bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A shrinkage‐based comparative assessment of observed‐to‐expected disproportionality measures
Authors: Gipson Geoffrey
Published: January 2012

Purpose

Disproportionality analysis is an important tool for interpreting spontaneous adverse event reports in pharmacovigilance. There exist a variety of disproportionality measures (DPMs) for use in safety signaling; however, it is not always clear which method is best suited for a particular need. A framework for comparing the various DPMs is necessary to fully understand the consequences of quantitative signal detection implementation decisions. Here, the mathematical relationship between these measures is explored through a comparison of the underlying equations and a shrinkage approach is adopted to further clarify these relationships.

Methods

Many DPMs take the form of a ratio of the number of observed (O) cases and the number of expected (E) cases (i.e.,O/E). BecauseOis unchanged by the method selected, the method‐specificE(EDPM) is the fundamental difference between the values produced by these DPMs. Clarification of the relationship between these DPMs is pursued through the use of a shrinkage parameter (s).

Results

It is demonstrated that any arbitrary DPM, which can be defined asO/EDPM, can also be expressed as a function of the reporting odds ratio (ROR) ands. This common equation allows for a straightforward comparison of the varying methods and the ability to clearly characterize the approaches according to their relative signal detection performance irrespective of the specific dataset to which the methods are applied. A novel DPM, the independent reporting ratio (IRR), provides an example of how the described framework can improve our understanding of disproportionality analyses and lead to the development of new methods.

Conclusions

Explicitly defining DPMs as RORs with applied shrinkage provides a convenient method for understanding their relative signal detection performance and insight into the relative contributions to DPM shrinkage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution‐processed Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 absorber yielding a 15.2% efficient solar cell
Authors: Todorov Teodor K. , Gunawan Oki , Gokmen Tayfun , Mitzi David B.
Published: January 2012

The remarkable potential for inexpensive upscale of solution processing technologies is expected to enable chalcogenide‐based photovoltaic systems to become more widely adopted to meet worldwide energy needs. Here, we report a thin‐film solar cell with solution‐processed Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS) absorber. The power conversion efficiency of 15.2% is the highest published value for a pure solution deposition technique for any photovoltaic absorber material and is on par with the best nonvacuum‐processed CIGS devices. We compare the performance of our cell with a world champion vacuum‐deposited CIGS cell and perform detailed characterization, such as biased quantum efficiency, temperature‐dependent electrical measurement, time‐resolved photoluminescence, and capacitance spectroscopy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Translational Proteomics in Neurodegenerative Diseases – 16th HUPO BPP Workshop September 5, 2011, Geneva, Switzerland
Authors: Gröttrup Bernd , Böckmann Miriam , Stephan Christian , Marcus Katrin , Grinberg Lea T. , Meyer Helmut E. , Park Young Mok
Published: January 2012

The HUPO Brain Proteome Project (HUPO BPP) held its 16th workshop in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 5, 2011 during the 10th HUPO World Congress. The focus was on launching the Human Brain Proteome Atlas as well as ideas, strategies and methodological aspects in clinical neuroproteomics.
Goal adjustment, physical and sedentary activity, and well‐being and health among breast cancer survivors
Authors: Wrosch Carsten , Sabiston Catherine M.
Published: January 2012

Objective

This longitudinal study examined whether goal adjustment capacities (i.e., goal disengagement and goal reengagement) would predict breast cancer survivors' emotional well‐being and physical health by facilitating high levels of physical activity and low levels of sedentary activity.

Methods

Self‐reports of goal adjustment capacities were measured among 176 female breast cancer survivors at baseline. Self‐reports of physical activity, sedentary activity, daily affect, and daily physical health symptoms (e.g., nausea or pain) were measured at baseline and 3‐month follow‐up.

Results

Goal reengagement predicted high levels of positive affect and low levels of physical symptoms at baseline and increases in positive affect over 3 months. The combination of high goal disengagement and high goal reengagement was associated with particularly large 3‐month increases in positive affect. The effects of goal reengagement on baseline affect and physical health were mediated by high baseline levels of physical activity, and the interaction effect on 3‐month changes in positive affect was mediated by low baseline levels of sedentary activity.

Conclusions

Goal adjustment capacities can exert beneficial effects on breast cancer survivors' well‐being and physical health by facilitating adaptive levels of physical and sedentary activity. Integrating goal adjustment processes into clinical practice may be warranted. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maternal smoking during pregnancy, prematurity and recurrent wheezing in early childhood
Authors: Robison Rachel G. , Kumar Rajesh , Arguelles Lester M. , Hong Xiumei , Wang Guoying , Apollon Stephanie , Bonzagni Anthony , Ortiz Kathryn , Pearson Colleen , Pongracic Jacqueline A. , Wang Xiaobin
Published: January 2012

Background

Prenatal maternal smoking and prematurity independently affect wheezing and asthma in childhood.

Objective

We sought to evaluate the interactive effects of maternal smoking and prematurity upon the development of early childhood wheezing.

Methods

We evaluated 1,448 children with smoke exposure data from a prospective urban birth cohort in Boston. Maternal antenatal and postnatal exposure was determined from standardized questionnaires. Gestational age was assessed by the first day of the last menstrual period and early prenatal ultrasound (preterm < 37 weeks gestation). Wheezing episodes were determined from medical record extraction of well and ill/unscheduled visits. The primary outcome was recurrent wheezing, defined as ≥ 4 episodes of physician documented wheezing. Logistic regression models and zero inflated negative binomial regression (for number of episodes of wheeze) assessed the independent and joint association of prematurity and maternal antenatal smoking on recurrent wheeze, controlling for relevant covariates.

Results

In the cohort, 90 (6%) children had recurrent wheezing, 147 (10%) were exposed to in utero maternal smoke and 419 (29%) were premature. Prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–3.1) was associated with an increased risk of recurrent wheezing, but in utero maternal smoking was not (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.5–2.4). Jointly, maternal smoke exposure and prematurity caused an increased risk of recurrent wheezing (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.8–8.0). There was an interaction between prematurity and maternal smoking upon episodes of wheezing (P = 0.049).

Conclusions

We demonstrated an interaction between maternal smoking during pregnancy and prematurity on childhood wheezing in this urban, multiethnic birth cohort. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012; 47:666–673. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Induced heterodimerization and purification of two target proteins by a synthetic coiled‐coil tag
Authors: Fernandez‐Rodriguez Jesus , Marlovits Thomas C.
Published: January 2012

A synthetic de novo designed heterodimeric coiled‐coil was used to copurify two target fluorescent proteins, Venus and enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP). The coiled‐coil consists of two 21‐amino acid repetitive sequences, (EIAALEK)3 and (KIAALKE)3, named E3 and K3, respectively. These sequences were fused to the C‐termini of ECFP or Venus followed by either a strep‐ or a his‐tag, respectively, for affinity purification. Mixed lysates of Venus‐K3 and ECFP‐E3 were subjected to consecutive affinity purification and showed highly specific association between the coiled‐coil pair by SDS‐PAGE, gel filtration, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The tagged proteins eluted as heterodimers at the concentrations tested. FRET analysis further showed that the coiled‐coil pair was stable in buffers commonly used for protein purification, including those containing high salt concentration and detergent. This study shows that the E3/K3 pair is very well suited for the copurification of two target proteins expressed in vivo because of its high specificity: it forms exclusively heterodimers in solution, it does not interact with any cellular proteins and it is stable under different buffer conditions.
Casein kinase 2 inhibition attenuates androgen receptor function and cell proliferation in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Yao Kai , Youn Hyewon , Gao Xiaoyan , Huang Bijun , Zhou Fangjian , Li Benyi , Han Hui
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is constitutively active with dual specificity and exists as a hetero‐tetrameric complex of α, α′, and β subunits. Its aberrant expression and elevated activity have been linked to many human cancers, including prostate cancer. As an effort to develop new chemotherapy for prostate cancers, in this study, we tested the effects of tetra‐bromo‐cinnamic acid (TBCA), a newly synthetic CK2‐selective CK2 inhibitor, on androgen receptor (AR) transactivation, cell proliferation, and viability in multiple prostate cancer cell lines.

METHODS

We utilized a comprehensive approach of a newly synthetic CK2‐selective inhibitor TBCA, plus gene‐specific siRNAs in multiple cell‐based assays to further understand the role of CK2 in AR signaling. Alamar‐blue‐based cell growth assay, flow cytometry for cell cycle distribution, Luciferase report gene assay for AR transactivation, and immuno‐fluorescent approach for AR nuclear localization as well as quantitative PCR assay for AR‐mediated gene expression were utilized. The significance of the differences between treatment and control was analyzed using the SPSS software (SPSS, Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

Our data revealed that TBCA reduced cell proliferation and caused G2/M cell cycle arrest in a dose‐dependent manner. Further analysis demonstrated that TBCA blocked AR nuclear translocation and gene expression. To confirm the target specificity, we used gene‐specific siRNAs for both CK2α and CK2α′ subunits, and the results suggested that both CK2 catalytic subunits are involved in androgen‐stimulated AR nuclear translocation and AR‐mediated gene expression in prostate cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

CK2 subunits α and α′ are likely involved in AR signaling, and TBCA might be useful in the management of prostate cancers as a chemo‐preventive agent in the future. Prostate 72:1423–1430, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of resistance to either paraquat or ALS‐inhibiting herbicides in two Western Australian Hordeum leporinum biotypes
Authors: Owen Mechelle J , Goggin Danica E , Powles Stephen B
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: Hordeum populations are becoming increasingly difficult to control in cropping fields. Two herbicide‐resistant H. leporinum populations were identified during a random crop survey after herbicides were applied. The study aimed to determine the herbicide resistance profile of these H. leporinum biotypes to a range of herbicides used for their control.

RESULTS: Based on dose–response studies, one H. leporinum population was very highly resistant to sulfosulfuron and sulfometuron (both sulfonylurea herbicides) and also displayed low‐level resistance to imazamox (an imidazolinone herbicide). Reduced sensitivity of the ALS enzyme was identified with in vitro activity assays. Gene sequence analysis revealed a proline‐to‐threonine substitution at amino acid position 197 of ALS, which is likely to be the molecular basis for resistance in this population. Herbicide screening also revealed a different H. leporinum population with resistance to the bipyridyl herbicide paraquat.

CONCLUSION: This study established the first cases of (1) sulfonylurea‐to‐imidazolinone cross‐resistance and (2) field‐evolved paraquat resistance in a Hordeum species in Western Australia. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Cloning and characterization of two glutathione S‐transferases from pyrethroid‐resistant Culex pipiens
Authors: Samra Aman I , Kamita Shizuo G , Yao Hong‐Wei , Cornel Anthony J , Hammock Bruce D
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: The Marin strain of Culex pipiens Say is a pyrethroid‐resistant population that was collected in Marin County, California, in 2001 and subsequently maintained in the laboratory under regular permethrin exposure.

RESULTS: In this study, two cDNAs, CpGSTd1 and CpGSTd2, encoding glutathione S‐transferase (GST) were cloned from Cx. pipiens Marin. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences, CpGSTD1 and CpGSTD2, of these genes indicated that they belong to the Delta class of insect GSTs. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of CpGSTd1 and CpGSTd2 were 59 and 48% identical respectively. CpGSTD1 and CpGSTD2 were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. The recombinant GSTs exhibited unique selectivity towards the general GST substrates 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 1,2‐dichloro‐4‐nitrobenzene (DCNB), and also differed in their sensitivity to known inhibitors of GSTs. CpGSTD1 exhibited peroxidase activity with cumene hydroperoxide, while CpGSTD2 appeared to lack this activity. CpGSTD1 was able to metabolize 1,1,1‐trichloro‐2,2‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), while DDT metabolism by CpGSTD2 was not detectable. CpGSTD1 and CpGSTD2 showed no detectable metabolism of permethrin. Gene expression of CpGSTd1 and CpGSTd2 in Marin mosquitoes was elevated about twofold in comparison with that found in a pyrethroid‐sensitive mosquito strain.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that CpGSTD1 and CpGSTD2 have unique biochemical characteristics, but they do not appear to play major roles in permethrin resistance in Marin mosquitoes. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Heterogeneous filtering of ensemble‐based background‐error variances
Authors: Raynaud Laure , Pannekoucke Olivier
Published: January 2012

Background‐error variances estimated from a finite size ensemble of data assimilations are affected by sampling noise, which degrades the accuracy of the variance estimates. Previous work highlighted the close link between the spatial structures of background error and the associated sampling noise, and demonstrated the ability of local spatial averaging to remove this sampling noise.

Existing filtering techniques commonly assume a homogeneous smoothing of the estimated variances. However, this assumption can be inadequate to represent error structures of varying scales, e.g. small‐scale errors associated with localized severe weather events. To answer this problem, this article introduces and examines a heterogeneous filter based on the knowledge of the local spatial properties of the sampling noise. The filtering is realized with a diffusion process, and the diffusion coefficient is parametrized according to the local correlation length‐scale of the sampling noise. This enables the diffusion coefficient to vary spatially in such a way as to encourage smoothing in regions where the background error is large scale in preference to regions where the error is small scale.

A simulated 1D framework is considered to test the proposed approach. It is shown that the filtering using a spatially varying diffusion coefficient is able to preserve high‐frequency variance structures, while this information tends to be smoothed with homogeneous filtering. The benefits of applying heterogeneous filtering are particularly pronounced with small ensemble sizes and in the vicinity of localized variance maxima. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Adaptive scheduling strategies for cloud‐based resource infrastructures
Authors: Deng Lingli , Yu Qing , Peng Jin
Published: January 2012

This paper proposes to employ linear programming algorithms for global resource scheduling to reduce the extra cost, including power consumption as well as operation expenditures, for remote resource access in a cloud‐based resource pool. Unlike previous static work in this field, the proposed scheduler adapts the problem‐modeling granularity and resolution algorithm to the changing demands of an integral procedure comprising various stages including the initial construction and subsequent operation/extension of a cloud‐based resource infrastructure. In particular, the proposed scheduling strategies take into account resource configuration, service deployment and real‐time load, among other factors, to strike a trade‐off among the scheduling performance (i.e., cost reduced), response time, and computation cost, from a service or infrastructure operator's point of view. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Current techniques and future trends in embedded system's virtualization
Authors: Aguiar Alexandra , Hessel Fabiano
Published: January 2012

Traditionally, virtualization has been adopted by enterprise industry to make better use of the general purpose processors (single and multicore) besides improving the utilization of existing computational resources, especially in data centers. Until recently, its use in embedded systems (ESs) seemed to be a distant, unnecessary, and unfeasible reality. However, with the rise of each more powerful multiprocessed ESs, typically implemented as multiprocessor system‐on‐chip, virtualization has become a very promising technique to achieve and improve functionalities in future multiprocessor system‐on‐chips. One of the main advantages of virtualizing ESs is to improve the software design quality because legacy software can be reused along with newer applications. Also, we have the classic use cases, such as allowing several operating systems (OSs) to work in the same physical resource, simultaneously. Still, we can provide more secure ESs by splitting the system into user application OS and security certified OS, for instance. Moreover, depending on the way that embedded virtualization is employed, it may be even possible to reduce manufacturing costs and energy consumption levels. However, it is well understood that although ESs deal with increasingly more powerful solutions, they are still far more restricted than general purpose computers, especially in terms of area, memory size, and power consumption. In this article, we provide an extensive analysis of what is being currently offered as embedded virtualization solution, the pros and cons, besides presenting an innovative proposal regarding virtualization for restricted embedded architectures and its possible advantages. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Noncanonical NF-κB Signaling Regulates Hematopoietic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Microenvironment Interactions
Authors: Zhao Chen , Xiu Yan , Ashton John , Xing Lianping , Morita Yoshikazu , Jordan Craig T. , Boyce Brendan F.
Published: January 2012

RelB and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB2) are the main effectors of NF-κB noncanonical signaling and play critical roles in many physiological processes. However, their role in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) maintenance has not been characterized. To investigate this, we generated RelB/NF-κB2 double-knockout (dKO) mice and found that dKO HSPCs have profoundly impaired engraftment and self-renewal activity after transplantation into wild-type recipients. Transplantation of wild-type bone marrow cells into dKO mice to assess the role of the dKO microenvironment showed that wild-type HSPCs cycled more rapidly, were more abundant, and had developmental aberrancies: increased myeloid and decreased lymphoid lineages, similar to dKO HSPCs. Notably, when these wild-type cells were returned to normal hosts, these phenotypic changes were reversed, indicating a potent but transient phenotype conferred by the dKO microenvironment. However, dKO bone marrow stromal cell numbers were reduced, and bone-lining niche cells supported less HSPC expansion than controls. Furthermore, increased dKO HSPC proliferation was associated with impaired expression of niche adhesion molecules by bone-lining cells and increased inflammatory cytokine expression by bone marrow cells. Thus, RelB/NF-κB2 signaling positively and intrinsically regulates HSPC self-renewal and maintains stromal/osteoblastic niches and negatively and extrinsically regulates HSPC expansion and lineage commitment through the marrow microenvironment.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Nanomaterials‐based electrochemical immunosensors for proteins
Authors: Rusling James F.
Published: January 2012

For this special issue on 90 years of polarography, the following personal account describes how my early research in electrochemistry and polarography in the laboratory of Prof. Petr Zuman led to a major research effort in the determination of proteins for cancer detection and monitoring. It reviews the very recent history of nanoparticle labels and multiplexed detection in protein immunosensors. It then describes our journey of discovery that has led to ultrasensitive protein immunosensors achieved by combining nanostructured electrodes with particles labeled with up to ${1 \over 2}$ million enzymes that can detect down to as little as 1 fg mL−1 protein in diluted serum. Our most mature multiple protein detection system is a microfluidic device with eight sensors coated with 5‐nm gold nanoparticles that uses off‐line protein detection with heavily labeled magnetic particles. This approach has led to reliable sub pg mL−1 detection limits for multiple proteins, provides excellent correlation with referee ELISA methods, and is currently being used for validation of panels of biomarkers for oral and prostate cancer. The article ends with a section on future perspectives.
Coherent Doppler lidar for wind farm characterization
Authors: Krishnamurthy R. , Choukulkar A. , Calhoun R. , Fine J. , Oliver A. , Barr K.S.
Published: January 2012

Coherent Doppler lidar measurements are of increasing interest for the wind energy industry. Wind measurements are fundamental inputs for the evaluation of potential energy yield and performance of wind farms. Three‐dimensional scanning Doppler lidar may provide a new basis for wind farm site selection, design and optimization. In this paper, the authors discuss Doppler lidar measurements obtained for a wind energy development. The possibility of using lidar measurements to more fully characterize the wind field is discussed, specifically terrain effects, spatial variation of winds, power density and the effect of shear at different layers within the rotor swept area. Vector retrieval methods have been applied to the lidar data, and results are presented on an elevated terrain‐following surface at hub height. The vector retrieval estimates are compared with tower measurements, after interpolation to the appropriate level. Doppler lidar data are used to estimate the spatial power density at hub height (for the period of the deployment). An example wind farm layout is presented for demonstration purposes based purely on lidar measurement, even though the lidar data acquisition period cannot be considered climatological. The strength of this approach is the ability to directly measure spatial variations of the wind field over the wind farm. Also, because Doppler lidar can measure winds at different vertical levels, an approach for estimating wind power density over the rotor swept area (rather than only the hub height) is explored. Finally, advanced vector retrieval algorithms have been applied to better characterize local wind variations and shear. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental design
Authors: Morgan J. P. , Deng Xinwei
Published: January 2012

Maximizing data information requires careful selection, termeddesign, of the points at which data are observed. Experimental design is reviewed here for broad classes of data collection and analysis problems, including: fractioning techniques based on orthogonal arrays, Latin hypercube designs and their variants for computer experimentation, efficient design for data mining and machine learning applications, and sequential design for active learning. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Application Areas > Science and Technology

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Key Design Issues in Data Mining

Algorithmic Development > Statistics
Machine learning methods for predicting tumor response in lung cancer
Authors: El Naqa Issam
Published: January 2012

Among cancer victims, lung cancer accounts for most fatalities in men and women. Patients at advanced stages of lung cancer suffer from poor survival rate. Majority of these patients are not candidates for surgery and receive radiation therapy (radiotherapy) as their main course of treatment. Despite effectiveness of radiotherapy against many cancers, more than half of these patients are unfortunately expected to fail. Recent advances in biotechnology have allowed for an unprecedented ability to investigate the role of gene regulation in lung cancer development and progression. However, limited studies have provided insight into lung tumor response to radiotherapy. The inherent complexity and heterogeneity of biological response to radiation therapy may explain the inability of existing prediction models to achieve the necessary sensitivity and specificity for clinical practice's or trial's design. In this study, we briefly review the current knowledge of genetic and signaling pathways in modulating tumor response to radiotherapy in non‐small cell lung cancer as a case study of data mining application in the challenging cancer treatment problem. We highlight the role that data mining approaches, particularly machine learning methods, can play to improve our understanding of complex systems such as tumor response to radiotherapy. This can potentially result in identification of new prognostic biomarkers or molecular targets to improve response to treatment leading to better personalization of patients' treatment planning by reducing the risk of complications or supporting therapy that is more intensive for those patients likely to benefit. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Biological Data Mining

Application Areas > Health Care

Technologies > Machine Learning
Free asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is low in children and adolescents with classical phenylketonuria (PKU)
Authors: Huemer M. , Simma B. , Mayr D. , Möslinger D. , Mühl A. , Schmid I. , Ulmer H. , Bodamer O.A.
Published: January 2012

Introduction

Free asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a competitive inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthases (NOS). Suppression of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, in the condition of oxidative stress, NOS blockade by ADMA may exert protective effects. Protein metabolism is altered in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) on dietary treatment and as shown recently, oxidative stress is high in PKU. Since free ADMA concentrations are determined by both protein metabolism and oxidative stress we hypothesized, that free ADMA levels may be elevated in PKU patients.

Design

Sixteen patients with PKU on dietary treatment (mean age 10.1 ± 5.2 yrs), and 91 healthy children (mean age 11.6 ± 3.7 yrs) participated in a cross sectional study.

Results

ADMA, total homocysteine (tHcy) and blood glucose were lower and the L‐arginine/ADMA ratio was higher in PKU patients compared to controls. No significant correlation was present between phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations, protein intake, and lipid profile, history of cardiovascular disease or ADMA.

Discussion

In contrast to our hypothesis, ADMA was lower and the L‐arginine/ADMA ratio was higher in PKU patients. Therefore, in PKU patients, the regulating function of ADMA on NO synthesis is altered and may thus contribute to oxidative stress.
Camelina Meal Increases Egg n‐3 Fatty Acid Content Without Altering Quality or Production in Laying Hens
Authors: Kakani Radhika , Fowler Justin , Haq Akram‐Ul , Murphy Eric J. , Rosenberger Thad A. , Berhow Mark , Bailey Christopher. A.
Published: January 2012

Camelina sativa is an oilseed plant rich in n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids and extruding the seeds results in high protein meal (~40%) containing high levels of n‐3 fatty acids. In this study, we examined the effects of feeding extruded defatted camelina meal to commercial laying hens, measuring egg production, quality, and fatty acid composition. Lohmann White Leghorn hens (29 weeks old) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatment groups (n = 25 per group) and data was collected over a 12 week production period. All the treatment groups were fed a corn soy based experimental diet containing 0% (control), 5, or 10% extruded camelina meal. We found no significant differences in percent hen‐day egg production and feed consumed per dozen eggs. Egg shell strength was significantly higher in both camelina groups compared to the controls. Egg total n‐3 fatty acid content increased 1.9‐ and 2.7‐fold in 5 and 10% camelina groups respectively relative to the control. A similar increase in DHA content also occurred. Further camelina meal did not alter glucosinolate levels and no detectable glucosinolates or metabolic product isothiocyanates were found in the eggs from either the 5 or 10% camelina groups. These results indicate that camelina meal is a viable dietary source of n‐3 fatty acids for poultry and its dietary inclusion results in eggs enriched with n‐3 fatty acids.
Have a Nice Conflict
Authors: Carlisle Tisa
Published: January 2012

Have a Nice Conflict Tim Scudder, Michael Patterson and Kent Mitchell 2011, Personal Strengths Publishers, Inc 233 pages, hardcover
Phosphate homeostasis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the key role of the SPX domain‐containing proteins
Authors: Secco David , Wang Chuang , Shou Huixia , Whelan James
Published: January 2012

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a working model for nutrient homeostasis in eukaryotes, inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is regulated by the PHO pathway, a set of phosphate starvation induced genes, acting to optimize Pi uptake and utilization. Among these, a subset of proteins containing the SPX domain has been shown to be key regulators of Pi homeostasis. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses in elucidating the mechanisms controlling Pi homeostasis in yeast, focusing on the key roles of the SPX domain‐containing proteins in these processes, as well as describing the future challenges and opportunities in this fast‐moving field.
HBXIP upregulates CD46, CD55 and CD59 through ERK1/2/NF‐κB signaling to protect breast cancer cells from complement attack
Authors: Cui Wenjing , Zhao Yu , Shan Changliang , Kong Guangyao , Hu Nan , Zhang Yiwen , Zhang Shuai , Zhang Weiying , Zhang Yingyi , Zhang Xiaodong , Ye Lihong
Published: January 2012

Hepatitis B X‐interacting protein (HBXIP) is able to enhance migration of breast cancer cells. However, the role of HBXIP in regulation of complement‐dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) in breast cancer is not understood. Here, we report that HBXIP contributes to protecting breast cancer cells from CDC by upregulating membrane‐bound complement regulatory protein (mCRPs), including CD46, CD55 and CD59. We found that HBXIP upregulated mCRPs through activating p‐ERK1/2/NF‐κB. Interestingly, the knockdown of CD59 was able to block the HBXIP‐enhanced breast tumor growth in animal. Thus, we conclude that HBXIP upregulates CD46, CD55 and CD59 through p‐ERK1/2/NF‐κB signaling to protect breast cancer from CDC.
Oligomeric interactions of TGF‐β and BMP receptors
Authors: Ehrlich Marcelo , Gutman Orit , Knaus Petra , Henis Yoav I.
Published: January 2012

Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) cytokines participate in a multiplicity of ways in the regulation of numerous physiological and pathological processes. Their wide‐ranging biological functions are controlled by several mechanisms, including regulation of transcription, complex formation among the signaling receptors (oligomerization) and with co‐receptors, binding of the receptors to scaffolding proteins or their targeting to specific membrane domains. Here, we address the generation of TGF‐β and BMP receptor homo‐ and hetero‐oligomers and its roles as a mechanism capable of fast regulation of signaling by these crucial cytokines. We examine the available biochemical, biophysical and structural evidence for the ternary structure of these complexes, and the possible roles of homomeric and heteromeric receptor oligomers in signaling.
Juvenile but not adult methamphetamine exposure improves performance in the Morris Water Maze in male rats
Authors: Moenk Michael D. , Matuszewich Leslie
Published: January 2012

Early exposure to psychostimulants has been found to lead to long‐lasting effects on cognitive processes. Our lab has previously reported that juvenile male rats administered methamphetamine showed improved performance in a spatial navigation task when tested in adulthood (McFadden and Matuszewich, 2007). What is not known, however, is if these effects are specific to the developing rat, or if a similar methamphetamine protocol given to adult rats would lead to an equally beneficial long‐term change in spatial cognition. In the current study, male rats were given 1 daily injection of 2 mg/kg methamphetamine or saline for 15 days during either preadolescence (PD20–34) or adulthood (PD70–84). Approximately 45 days after treatment, all rats then underwent 5 days of place training in the Morris water maze at a time when juvenile rats reached adulthood. Similar to previous findings, juvenile rats exposed to repeated methamphetamine displayed shorter latencies and distances to reach the platform throughout training compared to saline‐treated rats. The juvenile rats treated with methamphetamine also swam shorter distances and had faster latencies to the hidden platform compared to adult methamphetamine‐treated rats. There were no significant differences in rats treated in adulthood with methamphetamine compared to saline‐treated rats. Likewise, there were no effects of prior methamphetamine treatment or age on matching‐to‐place trials or visible platform trials. Overall, the results show that repeated methamphetamine exposure can selectively improve spatial learning in adult male rats when administered during preadolescence, but does not significantly affect spatial learning when administered in adulthood. Furthermore, the current findings demonstrate the unique susceptibility of the developing brain to drugs that modulate dopaminergic activity, as well as the long‐term behavioral impact of exposure at critical ages.
Community‐driven impact of a newborn‐focused behavioral intervention on maternal health in Shivgarh, India
Authors: Kumar Vishwajeet , Kumar Aarti , Das Vinita , Srivastava Neeraj M. , Baqui Abdullah H. , Santosham Mathuram , Darmstadt Gary L. ,   Saksham Study Group
Published: January 2012

Objective

To assess the effect on maternal health outcomes of a community‐based behavior change management intervention for essential newborn care leading to a reduction in neonatal mortality.

Methods

A cluster‐randomized controlled trial involving 1 control and 2 intervention arms was conducted in Shivgarh, India, between January 2004 and May 2005. Risk‐enhancing domiciliary newborn care behaviors, including those posing a concomitant risk to maternal health, were targeted through home visits and community meetings. Secondary outcomes included knowledge of maternal danger signs, self‐reported complications, maternal care practices, care‐seeking from trained providers, and maternal mortality ratio (MMR). The intervention arms were combined for analysis, which was done by intention to treat.

Results

Significant improvements were observed in maternal health equity and outcomes including knowledge of danger signs, care practices, self‐reported complications, and timely care‐seeking from trained providers. The difference in adjusted MMR was not significant (relative risk 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–1.43; P = 0.11) owing to the inadequate sample size for this outcome, but may suggest a decline in MMR given improvements in other outcomes in the causal pathway to mortality.

Conclusion

Community‐based strategies focused on prevention and care‐seeking effectively complemented facility‐based strategies toward improving maternal health, while synergizing with newborn care interventions.
International Negotiations and Domestic Politics: The Case of IMF Labor Market Conditionality
Authors: Caraway Teri L. , Rickard Stephanie J. , Anner Mark S.
Published: January 2012

What is the role of international organizations (IOs) in the formulation of domestic policy, and how much influence do citizens have in countries' negotiations with IOs? We examine these questions through a study of labor-related conditionality in International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans. Using new data from IMF loan documents for programs from 1980 to 2000, we test to see if citizens' economic interests influence IMF conditionality. We examine the substance of loan conditions and identify those that require liberalization in the country's domestic labor market or that have direct effects on employment, wages, and social benefits. We find evidence that democratic countries with stronger domestic labor receive less intrusive labor-related conditions in their IMF loan programs. We argue that governments concerned about workers' opposition to labor-related loan conditions negotiate with the IMF to minimize labor conditionality. We find that the IMF is responsive to domestic politics and citizens' interests.
Copepoda Harpacticoida community of a rocky shore under the influence of upwelling (Arraial do Cabo, southeastern Brazil)
Authors: Sarmento V.C. , Lage L.M. , Santos P.J.P.
Published: January 2012

Upwelling can determine important changes in community structure on rocky shores. However, studies on the meiofauna in areas of upwelling are scarce and do not include analysis on the species level for Copepoda Harpacticoida. The present study aimed to describe the Harpacticoida community in a region under the influence of coastal upwelling (Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The hypothesis tested was that temporal differences in the fauna would be greater at the rocky shore more affected by upwelling. Samples were collected from the sublittoral of two rocky shores: Sonar, which is more exposed to upwelling, in January and June 2004; and Pedra Vermelha, which is a sheltered shore, in March and September 2002. Each sample consisted of four replicates collected by scraping epilithic algae along with the associated sediment. Weekly data on surface water temperature and nitrate content denoted stronger upwelling in 2002 compared to 2004. Nine genera of Copepoda Harpacticoida are reported for the first time for the Brazilian coast. Univariate indices identified no differences between rocky shores or seasons, whereas multivariate analysis indicated significant differences in assemblages between shores and between seasons. The strong variation in physicochemical conditions associated with upwelling favoured the dominance of opportunistic species, such as Parastenhelia spinosa. At the Sonar rocky shore, temporal differences were significantly stronger than at Pedra Vermelha, thereby confirming the initial hypothesis. These results indicated that the occurrence of upwelling had a very important role structuring the Harpacticoida assemblage at the species level.
On the existence of multiple positive solutions to some superlinear systems
Authors: Chhetri M. , Raynor S. , Robinson S.
Published: January 2012

We use the method of upper and lower solutions combined with degree-theoretic techniques to prove the existence of multiple positive solutions to some superlinear elliptic systems of the form

on a smooth, bounded domain Ω⊂ℝn with Dirichlet boundary conditions, under suitable conditions on g1 and g2. Our techniques apply generally to subcritical, superlinear problems with a certain concave–convex shape to their nonlinearity.
Unique doubly connected left ventricular diverticulum
Authors: Nagel Bert , Sorantin Erich , Gamillscheg Andreas
Published: January 2012

This case report describes a unique form of a left ventricular diverticulum in a 17-year-old patient. Echocardiography, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging including virtual endoscopy complete a detailed picture of the size and texture of a diverticulum, as well as the localisation of the two connections into the left ventricle.
Regional climate downscaling: What's the point?
Authors: Pielke Roger A. , Wilby Robert L.
Published: January 2012

Dynamical and statistical downscaling of multidecadal global climate models provides finer spatial resolution information for climate impact assessments [Wilby and Fowler, 2010]. Increasingly, some scientists are using the language of “prediction” with respect to future regional climate change and impacts [e.g., Hurrell et al., 2009; Shapiro et al., 2010], yet others note serious reservations about the capability of downscaling to provide detailed, accurate predictions [see Kerr, 2011]. Dynamic downscaling is based on regional climate models (usually just the atmospheric part) that have finer horizontal grid resolution of surface features such as terrain [Castro et al., 2005]. Statistical downscaling uses transfer functions (e.g., regression relationships) representing observed relationships between larger‐scale atmospheric variables and local quantities such as daily precipitation and/or temperature [Wilby and Fowler, 2010]. These approaches have been successful in improving the skill of numerical weather prediction. Statistical downscaling can also be used as the benchmark (the control) against which dynamic downscaling skill is judged [Landsea and Knaff, 2000]
Population Structure and Evolutionary History of Southern Flounder in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Anderson Joel D. , Karel William J. , Mione Allison C. S.
Published: January 2012

The southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma is a key species in recreational flatfish fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Effective management of this species relies on knowing how many populations occur within the range of the species, as knowledge of the underlying genetic structure may be used in stock assessments or in the establishment of management units. Here, the evolutionary history of the southern flounder was elicited with genetic data, and the geographic extent and long‐term female effective population size (Nef) of extant populations were estimated. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data (415 base pairs, control region) were analyzed with a combination of traditional hypothesis testing (analysis of molecular variance) and the coalescent‐based maximum likelihood approach (analysis with the program Migrate). Three main findings resulted from this work. First, two distinct genetic populations of southern flounder exist in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean, and there is a measured genetic divergence (i.e., FST) of 0.374 between them. Within ocean basins, there was little significant genetic structure among samples. Second, coalescent modeling suggests that the two populations of southern flounder have expanded rapidly in numbers in the past 10,000–22,000 years, timing that approximately coincides with the end of the last North American glacial retreat. Third, historical population growth is coupled with high estimates of long‐term Nef, both of which contrast with present‐day declines in abundance measured by stock assessments. Present‐day southern flounder populations persist in two independent evolutionarily significant units that have divergent evolutionary backgrounds.
Assessing Effects of the Nonindigenous Pike Killifish on Indigenous Fishes in Tampa Bay, Florida, Using a Weighted‐Evidence Approach
Authors: Greenwood Marin F. D.
Published: January 2012

Nonindigenous fish introductions may result in significant negative ecological and economic effects. Pike killifish Belonesox belizanus, a small‐bodied piscivorous fish native to Central America, was introduced into South Florida in 1957 and raised concerns because of its consumption of small‐bodied fishes. The present study examined the negative effects on indigenous fishes from a second pike killifish population that invaded Tampa Bay several decades later. Four data sets were used to test several hypotheses based on earlier observations from South Florida: potential indigenous prey fish populations are less abundant or less frequently occurring or have a larger size composition (1) in invaded water bodies than in uninvaded water bodies and (2) following invasion than before invasion (with no concurrent change in uninvaded systems). For each prey species, the result of each hypothesis test was scored (2 = accept, 1 = tentatively accept, and 0 = reject) and the average score of all hypotheses was calculated, weighted by the relative rankings of the factors influencing the scope of inference from each data set (e.g., number of samples, years, and water bodies). Three resident (nonmigratory or potamodromous) small‐bodied species (sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna, eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, and sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus) showed the most evidence of potential effects and had overall weighted‐evidence scores of around 50% (i.e., as much evidence for pike killifish effects as against). There was much greater evidence of effects of pike killifish when calculating scores based only on the abundance and frequency‐of‐occurrence hypotheses because the three species were two to six times less abundant or frequently occurring in the presence of, or after invasion by, pike killifish. Migratory species showed little evidence of negative effects, probably because they recruit from larger source populations and are not year‐round residents of pike killifish habitat.
Effects of Suture Material and Ultrasonic Transmitter Size on Survival, Growth, Wound Healing, and Tag Expulsion in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Ivasauskas Tomas J. , Bettoli Phillip W. , Holt Thomas
Published: January 2012

We examined the effects of suture material (braided silk versus Monocryl) and relative ultrasonic transmitter size on healing, growth, mortality, and tag retention in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. In experiment 1, 40 fish (205–281 mm total length [TL], 106–264 g) were implanted with Sonotronics IBT‐96–2 (23 × 7 mm; weight in air, 4.4 g; weight in water, 2.4 g) or IBT 96–2E (30 × 7 mm; weight in air, 4.9 g; weight in water, 2.4 g) ultrasonic telemetry tags. In experiment 2, 20 larger fish (342–405 mm TL; 520–844 g) were implanted with Sonotronics IBT‐96–5 ultrasonic tags (36 × 11 mm; weight in air, 9.1 g; weight in water, 4.1 g). The tag burdens for all implanted fish ranged from 1.1% to 3.4%, and fish in both studies were held at 10–15°C. At the conclusion of both experiments (65 d after surgery), no mortalities were observed in any of the 60 tagged fish, most incisions were completely healed, and all fish in both experiments grew in length, although tagged fish grew more slowly than control fish in experiment 1. In both experiments, fish sutured with silk expelled tags more frequently than those sutured with Monocryl. Expulsion was observed in 45–50% of the fish sutured with silk and 0–25% of the fish sutured with Monocryl. Tag expulsion was not observed until 25–35 d after surgery. Fish sutured with silk exhibited a more severe inflammatory response 3 weeks after surgery than those sutured with Monocryl. In experiment 1, the rate of expulsion was linked to the severity of inflammation. Although braided silk sutures were applied faster than Moncryl sutures in both experiments, knots tied with either material were equally reliable and fish sutured with Monocryl experienced less inflammation and lower rates of tag expulsion.