bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quadriceps muscle strength in scoliosis
Authors: Swallow E. B. , Barreiro E. , Gosker H. , Sathyapala S. A. , Sanchez F. , Hopkinson N. S. , Moxham J. , Schols A. , Gea J. , Polkey M. I.
Published: May 2009

Quadriceps muscle weakness is an important component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesised that quadriceps weakness would also be a feature of restrictive lung disease due to scoliosis.

We studied 10 patients with severe scoliosis (median (interquartile range (IQR)) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)35.3 (11)% predicted), 10 patients with severe COPD (FEV126.5 (9.0)% pred) and 10 healthy age-matched adults. We measured quadriceps strength, exercise capacity and analysed quadriceps muscle biopsies for myosin heavy-chain (MyHC) isoform expression and the presence of oxidative stress.

Both groups exhibited quadriceps weakness with median (IQR) maximal voluntary contraction force being 46.0 (17.0) kg, 21.5 (21.0) kg and 31.5 (11.0) kg, respectively (p = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively, for each patient group against controls). Oxidative stress was significantly greater in the quadriceps of both restrictive and COPD patients. The scoliosis patients exhibited a decrease in the proportion of MyHC type I compared with controls; median (IQR) 35.3 (18.5)% compared with 47.7 (9.3)%, p = 0.028. The scoliosis patients also showed an increase in MyHC IIx (26.3 (15.5)% compared with 11.3 (13.0)%, p = 0.01.

Quadriceps weakness is a feature of severe scoliosis; the similarities between patients with scoliosis and patients with COPD suggest a common aetiology to quadriceps weakness in both conditions.
3-Nitrotyrosine inhibits fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction and chemotaxis
Authors: Sugiura H. , Liu X. , Ichikawa T. , Ichinose M. , Rennard S. I.
Published: May 2009

Reactive nitrogen species induce tissue inflammation and nitrate tyrosine residues of various kinds of proteins. Recent studies have established that the free amino acid form of 3-nitrotyrosine induces cytotoxity and growth inhibition and alters the cellular function in cultured cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 3-nitrotyrosine could affect tissue remodelling in fibroblasts. To accomplish this, human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) were used to assess the fibroblast-mediated contraction of floating gels and chemotaxis towards fibronectin. In addition, the ability of fibroblasts to release fibronectin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, fibronectin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was assessed. 3-Nitrotyrosine significantly inhibited gel contraction (p<0.01) compared with control and this inhibition was abolished by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. 3-Nitrotyrosine did not affect TGF-β1 and VEGF but significantly decreased fibronectin release (p<0.01) into the media. 3-Nitrotyrosine significantly inhibited chemotaxis towards fibronectin through suppression of α5β1integrin expression (p<0.01). NOS inhibitor also reversed 3-nitrotyrosine-inhibited chemotaxis (p<0.01). Finally, 3-nitrotyrosine enhanced the expression of the inducible type of NOS (p<0.01) and nitric oxide release (p<0.01) through nuclear factor-κB activation. These results suggest that the free amino acid form of 3-nitrotyrosine can affect the tissue repair process by modulating nitric oxide production.
Systematic identification of transcription factors associated with patient survival in cancers
Authors: Cheng Chao , Li Lei M , Alves Pedro , Gerstein Mark
Published: May 2009

Background

Aberrant activation or expression of transcription factors has been implicated in the tumorigenesis of various types of cancer. In spite of the prevalent application of microarray experiments for profiling gene expression in cancer samples, they provide limited information regarding the activities of transcription factors. However, the association between transcription factors and cancers is largely dependent on the transcription regulatory activities rather than mRNA expression levels.

Results

In this paper, we propose a computational approach that integrates microarray expression data with the transcription factor binding site information to systematically identify transcription factors associated with patient survival given a specific cancer type. This approach was applied to two gene expression data sets for breast cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. We found that two transcription factor families, the steroid nuclear receptor family and the ATF/CREB family, are significantly correlated with the survival of patients with breast cancer; and that a transcription factor named T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia 1 is significantly correlated with acute myeloid leukemia patient survival.

Conclusion

Our analysis identifies transcription factors associating with patient survival and provides insight into the regulatory mechanism underlying the breast cancer and leukemia. The transcription factors identified by our method are biologically meaningful and consistent with prior knowledge. As an insightful tool, this approach can also be applied to other microarray cancer data sets to help researchers better understand the intricate relationship between transcription factors and diseases.
Genes within the serotonergic system are differentially expressed in human brain
Authors: Sugden Karen , Tichopad Ales , Khan Nadeem , Craig Ian W , D'Souza Ursula M
Published: May 2009

Background

Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter with wide-ranging functions throughout the central nervous system. There is strong evidence to suggest that regulation of serotonergic gene expression might be related to genetic variability, and several studies have focused on understanding the functional effects of specific polymorphisms within these genes on expression levels. However, the combination of genotype together with gender and brain region could have an overall effect on gene expression. In this study, we report expression patterns of five serotonergic genes (TPH1, TPH2, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HTT) in seven different human post-mortem brain regions (superior frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, striatum, cerebellum, hippocampus, midbrain and thalamus) using TaqMan™ real-time quantitative PCR. In addition, the effect of genotype and gender on their expression levels was determined.

Results

The data revealed that mRNA from the five genes investigated was detected in all brain regions and showed an overall significant difference in expression levels. Furthermore, the expression of 5-HT2C, 5-HT2A and TPH2 was found to be significantly different between the various brain regions. However, neither gender nor genotype showed significant effects on the expression levels of any of the genes assayed. Interestingly, TPH1 and TPH2 were expressed in all brain regions similarly except for within the striatum and cerebellum, where TPH1 was expressed at a significantly higher level than TPH2.

Conclusion

The effect of brain region has a greater influence on serotonergic gene expression than either genotype or gender. These data add to the growing body of evidence that effects of functional polymorphisms on gene expression in vitro are not observed ex vivo, and provide information that will aid in the design of expression studies of the serotonergic gene system within human post-mortem brain.
Both SEPT2 and MLL are down-regulated in MLL-SEPT2therapy-related myeloid neoplasia
Authors: Cerveira Nuno , Santos Joana , Bizarro Susana , Costa Vera , Ribeiro Franclim R , Lisboa Susana , Correia Cecília , Torres Lurdes , Vieira Joana , Snijder Simone , Mariz José M , Norton Lucília , Mellink Clemens H , Buijs Arjan , Teixeira Manuel R
Published: May 2009

Background

A relevant role of septins in leukemogenesis has been uncovered by their involvement as fusion partners in MLL-related leukemia. Recently, we have established the MLL-SEPT2 gene fusion as the molecular abnormality subjacent to the translocation t(2;11)(q37;q23) in therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia. In this work we quantified MLL and SEPT2 gene expression in 58 acute myeloid leukemia patients selected to represent the major AML genetic subgroups, as well as in all three cases of MLL-SEPT2-associated myeloid neoplasms so far described in the literature.

Methods

Cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and molecular studies (RT-PCR, qRT-PCR and qMSP) were used to characterize 58 acute myeloid leukemia patients (AML) at diagnosis selected to represent the major AML genetic subgroups: CBFB-MYH11 (n = 13), PML-RARA (n = 12); RUNX1-RUNX1T1 (n = 12), normal karyotype (n = 11), and MLL gene fusions other than MLL-SEPT2 (n = 10). We also studied all three MLL-SEPT2 myeloid neoplasia cases reported in the literature, namely two AML patients and a t-MDS patient.

Results

When compared with normal controls, we found a 12.8-fold reduction of wild-type SEPT2 and MLL-SEPT2 combined expression in cases with the MLL-SEPT2 gene fusion (p = 0.007), which is accompanied by a 12.4-fold down-regulation of wild-type MLL and MLL-SEPT2 combined expression (p = 0.028). The down-regulation of SEPT2 in MLL-SEPT2 myeloid neoplasias was statistically significant when compared with all other leukemia genetic subgroups (including those with other MLL gene fusions). In addition, MLL expression was also down-regulated in the group of MLL fusions other than MLL-SEPT2, when compared with the normal control group (p = 0.023)

Conclusion

We found a significant down-regulation of both SEPT2 and MLL in MLL-SEPT2 myeloid neoplasias. In addition, we also found that MLL is under-expressed in AML patients with MLL fusions other than MLL-SEPT2.
Differential Signaling Activation by Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factors I and II upon Binding to Insulin Receptor Isoform A
Authors: Sacco Antonella , Morcavallo Alaide , Pandini Giuseppe , Vigneri Riccardo , Belfiore Antonino
Published: May 2009

A variety of human malignancies overexpresses isoform A of the insulin receptor (IR-A) and produces IGFs (IGF-I and/or IGF-II). IR-A binds IGF-II with high affinity (although 4-fold lower than that for insulin), whereas it binds IGF-I with low affinity (approximately 30-fold lower than that for insulin). However, in engineered cells expressing only the IR-A, but not IGF-I receptor (R−/IR-A cells), IGF-II is a more potent mitogen than insulin. Herein, we investigated downstream signaling of IGF-II, IGF-I, and insulin in R−/IR-A cells to better understand their role in cell growth. We found that despite inducing a lower IR-A autophosphorylation than insulin, IGF-II was more potent than insulin for activating p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) and approximately equally potent in activating the early peaks of ERK1/2 and Akt. However, ERK1/2 activation persisted longer after IGF-II, whereas Akt activation persisted longer after insulin. Therefore, cells stimulated with IGF-II had a higher p70S6K/Akt activation ratio than cells stimulated with insulin. Remarkably, IGF-I also elicited a similar signaling pattern as IGF-II, despite inducing minimal IR-A autophosphorylation. ERK1/2 and protein kinase C seem to be involved in the preferential stimulation of p70S6K by IGFs. In conclusion, our study has identified a novel complex role of IR-A, which not only elicits a unique signaling pattern after IGF-II binding but also induces substantial downstream signaling upon binding to the low-affinity ligand IGF-I. These results underline the role of IR-A in physiology and disease.
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Characterization of Dihydrotestosterone-Induced Conformational Perturbations in Androgen Receptor Ligand-Binding Domain
Authors: Jasuja Ravi , Ulloor Jagadish , Yengo Christopher M. , Choong Karen , Istomin Andrei Y. , Livesay Dennis R. , Jacobs Donald J. , Swerdloff Ronald S. , Mikšovská Jaroslava , Larsen Randy W. , Bhasin Shalender
Published: May 2009

Ligand-induced conformational perturbations in androgen receptor (AR) are important in coactivator recruitment and transactivation. However, molecular rearrangements in AR ligand-binding domain (AR-LBD) associated with agonist binding and their kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are poorly understood. We used steady-state second-derivative absorption and emission spectroscopy, pressure and temperature perturbations, and 4,4′-bis-anilinonaphthalene 8-sulfonate (bis-ANS) partitioning to determine the kinetics and thermodynamics of the conformational changes in AR-LBD after dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binding. In presence of DHT, the second-derivative absorption spectrum showed a red shift and a change in peak-to-peak distance. Emission intensity increased upon DHT binding, and center of spectral mass was blue shifted, denoting conformational changes resulting in more hydrophobic environment for tyrosines and tryptophans within a more compact DHT-bound receptor. In pressure perturbation calorimetry, DHT-induced energetic stabilization increased the Gibbs free energy of unfolding to 8.4 ± 1.3 kcal/mol from 3.5 ± 1.6 kcal/mol. Bis-ANS partitioning studies revealed that upon DHT binding, AR-LBD underwent biphasic rearrangement with a high activation energy (13.4 kcal/mol). An initial, molten globule-like burst phase (k ∼30 sec−1) with greater solvent accessibility was followed by rearrangement (k ∼0.01 sec−1), leading to a more compact conformation than apo-AR-LBD. Molecular simulations demonstrated unique sensitivity of tyrosine and tryptophan residues during pressure unfolding with rearrangement of residues in the coactivator recruitment surfaces distant from the ligand-binding pocket. In conclusion, DHT binding leads to energetic stabilization of AR-LBD domain and substantial rearrangement of residues distant from the ligand-binding pocket. DHT binding to AR-LBD involves biphasic receptor rearrangement including population of a molten globule-like intermediate state.
Tethering, recycling and activation of the epithelial sodium–proton exchanger, NHE3
Authors: Alexander R. Todd , Grinstein Sergio
Published: May 2009

NHE3 is a sodium–proton exchanger expressed predominantly in the apical membrane of renal and intestinal epithelia, where it plays a key role in salt and fluid absorption and pH homeostasis. It performs these functions through the exchange of luminal sodium for cytosolic protons. Acute regulation of NHE3 function is mediated by altering the total number of exchangers in the plasma membrane as well as their individual activity. Traffic between endomembrane and plasmalemmal pools of NHE3 dictates the density of exchangers available at the cell surface. The activity of the plasmalemmal pool, however,is not fixed and can be altered by the association with modifier proteins, by post-translational alterations (such as cAMP-mediated phosphorylation) and possibly also via interaction with specific plasmalemmal phospholipids. Interestingly, association with cytoskeletal components affects both levels of regulation, tethering NHE3 molecules at the surface and altering their intrinsic activity. This paper reviews the role of proteins and lipids in the modulation of NHE3 function.
Important issues in tolerance design of mechanical assemblies. Part 1: Tolerance analysis
Authors: Singh P K , Jain P K , Jain S C
Published: May 2009

Tolerance design has become a very sensitive and important issue in product and process development because of increasing demand for quality products and the growing requirements for automation in manufacturing. It is an interactive process between design and manufacturing decision making. A systematic approach to tolerance design involves repeated computation following two alternate steps: (a) tolerance analysis and (b) tolerance synthesis. The focus of this part of the paper is on tolerance analysis. A brief discussion on the relevant background terminology has been presented. Details of research carried out and theories developed over the decades on different aspects of tolerance analysis have been discussed.
Quality Improvement Incentives and Product Recall Cost Sharing Contracts
Authors: Chao Gary H. , Iravani Seyed M. R. , Savaskan R. Canan
Published: May 2009

As companies outsource more product design and manufacturing activities to other members of the supply chain, improving end-product quality has become an endeavor extending beyond the boundaries of the firms' in-house process capabilities. In this paper, we discuss two contractual agreements by which product recall costs can be shared between a manufacturer and a supplier to induce quality improvement effort. More specifically, we consider (i) cost sharing based on selective root cause analysis (Contract S), and (ii) partial cost sharing based on complete root cause analysis (Contract P). Using insights from supermodular game theory, for each contractual agreement, we characterize the levels of effort the manufacturer and the supplier would exert in equilibrium to improve their component failure rate when their effort choices are subject to moral hazard. We show that both Contract S and Contract P can achieve the first best effort levels; however, Contract S results in higher profits for the manufacturer and the supply chain. For the case in which the information about the quality of the supplier's product is not revealed to the manufacturer (i.e., the case of information asymmetry), we develop a menu of contracts that can be used to mitigate the impact of information asymmetry. We show that the menu of contracts not only significantly decreases the manufacturer's cost due to information asymmetry, but also improves product quality.
Pioneering Inventors or Thicket Builders: Which U.S. Firms Use Continuations in Patenting?
Authors: Hegde Deepak , Mowery David C. , Graham Stuart J. H.
Published: May 2009

Why do firms use continuations in the prosecution of their patents? Motivated by the widespread use of continuations by U.S. firms and the prominence of this procedure in U.S. patent policy debates, we investigate the influence of corporate and patent characteristics on the use of continuations. We employ novel data on applicants and their filings of three types of continuations—the continuation application (CAP), the continuations in part (CIP), and divisions—during 1981–2000 to distinguish among the motives for continuing patents. We find that CIPs are disproportionately filed by research and development-intensive firms that patent heavily, and that these continuations are more common in chemical and biological technologies. Patents issuing from CIPs cover relatively important inventions and their use appears consistent with a strategy of protecting “pioneering inventions.” In contrast, CAPs and divisions are associated with less important patents assigned to capital-intensive firms, particularly in computer and semiconductor fields, and appear to be used in defensive patenting strategies. We analyze the effects of the 1995 change in patent term, and find that the act reduced continuations overall and shifted the output of continuations toward less important patents.
Sociology Finds Discrimination in the Law
Authors: Berrey Ellen
Published: May 2009

In 1988, Chris Burns, an African Americanman who builtmachinery for the military, injured his back on the job while carrying a heavy metal plate. He requested different work responsibilities and was fired soon after.
Cytomegalovirus-fertőzés terhességben
Authors: Pusztai Rozália
Published: May 2009

Absztrakt

A várandós anyák primer és rekurrens humán cytomegalovirus- (HCMV-) fertőzéséhez
társulhat a magzat fertőzése. A HCMV a congenitalis fertőzések leggyakoribb
okozója, amelynek legsúlyosabb következményei a szellemi visszamaradottság,
progrediáló halláskárosodás, látászavarok. Az anya primer fertőzését követi
leggyakrabban a magzat fertőzése, és a magzat károsodásai rendszerint súlyosak.
Növekszik az anyai rekurrens fertőzések után jelentkező, különböző súlyosságú
tünetekkel járó congenitalis HCMV-fertőzések száma. Az aktív HCMV-fertőzéssel
komplikált terhességek gondozásában döntő szerepet játszik a praenatalis
diagnosztika. A congenitalis HCMV-fertőzés potenciálisan súlyos következményei
ellenére kevés adat áll rendelkezésünkre a HCMV vertikális terjedésének
antivirális gyógyszerrel történő megelőzésére, de a passzív immunizálással
biztató eredmények vannak. Vakcina hiányában is elkerülhető a várandós anyák
aktív HCMV-fertőzése, ha felhívjuk a figyelmet a fertőzés veszélyeire és
ismertetjük a fertőzés megelőzésének lehetőségeit.
Regeneration of large urban areas: assessment methods
Authors: Kazmierczak A. E. , Curwell S. R. , Turner J. C.
Published: May 2009

Large urban distressed areas (LUDAs) are places, present in many European cities, where interlinked social, economic and environmental problems occur at a significant spatial scale. Due to their size, complexity of problems and uncertain future, sustainable regeneration of LUDAs is very difficult. To redevelop LUDAs, rational and effective decision making is necessary, and this needs to be supported by appropriate use of ex-ante assessments (i.e. assessments preceding the implementation of regeneration projects). The aim of this paper is to report work undertaken in the fifth framework programme of the European Commission research project, which investigated the state of knowledge about ex-ante assessment methods on a sample of nine European research institutions and six municipalities. A questionnaire containing a list of ex-ante assessment methods relevant to LUDAs was distributed to question respondents about their theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the methods. The results showed that, while knowledge of assessment methods among researchers and practitioners was satisfactory, practical application was less advanced. The paper highlights a need for the development of ex-ante assessment methods specifically related to economic and structural aspects of urban regeneration and calls for more guidance for urban practitioners on the application of assessment methods.
Upgrading historic cities by integrated and innovative solutions
Authors: Zhu L. , Goethert R.
Published: May 2009

During the ongoing rapid urbanisation process, many Chinese cities have redeveloped their inner city with large-scale demolishment and relocation. Yangzhou has adopted a different approach, and is actively taking measures to save and improve its historic centre. A substantial historical area of 5·1 km2 with about 110 000 residents, characterised by one- to two-storey traditional courtyard buildings and narrow lanes, remains. The old city is a rich heritage resource attractive to both tourists and residents. However, the houses are in disrepair, the infrastructure is insufficient and the historic area is facing an increasing risk of deterioration. To link heritage preservation with the improvement of living conditions, the Yangzhou municipal government, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Cities Alliance have embarked on a programme of sustainable urban conservation by upgrading traditional urban neighbourhoods and supporting self-help initiatives. In a pilot block, integrated concepts were developed. Innovative technical solutions appropriate to the narrow lanes were designed and tested. Infrastructure was installed and standards were developed. Concepts and measures of ecological water cycle management were introduced at the municipal level. Residents were involved through a community action planning (CAP) approach. They agreed on appropriate standards and became involved in upgrading their houses and lane façades. The initial successful experience is being planned for use throughout the entire historical area. Expanding the process as a model for other historic cities in China is also being considered.
Axially loaded RC columns strengthened by steel cages
Authors: Adam J. M. , Ivorra S. , Pallares F. J. , Giménez E. , Calderón P. A.
Published: May 2009

Steel caging is routinely used to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) columns in many countries. This paper studies the behaviour of RC columns strengthened by this technique. Following the results obtained from an experimental study, all the specimens are modelled by the finite-element (FE) method. After verifying the FE models, a parametric study is carried out, determining how variations in the parameters affect the behaviour of the strengthened column. FE models are used to compare the ultimate load of RC columns strengthened by steel cages with that obtained from two design rules, showing one of them very conservative and in good agreement with the other. This proposal can be used with confidence for design, since the results obtained are slightly conservative.
A Rights-Based Approach to Food Insecurity in the United States
Authors: Chilton Mariana , Rose Donald
Published: May 2009

Food insecurity is a serious public health problem associated with poor cognitive and emotional development in children and with depression and poor health in adults. Despite sizable continued investments in federal food assistance, food insecurity still affects 11.1% of US households—almost the same rate as in 1995, when annual measurement began. As a fresh approach to solving the problem of food insecurity, we suggest adoption of a human rights framework. This approach could actively engage those affected and would ensure that food security monitoring would be compared to benchmarks in national action plans. We describe key elements of a right-to-food approach, review challenges to implementing it, and suggest actions to foster its adoption.
Patnè en Aksyon: Addressing Cancer Disparities in Little Haiti Through Research and Social Action
Authors: Kobetz Erin , Menard Janelle , Barton Betsy , Pierre Laurinus , Diem Joshua , Auguste Pascale Denize
Published: May 2009

Haitian women living in Miami, Florida, experience an increased risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer compared with women in other racial/ethnic minority and immigrant groups in the area. In response to this disparity, academic investigators from a local university-based cancer center and community leaders from Little Haiti, the predominately Haitian neighborhood in Miami, created Patnè en Aksyon (Partners in Action), a campus-community partnership. We describe the partnership's effort to document the prevalence of lifetime and routine Papanicolau test use using community-based participatory research methods. Community health workers indigenous to the area recruited participants from various community venues throughout Little Haiti and administered informal, brief interviews to assess their screening practices. The results indicate that Haitian women are underscreened and underscore the importance of community involvement in study implementation.
The Relationship Between Remittances and Health Care Provision in Mexico
Authors: Frank Reanne , Palma-Coca Oswaldo , Rauda-Esquivel Juan , Olaiz-Fernández Gustavo , Díaz-Olavarrieta Claudia , Acevedo-García Dolores
Published: May 2009

Objectives. We examined whether remittances sent from the United States to Mexico were used to access health care in Mexico.

Methods. Data were from a 2006 survey of 2 localities in the municipal city of Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. We used logistic regression to determine whether household remittance expenditure on health care was associated with type of health insurance coverage.

Results. Individuals who lacked insurance coverage or who were covered by the Seguro Popular program were significantly more likely to reside in households that spend remittances on health care than were individuals covered by an employer-based insurance program.

Conclusions. Improving the coverage and quality of care within Mexico's health care system will help ensure that remittances serve as a complement, and not a substitute, to formal access to care.
Health Disparities Among Mexican American Women Aged 15–44 Years: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004
Authors: Wingo Phyllis A. , Kulkarni Aniket , Borrud Lori G. , McDonald Jill A. , Villalobos Susie A. , Green Diane C.
Published: May 2009

Objectives. We analyzed the health of Mexican American women aged 15 to 44 years, by generation and language preference, to guide planning for reproductive health services in this growing population.

Methods. We used personal interview and medical examination data from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. We used SUDAAN for calculating age-adjusted prevalence estimates of demographic and health characteristics. The Satterthwaite adjusted F test and Student t test were used for subgroup comparisons.

Results. The women had different health profiles (P < .05) by generation and language preference. Second- and later-generation women and women who used more English were more likely to be sexually active, to have been younger at first intercourse, and to have had more male sexual partners than were first-generation women and women who used more Spanish. Compared with their first-generation counterparts, second- and later-generation women drank more alcohol, were better educated, had higher incomes, and were more likely to have health insurance. Third-generation women were more likely to have delivered a low-birthweight baby than were first-generation women.

Conclusions. Differences by generation and language preference suggest that acculturation should be considered when planning interventions to promote healthy reproductive behaviors among Mexican American women.
Reducing the Impact of the Health Care Access Crisis Through Volunteerism: A Means, Not an End
Authors: Geletko Karen W. , Beitsch Leslie M. , Lundberg Mark , Brooks Robert G.
Published: May 2009

In the absence of meaningful health reform, Florida implemented a volunteer health care program to strengthen the existing safety net. Since program implementation in 1992, over $1 billion of services have been provided to uninsured and underserved populations. Currently, over 20 000 volunteers participate statewide. Key incentives for provider participation have been an organized framework for volunteering and liability protection through state-sponsored sovereign immunity. Volunteerism, although not a solution to the health care crisis, serves as a valuable adjunct pending full-scale health care reform.
Childhood Abuse and Early Menarche: Findings From the Black Women's Health Study
Authors: Wise Lauren A. , Palmer Julie R. , Rothman Emily F. , Rosenberg Lynn
Published: May 2009

Objectives. We examined the association between childhood abuse and early menarche in a sample of US Black women.

Methods. We conducted multivariable log-binomial regression on data from 35 330 participants in the Black Women's Health Study to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the relation of childhood physical and sexual abuse with early age at menarche (i.e., < 12 years).

Results. In adjusted analyses, sexual abuse was positively associated with early menarche, and the risk of early menarche increased with increasing frequency of sexual abuse incidents. We observed a weak but statistically significant association between physical abuse and early menarche. Associations between sexual abuse and early menarche were stronger when we used a more stringent cutpoint for early menarche (i.e., < 11 years).

Conclusions. Our data suggest an increased risk of early menarche among Black women who experienced childhood sexual abuse. Evidence for an association between childhood physical abuse and early menarche was equivocal.
Overexpression of AtLEAFY Accelerates Flowering in Brassica juncea
Authors: Roy Suchandra Deb , Saxena Mukesh , Bhalla‐Sarin Neera
Published: May 2009

The floral meristem identity gene LEAFY (LFY) from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. can accelerate flowering in dicotyledonous plants. In this report, we raised transgenic plants of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. cv. Varuna carrying the LEAFY gene (LFY) in sense and antisense orientation and studied the effect of modulation of LFY expression on flowering. The time required for the initiation of flowering was found to be reduced by 19% (∼1 wk earlier) in the transgenic plants overexpressing LFY as compared with the wild‐type untransformed control plants. Moreover, no significant yield penalty was observed in these transgenic plants. Altogether, these results open up the possibility of manipulating the flowering time in B. juncea without significant yield penalty or abnormalities.
Creeping Bentgrass Putting Green Turf Responses to Two Irrigation Practices: Quality, Chlorophyll, Canopy Temperature, and Thatch–Mat
Authors: Fu Jinmin , Dernoeden Peter H.
Published: May 2009

Frequent vs. infrequent irrigation are two common irrigation practices. This field study was conducted on ‘Providence’ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) grown on a sand‐based rootzone and maintained as a putting green. The objectives of this study were to measure several creeping bentgrass performance and physiological factors as influenced by light and frequent (LF) vs. deep and infrequent (DI) irrigation. The LF plots were irrigated daily to moisten the upper 4 to 6 cm of soil, while DI plots were irrigated at leaf wilt to wet soil to a depth of ≥24 cm. The LF‐irrigated creeping bentgrass exhibited very good color and quality throughout most of 2006 and 2007, whereas DI‐irrigated bentgrass exhibited acceptable quality in 2007 but not in 2006. The DI‐irrigated bentgrass had lower chlorophyll levels in leaf and sheath tissue in 2006, but developed better color and quality and had higher chlorophyll levels in late summer of 2007 vs. LF‐irrigated bentgrass. Creeping bentgrass subjected to DI irrigation developed a less thick thatch–mat layer that contained less organic matter than that found in LF‐irrigated plots. Twice the amount of water was applied to the LF‐ vs. the DI‐irrigated plots.
Transfer of Leaf Rust and Stripe Rust Resistance Genes Lr62 and Yr42 from Aegilops neglecta Req. ex Bertol. to Common Wheat
Authors: Marais Francois , Marais Ansie , McCallum Brent , Pretorius Zacharias
Published: May 2009

Continued genetic control of the cereal rusts depends on the availability of effective resistance genes. The wild relatives of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) constitute a source of such genes. Wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) resistant Aegilops neglecta accession 155 was crossed with ‘Chinese Spring’. Resistant progeny were initially backcrossed to Chinese Spring and later to Chinese Spring‐Short (a short‐strawed near‐isogenic line) to develop an addition line. Advanced backcross progeny segregated for a resistance gene (designated Lr62) located on an addition chromosome, as well as a resistant phenotype apparently contributed by dominant complementary genes of the wheat genomes. On its own, Lr62 produced infection type (IT); however, in the presence of the two complementary genes its expression was modified to an intermediate response. The addition chromosome appeared to have homeology with group 3 chromosomes of wheat. While attempting to transfer the resistance through allosyndetic pairing induction to a group 3 wheat chromosome, a spontaneous translocation occurred. Aneuploid and microsatellite analyses showed that the translocation involved wheat chromosome 6A, suggesting that the addition chromosome may also have partial homeology to group 6. Microsatellite and meiotic pairing data suggested the presence of a large segment of foreign chromatin replacing the entire 6AS arm and a proximal part of 6AL. Lr62 was effective against a wide range of South African and western Canadian Puccinia triticina pathotypes. In addition to Lr62, the translocation line, 03M119‐71A, carried a seedling stripe rust resistance gene (designated Yr42) effective against South African pathotypes of P. striiformis The resistance genes can be of significant commercial value, however, it may be necessary to further tailor this fairly big translocation through allosyndetic pairing induction.
Water Deficit Effect on the Relationship between Temperature during the Seed Fill Period and Soybean Seed Oil and Protein Concentrations
Authors: Carrera Constanza , Martínez María José , Dardanelli Julio , Balzarini Mónica
Published: May 2009

Since most soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed is processed into meal and oil, there is a growing concern about environmental effects on soybean seed composition. The aim of this work was to investigate how water deficit affects the well‐known relationship of soybean seed oil and protein concentrations with temperature and, alternatively, with solar radiation during seed fill. We analyzed oil and protein data from multienvironment trials in Argentina (latitude 29° to 38° S). Multiple linear regressions were used to test the effect of water deficit on the relationship between oil, protein, and oil + protein and temperature. The functions relating oil and protein concentrations with average daily mean temperature during seed fill (TmR5R7) changed with water deficit. When precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration during the reproductive period (pp‐PETR1R7) was lower than 70 mm, oil increased linearly with increasing TmR5R7 and with rising water deficit. Meanwhile, protein increased linearly with TmR5R7 but decreased linearly with water deficit. Oil + protein concentration held a linear relationship with TmR5R7 even under water deficit. Cumulative solar radiation during seed fill predicts seed quality but shows lower significance than TmR5R7 This research demonstrates that a water‐stress indicator (pp‐PETR1R7) should be considered in rainfed crops because it affects the well‐known relationship of soybean seed oil and protein concentrations with temperature.
Understanding Soybean Maturity Groups in Brazil: Environment, Cultivar Classification, and Stability
Authors: Alliprandini Luís Fernando , Abatti Claudiomir , Bertagnolli Paulo Fernando , Cavassim José Elzevir , Gabe Howard Lewis , Kurek Andreomar , Matsumoto Marcos Norio , de Oliveira Marco Antonio Rott , Pitol Carlos , Prado Luís Cláudio , Steckling Cleiton
Published: May 2009

Maturity classification is an important concept to provide the best allocation of resources for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] research and commercialization. A similar maturity group system used in North America is being used for some seed companies in Brazil and needs research to improve its use. This study evaluated the maturity stability of 48 midwestern and 40 southern Brazilian commercial cultivars ranging from North American maturity groups VI to VIII at 15 locations. Relative maturity groups were attributed to all cultivars. All trials were planted in the first half of November. The effect of location was very important in influencing the number of days to maturity, number of days to flowering and reproductive growth period (RGP). The genotype × environment interaction, although statistically significant, was much lower than the individual effects of environment and genotype for all traits and regions. Genotype × latitude and genotype × altitude, considering also years of evaluation, were generally low or nonsignificant. A recommended list was developed of the most stable genotypes and, consequently, of the most suitable check genotypes for each maturity group classification in the southern and midwestern regions. Results indicate that the use in Brazil of a maturity group system similar to that used in North America to classify soybean genotypes is an efficient method for describing relative maturity on a broad environmental basis.
Capabilities of Four Novel Warm‐Season Legumes in the Southern Great Plains: Grain Production and Quality
Authors: Rao Srinivas C. , Northup Brian K.
Published: May 2009

Grain legumes could serve as a low cost nitrogen (N) and energy source for animal production in the southern Great Plains (SGP). This study evaluated the yield and nutritive value of grains of tropical annual legumes novel to the SGP. Included were cultivars of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.] (cv. GA‐2), guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba(L.) Taub.] (cv. Kinman), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L). Walp.] (cv. Chinese red), mung bean [Vigna radiata(L.) Wilcz.] (cv. Berkins), and the grain soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] (cv. Hutcheson) as a control. Seeds were inoculated and planted (60‐cm row spacing) annually in mid‐June 2004 through 2006. Seeding rates were varied to achieve 10 seeds m−1row length. Grain was harvested at the end of growing seasons (90–120 d since planting), and grain samples were ground (1.0 mm) and analyzed for N concentration and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM). Significant (P< 0.05) year × legume interactions were recorded for all characteristics, with variable legume responses among years. Guar produced both the highest (2730 kg ha−1in 2004) and lowest (897 kg ha−1in 2005) grain yields. Nitrogen concentrations were the highest in soybean grain (60.2–60.7 g kg−1) and consistently the lowest in pigeon pea (33.3–34.9 g kg−1). Soybean grain had the highest IVDDM (968–969 g kg−1), while pigeon pea had the consistently lowest digestibility (890–894 g kg−1). The four novel legumes produced grains that meet the nutritional requirements for all classes of stocker or feeder cattle.
Flowering Phenology and Synchrony between Volunteer and Cropped Spring Wheat: Implications for Pollen‐Mediated Gene Flow
Authors: Willenborg Christian J. , Luschei Ed C. , Brûlé‐Babel Anita L. , Van Acker Rene C.
Published: May 2009

Genetically engineered (GE) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) volunteers could present a problem in cultivated wheat because they may facilitate movement of a GE trait to other volunteers or non‐GE wheat crops. However, volunteers can emerge periodically throughout the growing season and, thus, flowering overlap with the crop may be largely asynchronous, presenting a significant barrier to gene flow. Field experiments were initiated to determine the influence of volunteer wheat emerging at various densities and emergence times relative to the crop on flowering phenology and synchrony between cropped and volunteer spring wheat populations. Using a novel analytical method that treats individual flowering curves as a series of probability density functions, we characterized flowering phenology and quantified flowering synchrony between cropped and volunteer spring wheat. The results indicated that volunteer wheat initiated and ceased flowering earlier when emergence occurred before crop emergence. Thermal time requirements for completion of 5, 50, and 75% flowering decreased as volunteer emergence was progressively delayed. Flowering was further accelerated when emergence coincided with the crop and, consequently, flowering synchrony between volunteer and crop plants was significantly higher. Levels of flowering synchrony peaked at 86% and were highly dependent on volunteer emergence time relative to the crop. Our results suggest that pollen‐mediated gene flow (PMGF) in spring wheat will be dependent on emergence timing of volunteers and, thus, if hybridization between cultivated wheat and volunteers or neighboring wheat crops is going to transpire, it will most likely occur when volunteer emergence occurs within a hybridization window of 75 growing degree‐days on either side of crop emergence. Coupled with seed‐mediated gene flow, the additional admixture caused by PMGF could be problematic for coexistence between GE and non‐GE wheat.
An Indoor Screening Method for Improvement of Freezing Tolerance in Alfalfa
Authors: Castonguay Yves , Michaud Réal , Nadeau Paul , Bertrand Annick
Published: May 2009

Freezing tolerance is a determinant factor of persistence of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in northern climates. Selection for winter hardiness in field nurseries is difficult because of the unpredictability of the occurrence of test winters allowing the identification of hardy genotypes. A method of selection entirely performed indoor in growth chambers and walk‐in freezers has been applied for the identification of genotypes with superior freezing tolerance. Using that approach, cultivars recommended for growth in eastern Canada have been submitted to cycles of recurrent selection to generate populations potentially more tolerant to freezing (TF). Subsequent determination of the freezing tolerance of populations recurrently selected using plants acclimated to natural hardening conditions in an unheated greenhouse revealed a progressive increase in response to this selection approach. Field assessment of TF populations also showed better survival and forage yield than original cultivars at sites that experienced severe winter conditions. At stressed sites, a significant proportion of the variance in the yields of the populations was explained by freezing tolerance potential. Our results show that major increases in freezing tolerance (between 3 and 5°C) of alfalfa and better survival to severe winter conditions in the field can be achieved by screening for freezing tolerance under indoor growing conditions and intercrossing the selected plants.
Inheritance of Susceptibility to Ethametsulfuron Herbicide Muster in Summer Turnip Rape (Brassica rapa L.)
Authors: Rahman M.H. , Falk K.C. , Yang R.‐C.
Published: May 2009

The Brassica oilseed crops, Brassica rapa L., B. napus L., and B. juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss., carry the inherent property of tolerance to the acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicide ethametsulfuron. However, a self‐compatible line of B. rapa subsp. oleifera (DC.) Metzg. susceptible to this herbicide was isolated through single‐plant selection in a Canadian cultivar. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the genetic control of tolerance to this herbicide in B. rapa by using this susceptible line as a parent in crosses with tolerant lines. The susceptible line was crossed with two tolerant, self‐incompatible lines of oleiferous B. rapa The F2, B1 (F1 backcrossed to tolerant parent), B2 (F1 backcrossed to susceptible parent), F3, and B1S1 generation populations were generated from the crosses and were evaluated for tolerance to ethametsulfuron. A single‐gene locus was found to be involved in the control of this trait, with the tolerant phenotype being completely dominant over the susceptible. No difference in tolerance was detected in the populations derived from reciprocal crosses, suggesting the absence of cytoplasmic effects in the control of this trait. As the parents differed for self‐incompatibility, segregation for this trait was found in the F2 and backcross populations, as expected. However, self‐incompatibility allele(s) did not exert any influence on segregation of the locus controlling tolerance to ethametsulfuron.
Characteristics of source-separated household wastewater flows: a statistical assessment
Authors: Meinzinger F. , Oldenburg M.
Published: May 2009

Knowledge of concentrations or loads in wastewater flows is a basic prerequisite for the design of wastewater treatment units and the assessment of the environmental impacts. With respect to new sanitation concepts that are based on the source-separation of domestic wastewater flows not much general data is available yet on characteristics or design values of the different flows. A desk study of more than 130 references was carried out in order to arrive at design values for different source-separated wastewater flows including the fractions urine, faeces and greywater. The evaluation was carried out focussing on European data. The different values were analysed by the use of statistical parameters. In order to arrive at design values for different parameters, the median as well as minimum-maximum ranges of the available data were calculated. The collected data include volumes and characteristics like organic pollution (COD and BOD), nutrients (N, P, K & S) and heavy metals for the different source-separated flows. Loads and concentrations are listed respectively. A comparison is drawn between data from different regions in order to assess the impact of differences in nutrition and habits.