bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capsule Structural Heterogeneity and Antigenic Variation in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: McFadden Diane C. , Fries Bettina C. , Wang Fang , Casadevall Arturo
Published: June 2007

Cryptococcus neoformans
is a human pathogenic fungus with a capsule composed primarily of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) that is important for virulence. Current views of GXM structure postulate a polymer composed of repeating mannose trisaccharide motifs bearing a single β(1,2) glucuronic acid with variable xylose and
O
-acetyl substitutions to form six triads. GXM from different strains is notoriously variable in triad composition, but it is not known if the polymer consists of one or more motif-repeating units. We investigated the polymeric organization of GXM by using mass spectrometry to determine if its compositional motif arrangement was similar to that of bacterial capsular polysaccharides, namely, a polymer of a single repeating unit. The results were consistent with, and confirmatory for, the current view that the basic unit of GXM is a repeating mannose trisaccharide motif, but we also found evidence for the copolymerization of different GXM repeating units in one polysaccharide molecule. Analysis of GXM from isogenic phenotypic switch variants suggested structural differences caused by glucuronic acid positional effects, which implied flexibility in the synthetic pathway. Our results suggest that cryptococcal capsule synthesis is fundamentally different from that observed in prokaryotes and employs a unique eukaryotic approach, which theoretically could synthesize an infinite number of structural combinations. The biological significance of this capsule construction scheme is that it is likely to confer a powerful avoidance strategy for interactions with the immune system and phagocytic environmental predators. Consistent with this premise, the antigenic variation of a capsular epitope recognized by a nonprotective antibody was observed under different growth conditions.
DNA Diversification in Two
Sinorhizobium
Species
Authors: Guo Xianwu , Flores Margarita , Morales Lucía , García Delfino , Bustos Patricia , González Víctor , Palacios Rafael , Dávila Guillermo
Published: June 2007

The comparative analysis of genomic characteristics and single-nucleotide polymorphism patterns from large fragments borne on different replicons of
Sinorhizobium
spp. genomes clearly demonstrate that DNA recombination among closely related bacteria is a major event in the diversification of this genome, especially in pSymA, resulting in mosaic structure.
Non-malignant disease mortality in meat workers: a model for studying the role of zoonotic transmissible agents in non-malignant chronic diseases in humans
Authors: Johnson E S , Zhou Y , Sall M , El Faramawi M , Shah N , Christopher A , Lewis N
Published: June 2007

Background:

Current research efforts have mainly concentrated on evaluating the role of substances present in animal food in the aetiology of chronic diseases in humans, with relatively little attention given to evaluating the role of transmissible agents that are also present. Meat workers are exposed to a variety of transmissible agents present in food animals and their products. This study investigates mortality from non-malignant diseases in workers with these exposures.

Methods:

A cohort mortality study was conducted between 1949 and 1989, of 8520 meat workers in a union in Baltimore, Maryland, who worked in manufacturing plants where animals were killed or processed, and who had high exposures to transmissible agents. Mortality in meat workers was compared with that in a control group of 6081 workers in the same union, and also with the US general population. Risk was estimated by proportional mortality and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and relative SMR.

Results:

A clear excess of mortality from septicaemia, subarachnoid haemorrhage, chronic nephritis, acute and subacute endocarditis, functional diseases of the heart, and decreased risk of mortality from pre-cerebral, cerebral artery stenosis were observed in meat workers when compared to the control group or to the US general population.

Conclusions:

The authors hypothesise that zoonotic transmissible agents present in food animals and their products may be responsible for the occurrence of some cases of circulatory, neurological and other diseases in meat workers, and possibly in the general population exposed to these agents.
COMPUTING MANY MAXIMAL INDEPENDENT SETS FOR HYPERGRAPHS IN PARALLEL
Authors: KHACHIYAN LEONID , BOROS ENDRE , GURVICH VLADIMIR , ELBASSIONI KHALED
Published: July 2007

A hypergraph [Formula: see text] is called uniformly δ-sparse if for every nonempty subset X ⊆ V of vertices, the average degree of the sub-hypergraph of [Formula: see text] induced by X is at most δ. We show that there is a deterministic algorithm that, given a uniformly δ-sparse hypergraph [Formula: see text], and a positive integer k, outputs k or all minimal transversals for [Formula: see text] in O(δ log (1 + k) polylog (δ|V|))-time using |V|O( log δ)kO(δ) processors. Equivalently, the algorithm can be used to compute in parallel k or all maximal independent sets for [Formula: see text].
CENTRALITY DEPENDENCE OF NUCLEAR MODIFICATION FACTOR IN Au+Au COLLISIONS AT $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200~{\rm GeV}$
Authors: XIANG W. C. , ZHOU D. C.
Published: July 2007

Centrality dependence of nuclear modification factor at high pT above 4 GeV /c is studied in nucleus–nucleus collisions at [Formula: see text]. We find that the centrality dependence of the nuclear modification factor can be factorized as a Boltzmann function F(b). Comparing our model calculation with PHENIX data, we further confirm that the high pT spectrum of particles is dominated by surface emission.
The inflammatory cytokine oncostatin M induces PAI-1 in human vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro via PI 3-kinase and ERK1/2-dependent pathways
Authors: Demyanets Svitlana , Kaun Christoph , Rychli Kathrin , Rega Gersina , Pfaffenberger Stefan , Afonyushkin Taras , Bochkov Valery N. , Maurer Gerald , Huber Kurt , Wojta Johann
Published: June 2007

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the fibrinolytic system and in the modulation of extracellular proteolysis. Increased PAI-1 was found in atherosclerotic lesions, and high PAI-1 plasma levels were associated with coronary heart disease. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are a major source of PAI-1 within the vascular wall, and PAI-1 was implicated in SMC migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. We treated human coronary artery SMC (HCASMC) and human aortic SMC (HASMC) with the glycoprotein 130 (gp130) ligands cardiotrophin-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), or oncostatin M (OSM). Only OSM increased PAI-1 antigen and activity production significantly in these cells up to 20-fold. OSM upregulated mRNA specific for PAI-1 up to 4.5-fold in these cells. HCASMC and HASMC express gp130, OSM receptor, IL-6 receptor, and LIF receptor. OSM induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and Akt phosphorylations in HASMC. A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor and a mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor reduced Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, respectively, and abolished OSM-induced PAI-1 upregulation. A janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription inhibitor, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, or c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase inhibitor I did not inhibit the OSM-dependent PAI-1 induction. OSM enhanced proliferation of both HCASMC and HASMC by 77 and 90%, respectively. We hypothesize that, if the effect of OSM on PAI-1 expression in smooth muscle cells is operative in vivo, it could, via modulation of fibrinolysis and extracellular proteolysis, be involved in the development of vascular pathologies such as plaque progression, destabilization and subsequent thrombus formation, and restenosis and neointima formation.
cGMP-dependent protein kinase I interacts with TRIM39R, a novel Rpp21 domain-containing TRIM protein
Authors: Roberts Jesse D. , Chiche Jean-Daniel , Kolpa Emily M. , Bloch Donald B. , Bloch Kenneth D.
Published: June 2007

Nitric oxide modulates vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) cytoskeletal kinetics and phenotype, in part, by stimulating cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKGI). To identify molecular targets of PKGI, an interaction trap screen in yeast was performed using a cDNA encoding the catalytic region of PKGI and a human lung cDNA library. We identified a cDNA that encodes a putative PKGI-interactor that is a novel variant of TRIM39, a member of the really interesting new gene (RING) finger family of proteins. Although this TRIM39 variant encodes the NH2-terminal RING finger (RF), B-box, and coiled-coil (RBBC) domains of TRIM39, instead of a complete COOH-terminal B30.2 domain, this TRIM39 isoform contains the COOH-terminal portion of Rpp21, a component of RNase P. RT-PCR demonstrated that the TRIM39 variant, which we refer to as TRIM39R, is transcribed in the human fetal lung and in rat pulmonary artery SMC. Indirect immunofluorescence using an antibody generated against the conserved domains of TRIM39 and TRIM39R revealed the proteins in speckled intranuclear structures in human acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) and human epidermal carcinoma line (HEp-2) cells. PKGI phosphorylated a typical PKGI/PKA phosphorylation domain in a conserved region of TRIM39 and TRIM39R. Additional studies demonstrated that PKGI interacts with both isoforms of TRIM39 in yeast cells and phosphorylates both isoforms of TRIM39 in human cell lines. Although PKGI has been observed to interact with proteins that regulate cytoskeletal function and gene expression, this investigation shows for the first time that PKGI interacts with tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins, which, through diverse molecular pathways, are often observed to regulate important aspects of cellular homeostasis.
Notch inhibition in Kaposi's sarcoma tumor cells leads to mitotic catastrophe through nuclear factor-κB signaling
Authors: Curry Christine L. , Reed Laura L. , Broude Eugenia , Golde Todd E. , Miele Lucio , Foreman Kimberly E.
Published: June 2007

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common neoplasm in untreated AIDS patients and accounts for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. We have recently reported that Notch signaling (which plays an important role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oncogenesis) is constitutively activated in KS tumor cells. Blockade of this activity using γ-secretase inhibitors resulted in apoptosis of SLK cells, a KS tumor cell line; however, this apoptosis was preceded by a prolonged G2-M cell cycle arrest. This result led us to hypothesize that the cells were undergoing mitotic catastrophe, an abnormal mitosis that leads to eventual cell death. Here, we show that Notch inhibition in KS tumor cells using γ-secretase inhibitors or Notch-1 small interfering RNA resulted in G2-M cell cycle arrest and mitotic catastrophe characterized by the presence of micronucleated cells and an increased mitotic index. Interestingly, Notch inhibition led to a sustained increase in nuclear cyclin B1, a novel observation suggesting that Notch signaling can modulate expression of this critical cell cycle protein. Further analysis showed the induction of cyclin B1 was due, at least in part, to increased nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity, which was also required for the G2-M growth arrest after Notch inhibition. Taken together, these studies suggest that Notch inhibition can initiate aberrant mitosis by inducing NF-κB activity that inappropriately increases cyclin B1 resulting in cell death via mitotic catastrophe. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(7):1983–92]
Islamic Insurance: National Features and Legal Regulation
Authors: Bekkin Renat
Published: June 2007

The present paper studies Islamic insurance (takaful) as opposed to conventional one. The first part of the paper covers, among other things, such issues as nature and historic roots of Islamic insurance, early forms of Islamic insurance and narrates the disputes among Muslim scholars concerning the compatibility of insurance with Islamic Shariah. The second part deals with history and emergence of Islamic insurance in the modern financial market, as well as the practice of Islamic insurance in different countries. The third part discusses the feasibility of Islamic insurance in Russia in the current legal framework. The paper contains comprehensive glossary of related terms.
Administrative Contracts and Arbitration, in Light of the Kuwaiti Law of Judicial Arbitration No. 11 of 1995
Authors: Alhamidah Khalifah
Published: June 2007

The state's administration, nowadays, undertakes many tasks due to the movement towards a modern state. This fact results in wide public services that it came to fulfill. Therefore, different legal methods are used in the sake of providing individuals with these services. Aiming at giving private sectors a role in such services, the state's administration relies on contractual relationships with those sectors. Indeed, through this legal method, the public services are provided, and the administration is helped in fulfilling its commitments.Seeking to organise disputes arising from the contractual relationships, the Kuwaiti legislature promulgated the law No. 11 of 1995 establishing the Department of Judicial Arbitration. In Article (2), the law gave the private sectors that entered into a contract in which the stat's administration is a party to resort to judicial arbitration in order to solve their disputes. The Article, also, emphasised that whenever the said sectors chose this method, the administration was obliged to accept the arbitration.This study came to highlight the elements of the said law, discuss the suitability of administrative contracts to be subject to the arbitration and examine the Kuwait courts' trend in relation to this matter.
"And Amicable Settlement Is Best": Sulh and Dispute Resolution in Islamic Law
Authors: Othman Aida
Published: June 2007

The attention accorded to the institution of qadā' 'judgeship' and the adjudicative functions of the qādi has obscured another important method for resolving disputes in Islamic law, namely sulh 'amicable settlement'. While many studies on dispute resolution in Muslim societies have portrayed sulh mainly as a manifestation of customary practice within informal settings, a study of the legal sources reveals that it is not extra-judicial but is rather an integral aspect of an Islamic justice system.Citing authoritative traditions on the potentially disruptive effects of adjudication, jurists instructed disputants and qādis alike to first consider conciliation to solve conflicts. A qādi might opt for sulh in lieu of proceeding to trial, either steering disputants towards settlement on their own, with the assistance of mediators, or mediate the case himself. At the same time, jurists were also concerned with ascertaining the parameters within which sulh should operate, especially when they might offend the rules against ribā (usury) and gharar (uncertainty, deception, or unreasonable risk). The legal debates on sulh during the formative period of Islamic law show how jurists struggled to balance competing ethical and religious ideals: those of conciliation and compromise with those of truth and justice. In some situations, the individual's right to his full legal entitlements should be upheld, and sulh should not be given precedence over the formal, truth-seeking procedures of adjudication.
Semence, vertu formatrice et intellect agent chez Nicolò Leoniceno entre la tradition arabo-latine et la renaissance des commentateurs grecs
Authors: Hirai Hiro
Published: June 2007

The treatise On Formative Power (Venice, 1506) of Ferrara's emblematic medical humanist, Nicolò Leoniceno (1428-1524), is the one of the first embryological monographs of the Renaissance. It shows, at the same time, the continuity of medieval Arabo-Latin tradition and the new elements brought by Renaissance medical humanism, namely through the use of the ancient Greek commentators of Aristotle like Simplicius. Thus this treatise stands at the crossroad of these two currents. The present study analyses the range of Leoniceno's philosophical discussion, determines its exact sources and brings to light premises for the early modern development of the concept of formative force, which will end up in the theory of "plastic nature" at the heart of the Scientific Revolution.
Flow Variability in a North American Downtown Street Canyon
Authors: Klein Petra , Clark James V.
Published: July 2007

Previous field and laboratory studies have indicated that flow and turbulence inside urban areas and, in particular, in street canyons, is very complex and is associated with wakes and vortices developing near buildings. However, a number of open questions still exist, primarily with regard to which parameters determine the structure of street-canyon flow. The paper presents results from high-resolution wind measurements in a downtown urban street canyon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that were conducted during the Joint Urban 2003 tracer experiment. Data collected with sonic anemometers on two towers installed on opposite sites of the street canyon, each with five different measurement levels, have been analyzed, and the variation of in-canyon flow and turbulence parameters with wind direction and atmospheric stability is discussed. It was found that the street-canyon flow is strongly channeled and its direction is determined by the along-canyon component of the above-roof-level winds. As a consequence, the direction of the street-level winds changes abruptly, and small variations of the upwind direction can significantly alter the in-canyon flow properties. Contrary to results from studies with idealized street canyons, the along-canyon flow components remained significant even for conditions with winds approaching the street at almost perpendicular angles. For such wind directions, a tendency toward development of street-canyon vortices with pronounced vertical motions have been found. However, the complex building geometries at the chosen measurement site enhance the complexity of the flow patterns, and situations with a classic street-canyon vortex rotating in the street could not be identified. In addition, the comprehensive dataset from the Joint Urban 2003 field campaign allowed detailed study of the influence of boundary layer stability on flow in the urban canopy layer. It has become clear that very different conclusions can be drawn with regard to these effects depending on the choice of reference values used in the analysis of the street-canyon data. Using winds from higher elevations in the atmospheric boundary layer (250 m) as reference data, one would conclude that atmospheric stability strongly influences in-canyon flow and, in particular, turbulence. However, only minor stability effects are still seen after normalization with wind speed values at average roof-level height (80 m). This choice allows one to conclude that the in-canyon flow is primarily driven by the boundary layer wind field at average roof level.
Manual and Semiautomated Wind Direction Editing for Use in the Generation of Synthetic Aperture Radar Wind Speed Imagery
Authors: Young George S. , Sikora Todd D. , Winstead Nathaniel S.
Published: July 2007

Previous studies have demonstrated that satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can be used as an accurate scatterometer, yielding wind speed fields with subkilometer resolution. This wind speed generation is only possible, however, if a corresponding accurate wind direction field is available. The potential sources of this wind direction information include satellite scatterometers, numerical weather prediction models, and SAR itself through analysis of the spatial patterns caused by boundary layer wind structures. Each of these wind direction sources has shortcomings that can lead to wind speed errors in the SAR-derived field. Manual and semiautomated methods are presented for identifying and correcting numerical weather prediction model wind direction errors. The utility of this approach is demonstrated for a set of cases in which the first-guess wind direction data did not adequately portray the features seen in the SAR imagery. These situations include poorly resolved mesoscale phenomena and misplaced synoptic-scale fronts and cyclones.
The Cost of Home Hospice Care for Terminal Patients in Israel
Authors: Shnoor Yitschak , Szlaifer Mali , Aoberman Amitai S. , Bentur Netta
Published: June 2007

This study examined and compared the cost of care provided to terminal metastatic cancer patients by home hospices and by conventional health services. The study population included 146 patients with metastatic cancer. Half received home hospice services, and the other half received conventional services. The average overall per-patient cost of care was, respectively, $4761 (operating costs included) and $12 434. On average, the costs were lower for older patients. A multiple regression analysis revealed that treatment units per patient, care framework, and patient age significantly contributed to explaining the cost variance. The findings suggest a financial advantage for home hospice care for terminal patients. This should be investigated further, as should the cost of informal caregivers and patient and caregiver satisfaction with the quality of care in both frameworks.
Azotemia in Cancer Patients During Inpatient Rehabilitation
Authors: Ying Guo  , Hainley Susan , Palmer J. Lynn , Bruera Eduardo
Published: June 2007

This paper presents a study of the relationship between prerenal azotemia and rehabilitation outcomes of cancer patients. A retrospective chart review of 70 patients who underwent inpatient rehabilitation in a tertiary cancer center was undertaken. Eight patients with creatinine values >1.5 were excluded. The remaining 62 patients were divided into 2 groups according to the blood urea nitrogen/creatinine (BUN/Cr) ratio: 27 (44%) in the prerenal azotemia group (BUN/Cr ≥ 20) and 35 (56%) in the non-azotemic group (BUN/Cr < 20). Age, gender, <10 g/dL of hemoglobin, co-morbidity (diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension), discharge destiny and median rehabilitation length of stay were not significantly different in these 2 groups. Prerenal azotemia was present in a significant number of cancer patients, but it did not impact the length of rehabilitation stay or discharge destiny.
Effects of a Televised Two-City Safer Sex Mass Media Campaign Targeting High-Sensation-Seeking and Impulsive-Decision-Making Young Adults
Authors: Zimmerman Rick S. , Palmgreen Philip M. , Noar Seth M. , Lustria Mia Liza A. , Lu Hung-Yi , Lee Horosewski Mary
Published: June 2007

This study evaluates the ability of a safer sex televised public service announcement (PSA) campaign to increase safer sexual behavior among at-risk young adults. Independent, monthly random samples of 100 individuals were surveyed in each city for 21 months as part of an interrupted-time-series design with a control community. The 3-month high-audience-saturation campaign took place in Lexington, KY, with Knoxville, TN, as a comparison city. Messages were especially designed and selected for the target audience (those above the median on a composite sensation-seeking/impulsive-decision-making scale). Data indicate high campaign exposure among the target audience, with 85%-96% reporting viewing one or more PSAs. Analyses indicate significant 5-month increases in condom use, condom-use self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions among the target group in the campaign city with no changes in the comparison city. The results suggest that a carefully targeted, intensive mass media campaign using televised PSAs can change safer sexual behaviors.
Effects of Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on Movement Kinematics and Daily Function in Patients With Stroke: A Kinematic Study of Motor Control Mechanisms
Authors: Wu Ching-yi , Lin Keh-chung , Chen Hsieh-ching , Chen I-hsuen , Hong Wei-hsien
Published: June 2007

Background and Objective. Motor control of the upper extremity during unilateral and bimanual functional tasks and functional change during daily activities were evaluated in patients with stroke treated with modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT). Methods. In a pre-post randomized, controlled trial, 30 stroke patients received 2 hours of mCIMT or traditional rehabilitation (TR) for 3 weeks. Motor control of the upper extremity was evaluated using kinematic analysis in unilateral and bilateral tasks. Kinematic variables included spatial and temporal movement efficiency and type of movement control (preplanned control, representing well-learned movement, or feedback-guided control). Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Motor Activity Log (MAL) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results. Patients receiving mCIMT showed more temporally ( P = .013) and spatially ( P = .011) efficient movement and more preplanned movement control ( P = .009) during the bimanual task, and greater gains in FIM ( P = .004) and MAL scores (amount of use: P < .0001, and quality of movement: P = .012) than patients in the TR group. Patients receiving mCIMT produced more ballistic/preplanned reaching movement than did patients receiving TR ( P = .023) during the unilateral task; but there were no group differences in temporal or spatial efficiency in unilateral task performance. Conclusions. Relative to TR, mCIMT produced a greater improvement in functional performance and motor control. Improvement of motor control after mCIMT was based on improved spatial and temporal efficiency, apparently more salient during bimanual rather than unilateral task performance. This suggests that bilateral task performance should potentially be emphasized in kinematic study of changes in motor control after mCIMT.
Influence of austenite grain size on overaging treatment of continuous annealed dual phase steels
Authors: García-Junceda A. , Caballero F. G. , Iung T. , Capdevila C. , de Andrés C. García
Published: June 2007

A dual phase steel with an initial coarse microstructure was refined, by means of a thermal treatment, to study the influence of the austenite grain size reached during an intercritical annealing treatment on the martensite start temperature. Thus, the effect of the austenite grain size on a subsequent overaging treatment was also investigated. It was found that a coarser austenite grain size leads to a higher martensite start temperature and a lower amount of non-tempered martensite and/or austenite (MA constituents) volume fraction after a continuous annealing and overaging treatment. The non-tempered martensite and/or austenite volume fraction always was higher for the highest overaging temperature.
Microstructure simulation of copper tube and its application in three roll planetary rolling
Authors: Li B. , Zhang S. H. , Zhang G. L. , Zhang H. Y. , Zhang H. Q.
Published: June 2007

The three roll planetary rolling of copper tubes is a single pass and large deformation process. In the present paper, the temperature of the copper tube exceeds its recrystallisation temperature as a result of the heat energy generated from severe deformation and friction work. Therefore, the grain size and mechanical properties of the copper tube change fiercely. The constitutive equations of the copper tube were also derived and used as a material model. The dynamic recrystallisation and grain growth models of the copper tube were developed. The grain distribution rules of the copper tube were obtained by integrating the microstructure evolution model into finite element simulation. The grain sizes of the copper tube under different parameters were predicted by artificial neural network. It is in good agreement with the measured results, which can be used in optimising the properties of the rolled copper tube.
Expression of the transcription factor NFAT2 in human neutrophils: IgE-dependent, Ca2+- and calcineurin-mediated NFAT2 activation
Authors: Vega Antonio , Chacón Pedro , Monteseirín Javier , El Bekay Rajaa , Alba Gonzalo , Martín-Nieto José , Sobrino Francisco
Published: July 2007

NFAT (nuclear factors of activated T cells) proteins constitute a family of transcription factors involved in mediating signal transduction. The presence of NFAT isoforms has been described in all cell types of the immune system, with the exception of neutrophils. In the present work we report for the first time the expression in human neutrophils of NFAT2 mRNA and protein. We also report that specific antigens were able to promote NFAT2 protein translocation to the nucleus, an effect that was mimicked by the treatment of neutrophils with anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) or anti-Fcϵ-receptor antibodies. Antigens, anti-IgE and anti-FcϵRs also increased Ca2+ release and the intracellular activity of calcineurin, which was able to interact physically with NFAT2, in parallel to eliciting an enhanced NFAT2 DNA-binding activity. In addition, specific chemical inhibitors of the NFAT pathway, such as cyclosporin A and VIVIT peptide, abolished antigen and anti-IgE-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene upregulation and prostaglandin (PGE2) release, suggesting that this process is through NFAT. Our results provide evidence that NFAT2 is constitutively expressed in human neutrophils, and after IgE-dependent activation operates as a transcription factor in the modulation of genes, such as COX2, during allergic inflammation.
Elliptical discontinuities in spherical shells
Authors: Leckie F A , Payne D J , Penny R K
Published: June 2007

In Part 1 shallow-shell equations expressed in elliptic co-ordinates have been solved in terms of Mathieu functions. Boundary conditions for the rigid insert and for the unreinforced hole are discussed in some detail. Results for an unreinforced opening are compared with experiment and satisfactory agreement is obtained.

In Part 2 a parametric study has been made of the factors affecting the stresses at rigid inclusions and at unreinforced holes of elliptical shape in spherical shells. This work makes possible a simple method of representing the results in terms of the stress-concentration factors in flat plates, and a single geometrical variable. The results are verified by experiment.

On the basis of this study predictions of the stresses at the intersection of non-radial nozzles in pressure vessels have been made. The theoretical results are compared with experimental evidence already available and reasonable agreement is found.
Collimated-light systems for accurate grid reproduction
Authors: Luxmoore A
Published: June 2007

A concave mirror is compared with a plano-convex lens of comparable f-number, as a means of producing collimated light, and its advantages are enumerated.
A unified rational analysis for gauge factor and cross-sensitivity of electric-resistance strain gauges
Authors: Meyer M L
Published: June 2007

Piezo-resistivity, ‘end’ effects, and transverse connections are taken into account in semi-quantitative formulae capable of reproducing observed magnitudes and systematic changes of gauge factor and cross-sensitivity in foil and wire gauges and of suggesting means for reducing cross-sensitivity.
A technique for automatic recording of photoelastic data applied to steady and dynamic photoelastic cutting
Authors: Amini E
Published: June 2007

A description is given of a technique incorporating a continuously rotating polarized field and a synchronously operated camera. Automatic and simultaneous recording of isoclinics and isochromatics enables the complete analysis of quasi-static photoelastic events of practically any duration. It obviates the need for repetition of tests and so facilitates the solution of problems which are not readily reproducible. This is demonstrated by considering the application to steady and dynamic photoelastic cutting.
Fracture criteria for cast iron under biaxial stresses
Authors: Mair W M
Published: June 2007

Thin-walled cast-iron tubes were stressed to fracture with various combinations of axial tension or compression, and internal or external pressure. The stress components at fracture were estimated, and the fracture locus was compared with theoretical predictions.

None of the criteria examined predicts both fracture stress and fracture plane correctly, but Fisher's theory adequately represents the fracture-stress magnitudes for biaxial tension, tension-compression, and biaxial compression. The experimental scatter is such that more elaborate theories are not justified.
Approximate estimation of strain-hardening creep deformation
Authors: Marriott D L
Published: June 2007

It is demonstrated that creep deformations of a structure based on strain-hardening behaviour are bounded by time-hardening and total-strain solutions. The bounds are not exact, but it is shown that any error is small compared with the difference between the exact solution and the approximate solution when the superposition method (1)∗ is used. As this difference is itself small compared with overall deflections (2) (3), the error due to assuming the strain-hardening solution to be bounded is negligible. It is also shown that strain hardening is asymptotic to the total-strain solution as time increases.

A relatively rapid method is suggested for the approximate calculation of deflections, based on an approximate method devised previously (3) for total-strain theory. Numerical examples verify that total-strain theory is a better approximation to strain hardening than is time hardening, especially for large times.
Some theoretical considerations relating to strain concentration in elastic-plastic bending of beams
Authors: Radomski M , White D J
Published: June 2007

Theoretical derivations are presented for the relations between maximum deflection and the corresponding maximum strain for some simple beams subject to elastic-plastic bending. Both elastic-perfectly plastic and arbitrary stress-strain relations are considered. Where possible, explicit analytical solutions are given, but where this is not possible numerical solutions are obtained by means of computer programmes.

The calculations show that in elastic-perfectly plastic material short plastic zones may develop and cause large strains in the beam even though the deflection corresponding to first yield is not greatly exceeded. On the other hand, strain hardening elongates the plastic zones, so producing a more favourable strain distribution along the length of the beam than would exist without it. The more pronounced the strain-hardening characteristic, i.e. the greater the rate of increase of stress with strain, the less concentrated will be the strains.

The mode of loading is important in that the higher the rate of change of bending moment, in the region of ihe maximum bending moment, the more concentrated will be the local strains.
Breeding and handling small wild rodents: a method study
Authors: Wallace Margaret E. , Hudson Christine A.
Published: June 2007

Breeding, handling and cleaning methods for wild house mice ( Mus musculus) are described. In the absence of measures of efficiency in the literature for wild rodents in general, measures of breeding performance and of time needed for handling and cleaning are proposed; figures for these measures are given for the cage, chute and methods here described in reference to wild mice.
Production of germ-free chicks: a comparison of the hatchability of eggs sterilized externally by different methods
Authors: Harrison G. F.
Published: June 2007

When eggs were disinfected by dipping for 14 min in sodium hypochlorite solution at 32°C before incubation, subsequent sterilization of the shells on the 19th day of incubation with mercuric chloride significantly reduced hatchability below that obtained when eggs were not so treated. Sterilization with peracetic acid did not significantly affect hatchability whether the eggs were decontaminated or not. The substitution of water for sodium hypochlorite solution did not alter the effect of the sterilizing agents on hatchability.
Effects of feeding antibiotics to growing and breeding mice
Authors: King J. O. L.
Published: June 2007

Mice of two strains (a laboratory strain of white mouse and a fancy strain of coloured mouse) were fed on a proprietary cubed diet and were given to drink tap water, or water containing 26 mg per litre of one of the following antibiotics: chortetracycline hydrochloride, ampicillin, or tylosin tartrate. In the first experiment growing mice were given these diets for 8 weeks from 4 weeks of age. Ampicillin produced weight increases in both strains (significant in the white mice), chlortetracycline produced an increase in the coloured mice and a reduction in the white mice, while tylosin reduced weight increases in both strains. The results of fortnightly weighings of the control mice and those receiving ampicillin showed that in the coloured mice the effect was marked at an early age, while in the white mice it tended to spread over the growing period. In a second experiment with breeding mice, using does of both strains, ampicillin increased litter size in both strains (significantly in the case of the coloured mice), chlortetracycline increased litter size in the white mice only, and tylosin did so in the coloured mice only. All three antibiotics increased litter birth weights in coloured mice (ampicillin significantly), but reduced them in white mice. Weight increases from birth to weaning of selected groups of 8 mice showed that antibiotics had little effect in the white mice, and that ampicillin and tylosin improved the rate of gain in the coloured mice (ampicillin significantly).
Dry gangrene of the ear in white mice
Authors: Bell J. Frederick , Moore G. John , Clifford Carleton M. , Raymond George H.
Published: June 2007

Sporadic dry gangrene of the ears of white mice, and conditions conducive to its occurrence, are described. The incidence of ear necrosis increased markedly when the mice were subjected to cold and when their ears were traumatized by grooming to rid themselves of lice. Louse infestation alone is not a causative factor in the production of ear lesions. Age and breed of mice were other factors which affected incidence. The lesion is usually not important in the maintenance of colonies but might occur in situations where mice are subjected to stress.
Pathological effects of oxyuriasis in the laboratory mouse
Authors: Mullink J. W. M. A.
Published: June 2007

In mice with oxyuriasis a slight inflammatory reaction occurs in the colonic mucosa. Adult Aspicularis tetraptera can penetrate the colon, thus causing inflammation and a granulomatous reaction in and outside the intestinal wall. Immature parasites can occur in the colonic glands and in the propria mucosa.
Incidence of pup mortality in the rat with particular reference to nesting material, maternal age and parity
Authors: Norris M. L. , Adams C. E.
Published: June 2007

Mortality and hence the proportion of young weaned was markedly affected by the type of nesting material but not by maternal age or parity. With paper tissues for nesting purposes 476/791 (60%) young were lost compared with 216/1182 (18%) with woodwool. Similar results were obtained in 2 additional series. The proportion of young weaned was also affected by litter size; in general, pup mortality was heavier and took place earlier in the large litters (more than 9 young).
Conjunctivitis in the nude rat (rnu/rnu)
Authors: Moore G. J.
Published: June 2007

Nude rats are susceptible to similar eye problems to those suffered by nude mice, notably conjunctivitis leading to periorbital abscesses. Pasteurella pneumotropica has been isolated from the conjunctiva. The condition can be alleviated by washing the eyes of mildly affected rats with warm water. More severe cases respond to treatment with ampicillin. Conjunctivitis has not appeared in a germ-free colony of nude rats.
Craniofacial growth in young marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
Authors: Goss A. N. , White J. , Townsend G. C.
Published: June 2007

A cross-sectional study of craniofacial growth in young marmosets was performed. Selected linear craniofacial measurements were obtained from groups of 5 animals of each sex at 3 monthly intervals from birth to 1 year. These data provide a baseline for comparison with other colonies and in the assessment of teratogens on craniofacial development.
A simple method for oral administration of drugs in solid form to fully conscious rats
Authors: Lax E. R. , Militzer K. , Trauschel A.
Published: June 2007

The design and application of a simple capsule administration tube for miniature capsules are described. Experiments with rats have shown that the tube is capable of depositing capsules at the distal end of the oesophagus. Regardless of the location of the capsule in the oesophagus, provided normal peristaltic action occurs, the capsule will have reached the stomach and discharged its contents within 10 min. After a short training period of 3-4 days the insertion of the tube does not appear to cause the rats undue discomfort, nor does it cause tissue damage. The procedure, which can be performed rapidly by 1 technician, is ideally suited for dispensing solid materials to fully conscious animals.
Strain differences in inbred rats: influence of strain and diet on haematological traits
Authors: Hackbarth H. , Burow K. , Schimansky G.
Published: June 2007

5 inbred strains of rats maintained on 3 commercial pelleted diets were investigated for differences in haematological traits on the 154th day of age. Number, size and haemoglobin content of the erythrocytes were shown to be strongly influenced by strain and diet. While the strain AS/Ztm was always found in a high position within the ranking order of strains, the strain DA/Ztm was always found in a low position. For nearly all haematological traits, diet II (Altromin C1000) resulted in the highest values. This was not due to a difference in the content of iron (Fe), because even though diet III (Altromin 1534) contained only 50% of the Fe in diet I (Altromin 1324), differences between these two diets were small. Significant interactions between strain and diet were shown to exist for the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). Strong genetic correlations were found between haematocrit (HCT) and haemoglobin (Hb) and between MCV and MCH, while the number of red blood cells (RBC), Hb, HCT, MCV and MCH correlated significantly within each strain. However, these environmental correlations have to be interpreted with caution, because these variables are not determined independently.
A survey of the pathology of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) under experiment
Authors: Tucker Mary J.
Published: June 2007

A survey of the pathology of 567 laboratory-bred cotton-eared marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus) is presented. There were few significant pathological changes in animals used in studies up to 6 months in duration, suggesting that the marmoset can be a useful non-human primate species for routine toxicology.

The most common pathological changes encountered were chronic colitis, chronic thyroiditis and interstitial mononuclear infiltration in the kidney. No internal parasites were encountered, nor were any viral or bacterial diseases identified. Fungal disease was confined to a few cases of oesophageal mycoses.

In a long term study a variety of pathological changes have been observed, including a 'wasting' syndrome, not related to skeletal muscle myopathy, with atrophy of the gastrointestinal tract, salivary glands and gonads, haemosiderosis and fatty change in the liver and osteoporosis. It is suggested that these changes may be related to protein deficiency and that the nutritional requirements of the marmoset require further investigation.
A new method for giving repetitive intraperitoneal injections to neonatal rats
Authors: Hornick P.
Published: June 2007

This report describes a new method for giving repetitive intraperitoneal injections to neonatal rats. The hypodermic needle is passed through the muscle layer of the flank directly into the peritoneal cavity in contrast to the conventional approach. In a trial using 20 neonatal rats aged 1 day, no leakage of the inoculated physiological saline occurred, and there was no associated morbidity or mortality of these rats.
Ectrodactyly and syndactyly in a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
Authors: French J. M.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes previously unreported malformations of both fore and hind feet in a liveborn common marmoset. Ectrodactyly of both fore feet and left hind foot and syndactyly of the right hind foot were observed.
Intestinal bacteria antagonistic to Clostridium difficile in mice
Authors: Itoh K. , Lee W. K. , Kawamura H. , Mitsuoka T. , Magaribuchi T.
Published: June 2007

Overgrowth by Clostridium difficile has been reported in conventional mice injected intraperitoneally with ampicillin. In this study, we aimed to determine which types of indigenous intestinal bacteria were eliminated by ampicillin to allow overgrowth by C. difficile C. difficile overgrowth was associated with a decrease in the numbers of lactobacilli, an increase in bacteroidaceae and a slight decrease in the frequency of isolation of fusiform-shaped bacteria (clostridia). C. difficile cytotoxin was detected in caeca from mice in which the numbers of C. difficile were greater than 105 per gram of faeces. Gnotobiotic mice were inoculated with various groups of intestinal anaerobes to determine which members of the indigenous flora would antagonize C. difficile. Gnotobiotic mice inoculated with three strains of lactobacilli, 37 strains of bacteroides or 46 strains of clostridia isolated from limited-flora mice were unable to eliminate C. difficile. C. difficile was eliminated, however, from the gastrointestinal tracts of gnotobiotic mice inoculated with whole faeces or chloroform-treated faeces from conventional mice or whole faeces from limited-flora mice containing only clostridia.
The use of etorphine/methotrimeprazine and midazolam as an anaesthetic technique in laboratory rats and mice
Authors: Whelan G. , Flecknell P. A.
Published: June 2007

The results of a preliminary evaluation of etorphine/methotrimeprazine ('Small Animal Immobilon') and midazolam in rats and mice are reported, and this regimen is compared to fentanyl/fluanisone/midazolam in mice. In rats, a surgical plane of anaesthesia with good muscle relaxation was produced, but blood gas analysis showed the presence of severe hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidosis. In mice etorphine/methotrimeprazine/midazolam and fentanyl/fluanisone/midazolam produced adequate anaesthesia, but blood gas analysis showed severe respiratory depression with both regimens. Since etorphine/methotrimeprazine/midazolam produced severe respiratory depression in rats and mice it is suggested that this regimen is used with caution. Administration of supplemental oxygen would seem advisable when using either etorphine/methotrimeprazine/midazolam or fentanyl/fluanisone/midazolam in rats and mice.
Pregnancy dependence of mammary tumours in DDD mice congenic for Mtv-2, DDD/1-Mtv-2/Mtv-2
Authors: Sayama Kazutoshi , Kaneko Tetsuya , Matsuzawa Akio
Published: June 2007

Mammary tumours developed in 110 (95.7%) of 115 DDD/1- Mtv-2/Mtv-2 (DDD/1- Mtv-2) and 24 (47·1%) of 51 DDD/1fDDD/1- Mtv-2 (DDD/1f Mtv-2) force-bred female mice during a one-year period. The mean tumour age±SE was 220±7 and 269±7 days, respectively. These tumours were examined for responsiveness to pregnancies by comparing their growth after transplantation between virgin and breeding recipients. Of 73 tumours from DDD/1- Mtv-2 mice, 9 (12%) were completely pregnancy-dependent (CPD), 3 (4%) pregnancy-dependent (PD), 9 (12%) pregnancy-responsive (PR), and 52 (71%) pregnancy-independent (PD), and of 25 tumours from DDD/1f Mtv-2 mice, one (4%) was CPD, one (4%) PR, and 23 (92%) PI. Although most tumours were heterogeneous in morphology and there was no clear relation between morphology and PO properties, most CPD tumours were type P and considered to be connected with mammary plaques. When 9 CPD tumours from DDD/1- Mtv-2 mice were serially transplanted in breeders, 6, 2 and one progressed to lose pregnancy dependence within 3, 8 and 18 generations, respectively. DDD/1- Mtv-2 mice will provide a model for studies on progression of mammary tumours from hormone-dependent to autonomous states.