bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Undiagnosed Liver Abscesses on Initial Presentation at an Emergency Department
Authors: Liu Kuan‐Ting , Lin Tzeng‐Jih , Lee Chi‐Wei , Chen Hui‐Chuan , Chang Yong‐Yuan
Published: August 2010

Liver abscesses often present with nonspecific symptoms and laboratory examination abnormalities, resulting in missed diagnoses at emergency departments (ED). The purpose of this study was to determine if there are differences in presentation and prognosis between patients in whom liver abscess is diagnosed at an ED or once the patient has been transferred to a ward. Patients with a liver abscess who were discharged from our hospital between 2005 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. We compared the clinical characteristics between patients with liver abscess diagnosed at an ED or in a ward. Patients with liver abscess diagnosed at an ED had more abdominal pain (73.4%vs. 42.9%,p< 0.001), longer duration of symptoms before hospitalization (5.5 daysvs. 3.8 days,p= 0.034) and fewer respiratory tract symptoms (12.5%vs. 24.5%,p= 0.05). Fewer cases with abnormal chest X‐rays also existed for these patients (4.7%vs. 14.7%,p= 0.048). Cases not diagnosed at ED had delayed diagnoses for 4.41 ± 3.16 days. Rates of mortality (6.3%vs. 8.2%,p= 0.740), shock (19.5%vs. 20.4%,p= 0.896), and length of hospital stay (19.6 daysvs. 22.4 days,p= 0.173) were not significantly different between the patients diagnosed at an ED and those diagnosed later in a ward. Most information collected at the ED could not be used to aid diagnosis. Only abdominal pain was highly associated with liver abscess diagnosed at the ED. Undiagnosed liver abscess presented less abdominal pain and more symptoms or examination abnormalities related to infection of the respiratory and urinary tracts. Abdominal sonography should be performed more frequently at EDs to exclude liver abscess from differential diagnosis. However, further diagnosis and treatment while the patient with liver abscess is attending a ward does not affect prognosis.
Clinical, Radiologic and Pathologic Characteristics of the Carney Triad: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Chen Chin‐Fan , Chuang Chieh‐Han , Liu Meng‐Kwan , Hsu Wen‐Hung , Lin Hsiang‐Ju , Hsieh Jan‐Sing
Published: August 2010

This report describes a patient with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage as initial presentations of the Carney triad, a synchronous or metachronous condition involving gastric leiomyosarcoma, extra‐adrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondroma. A 26‐year‐old woman presented with dizziness and several episodes of melena over 3 days. Physical examination revealed pale conjunctiva but normal hemodynamic status. Gastroendoscopy showed one antral submucosal tumor with evidence of an associated bleeder (the bleeder over the mucosal surface of the gastric tumor). An abdominal computed tomography scan showed an antral submucosal tumor, two secondary lesions over segment II/V of the liver and a retroperitoneal tumor. Surgical removal of the tumor and subsequent recovery were uneventful. The gastric GIST with liver metastasis and retroperitoneal paraganglioma were confirmed by pathologic study. The patient was treated with imatinib mesylate for the GIST with liver metastasis, and continued follow‐up treatment at our hospital. An abdominal computed tomography scan at 32 months after surgery showed no change in the liver metastatic lesions and no evidence of local recurrence. Another follow‐up visit at 33 months after surgery confirmed the stable condition. Of nearly 100 cases reported in the literature, this case is the first to be reported in Taiwan. This case highlights the possibility of this rare syndrome occurring in young female patients with one of the three components of the triad and the need for further diagnostic studies for early identification of tumors when curative surgery is still possible.
Castleman's Disease of the Parotid Gland: A Case Report
Authors: Gürbüzler Levent , Ceylan Alper , Yilmaz Metin , Vural Çiğdem
Published: August 2010

Castleman's disease (CD) is a very rare disorder characterized by non‐neoplastic growths in lymph nodes in any body regions, although over 60% of cases are located in the mediastinum. The head and neck is the second most commonly involved site, with up to 14% of cases. Of these, nearly 85% are located in the neck. These lesions rarely occur in the salivary glands. Clinically, CD can be divided into unicentric and multicentric forms. We report an unusual case with unicentric CD presenting as a parotid tumor in a 34‐year‐old woman. The lesion was found coincidentally during routine cranial magnetic resonance imaging in the absence of symptoms such as swelling or a mass in the parotid region.
A Liberal Defense of Black Nationalism
Authors: VALLS ANDREW
Published: August 2010

This article brings together work on liberal political theory and black nationalism in an attempt to both strengthen the case for black nationalism and enrich and extend liberal theory. I begin by arguing that for much of U.S. history, the classical black nationalist case for an independent state finds substantial support in recent liberal theories of secession. In the post–civil rights era, black nationalists in the Black Power movement argued for more limited forms of black autonomy, a position known as “community nationalism.” Community black nationalism makes claims similar to minority nationalist claims for limited self-determination, yet liberal multiculturalists like Will Kymlicka defend the latter while withholding support for black nationalism. I argue that black nationalism raises fundamental issues of justice and that liberal multicultural theory can be extended to support black nationalist claims.
Hurricane Katrina: Five Years After Introduction
Authors: MONTEITH SHARON
Published: August 2010

As long ago as The Other America (1962), Michael Harrington asked, “How long shall we ignore this undeveloped nation in our midst? How long shall we look the other way while our fellow human beings suffer?”1 Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath brought into plain sight the plight of the poor, with Michael Brown, then director of FEMA, admitting sombrely at the Superdome that he was seeing people he never knew existed. The black poor were drawn forcefully into the national consciousness, for a while at least, as they had not been during the 2004 presidential election when it was discovered that many electronic voting machines had not found their way into New Orleans to register the votes of one of the largest blocs of African Americans.
Song of the Goat Theatre: Finding Flow and Connection
Authors: Zubrzycki Anna , Bral Grzegorz
Published: August 2010

Anna Zubrzycki and Grzegorz Bral worked for a number of years with Gardzienice before founding Teatr Pieéń Kozła – Song of the Goat Theatre – in Wrocław in 1996. The conversation that follows took place on 22 June 2009, during Song of the Goat's run of Macbeth, their most recent production. Created in tandem with the Year of Grotowski theatre festival, the ‘World as a Place of Truth’ held in Wrocław on 13–30 June 2009, it was one of a series of meetings, presentations, and performances organized by Joanna Klass of Arden 2 for the US Artists Initiative, a project established in partnership with the Grotowski Institute and the Center for International Theatre Development. Macbeth will be performed at the Barbican Centre in London as part of Song of the Goat's two-month-long British tour of this production in October and November 2010, accompanied by workshops and demonstrations. Its itinerary is Eastleigh (4–9 October), Birmingham (11–15 October), Cambridge (18–23 October), Manchester Metropolitan University (25–30 October), London (3–20 November), and Brighton (21–26 November). This conversation about some of the principles of the company's work was led by Maria Shevtsova, Professor of Drama and Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London, and co-editor of New Theatre Quarterly.
The Golden Mask Festival 2010
Authors: Shevtsova Maria
Published: August 2010

The Golden Mask Performing Arts Festival, established in 1994, held each spring in venues throughout Moscow, features the best productions of the previous season from all performing arts. Maria Shevtsova reports on the edition of 2010.
A Barrage of Coward
Authors: Keeney Patricia , Rubin Don
Published: August 2010

The Shaw Festival, held annually in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, highlights plays from or about Shaw's lifetime. Patricia Keeney and Don Rubin, who teach at York University in Toronto, here report on the 2009 festival.
Exploring Active Tectonics in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Carbó‐Gorosabel A. , Córdoba‐Barbara D. , Martín‐Dávila J. , Granja‐Bruña J. L. , Estrada P. Llanes , Munoz‐Martin A. , Ten Brink U. S.
Published: August 2010

The devastating 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake (M = 7.0), which killed an estimated 230,000 people and caused extensive damage to homes and buildings, drew attention to the crucial need for improved knowledge of the active tectonics of the Caribbean region. But even before this disastrous event, interest in understanding the active and complex northeastern Caribbean plate boundary had been increasing, because this region has experienced significant seismic activity during the past century and has an extensively documented record of historical seismicity and tsunamis. Moreover, this is an easily accessible region in which to study the continuity of seismic faults offshore and to try to understand the transitions between strike‐slip and convergent tectonic regimes. Interest in the region has led to several studies that have improved scientists' knowledge of subduction zone tectonics and earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments [Mann et al., 2002; ten Brink et al., 2006, 2009; Grindlay et al., 2005; Manaker et al., 2008; Granja Bruña et al., 2009; Mondziel et al., 2010].
Report on Climate Stabilization Targets Lays Out Potential Impacts
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: August 2010

Emissions reduction choices made today are critical in determining impacts that will be experienced not just during the next several decades but also over the coming centuries and millennia, due to the long atmospheric lifetime of carbon dioxide (CO2) and time lags in the climate system. This is according to a new report on climate change that attempts to quantify the outcomes of different stabilization targets for greenhouse gas concentrations.

The report, “Climate stabilization targets: Emissions, concentrations, and impacts over decades to millennia,” released on 16 July by a committee of the U.S. National Research Council, indicates that “the Earth is now entering a new geological epoch, sometimes called the Anthropocene, during which the evolution of the planet's environment will be largely controlled by the effects of human activities, notably emissions of carbon dioxide. Actions taken during this century will determine whether the Anthropocene climate anomaly will be a relatively short term and minor deviation from the Holocene climate, or an extreme deviation extending over many thousands of years.”
Strategic Plan Approved by Council
Authors: McPhaden Michael J.
Published: August 2010

The AGU Council adopted our new Strategic Plan on 7 June 2010 in Washington, D.C.

In the past, we tied our planning activities to the 2‐year horizon of elected leadership terms. Our focus was on near‐term objectives with a 1‐ to 2‐year outlook. Planning was heavily driven by headquarters, and participation was limited to a few people.
Turbulent bottom Ekman boundary layer measured over a continental shelf
Authors: Yoshikawa Y. , Endoh T. , Matsuno T. , Wagawa T. , Tsutsumi E. , Yoshimura H. , Morii Y.
Published: August 2010

An acoustic Doppler current profiler was deployed in summer and autumn in 2007–2009 at two stations on the East China Sea shelf. Clear velocity spirals that basically correspond to theoretical Ekman spirals were identified for both mean and tidal currents. From these spirals and the corresponding Ekman equation, we estimated the time‐averaged eddy viscosity (μ) profiles. The estimated μ was largest (2–3 × 10−3 m2 s−1) around 5 m from the bottom and decreased almost exponentially with height. A qualitatively similar profile of the eddy diffusivity was also inferred from the acoustic Doppler current profiler data and microstructure profiler data. The flux Richardson number was estimated as 0.11 ± 0.10 ∼ 0.46 ± 0.17, indicating relatively large buoyancy contribution to the turbulent kinetic energy budget.
Similarities and Differences in Arterial Responses to Hypercapnia and Visual Stimulation
Authors: Ho Yi-Ching Lynn , Petersen Esben Thade , Zimine Ivan , Golay Xavier
Published: August 2010

Despite the different origins of cerebrovascular activity induced by neurogenic and nonneurogenic conditions, a standard assumption in functional studies is that the consequence on the vascular system will be mechanically similar. Using a recently developed arterial spin labeling method, we examined arterial blood volume, arterial-microvascular transit time, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the gray matter and in areas with large arterial vessels under hypercapnia, visual stimulation, and a combination of the two. Spatial heterogeneity in arterial reactivity was observed between conditions. During hypercapnia, large arterial volume changes contributed to CBF increase and further downstream, there were reductions in the gray matter transit time. These changes were not significant during visual stimulation, and during the combined condition they were moderated. These findings suggest distinct vascular mechanisms for large and small arterial segments that may be condition specific. However, the power relationships between gray matter arterial blood volume and CBF in hypercapnia (α = 0.69 ± 0.24) and visual stimulation (α = 0.68 ± 0.20) were similar. Assuming consistent capillary and venous volume responses across these conditions, these results offer support for a consistent total CBV–flow relationship typically assumed in blood oxygen-level dependent calibration techniques.
Characterization of the kaurene oxidase CYP701A3, a multifunctional cytochrome P450 from gibberellin biosynthesis
Authors: Morrone Dana , Chen Xiaoming , Coates Robert M. , Peters Reuben J.
Published: August 2010

KO (kaurene oxidase) is a multifunctional cytochrome P450 catalysing three sequential oxidations in gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis. These serve to transform the C4α methyl of the ent-kaurene olefin intermediate into the carboxylic acid moiety of ent-kauren-19-oic acid. To investigate the unknown catalytic mechanism and properties of KO, we have engineered the corresponding CYP701A3 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtKO) for functional recombinant expression in Escherichia coli, involving use of a fully codon-optimized construct, along with additional N-terminal deletion and modification. This recombinant AtKO (rAtKO) was used to carry out 18O2 labelling studies with ent-kaurene, and the intermediates ent-kaurenol and ent-kaurenal, to investigate the multifunctional reaction sequence; revealing catalysis of three hydroxylation reactions, which further requires dehydration at some stage. Accordingly, following initial hydroxylation, ent-kaurenol must then be further hydroxylated to a gem-diol intermediate, and our data indicate that the subsequent reactions proceed via dehydration of the gem-diol to ent-kaurenal, followed by an additional hydroxylation to directly form ent-kaurenoic acid. Kinetic analysis indicates that these intermediates are all retained in the active site during the course of the reaction series, with the first hydroxylation being rate-limiting. In addition, investigation of alternative substrates demonstrated that ent-beyerene, which differs in ring structure distal to the C4α methyl, is only hydroxylated by rAtKO, indicating the importance of the exact tetracyclic ring structure of kaurane for multifunctional KO activity. Thus the results of the present study clarify the reaction sequence and enzymatic mechanism of KO, as well as substrate features critical for the catalysed multiple reaction sequence.
Articulatory-to-Acoustic Relations in Response to Speaking Rate and Loudness Manipulations
Authors: Mefferd Antje S. , Green Jordan R.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In this investigation, the authors determined the strength of association between tongue kinematic and speech acoustics changes in response to speaking rate and loudness manipulations. Performance changes in the kinematic and acoustic domains were measured using two aspects of speech production presumably affecting speech clarity: phonetic specification and variability.

Method

Tongue movements for the vowels /ia/ were recorded in 10 healthy adults during habitual, fast, slow, and loud speech using three-dimensional electromagnetic articulography. To determine articulatory-to-acoustic relations for phonetic specification, the authors correlated changes in lingual displacement with changes in acoustic vowel distance. To determine articulatory-to-acoustic relations for phonetic variability, the authors correlated changes in lingual movement variability with changes in formant movement variability.

Results

A significant positive linear association was found for kinematic and acoustic specification but not for kinematic and acoustic variability. Several significant speaking task effects were also observed.

Conclusion

Lingual displacement is a good predictor of acoustic vowel distance in healthy talkers. The weak association between kinematic and acoustic variability raises questions regarding the effects of articulatory variability on speech clarity and intelligibility, particularly in individuals with motor speech disorders.
Nebulized Isotonic Saline Versus Water Following a Laryngeal Desiccation Challenge in Classically Trained Sopranos
Authors: Tanner Kristine , Roy Nelson , Merrill Ray M. , Muntz Faye , Houtz Daniel R. , Sauder Cara , Elstad Mark , Wright-Costa Julie
Published: August 2010

Purpose

To examine the effects of nebulized isotonic saline (IS) versus sterile water (SW) on self-perceived phonatory effort (PPE) and phonation threshold pressure (PTP) following a surface laryngeal dehydration challenge in classically trained sopranos.

Method

In a double-blind, within-subject crossover design, 34 sopranos breathed dry air (relative humidity < 1%) transorally for 15 min and then nebulized 3 mL of IS or SW, or experienced a no-treatment control condition over 3 consecutive weeks. PPE and PTP were measured every 15 min from baseline through 2 hr postdesiccation.

Results

PPE increased significantly following the laryngeal desiccation challenge in all 3 treatment conditions (
p
< .01). After nebulization, PPE returned to baseline for the IS condition only. For the SW and control conditions, PPE remained above baseline during the 2 hr after desiccation. No statistically significant changes in PTP following laryngeal desiccation were observed, although values for the IS condition remained below baseline for nearly 2 hr after nebulization. PPE and PTP were not significantly correlated.

Conclusions

Following a laryngeal surface dehydration challenge, classically trained sopranos reported increased vocal effort that persisted for at least 2 hr. Compared with SW, nebulized IS showed promise as an effective way to remediate the adverse, self-perceived effects of laryngeal desiccation.
Automated Measurement of Vocal Fold Vibratory Asymmetry From High-Speed Videoendoscopy Recordings
Authors: Mehta Daryush D. , Deliyski Dimitar D. , Quatieri Thomas F. , Hillman Robert E.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In prior work, a manually derived measure of vocal fold vibratory phase asymmetry correlated to varying degrees with visual judgments made from laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) recordings. This investigation extended this work by establishing an automated HSV-based framework to quantify 3 categories of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry.

Method

HSV-based analysis provided for cycle-to-cycle estimates of left–right phase asymmetry, left–right amplitude asymmetry, and axis shift during glottal closure for 52 speakers with no vocal pathology producing comfortable and pressed phonation. An initial cross-validation of the automated left–right phase asymmetry measure was performed by correlating the measure with other objective and subjective assessments of phase asymmetry.

Results

Vocal fold vibratory asymmetry was exhibited to a similar extent in both comfortable and pressed phonations. The automated measure of left–right phase asymmetry strongly correlated with manually derived measures and moderately correlated with visual–perceptual ratings. Correlations with the visual–perceptual ratings remained relatively consistent as the automated measure was derived from kymograms taken at different glottal locations.

Conclusions

An automated HSV-based framework for the quantification of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry was developed and initially validated. This framework serves as a platform for investigating relationships between vocal fold tissue motion and acoustic measures of voice function.
Conserved vertebrate
mir-451
provides a platform for Dicer-independent, Ago2-mediated microRNA biogenesis
Authors: Yang Jr-Shiuan , Maurin Thomas , Robine Nicolas , Rasmussen Kasper D. , Jeffrey Kate L. , Chandwani Rohit , Papapetrou Eirini P. , Sadelain Michel , O'Carroll Dónal , Lai Eric C.
Published: August 2010

Canonical animal microRNAs (miRNAs) are generated by sequential cleavage of precursor substrates by the Drosha and Dicer RNase III enzymes. Several variant pathways exploit other RNA metabolic activities to generate functional miRNAs. However, all of these pathways culminate in Dicer cleavage, suggesting that this is a unifying feature of miRNA biogenesis. Here, we show that maturation of miR-451, a functional miRNA that is perfectly conserved among vertebrates, is independent of Dicer. Instead, structure-function and knockdown studies indicate that Drosha generates a short
pre-mir-451
hairpin that is directly cleaved by Ago2 and followed by resection of its 3′ terminus. We provide stringent evidence for this model by showing that
Dicer
knockout cells can generate mature miR-451 but not other miRNAs, whereas
Ago2
knockout cells reconstituted with wild-type Ago2, but not Slicer-deficient Ago2, can process miR-451. Finally, we show that the
mir-451
backbone is amenable to reprogramming, permitting vector-driven expression of diverse functional miRNAs in the absence of Dicer. Beyond the demonstration of an alternative strategy to direct gene silencing, these observations open the way for transgenic rescue of
Dicer
conditional knockouts.
Decisions, ideas and text clouds
Authors: Souto Virginia Tiradentes
Published: August 2010

Text clouds or tag clouds are increasingly common on the Internet nowadays. They normally indicate the words and ideas most used in a specific situation. The power of this design tool to help users make decisions seems as yet little researched. Emphasis on the main words through the use of font-size differences can change the way people read and search for information on the web. This simple visual way of showing ideas is discussed in this paper. The paper describes case studies and presents findings of empirical tests conducted on the effectiveness of text clouds.
Patterns that connect: The value of mapping complex data networks
Authors: Kahn Paul
Published: August 2010

Isometric overview diagrams can be used to synthesize and present complex information in a form similar to a geographic atlas. Given the pattern and shape of a geographic boundary, the reader can understand a variety of information – natural resources, population, historical events – superimposed on the underlying pattern. In the same way, information about complex data networks can be represented in a series of isometric diagrams superimposed on a similar pattern.
Going green at home: The Green Machine
Authors: Marcus Aaron , Jean Jérémie
Published: August 2010

A global challenge for the 21st century is to find a sustainable way of life. The Green movement has helped to increase people’s awareness of sustainability issues and propelled development of innovative products to help decrease our ecological footprint. Smart Grid applications, which enable users to monitor their household’s energy consumption, are one of these innovative products. Critical data visualization helps to build awareness, but does not result automatically in effecting behavioral changes, which are required to ensure the Earth’s future and survival. The question then shifts to how exactly to motivate, persuade, educate, and lead people to reduce their household energy consumption. Our study proposes to research and analyze different powerful ways to improve “green behavior” by persuading and motivating people to reduce their household’s energy consumption through a mobile phone application we call the “Green Machine.” We have designed and tested a prototype that is based on behavioral change-process issues-analysis to persuade people to “go green.” This article explains the development of the Green Machine user interface, information design, and information visualization.
Creativity in interpreting
Authors: Horváth Ildikó
Published: August 2010

The objective of this paper is to examine how the findings of psychological research concerning creativity can be explored within the framework of interpreting studies. I will begin by reviewing the literature on the psychology of creativity, followed by the presentation and analysis of an empirical survey. Finally, I will suggest that creativity in interpreting can be examined on three levels, depending on the aspect we are focusing on: (1) the products; (2) mental processes; or (3) the behaviour of the interpreter. In the first case, the primary object is the product, while in the second and third, it is the process. What makes interpreting a special area of study in terms of creativity is not only the creative nature of the mental processes involved, but also, and perhaps even primarily, the creativity required of interpreters in terms of their professional behaviour in a communicational situation, where they are present but in which they are not natural participants.
Interpreter-mediated scriptures
Authors: Karlik Jill
Published: August 2010

There has been little empirical research into the practice of interpreter mediation of biblical discourse by natural (untrained) interpreters. As a contribution to this under-researched field, this paper first describes the sociolinguistic setting, the attitudes of participants, and the modes in use — short-segment consecutive and sight interpreting — in a group of Gambian churches where biblical discourse is rendered from English into Manjaku, the language of an immigrant community. Little is understood of the processes by which untrained bilinguals gain recognition in their communities as gifted interpreters. To address this issue, the paper investigates the interpreters’ performances for evidence of audience design, with particular attention to the output of two experienced and respected interpreters in the group. The findings indicate that they interpret biblical discourse in a highly communicative and persuasive manner, accommodating to audience expectations; and that they show a strong sense of responsibility to convey source text meanings faithfully, which is also expected of them by their audiences, though this is not always achieved with the same degree of success. Some suggestions are made for training at the level of fidelity.
The lexicon in writing–speech-differentiation
Authors: Berman Ruth A. , Nir Bracha
Published: August 2010

The study analyzed text-embedded lexical usage as diagnostic of writing-speech-distinctions in stories and discussions produced in the two modalities by English-speaking grade-school children, middle-school pre-adolescents, high-school adolescents, and adults. We assumed that (1) while children master writing as a notational system by age 9 to 10 years, command of written language as a special style of discourse has a long developmental trajectory, and (2) distinct processing constraints and communicative circumstances combine to affect texts produced in the two modalities. Across the board, written texts scored higher than their spoken counterparts produced by the same participants on all five measures that we applied — Word Length, Register, Density, Diversity, and Abstractness — reflecting a more elevated and carefully monitored style of expression. With regard to development, high school students emerged as distinct from the two younger groups, demonstrating adolescence as a developmental watershed in discourse-embedded lexical usage as in other domains of text construction. When task order (written texts produced before or after spoken ones, respectively) is taken into account, however, a more complex, multi-faceted picture emerges with respect to the variables of age, specific lexical measure, and order effects.
The growth of the written lexicon in Catalan
Authors: Tolchinsky Liliana , Martí Maria Antònia , Llaurado Anna
Published: August 2010

The lexicon, a complex storage device of units of language use, is a central component of linguistic knowledge closely tied to grammar and has a strong influence on demanding cognitive tasks and academic achievement. This study aims at tracking the growth of the Catalan written lexicon of children and adolescents throughout compulsory schooling, a time when the lexicon is assumed to experience an exponential growth. 2,436 participants from 5 to 16 years attending compulsory school in Catalonia took part in the study. They were asked to write as many linguistic expressions as possible in five different semantic fields: Food, Clothing, Leisure activities, Personality traits, and Natural phenomena. Although both the task and the provided examples primed the production of single words, participants produced a variety of constructions. The 242,404 lexical forms that were produced were lemmatized into 8,498 different lemmas and coded according to different linguistic dimensions. The size and the conceptual underpinning of the lexicon grow significantly throughout compulsory school and show an increase in the use of correct Catalan forms, a reduction in deviant forms, and a steady use of words and constructions in other languages. The use of multiword constructions as a mechanism for word generation questions the separability between lexicon and syntax. The corpus, which is of public access (http://clic.ub.edu/es/cesca), provides a picture of the state of a language developing in a multilingual environment in terms of frequency of use of words and constructions and range of orthographic and linguistic variants in five semantic fields.
Inhibitory Effects of Antioxidant Reagent in Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Penetration of Appressoria of Alternaria alternata Japanese Pear Pathotype
Authors: Hyon Gang-Su , Ikeda Ken-ichi , Hosogi Naoki , Shinogi Takeshi , Park Pyoyun
Published: August 2010

In the Japanese pear pathotype of Alternaria alternata, H2O2 is generated solely from penetration pegs and not from other portions of subcuticular hyphae within the pectin layers of host leaves. A close association between H2O2 generation and fungal aggressiveness is expected because the pegs are important for fungal penetration into the host epidermis. To determine the potential role of reactive oxygen species in microbial pathogenicity, we studied the inhibitory effects of the antioxidant reagent ascorbic acid and the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium on infection of the pathogen. In our study, we showed H2O2 generation to be inhibited by inoculation with the mixture of ascorbic acid or diphenylene iodonium and spores at the pegs in the spore-inoculated host leaves. The decrease of generation in the pegs resulted in penetration failure, indicating that H2O2 generation probably contributed to strengthening of the penetration and probably was recruited by NADPH oxidase.
Mass Spectrometric Analysis Reveals Remnants of Host–Pathogen Molecular Interactions at the Starch Granule Surface in Wheat Endosperm
Authors: Wall Michael L. , Wheeler Heather L. , Smith Jeffrey , Figeys Daniel , Altosaar Illimar
Published: August 2010

The starch granules of wheat seed are solar energy-driven deposits of fixed carbon and, as such, present themselves as targets of pathogen attack. The seed's array of antimicrobial proteins, peptides, and small molecules comprises a molecular defense against penetrating pathogens. In turn, pathogens exhibit an arsenal of enzymes to facilitate the degradation of the host's endosperm. In this context, the starch granule surface is a relatively unexplored domain in which unique molecular barriers may be deployed to defend against and inhibit the late stages of infection. Therefore, it was compelling to explore the starch granule surface in mature wheat seed, which revealed evidence of host–pathogen molecular interactions that may have occurred during grain development. In this study, starch granules from the soft wheat Triticum aestivum cv. AC Andrew and hard wheat T. turgidum durum were isolated and water washed 20 times, and their surface proteins were digested in situ with trypsin. The peptides liberated into the supernatant and the peptides remaining at the starch granule surface were separately examined. In this way, we demonstrated that the identified proteins have a strong affinity for the starch granule surface. Proteins with known antimicrobial activity were identified, as well as several proteins from the plant pathogens Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Fusarium graminearum, Magnaporthe grisea, Xanthomonas axonopodis, and X. oryzae. Although most of these peptides corresponded to uncharacterized hypothetical proteins of fungal pathogens, several peptide fragments were identical to cytosolic and membrane proteins of specific microbial pathogens. During development and maturation, wheat seed appeared to have resisted infection and lysed the pathogens where, upon desiccation, the molecular evidence remained fixed at the starch granule surface.
Characterization of a Novel Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Protein from Virus-Infected Helminthosporium (Cochliobolus) victoriae
Authors: de Sá Patricia B. , Havens Wendy M. , Ghabrial Said A.
Published: August 2010

A broad-spectrum anti-fungal protein of ≈10 kDa, designated victoriocin, was purified from culture filtrates of a virus-infected isolate of the plant-pathogenic fungus Helminthosporium victoriae (teleomorph: Cochliobolus victoriae) by a multistep procedure involving ultrafiltration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Amino acid sequences, obtained by automated Edman degradation sequencing of RP-HPLC-purified victoriocin-derived peptides, were used to design primers for degenerate oligonucleotide-primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR) amplification from H. victoriae DNA and cDNA templates. An open reading frame coding for a victoriocin precursor of 183 amino acids with calculated molecular mass of ≈20 kDa was amplified by PCR from H. victoriae genomic DNA but not from the control fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Southern hybridization analysis confirmed the presence of the victoriocin gene in all H. victoriae strains tested. Sequence analysis indicated that victoriocin has a sequence motif similar to that found in scorpion short toxin/charybdotoxin and a consensus sequence similar to that found in defensins. Victoriocin, like some other antifungal proteins, including the totivirus-encoded killer proteins, is predicted to be expressed in vivo as a preprotoxin precursor consisting of a hydrophobic N-terminal secretion signal followed by a pro-region and terminating in a classical Kex2p endopeptidase cleavage site that generates the N terminus of the mature victoriocin. A putative cell wall protein of ≈30 kDa (P30) co-purified with victoriocin from cultural filtrates. The potential role of P30 in the antifungal activity of H. victoriae culture filtrates is discussed.
Variation and Transgression of Aggressiveness Among Two Gibberella zeae Crosses Developed from Highly Aggressive Parental Isolates
Authors: Voss Hans-Henning , Bowden Robert L. , Leslie John F. , Miedaner Thomas
Published: August 2010

Gibberella zeae (anamorph: Fusarium graminearum) is the most common cause of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. Aggressiveness is the most important fungal trait affecting disease severity and stability of host resistance. Objectives were to analyze in two field experiments (i) segregation for aggressiveness among 120 progenies from each of two crosses of highly aggressive parents and (ii) stability of FHB resistance of seven moderately to highly resistant winter wheat cultivars against isolates varying for aggressiveness. Aggressiveness was measured as FHB severity per plot, Fusarium exoantigen absorbance, and deoxynivalenol content. In the first experiment, mean FHB ratings were 20 to 49% across environments and progeny. Significant genotypic variation was detected in both crosses (P < 0.01). Isolate–environment interaction explained approximately half of the total variance. Two transgressive segregants were found in cross B across environments. Traits were significantly (P < 0.05) intercorrelated. In the second experiment, despite significant (P < 0.05) genotypic variance for cultivar and isolate, no significant (P > 0.05) interaction was observed for any trait. In conclusion, progeny of highly aggressive parents might exhibit increased aggressiveness due to recombination and may, therefore, adapt nonspecifically to increased quantitative host resistance.
On the Cuticles of some Recent and Fossil Myrtaceæ
Authors: Bandulska Helena
Published: August 2010

There is a strong family resemblance between the cuticles of Rhodomyrtus and Tristania, but the latter more frequently has isodiametric stomata and a larger number of narrow and very distinctive girdling cells encircling the guard-cells. There is, moreover, relatively less parenchyma and there are more stomata per unit of area in Tristania than in Rhodomyrtus. The presence of two genera belonging to such a typical Southern Hemisphere family as the Myrtaceae in the Eocene of Bournemouth is a point of some interest. This investigation is not, however, the first to demonstrate their presence in Europe, for Mrs. Reid (1930) has described fruits and seeds of Rhodomyrtus from Tertiary beds of St. Tudy, Finistère, and the latter flora is also regarded as of Eocene age.

A cluster of fruits referred to Tristanites by Saporta has been found in the Oligocene of France. He also figures a leaf, and points out that, though its connection with the fruiting branch is doubtful, it agrees in form and venation with the recent genus Tristania. Schenk referring to the fossil fruits described by Saporta says that as far as one can judge from their external characters they show decided relationship to the Myrtaceæ. I know of no other fossil records of these genera except of two species of Tristanites recorded by Deane from the Miocene flora of Berwick, Australia.
Studies in the Australian Acacias—I. General Introduction*
Authors: Newman I. V.
Published: August 2010

In the studies to which this paper is an introduction, the genus Acacia (‘Wattles’, in Australia) will be carefully revised, the aim being to establish a phylogenetic classification of the genus as it occurs in Australia.

Previous classifications are regarded as too static in conception. These Studies will seek to develop a kinetic conception.

Features of the genus have a bearing on the theories of carpel polymorphism (Saunders), phylloclade legume (Thompson), leaf forms (Zimmermann).

The position of the genus Acacia in the Leguminosae is briefly reviewed.

The existing classification of the genus is found to be usually made with foliar or other vegetative features as the first principle of division. This is regarded as unsatisfactory.

The contemporary and geological distribution of the genus is briefly reviewed.

The variety of the habit of the genus, the recapitulatory features of the seedlings, and the common morphological features are referred to.

An attempt is made to formulate a phylogenetic classification, based on the relationships of the flower-groups in the inflorescence as the first principle of division, on the relationships of the flowers in the flower-groups as the second principle of division, and on the foliar character as the third principle of division. The theoretical considerations underlying this scheme are presented, together with some already-known phenomena of the genus which support it. The scheme explains the occurrence of difficulties experienced in placing species in existing classifications.

There is given a list of species selected for examination.
A revision of Lobostemon Lehm., and a discussion of the Species Problem
Authors: Levyns Margaret R.
Published: August 2010

The previous accounts of the genus Lobostemon are shown to be inadequate, and a complete revision has been made. A small genus Echiostachys is separated from Lobostemon on floral and vegetative features. A more precise definition of Lobostemon is given, and it is shown that the so-called Lobostemons of Tropical Africa have no claim to inclusion in the genus, which is purely South African. Lobostemon is subdivided into five well-marked sections, the characters of which are given. While the sections may be easily recognised, many of the species show ill-defined boundaries. A cytological investigation of half the species of Lobostemon and all the species of Echiostachys has been made. The basic number of chromosomes is seven in both genera. The species problem is discussed, and it is shown that Vavilov's Law of Homologous Series in Variation is applicable here. Detailed descriptions of the two genera and the species are given, together with their synonomy. Herbarium specimens are cited under each species. Keys to the species are given.
Seroepidemiological study of retroviruses (HTLV‐I/II, HIV‐1, HIV‐2) in the Department of Atacora, Northern Benin
Authors: Houinato D. , Verdier M. , Josse R. , Zohoun T. , Letenneur L. , Salamon R. , Denis F. , Preux P. M.
Published: August 2010

A seroepidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of retrovirus infection (HTLV‐I/II, HIV‐I, HIV‐2) by representative sampling of the general population in the Department of Atacora in north‐western Benin is reported. The seroprevalence rate of HTLV‐I in this sample was at 1.86% (95% CI 1.20–2.52%). This is in agreement with prevalence rates reported from neighbouring countries of the sub‐region. No sera were found positive for HTLV‐II. Seropositivity to HIV‐I was 0.3%; HIV‐2 seropositivity was not encountered.
High HIV seroprevalence among patients with pyomyositis in Northern Uganda
Authors: Ansaloni L. , Acaye G. L. , Re M. C.
Published: August 2010

With the aim of correlating pyomyositis with HIV infection, we have carried out a case‐control comparison of HIV seroprevalence among patients affected by pyomyositis and an age and sex‐matched control group of healthy subjects. Over a one‐year period, 35 patients with pyomyositis, 20 male and 15 female, mean age 28.31 years, were admitted to Dr Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital of Kalongo (Kitgum District, Northern Uganda). Among these patients, II were HIV‐antibody‐positive, with a seroprevalence of 31.42%. In the age and sex‐matched control group of 35 healthy subjects, selected in the same period from volunteers admitted to the surgical ward for orthopaedic trauma, two were HIV‐antibody‐positive, with a seroprevalence of 5.71%. The matched analysis produced a Mantel‐Haenszel matched odds ratio of 5.50 and a maximum likelihood estimate of OR (MLE) of 5.50 (exact 95% confidence limits for MLE=1.20<OR<51.07). Among the II HIV‐seropositive patients, 9 (81.8%) fulfilled the World Health Organization (WHO) clinical case definition (CCD) for AIDS, compared with 1 of twenty‐four (4.1%) HIV‐negatives. The chi‐square test for difference in fulfilling the CCD for AIDS between patients with pyomyositis seropositive and seronegative gave a statistically significant result (P<0.0001). The authors conclude that pyomyositis is a bacterial infection very significantly associated with HIV infection, to be considered a strong sign of stage III–IV of HIV disease.
Plasma quinine concentrations in falciparum malaria with acute renal failure
Authors: Sukontason K. , Karbwang J. , Rimchala W. , Tin T. , Na‐Bangchang K. , Banmairuroi V. , Bunnag D.
Published: August 2010

Plasma quinine (Qn) monitoring was performed in 32 patients with severe falciparum malaria (10 with acute renal failure (ARF) and 22 with other severe manifestations) who were treated with the standard regimen of 10 mg/kg body weight Qn dihydrochloride, with a loading dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. Median plasma Qn concentrations prior to the first dose on each day were approximately 10–30% higher in ARF patients than in non‐ARF patients during acute infection. Seven patients underwent haemodialysis; 2 died after 2 cycles. There were no significant changes in plasma Qn concentrations in patients with ARF during haemodialysis. No Qn was detectable in haemodialysate fluids. This suggests that dosage adjustment of Qn during haemodialysis is unnecessary. Cardiotoxity of Qn must be of concern in malaria patients with ARF after 3 days of Qn therapy, and ECG monitoring during Qn infusion is recommended in all severe malaria patients with persistent ARF. If there is any arrhythmia, the infusion should be discontinued. However, in some hospitals where ECG facilities are not available, reduction in Qn dosage in persistent ARF patients should be considered after the third day of therapy. The appropriate dosage reduction should be further studied. Monitoring of total plasma Qn concentrations (which has been used routinely) is of no value for predicting the cardiotoxicity in ARF patients; monitoring of free Qn would be more appropriate. However, ECG seems to be the practical procedure to monitor cardiotoxicity of Qn. It may be possible to use the QTc interval to estimate the Qn concentration in severe malaria patients without ARF, but not in patients with persistent ARF.
Topical chemotherapy for experimental murine African CNS‐trypanosomiasis: the successful use of the arsenical, melarsoprol, combined with the 5‐nitroimidazoles, fexinidazole or MK‐436
Authors: Jennings F. W. , Atouguia J. M. , Murray M.
Published: August 2010

The 5‐nitroimidazoles, MK‐436 and fexinidazole dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide can be converted by the addition of hydroxypropylcellulose into gels which facilitates the ease and accuracy of administration. When these gels are used in combination with melarsoprol gel they are capable of curing experimental murine CNS‐trypanosomiasis with a one‐day treatment. The use of melarsoprol/MK‐436 was more efficient than melarsoprol/fexinidazole gels. Thus while a single treatment with 0.1 ml 3.6% melarsoprol gel with 0.1 ml (14.3 μmol) fexinidazole gel cured the infected mice, the same dose of melarsoprol gel with 0.1 ml (4.0 μmol) of MK‐436 gel was equally effective. It was also possible to prepare a combined melarsoprol/MK‐436 gel which cured experimental CNS‐trypanosomiasis with a single treatment. Topical treatment with this melarsoprol/MK‐436 gel mixture also resolved clinically the hind leg paralysis which is associated with post‐treatment reactive encephalopathy caused by non‐curative treatment of CNS‐trypanosomiasis.