bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Text of Luke 2, 22
Authors: Hatch W. H. P.
Published: November 2011

This verse contains a textual problem which has perplexed editors of the New Testament since the days of Erasmus and the Complutensian edition. The question is, What pronoun should be read after καθαρισμοῦ? — αὐτῶν, or αὐτοῦ, or αὐτῆς?

Αὐτῶν is attested by אABLWΓΔII etc., by nearly all the minuscules, by the Peshitta, the Harclean, and the Palestinian Syriac, and by three minor ancient versions (Ethiopic, Armenian, and Gothic). The Arabic Diatessaron also has the plural pronoun, agreeing with the Peshitta at this point. Origen found αὐτῶν in his text of the Gospel, and, so far as is known, he was acquainted with no other reading in this place. He quotes Luke 2, 22 in his Fourteenth Homily on Luke, which deals with the Circumcision and Purification, and he discusses the difficulty involved in the plural αὐτῶν without mentioning any variant reading. If he had known of such, he would certainly have made some reference to it. The Homiliae in Lucam were written at Caesarea, after Origen's withdrawal to that city from Alexandria in the year 231. We may therefore assume that αὐτῶν formed part of Luke 2, 22 in the text current at Caesarea and Alexandria in the early part of the third century, and that there were no rival claimants for the place. It was also the Antiochian, or ‘Syrian,’ reading, as its predominance in the minuscule manuscripts proves.
Harvesting orange-headed thrush Zoothera citrina chicks in Bali, Indonesia: magnitude, practices and sustainability
Authors: Kristianto Ign , Jepson Paul
Published: November 2011

Market demand for the orange-headed thrush Zoothera citrina, a prestigious songbird competition species in Indonesia, is supplied by chicks harvested from Bali Island. Using ethnographic and interview surveys conducted during the 2008–2009 breeding season we established the structure and scale of this trade and investigated means to improve its sustainability in two districts of Bali. We found that well-organized agent networks supplied an estimated 116,000 chicks worth EUR 3.175 million from Bali during the 6-month harvest season. Chicks are harvested when 4–16 days old and exported from Bali when 16–18 days old. Of 50 nests followed 60% were harvested and just 6% fledged young. Farmers deploy techniques to improve thrush food supply but lack practices to ensure continued recruitment to the thrush population. The practice of thrush harvesting started in the mid 1990s and is not yet regulated by the traditional institutions (Subak) that govern collective farming practices. Three networks determine the sustainability of the practice: (1) the fraternity of Indonesian songbird keepers, (2) agricultural agent networks, and (3) traditional village institutions. We identify the potential for coordinated forms of self-regulation and thrush population management by Subak and key groups involved in songbird contests. Furthermore, we argue that this would more likely enhance sustainability than interventions by government conservation agencies.
Habitat loss and human–elephant conflict in Assam, India: does a critical threshold exist?
Authors: Chartier Laura , Zimmermann Alexandra , Ladle Richard J.
Published: November 2011

Human–elephant conflict in India, driven by habitat loss and an expanding human population, is a complex challenge for biodiversity conservation. Determining if, how and why this conflict has changed over time will be an important step towards managing landscapes where people and elephants Elephas maximus coexist. This study combines social surveys and remote sensing data to analyse patterns in human–elephant conflict and land-use change over time. The reported experience of conflict increased dramatically in the early 1980s, with 85% of those surveyed indicating that conflict began after 1980. The expansion of conflict showed a significant southward trend and was associated with forest cover dropping below 30–40%. Based on our results we propose that a critical habitat threshold for human–elephant conflict may exist at 30–40% forest cover. Below this level, conflict expanded across the landscape. The existence of such a deforestation threshold may have important implications for landscape management in elephant range states that seek to avoid or mitigate further conflict. Maintenance of remaining forest areas, reforestation, and the creation of habitat corridors are strategies that could help prevent further expansion of conflict.
Hubbard forests
Authors: POIRIER ALFREDO
Published: November 2011

The theory of Hubbard trees provides an effective classification of nonlinear postcritically finite polynomial maps in ℂ. This note extends the classification to maps from a finite union of copies of ℂ to itself. Holomorphic proper maps on a finite union of copies of ℂ which are postcritically finite and nowhere linear can be characterized by a ‘forest’ made up of one tree for each copy of the set of complex numbers.
The Gyula Shakespeare Festival 2011
Authors: Shevtsova Maria
Published: November 2011

Report on the seventh year of the Shakespeare Festival held in Gyula in south-eastern Hungary.
A Model for the Division of Semiotic Labor in Scientific Argument: The Interaction of Words and Images
Authors: Gross Alan G.
Published: November 2011

Argument

A growing cross-disciplinary literature has acknowledged the importance of verbal-visual interaction in the creation and communication of scientific texts. I contend that the proper understanding of these texts must flow from a hermeneutic model that takes verbal-visual interaction seriously, one that is firmly grounded in cognitive constraints and affordances. The model I propose has two modules, one for perception, derived from Gestalt psychology, the other for cognition, derived from Peirce's semiotics. I apply this model to an important but largely neglected text in the history of nineteenth-century science, Charles Lyell'sThe Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man, and to two accounts by well-respected historians of science, both of the same key discovery in quantum physics. In doing so, I hope to demonstrate the advisability of incorporating the exegetical practices my model entails into the everyday practices of historians of science.
Semiempirical, Hartree-Fock, density functional, and second order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory methods do not accurately predict ionization energies and electron affinities of short- through long-chain [n]acenes
Authors: Rayne Sierra , Forest Kaya
Published: November 2011

Vertical, well-to-well, and adiabatic ionization energies (IEs) and electron affinities (EAs) were calculated for the n=1-10 [n]acenes using a wide range of semiempirical, Hartree-Fock, density functional, and second order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory model chemistries. None of the model chemistries examined were able to accurately predict the IEs or EAs for both short- through mid-length [n]acenes, as well as for extrapolations to the polymeric limit, when compared to available experimental and benchmark theoretical data. Provided a minimal basis set size is employed, basis set effects on predicted IEs and EAs are not significant relative to the choice of model chemistry. The poor IE/EA prediction performance for the parent [n]acenes likely extends to their substituted derivatives and heteroatom substituted analogs. Consequently, caution should be exercised in the application of non-high level calculations for estimating the IE/EA of these important classes of materials.
Narrow resonances seen in alkali photodetachment
Authors: Scott John T.
Published: November 2011

While making the first accurate experimental determinations of the electron affinities of alkali negative ions, a team at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (of the University of Colorado and the National Bureau of Standards, Boulder) has stumbled upon what appears to be by far the narrowest resonance observed in any electron–atom scattering process. Tom Patterson, Hartmut Hotop, Abe Kasdan, David Norcross and Carl Lineberger report their work with lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium negative ions in the 4 February issue of Physical Review Letters. As well as giving the electron affinities for these ions the JILA team shows cross-section curves for the photodetachment process that include strong resonances, as narrow as 150 microelectron volts (FWHM) in the case of rubidium. These resonances, not predicted by previously existing theoretical work, occur near photon energies corresponding to the formation of the neutral atom in its first excited (2P) state. The JILA group, an unusual collaboration of theoretical and experimental specialists working on the same problems, also reports improved calculations for these scattering processes that show theoretically how the resonances arise.
AEC requests funds for heavy-ion accelerators
Authors: Saar Robert A.
Published: November 2011

Initial funding for a large tandem electrostatic accelerator at Oak Ridge appears in the FY 1975 AEC budget request. Also included in the $19.2-million request is money for expansion and upgrading of SuperHILAC at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.
Public-interest science—an overview
Authors: Perl Martin , Primack Joel , von Hippel Frank
Published: November 2011

The idea that the public, as well as the government and industry, should have scientific advisors is an old one. The idea that the interests of the public should have lawyers to defend them is old too, yet it was not until the 1960's that a renewed public understanding of the insensitivity of governmental and industrial bureaucracies led to a substantial commitment in the legal profession to public-interest law. It appears that the scientific community may now have reached a similar point; a growing awareness of the dangers of leaving the exploitation of technology to special industrial and governmental interests has led to an increased readiness among scientists to undertake work in public-interest science.
KMS claims thermonuclear neutrons from laser implosion
Authors: Lubkin Gloria B.
Published: November 2011

The experimental observation of a laser-driven spherical implosion has been reported by a group at KMS Fusion, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The KMS group has observed what they believe to be thermonuclear neutrons produced in pellets of both deuterium and deuterium–tritium. Results were announced by KMS Industries in a press release on 13 May; subsequent experiments were discussed with PHYSICS TODAY by Keith Brueckner (who had been serving as chief scientist at KMS Fusion and is now returning to the University of California, La Jolla) and Robert Hofstadter (who is now chief scientist at KMS Fusion but will return to Stanford University in the fall).
Carnot's contribution to thermodynamics
Authors: Klein Martin J.
Published: November 2011

Sadi Carnot's first and only scientific work was published just one hundred and fifty years ago. It initiated the development of the classical thermodynamics that James Clerk Maxwell characterized so well as “a science with secure foundations, clear definitions, and distinct boundaries.” The role Carnot's ideas played in developing that science is the subject of this article.
The colonization of space
Authors: O'Neill Gerard K.
Published: November 2011

New ideas are controversial when they challenge orthodoxy, but orthodoxy changes with time, often surprisingly fast. It is orthodox, for example, to believe that Earth is the only practical habitat for Man, and that the human race is close to its ultimate size limits. But I believe we have now reached the point where we can, if we so choose, build new habitats far more comfortable, productive and attractive than is most of Earth.
Current-induced domain wall motion in permalloy nanowires with a rectangular cross-section
Authors: Ai J. H. , Miao B. F. , Sun L. , You B. , Hu An , Ding H. F.
Published: November 2011

We performed micromagnetic simulations of the current-induced domain wall motion in permalloy nanowires with rectangular cross-section. In the absence of the nonadiabatic spin-transfer term, a threshold current, Jc is required to drive the domain wall moving continuously. We find that Jc is proportional to the maximum cross product of the demagnetization field and magnetization orientation of the domain wall and the domain wall width. With varying both the wire thickness and width, a minimum threshold current in the order of 106 A/cm2 is obtained when the thickness is equivalent to the wire width. With the nonadiabatic spin-transfer term, the calculated domain wall velocity ν equals to the adiabatic spin transfer velocity u when the current is far above the Walker limit Jw. Below Jw, ν=βαu, where β is the nonadiabatic parameter and α is the damping factor. For different β, we find the Walker limit can be scaled as Jw=α|β-α|Jc. Our simulations agree well with the one dimensional analytical calculation, suggesting the findings are the general behaviors of the systems in this particular geometry.
Semi-bottom-up coarse graining of water based on microscopic simulations
Authors: Gao Lianghui , Fang Weihai
Published: November 2011

The generalized dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) equation derived from the generalized Langevin equation under Markovian approximations is used to simulate coarse-grained (CG) water cells. The mean force and the friction coefficients in the radial and transverse directions needed for DPD equation are obtained directly from the all atomistic molecular dynamics (AAMD) simulations. But the dissipative friction forces are overestimated in the Markovian approximation, which results in wrong dynamic properties for the CG water in the DPD simulations. To account for the non-Markovian dynamics, a rescaling factor is introduced to the friction coefficients. The value of the factor is estimated by matching the diffusivity of water. With this semi-bottom-up mapping method, the radial distribution function, the diffusion constant, and the viscosity of the coarse-grained water system computed with DPD simulations are all in good agreement with AAMD results. It bridges the microscopic level and mesoscopic level with consistent length and time scales.
Low voltage vertical organic field-effect transistor with polyvinyl alcohol as gate insulator
Authors: Rossi Lucieli , Seidel Keli F. , Machado Wagner S. , Hümmelgen Ivo A.
Published: November 2011

We report the preparation of low gate leakage current organic field effect transistors in vertical architecture using polyvinyl alcohol as gate insulator and C60 fullerene as n-type semiconductor in devices with gate, source, and drain electrodes of Al. Intermediate electrode and top electrode operate, respectively, as source and drain, or vice-versa, depending on polarity. In these devices the intermediate electrode (source or drain) is permeable to the electric field produced by the gate so that increased drain current is obtained at either increasingly negative gate voltage when the source is the intermediate electrode or increasingly positive gate voltage when the drain is the intermediate electrode.
Lower specific infectivity of protease-resistant prion protein generated in cell-free reactions
Authors: Klingeborn Mikael , Race Brent , Meade-White Kimberly D. , Chesebro Bruce
Published: November 2011

Prions are unconventional infectious agents that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) diseases, or prion diseases. The biochemical nature of the prion infectious agent remains unclear. Previously, using a protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) reaction, infectivity and disease-associated protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres) were both generated under cell-free conditions, which supported a nonviral hypothesis for the agent. However, these studies lacked comparative quantitation of both infectivity titers and PrPres, which is important both for biological comparison with in vivo-derived infectivity and for excluding contamination to explain the results. Here during four to eight rounds of PMCA, end-point dilution titrations detected a >320-fold increase in infectivity versus that in controls. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the agent of prion infectivity is not a virus. PMCA-generated samples caused the same clinical disease and neuropathology with the same rapid incubation period as the input brain-derived scrapie samples, providing no evidence for generation of a new strain in PMCA. However, the ratio of the infectivity titer to the amount of PrPres (specific infectivity) was much lower in PMCA versus brain-derived samples, suggesting the possibility that a substantial portion of PrPres generated in PMCA might be noninfectious.
Impaired lymphatic contraction associated with immunosuppression
Authors: Liao Shan , Cheng Gang , Conner David A. , Huang Yuhui , Kucherlapati Raju S. , Munn Lance L. , Ruddle Nancy H. , Jain Rakesh K. , Fukumura Dai , Padera Timothy P.
Published: November 2011

To trigger an effective immune response, antigen and antigen-presenting cells travel to the lymph nodes via collecting lymphatic vessels. However, our understanding of the regulation of collecting lymphatic vessel function and lymph transport is limited. To dissect the molecular control of lymphatic function, we developed a unique mouse model that allows intravital imaging of autonomous lymphatic vessel contraction. Using this method, we demonstrated that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in lymphatic endothelial cells is required for robust lymphatic contractions under physiological conditions. By contrast, under inflammatory conditions, inducible NOS (iNOS)-expressing CD11b
+
Gr-1
+
cells attenuate lymphatic contraction. This inhibition of lymphatic contraction was associated with a reduction in the response to antigen in a model of immune-induced multiple sclerosis. These results suggest the suppression of lymphatic function by the CD11b
+
Gr-1
+
cells as a potential mechanism of self-protection from autoreactive responses during on-going inflammation. The central role for nitric oxide also suggests that other diseases such as cancer and infection may also mediate lymphatic contraction and thus immune response. Our unique method allows the study of lymphatic function and its molecular regulation during inflammation, lymphedema, and lymphatic metastasis.
Tim50’s presequence receptor domain is essential for signal driven transport across the TIM23 complex
Authors: Schulz Christian , Lytovchenko Oleksandr , Melin Jonathan , Chacinska Agnieszka , Guiard Bernard , Neumann Piotr , Ficner Ralf , Jahn Olaf , Schmidt Bernhard , Rehling Peter
Published: November 2011

N-terminal targeting signals (presequences) direct proteins across the TOM complex in the outer mitochondrial membrane and the TIM23 complex in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Presequences provide directionality to the transport process and regulate the transport machineries during translocation. However, surprisingly little is known about how presequence receptors interact with the signals and what role these interactions play during preprotein transport. Here, we identify signal-binding sites of presequence receptors through photo-affinity labeling. Using engineered presequence probes, photo cross-linking sites on mitochondrial proteins were mapped mass spectrometrically, thereby defining a presequence-binding domain of Tim50, a core subunit of the TIM23 complex that is essential for mitochondrial protein import. Our results establish Tim50 as the primary presequence receptor at the inner membrane and show that targeting signals and Tim50 regulate the Tim23 channel in an antagonistic manner.
Whole‐genome analysis for backfat thickness in a tropically adapted, composite cattle breed from Brazil
Authors: Veneroni‐Gouveia G. , Meirelles S. L. , Grossi D. A. , Santiago A. C. , Sonstegard T. S. , Yamagishi M. E. B. , Matukumalli L. K. , Coutinho L. L. , Alencar M. M. , Oliveira H. N. , Regitano L. C. A.
Published: November 2011

Backfat thickness affects the preservation of the beef carcass after slaughter and confers organoleptic characteristics assessed by the consumer. One of the breeding goals for Canchim, a tropically adapted breed, is to comprehensively increase fat thickness. Our goals were to identify genomic regions associated with backfat in Canchim populations and validate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) overlapping previously identified QTL regions known to affect fat deposition. Fifteen animals with lower and 15 animals with higher residues for backfat, according to a linear model using the SAS GLM procedure, were selected from a population of 1171 animals and genotyped using the BovineSNP50 BeadChip. Initial analysis revealed more than 100 SNPs that discriminated the tails of phenotypic distribution. One extended region of association included the centromeric region of chromosome (Chr) 14. Because this region overlapped with QTL from previous reports, we developed SNP assays to interrogate two linkage disequilibrium blocks, one in the centromeric region and another in the middle region of Chr 14 to confirm the association. The analysis validated the presence of specific haplotypes affecting fat thickness.
Extremes of an aromatase index predict increased 25‐year risk of cardiovascular mortality in older women
Authors: Laughlin Gail A. , Ix Joachim H. , Cummins Kevin , Allison Matthew A. , Daniels Lori B.
Published: November 2011

Background  Peripheral conversion of androgens to oestrogens via aromatase is the primary source of oestrogen in postmenopausal women and may play a role in cardiovascular health.

Design  Prospective.

Participants, Measurements  The association of an index of aromatase activity (AROM), the serum oestrone‐to‐androstenedione ratio, with 25‐year cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was examined in 819 postmenopausal non‐oestrogen using women (mean age at baseline = 72).

Results  Overall, 247 deaths were attributed to CVD. The median AROM value was 60 (95% range 17–129). AROM was positively correlated with age (r = 0·28) and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0·22) (P < 0·001). The age‐adjusted risk for CVD mortality was significantly elevated for women in the lowest (HR = 2·01, 95% CI 1·31–3·12) and highest (HR = 1·51, 95%CI 1·02–2·22) quintiles of AROM, compared with the middle quintile. This U‐shaped association persisted after additional adjustment for BMI, waist‐to‐hip ratio, exercise, smoking, alcohol use and traditional CVD risk factor covariates. There was a significant interaction of AROM and BMI (P = 0·001), such that high AROM was associated with a 63% reduction in risk of CVD death for women with low BMI (<22 kg/m2), but with 2·1‐ to 2·5‐fold increased risk in women with mid‐range (22–<25 kg/m2) and high (≥25 kg/m2) BMI. Oestradiol did not influence AROM associations and was not independently related to CVD death.

Conclusions  These results suggest that aromatase is a novel endocrine factor predictive of CVD mortality among postmenopausal women. If confirmed, additional studies are needed to determine whether extremes of aromatase reflect genetic influences or underlying disease processes.
Atmospheric CO2 and O3 alter competition for soil nitrogen in developing forests
Authors: Zak Donald R. , Kubiske Mark E. , Pregitzer Kurt S. , Burton Andrew J.
Published: November 2011

Plant growth responses to rising atmospheric CO2 and O3 vary among genotypes and between species, which could plausibly influence the strength of competitive interactions for soil N. Ascribable to the size‐symmetric nature of belowground competition, we reasoned that differential growth responses to CO2 and O3 should shift as juvenile individuals mature, thereby altering competitive hierarchies and forest composition. In a 12‐year‐long forest FACE experiment, we used tracer 15N and whole‐plant N content to assess belowground competitive interactions among five Populus tremuloides genotypes, between a single P. tremuloides genotype and Betula papryrifera, as well as between the same single P. tremuloides genotype and Acer saccharum. Under elevated CO2, the amount of soil N and 15N obtained by the P. tremuloides genotype common to each community was contingent on the nature of belowground competition. When this genotype competed with its congeners, it obtained equivalent amounts of soil N and tracer 15N under ambient and elevated CO2; however, its acquisition of soil N under elevated CO2 increased by a significant margin when grown in competition with B. papyrifera (+30%) and A. saccharum (+60%). In contrast, elevated O3 had no effect on soil N and 15N acquisition by the P. tremuloides genotype common in each community, regardless of competitive interactions. Under elevated CO2, the rank order of N acquisition among P. tremuloides genotypes shifted over time, indicating that growth responses to CO2 change during ontogeny; this was not the case under elevated O3. In the aspen‐birch community, the competitive advantage elevated CO2 initially conveyed on birch diminished over time, whereas maple was a poor competitor for soil N in all regards. The extent to which elevated CO2 and O3 will shape the genetic structure and composition of future forests is, in part, contingent on the time‐dependent effects of belowground competition on plant growth response.
The two‐component histidine kinases DrkA and SlnA are required for in vivo growth in the human pathogen Penicillium marneffei
Authors: Boyce Kylie J. , Schreider Lena , Kirszenblat Leonie , Andrianopoulos Alex
Published: November 2011

In order to cause disease fungal pathogens must be capable of evading or tolerating the host immune defence system. One commonly utilized evasion mechanism is the ability to continually reside within macrophages of the innate immune system and survive subsequent phagocytic destruction. For intracellular growth to occur, fungal pathogens which typically grow in a filamentous hyphal form in the environment must be able to switch growth to a unicellular yeast growth form in a process known as dimorphic switching. The cue to undergo dimorphic switching relies on the recognition of, and response to, the intracellular host environment. Two‐component signalling systems are utilized by eukaryotes to sense and respond to changes in the external environment. This study has investigated the role of the hybrid histidine kinase components encoded by drkA and slnA, in the dimorphic pathogen Penicillium marneffei. Both SlnA and DrkA are required for stress adaptation but are uniquely required for different aspects of asexual development, hyphal morphogenesis and cell wall integrity. Importantly, slnA and drkA are both essential for the generation of yeast cells in vivo, with slnA required for the germination of conidia and drkA required for dimorphic switching during macrophage infection.
Epibionts on the krill (Euphausia pacifica) from the E coast of Japan
Authors: Fernandez‐Leborans Gregorio
Published: November 2011

Fernandez‐Leborans, G. 2011. Epibionts on the krill (Euphausia pacifica) from the E coast of Japan. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 00: 1–10.

Specimens of Euphausia pacifica collected from shallow waters of the E coast of Japan showed ciliate epibionts belonging to two suctorian species: Ephelota plana and Gymnodinioides sp. The epibionts were present in a total of 27 anatomical units of E. pacifica, in numbers fluctuating between 8 and 80 individuals per basibiont. Gymnodinioides showed the highest mean number of epibionts. The presence–absence of epibionts indicated some specificity of the species by different locations on the basibiont body, which is corroborated by the analysis of the colonization throughout the longitudinal axis of the basibiont. Ephelota plana was recorded by the first time on E. pacifica, while Gymnodinioides sp. extended its geographical area with respect to previous studies. Morphological, taxonomical features of the species and the statistical analysis of their spatial distribution on E. pacifica are included.
Global food supply: a challenge for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Leaver J. D.
Published: November 2011

A major challenge for the future is to satisfy the nutritional needs of a much increased global population and to produce the additional food using less land, water and energy. Much of this increased food production will be from emerging developing countries. Sustainable intensive food production systems employing new genetic and precision technologies will be essential for this purpose. Food prices are likely to remain at a higher level and be more volatile than in the past and this will impact most on vulnerable poor people in the developing world. This is a major concern and should be a priority for action both nationally and internationally. So, while it is feasible to deliver the forecast of 70% increase in food supplies required by 2050, this will only be sustainable if the significant challenges of resource limitation and climate change are met, and the environmental and social impacts minimised.
Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in captive eastern rock sengi
Authors: van der Merwe I. , Oosthuizen M. K. , Bennett N. C. , Chimimba C. T.
Published: November 2011

We investigated locomotor activity rhythms in the little‐studied wild‐caught eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus) from Goro Game Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. To assess whether locomotor activity is endogenously entrained by the light–dark cycle, animals (n = 13) were subjected to three different light‐cycle regimes: a 12 h light/12 h darkness (LD) cycle, a total darkness (DD) cycle and an inverse of the LD cycle (DL). Ten animals exhibited strong light entrainment under LD1 with the total percentage of activity during the light phase (56.5% ± 11.9%) significantly higher than during the dark phase (43.5% ± 11.9%). Eleven animals expressed distinct endogenous free‐running rhythms under DD (mean τ = 23.6 h ± 0.6 h; range: 22.9 h–24.5 h), with significant inter‐individual variation. Under DL, the total percentage of activity was approximately equal during the light (50.4% ± 7.8%) and dark phase (49.6% ± 7.8%). E. myurus was on average active 25% of the 24‐h day with a nocturnal–diurnal ratio of 0.8 under LD1 and exhibited locomotor activity under controlled conditions similar to that of closely related species in the wild. In 62% of the animals, activity was highest around dawn, lowest during the afternoon and intermittently expressed throughout the night. Little quantitative data are available on the daily locomotor activity rhythms of sengis particularly in response to the light–dark cycle. This study provides valuable quantitative data on locomotor activity rhythms in E. myurus.
Speckle Tracking Global Strain Rate E/E′ Predicts LV Filling Pressure More Accurately Than Traditional Tissue Doppler E/E′
Authors: Kimura Koichi , Takenaka Katsu , Ebihara Aya , Okano Tomoko , Uno Kansei , Fukuda Nobuaki , Ando Jiro , Fujita Hideo , Morita Hiroyuki , Yatomi Yutaka , Nagai Ryozo
Published: November 2011

Background: The ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E) to tissue Doppler (TD) mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/E′VEL‐TD) has been widely used for the noninvasive assessment of LV diastolic filling pressures. However, it has been reported that E/E′VEL‐TD is not accurate particularly when being applied to patients with advanced heart failure. Methods: Fifty‐six ICU patients with decompensated heart failure underwent simultaneous echocardiography and PCWP measurements. Patients with elevated PCWP (n = 41) were compared with patients normal PCWP (n = 15) as well as age‐matched healthy controls (n = 32). In the apical 4‐chamber view, the ratio of E to speckle tracking (ST) mitral annular velocity (E/E′VEL‐ST) and early diastolic global LV longitudinal strain rate (E/E′SR‐ST) were evaluated as new surrogate markers of elevated PCWP. Results: Correlations with PCWP were observed for speckle tracking derived E/E′VEL‐ST (r = 0.40,P = 0.002) and E/E′SR‐ST (r = 0.56, P < 0.001), although the traditional E/E′VEL‐TD did not show a significant correlation (r = 0.23, P = 0.082). Compared with controls, patients with elevated PCWP had significant increases in all variables. The best cutoff values and diagnostic accuracies for identifying elevated PCWP were E/E′VEL‐TD>12 (Sensitivity/Specificity/area under the ROC curve: 0.58/0.90/0.78), E/E′VEL‐ST > 14 (0.60/0.85/0.80), and E/E′SR‐ST > 93 (0.80/0.88/0.89). Conclusion: Speckle tracking derived E/E′SR‐ST may be a robust surrogate marker of elevated LV filling pressure. In ICU patients, E/E′SR‐ST showed better correlation with PCWP and higher diagnostic accuracy than the tissue Doppler approach. (Echocardiography 2012;29:404‐410)
Bacterial Vaginosis and Preterm Birth
Authors: Manns‐James Laura
Published: November 2011

Although it has been clear for more than 2 decades that bacterial vaginosis increases the risk for preterm birth in some women, it is not yet fully understood why this association exists or how best to modify the risk. Incomplete understanding of this polymicrobial condition and difficulties in classification contribute to the challenge. The relationship between altered vaginal microflora and preterm birth is likely mediated by host immune responses. Because treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy does not improve preterm birth rates, and may in fact increase them, screening and treatment of asymptomatic pregnant women is discouraged. Symptomatic women should be treated for symptom relief. This article reviews the pathophysiology of bacterial vaginosis and controversy surrounding management during pregnancy. Agents currently recommended for treatment of this condition are reviewed.
United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use 2010: A Review of Changes
Authors: Jacobson Janet C. , Aikins Murphy Patricia
Published: November 2011

In the late 1990s, the World Health Organization (WHO) created the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (MEC), which provide evidence‐based recommendations for safe and effective contraception in women with medical problems. The WHO MEC incorporate the best available evidence, are periodically updated, and are designed to be modified for specific populations. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published US MEC in 2010. Changes to WHO guidelines for use in the US population include the following areas: breastfeeding, intrauterine device use, valvular heart disease, ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, and venous thromboembolism. Medical conditions not covered by WHO recommendations but added to the US MEC include contraceptive guidance for women with inflammatory bowel disease, history of bariatric surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, endometrial hyperplasia, history of peripartum cardiomyopathy, and history of solid organ transplant. This article reviews the changes and additions to WHO MEC found in the US MEC.
Osteoporosis Update
Authors: Schuiling Kerri Durnell , Robinia Kristi , Nye Rachel
Published: November 2011

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that is estimated to affect more than 75 million people worldwide. The US Department of Health and Human Services projects that the disease will impact more than 10 million women by 2020 if efforts to prevent it are ineffective. This article provides an overview of the pathophysiology of osteoporosis, prevention measures, and an update of the US Food and Drug Administration–approved medications that are used in the treatment of this widespread disease.

Methods: The current literature on the pathology, risks, and treatment of osteoporosis was reviewed. Studies providing the evidence for best practices are included in the following sections: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. Current national standards for diagnosis and treatment are highlighted.

Results: Bisphosphonates continue to be the most popular and widely used pharmacologic treatment for osteoporosis. However, when bisphosphonates are contraindicated or cause side effects so serious that it is not possible for some women to use them, alternative pharmacologic treatments and forms of dosing are available.

Discussion: When lifestyle and dietary modifications are insufficient to offset a diagnosis of osteoporosis, there are a variety of pharmaceutical options available that will provide safe and effective protection against fracture due to osteoporosis.
Skin cancer in organ transplant recipients: effects of immunosuppressive medications on DNA repair
Authors: Kuschal Christiane , Thoms Kai‐Martin , Schubert Steffen , Schäfer Annika , Boeckmann Lars , Schön Michael P. , Emmert Steffen
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  UV‐induced skin cancers comprise a major problem in organ transplant recipients (OTRs). Cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, is used as a standard immunosuppressant and clearly increases the skin cancer risk. Azathioprine does not appear to result in such an increase in skin cancer risk, and mTOR inhibitors are associated with an even lesser skin cancer risk. The underlying molecular mechanisms of these clinically important differences among immunosuppressants are still unclear and may relate to other than immunological effects. Insights may be gained by the multistep skin cancer theory and xeroderma pigmentosum, where defective nucleotide excision repair (NER) results in a cellular mutator phenotype and cutaneous carcinogenesis. This viewpoint assay summarizes current knowledge about the influence of the most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs in OTRs on DNA repair. Calcineurin inhibition results in a 200‐fold increased skin cancer risk compared with the normal population and inhibits NER. The skin cancer risk under azathioprine is threefold less compared with calcineurin inhibitors, which may relate to inhibition of only the last step of NER, i.e. gap filling. mTOR inhibitors do not reduce NER in the global genome and can inhibit the growth of already initiated tumors, which may account for the markedly reduced skin cancer risk compared with calcineurin inhibitors. We conclude that OTRs may benefit from treatment regimens other than calcineurin inhibitors and speculate that a targeted modulation of calcineurin‐dependent signalling may prevent UV‐induced tumor formation by enhancing NER not only in OTRs but also in the general population, at least in part.
The effect of pimecrolimus on expression of genes associated with skin barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis skin lesions
Authors: Grzanka Alicja , Zebracka‐Gala Jadwiga , Rachowska Regina , Bozek Andrzej , Kowalska Małgorzata , Jarzab Jerzy
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  The mechanism of action of pimecrolimus (PIM) on atopic lesions is still under consideration. Thus far, we have evidence of its anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity, and recent papers focus on its effect on epidermal barrier function. This study analysed changes in the expression of genes associated with skin barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis (AD) skin lesions after 2 weeks of exposure to PIM 1% cream. A real‐time quantitative PCR analysis of selected epidermal differentiation complex genes and three alternative pathway keratins was performed in skin biopsies from 11 individuals with AD before and after PIM exposure. The real‐time quantitative PCR analysis was compared to non‐lesional skin in the same patients. Involucrin, a small proline‐rich region (SPRR) 2C gene, and alternative pathway keratin 16 showed significant over‐expression in lesional skin followed by significant decrease after PIM therapy. The SPRR1A gene, S100A9, and keratin 6A were also increased; however, the decrease after PIM treatment was not significant. The changes in S100 A2, A7 and A8 followed a similar course with borderline significance. SPRR4 had a significant decrease in expression in lesional versus non‐lesional skin, which persisted after PIM treatment. No significant changes were detected in mRNA expression levels of filaggrin and loricrin. Our results suggest that PIM can be effective in restoring the epidermal barrier in patients with AD at least in part by its impact on expression of genes, which are important for the normal barrier function of skin.
Case report on vertebral artery dissection in mixed martial arts
Authors: Slowey Michael , Maw Graeme , Furyk Jeremy
Published: November 2011

A 41‐year‐old man presented to the ED with severe vertigo 2 days after a grappling injury while training in mixed martial arts. Imaging revealed a cerebellar infarct with complete occlusion of the right vertebral artery secondary to dissection. Management options are discussed as is the ongoing controversy regarding the safety of the sport.
Real‐time PCR to quantify composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities—marker design, verification, calibration and field validation
Authors: THONAR C. , ERB A. , JANSA J.
Published: November 2011

Quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) is slowly becoming established as a tool to quantify abundance of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) taxa in roots and in soil. Here, we describe the development and field validation of qPCR markers (i.e. primers with associated hydrolysis probes), targeting taxon‐specific motifs in the nuclear large ribosomal subunit RNA genes. Design of such markers is complicated by the multinuclear and multigenomic cellular organization of these fungi and the high DNA sequence diversity within the smallest biologically relevant units (i.e. single‐spore isolates). These limitations are further compounded by inefficient biomass production of these fungi, resulting in limited availability of pure genomic DNA (gDNA) of well‐defined isolates for cross‐specificity testing of the markers. Here we demonstrate, using a number of AMF isolates, the possibility to establish stringent qPCR running conditions allowing quantification of phylogenetically disjunctive AMF taxa. Further, we show that these markers can more generally be used to quantify abundance (i.e. number of target gene copies or amount of gDNA) of what is usually considered the level of AMF species, regardless of the isolate identities. We also illustrate the range of variation within qPCR signal strength across different AMF taxa with respect to the detected number of gene copies per unit amount of gDNA. This information is paramount for interpretation of the qPCR analyses of field samples. Finally, the field validation of these markers confirmed their potential to assess composition of field AMF communities and monitor the changes owing to agricultural practices such as soil tillage.
Application of a prescribing indicators tool to assist in identifying drug-related problems in a cohort of older Australians
Authors: Basger Benjamin J , Chen Timothy F , Moles Rebekah J
Published: November 2011

Objective

Drug-related problems (DRPs) are common in older people, resulting in a disproportionate number of serious medication adverse events. Pharmacist-led interventions have been shown to be effective in identifying and reducing DRPs such as medication interactions, omission of recommended medications and use of ineffective medications. In 2008 we proposed a prescribing indicators tool to assist in identifying DRPs as part of the Australian medication review process. The objective was to apply the proposed prescribing indicators tool to a cohort of older Australians, to assess its use in detecting potential DRPs.

Methods

The prescribing indicators tool was applied in a cross-sectional observational study to 126 older (aged ≥65 years) English-speaking Australians taking five or more medications, as they were being discharged from a small private hospital into the community. Indicators were unmet when prescribing did not adhere to indicator tool guidelines.

Key findings

We found a high incidence of under-treatment, and use of inappropriate medications. There were on average 18 applicable indicators per patient, with each patient having on average seven unmet indicators.

Conclusion

The use of a prescribing indicators tool for commonly used medications and common medical conditions in older Australians may contribute to the efficient identification of DRPs.
Compliance with legal requirements at community pharmacies: a cross sectional study from Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Azha , Ibrahim Mohamed I M , Baber Zaheer-ud-Di
Published: November 2011

Objectives

The study evaluated the compliance of community pharmacies with legal requirements as laid down by the drug regulatory framework in Pakistan.

Methods

An exploratory cross sectional survey was conducted with a total of 371 randomly selected community pharmacies in three cities in Pakistan, namely Islamabad (n = 118), Peshawar (n = 120) and Lahore (n = 133). A questionnaire was developed and finalized by focus-group discussions and pilot testing. The questionnaire included background information and a legal requirement scale consisting of six subscales: licensing requirements, premises requirements, storage requirements, documentation requirements, narcotics section requirements and prescription checking. The data were coded, entered and analysed using SPSS software (version 16). Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney and chi square tests were used for analysis.

Key findings

The pharmacies were operating with one of the three licence types operating in Pakistan: type A (n = 96, 25.9%), type B (n = 186, 50.1%) and type C (n = 89, 24.0%). A narcotics licence was issued to 133 (35.8%) pharmacies; licences of 66 (17.8%) pharmacies were expired while the validity of 87 (23.0%) licences could not be determined. Only 113 (30.5%) pharmacies were totally clean. Eighty percent of the pharmacies had a refrigerator for storage of medicines, but only 284 (76%) of the refrigerators were in working condition. Complete medicine purchase records with warranties were available at 210 (56.6%) pharmacies.

Conclusions

None of the pharmacies completely complied with the legal requirements in terms of licensing, premises, storage, documentation, narcotics section, drug labelling and prescription checking. This speaks of poor regulation and control by health authorities on the sale and dispensing of medicines in Pakistan. This study will serve as a baseline for policy makers, managers, researchers and other stakeholders in developing designs for future interventions as well as for methods of accountability and control.
Fears of compassion and happiness in relation to alexithymia, mindfulness, and self‐criticism
Authors: Gilbert P. , McEwan K. , Gibbons L. , Chotai S. , Duarte J. , Matos M.
Published: November 2011

Background. There is increasing research to suggest that fears of, and resistances to, affiliative and positive emotions are linked to self‐criticism and a range of psychopathologies. It is unclear how these fears and resistances are linked to each other and how these in turn are linked to psychological processes, such as abilities to be mindful and recognize and describe emotions.

Objectives. This research explores the relationship between fears of compassion and happiness in general, with capacities for emotional processing (alexithymia), capacities for mindfulness, and empathic abilities. To advance this research, a new scale was developed to measure general fears of positive feelings – the Fear of Happiness Scale.

Results. The results showed that fears of compassion for self, from others and in particular fear of happiness, were highly linked to different aspects of alexithymia, mindfulness, empathy, self‐criticism and depression, anxiety and stress. Especially noteworthy was the very high correlation between fear of happiness and depression (r= .70).

Conclusion. While the development of positive emotions, especially those linked to affiliation and connectedness are increasingly seen as important therapeutic targets, little research has focused on the blocks and fears to positive emotions. This study used newly developed fears of positive affect scales (e.g., compassion and happiness) to explore these aspects and found they were significantly linked to psychopathology variables self‐criticism and difficulties such as alexithymia.