bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of ‘freedom’ in EU competition law
Authors: Akman Pınar
Published: January 2013

An initial reading of EU competition law jurisprudence and literature may suggest that there might be a competition-related freedom in the EU, expressed along the lines of ‘freedom of competition’ or ‘freedom to compete’. If competition is to be protected as a ‘freedom’ rather than merely as a ‘policy’, what this freedom involves should be established. It is important to establish the role of ‘freedom’, since it has been argued that EU competition law is a product of or has been significantly influenced by ‘ordoliberalism’. Under ordoliberalism, protecting the ‘economic freedom’ of market actors is the aim of competition policy. This paper examines the entire jurisprudence of the EU Courts to establish the role of ‘freedom’ in EU competition law as perceived by the EU Courts. This inquiry establishes whether ordoliberalism has so fundamentally influenced the jurisprudence that welfare-based objectives cannot be adopted as an/the objective of EU competition law. This is the first such comprehensive study regarding ‘freedom’ in EU competition law. The paper demonstrates that there is little quantitative or qualitative support for the ordoliberal argument when one considers the relevant jurisprudence. A quantitative analysis of the case-law and in particular the historical trend raises serious doubts concerning the validity of the conventional ordoliberal-influence thesis.
Tsw gene‐based resistance is triggered by a functional RNA silencing suppressor protein of the Tomato spotted wilt virus
Authors: de Ronde Dryas , Butterbach Patrick , Lohuis Dick , Hedil Marcio , van Lent Jan W. M. , Kormelink Richard
Published: January 2013

As a result of contradictory reports, the avirulence (Avr) determinant that triggers Tsw gene‐based resistance in Capsicum annuum against the Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is still unresolved. Here, the N and NSs genes of resistance‐inducing (RI) and resistance‐breaking (RB) isolates were cloned and transiently expressed in resistant Capsicum plants to determine the identity of the Avr protein. It was shown that the NSsRI protein triggered a hypersensitive response (HR) in Tsw‐containing Capsicum plants, but not in susceptible Capsicum, whereas no HR was discerned after expression of the NRI/RB protein, or when NSsRB was expressed. Although NSsRI was able to suppress the silencing of a functional green fluorescence protein (GFP) construct during Agrobacterium tumefaciens transient assays on Nicotiana benthamiana, NSsRB had lost this capacity. The observation that RB isolates suppressed local GFP silencing during an infection indicated a recovery of RNA silencing suppressor activity for the NSs protein or the presence of another RNA interference (RNAi) suppressor. The role of NSs as RNA silencing suppressor and Avr determinant is discussed in the light of a putative interplay between RNAi and the natural Tsw resistance gene.
Involvement of the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2)
Authors: Rüb U. , Farrag K. , Seidel K. , Brunt E. R. , Heinsen H. , Bürk K. , Melegh B. , von Gall C. , Auburger G. , Bohl J. , Korf H. W. , Hoche F. , den Dunnen W.
Published: January 2013

Aims

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) belongs to the CAG repeat or polyglutamine diseases. Along with a large variety of motor, behavioural and neuropsychological symptoms the clinical picture of patients suffering from this autosomal dominantly inherited ataxia may also include deficits of attention, impairments of memory, as well as frontal‐executive and visuospatial dysfunctions. As the possible morphological correlates of these cognitive SCA2 deficits are unclear we examined the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei, which are believed to be crucial for several aspects of normal cognition and may contribute to impairments of cognitive functions under pathological conditions.

Methods

We studied pigment–Nissl‐stained thick tissue sections through the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei (that is, medial septal nucleus, nuclei of the diagonal band of Broca, basal nucleus of Meynert) of four clinically diagnosed and genetically confirmed SCA2 patients and of 13 control individuals according to the pathoanatomical approach. The pathoanatomical results were confirmed by additional quantitative investigations of these nuclei in the SCA2 patients and four age‐ and gender‐matched controls.

Results

Our study revealed a severe and consistent neuronal loss in all of the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei (medial septal nucleus: 72%; vertical nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca: 74%; horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca: 72%; basal nucleus of Meynert: 86%) of the SCA2 patients studied. Damage to the basal forebrain nuclei was associated with everyday relevant cognitive deficits only in our SCA2 patient with an additional Braak and Braak stage V Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related tau pathology.

Conclusions

The findings of the present study: (1) indicate that the mutation and pathological process underlying SCA2 play a causative role for this severe degeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei and (2) may suggest that degeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei per se is not sufficient to cause profound and global dementia detrimental to everyday practice and activities of daily living.
Distension‐evoked motility analysis in human esophagus
Authors: Liao D. , Villadsen G. E. , Gregersen H.
Published: January 2013

Background

The major function of the esophagus is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach by peristaltic muscle action. However, only few techniques exist for detailed evaluation of motor activity of the esophagus in vivo. The aim of this study is to use distension combined with manometry and impedance planimetry [pressure–cross‐sectional area (P‐CSA) recordings] to assess esophageal peristaltic motor function in terms of the mechanical energy output, and to examine the change in the motor activity of the esophagus in response to butylscopolamine, an anticholinergic drug known to impair the smooth muscle contraction in the gastrointestinal tract.

Methods

The probe with CSA measurements was positioned 7 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter in 16 healthy volunteers before and during butylscopolamine administration. Distension‐evoked esophageal peristalsis was analyzed using P‐CSA data during distension up to pressures of 5 kPa. The P‐CSA, work output (area of the tension‐CSA curves), and propulsive tension were analyzed.

Key Results

The wave‐like peristalsis resulted in P‐CSA loops consisting of relaxation and contraction phases. The work increased with the distension pressure (from 1311 ± 198 to 16 330 ± 1845 μJ before butylscopolamine vs from 2615 ± 756 to 11 404 ± 1335 μJ during butylscopolamine administration), and propulsive tension increased from 18.7 ± 1.9 to 88.5 ± 5.5 N m−1 before the drug and from 23.1 ± 3.9 to 79.5 ± 3.3 N m−1 during butylscopolamine administration). Significantly, lower values were found during butylscopolamine administration compared with the distension before using the drug (P < 0.01).

Conclusions & Inferences

Esophageal muscle properties during peristalsis can be assessed in vivo in terms of mechanical energy output parameters. Butylscopolamine impaired muscle contraction which could be detected as altered contraction parameters. The analysis can be further used as an adjunct tool of the combined manometry and impedance planimetry recordings to derive advanced esophageal motor function parameters for studying the physiological and pathophysiological mechanical consequences of esophageal contractions.
Fast pouch emptying, delayed small intestinal transit, and exaggerated gut hormone responses after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass
Authors: Dirksen C. , Damgaard M. , Bojsen‐Møller K. N. , Jørgensen N. B. , Kielgast U. , Jacobsen S. H. , Naver L. S. , Worm D. , Holst J. J. , Madsbad S. , Hansen D. L. , Madsen J. L.
Published: January 2013

Background

Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) causes extensive changes in gastrointestinal anatomy and leads to reduced appetite and large weight loss, which partly is due to an exaggerated release of anorexigenic gut hormones.

Methods

To examine whether the altered passage of foods through the gastrointestinal tract after RYGB could be responsible for the changes in gut hormone release, we studied gastrointestinal motility with a scintigraphic technique as well as the secretion of the gut hormones glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1 and peptide YY3‐36 (PYY3‐36) in 17 patients>1 year after RYGB and in nine healthy control subjects.

Key Results

At meal completion, a smaller fraction of liquid and solid radiolabeled marker was retained in the pouch of RYGB patients than in the stomach of control subjects (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Accordingly, pouch emptying in patients was faster than gastric emptying in control subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively liquid and solid markers). For the solid marker, small intestinal transit was slower in patients than control subjects (P = 0.034). Colonic transit rate did not differ between the groups. GLP‐1 and PYY3‐36 secretion was increased in patients compared to control subjects and fast pouch emptying of the liquid marker was associated with high gut hormone secretion.

Conclusions & Inferences

After RYGB, the bulk of foods pass without hindrance into the small intestine, while the small intestinal transit is prolonged. The rapid exposure of the gut epithelium contributes to the exaggerated release of GLP‐1 and PYY3‐36 after RYGB.
Patients with a History of Spine Surgery or Spinal Injury may have a Higher Chance of Intrathecal Catheter Granuloma Formation
Authors: Narouze Samer N. , Casanova Jose , Souzdalnitski Dmitri
Published: January 2013

Background Goals

Intrathecal drug delivery is an effective method to treat intractable pain. However, intrathecal catheter tip granuloma (ICTG) is a devastating complication of intrathecal drug delivery systems. It typically occurs in the thoracic region; particularly, in patients receiving high doses or high concentrations of intrathecal drug infusions.

Materials and Methods

The PUBMED/MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were also systematically searched for all reports on ICTG published in any language. The key words included “intrathecal,” “granuloma,” and “spine surgery,” and all related publications between the earliest available date (the first granuloma‐related chronic complication of intrathecal infusion reported in PUBMED/MEDLINE in 1996) and June (week 1) of 2012 were searched. This case report is unique because it describes the formation of an intrathecal granuloma in the lumbar region of a patient who received a low‐dose intrathecal infusion.

Results and Conclusion

Cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics within the spinal canal along with the physical, chemical, and immunological properties of intrathecal medications have been suggested to be responsible for the growth of inflammatory mass lesions at the tips of intrathecal drug delivery catheters. Our literature review supports the possible role of certain factors, specifically previous spine surgery or spinal injury, in granuloma formation. The rate of development of ICTG appears to be higher in patients who have had previous spine surgery or spinal injury (68%) than in a general cohort of patients (48%), with an intrathecal pump. Therefore patients with a history of spine surgery or injury may be at increased risk of ICTG when receiving chronic intrathecal analgesia.
Treatment for Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Cancer: Comparative Analysis of Recommendations in National Clinical Practice Guidelines from European Countries
Authors: Piano Virginie , Verhagen Stans , Schalkwijk Annelies , Hekster Yechiel , Kress Hans , Lanteri‐Minet Michel , Burgers Jako , Treede Rolf‐Detlef , Engels Yvonne , Vissers Kris
Published: January 2013

Introduction

Neuropathic pain is a common symptom, present in 39% of the patients with cancer pain. Treating this type of pain is challenging, as this patient group is often frail and has comorbidities which increase the risk of side events and hence influences their quality of life. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) can be helpful for clinicians, especially when scientific evidence is uncertain or weak. In this study, we focused on the quality of the review of the literature used in treatment recommendations in the selected European CPGs.

Methods

In a previous study, 9 CPGs from European countries that contained at least one paragraph on treatment for neuropathic pain in cancer were included. Recommendations with their grade (according SIGN 55 classification) and supporting literature (first author, patients' population, year and type of publication) were compared between CPGs.

Results

In all CPGs, amitriptylin was mentioned as the drug of first choice. Six guidelines proposed also gabapentinoids. Only 30 of the 163 citations (18%) were based on studies in patients with cancer. Seven CPGs did not argue the indirect evidence due to extrapolation of study results from non‐cancer to patients with cancer.

Conclusion

The majority of guideline development groups extrapolated their results from non‐cancer publications to formulate recommendations. Consequently, these guidelines fail to address important issues such as altered kinetics and side effect profiles in these patients. We recommend creating specific recommendations by an international expert group for the treatment for neuropathic pain in patients with cancer supported by targeted research in patients with cancer.
Major characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus colonizing Jordanian infants
Authors: Shehabi Asem A. , Abu‐Yousef Rozan , Badran Eman , Al‐Bakri Amal G. , Abu‐Qatouseh Luay F. , Becker Karsten
Published: January 2013

Background

Colonization of infants with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carries specific toxin genes. In particular, Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) are a risk factor for subsequent infection during hospitalization. This prospective study investigated important epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus colonizing the nares and intestines of Jordanian infants.

Methods

A total of 860 nasal and stool specimens were obtained from each of the 430 infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit or referred to outpatient clinics of Jordan University Hospital. All specimens were cultured to recover S. aureus, all isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the MRSA strains for presence of specific toxin genes and SCCmec using polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Eighty of the 430 (18.6%) infants were colonized with S. aureus, of these, 27 (6.3%) harbored the organism in both the nose and intestine. The frequency of S. aureus nasal and intestinal carriage in outpatient infants compared to inpatients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit was significantly higher (27.3% vs 2.8%) and (17.1% vs 2.3%), respectively. MRSA accounted for 57/107 (53.3%) of all isolates, and of these 16/57 (28%) were PVL‐positive and carried SCCmec type IV, except one, which was type III. All nasal and intestinal MRSA carried at least one toxin gene (tst, eta, seb), but few carried two toxin genes.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that S. aureus strains are more frequently colonizing Jordanian outpatient infants than inpatients and all MRSA strains carried 1–3 clinically important staphylococcal toxin genes. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of these toxins in hospitalized infants.
Resistance of Drosophila suzukii to the larval parasitoids Leptopilina heterotoma and Asobara japonica is related to haemocyte load
Authors: POYET MATHILDE , HAVARD SEBASTIEN , PREVOST GENEVIEVE , CHABRERIE OLIVIER , DOURY GERALDINE , GIBERT PATRICIA , ESLIN PATRICE
Published: January 2013

Unlike other Drosophila species, the invasive Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) shows a remarkable pest status. Among the physiological traits that may explain the high level of resistance to parasitoids of Drosophila larvae, the haemocyte load is shown repeatedly to play an important role. To determine whether haemocyte load can explain immunity resistance of D. suzukii to parasitoids, the haemocytes of parasitized and healthy larvae are quantified in two Japanese and three French populations of D. suzukii. Parasitization tests are conducted with two larval parasitoids: the paleartic Leptopilina heterotoma Thomson (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and the Asian Asobara japonica Belokobylskij (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Based on morphological and functional criteria, D. suzukii has classes of haemocytes similar to those described in Drosophila melanogaster. However, healthy larvae of the five populations tested possess particularly large numbers of haemocytes compared with D. melanogaster. Haemocyte load is also higher in larvae from the French populations than in the Japanese strains. The ability of D. suzukii larvae to encapsulate eggs of L. heterotoma is associated with a particularly high load of circulating haemocytes. However, it is notable that A. japonica induces a strong depression of the haemocyte population in this resistant host associated with an inability to encapsulate parasitoid eggs. The results show that the cellular immune system plays a major role in the failure of larval parasitoids to develop in most instances in larvae of D. suzukii, possibly contributing to the success of this species as an invader.
DEAD‐box proteins, like Leishmania eIF4A, modulate interleukin (IL)‐12, IL‐10 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha production by human monocytes
Authors: Barhoumi M. , Meddeb‐Garnaoui A. , Tanner N. K. , Banroques J. , Kaabi B. , Guizani I.
Published: January 2013

Previously we showed that His‐tagged, recombinant, Leishmania infantum eukaryotic initiation factor (LeIF) was both an RNA‐dependent ATPase and an ATP‐dependent RNA helicase in vitro, as described for other members of the DEAD‐box helicase family. In addition, we showed that LeIF induces the production of IL‐12, IL‐10, and TNF‐α by human monocytes. This study aims to characterize the cytokine‐inducing activity in human monocytes of several proteins belonging to the DEAD‐box family from mammals and yeast. All tested proteins contained the 11 conserved motifs (Q, I, Ia, GG Ib, II, III, IV, QxxR, V and VI) characteristic of DEAD‐box proteins, but they have different biological functions and different percentages of identities with LeIF. We show that these mammalian or yeast recombinant proteins also are able to induce IL‐12, IL‐10 and TNF‐α secretion by monocytes of healthy human subjects. This cytokine‐inducing activity is proteinase K sensitive and polymyxin B resistant. Our results show that the induction of cytokines in human monocytes is not unique to the protein LeIF of Leishmania, and it suggests that the activity of certain DEAD‐box proteins can be exploited as adjuvant and/or to direct immune responses towards a Th1 profile in vaccination or immunotherapy protocols.
The Expression of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Porcine Ovarian Cells
Authors: Jablonska O , Ciereszko RE
Published: January 2013

Contents

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an intracellular transcription factor best known for mediating the toxicity of dioxins. The AHR is phylogenetically highly conserved among invertebrates and vertebrates and may play a significant role in the regulation of physiological processes including female reproduction. This study was performed to determine the partial nucleotide sequence of porcine AHR and to evaluate the AHR mRNA (real‐time PCR) and AHR protein (Western blot) expression in granulosa and theca interna cells harvested from medium (3–6 mm) and pre‐ovulatory (≥8 mm) follicles as well as in luteal cells obtained from corpora lutea collected during the mid‐luteal phase (days: 8–10) of the porcine oestrous cycle. In the study, the partial nucleotide sequence of porcine AHR containing 1021 bp (GenBank accession no: HM488957.1) was determined. The AHR transcript and protein were found in all ovarian cells obtained during both phases of the porcine oestrous cycle. The highest AHR transcript level was detected in theca interna cells isolated from pre‐ovulatory follicles as well as in luteal cells. Higher AHR protein expression was found in granulosa cells isolated from pre‐ovulatory follicles in comparison with all remaining cell types. The presence of AHR in the examined ovarian cells may account for their sensitivity to some environmental pollutants. Moreover, the differences found in AHR mRNA expression between granulosa and theca cells as well as between cells originating from follicles of different size suggest the involvement of AHR in the modulation of reproductive processes in the porcine ovary.
Patterns of diversification in the high Andean Ponderacris grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae)
Authors: POCCO MARTINA E. , POSADAS PAULA , LANGE CARLOS E. , CIGLIANO MARÍA MARTA
Published: January 2013

The Andes, the world's longest mountain chain, harbours great taxonomic and ecological diversity. Despite their young age, the tropical Andes are highly diverse due to recent geological uplift. Speciation either followed the orogeny closely or occurred after the Andean uplift, as a result of subsequent climatic changes. Different scenarios have been proposed to explain the diversification of high Andean taxa. The Melanoplinae grasshopper Ponderacris Ronderos & Cigliano is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, mostly distributed between 1000 and 4000 m above sea level. Diversification in several montane habitats of Bolivia and Peru allows tests via cladistic analysis of distinct possible geographic modes of speciation. Eight species are recognized, with three described here as new with revised diagnostic morphological characters provided: Ponderacris carlcarbonellisp.n.,P. chulumaniensissp.n. and P. amboroensissp.n. Cladistic analyses of 15 species (8 ingroup and 7 outgroup) and 38 morphological characters, under equal and implied weighting, confirm the monophyly of Ponderacris. Characters from the external morphology and colour pattern provided less phylogenetic information than did the male abdominal terminalia and phallic complex. Species distributed in the Peruvian Andes constituted a monophyletic group, whereas those from the Bolivian Andes formed a basal paraphyletic grade. Dispersal–vicariance analysis resulted in one ancestral distribution reconstruction indicating that the most recent common ancestor was distributed in the Lower Montane Yungas of Bolivia. Eleven dispersal and one vicariant events are postulated, with a South‐to‐North speciation pattern coincident with progressive Andean uplift. Vicariance could relate to fragmentation of montane forest during the dry intervals of the late Cenozoic. From the Bolivian area, ancestral Peruvian Ponderacris may have dispersed northward, coinciding with the rise of the Andes. Ten of 11 dispersal events occurred at terminal taxa and are likely to be recent. However, diversification of Ponderacris cannot be explained solely by the South‐to‐North speciation hypothesis, but may also include both vicariance and dispersal across barriers influenced by Pleistocene climatic cycles.
Phylogeny of the tribe Sciophilini (Diptera: Mycetophilidae: Sciophilinae)
Authors: BORKENT CHRISTOPHER J. , WHEELER TERRY A.
Published: January 2013

The monophyly and phylogenetic relationships within the species rich Sciophilini (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) were analysed, based on 96 adult morphological characters. The cladistic analysis included 80 Sciophilini exemplar species (representing all but 1 of the 36 genera placed previously in the Sciophilini) and 11 outgroup taxa of other mycetophilid tribes. The monophyly of Sciophilini was supported in the parsimony analysis by four synapomorphies. The tribe now contains 34 genera: Acnemia Winnertz, Acomoptera Vockeroth, Adicroneura Vockeroth, Afrocnemia Matile, Allocotocera Mik, Anaclileia Meunier, Aneura Marshall, Austrosciophila Tonnoir, Azana Walker, Baeopterogyna Vockeroth, Cluzobra Edwards, Drepanocercus Vockeroth, Duretophragma Borkent gen.n., Eudicrana Loew, Leptomorphus Curtis, Loicia Vockeroth, Megalopelma Enderlein, Monoclona Mik, Morganiella Tonnoir & Edwards, Neoallocotocera Tonnoir, Neoaphelomera Miller, Neotrizygia Tonnoir & Edwards, Neuratelia Rondani, Paramorganiella Tonnoir, Paratinia Mik, Paratrizygia Tonnoir, Parvicellula Marshall, Phthinia Winnertz, Polylepta Winnertz, Sciophila Meigen, Stenophragma Skuse, Tasmanina Tonnoir, Taxicnemis Tonnoir & Edwards, and Trizygia Skuse. Four genera placed previously in Sciophilini (Coelophthinia Edwards, Impleta Plassmann, Speolepta Edwards and Syntemna Winnertz) are transferred to the Gnoristini. Neoneurotelia Shinji and Neoparatinia Shinji are considered nomina dubia. Diagnoses are given for all genera in the tribe. Duretophragmagen.n. is described for the following species (all of which are comb.n.): Duretophragma andina (Duret), Duretophragma argentina (Duret), Duretophragma glabanum (Johannsen), Duretophragma fusca (Edwards), Duretophragma humeralis (Edwards), Duretophragma intermedia (Edwards), Duretophragma longifurcata (Freeman) (type species), Duretophragma morigenea (Edwards), Duretophragma naumanni (Duret), Duretophragma nigricauda (Edwards), Duretophragma obscura (Duret), Duretophragma ochracea (Freeman), Duretophragma pleuralis (Edwards) and Duretophragma similis (Johannsen). Other new generic combinations include: Trizygia albidens (Oliveira & Amorim) comb.n., Trizygia alvesi (Oliveira & Amorim) comb.n., Trizygia balbi (Oliveira & Amorim) comb.n., Trizygia camargoi (Oliveira & Amorim) comb.n. and Afrocnemia stellamicans (Chandler) comb.n.
Listeria monocytogenes in donated platelets: a potential transfusion‐transmitted pathogen intercepted through screening
Authors: Menon Manoj , Graves Lewis , McCombs Katherine , Hise Kelly , Silk Benjamin , Kuehnert Matthew , Lynch Michael
Published: January 2013

Background

Bacterial contamination of blood components is a potentially life‐threatening complication of transfusions. In October 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted four Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) isolates cultured from four different units of donated apheresis platelets (PLTs) among Lm isolates sent to the CDC National Listeria Reference Laboratory for subtyping as part of routine surveillance activities.

Study Design and Methods

We describe an investigation to determine possible common sources of infection among donors or factors associated with PLT collection or storage and to determine whether human transfusion‐associated listeriosis cases had been reported. We also reviewed all isolates with PLTs as a source sent to the CDC National Listeria Reference Laboratory between November 1, 2005, and December 31, 2011.

Results

Each PLT donor–associated isolate had a distinct pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis pattern combination. Other than these four cases, no other cases of Lm‐contaminated PLTs were identified by the American Red Cross or by CDC during 2005. However, two additional cases of Lm isolated from donated PLTs were detected, one in 2008 and one in 2011.

Conclusion

Although the source of contamination for these PLT units is unclear, and a source common to all units was not identified, this investigation underscores the value of screening for bacterial contaminants of PLTs.
Transfusion‐transmitted human T‐lymphotropic virus Type I infection in a United States military emergency whole blood transfusion recipient in Afghanistan, 2010
Authors: Hakre Shilpa , Manak Mark M. , Murray Clinton K. , Davis Kenneth W. , Bose Meera , Harding Aaron J. , Maas Peter R. , Jagodzinski Linda L. , Kim Jerome H. , Michael Nelson L. , Rentas Francisco J. , Peel Sheila A. , Scott Paul T. , Tovanabutra Sodsai
Published: January 2013

Background

The United States introduced human T‐lymphotropic virus Type I (HTLV‐I) screening of blood donors in 1988. The US military uses freshly collected blood products for life‐threatening injuries when available stored blood components in theater have been exhausted or when these components are unsuccessful for resuscitation. These donors are screened after donation by the Department of Defense (DoD) retrospective testing program. All recipients of blood collected in combat are tested according to policy soon after and at 3, 6, and 12 months after transfusion.

Case Report

A 31‐year‐old US Army soldier tested positive for HTLV‐I 44 days after receipt of emergency blood transfusions for severe improvised explosive device blast injuries. One donor's unit tested HTLV‐I positive on the DoD‐mandated retrospective testing. Both the donor and the recipient tested reactive with enzyme immunoassay and supplemental confirmation by HTLV‐I Western blot. The donor and recipient reported no major risk factors for HTLV‐I. Phylogenetic analysis of HTLV‐I sequences indicated Cosmopolitan subtype, Subgroup B infections. Comparison of long terminal repeat and env sequences revealed molecular genetic linkage of the viruses from the donor and recipient.

Conclusion

This case is the first report of transfusion transmission of HTLV‐I in the US military during combat operations. The emergency fresh whole blood policy enabled both the donor and the recipient to be notified of their HTLV‐I infection. While difficult in combat, predonation screening of potential emergency blood donors with Food and Drug Administration–mandated infectious disease testing as stated by the DoD Health Affairs policy should be the goal of every facility engaged with emergency blood collection in theater.
Ge epitaxial films on GaAs (100), (110), and (111) substrates for applications of CMOS heterostructural integrations
Authors: Tang Shih-Hsuan , Kuo Chien-I , Trinh Hai-Dang , Yi Chang Edward , Nguyen Hong-Quan , Nguyen Chi-Lang , Luo Guang-Li
Published: January 2013

Epitaxial Ge films were grown on GaAs (100), (110), and (111) substrates by using ultra-high vacuum chemical vapor deposition and studied with various methods. The incubation times and growth rates were quite different for these three GaAs substrates because the surface arsenic coverage on GaAs and hydrogen desorption energy on Ge are different for each orientation. High-resolution x-ray diffraction measurements, direct band-gap emission of photoluminescence measurements, and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy showed that the Ge films had high crystal quality, low defect density, and sharp Ge/GaAs interfaces. In this study, atomic force microscopy analysis found that the Ge films grow on GaAs (100) and (111) via the Frank van der Merwe mode, while the Ge film grows on GaAs (110) via the Volmer-Weber mode at the initial growth stage, which can be explained by the thermodynamic theory of capillarity. Interestingly, when the thickness of the Ge film on the GaAs (110) substrate increases to ∼220 nm, the 3D Ge islands merge and form a smooth surface (rms roughness of 0.3 nm), which is useful for devices. The authors also fabricated Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (MOSCAPs) on GaAs (100) and (110) substrates. Both Ge/GaAs (100) and Ge/GaAs (110) MOSCAPs exhibit good capacitance–voltage responses with strong inversion behaviors, which means the grown material has reached device quality. The Ge/GaAs (110) structure especially offers optimal integration of Ge pMOSFETs on GaAs substrates because Ge (110) has a high hole mobility compared with Ge (100) and (111).
Dimensional feature weighting utilizing multiple kernel learning for single-channel talker location discrimination using the acoustic transfer function
Authors: Takashima Ryoichi , Takiguchi Tetsuya , Ariki Yasuo
Published: January 2013

This paper presents a method for discriminating the location of the sound source (talker) using only a single microphone. In a previous work, the single-channel approach for discriminating the location of the sound source was discussed, where the acoustic transfer function from a user's position is estimated by using a hidden Markov model of clean speech in the cepstral domain. In this paper, each cepstral dimension of the acoustic transfer function is newly weighted, in order to obtain the cepstral dimensions having information that is useful for classifying the user's position. Then, this paper proposes a feature-weighting method for the cepstral parameter using multiple kernel learning, defining the base kernels for each cepstral dimension of the acoustic transfer function. The user's position is trained and classified by support vector machine. The effectiveness of this method has been confirmed by sound source (talker) localization experiments performed in different room environments.
Tracking beaked whales with a passive acoustic profiler float
Authors: Matsumoto Haru , Jones Christopher , Klinck Holger , Mellinger David K. , Dziak Robert P. , Meinig Christian
Published: January 2013

Acoustic methods are frequently used to monitor endangered marine mammal species. Advantages of acoustic methods over visual ones include the ability to detect submerged animals, to work at night, and to work in any weather conditions. A relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use acoustic float, the QUEphone, was developed by converting a commercially available profiler float to a mobile platform, adding acoustic capability, and installing the ERMA cetacean click detection algorithm of Klinck and Mellinger [(2011). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129(4), 1807–1812] running on a high-power DSP. The QUEphone was tested at detecting Blainville's beaked whales at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), a Navy acoustic test range in the Bahamas, in June 2010. Beaked whale were present at AUTEC, and the performance of the QUEphone was compared with the Navy's Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) system. The field tests provided data useful to evaluate the QUEphone's operational capability as a tool to detect beaked whales and report their presence in near-real time. The range tests demonstrated that the QUEphone's beaked whale detections were comparable to that of M3R's, and that the float is effective at detecting beaked whales.
Maturation of the human medial efferent reflex revisited
Authors: Abdala Carolina , Mishra Srikanta , Garinis Angela
Published: January 2013

Past work applying otoacoustic emissions to gauge maturational status of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex in human newborns has produced mixed results. The present study revisits the question while considering the dual nature of the 2f1 – f2 distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and expanding measures of medial efferent function. Subjects included premature and term-born neonates, 6-month-old infants and young adults. The MOC reflex was elicited with contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS) while shifts in amplitude and phase of the DPOAE, and its distortion and reflection components, were monitored. Overall, CAS-elicited reductions in DPOAE level did not differ among age groups. For all ages, the MOC reflex was strongest at frequencies below 1.5 kHz, and the reflection component of the DPOAE was most affected, showing maximally reduced amplitude and shallower phase slope when contralateral noise was presented. Results suggest that the MOC reflex likely reaches maturation prior to full-term birth. However, prematurely born neonates show markedly more episodes of CAS-induced DPOAE level enhancement. This may be due to more intrusive component mixing in this age group or disruptions in the formation of the MOC pathway or synapse in the most premature neonates.
Shear surface waves in phononic crystals
Authors: Kutsenko A. A. , Shuvalov A. L.
Published: January 2013

The existence of shear horizontal (SH) surface waves in two-dimensional periodic phononic crystals with an asymmetric depth-dependent profile is theoretically reported. Examples of dispersion spectra with bandgaps for subsonic and supersonic SH surface waves are demonstrated. The link between the effective (quasistatic) speeds of the SH bulk and surface waves is established. Calculation and analysis is based on the integral form of a projector on the subspace of evanescent modes which means no need for their explicit finding. This method can be extended to the vector waves and the three-dimensional case.
Effects of temporal stimulus properties on the perception of across-frequency asynchrony
Authors: Wojtczak Magdalena , Beim Jordan A. , Micheyl Christophe , Oxenham Andrew J.
Published: January 2013

The role of temporal stimulus parameters in the perception of across-frequency synchrony and asynchrony was investigated using pairs of 500-ms tones consisting of a 250-Hz tone and a tone with a higher frequency of 1, 2, 4, or 6 kHz. Subjective judgments suggested veridical perception of across-frequency synchrony but with greater sensitivity to changes in asynchrony for pairs in which the lower-frequency tone was leading than for pairs in which it was lagging. Consistent with the subjective judgments, thresholds for the detection of asynchrony measured in a three-alternative forced-choice task were lower when the signal interval contained a pair with the low-frequency tone leading than a pair with a high-frequency tone leading. A similar asymmetry was observed for asynchrony discrimination when the standard asynchrony was relatively small (≤20 ms) but not for larger standard asynchronies. Independent manipulation of onset and offset ramp durations indicated a dominant role of onsets in the perception of across-frequency asynchrony. A physiologically inspired model, involving broadly tuned monaural coincidence detectors that receive inputs from frequency-selective onset detectors, was able to accurately reproduce the asymmetric distributions of synchrony judgments. The model provides testable predictions for future physiological investigations of responses to broadband stimuli with across-frequency delays.
Design, construction, and evaluation of a 1:8 scale model binaural manikin
Authors: Robinson Philip , Xiang Ning
Published: January 2013

Many experiments in architectural acoustics require presenting listeners with simulations of different rooms to compare. Acoustic scale modeling is a feasible means to create accurate simulations of many rooms at reasonable cost. A critical component in a scale model room simulation is a receiver that properly emulates a human receiver. For this purpose, a scale model artificial head has been constructed and tested. This paper presents the design and construction methods used, proper equalization procedures, and measurements of its response. A headphone listening experiment examining sound externalization with various reflection conditions is presented that demonstrates its use for psycho-acoustic testing.
The Pleasure of Not Knowing
The Where, the Why, and the How
75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science

Jenny Volvovski, Julia Rothman, and Matt Lamothe, Eds.

Chronicle, San Francisco, 2012. 167 pp. $24.95, £15.99. ISBN 9781452108223.
Authors: Matuk Camillia
Published: January 2013

Seventy-five contemporary artists offer their visual interpretations of current thinking on unanswered questions in science.
Advisers Urge NIH to Scale Back Chimpanzee Research
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: January 2013

Most chimps owned by the National Institutes of Health could be headed for retirement.
A New Dawn for Mental Health
Authors: Hvistendahl Mara
Published: January 2013

After long neglecting the field of mental health, China has included it in sweeping heath care reforms.
Insulin Resistance from Binge Drinking: It’s All in Your Head
Authors: Thiele Todd E.
Published: January 2013

Binge alcohol exposure impairs hepatic insulin action by blunting insulin receptor signaling in the brain (Lindtner
et al
., this issue).
MID1 Mediates Acute Asthma Exacerbations
Authors: Zeki Amir A.
Published: January 2013

A possible new drug target activates asthma through the innate immune pathway.
Sequencing-Based Genotyping of Mixed Human Papillomavirus Infections by Use of RipSeq Software
Authors: Tardif Keith D. , Simmon Keith E. , Kommedal Øyvind , Pyne Michael T. , Schlaberg Robert
Published: January 2013

Sequencing-based pathogen identification directly from clinical specimens requires time-consuming interpretation, especially with mixed chromatograms when multiple microorganisms are detected. We assessed RipSeq Mixed software for human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping by comparison to the linear array HPV genotyping assay. RipSeq Mixed provided rapid, sequencing-based HPV typing for single-type infections and coinfections with 2 types.
Targeting IκB Proteins for HIV Latency Activation: the Role of Individual IκB and NF-κB Proteins
Authors: Fernandez Guerau , Zaikos Thomas D. , Khan Sohrab Z. , Jacobi Ashley M. , Behlke Mark A. , Zeichner Steven L.
Published: January 2013

Latently infected cell reservoirs represent the main barrier to HIV eradication. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively blocks viral replication but cannot purge latent provirus. One approach to HIV eradication could include cART to block new infections plus an agent to activate latent provirus. NF-κB activation induces HIV expression, ending latency. Before activation, IκB proteins sequester NF-κB dimers in the cytoplasm. Three canonical IκBs, IκBα, IκBβ, and IκBε, exist, but the IκB proteins' role in HIV activation regulation is not fully understood. We studied the effects on HIV activation of targeting IκBs by single and pairwise small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown. After determining the relative abundance of the IκBs, the relative abundance of NF-κB subunits held by the IκBs, and the kinetics of IκB degradation and resynthesis following knockdown, we studied HIV activation by IκB knockdown, in comparison with those of known HIV activators, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), and trichostatin A (TSA), in U1 monocytic and J-Lat 10.6 lymphocytic latently infected cells. We found that IκBα knockdown activated HIV in both U1 and J-Lat 10.6 cells, IκBβ knockdown did not activate HIV, and, surprisingly, IκBε knockdown produced the most HIV activation, comparable to TSA activation. Our data show that HIV reactivation can be triggered by targeting two different IκB proteins and that IκBε may be an effective target for HIV latency reactivation in T-cell and macrophage lineages. IκBε knockdown may offer attractive therapeutic advantages for HIV activation because it is not essential for mammalian growth and development and because new siRNA delivery strategies may target siRNAs to HIV latently infected cells.
Modeling the Acute and Chronic Phases of Theiler Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus Infection
Authors: Zhang Jingshan , Lipton Howard L. , Perelson Alan S. , Dahari Harel
Published: January 2013

Theiler murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection of a mouse's central nervous system is biphasic: first the virus infects motor neurons (acute phase), and this is followed by a chronic phase in which the virus infects glial cells (primarily microglia and macrophages [Mϕ]) of the spinal cord white matter, leading to inflammation and demyelination. As such, TMEV-induced demyelinating disease in mice provides a highly relevant experimental animal model for multiple sclerosis. Mathematical models have proven valuable in understanding thein vivodynamics of persistent virus infections, such as HIV-1, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections. However, viral dynamic modeling has not been used for understanding TMEV infection. We constructed the first mathematical model of TMEV-host kinetics during acute and early chronic infections in mice and fit measured viral kinetic data with the model. The data fitting allowed us to estimate several unknown parameters, including the following: the rate of infection of neurons, 0.5 × 10−8to 5.6 × 10−8day−1; the percent reduction of the infection rate due to the presence of virus-specific antibodies, which reaches 98.5 to 99.9% after day 15 postinfection (p.i.); the half-life of infected neurons, 0.1 to 1.2 days; and a cytokine-enhanced macrophage source rate of 25 to 350 Mϕ/day into the spinal cord starting at 10.9 to 12.9 days p.i. The model presented here is a first step toward building a comprehensive model for TMEV-induced demyelinating disease. Moreover, the model can serve as an important tool in understanding TMEV infectious mechanisms and may prove useful in evaluating antivirals and/or therapeutic modalities to prevent or inhibit demyelination.
SMC1-Mediated Intra-S-Phase Arrest Facilitates Bocavirus DNA Replication
Authors: Luo Yong , Deng Xuefeng , Cheng Fang , Li Yi , Qiu Jianming
Published: January 2013

Activation of a host DNA damage response (DDR) is essential for DNA replication of minute virus of canines (MVC), a member of the genus
Bocavirus
of the
Parvoviridae
family; however, the mechanism by which DDR contributes to viral DNA replication is unknown. In the current study, we demonstrate that MVC infection triggers the intra-S-phase arrest to slow down host cellular DNA replication and to recruit cellular DNA replication factors for viral DNA replication. The intra-S-phase arrest is regulated by ATM (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase) signaling in a p53-independent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that SMC1 (structural maintenance of chromosomes 1) is the key regulator of the intra-S-phase arrest induced during infection. Either knockdown of SMC1 or complementation with a dominant negative SMC1 mutant blocks both the intra-S-phase arrest and viral DNA replication. Finally, we show that the intra-S-phase arrest induced during MVC infection was caused neither by damaged host cellular DNA nor by viral proteins but by replicating viral genomes physically associated with the DNA damage sensor, the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex. In conclusion, the feedback loop between MVC DNA replication and the intra-S-phase arrest is mediated by ATM-SMC1 signaling and plays a critical role in MVC DNA replication. Thus, our findings unravel the mechanism underlying DDR signaling-facilitated MVC DNA replication and demonstrate a novel strategy of DNA virus-host interaction.