bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Dynamic Character of Disguise Behavior for Text‐based, Mixed, and Stylized Signatures
Authors: Mohammed Linton A. , Found Bryan , Caligiuri Michael , Rogers Doug
Published: October 2010

Abstract:  The aims of this study were to determine if dynamic parameters (duration, size, velocity, jerk, and pen pressure) differed for signing style (text‐based, stylized, and mixed) and if signing style influences handwriting dynamics equally across three signature conditions (genuine, disguised, and auto‐simulation). Ninety writers provided 10 genuine signatures, five disguised signatures, and five auto‐simulated signatures. All 1800 signatures were collected using a digitizing tablet resulting in a database of each signature’s dynamic characteristics. With genuine signatures, there were significant differences between styles for size, velocity, and pen pressure, and there were significant differences between genuine signatures and at least one of the un‐natural signature conditions for all parameters. For velocity and size, these changes with condition were dependent on style. Changes with condition for the other parameters were similar for the three styles. This study shows that there are differences among natural signature styles and disguise behaviors that may be relevant in forensic signature examinations.
Mandibular Ramus: An Indicator for Sex in Fragmentary Mandible*
Authors: Saini Vineeta , Srivastava Rashmi , Rai Rajesh K. , Shamal Satya N. , Singh Tej B. , Tripathi Sunil K.
Published: October 2010

Abstract:  Mandible is the hardest and most durable bone of the skull exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism. Especially ramus of mandible is subjected to greater stress than any other bone of the skull because of the process of mastication. This study has been performed to establish the osteometric standards for practical use in forensic context over Indian population using mandibular ramus. The sample consists of 116 mandibles of Northern Indian population (M:F; 92:24, mean age 37.4 years), collected from the Department of Forensic Medicine, IMS, BHU, Varanasi. Osteometric informations about five metric parameters (coronoid height, projective height, condylar height, and maximum breadth and minimum breadth of ramus) were taken with sliding calipers. These parameters were subjected to different discriminant function analysis using SPSS 16.0. All parameters showed significant sexual dimorphism (p < 0.001 in all cases) with an overall accuracy of 80.2%, and coronoid height was the single best parameter providing an accuracy of 74.1%.
Histological Diagnosis of Myocardial Sarcoidosis in a Fatal Fall from a Height
Authors: Cecchetto Giovanni , Viel Guido , Amagliani Alessandro , Boscolo‐Berto Rafael , Fais Paolo , Montisci Massimo
Published: October 2010

Abstract:  The major issues of medico‐legal relevance in fatal falls from a height are the manner of death and the reconstruction of the event. We present a peculiar case of a fatal fall from a height of about 9 m, involving a 27‐year‐old woman. At the death scene investigation, no suicide notes, housebreaking marks, or signs of fight were found, thus weakening both the suicide and homicide hypotheses. Combining circumstantial, autopsy and toxicology data, the kinematic analysis of the jump/fall, and the histological evidence of a myocardial sarcoidosis involving the left ventricle, we hypothesized that the young woman might have accidentally fallen from the window because of a sudden loss of consciousness related to cardiac disease undiagnosed during life. We believe that our brief report is a good example of the powerful additional information that histological investigations can offer for reconstructing the dynamics of the event in falls from a height and other traumatic fatalities.
Contact allergy to essential oils: current patch test results (2000–2008) from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK)*
Authors: Uter Wolfgang , Schmidt Erich , Geier Johannes , Lessmann Holger , Schnuch Axel , Frosch Peter
Published: October 2010

Background: Essential oils are used in perfumery and in products for aromatherapy or balneotherapy. Previous studies have shown some to be important contact sensitizers. A practical diagnostic approach, based on the results of a large, central European network and other evidence, is needed.

Methods: Data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK; www.ivdk.org) on all patients patch tested between January 2000 and December 2008 with essential oils were retrospectively analysed.

Results: 15 682 patients of 84 716 consulting in the period had been tested with at least one essential oil, and 637 reacted positively to at least one of the essential oils, most commonly to ylang‐ylang oil (I and II) (3.1% as weighted mean of positive tests in special series and consecutive testing), lemongrass oil (1.8%), jasmine absolute (1.6%), sandalwood oil and clove oil (1.5% each). Cross‐reactivity between distillate and main allergen, if available, was marked.

Conclusions: Patch testing the important essential oils should be considered in patients with a suggestive history. Additionally, culprit products brought in by the patient should be tested, closing a diagnostic gap by (i) including those other essential oils not included in the commercial test series and (ii) providing a means of testing with the oxidized substances to which the patient had actually been exposed.
Quantifying human susceptibility to contact sensitization; risk assessments now and in the future
Authors: Friedmann Peter S. , Pickard Christopher
Published: October 2010

Assessment and quantification of the risk that a chemical will induce allergic contact sensitization presently depend heavily on background data from animal tests. Following the banning of animal testing of chemicals used in cosmetics and personal products in Europe after 2013, alternative approaches will be required. The chemical properties likely to make a given compound a sensitizer can be determined in vitro with reasonable certainty, but confirmation that it is a sensitizer comes only from in vivo exposure to it. Assessment of the sensitization risks involves consideration of how much of the compound will be applied to skin, for how long, and at which sites. However, the in vivo interactions of the chemical with the skin, with regard to its permeability, and biochemical and immune defences, cannot be predicted from a theoretical position. The xenobiotic‐metabolizing enzymes and antioxidant defences may degrade chemicals or may generate potentially immunogenic haptens. Many factors can modify the skin and the immune response, including sex, race, age, genetic programming of epidermal permeability, and/or antioxidant and drug‐metabolizing pathways. The only certain way to evaluate whether a chemical will sensitize is in vivo exposure, and the nature of the hazard is revealed by determination of the dose–response relationship. This review shows there is still a serious gap in our understanding of the biological factors and variables involved in conferring resistance or susceptibility to the development of allergic sensitization by chemicals. We are not yet in a position to predict sensitization by chemicals from a theoretical starting point.
Insect biological control accelerates leaf litter decomposition and alters short‐term nutrient dynamics in aTamarix‐invaded riparian ecosystem
Authors: Uselman Shauna M. , Snyder Keirith A. , Blank Robert R.
Published: October 2010

Insect herbivory can strongly influence ecosystem nutrient dynamics, yet the indirect effects of herbivore‐altered litter quality on subsequent decomposition remain poorly understood. The northern tamarisk beetleDiorhabda carinulatawas released across several western states as a biological control agent to reduce the extent of the invasive treeTamarixspp. in highly‐valued riparian ecosystems; however, very little is currently known about the effects of this biocontrol effort on ecosystem nutrient cycling. In this study, we examined alterations to nutrient dynamics resulting from beetle herbivory in aTamarix‐invaded riparian ecosystem in the Great Basin Desert in northern Nevada, USA, by measuring changes in litter quality and decomposition, as well as changes in litter quantity. Generally, herbivory resulted in improved leaf litter chemical quality, including significantly increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and decreased carbon (C) to nitrogen (C:N), C:P, N:P, and lignin:N ratios. Beetle‐affected litter decomposed 23% faster than control litter, and released 16% more N and 60% more P during six months of decomposition, as compared to control litter. Both litter types showed a net release of N and P during decomposition. In addition, herbivory resulted in significant increases in annual rates of total aboveground litter and leaf litter production of 82% and 71%, respectively, under theTamarixcanopy. Our finding that increased rates of N and P release linked with an increased rate of mass loss during decomposition resulting from herbivore‐induced increases in litter quality provides new support to the nutrient acceleration hypothesis. Moreover, results of this study demonstrate that the introduction of the northern tamarisk beetle as biological control to aTamarix‐invaded riparian ecosystem has lead to short‐term stimulation of nutrient cycling. Alterations to nutrient dynamics could have implications for future plant community composition, and thus the potential for restoration ofTamarix‐invaded ecosystems.
Plant functional traits capture species richness variations along a flooding gradient
Authors: Violle Cyrille , Bonis Anne , Plantegenest Manuel , Cudennec Christophe , Damgaard Christian , Marion Benoît , Le Cœur Didier , Bouzillé Jan‐Bernard
Published: October 2010

Local species coexistence is the outcome of abiotic and biotic filtering processes which sort species according to their trait values. However, the capacity of trait‐based approaches to predict the variation in realized species richness remains to be investigated. In this study, we asked whether a limited number of plant functional traits, related to the leaf‐height‐seed strategy scheme and averaged at the community level, is able to predict the variation in species richness over a flooding disturbance gradient. We further investigated how these mean community traits are able to quantify the strength of abiotic and biotic processes involved in the disturbance–productivity–diversity relationship. We thus tested the proposal that the deviation between the fundamental species richness, assessed from ecological niche‐based models, and realized species richness, i.e. field‐observed richness, is controlled by species interactions. Flooding regime was determined using a detailed hydrological model. A precise vegetation sampling was performed across 222 quadrats located throughout the flooding gradient. Three core functional traits were considered: specific leaf area (SLA), plant height and seed mass. Species richness showed a hump‐shaped response to disturbance and productivity, but was better predicted by only two mean community traits: SLA and height. On the one hand, community SLA that increased with flooding, controlled the disturbance‐diversity relationship through habitat filtering. On the other hand, species interactions, the strength of which was captured by community height values, played a strong consistent role throughout the disturbance gradient by reducing the local species richness. Our study highlights that a limited number of simple, quantitative, easily measurable functional traits can capture the variation in plant species richness at a local scale and provides a promising quantification of key community assembly mechanisms.
The interacting effects of land use change, climate change and suppression of natural disturbances on landscape forest structure in the Swiss Alps
Authors: Kulakowski Dominik , Bebi Peter , Rixen Christian
Published: October 2010

Ecosystems are being modified by a multiplicity of interacting natural and anthropogenic factors. The most important of these factors include changes in land use, changes in climate, and alterations of disturbance regimes. Many studies have considered these factors separately; however, these factors do not act in isolation, but rather interact to affect ecosystem structure and function. In the present study, we analyzed the interacting effects of abandonment of agricultural practices, increases in temperature, and anthropogenic suppression of the avalanche regime on landscape forest structure (percent canopy cover) in the Davos region of the Swiss Alps over the past 45 years. Compared to 1954, the Davos region is now characterized by greater forest cover and lower landscape heterogeneity. The greatest increases in forest structural stage occurred in areas in which land use changed from agricultural to non‐agricultural, that were the closest to formerly active avalanche tracks, and in which the percentage change in number of growing degree days (GDD) was high. Change in land use was the most important variable contributing to changes in landscape forest structure, followed by changes in the disturbance regime, then changes in GDD. There also exist clear interactions among these variables, which indicate, for example, that the effects of the suppression of disturbances and changes in climate are contingent on the more immediate effects of changes in land use. Understanding the relative importance of, and interactions among, changes in land use, climate, and disturbances can contribute to an improved understanding of ecosystem dynamics and to better management decisions.
Enemy‐free space and the host range of a lichenivorous moth: a field experiment
Authors: Pöykkö Heikki
Published: October 2010

According to the enemy‐free space hypothesis (EFS), parasites and predators create a selective force for a specialization on a host that assures better protection against natural enemies than other potential hosts. Few studies have found support for EFS and none of them have covered the whole larval period in natural conditions. I studied the growth and survival of lichen‐feeding moth larvae on five lichen species with and without their natural enemies in natural conditions covering the whole larval period. All the three following EFS predictions gained support. First, natural enemies caused significant mortality of larvae. Second, when natural enemies were present, larval survival was highest on preferred Ramalina lichens. Third, larvae attained higher mass on non‐preferred Parmelia sulcata than on Ramalina species, indicating fecundity cost to feed on Ramalina species instead of P. sulcata. EFS for C. lichenaria larvae on Ramalina species is likely a consequence of shrubby appearance of Ramalina species which provide better larval protection from predation than other hosts.
Do disturbance and productivity influence evenness of seedling, sapling and adult tree species across a semi‐deciduous tropical forest landscape?
Authors: Larpkern Panadda , Totland Ørjan , Moe Stein R.
Published: October 2010

Disturbance and productivity may influence and alter community structure by affecting the partitioning of resources among species. Here, we examined how evenness in the relative abundance of growth stages (seedlings, saplings and adults) of woody species is related to measures of productivity (i.e. total diameter breast high (dbh) and tree volume) and aspects of human disturbance (i.e. number of tree stumps, area covered by charcoal making holes and trail length) in a bamboo‐deciduous forest, northeastern of Thailand. Our results using stepwise multiple regressions showed that productivity (total dbh) explained a significant part of the variation in evenness only at the adult stage where evenness decreased with productivity. We found a decreased evenness of saplings with the area covered by charcoal making holes. Evenness of seedlings was not related to productivity or human disturbance variables and other environmental variables contribute more to explain the variation in evenness at this stage. Evenness was correlated consistently between the growth stages but the strength of relationships diminishes across the stages. Our results suggest that high productivity and human disturbance may facilitate competitive dominant species, affecting evenness in woody communities.
Reconstruction of historical pollination rates reveals linked declines of pollinators and plants
Authors: Pauw Anton , Hawkins Julie A.
Published: October 2010

Widespread reports of low pollination rates suggest a recent anthropogenic decline in pollination that could threaten natural and agricultural ecosystems. Nevertheless, unequivocal evidence for a decline in pollination over time has remained elusive because it was not possible to determine historical pollination rates. Here we demonstrate a widely applicable method for reconstructing historical pollination rates, thus allowing comparison with contemporary rates from the same sites. We focused on the relationship between the oil‐collecting bee Rediviva peringueyi (Melittidae) and the guild of oil‐secreting orchid species (Coryciinae) that depends on it for pollination. The guild is distributed across the highly transformed and fragmented lowlands of the Cape Region of South Africa. We show that rehydrated herbarium specimens of Pterygodium catholicum, the most abundant member of the guild, contain a record of past pollinator activity in the form of pollinarium removal rates. Analysis of a pollination time series showed a recent decline in pollination on Signal Hill, a small urban conservation area. The same herbaria contain historical species occurrence data. We analyzed this data and found that there has been a contemporaneous shift in orchid guild composition in urban areas due to the local extirpation of the non‐clonal species, consistent with their greater dependence on seeds and pollination for population persistence.
Suppression of NADPH oxidase 2 substantially restores glucose‐induced dysfunction of pancreatic NIT‐1 cells
Authors: Yuan Huiping , Lu Yonggang , Huang Xiuqing , He Qinghua , Man Yong , Zhou Yingsheng , Wang Shu , Li Jian
Published: October 2010

Defects in insulin secretion by pancreatic cells and/or decreased sensitivity of target tissues to insulin action are the key features of type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is linked to glucose‐induced β‐cell dysfunction. However, cellular mechanisms involved in ROS generation in β‐cells and the link between ROS and glucose‐induced β‐cell dysfunction are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a key role of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2)‐derived ROS in the deterioration of β‐cell function induced by a high concentration of glucose. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a high‐fat diet for 24 weeks to induce diabetes. Diabetic rats showed increased glucose levels and elevated ROS generation in blood, but decreased insulin content in pancreatic β‐cells. In vitro, increased ROS levels in pancreatic NIT‐1 cells exposed to high concentrations of glucose (33.3 mmol·L−1) were associated with elevated expression of NOX2. Importantly, decreased glucose‐induced insulin expression and secretion in NIT‐1 cells could be rescued via siRNA‐mediated NOX2 reduction. Furthermore, high glucose concentrations led to apoptosis of β‐cells by activation of p38MAPK and p53, and dysfunction of β‐cells through phosphatase and tensih homolog (PTEN)‐dependent Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) activation and protein kinase B (AKT/PKB) inhibition, which induced the translocation of forkhead box O1 and pancreatic duodenal homeobox‐1, followed by reduced insulin expression and secretion. In conclusion, NOX2‐derived ROS could play a critical role in high glucose‐induced β‐cell dysfunction through PTEN‐dependent JNK activation and AKT inhibition.
FH8 – a small EF‐hand protein from Fasciola hepatica
Authors: Fraga Hugo , Faria Tiago Q. , Pinto Filipe , Almeida Agostinho , Brito Rui M. M. , Damas Ana M.
Published: October 2010

Vaccine and drug development for fasciolasis rely on a thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved in parasite–host interactions. FH8 is an 8 kDa protein secreted by the parasite Fasciola hepatica in the early stages of infection. Sequence analysis revealed that FH8 has two EF‐hand Ca2+‐binding motifs, and our experimental data show that the protein binds Ca2+ and that this induces conformational alterations, thus causing it to behave like a sensor protein. Moreover, FH8 displays low affinity for Ca2+ (Kobs = 104 m−1) and is highly stable in its apo and Ca2+‐loaded states. Homology models were built for FH8 in both states. It has only one globular domain, with two binding sites and appropriate groups in the positions for coordination of the metal ions. However, an unusually high content of positively charged amino acids in one of the binding sites, when compared with the prototypical sensor proteins, potentially affects the protein’s affinity for Ca2+. The only Cys present in FH8, conserved in the homologous proteins of other helminth parasites, is located on the surface, allowing the formation of dimers, detected on SDS gels. These findings reflect specificities of FH8, which are most probably related to its roles both in the parasite and in the host.

Structured digital abstract

 MINT‐8041757: F8 (uniprotkb:Q9NIG5) and F8 (uniprotkb:Q9NIG5) bind (MI:0407) by affinity chromatography technology (MI:0004)

 MINT‐8041770: FH8 (uniprotkb:Q9NIG5) and FH8 (uniprotkb:Q9NIG5) bind (MI:0408) by cross‐linking study (MI:0030)
Crystal structure of UDP‐galactose 4‐epimerase‐like l‐threonine dehydrogenase belonging to the intermediate short‐chain dehydrogenase‐reductase superfamily
Authors: Yoneda Kazunari , Sakuraba Haruhiko , Muraoka Ikuo , Oikawa Tadao , Ohshima Toshihisa
Published: October 2010

The crystal structure of a l‐threonine dehydrogenase (l‐ThrDH; EC 1.1.1.103) from the psychrophilic bacterium Flavobacterium frigidimaris KUC‐1, which shows no sequence similarity to conventional l‐ThrDHs, was determined in the presence of NAD and a substrate analog, glycerol. The asymmetric unit consisted of two subunits related by a two‐fold rotation axis. Each monomer consisted of a Rossmann‐fold domain and a carboxyl‐terminal catalytic domain. The overall fold of F. frigidimarisl‐ThrDH showed significant similarity to that of UDP‐galactose 4‐epimerase (GalE); however, structural comparison of the enzyme with E. coli and human GalEs showed clear topological differences in three loops (loop 1, loop 2 and the NAD‐binding loop) around the substrate and NAD binding sites. In F. frigidimarisl‐ThrDH, loops 1 and 2 insert toward the active site cavity, creating a barrier preventing the binding of UDP‐glucose. Alternatively, loop 1 contributes to a unique substrate binding pocket in the F. frigidimaris enzyme. The NAD binding loop, which tightly holds the adenine ribose moiety of NAD in the Escherichia coli and human GalEs, is absent in F. frigidimarisl‐ThrDH. Consequently, the cofactor binds to F. frigidimarisl‐ThrDH in a reversible manner, unlike its binding to GalE. The substrate binding model suggests that the reaction proceeds through abstraction of the β‐hydroxyl hydrogen of l‐threonine via either a proton shuttle mechanism driven by Tyr143 and facilitated by Ser118 or direct proton transfer driven by Tyr143. The present structure provides a clear bench mark for distinguishing GalE‐like l‐ThrDHs from GalEs.

Structured digital abstract

MINT‐8043828: l‐ThrDH (uniprotkb:Q8KZM4) and l‐ThrDH (uniprotkb:Q8KZM4) bind (MI:0407) by x‐ray crystallography (MI:0114)
Did care matter?
Authors: Montagu Clare
Published: October 2010

Over its 13 years in office Labour repeatedly tried to tackle the very poor outcomes and experiences faced by many children in care. Clare Montagu reviews the party's record and, looking forward, considers which aspects of the care system are best managed by the state.
Diversion, not detention
Authors: Adebowale Victor
Published: October 2010

The growing consensus in the UK is that offenders with mental health disorders should be diverted away from custody and into alternatives. Victor Adebowale makes suggestions for a more coherent policy of diversion.
Why Britain should join the euro
Authors: Howard Peter
Published: October 2010

Britain turned down the initial opportunity to participate in the euro project and has continued to reject the euro despite it being embraced by nearly all other members of the European Union. Peter Howard argues that this stance is damaging to the country, economically and socially – particularly because it is contributing heavily to the decline of British manufacturing.
13 lessons from 13 years
Authors: Robinson Peter
Published: October 2010

As the dust settles on the Labour leadership race and the Labour opposition begins a new phase under Ed Miliband, Peter Robinson takes a hard look at what politicians of all colours might learn from the rollercoaster ride of the Blair–Brown years.
New Labour's foreign policy, and what should come next
Authors: Hull Andy , Mulley Sarah , Nash David
Published: October 2010

A progressive UK foreign policy in the years ahead will need to advance the causes of justice, democracy and sustainability in a multi‐polar world, argue ippr researchers Andy Hull, Sarah Mulley and David Nash. Here they critically review the recent past and possible future of Britain's relationship with the world.
21st Century Welfare – getting closer to radical benefit reform?
Authors: Sainsbury Roy
Published: October 2010

The Coalition government's consultation paper on welfare reform has attracted negative criticism, being seen by some as ‘more stick than carrot’. Roy Sainsbury argues that the paper's confused approach to three distinct strands of welfare policy risks obscuring the great potential for a radical simplification of the UK's benefits system.
Relationships between body mass index and short‐circuit current in human duodenal and colonic mucosal biopsies
Authors: Osbak P. S. , Bindslev N. , Hansen M. B.
Published: October 2010

Aim:  Retrospectively, to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and basal electrogenic transport as measured by short‐circuit current (SCC) in human duodenal and colonic mucosal biopsies.

Methods:  The study included biopsies from mucosa of normal appearance in the sigmoid colon and/or distal duodenum. Patients were referred for routine endoscopy (predominantly for monosymptomatic abdominal pain) and had normal endoscopic findings. Biopsies were mounted in miniaturized Ussing chambers and basal SCC was recorded. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of BMI (≤25 and >25 kg m−2). Statistical significance was assessed by the unpaired t‐test or Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. Correlation coefficients were calculated by Pearson product moment correlation.

Results:  In colonic biopsies, basal SCC (mean ± standard deviation) was significantly higher in 59 biopsies from 30 patients with low BMI than in 32 biopsies from 23 patients with high BMI (45 ± 29 μA cm−2 vs. 27 ± 21 μA cm−2, P = 0.016). In duodenal biopsies, mean basal SCC was numerically lower in 38 biopsies from 15 patients with low BMI than in 46 biopsies from 19 patients with high BMI (54 ± 26 μA cm−2 vs. 74 ± 39 μA cm−2, P = 0.069). The correlation coefficient between BMI and SCC was −0.26 (P = 0.06) in colonic biopsies and +0.44 (P = 0.001) in duodenal biopsies.

Conclusion:  Basal intestinal active electrogenic transport is related to BMI and this relationship may differ in different segments of the intestinal tract.
Assessment of the Photoprotection Properties of Sunscreens by Chromatographic Measurement of DNA Damage in Skin Explants
Authors: Mouret Stéphane , Bogdanowicz Patrick , Haure Marie‐José , Castex‐Rizzi Nathalie , Cadet Jean , Favier Alain , Douki Thierry
Published: October 2010

Evaluation of the photoprotection provided by sunscreens is performed either through the induction of erythema and expressed as the sun protection factor (SPF), or by the UVA‐mediated persistent pigment darkening (PPD). None of these two endpoints has a link with skin cancer, the most deleterious consequence of excess exposure to solar UV radiation. We thus set up a complementary approach to evaluate the protection provided by sunscreens to the genome of human skin. This is based on the quantification of the thymine cyclobutane dimer (TT‐CPD), the main DNA lesion induced by both UVB and UVA radiations. Irradiations were performed ex vivo on human skin explants and the level of TT‐CPD in DNA was determined by HPLC associated with tandem mass spectrometry. The technique was first optimized and validated with three standard sunscreens. The study was then extended to the evaluation of a commercial high SPF sunscreen exhibiting efficient UVA photoprotection. The DNA protecting factor was found to reflect the ratio between UVB and UVA photoprotection, although the absolute values of the genomic protection were, as a general trend, lower than either SPF or PPD. These data show the usefulness of the proposed approach for the evaluation of the genoprotection afforded by sunscreens.
Comparison of the mesophilic cellulosome‐producing Clostridium cellulovorans genome with other cellulosome‐related clostridial genomes
Authors: Tamaru Yutaka , Miyake Hideo , Kuroda Kouichi , Nakanishi Akihito , Matsushima Chiyuki , Doi Roy H. , Ueda Mitsuyoshi
Published: October 2010

Clostridium cellulovorans, an anaerobic and mesophilic bacterium, degrades native substrates in soft biomass such as corn fibre and rice straw efficiently by producing an extracellular enzyme complex called the cellulosome. Recently, we have reported the whole‐genome sequence of C. cellulovorans comprising 4220 predicted genes in 5.10 Mbp [Y. Tamaru et al., (2010) J. Bacteriol., 192: 901–902]. As a result, the genome size of C. cellulovorans was about 1 Mbp larger than that of other cellulosome‐producing clostridia, mesophilic C. cellulolyticum and thermophilic C. thermocellum. A total of 57 cellulosomal genes were found in the C. cellulovorans genome, and they coded for not only carbohydrate‐degrading enzymes but also a lipase, peptidases and proteinase inhibitors. Interestingly, two novel genes encoding scaffolding proteins were found in the genome. According to KEGG metabolic pathways and their comparison with 11 Clostridial genomes, gene expansion in the C. cellulovorans genome indicated mainly non‐cellulosomal genes encoding hemicellulases and pectin‐degrading enzymes. Thus, by examining genome sequences from multiple Clostridium species, comparative genomics offers new insight into genome evolution and the way natural selection moulds functional DNA sequence evolution. Our analysis, coupled with the genome sequence data, provides a roadmap for constructing enhanced cellulosome‐producing Clostridium strains for industrial applications such as biofuel production.
Ribonucleases and bacterial virulence
Authors: Lawal Abidat , Jejelowo Olufisayo , Chopra Ashok K. , Rosenzweig Jason A.
Published: October 2010

Bacterial stress responses provide them the opportunity to survive hostile environments, proliferate and potentially cause diseases in humans and animals. The way in which pathogenic bacteria interact with host immune cells triggers a complicated series of events that include rapid genetic re‐programming in response to the various host conditions encountered. Viewed in this light, the bacterial host‐cell induced stress response (HCISR) is similar to any other well‐characterized environmental stress to which bacteria must respond by upregulating a group of specific stress‐responsive genes. Post stress, bacteria must resume their pre‐stress genetic program, and, as a consequence, must degrade unnecessary stress responsive transcripts through RNA decay mechanisms. Further, there is a well‐established role for several ribonucleases in the cold shock response whereby they modulate the changing transcript landscape in response to the stress, and during acclimation and subsequent genetic re‐programming post stress. Recently, ribonucleases have been implicated as virulence‐associated factors in several notable Gram‐negative pathogens including, the yersiniae, the salmonellae, Helicobacter pylori, Shigella flexneri and Aeromonas hydrophila. This review will focus on the roles played by ribonucleases in bacterial virulence, other bacterial stress responses, and on their novel therapeutic applications.
Efficacy of Rivastigmine on Executive Function in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Dementia
Authors: Schmitt Frederick A. , Farlow Martin R. , Meng Xiangyi , Tekin Sibel , Olin Jason T.
Published: October 2010

Background and objective: Rivastigmine is approved in the USA for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Executive function (EF) deficits are a core symptom of PDD. The current objective was to investigate the effects of rivastigmine capsules versus placebo on EF in PDD, focusing on secondary outcome measures from a large, international, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 24‐week trial (EXPRESS, CENA713B2311). Methods: Secondary outcomes included Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D‐KEFS) measures of EF. Data from three D‐KEFS subtests (Card Sorting, Letter Fluency, Color–Word Interference), plus the Symbol Digit Modalities Test were analyzed in the observed case (OC) population. Changes from baseline in the rivastigmine versus placebo groups were evaluated using the van Elteren test blocking for country. Results: Of 541 patients in the EXPRESS study, 402, 71, 97, and 65 patients provided data for Letter Fluency, Card Sorting and Color‐Word Interference subtests, and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, respectively. On Letter Fluency, rivastigmine was associated with improvements in correct responses, set loss errors, and responses made (all P < 0.05), but not repetition errors. Higher Card Sorting recognition description score (P= 0.03), and more correct substitutions on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P= 0.02) were also recorded. Conclusion: Rivastigmine was associated with significant improvements over placebo on EF tests evaluating flexibility of thinking, problem solving and planning in patients with PDD. These findings support the hypothesis that rivastigmine may affect frontal subcortical circuits, which potentially contributes to observed clinical improvement associated with EF.
Nanoparticulate Systems for Drug Delivery and Targeting to the Central Nervous System
Authors: Craparo Emanuela Fabiola , Bondì Maria Luisa , Pitarresi Giovanna , Cavallaro Gennara
Published: October 2010

Brain delivery is one of the major challenges for the neuropharmaceutical industry since an alarming increase in brain disease incidence is going on. Despite major advances in neuroscience, many potential therapeutic agents are denied access to the central nervous system (CNS) because of the existence of a physiological low permeable barrier, the blood–brain barrier (BBB). To obtain an improvement of drug CNS performance, sophisticated approaches such as nanoparticulate systems are rapidly developing. Many recent data demonstrate that drugs could be transported successfully into the brain using colloidal systems after i.v. injection by several mechanisms such as endocytosis or P‐glycoprotein inhibition. This review summarizes the main brain targeted nanoparticulate carriers such as liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and micelles with great potential in drug delivery into the CNS.
Asenapine: A Review of Acute and Extension Phase Data in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: McIntyre Roger S.
Published: October 2010

The second generation atypical antipsychotic, asenapine (Saphris), was approved by the US FDA (August 2009) for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes with or without psychotic features associated with bipolar I disorder in adults as well as the acute treatment of schizophrenia. Asenapine exhibits a high affinity for and antagonism at several serotonergic (5‐HT2A‐C, 5HT5A, 5HT6, 5HT7), dopaminergic (D2, D3), alpha‐adrenergic (α1 and α2), and histaminergic (H1, H2) receptor subtypes. Asenapine is the first atypical antipsychotic formulated as a fast‐dissolving, rapidly absorbed sublingual tablet. Asenapine was evaluated in adults with bipolar I disorder, manic or mixed episodes with or without psychotic features. Two identically designed 3‐week registration trials confirmed the efficacy of asenapine relative to placebo in studies that included olanzapine as an active control. The placebo‐subtracted rate of EPS (excluding akathisia) is 5% whereas the placebo‐subtracted rate of akathisia was 2%. The placebo‐subtracted rate of clinically significant weight gain (≥7%) with asenapine was approximately 5% during the 3‐week acute mania trials. A 9‐ extension trial indicated that 19% of asenapine patients will experience clinically significant weight gain. Clinically significant metabolic abnormalities were not observed during the acute and/or extension trials. Asenapine can be associated with somnolence (asenapine 24%, placebo 6%) and does not appear to be associated with clinically significant changes in vital signs, laboratory parameters, or electrocardiographic changes. Bipolar depression and recurrence prevention studies are required to fully characterize this novel agent's position in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Curcuma pambrosima sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from central Vietnam
Authors: Leong‐Škorničková Jana , Lý Ngọc‐Sâm
Published: October 2010

Curcuma pambrosima (Zingiberaceae), a new species from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated.
On the discrete logarithm problem in elliptic curves
Authors: Diem Claus
Published: October 2010

We study the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem over finite extension fields. We show that for any sequences of prime powers (qi)i∈ℕand natural numbers (ni)i∈ℕwithni⟶∞andni/log (qi)⟶0 fori⟶∞, the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem restricted to curves over the fields 𝔽qniican be solved in subexponential expected time (qnii)o(1). We also show that there exists a sequence of prime powers (qi)i∈ℕsuch that the problem restricted to curves over 𝔽qican be solved in an expected time ofe𝒪(log (qi)2/3).
Spin-Light Coherence for Single-Spin Measurement and Control in Diamond
Authors: Buckley B. B. , Fuchs G. D. , Bassett L. C. , Awschalom D. D.
Published: October 2010

Dressing-Up Diamond Defects

The spin states of nitrogen vacancy defects in diamond are being explored as information carriers and memories in quantum information systems. Their long lifetimes, fast manipulation rates, and the ability to couple them to adjacent electronic and nuclear spins provide the necessary properties for implementation in solid-state quantum networks. To date, however, the readout of the spin state via photoluminescence, either directly or indirectly, results in the destruction of the spin state.

Buckley
et al.

(p.
1212
, published online 14 October; see the Perspective by

Milburn

) have formed a light-matter hybrid state in which the spin interacts with laser light to form a polariton state. This hybrid state can be optically probed to produce a nondestructive measurement and manipulation technique for the spin state of the nitrogen-vacancy center.
Serum ferritin values in primary care: are high values overlooked?
Authors: Ogilvie Catherine , Fitzsimons Kathyrn , Fitzsimons Edward J
Published: October 2010

Objective

To examine serum ferritin values in iron-replete patients in primary care and determine the action taken on those patients with very high values (>1000 μg/l).

Methods

Serum ferritin values from 4170 consecutive patients in primary care were examined. All measurements had been made at the request of the general practitioner.

Results

Ferritin values in males reached a steady state by 30 years and did not increase thereafter. Values above 300 μg/l were found in 17% of all males. Female values rose progressively with age. Less than 10% of women <50 years had values >100 μg/l. By the age of 70 years, 8% had values >300 μg/l. Ferritin values >1000 μg/l were found in 59 patients. This rise was neither explained nor investigated in 32 cases.

Conclusion

Raised ferritin values are frequently found in samples submitted from primary care and most so in adult males. The authors also conclude that general practitioners require more guidance from haematologists in the management of patients with very high values.
Control of canine leptospirosis in Europe: time for a change?
Authors: Ellis W. A.
Published: October 2010

Changes in the formulation of theLeptospiracomponents of dog vaccines are being considered in Europe, following changes in North America. This article discusses the options for change and recommends the continued inclusion of serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola plus the inclusion of serovars Bratislava and Grippotyphosa (for mainland Europe only). If other serovars, such as Pomona, are to be considered in the future, then there is a need for additional clinical, cultural and serological studies across Europe to support their inclusion.
Investigation of farmers' perspectives on the disposal of fallen livestock and animal by‐products in Great Britain
Authors: Kirby M. , Brizuela C. , Wilkinson R.
Published: October 2010

Two questionnaires were completed by a selection of farms in Great Britain during 2008 and 2009 to ascertain the role of the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) in fallen livestock disposal, the current disposal methods used for fallen livestock and other animal by‐products (ABPs), and factors determining use of a particular method. The results demonstrated a significant difference (P<0.001) in NFSCo membership in relation to geographical location and a significant difference (P<0.001) in disposal choice. Farmers' perceptions as to why they did or did not join NFSCo, and why they used particular disposal methods are discussed. Disposal methods of other ABPs (aborted fetuses/stillborn animals and placentas) demonstrated the illegal disposal of aborted fetuses/stillborn animals (19.5 per cent of respondents) and placentas (57.6 per cent of respondents). Overall, 13.7 per cent of respondents used a variety of illegal disposal methods for fallen livestock carcases and other ABPs.
LEPTOGENESIS IN A HYBRID TEXTURE NEUTRINO MASS MODEL
Authors: DEV S. , VERMA SURENDER
Published: October 2010

We investigate the CP asymmetry for a hybrid texture of the neutrino mass matrix predicted by Q8 family symmetry in the context of the type-I seesaw mechanism and examine its consequences for leptogenesis. We, also, calculate the resulting Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) for this texture.
SINGULARITY IN GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE OF PLANE SYMMETRIC CHARGED VAIDYA SPACETIME
Authors: SHARIF M. , SIDDIQA AISHA
Published: October 2010

We study the final outcome of gravitational collapse resulting from the plane symmetric charged Vaidya spacetime. Using the field equations, we show that the weak energy condition is always satisfied by collapsing fluid. It is found that the singularity formed is naked. The strength of singularity is also investigated by using Nolan's method. This turns out to be a strong curvature singularity in Tipler's sense and hence provides a counter example to the cosmic censorship hypothesis.
A MODEL FOR OBJECT RELATIONAL OLAP
Authors: IKEDA S. , SHEU P. C.-Y. , TSAI JEFFREY J. P.
Published: October 2010

On-line Analytic Processing (OLAP) is a powerful technique especially for solving business problems in terms of a multidimensional model. Traditional OLAP models (such as ROLAP and MOLAP) are not sufficient to answer queries for complex applications. In this research, we extend the traditional multidimensional model and OLAP operations with an object relational multidimensional model. We also discuss how to implement the object relational multidimensional model on top of a relational database.
A SYSTEM FOR QUERY SPECIFIC COHERENT TEXT MULTI-DOCUMENT SUMMARIZATION
Authors: CHOWDARY C. RAVINDRANATH , SRAVANTHI M. , KUMAR P. SREENIVASA
Published: October 2010

In this paper, we present a system called QueSTS, which generates a query specific extractive summary of a selected set of documents. We have proposed an integrated graph approach to represent the contextual relationships among sentences of all the input documents. These relationships are exploited and several sub-graphs of the integrated graph are constructed. These sub-graphs consist of sentences that are highly relevant to the query and that are highly related to each other. These sub-graphs are ranked by a scoring model. The highest ranked sub-graph which is rich in query relevant information is selected as a query specific summary. A sentence ordering strategy has also been proposed by us to improve the coherence of the summary. Sentences in the selected summary are sequenced as per the above strategy. Experimental results show that the summaries generated by the QueSTS system are significantly better than other systems in terms of user satisfaction.
SVR+RVR: A ROBUST SPARSE KERNEL METHOD FOR REGRESSION
Authors: ZHANG GAI-YING , GUO GAO , ZHANG JIANG-SHE
Published: October 2010

Support vector machine (SVM) and relevance vector machine (RVM) are two state of the art kernel learning methods. But both methods have some disadvantages: although SVM is very robust against outliers, it makes unnecessarily liberal use of basis functions since the number of support vectors required typically grows linearly with the size of the training set; on the other hand the solution of RVM is astonishingly sparse, but its performance deteriorates significantly when the observations are contaminated by outliers. In this paper, we present a combination of SVM and RVM for regression problems, in which the two methods are concatenated: firstly, we train a support vector regression (SVR) machine on the full training set; then a relevance vector regression (RVR) machine is trained only on a subset consisting of support vectors, but whose target values are replaced by the predictions of SVR. Using this combination, we overcome the drawbacks of SVR and RVR. Experiments demonstrate SVR+RVR is both very sparse and robust.
FLEMING–VIOT PROCESSES IN AN ENVIRONMENT
Authors: HE HUI
Published: October 2010

We consider a new type of lookdown processes where spatial motion of each individual is influenced by an individual noise and a common noise, which could be regarded as an environment. Then a class of probability measure-valued processes on real line ℝ is constructed. The sample path properties are investigated: the values of this new type process are either purely atomic measures or absolutely continuous measures according to the existence of individual noise. When the process is absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure, we derive a new stochastic partial differential equation for the density process. At last we show that such processes also arise from normalizing a class of measure-valued branching diffusions in a Brownian medium as the classical result that Dawson–Watanabe superprocesses, conditioned to have total mass one, are Fleming–Viot superprocesses.
ON UNIQUENESS OF MILD SOLUTIONS FOR DISSIPATIVE STOCHASTIC EVOLUTION EQUATIONS
Authors: MARINELLI CARLO , RÖCKNER MICHAEL
Published: October 2010

In the semigroup approach to stochastic evolution equations, the fundamental issue of uniqueness of mild solutions is often "reduced" to the much easier problem of proving uniqueness for strong solutions. This reduction is usually carried out in a formal way, without really justifying why and how one can do that. We provide sufficient conditions for uniqueness of mild solutions to a broad class of semilinear stochastic evolution equations with coefficients satisfying a monotonicity assumption.
LIFTINGS OF COVARIANT REPRESENTATIONS OF W*-CORRESPONDENCES
Authors: DEY SANTANU
Published: October 2010

We generalize the notion of subisometric liftings of row contractions for liftings of completely contractive covariant representations of W*-correspondences. A theory of characteristic functions for such liftings of covariant representations is presented.