bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of selection signatures within candidate regions underlying trypanotolerance in outbred cattle populations
Authors: DAYO G.‐K. , THEVENON S. , BERTHIER D. , MOAZAMI‐GOUDARZI K. , DENIS C. , CUNY G. , EGGEN A. , GAUTIER M.
Published: March 2009

Breeding indigenous African taurine cattle tolerant to trypanosomosis is a straightforward approach to control costs generated by this disease. A recent study identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying trypanotolerance traits in experimental crosses between tolerant N'Dama and susceptible Boran zebu cattle. As trypanotolerance is thought to result from local adaptation of indigenous cattle breeds, we propose an alternative and complementary approach to study the genetic architecture of this trait, based on the identification of selection signatures within QTL or candidate genes. A panel of 92 microsatellite markers was genotyped on 509 cattle belonging to four West African trypanotolerant taurine breeds and 10 trypanosusceptible European or African cattle breeds. Some of these markers were located within previously identified QTL regions or candidate genes, while others were chosen in regions assumed to be neutral. A detailed analysis of the genetic structure of these different breeds was carried out to confirm a priori grouping of populations based on previous data. Tests based on the comparison of the observed heterozygosities and variances in microsatellite allelic size among trypanotolerant and trypanosusceptible breeds led to the identification of two significantly less variable microsatellite markers. BM4440, one of these two outlier loci, is located within the confidence interval of a previously described QTL underlying a trypanotolerance‐related trait.

Detection of selection signatures appears to be a straightforward approach for unravelling the molecular determinism of trypanosomosis pathogenesis. We expect that a whole genome approach will help confirm these results and achieve a higher resolving power.
Internal algorithm variability and among‐algorithm discordance in statistical haplotype reconstruction
Authors: HUANG ZU‐SHI , JI YA‐JIE , ZHANG DE‐XING
Published: March 2009

The potential effectiveness of statistical haplotype inference makes it an area of active exploration over the last decade. There are several complications of statistical inference, including: the same algorithm can produce different solutions for the same data set, which reflects the internal algorithm variability; different algorithms can give different solutions for the same data set, reflecting the discordance among algorithms; and the algorithms per se are unable to evaluate the reliability of the solutions even if they are unique, this being a general limitation of all inference methods. With the aim of increasing the confidence of statistical inference results, consensus strategy appears to be an effective means to deal with these problems. Several authors have explored this with different emphases. Here we discuss two recent studies examining the internal algorithm variability and among‐algorithm discordance, respectively, and evaluate the different outcomes of these analyses, in light of Orzack (2009) comment. Until other, better methods are developed, a combination of these two approaches should provide a practical way to increase the confidence of statistical haplotyping results.
The development of immune responses in Balb/c mice following inoculation with attenuated or virulentNeospora caninumtachyzoites
Authors: BARTLEY P. M. , WRIGHT S. E. , MALEY S. W. , BUXTON D. , NATH M. , INNES E. A.
Published: March 2009

Balb/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with either 5 × 106live virulent (group 1) or 5 × 106live attenuated (group 2) tachyzoites, or Vero cells (group 3). Animals were killed at 0, 14, 28 and 42 days post‐inoculation (p.i.), with the remaining mice receiving a lethal challenge on day 48 p.i. Serum, spleen and brain samples were collected post‐mortem to examine humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses as well as pathological lesions and to quantify parasite loads. On day 14 p.i. group 2 (attenuated) demonstrated statistically significant (P < 0·001) lower levels of mean morbidity and weight loss, while also showing significantly (P = 0·01) higher levels of splenocyte proliferation and IFN‐γ production (P = 0·003), compared to group 1 (virulent). Histology of brain samples showed milder lesions and a lower incidence of positive immunohistochemistry, demonstrating tachyzoites and tissue cysts, and statistically significant (P = 0·03) lower mean burdens of parasite DNA in group 2 (attenuated) compared to group 1 (virulent). All mice in group 2 were protected following challenge on day 48 p.i. whereas naïve control mice succumbed to the challenge. No mice from group 1 (virulent) survived beyond day 24 p.i. so they were not included in the challenge.
Identification of a novel HLA‐B allele, HLA‐B*5904
Authors: Ueta M. , Matsushita M. , Sotozono C. , Kinoshita S. , Tokunaga K.
Published: March 2009

The new human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I allele, HLA‐B*5904 was identified in Japanese individual. HLA‐B*5904 differs from HLA‐B*5901 by two non‐synonymous nucleotide exchanges at codon 163 (ACG to CTG).
DQB1*0323 is the result of a gene conversion event between a DQB1*06 and a DQB1*030303 allele
Authors: Wienzek S. , Verboom M. , Blasczyk R. , Bein G. , Horn P. A.
Published: March 2009

A novel human leukocyte antigen‐DQB1 allele, DQB1*0323, was identified in a volunteer hematopoietic stem cell donor. DQB1*0323 differs from the closely related allele DQB1*030303 in five nucleotide positions.
Further evidence of an Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian gene pool on Easter Island
Authors: Thorsby E. , Flåm S. T. , Woldseth B. , Dupuy B. M. , Sanchez‐Mazas A. , Fernandez‐Vina M. A.
Published: March 2009

Available evidence suggests a Polynesian origin of the Easter Island population. We recently found that some native Easter Islanders also carried some common American Indian (Amerindian) human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, which probably were introduced before Europeans discovered the island in 1722. In this study, we report molecular genetic investigations of 21 other selected native Easter Islanders. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome markers showed no traces of an Amerindian contribution. However, high‐resolution genomic HLA typing showed that two individuals carried some other common Amerindian HLA alleles, different from those found in our previous investigations. The new data support our previous evidence of an Amerindian contribution to the gene pool on Easter Island.
Distribution of HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐Cw, and ‐DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in an isolated Han population in Southwest China
Authors: Yao Y. , Shi L. , Shi L. , Matsushita M. , Yu L. , Lin K. , Tao Y. , Huang X. , Yi W. , Oka T. , Tokunaga K. , Chu J.
Published: March 2009

In this study, polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I (A, B, and Cw) and class II (DRB1) loci were analyzed in an isolated Han population living in Fengyandong in the Yunnan province of Southwest China (FYDH) using a high‐resolution polymerase chain reaction–Luminex typing method. A total of 13 A, 26 B, 15 Cw, and 23 DRB1 alleles of HLA were found in FYDH. The frequencies of A*1101, A*0207, A*2402, B*4601, B*1502, Cw*0102, Cw*0801, DRB1*0901, and DRB1*1202 were >10%. The following haplotypes were common with frequencies >5%: three A‐B, four Cw‐B, two B‐DRB1, two A‐B‐DRB1, three A‐B‐Cw, two B‐Cw‐DRB1, and two A‐B‐Cw‐DRB1 phylogenetic tree and multidimensional scaling analysis based on HLA‐A, ‐B, and ‐DRB1 allele frequencies of 18 Han populations suggested that FYDH was an isolated Han population, but the analytic result also provided a suggestion that FYDH was genetically related to Chinese Southern Han. According to the characteristics of the HLA allele and haplotype distributions and significantly reduced allelic and haplotypic diversity in FYDH, we deduced that genetic drift and/or selection and subsequent geographic isolation had influenced the distribution characteristics of the HLA gene in FYDH. In addition, significantly reduced allelic and haplotypic diversity in FYDH makes it an ideal homogenous population and very useful model for future investigations of issues related to immunogenetic diseases in the Han population.
HLA‐B is the best candidate of susceptibility genes in HLA for Japanese ulcerative colitis
Authors: Aizawa H. , Kinouchi Y. , Negoro K. , Nomura E. , Imai G. , Takahashi S. , Takagi S. , Kakuta Y. , Tosa M. , Mochida A. , Matsumura Y. , Endo K , Shimosegawa T.
Published: March 2009

Recently, a genome‐wide association study for ulcerative colitis (UC) in the UK population was reported, and several susceptibility loci including the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region were identified. The strongest association in the HLA region was found at a 400 kb haplotype block containing HLA‐DRB1. In Japanese population, previous study suggested the association between UC and HLA‐B*52; however, HLA typing was determined using serotyping with the small sample size. The purpose of this study was to perform an association study in HLA‐B by genotyping. A total of 320 patients with UC and 322 healthy controls were recruited in this case–control study. All subjects were Japanese. Genotyping of HLA‐B was performed by polymerase chain reaction using a sequence‐specific primer. When the allele frequencies were compared, significant associations were found with B*52 [odds ratio (OR) = 3.65, P = 1.6 × 10−17, Pc = 3.7 × 10−16] and B*4002 (OR = 0.52, P = 0.00030, Pc = 0.0068). The allele frequency of B*52 was significantly higher in patients diagnosed before 40 years of age than in those diagnosed after 40 years (OR = 1.79, P = 0.010, Pc = 0.020). A combination association map of Japanese UC using our current and previous studies showed two equal peaks of association on HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐B, indicating the possible existence of two casual variants in the HLA region inside and outside the 400 kb block found in UK. We conclude that HLA‐B contributes to the susceptibility to Japanese UC, especially cases with younger age of onset. The strength of association for HLA‐B was equal to that for HLA‐DRB1 in Japanese UC, in contrast to the UK population.
Using Graph Theory Metrics to Infer Information Flow Through Animal Social Groups: A Computer Simulation Analysis
Authors: Vital Cuauhcihuatl , Martins Emília P.
Published: March 2009

Single individuals, termed ‘gatekeepers’, can have a profound impact on information flow in a group, whether that gatekeeper be a large male despot which strictly controls access to resources and mates, or an infant that is freely passed around among members of a social group. Graph theory offers powerful tools for considering larger aspects of social dynamics such as information flow, and their impact on phenomena such as social learning, social roles, foraging skills transfer and eavesdropping. Here, we use computer simulation to test the abilities of several social network metrics to estimate the proportion of gatekeepers in a social group with sample sizes and study designs typical of animal behavior studies. We find that most network metrics are sensitive to the amount of sampling (number of recorded interactions), and did not give good estimates when fewer than 10 interactions were recorded for each animal in the group. Metrics were also quite sensitive to variation in group size, yielding the full range of possible values for groups varying from 20 to 50 animals. We thus recommend against their use with animals that move in and out of groups seasonally. Individual values estimated by each of the metrics were often quite different from each other such that a combination of metrics chosen from each of the following groups provides the most comprehensive description of information flow: (1) Closeness or Degree Centrality, (2) Betweenness Centrality, (3) Density or Clustering Coefficient, and/or (4) Diameter, Average Degree or Information Centrality. Finally, we introduce a software package, SocANet, that can be used to conduct similar simulations to determine the best metrics for a particular group of animals and set of conditions.
The impact of temperature change on the activity and community composition of sulfate‐reducing bacteria in arctic versus temperate marine sediments
Authors: Robador Alberto , Brüchert Volker , Jørgensen Bo Barker
Published: March 2009

Arctic regions may be particularly sensitive to climate warming and, consequently, rates of carbon mineralization in warming marine sediment may also be affected. Using long‐term (24 months) incubation experiments at 0°C, 10°C and 20°C, the temperature response of metabolic activity and community composition of sulfate‐reducing bacteria were studied in the permanently cold sediment of north‐western Svalbard (Arctic Ocean) and compared with a temperate habitat with seasonally varying temperature (German Bight, North Sea). Short‐term 35S‐sulfate tracer incubations in a temperature‐gradient block (between −3.5°C and +40°C) were used to assess variations in sulfate reduction rates during the course of the experiment. Warming of arctic sediment resulted in a gradual increase of the temperature optima (Topt) for sulfate reduction suggesting a positive selection of psychrotolerant/mesophilic sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB). However, high rates at in situ temperatures compared with maximum rates showed the predominance of psychrophilic SRB even at high incubation temperatures. Changing apparent activation energies (Ea) showed that increasing temperatures had an initial negative impact on sulfate reduction that was weaker after prolonged incubations, which could imply an acclimatization response rather than a selection process of the SRB community. The microbial community composition was analysed by targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA using catalysed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD‐FISH). The results showed the decline of specific groups of SRB and confirmed a strong impact of increasing temperatures on the microbial community composition of arctic sediment. Conversely, in seasonally changing sediment sulfate reduction rates and sulfate‐reducing bacterial abundance changed little in response to changing temperature.
Militant Protestants: British Identity in the Jacobean Period, 1603–1625
Authors: WHITE JASON C.
Published: March 2009

The ‘new British history’ still has a great deal to offer when it comes to understanding the formation and conceptualization of British identity before the advent of the British state. This article focuses on the aftermath of the 1603 ‘union of crowns’ under James VI and I. Up to now it has been the consensus among historians that British identity was mostly limited to James himself and that he, rather clumsily, attempted to impose the idea of Britain on his unwilling subjects in England and Scotland. However, by paying more attention to the thoughts and aspirations about Britain, a different kind of British identity can be discerned. There were many individuals in both Scotland and England who believed that the union of crowns created one of the most powerful Protestant kingdoms in Europe. For these individuals British identity was a militant Protestant identity. They embraced the idea that Britain should be an active protector of Protestantism and that it should use this combined military might to extirpate the papal Antichrist. While the militant Protestant version of British identity was always a minority opinion, its existence reveals that there were alternative ways to thinking about Britain that did not necessarily originate with James VI and I, nor was it limited to or inhibited by traditional antagonisms between England and Scotland.
The Air Marshal versus the Admiral: Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Morton Forbes in the Pantheon
Authors: CUMMING ANTHONY J.
Published: March 2009

This article assesses two military commanders who would have played key roles defending the nation had Germany invaded Great Britain in 1940. It challenges Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding's enviable public reputation as the man most responsible for preventing invasion by winning the air campaign misleadingly known as the Battle of Britain. By contrast, it rescues Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Forbes who led the Royal Navy's most important tactical force in home waters. Previously, their reputations have been largely pegged to misleading public perceptions of the defence contributions of their service branches between the wars and during the early phases of the Second World War. These perceptions mainly stemmed from propaganda requirements for gaining essential American support, but it is argued here that the performance of Dowding and the Royal Air Force fell significantly short of the Battle of Britain legend. Instead, mainly because of an overwhelmingly powerful British fleet and Forbes's decimation of the German Kriegsmarine around Norway, the German planners came to believe that even with air superiority, invasion was not a viable operation. It concludes that the maligned Forbes and the Royal Navy should now be recognized as the real winners of the wider Battle of Britain.
Contesting Property Development in Coastal New Zealand: A Case Study of Ocean Beach, Hawke's Bay
Authors: COLLINS DAMIAN
Published: March 2009

This article considers the contested process of coastal development in New Zealand and the implications of both governmental regulation and public concern for understanding property. Its empirical focus is a proposal for a substantial, new urbanist development at Ocean Beach, located in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island. Three key sources of data inform the research: published reports; public submissions to council; and interviews with a sample of those involved in the planning process. Opposition to development is explained in terms of three broad areas of concern: the dramatic physical and social changes that would accompany subdivision and construction; fears of a loss of control over a valued local landscape; and a morally informed sense of propriety. The article finds that the ownership model of property is not especially powerful at Ocean Beach; rather, there is a broad consensus that private property rights exist within a public planning framework. It is this framework that contributes, in large part, to ensuring that voices of community opposition to property development at Ocean Beach (and elsewhere along the coast) are heard. Nevertheless, private property rights are rarely dismissed completely.

Cet article porte sur une démarche contestée d'aménagement côtier en Nouvelle‐Zélande, ainsi sur les incidences de la réglementation gouvernementale et de l'inquiétude de la population, pour mieux comprendre le sens de la propriété. Sur le plan empirique, il s'intéresse à une vaste urbanisation nouvelle proposée sur le site d'Ocean Beach situé dans la région de Hawke's Bay dans l'île du Nord. L'étude tire ses données de trois sources principales: rapports publiés, soumissions publiques auprès du conseil, et entretiens avec un groupe représentatif de personnes impliquées dans le processus d'aménagement. L'opposition au complexe s'articule autour de trois grands domaines de préoccupation: les changements physiques et sociaux radicaux qu'occasionneraient subdivision et construction; les craintes de perdre la maîtrise d'un paysage local prisé; un sens de la propriété reposant sur des valeurs morales. Le modèle de propriété immobilière ne s'impose pas particulièrement à Ocean Beach; on y trouve plutôt un large consensus pour que les droits de propriété privée existent dans un cadre d'aménagement public. C'est ce cadre qui contribue en grande partie à garantir que soient entendues les voix de la communauté opposées à l'aménagement immobilier d'Ocean Beach (ou sur tout autre site côtier). Néanmoins les droits de propriété privée sont rarement complètement rejetés.
Resolution of Trigeminal Neuralgia Following Cerebellar AVM Embolization With Onyx
Authors: Lesley WS
Published: March 2009

Intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Successful resolution of AVM-related TN following embolization surgery using Onyx has not been reported. In this case report, a posterior fossa AVM was embolized in two separate, staged endovascular surgeries using Onyx. The AVM was reduced in size, and the TN resolved. The patient subsequently underwent radiosurgery for the small, residual AVM, and he has maintained an uneventful follow-up. A thorough literature review was also performed for AVM-associated TN. Fifty-nine reports of AVM-related TN have been described to date, of which only three were treated with embosurgery. None of the prior two embosurgical reports utilized Onyx, and no AVM was obliterated with embosurgery alone. TN secondary to AVM can be resolved with embosurgery utilizing Onyx; however, complete elimination of the underlying AVM requires adjuvant surgery.
Perceived Knowledge of Blood‐Borne Pathogens and Avoidance of Contact With Infected Patients
Authors: Kagan Ilya , Ovadia Karin Lee , Kaneti Tami
Published: March 2009

Purpose: To examine the relationship between nurses' knowledge of blood‐borne pathogens (BBPs), their professional behavior regarding handwashing, compliance with standard precautions (SPs), and avoidance of therapeutic contact with BBP‐infected patients.

Design: This cross‐sectional design study took place in a regional medical center in Central Israel during 2003.

Methods: Of the 180 participants, 159 (88.3%) were women with an average educational level of 16.40 years (SD=2.66). The mean age of the sample was 39.41 (SD=10.1). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic information, level of knowledge concerning three BBPs (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], hepatitis B virus [HBV], and hepatitis C virus [HCV]), level of compliance with SPs, understanding of SP principles, and avoidance of therapeutic contact with BBP‐infected patients.

Findings: Levels of HIV‐related knowledge were significantly higher than were those of HBV‐ and HCV‐related knowledge. Only 96 participants (54.5%) stated that all patients should be treated as BBP‐carriers. The understanding of the basic principle of SPs did not influence the relationship between perceived knowledge and self‐reported compliance with SPs; 77.3% of the sample reported that they avoid therapeutic contact with BBP‐infected patients. The level of perceived knowledge did not contribute to the nurses' avoidance of care of BBP carriers.

Conclusions: Perceived knowledge of BBPs has a weak effect on compliance with SPs and willingness to care for BBP‐infected patients.

Recommendations: Nurses must identify their preconceptions when caring for BBP‐carriers. Further research on this issue is needed to attempt to understand the forces acting on our nursing staff, in order to ensure appropriate care of BBP‐infected patients.

Clinical Relevance: Our study indicated some reluctance among nurses to care for patients with blood‐borne pathogens. This appears to be the result of value systems and not a lack of knowledge, indicating a need to integrate a psychoeducational approach to education of nurses.
International Differences in Nursing Research, 2005–2006
Authors: Polit Denise F. , Beck Cheryl Tatano
Published: March 2009

Purpose: To compare the characteristics of nursing research being done in different countries, using data from studies published in nonspecialty, English‐language nursing journals.

Design: Data for this cross‐sectional analysis were retrieved from a consecutive sample of 1,072 studies published in eight leading English‐language research journals in 2005 and 2006.

Methods: For each study, data were extracted on the characteristics of the study participants and authors, study focus‐specialty area, funding, and methodologic attributes. Studies from 15 countries or regional groupings were compared.

Findings: International differences in authors, participants, and study characteristics were typically large and statistically significant. Studies that were focused on nurses were especially prevalent in Europe, Australia, and Canada, whereas patient‐centered studies were most common in Asian countries and the US. Qualitative studies were predominant in Norway, Sweden, and the UK. Asian nurse researchers, by contrast, undertook mostly quantitative studies, and were especially likely to conduct intervention research. Significant country differences existed in the omission of demographic (age and sex) information about participants, with omissions most prevalent in the UK and Ireland and least prevalent in Asian countries. Research funding was reported for 62% of all studies, ranging from 13% in Turkey to over 75% in Canada and the US.

Conclusions: Although this study had several limitations, especially with regard to potential biases in the sample of studies from non‐English‐speaking countries, this analysis of over 1,000 nursing studies indicates many important inter‐country differences in the focus, methods, and authorship patterns of nursing research published in leading journals.

Clinical Relevance: Because research “informs” practice, international differences that exist in the focus and methods of nursing research have implications for nursing practice in the respective countries.
The Design of Adult Acute Care Units in U.S. Hospitals
Authors: Catrambone Cathy , Johnson Mary E. , Mion Lorraine C. , Minnick Ann F.
Published: March 2009

Purpose: To describe the current state of design characteristics determined to be desirable by the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) in U.S. adult medical, surgical, and intensive care units (ICUs).

Design: Descriptive study of patient visibility; distance to hygiene, toileting, charting, and supplies; unit configuration; percentage of private rooms; and presence or absence of carpeting in 56 ICUs and 81 medical‐surgical units in six metropolitan areas.

Methods: Data were collected via observation, measurement, and interviews. Unit configurations were classified via an iterative process. Descriptive data were analyzed according to ICU and non‐ICU status using SPSS (Version 15).

Findings: Analysis of unit configurations indicated eight unit designs. Statistical analysis showed inter‐ and intrahospital variation in unit configurations, percentage private rooms, carpeting, visibility, and distance to supplies and charting. Few units met the AHRQ designated design elements studied.

Conclusions: A wide gap exists between desirable characteristics in ICUs and medical‐surgical units. Future research is needed to explore operationalization of unit design elements as risk adjustments, how design elements contribute to patient outcomes, and how design elements influence one another.

Clinical Relevance: There is room for improvement on almost every design variable, particularly on medical‐surgical units. Future planning should take into consideration the interaction of bed capacity and unit configuration.
Consent Administrator Training to Reduce Disparities in Research Participation
Authors: Larson Elaine L. , Cohn Elizabeth Gross , Meyer Dodi D. , Boden‐Albala Bernadette
Published: March 2009

Purpose: The aims for this paper are to summarize the current state of disparities in clinical research participation, discuss regulatory and interpersonal causes for these disparities, and to suggest an approach to address this problem by standardized training for consent administrators.

Organizing Construct: A program based on the Precede‐Proceed model for training consent administrators is proposed and described.

Conclusions: The current process for informed consent for research is unstandardized and inadequate, and may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities. Researchers are urged to consider a formal training program for members of their research teams who will be obtaining participants' consent.

Clinical Relevance: An educational program for consent administrators may help to reduce disparities in research participation by improving communication between research staff and potential participants.
Accepting Responsibility for Long‐Term Care—A Paradox in Times of a Global Nursing Shortage?
Authors: Hirschfeld Miriam J.
Published: March 2009

Need for long‐term care (LTC) is increasing globally, and nurses have a professional imperative to address the growing need for long‐term care (LTC). The author reviews the effect of globalization and the epidemiologic transition upon the growing need for LTC. I also summarize the lessons learned in the developing world, as well as in the industrialized world, based on the existing research evidence.

The purpose of this paper is to explain the need for nursing as a profession to accept responsibility for LTC as part of nursing's raison d'etre, despite the global nursing shortage. This includes responsibility for innovative policy, health service, practice, research, nursing education development, and health promotion, because prevention is key to slowing the steep increase in LTC needs.

Clinical relevance: Nurses must develop strategies for clinical practice, management, education, and research in order to increase our ability to meet future needs for LTC.
Cyclooxygenase inhibitors repress vascular hyaluronan‐synthesis in murine atherosclerosis and neointimal thickening
Authors: Marzoll Andrea , Nagy Nadine , Wördehoff Luisa , Dai Guang , Fries Susanne , Lindner Volkhard , Grosser Tilo , Fischer Jens W.
Published: March 2009

Hyaluronan (HA) is a key molecule of the extracellular matrix that is thought to be critically involved in both atherosclerosis and restenosis. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the cyclooxygenase (COX) products, prostacyclin and prostaglandin E2, induce HA synthesis in vitro by transcriptional up‐regulation of HA‐synthase 2 (HAS2) and HAS1. The relative roles in atherosclerotic and restenotic artery disease of tissue specifically expressed COX‐1 and COX‐2 are still under debate. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of COX isoform inhibition on HA‐accumulation and regulation of HAS isoform expression in two models of pathologic artery remodelling in vivo. Firstly, ApoE‐deficient mice were treated with a prototypic isoform non‐selective inhibitor, indomethacin or with a prototypic COX‐2 selective inhibitor, rofecoxib, for 8 weeks. Aortic HAS mRNA expression and HA‐accumulation in atherosclerotic aortic root lesions were analyzed. Secondly, neointimal hyperplasia was induced by carotid artery ligation in ApoE‐deficient mice on a high fat diet and the effects of the COX inhibitors were determined after 4 weeks of treatment. Intimal HA‐accumulation was markedly reduced in both models by indomethacin and rofecoxib. This coincided with a strong inhibition of HAS1 mRNA expression in both models and with decreased HAS2 mRNA in the aorta of ApoE‐deficient mice. HAS3 was not affected. The repression of HA‐accumulation by both COX‐2 selective and non‐selective COX inhibition implicates COX‐2 in the regulation of HA synthesis via stimulation of HAS1 and HAS2 expression in vivo. Modulation of vascular HA‐accumulation might play a role in chronic effects of COX inhibitors on the progression of atherosclerosis.
Biodiversity effects on productivity and stability of marine macroalgal communities: the role of environmental context
Authors: Boyer Katharyn E. , Kertesz Johanna S. , Bruno John F.
Published: March 2009

The influence of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning has been the focus of much recent research, but the role of environmental context and the mechanisms by which it may influence diversity effects on production and stability remain poorly understood. We assembled marine macroalgal communities in two mesocosm experiments that varied nutrient supply, and at four field sites that differed naturally in environmental conditions. Concordant with theory, nutrient addition promoted positive species richness effects on algal growth in the first mesocosm experiment; however, it tended to weaken the positive diversity relationship found under ambient conditions in a second experiment the next year. In the field experiments, species richness increased algal biomass production at two of four sites. Together, these experiments indicate that diversity effects on algal biomass production are strongly influenced by environmental conditions that vary over space and time. In decomposing the net biodiversity effect into its component mechanisms, seven of the eight experimental settings showed positive complementarity effects (suggesting facilitation or complementary resource use) countered by negative selection effects (i.e. enhanced growth in mixture of otherwise slow growing species) to varying degrees. Under no conditions, including nutrient enrichment, did we find evidence of positive selection effects commonly thought to drive positive diversity effects. Species richness enhanced stability of algal community biomass across a range of environmental settings in our field experiments. Hence, while species richness can increase production, enhanced stability is also an important functional outcome of maintaining diverse marine macroalgal communities.
Synthesis of Fe3O4 Nanowire Arrays Via Precipitation in Templates and Microwave Hydrothermal Process
Authors: Wang Hong‐Wen , Lin Hsiu‐Chu , Yeh Yun‐Chieh
Published: March 2009

Template growth of Fe3O4 nanowire arrays via precipitation and subsequent microwave hydrothermal process was investigated. Anodic aluminum oxide and polycarbonate templates were immersed in a ferrous chloride and ferric chloride mixture and the precipitation of Fe3O4 took placed by adjusting the solution to pH>9. A microwave hydrothermal process was subsequently performed at 150°C for 30 min in order to further enhance the crystallinity of the Fe3O4 nanowires. The length of the nanowires is about 5–20 μm and the diameter is about 220 nm, with perfect surface finishing. The nanowires were polycrystalline cubic spinel structures and composed of nanometer‐sized particles, as characterized by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic properties in parallel and perpendicular direction were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer, where the magnetization in the perpendicular direction of the nanowires is higher than that of the parallel direction. Microwave hydrothermal treatment improved the crystallinity and morphology of Fe3O4 nanowires and resulted in a much better magnetization than that without microwave hydrothermal treatment.
New Blended Cement from Polishing and Glazing Ceramic Sludge
Authors: Andreola Fernanda , Barbieri Luisa , Lancellotti Isabella , Bignozzi Maria Chiara , Sandrolini Franco
Published: March 2009

Waste generated in ceramic tiles manufacturing is not usually recycled inside the productive plant, but rather disposed to landfill. This paper deals with ceramic residues from polishing and glazing processes, as constituents for innovative blended cements. New binders made up of 75% CEM I 52.5 R and 25% residues were chemically, physically, and mechanically characterized with reference to EN 197‐1 requirements and the results compared with ordinary Portland cement. Mechanical strength development and microstructure of the relevant mortar have been investigated up to 90 days of curing, and the behavior of polishing and glazing residues as cement constituents is reported.
SiC Particulate‐Reinforced Si–C–N—Highly Oxidation Resistant Composites at 1500°C in Air
Authors: Lee Sea‐Hoon
Published: March 2009

The thermal stability and high‐temperature strength of SiC filler/Si–C–N matrix particulate‐reinforced ceramic (PRC) composites were investigated. The PRC retained 115% of the room temperature strength at 1500°C in air because of the crack‐healing behavior. The thickness of SiO2 formed on the PRC was 3 μm after an oxidation at 1500°C for 100 h in air. The strength of the PRC did not strongly decrease after the prolonged oxidation for 100 h. The SiC/Si–C–N PRC are a promising candidate for the applications at extremely high temperatures in air.
A spectroscopic measure of the star formation rate density in dwarf galaxies at z ∼ 1
Authors: Davies G. T. , Gilbank David G. , Glazebrook Karl , Bower Richard G. , Baldry I. K. , Balogh Michael L. , Hau G. K. T. , Li I. H. , McCarthy P. , Savaglio S.
Published: March 2009

We use a K-selected (22.5 < KAB < 24.0) sample of dwarf galaxies (8.4 < log(M*/M⊙) < 10) at 0.89 < z < 1.15 in the Chandra Deep Field-South to measure their contribution to the global star formation rate density (SFRD), as inferred from their [O ii] flux. By comparing with [O ii]-based studies of higher stellar mass galaxies, we robustly measure a turnover in the [O ii] luminosity density at a stellar mass of M∼ 1010 M⊙. By comparison with the [O ii]-based SFRD measured from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey we confirm that, while the SFRD of the lowest mass galaxies changes very little with time, the SFRD of more massive galaxies evolves strongly, such that they dominate the SFRD at z= 1.
Language Classification, Language Contact, and Amazonian Prehistory
Authors: Epps Patience
Published: March 2009

The linguistic map of Amazonia presents a startling jumble of languages and language families. While some families – most notably Carib, Arawak, Macro‐Jê, and Tupí– are distributed widely throughout the region, their spread is interspersed with many dozens of tiny, localized families and language isolates, particularly in the Amazonian periphery. At the same time, distributions of lexical, grammatical, and phonological features suggest that this linguistic patchwork is overlaid in places by contact regions, where multilingualism has fostered lexical and/or structural resemblances among languages. This complex distribution of languages and linguistic features presents many challenges to our understanding of Amazonian prehistory. How did Amazonia's language families arrive at their present distribution? Why did some families spread over huge distances, while others came to occupy only tiny geographical pockets or are limited to a single language? What kinds of interactions among peoples led to the formation of contact zones, and how are these regions defined? Complicating these questions further is the fact that very little is known about many Amazonian languages, and relationships among them are in many cases a matter of conjecture. This article surveys our current understanding of language classification and language contact in Amazonia, and addresses various perspectives concerning the implications of these relationships for Amazonian prehistory.
Word Sense Disambiguation: An Overview
Authors: McCarthy Diana
Published: March 2009

Word sense disambiguation is a subfield of computational linguistics in which computer systems are designed to determine the appropriate meaning of a word as it appears in the linguistic context. This article provides a survey of what has been done in this area: the ways that word meaning can be represented in the computer, the approaches taken by systems, how performance is evaluated and an overview of the intended applications that might benefit from this technology. One of the major issues has been, and still remains, that of finding an appropriate computational representation of word meaning as this is fundamental to the performance and utility of systems.
Eighteen microsatellite loci in Salix arbutifolia (Salicaceae) and cross‐species amplification in Salix and Populus species
Authors: HOSHIKAWA TAKESHI , KIKUCHI SATOSHI , NAGAMITSU TERUYOSHI , TOMARU NOBUHIRO
Published: March 2009

Salix arbutifolia is a riparian dioecious tree species that is of conservation concern in Japan because of its highly restricted distribution. Eighteen polymorphic loci of dinucleotide microsatellites were isolated and characterized. Among these, estimates of the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.350 to 0.879. Cross‐species amplification was successful at 9–13 loci among six Salix species and at three loci in one Populus species.
COX‐2 expression during 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide induced rat tongue carcinogenesis
Authors: Ribeiro Daniel A , Fracalossi Ana Carolina C , Gomes Thiago S , Oshima Celina T F
Published: March 2009

Background and aims: This study was undertaken to investigate, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) during 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide (4NQO)‐induced rat tongue carcinogenesis. Methods: Male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups of 10 animals each and treated with 50 ppm 4NQO solution through their drinking water for 4, 12, and 20 weeks. Ten animals were used as negative control. Results: Although no histopathological abnormalities were induced in the epithelium after 4 weeks of carcinogen exposure, COX‐2 was expresssed in some cells of the ‘normal’ oral epithelium in the superficial layer. In pre‐neoplastic lesions at 12 weeks following carcinogen exposure, the levels of COX‐2 were increased (P < 0.05) when compared to negative control. In well‐differentiated squamous cell carcinoma induced after 20 weeks of treatment with 4NQO, the same picture occurred when compared to negative control. Weak immunoreactivity for COX‐2 was observed in the negative control group being restricted to basal layer of the oral epithelium. Conclusions: Taken together, our results support the idea that expression of COX‐2 plays a crucial role during malignant transformation being closely related to neoplastic conversion of the oral mucosa cells.
A case of primary non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of the myometrium with involvement of bilateral ovaries
Authors: Jeong Dongjun , Jeong Yoojun , Jeon Seob , Cho Hyun‐Deuk , Bae Dong‐Han , Kim Chang‐Jin
Published: March 2009

We report a case of primary non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the uterine body with involvement of bilateral ovaries. A 67‐year‐old woman had explolaparotomy under the provisional diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma. Enlargements of the uterine body as a leiomyoma and bilateral ovaries were noted in the operation field. The frozen section diagnosis of the uterine wall mass was malignant lymphoma. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy was carried out. The pathologic study with immunohistochemical stains confirmed primary NHL of the diffuse large B‐cell type of the myometrium with involvement of bilateral ovaries. To the best of our knowledge, the primary lymphoma of the myometrium with involvement of bilateral ovaries has not been reported previously in the literature.
Stachys ketenoglui sp. nov. (sect. Infrarosularis) (Labiatae/Lamiaceae) from south Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: Daşkın Ruziye , Yılmaz Özer , Kaynak Gönül
Published: March 2009

The new species Stachys ketenoglui Kaynak, Daşkın & Yılmaz (Lamiaceae) is described and illustrated from south Anatolia, Turkey. It is closely related to S. cataonica and S. pumila, but differs from them by its longer petiolated basal leaves, longer calyx, pale pink and longer corollas. Notes are also provided on its ecology, geographical distribution and conservation status. In addition, SEM photos of pollen grains for S. ketenoglui, S. cataonica and S. pumila are provided.
Reticulocyte hemoglobin content in 13 critically ill patients: a preliminary study
Authors: PRÉFONTAINE GENEVIÈVE , DARVEAU MARTIN , AHNADI CHARAF , LACHANCE PIERRE , LESUR OLIVIER , DROUIN CHRISTINE , LAMARRE PATRICE , VÉZINA CARMEN
Published: March 2009

In the presence of inflammation, iron availability for erythropoiesis is decreased, and hemoglobin production is reduced in reticulocytes. The reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) provides a real picture of bone marrow status and could be useful to evaluate iron metabolism in critically ill patients. We conducted a preliminary study to evaluate the feasibility to measure the CHr in the intensive care units of two university hospitals and to evaluate the impact of C‐reactive protein on CHr values. The CHr was measured in 14 consecutive critically ill patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit between 48 and 96 hours. One patient with a ferritin concentration < 100 µg/L was excluded to eliminate a possible coexistence of iron deficiency with inflammation. A statistically significant correlation was observed between C‐reactive protein concentrations and CHr values (r = −0.588; P = 0.03, n = 13). The results observed in this preliminary study are interesting and could be useful to establish the research protocol for a future study evaluating iron metabolism in critically ill patients. A larger study is feasible and warranted given the results observed in this preliminary study.
Cell volume and membrane stretch independently control K+ channel activity
Authors: Hammami Sofia , Willumsen Niels J. , Olsen Hervør L. , Morera Francisco J. , Latorre Ramón , Klaerke Dan A.
Published: March 2009

A number of potassium channels including members of the KCNQ family and the Ca2+ activated IK and SK, but not BK, are strongly and reversibly regulated by small changes in cell volume. It has been argued that this general regulation is mediated through sensitivity to changes in membrane stretch. To test this hypothesis we have studied the regulation of KCNQ1 and BK channels after expression in Xenopus oocytes. Results from cell‐attached patch clamp studies (∼50 μm2 macropatches) in oocytes expressing BK channels demonstrate that the macroscopic volume‐insensitive BK current increases with increasing negative hydrostatic pressure (suction) applied to the pipette. Thus, at a pipette pressure of −5.0 ± 0.1 mmHg the increase amounted to 381 ± 146% (mean ±s.e.m., n= 6, P < 0.025). In contrast, in oocytes expressing the strongly volume‐sensitive KCNQ1 channel, the current was not affected by membrane stretch. The results indicate that (1) activation of BK channels by local membrane stretch is not mimicked by membrane stress induced by cell swelling, and (2) activation of KCNQ1 channels by cell volume increase is not mediated by local tension in the cell membrane. We conclude that stretch and volume sensitivity can be considered two independent regulatory mechanisms.
Dynamic integration of subplate neurons into the cortical barrel field circuitry during postnatal development in the Golli‐tau‐eGFP (GTE) mouse
Authors: Piñon Maria Carmen , Jethwa Ankeet , Jacobs Erin , Campagnoni Anthony , Molnár Zoltán
Published: March 2009

In the Golli‐tau‐eGFP (GTE) transgenic mouse the reporter gene expression is largely confined to the layer of subplate neurons (SPn), providing an opportunity to study their intracortical and extracortical projections. In this study, we examined the thalamic afferents and layer IV neuron patterning in relation to the SPn neurites in the developing barrel cortex in GTE mouse at ages embryonic day 17 (E17) to postnatal day 14 (P14). Serotonin transporter immunohistochemistry or cytochrome oxydase histochemistry was used to reveal thalamic afferent patterning. Bizbenzimide staining identified the developing cytoarchitecture in coronal and tangential sections of GTE brains. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labelled neurites and thalamic afferents were both initially diffusely present in layer IV but by P4–P6 both assumed the characteristic periphery‐related pattern and became restricted to the barrel hollows. This pattern gradually changed and by P10 the GFP‐labelled neurites largely accumulated at the layer IV–V boundary within the barrel septa whereas thalamic afferents remained in the hollows. To investigate whether this reorganisation is dependent on sensory input, the whiskers of row ‘a’ or ‘c’ were removed at P0 or P5 and the organisation of GFP‐labelled neurites in the barrel cortex was examined at P6 or P10. In the contralateral region corresponding to row ‘a’ or ‘c’ the lack of hollow to septa rearrangement of the GFP‐labelled neurites was observed after P0 row removal at P10 but not at P6. Our findings suggest a dynamic, sensory periphery‐dependent integration of SPn neurites into the primary somatosensory cortex during the period of barrel formation.