bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evaluation of Dentinal Tubule Occlusion by Desensitizing Agents: A Real-time Measurement of Dentinal Fluid Flow Rate and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Kim SY , Kim EJ , Kim DS , Lee IB
Published: October 2012

The aims of this study were to examine changes in dentinal fluid flow (DFF) during the application of a desensitizing agent and to compare the permeability reduction levels among different types of desensitizing agents.

A cervical cavity was prepared for the exposure of cervical dentin on an extracted human premolar connected to a subnanoliter fluid flow measuring device under 20 cm of water pressure. The cavity was acid-etched with 32% phosphoric acid to make dentin highly permeable. The different types of desensitizing agents that were applied on the cavity were Seal&Protect as the light-curing adhesive type, SuperSeal and BisBlock as oxalate types, Gluma Desensitizer as the protein-precipitation type, and Bi-Fluoride 12 as the fluoride type. DFF was measured from the time before the application of the desensitizing agent throughout the application procedure to five minutes after the application. The characteristics of dentinal tubule occlusion of each desensitizing agent were examined by scanning electron microscopy.

The DFF rate after each desensitizing agent application was significantly reduced when compared to the initial DFF rate before application for all of the desensitizing agents (p<0.05). Seal&Protect showed a greater reduction in the DFF rate when compared to Gluma Desensitizer and Bi-Fluoride 12 (p<0.05). SuperSeal and BisBlock exhibited a greater reduction in DFF rate when compared to Bi-Fluoride 12 (p<0.05).

The dentin hypersensitivity treatment effects of the employed desensitizing agents in this study were confirmed through real-time measurements of DFF changes. The light-curing adhesive and oxalate types showed greater reduction in the DFF rate than did the protein-precipitation and fluoride types.
Modelling Regional Surface Energy Exchange and Boundary Layer Development in Boreal Sweden — Comparison of Mesoscale Model (RAMS) Simulations with Aircraft and Tower Observations
Authors: Kvon Elena , Tuulik Janno , Mölder Meelis , Lindroth Anders
Published: October 2012

Simulation of atmospheric and surface processes with an atmospheric model (RAMS) during a period of ten days in August 2001 over a boreal area in Sweden were compared to tower measurements and aircraft measurements of vertical profiles as well as surface fluxes from low altitude flights. The shape of the vertical profiles was simulated reasonably well by the model although there were significant biases in absolute values. Surface fluxes were less well simulated and the model showed considerable sensitivity to initial soil moisture conditions. The simulations were performed using two different land cover databases, the original one supplied with the RAMS model and the more detailed CORINE database. The two different land cover data bases resulted in relatively large fine scale differences in the simulated values. The conclusion of this study is that RAMS has the potential to be used as a tool to estimate boundary layer conditions and surface fluxes and meteorology over a boreal area but also that further improvement is needed.
Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer: The Paradox of Evidence versus Advocacy Inaction
Authors: Layeequr Rahman Rakhshanda , Pruthi Sandhya
Published: October 2012

Women who are at high risk of breast cancer can be offered chemoprevention. Chemoprevention strategies have expanded over the past decade and include selective receptor modulator inhibitors and aromatase inhibitors. Physicians are expected to provide individualized risk assessments to identify high risk women who may be eligible for chemoprevention. It is prudent that physicians utilize a shared decision approach when counseling high risk women about their preventive options. Barriers and misperceptions however exist with patient and physician acceptance of chemoprevention and continue to impede uptake of chemoprevention as a strategy to reduce breast cancer risk. Programs to increase awareness and elucidate the barriers are critical for women to engage in cancer prevention and promote chemoprevention adherence.
Successful Reconstruction of Tooth Germ with Cell Lines Requires Coordinated Gene Expressions from the Initiation Stage
Authors: Komine Akihiko , Tomooka Yasuhiro
Published: October 2012

Tooth morphogenesis is carried out by a series of reciprocal interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme in embryonic germs. Previously clonal dental epithelial cell (epithelium of molar tooth germ (emtg)) lines were established from an embryonic germ. They were odontogenic when combined with a dental mesenchymal tissue, although the odontogenesis was quantitatively imperfect. To improve the microenvironment in the germs, freshly isolated dental epithelial cells were mixed with cells of lines, and germs were reconstructed in various combinations. The results demonstrated that successful tooth construction depends on the mixing ratio, the age of dental epithelial cells and the combination with cell lines. Analyses of gene expression in these germs suggest that some signal(s) from dental epithelial cells makes emtg cells competent to communicate with mesenchymal cells and the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments are able to progress odontogenesis from the initiation stage.
Investigation on Electrostatical Breakup of Bio-Oil Droplets
Authors: Wang Zhen-Tao , Mitrašinović Aleksandar M. , Wen John Z.
Published: October 2012

In electrostatic atomization, the input electrical energy causes breaking up of the droplet surface by utilizing a mutual repulsion of net charges accumulating on that surface. In this work a number of key parameters controlling the bio-oil droplet breakup process are identified and these correlations among the droplet size distribution, specific charges of droplets and externally applied electrical voltages are quantified. Theoretical considerations of the bag or strip breakup mechanism of biodiesel droplets experiencing electrostatic potential are compared to experimental outcomes. The theoretical analysis suggests the droplet breakup process is governed by the Rayleigh instability condition, which reveals the effects of droplets size, specific charge, surface tension force, and droplet velocities. Experiments confirm that the average droplet diameters decrease with increasing specific charges and this decreasing tendency is non-monotonic due to the motion of satellite drops in the non-uniform electrical field. The measured specific charges are found to be smaller than the theoretical values. And the energy transformation from the electrical energy to surface energy, in addition to the energy loss, Taylor instability breakup, non-excess polarization and some system errors, accounts for this discrepancy. The electrostatic force is the dominant factor controlling the mechanism of biodiesel breakup in electrostatic atomization.
Design and Fabrication of a Novel Hybrid-Structure Heat Pipe for a Concentrator Photovoltaic
Authors: Huang Hsin-Jung , Shen Sheng-Chih , Shaw Heiu-Jou
Published: October 2012

This study presents a design method to fabricate a novel hybrid-structure flat plate heat pipe (NHSP heat pipe) for a concentrator photovoltaic. The NHSP heat pipe is composed of a flattened copper pipe and a sintered wick structure, and a coronary-stent-like rhombic copper mesh supports the structure. The coronary-stent-like supporting structure enhances the mechanical strength and shortens the reflux path of the working fluid. Experiments demonstrate that the sintered capillary heat pipe reduces the thermal resistance by approximately 72%, compared to a traditional copper mesh-screen heat pipe. Furthermore, it can reduce thermal resistance by 65% after a supporting structure is added to the heat pipe. The results show that the NHSP heat pipe provided the best performance for the concentrator photovoltaic, which can increase photoelectric conversion efficiency by approximately 3.1%, compared to an aluminum substrate.
Microenvironments and Cellular Characteristics in the Micro Tumor Cords of Malignant Solid Tumors
Authors: Yeom Chan , Goto Yoko , Zhu Yuxi , Hiraoka Masahiro , Harada Hiroshi
Published: October 2012

Because of the accelerated proliferation of cancer cells and the limited distance that molecular oxygen can diffuse from functional tumor blood vessels, there appears to be a unique histology in malignant solid tumors, conglomerates of micro tumor cords. A functional blood vessel exists at the center of each tumor cord and is sequentially surrounded by well-oxygenated, oxygen-insufficient, and oxygen-depleted cancer cells in the shape of baumkuchen (layered). Cancer cells, by inducing the expression of various genes, adapt to the highly heterogeneous microenvironments in each layer. Accumulated evidence has suggested that not only tumor microenvironments but also cellular adaptive responses to them, influence the radioresistance of cancer cells. However, precisely how these factors affect one another and eventually influence the therapeutic effect of radiation therapy remains to be elucidated. Here, based on recent basic and clinical cancer research, we deduced extrinsic (oxygen concentration, glucose concentration, pH etc.) and intrinsic (transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1, metabolic pathways, cell cycle status, proliferative activity etc.) parameters in each layer of a tumor cord. In addition, we reviewed the latest information about the molecular mechanism linking these factors with both tumor radioresistance and tumor recurrence after radiation therapy.
Hydration-Induced Phase Separation in Amphiphilic Polymer Matrices and its Influence on Voclosporin Release
Authors: Khan I. John , Murthy N. Sanjeeva , Kohn Joachim
Published: October 2012

Voclosporin is a highly potent, new cyclosporine-A derivative that is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in the USA as a potential treatment for inflammatory diseases of the eye. Voclosporin represents a number of very sparingly soluble drugs that are difficult to administer. We therefore selected it as a model drug that is dispersed within amphiphilic polymer matrices, and investigated the changing morphology of the matrices using neutron and x-ray scattering during voclosporin release and polymer resorption. The hydrophobic segments of the amphiphilic polymer chain are comprised of desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester (DTE) and desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine (DT), and the hydrophilic component is poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Water uptake in these matrices resulted in the phase separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains that are a few hundred Angstroms apart. These water-driven morphological changes influenced the release profile of voclosporin and facilitated a burst-free release from the polymer. No such morphological reorganization was observed in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), which exhibits an extended lag period, followed by a burst-like release of voclosporin when the polymer was degraded. An understanding of the effect of polymer composition on the hydration behavior is central to understanding and controlling the phase behavior and resorption characteristics of the matrix for achieving long-term controlled release of hydrophobic drugs such as voclosporin.
Chromosome Replication in Escherichia coli: Life on the Scales
Authors: Norris Vic , Amar Patrick
Published: October 2012

At all levels of Life, systems evolve on the 'scales of equilibria'. At the level of bacteria, the individual cell must favor one of two opposing strategies and either take risks to grow or avoid risks to survive. It has been proposed in the Dualism hypothesis that the growth and survival strategies depend on non-equilibrium and equilibrium hyperstructures, respectively. It has been further proposed that the cell cycle itself is the way cells manage to balance the ratios of these types of hyperstructure so as to achieve the compromise solution of living on the two scales. Here, we attempt to re-interpret a major event, the initiation of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli, in the light of scales of equilibria. This entails thinking in terms of hyperstructures as responsible for intensity sensing and quantity sensing and how this sensing might help explain the role of the DnaA protein in initiation of replication. We outline experiments and an automaton approach to the cell cycle that should test and refine the scales concept.
Electronic and Optical Properties of Substitutional and Interstitial Si-Doped ZnO
Authors: Wu Hsuan-Chung , Peng Yen-Chun , Shen Tsu-Ping
Published: October 2012

This study investigates the formation energies, electronic structures, and optical properties of pure and Si-doped ZnO using density functional theory and the Hubbard U (DFT + Ud + Up) method. The difference in lattice constants between calculated results and experimental measurements is within 1%, and the calculated band gap of pure ZnO is in excellent agreement with experimental values. This study considers three possible Si-doped ZnO structures including the substitution of Si for Zn (Sis(Zn)), interstitial Si in an octahedron (Sii(oct)), and interstitial Si in a tetrahedron (Sii(tet)). Results show that the formation energy of Sis(Zn) defects is the lowest, indicating that Sis(Zn) defects are formed more easily than Sii(oct) and Sii(tet). All three of the Si defect models exhibited n-type conductive characteristics, and except for the Sii(oct) mode the optical band gap expanded beyond that of pure ZnO. In both the Sii(oct) and Sii(tet) models, a heavier effective mass decreased carrier mobility, and deeper donor states significantly decreased transmittance. Therefore, the existence of interestitial Si atoms was bad for the electric and optical properties of ZnO.
Potential Applications of Zeolite Membranes in Reaction Coupling Separation Processes
Authors: Daramola Michael , Aransiola Elizabeth , Ojumu Tunde
Published: October 2012

Future production of chemicals (e.g., fine and specialty chemicals) in industry is faced with the challenge of limited material and energy resources. However, process intensification might play a significant role in alleviating this problem. A vision of process intensification through multifunctional reactors has stimulated research on membrane-based reactive separation processes, in which membrane separation and catalytic reaction occur simultaneously in one unit. These processes are rather attractive applications because they are potentially compact, less capital intensive, and have lower processing costs than traditional processes. Therefore this review discusses the progress and potential applications that have occurred in the field of zeolite membrane reactors during the last few years. The aim of this article is to update researchers in the field of process intensification and also provoke their thoughts on further research efforts to explore and exploit the potential applications of zeolite membrane reactors in industry. Further evaluation of this technology for industrial acceptability is essential in this regard. Therefore, studies such as techno-economical feasibility, optimization and scale-up are of the utmost importance.
New Capoamycin-Type Antibiotics and Polyene Acids from Marine Streptomyces fradiae PTZ0025
Authors: Xin Wenxiu , Ye Xuewei , Yu Siran , Lian Xiao-Yuan , Zhang Zhizhen
Published: October 2012

Capoamycin-type antibiotics (2–5) and polyene acids (6, 7) were isolated from marine Streptomyces fradiae strain PTZ0025. Their structures were established by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high resolution electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) analyses and chemical degradation. Compounds 3, 4, 6, 7 were found to be new and named as fradimycins A (3) and B (4), and fradic acids A (6) and B (7). Compounds 3–5 showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.0 to 6.0 μg/mL. Interestingly, Compounds 3–5 also significantly inhibited cell growth of colon cancer and glioma with IC50 values ranging from 0.13 to 6.46 μM. Fradimycin B (4), the most active compound, was further determined to arrest cell cycle and induce apoptosis in tumor cells. The results indicated that fradimycin B (4) arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and induced apoptosis and necrosis in colon cancer and glioma cells. Taken together, the results demonstrated that the marine natural products 3–5, particularly fradimycin B (4), possessed potent antimicrobial and antitumor activities.
Cyanobacteria as Biocatalysts for Carbonate Mineralization
Authors: Kamennaya Nina , Ajo-Franklin Caroline , Northen Trent , Jansson Christer
Published: October 2012

Microbial carbonate mineralization is widespread in nature and among microorganisms, and of vast ecological and geological importance. However, our understanding of the mechanisms that trigger and control processes such as calcification, i.e., mineralization of CO2 to calcium carbonate (CaCO3), is limited and literature on cyanobacterial calcification is oftentimes bewildering and occasionally controversial. In cyanobacteria, calcification may be intimately associated with the carbon dioxide-(CO2) concentrating mechanism (CCM), a biochemical system that allows the cells to raise the concentration of CO2 at the site of the carboxylating enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) up to 1000-fold over that in the surrounding medium. A comprehensive understanding of biologically induced carbonate mineralization is important for our ability to assess its role in past, present, and future carbon cycling, interpret paleontological data, and for evaluating the process as a means for biological carbon capture and storage (CCS). In this review we summarize and discuss the metabolic, physiological and structural features of cyanobacteria that may be involved in the reactions leading to mineral formation and precipitation, present a conceptual model of cyanobacterial calcification, and, finally, suggest practical applications for cyanobacterial carbonate mineralization.
Total Ginsenosides of Radix Ginseng Modulates Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Protein Expression to Enhance Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Ischemic Rat Heart Tissues
Authors: Wang Jing-Rong , Zhou Hua , Yi Xiao-Qin , Jiang Zhi-Hong , Liu Liang
Published: October 2012

To elucidate the underlying mechanism of cardio-protective activity of the total ginsenosides (TGS) of Radix Ginseng, proteomic analysis using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS techniques was employed for identifying the underlying targets of TGS on improvement of the energy metabolism of isolated rat heart tissues perfused in Langendorff system under ischemia-reperfusion injury conditions. The image analysis results revealed 11 differentially expressed proteins in the TGS-treated heart tissues; these proteins, including LDHB and ODP-2, were found to be closely related to the function of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that plays pivotal roles in cardiac energy metabolism. It is thus concluded that improvement of cardiac energy metabolism via activating proteins in TCA cycle could be the major action pathway and targets of TGS activity against rat heart tissue injury.
Enteral Nutrition Support in Burn Care: A Review of Current Recommendations as Instituted in the Ross Tilley Burn Centre
Authors: Hall Kathryn , Shahrokhi Shahriar , Jeschke Marc
Published: October 2012

Failure to adequately address the increased levels of inflammatory mediators, catecholamines and corticosteroids central to the hypermetabolic response post burn injury can lead to catastrophic results. One of the most important perturbations is provision of adequate and early nutrition. The provision of the right balance of macro and micronutrients, along with additional antioxidants is essential to mitigating the hypermetabolic and hypercatabolic state that results following a burn injury. As it is now widely accepted that enteral feeding is best practice for the burn population research has been more closely examining the individual components of enteral nutrition support. Recently fat to carbohydrate ratios, glutamine and antioxidants have made up the balance of this focus. This paper provides a review of the most recent literature examining each of these components and discusses the practices adopted in the Ross Tilley Burn Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Growing up in Wartime England—A Selection from "The Rachel Chronicles: A Kind of Memoir"
Authors: Furst Lilian , Aliaga-Buchenau Anabel
Published: October 2012

The following contribution is an excerpt from the unpublished memoirs of Austrian Jewish émigrée, Lilian Renée Furst (1931–2009), a pioneer in the field of comparative literature. This journal issue grew out of an April 2011 conference in her memory, held at the National Humanities Center, on “Jewish emigres and the Shaping of Postwar Culture.” The nexus between her innovative intellectual contributions and her experience as a Jewish émigré reflects one of the conference's central concerns: How, why, and in what fashion did the émigrés' dislocations shape innovative intellectual paths and cosmopolitan visions of Europe and European culture. Born in Austria and educated in England, Furst pursued an intellectual career in the United States, hoping it would allow her to break out of narrow national boundaries. The excerpt of her memoir here illuminates how her life's work as a pioneer in the field of comparative literary studies grew out of her experience with language as a German-speaking refugee in wartime England. Her memoir written in the third person about “Rachel” also reflects her dual identity as Jew and European. Part I by Dr. Anabel Aliaga-Buchenau, the literary executor of the memoir and a former graduate student of Furst, places “The Rachel Chronicles: A Kind of Memoir” in relation to Furst's other autobiographical writing. Part II includes Furst's own introduction to “The Rachel Chronicles,” followed by her chapter on “Growing up in wartime England.” (The whole of her unpublished memoir is available to researchers in the "Personal Papers of Lilian R. Furst," Girton College Archives, Cambridge University (http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0271%2FGCPP%20Furst)). Part III is a bibliography of Furst's writings.
A Coded Aperture Compressive Imaging Array and Its Visual Detection and Tracking Algorithms for Surveillance Systems
Authors: Chen Jing , Wang Yongtian , Wu Hanxiao
Published: October 2012

In this paper, we propose an application of a compressive imaging system to the problem of wide-area video surveillance systems. A parallel coded aperture compressive imaging system is proposed to reduce the needed high resolution coded mask requirements and facilitate the storage of the projection matrix. Random Gaussian, Toeplitz and binary phase coded masks are utilized to obtain the compressive sensing images. The corresponding motion targets detection and tracking algorithms directly using the compressive sampling images are developed. A mixture of Gaussian distribution is applied in the compressive image space to model the background image and for foreground detection. For each motion target in the compressive sampling domain, a compressive feature dictionary spanned by target templates and noises templates is sparsely represented. An l1 optimization algorithm is used to solve the sparse coefficient of templates. Experimental results demonstrate that low dimensional compressed imaging representation is sufficient to determine spatial motion targets. Compared with the random Gaussian and Toeplitz phase mask, motion detection algorithms using a random binary phase mask can yield better detection results. However using random Gaussian and Toeplitz phase mask can achieve high resolution reconstructed image. Our tracking algorithm can achieve a real time speed that is up to 10 times faster than that of the l1 tracker without any optimization.
Towards Real-Time and Rotation-Invariant American Sign Language Alphabet Recognition Using a Range Camera
Authors: Lahamy Hervé , Lichti Derek
Published: October 2012

The automatic interpretation of human gestures can be used for a natural interaction with computers while getting rid of mechanical devices such as keyboards and mice. In order to achieve this objective, the recognition of hand postures has been studied for many years. However, most of the literature in this area has considered 2D images which cannot provide a full description of the hand gestures. In addition, a rotation-invariant identification remains an unsolved problem, even with the use of 2D images. The objective of the current study was to design a rotation-invariant recognition process while using a 3D signature for classifying hand postures. A heuristic and voxel-based signature has been designed and implemented. The tracking of the hand motion is achieved with the Kalman filter. A unique training image per posture is used in the supervised classification. The designed recognition process, the tracking procedure and the segmentation algorithm have been successfully evaluated. This study has demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed rotation invariant 3D hand posture signature which leads to 93.88% recognition rate after testing 14,732 samples of 12 postures taken from the alphabet of the American Sign Language.
Framework for End-User Programming of Cross-Smart Space Applications
Authors: Palviainen Marko , Kuusijärvi Jarkko , Ovaska Eila
Published: October 2012

Cross-smart space applications are specific types of software services that enable users to share information, monitor the physical and logical surroundings and control it in a way that is meaningful for the user’s situation. For developing cross-smart space applications, this paper makes two main contributions: it introduces (i) a component design and scripting method for end-user programming of cross-smart space applications and (ii) a backend framework of components that interwork to support the brunt of the RDFScript translation, and the use and execution of ontology models. Before end-user programming activities, the software professionals must develop easy-to-apply Driver components for the APIs of existing software systems. Thereafter, end-users are able to create applications from the commands of the Driver components with the help of the provided toolset. The paper also introduces the reference implementation of the framework, tools for the Driver component development and end-user programming of cross-smart space applications and the first evaluation results on their application.
Study on Decomposition of Indoor Air Contaminants by Pulsed Atmospheric Microplasma
Authors: Shimizu Kazuo , Kuwabara Tomoya , Blajan Marius
Published: October 2012

Decomposition of formaldehyde (HCHO) by a microplasma reactor in order to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) was achieved. HCHO was removed from air using one pass through reactor treatment (5 L/min). From an initial concentration of HCHO of 0.7 ppm about 96% was removed in one pass treatment using a discharge power of 0.3 W provided by a high voltage amplifier and a Marx Generator with MOSFET switches as pulsed power supplies. Moreover microplasma driven by the Marx Generator did not generate NOx as detected by a chemiluminescence NOx analyzer. In the case of large volume treatment the removal ratio of HCHO (initial concentration: 0.5 ppm) after 60 minutes was 51% at 1.2 kV when using HV amplifier considering also a 41% natural decay ratio of HCHO. The removal ratio was 54% at 1.2 kV when a Marx Generator energized the electrodes with a 44% natural decay ratio after 60 minutes of treatment.
Performance of Eudragit Coated Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator-Based Immunosensors
Authors: Giannetti Ambra , Berneschi Simone , Baldini Francesco , Cosi Franco , Conti Gualtiero Nunzi , Soria Silvia
Published: October 2012

Whispering gallery mode resonators (WGMR) are an efficient tool for the realization of optical biosensors. A high Q factor preservation is a crucial requirement for good biosensor performances. In this work we present an Eudragit®L100 coated microspherical WGMR as an efficient immunosensor. The developed resonator was morphologically characterized using fluorescence microscopy. The functionalization process was tuned to preserve the high Q factor of the resonator. The protein binding assay was optically characterized in terms of specificity in buffer solution.
Working Stiff(s) on Reality Television during the Great Recession
Authors: Brayton Sean
Published: October 2012

This essay traces some of the narratives and cultural politics of work on reality television after the economic crash of 2008. Specifically, it discusses the emergence of paid labor shows like Ax Men, Black Gold and Coal and a resurgent interest in working bodies at a time when the working class in the US seems all but consigned to the dustbin of history. As an implicit response to the crisis of masculinity during the Great Recession these programs present an imagined revival of manliness through the valorization of muscle work, which can be read in dialectical ways that pivot around the white male body in peril. In Ax Men, Black Gold and Coal, we find not only the return of labor but, moreover, the re-embodiment of value as loggers, roughnecks and miners risk both life and limb to reach company quotas. Paid labor shows, in other words, present a complicated popular pedagogy of late capitalism and the body, one that relies on anachronistic narratives of white masculinity in the workplace to provide an acute critique of expendability of the body and the hardships of physical labor.
Advanced Vaccine Candidates for Lassa Fever
Authors: Lukashevich Igor S.
Published: October 2012

Lassa virus (LASV) is the most prominent human pathogen of the Arenaviridae. The virus is transmitted to humans by a rodent reservoir, Mastomys natalensis, and is capable of causing lethal Lassa Fever (LF). LASV has the highest human impact of any of the viral hemorrhagic fevers (with the exception of Dengue Fever) with an estimated several hundred thousand infections annually, resulting in thousands of deaths in Western Africa. The sizeable disease burden, numerous imported cases of LF in non-endemic countries, and the possibility that LASV can be used as an agent of biological warfare make a strong case for vaccine development. Presently there is no licensed vaccine against LF or approved treatment. Recently, several promising vaccine candidates have been developed which can potentially target different groups at risk. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the LASV pathogenesis and immune mechanisms involved in protection. The current status of pre-clinical development of the advanced vaccine candidates that have been tested in non-human primates will be discussed. Major scientific, manufacturing, and regulatory challenges will also be considered.
Silencing and Innate Immunity in Plant Defense Against Viral and Non-Viral Pathogens
Authors: Zvereva Anna , Pooggin Mikhail
Published: October 2012

The frontline of plant defense against non-viral pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and oomycetes is provided by transmembrane pattern recognition receptors that detect conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), leading to pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). To counteract this innate defense, pathogens deploy effector proteins with a primary function to suppress PTI. In specific cases, plants have evolved intracellular resistance (R) proteins detecting isolate-specific pathogen effectors, leading to effector-triggered immunity (ETI), an amplified version of PTI, often associated with hypersensitive response (HR) and programmed cell death (PCD). In the case of plant viruses, no conserved PAMP was identified so far and the primary plant defense is thought to be based mainly on RNA silencing, an evolutionary conserved, sequence-specific mechanism that regulates gene expression and chromatin states and represses invasive nucleic acids such as transposons. Endogenous silencing pathways generate 21-24 nt small (s)RNAs, miRNAs and short interfering (si)RNAs, that repress genes post-transcriptionally and/or transcriptionally. Four distinct Dicer-like (DCL) proteins, which normally produce endogenous miRNAs and siRNAs, all contribute to the biogenesis of viral siRNAs in infected plants. Growing evidence indicates that RNA silencing also contributes to plant defense against non-viral pathogens. Conversely, PTI-based innate responses may contribute to antiviral defense. Intracellular R proteins of the same NB-LRR family are able to recognize both non-viral effectors and avirulence (Avr) proteins of RNA viruses, and, as a result, trigger HR and PCD in virus-resistant hosts. In some cases, viral Avr proteins also function as silencing suppressors. We hypothesize that RNA silencing and innate immunity (PTI and ETI) function in concert to fight plant viruses. Viruses counteract this dual defense by effectors that suppress both PTI-/ETI-based innate responses and RNA silencing to establish successful infection.
Role of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) in Understanding Viral Immunology: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Zhou Xin , Ramachandran Srividya , Mann Margaret , Popkin Daniel L.
Published: October 2012

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a common infection of rodents first identified over eighty years ago in St. Louis, MO, U.S.A. It is best known for its application in immunological studies. The history of LCMV closely correlates with the development of modern immunology. With the use of LCMV as a model pathogen several key concepts have emerged: Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) restriction, T cell memory, persistent infections, T cell exhaustion and the key role of immune pathology in disease. Given the phenomenal infrastructure within this field (e.g., defined immunodominant and subdominant epitopes to all T cell receptor specificities as well as the cognate tetramers for enumeration in vivo) the study of LCMV remains an active and productive platform for biological research across the globe to this day. Here we present a historical primer that highlights several breakthroughs since the discovery of LCMV. Next, we highlight current research in the field and conclude with our predictions for future directions in the remarkable field of LCMV research.
Comparative Genomics of Korean Infectious Bronchitis Viruses (IBVs) and an Animal Model to Evaluate Pathogenicity of IBVs to the Reproductive Organs
Authors: Hong Seung-Min , Kwon Hyuk-Joon , Kim Il-Hwan , Mo Mei-Lan , Kim Jae-Hong
Published: October 2012

The K-I and nephropathogenic K-II genotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have been isolated since 1995 and 1990, respectively, in Korea and commercial inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines containing KM91 (K-II type) and Massachusetts 41 strains have been used in the field. To date, genomic analyses of Korean IBV strains and animal models to test the pathogenicity of Korean IBVs to the reproductive organs have been rare. In the present study, comparative genomics of SNU8067 (K-I type) and KM91 IBVs was performed, and an animal model to test the pathogenicity of SNU8067 was established and applied to vaccine efficacy test. The genome sizes of SNU8067 (27,708 nt) and KM91 (27,626 nt) were slightly different and the nucleotide and amino acid identities of the S1 (79%, 77%), 3a (65%, 52%), and 3b (81%, 72%) genes were lower than those of other genes (94%–97%, 92%–98%). A recombination analysis revealed that SNU8067 was a recombinant virus with a KM91-like backbone except S1, 3a, and 3b genes which might be from an unknown virus. An SNU8067 infection inhibited formation of hierarchal ovarian follicles (80%) and oviduct maturation (50%) in the control group, whereas 70% of vaccinated chickens were protected from lesions.
Administration of a Soluble Activin Type IIB Receptor Promotes the Transplantation of Human Myoblasts in Dystrophic Mice
Authors: Fakhfakh Raouia , Lee Se-Jin , Tremblay Jacques P.
Published: October 2012

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive disease caused by a dystrophin gene mutation. Myoblast transplantation permits the introduction of the dystrophin gene into dystrophic muscle fibers. However, this strategy has so far produced limited results. Modulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling promotes skeletal muscle differentiation and growth and myogenic regeneration. We investigated the possibility that the combination of TGF-β superfamily signaling inhibition with myoblast transplantation might be an effective therapeutic approach in dystrophin-deficient patients. In vitro, blocking myostatin and other ligands with a soluble form of the extracellular domain of the activin IIB receptor (ActRIIB/Fc) upregulated the expression of myogenic differentiation factors and increased human myoblast fusion. In vivo, systemic inhibition of activin IIB receptor signaling by delivery of ActRIIB/Fc increased the success of the myoblast transplantation. This effect was further increased by forcing the mice to swim weekly to induce cycles of muscle degeneration and regeneration. Treatment of dystrophic mice with ActRIIB/Fc led to increased body weight, increased skeletal muscle mass, and improved myoblast transplantation. Thus, ActRIIB/Fc represents an effective therapeutic strategy for muscular dystrophies, and its effects are enhanced when combined with muscle exercise.
Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Support Nontumorigenic Expansion of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Ding Dah-Ching , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Lin Shinn-Zong , Liu Hwan-Wun , Chiou Shih-Hwa , Chu Tang-Yuan
Published: October 2012

The expansion of pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) requires a culture on feeder layers of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The culture model often causes immunogenic contaminations such as xenocarbohydrate, and inevitably forms teratoma in vivo. This study tested human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) as the feeder for hESCs. Wharton's jelly-derived HUCMSCs showed characteristics of MSCs and were easily maintained in a culture for over 20 passages. Under the mitomycin-inhibited HUCMSC feeder, hESCs maintained the features of embryonic stem cells (pluripotency and maintenance of normal karyotypes) after a prolonged culture of more than 20 passages. Notably, in extensive trials, no teratoma was formed in xenograft in NOD/SCID mice, but subsequent resumption of teratoma formation was noted upon transient coculturing with MEFs. Interestingly, among the four pluripotency-conferring genes, MYC and OCT4 were found to be downregulated in hESCs cocultured with HUCMSCs. Results of this study supported a nontumorigenic sustained culture of hESCs and did not form teratoma in vivo.
Selective Depletion of Alloreactive T Cells Leads to Long-Term Islet Allograft Survival across a Major Histocompatibility Complex Mismatch in Diabetic Mice
Authors: Hu M. , Wu J. , Zhang G. Y. , Wang Y. M. , Watson D. , Yi S. , Hawthorne W. J. , O'connell P. J. , Alexander S. I.
Published: October 2012

Islet cell transplantation as a therapy for type 1 diabetes has been limited by progressive graft loss. Significant immunosuppression including T-cell ablation has been used in an attempt to limit islet rejection. Here, we show that CD3+lymphocytes depleted of alloreactive T cells selected from a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), where responder BALB/c splenocytes stained with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) were stimulated with irradiated C57BL/6 splenocytes for 5 days, infused into diabetic immunodeficient mice are capable of restoring a broad T-cell repertoire and specifically do not reject islet transplants from the strain (C57BL/6) used in the original depletion. These mice demonstrate reconstitution with CD4+and CD8+T cells, the capacity to reject third-party grafts (CBA), and restoration of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) responses to third-party alloantigens. Over time, both forkhead box P3-positive (Foxp3+) T regulatory cells (Tregs) and γδ T cells expand, suggesting a role for peripheral tolerance, in addition to the initial depletion of alloreactive T cells, in long-term islet graft survival. Our results suggest that immune restoration with CD3+lymphocytes where alloreactive T cells are removed can restore cognate immunity without islet allograft loss and recurrence of diabetes.
Microsatellite primers for the endangered beech tree, Fagus hayatae (Fagaceae)
Authors: Ju Li‐Ping , Shih Huei‐Chuan , Chiang Yu‐Chung
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the endangered species Fagus hayatae (Fagaceae) to investigate the genetic diversity of the population and to investigate species delimitation within Fagus.

• Methods and Results: Ten polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers were developed for F. hayatae using a magnetic bead enrichment method. The primers amplified trinucleotides, hexanucleotides, and complex repeats with six to 16 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities across loci varied, with a range of 0.05–0.71 and 0.63–0.91, respectively. Most of the primers also amplified DNA from F. crenata, F. grandifolia, F. japonica, F. longipetiolata, F. lucida, F. orientalis, and F. sylvatica.

• Conclusions: These results indicate that these polymorphic loci of F. hayatae will be potentially useful for future studies of the population genetic diversity within the species. In addition, the interspecific amplification indicates that these transferable microsatellite markers will also be useful for future phylogeographic and speciation studies among close Fagus species.
Characterization of 39 novel EST‐SSR markers for Liriodendron tulipifera and cross‐species amplification in L. chinense (Magnoliaceae)
Authors: Yang Ai‐Hong , Zhang Jin‐Ju , Tian Hua , Yao Xiao‐Hong
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: A novel set of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed and characterized from the expressed sequence tag (EST) database of Liriodendron tulipifera for application in population genetic studies of Liriodendron.

• Methods and Results: Thirty‐nine polymorphic EST‐SSR loci were identified among 27 individuals sampled from a cultivated population of L. tulipifera. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 18. The average observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.684 and 0.778, respectively. Of the 39 loci, 32 showed interspecific transferability and polymorphism in a related species, L. chinense. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 11, and the average observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.475 and 0.736, respectively.

• Conclusions: The developed EST‐SSR markers will be useful for investigating adaptive genetic differentiation in Liriodendron.
Development of microsatellite markers for Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Myrtaceae), a wild South American species
Authors: Morgante Patrícia Gleydes , Sebastião Isis , Silveira Lilian Elena Duarte , Mori Gustavo M. , Conte Monica , Coffani‐Nunes João Vicente
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: We developed the first set of microsatellite markers for Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus to support further studies on genetic diversity and to inform conservation strategies.

• Methods and Results: The microsatellite‐enriched library approach was used to isolate and characterize 12 new molecular markers. It was possible to detect 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci and one monomorphic locus. The polymorphism information content ranged from 0.317 to 0.869.

• Conclusions: These molecular markers will be valuable tools to aid in understanding the biology of P. pseudocaryophyllus and to detect ongoing consequences of its exploitation, in the context of conservation genetics.
Eleven diverse nuclear‐encoded phylogenetic markers for the subfamily Panicoideae (Poaceae)
Authors: Estep Matt C. , Vela Diaz Dilys M. , Zhong Jinshun , Kellogg Elizabeth A.
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: Polyploidy is common in the grasses and low‐copy nuclear loci are needed to further our understanding of phylogenetic relationships.

• Methods and Results: Genetic and genomic resources were combined to identify loci known to influence plant and inflorescence architecture. Degenerate primers were designed and tested to amplify regions of 11 nuclear‐encoded loci across the panicoid grasses.

• Conclusions: The primers designed in this study amplify regions of a diverse set of genes within the panicoid grasses. Properly employed, these markers will allow the identification of allopolyploid taxa and their diploid progenitors.
HCV Genotype 5: An Orphan Virus
Authors: Antaki Nabil , Abboud Dirar , Antaki Fadi , Craxi Antonio
Published: October 2012

HCV genotype 5 (HCV-5) is the least known HCV genotype. It is found mainly in South Africa and in restricted areas of Belgium, Spain, France, Syria and Greece. Sporadic cases are reported worldwide. The main modes of transmission are blood transfusion and iatrogenic causes. Little is known about its origin, but various studies have elucidated its spread worldwide. In endemic areas, patients infected with HCV-5 are on average older and have a higher viral load and more advanced fibrosis than those infected with non-HCV-5 genotypes. The current standard of care for HCV-5 chronic infection is 48 weeks of dual therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. ‘Favourable’ Il28B polymorphisms are not associated with higher sustained viral response rates. Assessment of shorter duration of therapy is made difficult by the lack of identifable baseline predictors of response. Whilst there are in vitro data showing good activity of some direct-acting antivirals and of host-targeted agents against HCV-5, no clinical trials of these molecules have yet started.
Itinéraire d'un sociologue
Authors: Galland Olivier
Published: October 2012

Résumé Au cours de cet entretien, Olivier Galland retrace son parcours de sociologue, depuis des études initiales qui l’ont amené à rencontrer des personnalités l’ayant marqué jusqu’à l’évolution plus récente de ses travaux. Il montre ainsi comment il a pu concevoir progressivement un modèle conceptuel de l’« entrée dans la vie ». Il aborde par ailleurs les débats sociologiques actuels et ouvre des perspectives de travail, notamment sur l’adolescence comme âge de la vie.
Les collégiens et la transmission familiale d'un capital informatique
Authors: Fluckiger Cédric
Published: October 2012

Résumé Bien que ce soit avant tout dans le groupe de pairs que les adolescents trouvent des ressources pour s’approprier les outils informatiques, leurs usages des ordinateurs se déroulent en partie au sein de la famille. Cet article vise à étudier les modalités concrètes d’appropriation des technologies informatiques dans le cadre familial, en introduisant et en questionnant la notion de « capital informatique ».
Les fanfictions, nouveau lieu d'expression de soi pour la jeunesse ?
Authors: François Sébastien
Published: October 2012

Résumé Les fanfictions , c’est-à-dire les récits de fans sur Internet, sont une pratique d’écriture en expansion dont se sont principalement emparés les jeunes et surtout les jeunes filles. Que nous apprennent sur la jeunesse ces textes ? Comment cette activité s’insère-t-elle parmi les autres goûts et pratiques des auteurs ? Les fiches de présentation des internautes qui s’inspirent des romans et des films, Harry Potter pour écrire leurs récits seront nos guides pour entrer dans ce domaine encore mal connu de la recherche française.