bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Model of Performance and Life of Diamond Drill Bits
Authors: Moore N. B. , Walker B. H. , Appl F. C.
Published: November 2010

The performance and life of diamond drill bits is presented with discussion of the analytical background, single point diamond studies, laboratory drilling performance tests, and field performance comparisons. The analytical basis of the diamond bit performance model is discussed with respect to the diamond-rock cutting mechanism, mathematical modeling of rock properties, factors affecting drilling efficiency, and the attrition wear model. Single point diamond tests are described, and the test results are used to determine a rock wear constant and to determine the velocity dependent exponent of the wear equation. Using the model, laboratory drilling test results are predicted for both petroleum and mining diamond drill bits. The location of wear and the bit life are predicted in both laboratory and field tests. The data presented shows the analytical model satisfactorily describes diamond bit performance and life over a wide range of drilling conditions and formations.
An Articulated Multiline Production Riser for Deepwater Application
Authors: Ortloff J. E. , Caldwell J. B. , Teers M. L.
Published: November 2010

The need to produce oil and gas in water depths beyond the physical and economical limits of fixed platforms and pipelines has led to the development of a feasible concept for an articulated multiline flexible marine production riser system. This paper covers the history of the concept development from inception to readiness for engineering design and fabrication of a prototype test model.
Stress and Buckling of Internally Pressurized, Elastic-Plastic Torispherical Vessel Heads—Comparisons of Test and Theory
Authors: Bushnell D. , Galletly G. D.
Published: November 2010

Several aluminum and mild steel torispherical heads were tested by Galletly and by Kirk and Gill and subsequently analyzed by Bushnell with use of the BOSOR5 computer program. The thinnest specimens buckled at pressures for which part of the toroidal knuckle was stressed well beyond the yield point. The analysis includes large deflection effects, nonlinear material behavior, and meridional variation of the thickness. The calculated strains in the thicker specimens agree reasonably well with the test results, but the calculated prebuckling strains in the thinnest specimens are generally greater than the values measured in the torodial knuckle after the onset of plastic flow. Reasonably good agreement between test and theory is obtained for the buckling pressures of aluminum specimens, but the calculated buckling pressures for mild steel specimens are much lower than the observed values, a discrepancy that is attributed to circumferentially varying thickness and possible inability of the analytical model of the elastic-plastic material to predict accurately the state of stress in the toroidal knuckle where loading is nonproportional once yielding has occurred.
Fatigue Crack Growth Characteristics of A533 Grade B Class I Plate in an Environment of High-Temperature Primary Grade Nuclear Reactor Water
Authors: Mager T. R. , Moon D. M. , Landes J. D.
Published: November 2010

Fatigue crack growth rate tests conducted in primary grade reactor coolant at 550°F (288°C) on A533 Grade B Class 1 steel (HSST Plate 02) showed an increase in growth rates at a frequency of 1 cpm over previous results obtained at frequencies of 60 cpm and higher. This increase, the general character of the crack growth rate versus the ΔK curve, and the results from fractographic studies, all indicated that stress corrosion cracking might have occurred for this material and environment. However, a specimen loaded statically in a PWR environment showed no static load crack growth.
Heavy Section Steel Plates for Reactor Pressure Vessels Produced by Basic Oxygen Process
Authors: Nakao H. , Yamaba R. , Takaishi S. , Kunitake H. , Kanazawa S.
Published: November 2010

Low alloy steel plates with heavy sections for pressure vessels of direct desulfurization unit and nuclear reactor were produced by basic oxygen process instead of the conventional electric furnace process. There was a decrease of impurity and residual elements which increase susceptibility to neutron irradiation embrittlement and temper embrittlement. Productivity also increased by this process. Various properties of the plates thus manufactured were evaluated in comparison with those of electric furnace plates. It was found as a result that the basic oxygen process produces an improved notch toughness for use in nuclear reactor pressure vessels, and approximately the same levels of properties for application to desulfurization-purpose pressure vessels, compared with the electric furnace process in which BOP return scrap was also used especially.
Origin and Spacing of Cleats in Coal Beds
Authors: Ting F. T. C.
Published: November 2010

Cleats are natural fractures in coal beds resulting from dehydration, devolatilization, and stresses in the earth’s upper crust during coalification. The orientation of these fractures usually parallels that of the fractures (joints) in the associated rocks except that the former is better developed. Spacing of cleats ranges from less than one millimeter to over one meter. The frequency of cleating in coal beds affects not only mining but also the flow of gases in the coal, and the strength of pillars used for roof support. The variation in spacing in controlled primarily by two parameters, namely rank and petrographic composition of the coal. The cleat frequency increases with increasing rank and reaches a maximum at the low-volatile bituminous coal rank. Within the same coal bed at the same mine face, dull coal layers tend to have fewer cleats than bright coal layers. The nature of the cleats is further complicated by local disturbances such as faults, folds, and fissility of bedding planes in the coal seams.
Seismic Response Behavior of Buried Pipelines
Authors: Wang L. R.-L. , Cheng K.-M.
Published: November 2010

Pipeline damages caused by earthquake excitations in the longitudinal direction of a pipeline have been observed to be a major mode of failure. A simplified quasi-static seismic deformation analysis neglecting the dynamic terms for buried pipelines subjected to earthquake motions in the axial direction is proposed. The analysis involves the solution of a system of static equilibrium equations of a pipeline which consists of rigid pipe-segments and flexible joint springs. Using this model, parametric studies involving soil-pipe interaction parameters, time delay of the traveling seismic waves, soil variations along the pipeline, end conditions and variation of the seismic wave form are performed. Results obtained indicate that the delay time of seismic waves and the non-uniformity of soil resistance have much greater effects on the response behavior of buried pipelines than other parameters.
Frequency Effects in the Elevated Temperature Crack Growth Behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steels—A Design Approach
Authors: James L. A.
Published: November 2010

The fatigue-crack growth behavior of annealed types 304 and 316 stainless steels is determined over a range of cyclic frequencies in an air environment at temperatures of 800°F (427°C), 1000°F (538°C) and 1200°F (649°C). A good portion of the experimental data supports the observation that the fatigue crack growth rates at a given value of ΔK increases with decreasing frequencies. The behavior ot each temperature is normalized relative to the behavior at a “standard” frequency of 40 cpm, and a simple frequency correction factor is derived. This frequency correction factor, more applicable to type 304 than to 316 stainless steels, is further coupled with temperature effects data taken at the “standard” frequency and combined with a stress ratio correction to furnish estimates of the fatigue crack growth behavior of those two steels over a fairly wide range of parameters.
The Progression of Podcasting/Vodcasting in a Technical Physics Class
Authors: Glanville Y. J.
Published: October 2010

Technology such as Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, clickers, podcasting, and learning management suites is becoming prevalent in classrooms. Instructors are using these media in both large lecture hall settings and small classrooms with just a handful of students. Traditionally, each of these media is instructor driven. For instance, podcasting (audio recordings) provided my technical physics course with supplemental notes to accompany a traditional algebra-based physics lecture. Podcasting is an ideal tool for this mode of instruction, but podcasting/vodcasting is also an ideal technique for student projects and student-driven learning. I present here the various podcasting/vodcasting projects my students and I have undertaken over the last few years.
ER-α36, a novel isoform of ER-α66, is commonly over-expressed in apocrine and adenoid cystic carcinomas of the breast
Authors: Vranic Semir , Gatalica Zoran , Deng Hao , Frkovic-Grazio Snjezana , Lee Lisa M J , Gurjeva Olga , Wang Zhao-Yi
Published: November 2010

Background

ER-α36 is a novel 36 kDa isoform of the full-length oestrogen receptor alpha (ER-α66). ER-α36 primarily localises to the cytoplasm and the plasma membrane, and responds to membrane-initiated oestrogen and antioestrogen signalling pathways.

Aim

To examine the expression of ER-α36 in apocrine and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast, both of which are consistently ER-α66 negative and currently lack effective targeted therapeutic options.

Methods

19 pure apocrine carcinomas (17 invasive and two in-situ carcinomas) and 11 adenoid cystic carcinomas of the breast were evaluated for ER-α36 expression, along with expressions of ER-α66, progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) using immunohistochemical methods.

Results

All pure apocrine carcinomas showed a characteristic steroid receptor expression profile (ER-α66 and PR negative, AR strongly positive). ER-α36 expression was detected in 18/19 pure apocrine carcinomas (94.7%, 95% CI 75.1 to 98.7) in predominantly membranous and cytoplasmic distribution. When positive, pure apocrine carcinomas uniformly (100% of cells) expressed ER-α36. All adenoid cystic carcinomas were uniformly negative for all three classic steroid receptors, but ER-α36 was detected in 8/11 cases (72.7%, 95% CI 42.8 to 90) with the similar sub-cellular pattern of expression as in the pure apocrine carcinomas. When positive, adenoid cystic carcinomas expressed ER-α36 in the majority of cells (average 76%).

Conclusion

ER-α36, a novel isoform of ER-α66, is frequently over-expressed in apocrine and adenoid cystic carcinomas of the breast. These results indicate a potential for a novel targeted treatment in these cancers.
Individual transferable quotas and the “tragedy of the commons”
Authors: Parslow John
Published: November 2010

The allocation of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) as shares of a total allowable catch (TAC) is now widely practised in fisheries management, but is not without controversy. It is often suggested that the possession of ITQs should provide an incentive for fishers to exercise stewardship of the resource. Quota holders acting in their economic self-interest should collectively exercise stewardship, setting TACs and supporting enforcement measures to maximize the present value of future profit streams. But it is in the economic self-interest of an individual fisher possessing ITQ to take additional unreported catch, through discarding, high-grading, or quota-busting. Thus, ITQs in themselves will not prevent a “tragedy of the commons”, unless there is sufficient compliance monitoring and enforcement to deter hidden catches. ITQs, with adequate enforcement, have been demonstrated to effectively address the race to fish and result in improved sustainability and profitability. There are questions of equity concerning the flow of benefits from the allocations of quotas and associated profit streams and who pays for the management costs required to sustain them. There are also issues around the ability of ITQ-based management to address other social and environmental objectives.
Effects of exchange rate volatility on export volume and prices of forest products
Authors: Zhang Sijia , Buongiorno Joseph
Published: November 2010

The relative value of currencies varies considerably over time. These fluctuations bring uncertainty to international traders. As a result, the volatility in exchange rate movements may influence the volume and the price of traded commodities. The volatility of exchange rates was measured by the variance of residuals in a GARCH(1,1) model of the exchange rate. We estimated the effect of this exchange rate volatility on export quantity and price with autoregressive distributed lag models based on monthly data of US exports and prices to 14 countries for eight commodity groups. The most general and statistically significant results were obtained by pooling the time series data across destination countries and products. They suggested that an increase in exchange rate variability of 1% led to a short-run decrease in export quantity of 0.3%–0.4% and to a short-run decrease in export price of 0.1%. Both the quantity and the price effect faded away over time. The effects were less systematic and statistically significant for specific export destinations or individual products. Thus, in contrast with exchange rate level, exchange rate volatility may not be a major policy issue for US forest product exports.
Forest carbon stocks in Newfoundland boreal forests of harvest and natural disturbance origin I: field study
Authors: Moroni M. T. , Shaw C. H. , Otahal P.
Published: November 2010

Quantification of stand and forest C stocks in response to different disturbances is necessary to develop climate change mitigation strategies and to evaluate forest C accounting tools. Live tree, dead tree, woody debris (WD), stump, buried wood, and organic and mineral soil C stocks are described in chronosequences of black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) (harvest and fire origin) and balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) (insect and harvest origin). The largest C stocks were found in mineral soil (≤179 Mg·ha–1), organic soil (≤123 Mg·ha–1), and live tree (≤93 Mg·ha–1) pools. Live tree C changed predictably with disturbance history and time since disturbance, increasing with forest age. Regeneration growth slowed under snags. Thinning accelerated production of larger trees but reduced site live tree C. Dead tree and WD C were temporally dynamic and strongly influenced by disturbance history and time since disturbance, but abundances in differently disturbed forests converged at low levels 40–60 years after disturbance. Only immediately following natural disturbances were there large amounts of snag C (26–30 Mg·ha–1). WD C was relatively abundant <3 years after harvesting (15–17 Mg·ha–1) and 31–36 years after natural disturbance (9 Mg·ha–1). Buried wood stocks were small, but comparable with WD stocks in some forests.
New and composite point sampling estimates
Authors: McTague John Paul
Published: November 2010

A new estimator for basal area is introduced that is based on the concepts of angle count and angle summation sampling. Using the ratio of the angle count basal area factor and the angle summation (borderline) factor, it is possible to estimate stand volume without measuring the diameters and distances of the trees included in the sample. Employing simulation of repeated sampling in a 40 ha forest of known population parameters, it is demonstrated that the new sampling methodology is unbiased and weakly correlated with conventional angle count sampling. Hence, considerable gains in efficiency are made by combining the two sampling methods with composite estimators. Two applications are explored with the new composite point sampling estimates, including the use of the big basal area factor sampling method and critical height sampling using a Max and Burkhart taper formulation.
Tree value and log product yield determination in radiata pine (Pinus radiata) plantations in Australia: comparisons of terrestrial laser scanning with a forest inventory system and manual measurements
Authors: Murphy Glen E. , Acuna Mauricio A. , Dumbrell Ian
Published: November 2010

New sensor-based approaches for assessing the quantity, quality, and value of timber are being developed with the goals of improving the accuracy and economics of forest measurements. One new approach is based on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). Thirty-three plots in six radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) stands were scanned using TLS. Tree locations were automatically detected. Stem profiles were measured using three methods: (i) TLS scans, (ii) Atlas Cruiser inventory procedures, and (iii) manual measurement after harvesting. Stems were optimally bucked based on log specifications and prices for Australian markets. Tree values and log product yields were estimated for the TLS data and compared with estimates based on Cruiser and actual manual measurements of stem profiles. TLS volume and value recovery were within 8% and 7%, respectively, of actual harvester recovery for five of the six stands in which it was used. Cruiser volume and value estimates were both within 4% of actual harvester recovery. Plot preparation procedures, tree characteristics, and taper equations used to model diameters on hidden stem sections affected the accuracy of automated stem detection and profile measurements for the TLS system. Improvements in data capture and analytical procedures should improve the accuracy of TLS-based volume and value estimates.
ERROR TOLERANT NMR BACKBONE RESONANCE ASSIGNMENT AND AUTOMATED STRUCTURE GENERATION
Authors: ALIPANAHI BABAK , GAO XIN , KARAKOC EMRE , Li SHUAI CHENG , BALBACH FRANK , FENG GUANGYU , DONALDSON LOGAN , LI MING
Published: November 2010

Error tolerant backbone resonance assignment is the cornerstone of the NMR structure determination process. Although a variety of assignment approaches have been developed, none works sufficiently well on noisy fully automatically picked peaks to enable the subsequent automatic structure determination steps. We have designed an integer linear programming (ILP) based assignment system (IPASS) that has enabled fully automatic protein structure determination for four test proteins. IPASS employs probabilistic spin system typing based on chemical shifts and secondary structure predictions. Furthermore, IPASS extracts connectivity information from the inter-residue information and the (automatically picked) 15N-edited NOESY peaks which are then used to fix reliable fragments. When applied to automatically picked peaks for real proteins, IPASS achieves an average precision and recall of 82% and 63%, respectively. In contrast, the next best method, MARS, achieves an average precision and recall of 77% and 36%, respectively. The assignments generated by IPASS are then fed into our protein structure calculation system, FALCON-NMR, to determine the 3D structures without human intervention. The final models have backbone RMSDs of 1.25Å, 0.88Å, 1.49Å, and 0.67Å to the reference native structures for proteins TM1112, CASKIN, VRAR, and HACS1, respectively. The web server is publicly available at .
Efficient generation of craig interpolants in satisfiability modulo theories
Authors: Cimatti Alessandro , Griggio Alberto , Sebastiani Roberto
Published: November 2010

The problem of computing Craig interpolants has recently received a lot of interest. In this article, we address the problem of efficient generation of interpolants for some important fragments of first-order logic, which are amenable for effective decision procedures, called
satisfiability modulo theory
(SMT) solvers.

We make the following contributions. First, we provide interpolation procedures for several basic theories of interest: the theories of linear arithmetic over the rationals, difference logic over rationals and integers, and UTVPI over rationals and integers. Second, we define a novel approach to interpolate combinations of theories that applies to the delayed theory combination approach.

Efficiency is ensured by the fact that the proposed interpolation algorithms extend state-of-the-art algorithms for satisfiability modulo theories. Our experimental evaluation shows that the MathSAT SMT solver can produce interpolants with minor overhead in search, and much more efficiently than other competitor solvers.
An integrated human decision making model for evacuation scenarios under a BDI framework
Authors: Lee Seungho , Son Young-Jun , Jin Judy
Published: November 2010

An integrated Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) modeling framework is proposed for human decision making and planning for evacuation scenarios, whose submodules are based on a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN), Decision-Field-Theory (DFT), and a Probabilistic Depth-First Search (PDFS) technique. A key novelty of the proposed model is its ability to represent both the human decision-making and decision-planning functions in a unified framework. To mimic realistic human behaviors, attributes of the BDI framework are reverse-engineered from human-in-the-loop experiments conducted in the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE). The proposed modeling framework is demonstrated for a human's evacuation behaviors in response to a terrorist bomb attack. The simulated environment and agents (models of humans) conforming to the proposed BDI framework are implemented in AnyLogic® agent-based simulation software, where each agent calls external Netica BBN software to perform its perceptual processing function and Soar software to perform its real-time planning and decision-execution functions. The constructed simulation has been used to test the impact of several factors (e.g., demographics, number of police officers, information sharing via speakers) on evacuation performance (e.g., average evacuation time, percentage of casualties).
Newtonian program analysis
Authors: Esparza Javier , Kiefer Stefan , Luttenberger Michael
Published: November 2010

This article presents a novel generic technique for solving dataflow equations in interprocedural dataflow analysis. The technique is obtained by generalizing Newton's method for computing a zero of a differentiable function to ω-continuous semirings. Complete semilattices, the common program analysis framework, are a special class of ω-continuous semirings. We show that our generalized method always converges to the solution, and requires at most as many iterations as current methods based on Kleene's fixed-point theorem. We also show that, contrary to Kleene's method, Newton's method always terminates for arbitrary idempotent and commutative semirings. More precisely, in the latter setting the number of iterations required to solve a system of
n
equations is at most
n
.
Regulation of Homologous Recombination in Eukaryotes
Authors: Heyer Wolf-Dietrich , Ehmsen Kirk T. , Liu Jie
Published: November 2010

Homologous recombination (HR) is required for accurate chromosome segregation during the first meiotic division and constitutes a key repair and tolerance pathway for complex DNA damage, including DNA double-strand breaks, interstrand crosslinks, and DNA gaps. In addition, recombination and replication are inextricably linked, as recombination recovers stalled and broken replication forks, enabling the evolution of larger genomes/replicons. Defects in recombination lead to genomic instability and elevated cancer predisposition, demonstrating a clear cellular need for recombination. However, recombination can also lead to genome rearrangements. Unrestrained recombination causes undesired endpoints (translocation, deletion, inversion) and the accumulation of toxic recombination intermediates. Evidently, HR must be carefully regulated to match specific cellular needs. Here, we review the factors and mechanistic stages of recombination that are subject to regulation and suggest that recombination achieves flexibility and robustness by proceeding through metastable, reversible intermediates.
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza: The Challenge to Understand the Genetics of the Fungal Partner
Authors: Sanders Ian R. , Croll Daniel
Published: November 2010

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses occur between fungi and the majority of plant species. They are important for plant nutrition, plant growth, protection from pathogens, plant diversity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem processes. A key goal in research is to understand the molecular basis of the establishment, regulation, and functioning of the symbiosis. However, lack of knowledge on the genetics of the fungal side of this association has hindered progress. Here, we show how several key, recently discovered processes concerning the genetics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could be essential for ultimately understanding the molecular genetics of this important symbiosis with plants.
Telomeric Strategies: Means to an End
Authors: Jain Devanshi , Cooper Julia Promisel
Published: November 2010

What really defines a telomere? Telomere literally is an amalgamation of the Greek words “telos,” meaning end, and “mer,” meaning part. In practice, it refers to the extremities of linear chromosomes. The defining functions of chromosome extremities can be summarized in two main categories. First, chromosome ends trick the cell into not identifying them as damage-induced double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs). An internal DSB immediately triggers cell-cycle arrest and is repaired to ensure that genome integrity remains undisturbed. Chromosome ends disguise themselves using assorted strategies, tailored to evade specific cellular responses. The second defining function of chromosome extremities involves self-preservation. Due to the inherent limitations of the canonical replication machinery, chromosomes gradually lose terminal DNA with successive rounds of replication. Telomeres have evolved tactics to circumvent this loss and to preserve themselves. This review focuses on highlights of telomeric strategies surrounding these two primary tasks, and finishes by discussing evidence that the full telomeric functional repertoire has yet to be defined.
The Genomic Enzymology of Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Morar Mariya , Wright Gerard D.
Published: November 2010

The need for new antibiotic therapies is acute and growing in large part because of the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. A vast number of resistance determinants are, however, found in nonpathogenic micro-organisms. The resistance totality in the global microbiota is the antibiotic resistome and includes not only established resistance genes but also genes that have the potential to evolve into resistance elements. We term these proto-resistance genes and hypothesize that they share common ancestry with other functional units known as housekeeping genes. Genomic enzymology is the study of protein structure–function in light of genetic context and evolution of protein superfamilies. This concept is highly applicable to study of antibiotic resistance evolution from proto-resistance elements. In this review, we summarize some of the genomic enzymology evidence for resistance enzymes pointing to common ancestry with genes of other metabolic functions. Genomic enzymology plays a key role in understanding the origins of antibiotic resistance and aids in designing strategies for diagnosis and prevention thereof.
The RecQ DNA Helicases in DNA Repair
Authors: Bernstein Kara A. , Gangloff Serge , Rothstein Rodney
Published: November 2010

The RecQ helicases are conserved from bacteria to humans and play a critical role in genome stability. In humans, loss of RecQ gene function is associated with cancer predisposition and/or premature aging. Recent experiments have shown that the RecQ helicases function during distinct steps during DNA repair; DNA end resection, displacement-loop (D-loop) processing, branch migration, and resolution of double Holliday junctions (dHJs). RecQ function in these different processing steps has important implications for its role in repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) that occur during DNA replication and meiosis, as well as at specific genomic loci such as telomeres.
Uncoupling protein 1 expression and high-fat diets
Authors: Fromme Tobias , Klingenspor Martin
Published: November 2010

Uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) is the key component of β-adrenergically controlled nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. This process combusts stored and nutrient energy as heat. Cold exposure not only activates Ucp1-mediated thermogenesis to maintain normothermia but also results in adaptive thermogenesis, i.e., the recruitment of thermogenic capacity in brown adipose tissue. As a hallmark of adaptive thermogenesis, Ucp1 synthesis is increased proportionally to temperature and duration of exposure. Beyond this classical thermoregulatory function, it has been suggested that Ucp1-mediated thermogenesis can also be employed for metabolic thermogenesis to prevent the development of obesity. Accordingly, in times of excess caloric intake, one may expect a positive regulation of Ucp1. The general impression from an overview of the present literature is, indeed, an increased brown adipose tissue Ucp1 mRNA and protein content after feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) to mice and rats. The reported increases are very variable in magnitude, and the effect size seems to be independent of dietary fat content and duration of the feeding trial. In white adipose tissue depots Ucp1 mRNA is generally downregulated by HFD, indicating a decline in the number of interspersed brown adipocytes.
Two New Cases of Polysomy 13 in Canine Prostate Cancer
Authors: Reimann-Berg N. , Willenbrock S. , Murua Escobar H. , Eberle N. , Gerhauser I. , Mischke R. , Bullerdiek J. , Nolte I.
Published: November 2010

Besides man, the dog is the only known mammalian species that spontaneously develops carcinomas of the prostate with considerable frequency. For this reason, the dog is considered to be the only useful animal model for spontaneously occurring prostate malignancies in man. Cytogenetic investigations of human prostate cancers have revealed the frequent occurrence of trisomies 7, 8, and 17. Chromosome analyses of canine prostate carcinomas are rare. In this report we present 2 cases of canine prostate cancer showing a clonal polysomy 13 along with complex karyotype changes. Along with a previous report demonstrating polysomy 13 as the only karyotype deviation in a canine prostate cancer the present report supports the hypothesis that in canine prostate cancer, polysomy 13 is a recurrent cytogenetic aberration linked to the development of the disease. As human chromosomes (HSA) 8q and 4q and the canine chromosome (CFA) 13 share high homology, these results suggest that a conserved area on these chromosomes is involved in tumorigenesis in both species.
Genome-Wide Comparative Chromosome Map between Human and the Forrest’s Pika (Ochotona forresti) Established by Cross-Species Chromosome Painting: Further Support for the Glires Hypothesis
Authors: Ye J. , Nie W. , Wang J. , Su W. , Jing M. , Graphodatsky A.S. , Yang F.
Published: November 2010

Comparative genomic data for ochotonids (pikas) are important for understanding the karyotype evolution of lagomorphs. Here, we have established the first genome-wide chromosomal homologies between human and the Forrest’s pika (Ochotona forresti, 2n = 54) by cross-species chromosome painting. Integration of our map with the published comparative chromosome map between human and rabbit has enabled the establishment of an indirect homology map between Forrest’s pika and domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, 2n = 44), representing the 2 Lagomorpha families: Leporidae and Ochotonidae. Our results demonstrate that (1) most of the proposed ancestral eutherian syntenies or syntenic associations have been retained in the O. forresti genome; (2) the HSA1/10p association, one of the 2 signature rearrangements that were proposed to support the grouping of the orders Lagomorpha and Rodentia into a monophyletic clade called Glires, is also present in the O. forresti genome; and (3) Robertsonian translocations have contributed to the karyotype differences between O. forresti and O. cuniculus.
Cytogenetic Mapping of 5S and 18S rRNAs and H3 Histone Genes in 4 Ancient Proscopiidae Grasshopper Species: Contribution to Understanding the Evolutionary Dynamics of Multigene Families
Authors: Cabral-de-Mello D.C. , Martins C. , Souza M.J. , Moura R.C.
Published: November 2010

This paper reports on the chromosomal location of 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA and H3 histone multigene families in 4 species of a relatively ancient and diversified group of grasshoppers belonging to the family Proscopiidae. The 5S rRNA and H3 histone genes were highly conserved in the number of sites and chromosomal position in the 4th chromosome pair in all species analyzed, whereas the 18S rRNA genes showed slightly more variation because they were present on one or 2 chromosome pairs, depending on the species. The 5S and 18S rRNA gene families occurred in different chromosomes; in contrast, H3 histone and 5S rRNA genes co-localized in the same chromosomal position, with an apparently interspersed organization. Considering that the Proscopiidae family is a relatively ancient group compared with the Acrididae family, the association of the H3 histone and 5S rRNA multigene families can represent a basal condition for grasshoppers, although more research is needed on other representatives of this insect group to confirm this statement. The presence of such an association of 5S rDNA and H3 histone in mussels and arthropods (beetles, grasshoppers and crustaceans) suggests that this linked configuration could represent an ancestral pattern for invertebrates. These results provide new insights into the understanding of the genome organization and the evolution of multigene families in grasshoppers and in insects as a whole.
A Rare Case of Centric Fission and Fusion in a River Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, 2n = 50) Cow with Reduced Fertility
Authors: Di Meo G.P. , Perucatti A. , Genualdo V. , Iannuzzi A. , Sarubbi F. , Caputi-Jambrenghi A. , Incarnato D. , Peretti V. , Vonghia G. , Iannuzzi L.
Published: November 2010

A 5-year-old river buffalo cow underwent cytogenetic investigation since it had only one male offspring, apparently with normal body constitution, which died one month after birth. The female carrier had normal body conformation and internal sex adducts, as revealed by rectal palpation performed by a specialist veterinary practitioner. The cow was found to carry a complex and rare chromosome abnormality. Indeed, a centric fission of one river buffalo (BBU) chromosome 1 with a subsequent (or simultaneous) centric fusion of BBU1p with BBU23 was revealed by both RBA-banding and specific molecular markers of BBU1p (DEFB1) and BBU23 (ACTA2). CBA-banding revealed a pale, very small C-band in the der1 (BBU1q) and a prominent C-band on the new biarmed chromosome originated by rob(1p;23). Both telomeric probes and AgNOR staining confirmed the Robertsonian translocation (rob), both FITC-signals and the NORs (BBU23) being telomerically located. Furthermore, telomeric signals on der1 (BBU1q) indicate that these 2 chromosomal events may be the result of a reciprocal translocation which occurred between BBU1 and BBU23.
DNA Methylation Patterns of Metaphase Chromosomes in Human Preimplantation Embryos
Authors: Pendina A.A. , Efimova O.A. , Fedorova I.D. , Leont’eva O.A. , Shilnikova E.M. , Lezhnina J.G. , Kuznetzova T.V. , Baranov V.S.
Published: November 2010

We performed a stage-by-stage study of DNA methylation patterns in metaphase chromosomes from blastomeres of triploid and abnormal diploid human embryos. QFH-banded homologous parental chromosomes differ in their DNA methylation patterns at the metaphase of the 1st cleavage division. Chromosomes of both parental genomes are gradually demethylated at subsequent cleavages, undergoing hemimethylation in 2-cell embryos. At the 4-cell stage hypomethylated chromosomes initially appear and are further registered until the blastocyst stage. The proportion of hemimethylated and hypomethylated chromosomes varies between the blastomeres since the 4-cell stage with no preference for certain chromosomes to be hemi- or hypomethylated demonstrates random segregation of hypomethylated, undermethylated and methylated chromatids during cell cleavage. By the blastocyst stage the chromosomes acquire band- and, thus, chromosome-specific methylation patterns, with 5-methylcytosine-rich DNA preferentially accumulated in R- and T-bands and in the short arms of acrocentric chromosomes. Thus, demethylaton and remethylation of parental genomes of human embryos proceeds in the same manner from the 1st metaphase stage up to the blastocyst. These processes involve all chromosomes and all bands from each chromosome and lead to establishment of chromosome-specific DNA methylation patterns by the blastocyst stage with no differences between homologous chromosomes.
Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization of the Genome Organization of the 6-Banded Armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus)
Authors: Liu Y. , Ye J. , Fu B. , Ng B.L. , Wang J. , Su W. , Nie W.
Published: November 2010

Xenarthra, as the probable earliest offshoot of the placental tree, represents a key taxon for understanding mammalian phylogeny. To gain further insight into the chromosomal evolution and genome organization of the xenarthrans, we have established the first genome-wide comparative chromosome map between human and the 6-banded armadillo (Euphractussexcinctus, 2n = 58), a basal species on the Xenarthra branch, by reciprocal cross-species chromosome painting. In total, 22 human autosomal paints revealed 41 homologous segments in the euchromatic genome of E. sexcinctus. Our results provide further support for the notion that the 2 human homologous segmental associations, i.e. HSA 2/8 and 7a/10p, could constitute the synapomorphies that unite the xenarthrans. Moreover, we propose that the putative ancestral Xenarthra karyotype closely resemble the 2n = 54 karyotype of the E. sexcinctus, consisting of the equivalents of HSA1p, 1q, 2a, 2b, 2c/8c, 3/21, 4a, 4b/8b, 5, 6a, 6b, 7a/10p, 7b/16p, 8a, 9, 10q, 11, 12a/22a, 12b/22b, 13, 14/15, 16q/19q, 17, 18, 19p, 20, and X. In addition, we have analysed the C-banding patterns of E. sexcinctus, and cloned, FISHmapped and sequenced 7 novel repetitive DNA segments, providing further information on the complexity of genome architecture of E. sexcinctus.
No Neocentric Activity on Aegilops markgrafii Chromosome E
Authors: Schubert V.
Published: November 2010

Classical neocentromeres, proven mainly in Poaceae species, cause meiotic drive in higher plants. Here I present data indicating that the morphological stretching of a chromatin domain at the long arm of Aegilops markgrafii chromosome E during meiosis is not due to a supposed neocentric activity. The stretching is visible at the alien univalent in metaphase I and anaphase I pollen mother cells of Triticum aestivum – Ae. markgrafii monosomic addition line E and at one univalent of the 49-chromosome-containing plants containing the haploid Ae. markgrafii genome added to wheat. The absence of both centromeric histone variant CENH3 and attachment of spindle fibers, proven by immunostaining with antibodies against CENH3 and tubulin, respectively, revealed that the univalent elongation of chromosome E is not caused by a classical plant neocentromere.
Hemodialysis of Patients with HCV Infection: Isolation Has a Definite Role
Authors: Agarwal S.K.
Published: November 2010

HCV infection in patients on hemodialysis varies from 10 to 60% in various centers. There is controversy regarding the isolation of patients with HCV infection during hemodialysis. Guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not suggest isolation of these patients. In this opposite view, evidence is being given to support the view that there is a definite role of isolation of HCV-infected patients during hemodialysis.
Spatiotemporal Localization of Periostin and Its Potential Role in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition during Palatal Fusion
Authors: Kitase Yukiko , Yamashiro Keisuke , Fu Katherine , Richman Joy M. , Shuler Charles F.
Published: November 2010

The medial epithelial seam (MES) between the palatal shelves degrades during palatal fusion to achieve the confluence of palatal mesenchyme. Cellular mechanisms underlying the degradation of MES have been proposed, such as apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of medial edge epithelia (MEE). Extracellular matrix components have been shown to play an important role in EMT in many model systems. Periostin (also known as osteoblast-specific factor-2) is a secreted mesenchymal extracellular matrix component that affects the ability of cells to migrate and/or facilitates EMT during both embryonic development and pathologic conditions. In this study, we evaluated the spatiotemporal expression patterns of periostin during mouse palatal fusion by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence. Periostin mRNA and protein were present in the palatal mesenchyme, the protein being distributed in a fine fibrillar network and in the basement membrane, but absent from the epithelium. During MES degradation, the protein was strongly expressed in the basement membrane underlying the MES and in some select MEE. Confocal microscopic analysis using an EMT marker, twist1, and an epithelial marker, cytokeratin 14, provided evidence that select MEE were undergoing EMT in association with periostin. Moreover, the major extracellular matrix molecules in basement membrane, laminin and collagen type IV were degraded earlier than periostin. The result is that select MEE establish interactions with periostin in the mesenchymal extracellular matrix, and these new cell-matrix interactions may regulate MEE transdifferentiation during palatal fusion.
Growth Factors in Induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis
Authors: Said Nur Akmarina B.M. , Williams Elizabeth D.
Published: November 2010

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has gained widespread acceptance over recent years as a mechanism by which normally sessile epithelial tumour cells can move away from the primary tumour and metastasize. This review article examines the role of a number of growth factors in inducing EMT, and the reverse process mesenchymal to epithelial transition. Unique and common intracellular signalling pathways are highlighted. A comprehensive understanding of the regulation of EMT will be critical in manipulating this process to develop novel anti-metastasis therapies.
When Repetition Isn’t the Best Practice Strategy: Effects of Blocked and Random Practice Schedules
Authors: Stambaugh Laura A.
Published: November 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of blocked and random practice schedules on the performance accuracy, speed, temporal evenness, and attitude of beginning band students in a group instructional setting. The research assumptions were based on the contextual interference hypothesis, which predicts that a blocked practice order (low contextual interference) leads to superior performance immediately following practice but that a random practice order (high contextual interference) supports superior performance at delayed retention testing. Beginning clarinet students ( N = 41) completed three practice sessions and one retention testing session, performing three seven-pitch exercises. At the end of practice, no significant differences were found between blocked and random practice groups for accuracy, speed, or temporal evenness. At retention, the random group performed significantly faster than the blocked group, F(1, 38) = 24.953, p < .001, η2 = .92, and the blocked group performed significantly slower than it did at the end of practice ( p < .001). No significant differences were found between groups for transfer tasks or for attitude toward practice.
Creating Convincing Simulations in Astrophysics
Authors: Sundberg Mikaela
Published: November 2010

Numerical simulations have come to be widely used in scientific work. Like experiments, simulations generate large quantities of numbers (output data) that require analysis and constant concern with uncertainty and error. How do simulationists convince themselves, and others, about the credibility of output? The present analysis reconstructs the perspectives related to performing numerical simulations, in general, and the situations in which simulationists deal with uncertain output, in particular. Starting from a distinction between idealized and realistic simulations, the paper presents the principal methods of evaluation in relation to these practices and how different audiences expect different methods. One major challenge in interpreting output data is to distinguish between “real” and “numerical” effects. Within the practice of idealized simulations, simulationists hold the underlying model accountable for results that manifest “real” effects, but because “numerical” and “real” effects cannot be distinguished on the basis of what they derive from, attempted causal explanations are rather justifications for their conclusions. At the same time, simulationists’ explanations are part and parcel of their contradictory perspectives, according to which they believe in simulations largely due to the underlying model, while painfully recognizing everything they have to add to make computations doable on the basis of this model.
On the Nature of Institutional Entrepreneurs: Insights From the Life of Rachel Carson
Authors: Kisfalvi Veronika , Maguire Steve
Published: November 2010

Institutional entrepreneurship is important for creating and transforming institutions, yet little is known about the individuals who conceive, initiate, and champion institutional projects. Extant research emphasizes factors contributing to institutional entrepreneurs’ success at championing change rather than their conception and initiation of change. A large stream of entrepreneurship research, however, focuses squarely on entrepreneurs as individuals and the psychological forces driving them. In this theory-building article, we adopt a psychodynamic approach to explore institutional entrepreneurs as individuals. Drawing upon an in-depth biographical case study of one of the most celebrated institutional entrepreneurs of the 20th century, Rachel Carson, our findings illustrate that the projects of institutional entrepreneurs can be understood as expressions of vision and passion rooted deeply in life issues and of three aspects of character forged in formative experience: independence and comfort with marginality, desire to perform, and a sense of agency and duty.
Using Behavior Change Questionnaires to Tailor Personalized Health Communications in Pharmacy Practice
Authors: Lenz Thomas L.
Published: November 2010

Health behavior change is often viewed as the rate-limiting step in a lifestyle medicine program. Health behavior change strategies that are tailored to an individual patient’s needs may help him/her become more successful at reaching his/her personal health goals. Based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, this article provides an example of using “Readiness to Participate in Lifestyle Behaviors” and “Confidence to Participate in Lifestyle Behaviors” questionnaires in a community pharmacy lifestyle medicine program to tailor health communications. The questionnaires are important to the program for setting individual patient goals and for assessing a patient’s progress in the lifestyle medicine program.