrobial therapy to prevent or slow further bacterial pathogen resistance. Bacterial meningitis, urinary tract infection, and community-acquired pneumonia are the most commonly seen emergency department infectious presentations.
Exploring Out-of-Home Placement as a Moderator of Help-Seeking Behavior Among Adolescents Who Are High Risk
Authors: Unrau Yvonne A. , Grinnell Richard M.
Published: October 2005

Objective: This study investigated foster or group care placement as a predictor of help-seeking behavior among adolescents who were at high risk for physical and mental health problems. Method: Data from the 1985 to 1986 wave of the Adolescent Health Care Evaluation Study were used to compare three groups of adolescents: (a) 136 that had experienced placement, (b) 136 that were randomly selected from the larger sample, and (c) 136 matched to the placement group on key variables. Results: Adolescents who experienced placement had more physical and mental health problems compared to the random and matched groups. However, foster or group care placement was associated with help-seeking behavior only for two problems: depression and conduct disorder. Conclusion: Understanding the impact of placement on help-seeking behavior 20 years ago fills a critical gap in the current literature and provides an anchor point for examining foster care policy and programming today.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Parenting Stress and a Child’s Ability to Functionally Communicate
Authors: Ello Linda M. , Donovan Sandra J.
Published: October 2005

Objective: The purpose of this research project was to examine the relationship between parenting stress and a child’sability to functionally communicate within families who participated in an early intervention developmental disability program. Method: Using a two-group, cross-sectional survey design, this study explored the above relationship with respect to total stress as well as domain-specific stress. In addition, this study described how this relationship differed with respect to key demographic characteristics. Results: The findings from this study of 64 parents were statistically significant and informative. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a child’s ability to functionally communicate does negatively relate to the level of parenting stress in the parent-child subsystem. Implications for both social work practice and policy are presented.
Phenomenological Research Among Canadian and United States Indigenous Populations: Oral Tradition and Quintessence of Time
Authors: Struthers Roxanne , Peden-McAlpine Cynthia
Published: October 2005

Researchers conducting phenomenological studies among indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada have identified a seamless link between phenomenology and indigenous oral tradition. Phenomenology is compatible with indigenous peoples, because it is synchronous with holistic indigenous cultural lifeway and values. Phenomenology, as a research method, assists indigenous people in reproducing, through narrative communication, features of the past, present, and future. In the narrative process, this method elicits significant implicit meaning of indigenous culture and assists with recording the essence of experiences and events of indigenous societies. A product of the telling of narrative stories is the capacity to reflect on change that will enhance health in a holistic and culturally acceptable manner.
The Persistence of Shame Following Sexual Abuse: A Longitudinal Look at Risk and Recovery
Authors: Feiring Candice , Taska Lynn S.
Published: October 2005

This study investigated persistence in abuse-related shame during a 6-year period. One-hundred-eighteen sexually abused youth were interviewed at the time of discovery, and again both 1 and 6 years later. Individuals high in shame 1 year following discovery were especially at risk for persistently high levels of shame 6 years later. Youth with high shame for the abuse at 1 and 6 years were the most likely to report clinically significant levels of intrusive recollections at 6 years. Persistent shame may explain failure to process the abuse and the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The findings from this longitudinal study suggest that shame as a consequence of childhood sexual abuse should be a focus of treatment.
“The Best Surprise Is No Surprise”
Authors: Wood Andrew
Published: October 2005

This essay explores the critical role of motels as markers of transition between idiosyncratic locales and homogenized chains. Toward that end, the essay expands on a newly proposed concept of omnitopia—an intersection of architectural design and human practice through which distinct places become nodes of a perpetual continuum—by focusing on the construction of “place” in roadside motels. From the analysis of omnitopia found in early-20th-century motels, three practices emerge: dislocation through vernacular architecture, fragmentation through iconic signage, and mutability through roadside simulacra.
Homo prostheticus: problematizing the notions of activity and computermediated interaction
Authors: Keating Elizabeth
Published: October 2005

Computer-mediated interaction poses new challenges for theories and models of social interaction concerned with relationships between humans and tools. This article discusses deaf signers using sign language in computer-mediated space, a case in which a new technological ‘tool’ is integrated into existing practices and conventions, but also requires new innovations. An influential model for studying humans, tool use, and social interaction is Activity Theory. However, in analyzing procedures deaf signers use in learning how to manage communication in computer-mediated space, key notions of Activity Theory, notably the ‘mediation’ properties of tools and the categories of subject and tool, are found to be insufficient. I propose adding to the concept of mediation and characterizing the relationship between subjects and new tools in interaction as one in which tools are ‘prostheses’ which interactants learn to inhabit. Based on looking at people learning to use a new technology, I argue, a key process in activities with new tools is a process where interactants learn how to enhance and constrain, extend and transform properties of the human body.
The importance of what gets left out
Authors: Kulick Don
Published: October 2005

This article arguesthat language, interaction and culture cannot be reduced to literal performance – the ‘there’ in an interaction. Instead, language in interaction should also be understood in relation to what is barred from performance, what is not or cannot be performed – the not-there, or, rather, the unsaid traces, the absent presences, that structure the said and the done. If this is accepted, the question becomes: how can we engage with those processes, both theoretically and empirically? Drawing on work presented in the book Language and Sexuality(Cameron and Kulick, 2003), as well as research concerned with performativity, desire, and mimesis, this article presents a brief overview of the kinds of questions that appear when we turn our attention to what tends to get left out, both in specific linguistic interactions, and in our models of language.
Whose Best Interests Are Served? The Distinction Between Mentoring and Support
Authors: Gibson Sharon K.
Published: October 2005

The problem and the solution. Researchers have proposed reconceptualizing mentoring to include other developmental relationships held by protégés. However, questions remain as to how various developmental relationships might differently exhibit attributes that have been associated with strong-tie entoring relationships. This article reports on one finding of a phenomenological study of women faculty’s mentoring experiences that explored the diversity of mentoring (both concurrent and sequential) that these women had experienced over the course of their careers. Participants identified a distinction between those relationships that they perceived as “mentoring” and other relationships that they perceived as “supportive.” The importance of understanding this essential distinction between mentoring and support is examined with respect to the human resource development domains of career development, training and development, and organization development to foster effective developmental relationships in organizations.
Mentoring From the Top: CEO Perspectives
Authors: Rosser Manda H.
Published: October 2005

The problem and the solution. Chief executive officers (CEOs) provide a unique perspective on mentoring relationships and their experiences as both protégés and mentors. Because of limited access to organizational executives, few studies have explored CEO development, and no identified studies have explored the experiences of CEOs in mentoring relationships. This exploratory study provides insight into the perceptions of CEOs and their experiences with mentoring relationships. Study findings are used to inform the development of a research agenda.
Constituents Versus Fat Cats
Authors: Chin Michelle L.
Published: October 2005

Studies of interest groups and Congress generate conflicting perspectives about the influence of campaign contributions on legislative decisions. In choosing between constituent and donor interests, electorally minded legislators always (a) pay attention to their campaign contributors and (b) attend “slavishly” to constituents. But do donor “fat cats” indeed get preferential treatment at the expense of constituents? I replicate an experimental design reported by Chin, Bond, and Geva (2000) to test whether organized groups with a history of high campaign contributions are more likely than groups with a history of low campaign contributions to gain access to members of the U.S. Congress. Ninety-six congressional staffers participated in this experiment. I find that members’ access decisions are influenced primarily by constituency status rather than an access-seeker’s contribution history or PAC status. There are no interactive effects between the PAC, constituency, or contribution history variables.
Current and future therapeutic approaches in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Bouros D. , Antoniou K. M.
Published: October 2005

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal form of idiopathic diffuse lung disorders for which no current treatment is effective. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the current status and novel therapies of IPF, with emphasis on controlled trials.

The studies selected included randomised controlled trials using drugs alone and/or in combination for the treatment of adults with IPF and meta-analyses, published in English. Abstracts of identified articles were retrieved and articles possibly fulfilling inclusion criteria were retrieved in full. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality if there were any included studies. Data quality was based on place of publication and relevance to clinical care.

There is a lack of good-quality studies regarding the effectiveness of the most used drugs, including corticosteroids and noncorticosteroid immunosuppressive agents. Oral corticosteroids are the usual treatment. Other therapies either alone or in combination with corticosteroids are widely used, including azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and colchicine. Interestingly, clinical trials with novel drugs, mainly antifibrotic, anticytokine and immunoregulatory, are currently being investigated in various trial phases.

In conclusion, at present, there are no evidence-based therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Further controlled studies are warranted to improve the evidence base for clinical practice.
Sequence variation in ligand binding sites in proteins
Authors: Magliery Thomas J , Regan Lynne
Published: October 2005

Background

The recent explosion in the availability of complete genome sequences has led to the cataloging of tens of thousands of new proteins and putative proteins. Many of these proteins can be structurally or functionally categorized from sequence conservation alone. In contrast, little attention has been given to the meaning of poorly-conserved sites in families of proteins, which are typically assumed to be of little structural or functional importance.

Results

Recently, using statistical free energy analysis of tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains, we observed that positions in contact with peptide ligands are more variable than surface positions in general. Here we show that statistical analysis of TPRs, ankyrin repeats, Cys2His2 zinc fingers and PDZ domains accurately identifies specificity-determining positions by their sequence variation. Sequence variation is measured as deviation from a neutral reference state, and we present probabilistic and information theory formalisms that improve upon recently suggested methods such as statistical free energies and sequence entropies.

Conclusion

Sequence variation has been used to identify functionally-important residues in four selected protein families. With TPRs and ankyrin repeats, protein families that bind highly diverse ligands, the effect is so pronounced that sequence "hypervariation" alone can be used to predict ligand binding sites.
Differential range and activity of various forms of the Hedgehog protein
Authors: Dawber Rebecca J , Hebbes Stephen , Herpers Bram , Docquier France , van den Heuvel Marcel
Published: October 2005

Background

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins act as extracellular messengers to control and coordinate growth and differentiation. The mechanism by which Hh protein travels across a field of cells, and results in a range of specific effects relating to the distance from the source, has been the subject of much debate. It has been suggested that the range and activity of the pathway can be linked to modifications of the Hh protein, specifically the addition of lipid groups at N- and C-terminal sites.

Results

Here we have addressed the potency of different forms of Hh protein by expressing these in Drosophila, where we are able to precisely establish pathway activity and range in naïve but responsive tissues. As expected, a construct that can produce all forms of Hh recapitulates endogenous signaling potencies. In comparison, expression of a form that lacks the cholesterol moiety (HhN) leads to an extended range, but the product is less effective at inducing maximal Hh responses. Expression of a point mutant that lacks the N-terminal palmitate binding site shows that the palmitoylation of Hh is absolutely required for activity in this system.

Conclusion

We conclude that the addition of the cholesterol moiety limits the range of the protein and is required for maximal activity, while addition of palmitate is required for all activity. These findings have implications for understanding how Hedgehog proteins move, and thus their potential at influencing distant sites, and concomitantly, how modifications of the signaling protein can affect the efficacy of the response in exposed cells.
Identification of disease causing loci using an array-based genotyping approach on pooled DNA
Authors: Craig David W , Huentelman Matthew J , Hu-Lince Diane , Zismann Victoria L , Kruer Michael C , Lee Anne M , Puffenberger Erik G , Pearson John M , Stephan Dietrich A
Published: October 2005

Background

Pooling genomic DNA samples within clinical classes of disease followed by genotyping on whole-genome SNP microarrays, allows for rapid and inexpensive genome-wide association studies. Key to the success of these studies is the accuracy of the allelic frequency calculations, the ability to identify false-positives arising from assay variability and the ability to better resolve association signals through analysis of neighbouring SNPs.

Results

We report the accuracy of allelic frequency measurements on pooled genomic DNA samples by comparing these measurements to the known allelic frequencies as determined by individual genotyping. We describe modifications to the calculation of k-correction factors from relative allele signal (RAS) values that remove biases and result in more accurate allelic frequency predictions. Our results show that the least accurate SNPs, those most likely to give false-positives in an association study, are identifiable by comparing their frequencies to both those from a known database of individual genotypes and those of the pooled replicates. In a disease with a previously identified genetic mutation, we demonstrate that one can identify the disease locus through the comparison of the predicted allelic frequencies in case and control pools. Furthermore, we demonstrate improved resolution of association signals using the mean of individual test-statistics for consecutive SNPs windowed across the genome. A database of k-correction factors for predicting allelic frequencies for each SNP, derived from several thousand individually genotyped samples, is provided. Lastly, a Perl script for calculating RAS values for the Affymetrix platform is provided.

Conclusion

Our results illustrate that pooling of DNA samples is an effective initial strategy to identify a genetic locus. However, it is important to eliminate inaccurate SNPs prior to analysis by comparing them to a database of individually genotyped samples as well as by comparing them to replicates of the pool. Lastly, detection of association signals can be improved by incorporating data from neighbouring SNPs.
Persistence of lipoatrophy after a four-year long interruption of antiretroviral therapy for HIV1 infection: case report
Authors: Parruti Giustino , Toro Giuseppe Marani
Published: October 2005

Background

HIV-infected patients on long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy often present peculiar patterns of fat redistribution, referred to as lipodystrophy. In spite of recent investigations, it is not known whether and to what extent the main features of lipodystrophy – that is lipoatrophy of peripheral fat at face, limbs and buttocks, as well as fat accumulation at breasts, abdomen and the dorso-cervical region – can be reversible once clinically manifest.

Case presentation

A 35 year old Caucasian HIV infected female developed severe diffuse lipodystrophy while on highly active antiretroviral therapy. A remarkable increase of breast size, fat accumulation at waist, and a fat pad on her lumbar spine were paralleled by progressive and disfiguring lipoatrophy of face, limbs and buttocks. The patient decided to interrupt her therapy after 20 months, with a stably suppressed viremia and a CD4 lymphocyte count >500/μL. She could carry on a safe treatment interruption for longer than 4 years. Most sites of fat accumulation switched to nearly normal appearance, whereas lipoatrophy was substantially unchanged at all affected sites.

Conclusion

our observation provides pictorial evidence that lipoatrophy may not be reversible even under ideal circumstances. Therefore, strategies to prevent lipoatrophy should be considered when defining therapeutic regimens for HIV infected patients, especially those at high risk.
Prediction of "hot spots" of aggregation in disease-linked polypeptides
Authors: de Groot Natalia Sánchez , Pallarés Irantzu , Avilés Francesc X , Vendrell Josep , Ventura Salvador
Published: October 2005

Background

The polypeptides involved in amyloidogenesis may be globular proteins with a defined 3D-structure or natively unfolded proteins. The first class includes polypeptides such as β2-microglobulin, lysozyme, transthyretin or the prion protein, whereas β-amyloid peptide, amylin or α-synuclein all belong to the second class. Recent studies suggest that specific regions in the proteins act as "hot spots" driving aggregation. This should be especially relevant for natively unfolded proteins or unfolded states of globular proteins as they lack significant secondary and tertiary structure and specific intra-chain interactions that can mask these aggregation-prone regions. Prediction of such sequence stretches is important since they are potential therapeutic targets.

Results

In this study we exploited the experimental data obtained in an in vivo system using β-amyloid peptide as a model to derive the individual aggregation propensities of natural amino acids. These data are used to generate aggregation profiles for different disease-related polypeptides. The approach detects the presence of "hot spots" which have been already validated experimentally in the literature and provides insights into the effect of disease-linked mutations in these polypeptides.

Conclusion

The proposed method might become a useful tool for the future development of sequence-targeted anti-aggregation pharmaceuticals.
Circadian rhythm of autonomic activity in non diabetic offsprings of type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Fiorentini A , Perciaccante A , Paris A , Serra P , Tubani L
Published: October 2005

The aim of the present study was to evaluate, by heart rate variability (HRV) with 24-hours ECG Holter (HRV), the circadian autonomic activity in offspring of type 2 diabetic subjects and the relation with insulin-resistance. METHODS: 50 Caucasian offsprings of type 2 diabetic subjects were divided in two groups: insulin-resistant offsprings (IR) and non insulin-resistant offsprings (NIR). Autonomic nervous activity was studied by HRV. Time domain and spectral analysis (low frequency, LF, and high frequency, HF, provide markers of sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation when assessed in normalized units) were evaluated. RESULTS. Time domain showed a reduction of total SDNN in IR (p < 0.001) and NIR (p 0.047) versus controls. Spectral analysis showed a total and night LF higher in IR and NIR than in control group (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION. In frequency domain, the analysis of sympathetic (LF) and parasympathetic (HF) component evidenced an association between the offspring of type 2 diabetic subjects and a sympathetic overactivity. A global reduction and alteration of circadian rhythm of autonomic activity are present in offspring of type 2 diabetic patients with and without insulin resistance. The data of our study suggested that an autonomic impairment is associated with the familiarity for type 2 diabetes independently to insulin resistance and that an impairment of autonomic system activity could precede the insulin resistance.
Effect of larval crowding on mating competitiveness of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes
Authors: Ng'habi Kija R , John Bernadette , Nkwengulila Gamba , Knols Bart GJ , Killeen Gerry F , Ferguson Heather M
Published: October 2005

Background

The success of sterile or transgenic Anopheles for malaria control depends on their mating competitiveness within wild populations. Current evidence suggests that transgenic mosquitoes have reduced fitness. One means of compensating for this fitness deficit would be to identify environmental conditions that increase their mating competitiveness, and incorporate them into laboratory rearing regimes.

Methods

Anopheles gambiae larvae were allocated to three crowding treatments with the same food input per larva. Emerged males were competed against one another for access to females, and their corresponding longevity and energetic reserves measured.

Results

Males from the low-crowding treatment were much more likely to acquire the first mating. They won the first female approximately 11 times more often than those from the high-crowding treatment (Odds ratio = 11.17) and four times more often than those from the medium-crowding treatment (Odds ratio = 3.51). However, there was no overall difference in the total number of matings acquired by males from different treatments (p = 0.08). The survival of males from the low crowding treatment was lower than those from other treatments. The body size and teneral reserves of adult males did not differ between crowding treatments, but larger males were more likely to acquire mates than small individuals.

Conclusion

Larval crowding and body size have strong, independent effects on the mating competitiveness of adult male An. gambiae. Thus manipulation of larval crowding during mass rearing could provide a simple technique for boosting the competitiveness of sterile or transgenic male mosquitoes prior to release.
Synchronization analysis of the uterine magnetic activity during contractions
Authors: Ramon Ceon , Preissl Hubert , Murphy Pam , Wilson James D , Lowery Curtis , Eswaran Hari
Published: October 2005

Background

Our objective was to quantify and compare the extent of synchronization of the spatial-temporal myometrial activity over the human uterus before and during a contraction using transabdominal magnetomyographic (MMG) recordings. Synchronization can be an important indicator for the quantification of uterine contractions.

Methods

The spatialtermporal myometrial activity recordings were performed using a 151-channel noninvasive magnetic sensor system called SARA. This device covers the entire pregnant abdomen and records the magnetic field corresponding to the electrical activity generated in the uterine myometrium. The data was collected at 250 samples/sec and was resampled with 25 samples/sec and then filtered in the band of 0.1–0.2 Hz to study the primary magnetic activity of the uterus related to contractions. The synchronization between a channel pair was computed. It was inferred from a statistical tendency to maintain a nearly constant phase difference over a given period of time even though the analytic phase of each channel may change markedly during that time frame. The analytic phase was computed after taking Hilbert transform of the magnetic field data. The process was applied on the pairs of magnetic field traces (240 sec length) with a stepping window of 20 sec duration which is long enough to cover two cycle of the lowest frequency of interest (0.1 Hz). The analysis was repeated by stepping the window at 10 sec intervals. The spatial patterns of the synchronization indices covering the anterior transabdominal area were computed. For this, regional coil-pairs were used. For a given coil, the coil pairs were constructed with the surrounding six coils. The synchronization indices were computed for each coil pair, averaged over the 21 coil-pairs and then assigned as the synchronization index to that particular coil. This procedure was tested on six pregnant subjects at the gestational age between 29 and 40 weeks admitted to the hospital for contractions. The RMS magnetic field for each coil was also computed.

Results

The results show that the spatial patterns of the synchronization indices change and follow the periodic pattern of the uterine contraction cycle. Spatial patterns of synchronization indices and the RMS magnetic fields show similarities in few window frames and also show large differences in few other windows. For six subjects, the average synchronization indices were: 0.346 ± 0.068 for the quiescent baseline period and 0.545 ± 0.022 at the peak of the contraction.

Discussion

These results show that synchronization indices and their spatial distributions depict uterine contractions and relaxations.
A multicenter point-prevalence study: antimicrobial prescription frequencies in hospitalized patients in turkey
Authors: Usluer Gaye , Ozgunes Ilhan , Leblebicioglu Hakan ,   the Turkish Antibiotic Utilization Study Group
Published: October 2005

Background

Accurate information about prescribing patterns in hospitals is valuable in improving the quality of antimicrobial prescriptions.

Methods

Data on the use of antimicrobial agents in eighteen tertiary care hospitals were collected on March 20th 2002.

Results

One or more antimicrobials were ordered in 2900 (30.6 %)of 9471 hospitalized patients. The reasons of hospitalization of the patients receiving antimicrobials were medical treatment (42.5 %), elective surgery (39.6 %), treatment of infectious disease (17.1 %) and emergent surgical procedures (10.4 %). The highest consumption frequencies were found in surgical (81.6 %) and medical (55.2 %) intensive care units. The 48.8 % of antimicrobials were given for treatment and 44.2 % for prophylactic use. The most common reasons for treatment were found as lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, surgical wound infections and febrile neutropenia. Antimicrobials were ordered empirically in 78.4 % of patients. The proven infection ratio was found as 30.7 %. The 56.4 % and 13.4 % of orders were evaluated as clinically and microbiologically appropriate respectively.

Conclusion

These results suggest that antimicrobial prescription and empirical treatment ratios were high and inappropriate at inpatient groups.