bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strong influence of hierarchically structured diamond nanotopography on adhesion of human osteoblasts and mesenchymal cells
Authors: Broz A. , Baresova V. , Kromka A. , Rezek B. , Kalbacova M.
Published: August 2009

We investigate the influence of different roughnesses (20, 270, and 500 nm) of silicone substrates hermetically coated with the same nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films on adhesion (1 h) and viability (48 h) of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and human osteoblasts (SAOS‐2). MSC adhere similarly on all NCD surfaces and control polystyrene (PS), however, their metabolic activity on NCD surfaces is increased. Osteoblasts adhere on NCD in significantly higher numbers than on PS and their adhesion is inversely proportional to increasing substrate roughness. Their metabolic activity is decreased on nano/microrough NCD surfaces in contrast to MSC. The data show that NCD is a suitable biomaterial and can control cell adhesion and growth.
p‐type diamond Schottky diodes fabricated by vacuum ultraviolet light/ozone surface oxidation: Comparison with diodes based on wet‐chemical oxidation
Authors: Garino Yiuri , Teraji Tokuyuki , Koizumi Satoshi , Koide Yasuo , Ito Toshimichi
Published: August 2009

We investigated the performance of Schottky diodes fabricated on diamond surface oxidized by two different techniques. A detailed comparison shows vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light technique has better performance than the standard wet chemical technique: ideality factor and Schottky barrier height are more reproducible and leakage current is lower, suggesting VUV light oxidation method improves the controllability and the homogeneity of the surface electronic properties.
A score test for assessing the cured proportion in the long‐term survivor mixture model
Authors: Zhao Yun , Lee Andy H. , Yau Kelvin K. W. , Burke Valerie , McLachlan Geoffrey J.
Published: August 2009

The long‐term survivor mixture model is commonly applied to analyse survival data when some individuals may never experience the failure event of interest. A score test is presented to assess whether the cured proportion is significant to justify the long‐term survivor mixture model. Sampling distribution and power of the test statistic are evaluated by simulation studies. The results confirm that the proposed test statistic performs well in finite sample situations. The test procedure is illustrated using a breast cancer survival data set and the clustered multivariate failure times from a multi‐centre clinical trial of carcinoma. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ordinal response prediction using bootstrap aggregation, with application to a high‐throughput methylation data set
Authors: Archer K. J. , Mas V. R.
Published: August 2009

Many investigators conducting translational research are performing high‐throughput genomic experiments and then developing multigenic classifiers using the resulting high‐dimensional data set. In a large number of applications, the class to be predicted may be inherently ordinal. Examples of ordinal outcomes include tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage (I, II, III, IV); drug toxicity evaluated as none, mild, moderate, or severe; and response to treatment classified as complete response, partial response, stable disease, or progressive disease. While one can apply nominal response classification methods to ordinal response data, in doing so some information is lost that may improve the predictive performance of the classifier. This study examined the effectiveness of alternative ordinal splitting functions combined with bootstrap aggregation for classifying an ordinal response. We demonstrate that the ordinal impurity and ordered twoing methods have desirable properties for classifying ordinal response data and both perform well in comparison to other previously described methods. Developing a multigenic classifier is a common goal for microarray studies, and therefore application of the ordinal ensemble methods is demonstrated on a high‐throughput methylation data set. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of CEO core self‐evaluation on the firm's entrepreneurial orientation
Authors: Simsek Zeki , Heavey Ciaran , Veiga John (Jack) F.
Published: August 2009

Although much has been attributed to a CEO's personality, one particularly intriguing, and as yet unexplored, investigation is its impact on the firm's entrepreneurial orientation. Additionally, despite calls from the upper‐echelon literature, CEO personality research has been hobbled by the absence of a unifying construct that captures core dimensions of personality, and by the difficulty in obtaining such intimate assessments from executives. Building on recent advances in personality research, in particular the identification and validation of the core self‐evaluation construct that captures the core facets of an executive's sense of self‐potency, we develop and test a model of the impact of CEO core self‐evaluation on entrepreneurial orientation. Then, consistent with upper echelons and personality theory, we specify the contingent role of environmental dynamism. Using multisource data from a sample of CEOs and their top management teams from 129 firms, including a time‐lagged assessment of the firm's entrepreneurial orientation, we find evidence to suggest that CEOs whose personalities reflect higher core self‐evaluations have a stronger positive influence on their firms' entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, we find that this influence is particularly strong in firms facing dynamic environments, but negligible in stable environments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Differentiate into Functional Brown Adipocytes
Authors: Elabd Christian , Chiellini Chiara , Carmona Mamen , Galitzky Jean , Cochet Olivia , Petersen Rasmus , Pénicaud Luc , Kristiansen Karsten , Bouloumié Anne , Casteilla Louis , Dani Christian , Ailhaud Gérard , Amri Ez-Zoubir
Published: August 2009

In contrast to the earlier contention, adult humans have been shown recently to possess active brown adipose tissue with a potential of being of metabolic significance. Up to now, brown fat precursor cells have not been available for human studies. We have shown previously that human multipotent adipose-derived stem (hMADS) cells exhibit a normal karyotype and high self-renewal ability; they are known to differentiate into cells that exhibit the key properties of human white adipocytes, that is, uncoupling protein two expression, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, lipolysis in response to β-agonists and atrial natriuretic peptide, and release of adiponectin and leptin. Herein, we show that, upon chronic exposure to a specific PPARγ but not to a PPARβ/δ or a PPARα agonist, hMADS cell-derived white adipocytes are able to switch to a brown phenotype by expressing both uncoupling protein one (UCP1) and CIDEA mRNA. This switch is accompanied by an increase in oxygen consumption and uncoupling. The expression of UCP1 protein is associated to stimulation of respiration by β-AR agonists, including β3-AR agonist. Thus, hMADS cells represent an invaluable cell model to screen for drugs stimulating the formation and/or the uncoupling capacity of human brown adipocytes that could help to dissipate excess caloric intake of individuals.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Influence of Element Substitution on the Cluster Arrangement in the Novel Structures Ca3Tl5, Sr3Tl5, and Sr3Sn5–xTlx (x = 1.8 and 2.2)
Authors: Kim Sung‐Jin , Fässler Thomas F.
Published: August 2009

The compounds Sr3Sn5–xTlx (x = 1.78(4), I; 2.16(5), II), Ca3Tl5 (III), and Sr3Tl5 (IV) have been obtained by direct fusion of the elements in sealed niobium ampoules at high temperature. Their structures were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies and the bonding was investigated by TB–LMTO–ASA calculations. The ternary phases I and II crystallize in the Tm3Ga5 structure type; space group Pnma (No. 62); Z = 4 with a = 13.422(1), b = 10.897(1), c = 6.897(1) Å for I and a = 13.482(2), b = 10.938(2), c = 6.850(1) Å for II. The binary compounds III and IV crystallize in the Pu3Pd5 structure type; space group Cmcm (No. 63); Z = 4 with a = 10.231(2), b = 8.362(2), c = 10.623(2) Å for III and a = 10.592(5), b = 8.667(5), c = 10.973(6) Å for IV. Both structure types consist of zigzag chains of distorted square pyramidal {E5} (E = Tl, Sn/Tl) clusters. In the lower symmetric structures I/II the clusters are reoriented with respect to each other and have only two exo–contacts each, whereas in III/IV the clusters are aligned parallel and show a considerably higher degree of polymerization. The DOS for Sr3Sn5–xTlx calculated for x = 0 reveals a pseudo gap for x = 2 within the rigid band model, whereas the electronic band structure for Sr3Tl5 and Ca3Tl5 show metallic properties and strong participation of the cations in the bonding.
A New Main Group Metal Coordination Polymer: Synthesis, Structure, and Dielectric Constant Property of [Na(C6H4N5)(H2O)2]n
Authors: Fu Da‐Wei , Ge Jia‐Zhen , Zhang Yi , Ye Heng‐Yun
Published: August 2009

The reaction of NaOH with 4‐(2H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)pyridine affords the first tetrazole‐pyridine sodium coordination polymer with chain structure, [Na(C6H4N5)(H2O)2]n (1). The compound could be characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity remains unchanged almost within the measured temperature range of 80 K to 270 K at 1 MHz, and the frequency dependence of the permittivity showed rapidly drops from 31.5 to 4.3 within the measured frequency range of 200 to 1 MHz at room temperature.
The Outcome of the Axillofemoral Bypass: A Retrospective Analysis of 45 Patients
Authors: Liedenbaum Marjolein H. , Verdam Froukje J. , Spelt David , de Groot Hans G. W. , van der Waal Jan , van der Laan Lijckle
Published: August 2009

Purpose

This study was designed to retrospectively analyze outcomes of axillofemoral bypass (AxFB) operations performed in patients with severe comorbidities.

Methods

All patients (n = 45) who received an AxFB between 1990 and 2005 for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD, n = 35) or infectious aortic disease (IAD, n = 10) were included. Information on patency of the bypass and mortality was retrieved from patient records. A Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to illustrate survival rates, limb salvage, and primary and secondary patency.

Results

Included patients had several comorbidities and a high operative risk. In this group, a 30‐day mortality rate of 20% was found: 17% for the AIOD group, and 30% for the IAD group. During 5‐year follow‐up 20 patients died, of which 15 during the first year after operation. Survival rates were at 64 and 41% at 1 and 5 years and limb salvage rates were 84% for both these years. Primary patency rates at 1 and 5 years were 72 and 58%, respectively, and secondary patency rates were 86% at both time points.

Conclusions

High mortality rates were found in AIOD or IAD patients who received an AxFB. However, for high‐risk patients with an already reduced life expectancy, the AxFB remains an alternative with acceptable patency rates.
Insidious peripheral neuropathy occurring under treatment in infantile MTHFR deficiency
Authors: Chaabene‐Masmoudi A. , Mesrati F. , Zittoun J. , Landrieu P.
Published: August 2009

5,10‐Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency was diagnosed in a 1‐month‐old baby with signs of cerebral distress. Under a classic treatment using methionine supplementation, methyl donor (betaine) folinic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, the neuromotor development was satisfactory. At 15 years of age, however, despite no clear modification of the biochemical markers in body fluids, she developed a clinically overt peripheral axonal neuropathy. Only partial clinical improvement was obtained after reinforcement of betaine doses. Surveillance of the peripheral nerve is indicated in MTHFR deficiency, including in the infantile form with a good therapeutic compliance.
Fabrication of Anti-human Cardiac Troponin I Immunogold Nanorods for Sensing Acute Myocardial Damage
Authors: Guo ZR , Gu CR , Fan X , Bian ZP , Wu HF , Yang D , Gu N , Zhang JN
Published: August 2009

A facile, rapid, solution-phase method of detecting human cardiac troponin I for sensing myocardial damage has been described using gold nanorods-based biosensors. The sensing is demonstrated by the distinct change of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance wavelength of the gold nanorods to specific antibody–antigen binding events. For a higher sensitivity, the aspect ratio of gold nanorods is increased up to ca 5.5 by simply adding small amount of HCl in seed-mediated growth solution. Experimental results show that the detecting limit of the present method is 10 ng/mL. Contrast tests reveal that these gold nanorods-based plasmonic biosensors hold much higher sensitivity than that of conventionally spherical gold nanoparticles.
Brief Report: Excessive alcohol use negatively affects the course of adolescent depression: One year naturalistic follow‐up study
Authors: Meririnne Esa , Kiviruusu Olli , Karlsson Linnea , Pelkonen Mirjami , Ruuttu Titta , Tuisku Virpi , Marttunen Mauri
Published: August 2009

The impact of alcohol use on the course of adolescent depression over one‐year was investigated by following 197 consecutive adolescent outpatients with unipolar depression in a naturalistic treatment setting. Their baseline alcohol consumption was categorized in three groups: excessive use (defined as weekly drunkenness), regular use (monthly use, not weekly drunkenness), and no/occasional use (abstinence/less than monthly use). During the monthly BDI follow‐up, the excessive users achieved remission less frequently, and after one year, had poorer psychosocial functioning than the no/occasional users. In conclusion, excessive alcohol use negatively affects the course of adolescent depression and psychosocial functioning. Weekly drunkenness seems to be of predictive value and this can be examined with a few simple questions. Means of reducing alcohol consumption among depressed adolescents are worth further investigations.
Suicide trends diverge by method: Swiss suicide rates 1969–2005
Authors: Hepp U. , Ring M. , Frei A. , Rössler W. , Schnyder U. , Ajdacic-Gross V.
Published: August 2009

We examined the change in Swiss suicide rates since 1969, breaking down the rates according to the method used. The descriptive analyses of the main suicide methods are presented. The suicide rates reached a peak in the late 1970s/early 1980s and declined in more recent years. Firearm suicides and suicides by falls were the exception and sustained their upwards trend until the 1990s. Suicide by vehicle exhaust asphyxiation showed a rapid decline following the introduction of catalytic converters in motor vehicles. No substantial method substitution was observed. Suicide by poisoning declined in the 1990s but rose again following an increase in assisted suicide in somatically incurable patients. Suicide is too often regarded as a homogeneous phenomenon. With regard to the method they choose, suicide victims are a heterogeneous population and it is evident that different suicide methods are chosen by different people. A better understanding of the varying patterns of change over time in the different suicide methods used may lead to differentiated preventive strategies.
Study on the efficacy and tolerability of amisulpride in medical/surgical inpatients with delirium admitted to a general hospital
Authors: Pintor L. , Fuente E. , Bailles E. , Matrai S.
Published: August 2009

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of amisulpride in medical inpatients who present with delirium.

Method

Open label prospective study with 7-day follow-up. Forty hospital inpatients with delirium were recruited, seven of whom died and two of whom refused medication. The average dose of amisulpride for delirium treatment was 200–300 mg/day. Daily assessments were performed with Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), Positive Subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-P), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Neurological Subscale of the UKU side effect rating scale. Variance analysis was performed through repeated measurements, with the general linear model with paired comparisons and Bonferroni correction for each measured variable.

Results

Patients showed significant improvement on the DRS from the first day of treatment DRS = 17.55 until day 7 DRS = 7.26 (F = 92.485; p < 0.001), psychotic symptoms improved from first day PANSS-P = 18.26 to last day PANSS-P = 9.35 (F = 144.83; p < 0.001). Cognitive status showed a significant improvement from day 2 MMSE = 18.71 until day 7 MMSE = 24.06 (F = 96.56; p < 0.001), and the neurological subscale of the UKU side effect rating scale showed a significant improvement the last day with respect to baseline pretreatment level (F = 7.539; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

These results suggest a good response to amisulpride in the acute phase of delirium, although further randomized controlled studies must be performed.
Molecular constitution of breast but not other reproductive tissues is rich in growth promoting molecules: A possible link to highest incidence of tumor growths
Authors: Poola Indira , Abraham Jessy , Marshalleck Josephine J. , Yue Qingqi , Fu Sidney W. , Viswanath Lokesh , Sharma Nikhil , Hill Russel , DeWitty Robert L. , Bonney George
Published: August 2009

In the current study we tested if highest incidence of benign as well as cancer growths in breast tissue is due to constitutive molecular composition of this tissue. To delineate the molecular basis, we compared the expression of nine functional gene modules (total 578 genes) that regulate major positive growth and negative inhibitory signals in normal breast with two other reproductive tissues, ovary and uterus. We present data to demonstrate that breast tissues constitutively have very highly elevated levels of several growth promoting molecules and diminished levels of inhibitory molecules which may, in part, contribute for highest incidence of tumor growths in this tissue.
The effect of past behavior on variety seeking: Automatic and deliberative influences
Authors: Shen Hao , Wyer Robert S.
Published: August 2009

Consumers often make multiple purchases of products to use over a period of time. In doing so, they sometimes choose their most preferred option for use on each occasion. In other cases, however, they are likely to distribute their choices over several alternatives. These decision strategies could be applied either deliberately or spontaneously without awareness of the factors that give rise to their application. Three studies examined the conditions in which these spontaneous and deliberative processes exert an influence on variety seeking.
Myopic Voters and Natural Disaster Policy
Authors: HEALY ANDREW , MALHOTRA NEIL
Published: August 2009

Do voters effectively hold elected officials accountable for policy decisions? Using data on natural disasters, government spending, and election returns, we show that voters reward the incumbent presidential party for delivering disaster relief spending, but not for investing in disaster preparedness spending. These inconsistencies distort the incentives of public officials, leading the government to underinvest in disaster preparedness, thereby causing substantial public welfare losses. We estimate that $1 spent on preparedness is worth about $15 in terms of the future damage it mitigates. By estimating both the determinants of policy decisions and the consequences of those policies, we provide more complete evidence about citizen competence and government accountability.
What Can a President Learn from the News Media? The Instructive Case of Richard Nixon
Authors: Karpowitz Christopher F.
Published: August 2009

This study examines the media diet of Richard Nixon, whose exposure to the news consisted almost entirely of a White House-produced daily news summary. Nixon staffers repeatedly asserted that the summary was the most effective way to give the president a comprehensive, objective account of the previous day’s reporting. While the summaries covered a wide range of media sources, analysis of the framing and filtering done by the White House raises doubts about the assertion that summaries were an effective substitute for first-hand consumption of the news. Nixon’s handwritten marginal notes reveal that the summaries provoked reactions in the president that had important implications for his conduct of the presidency.
The Spatial Structure of Party Competition: Party Dispersion within a Finite Policy Space
Authors: Andrews Josephine T. , Money Jeannette
Published: August 2009

Using the Comparative Manifesto Project (CMP) data for twenty established parliamentary democracies, the authors have studied the relationship between number of parties in a party system and party dispersion. They found that as the number of parties in the system increases, the dispersion of parties also increases, but only up to a point. The boundaries of a finite issue space appear to expand up to at most five parties. In addition, once the number of parties in the party system was controlled for, they found that electoral rules have no direct effect on party dispersion. Thus, their findings validate the theoretical predictions of spatial theory while at the same time highlighting surprising ways in which the policy space is constrained.
Early Twentieth-Century Intra–East Asian Literary Contact Nebulae: Censored Japanese Literature in Chinese and Korean
Authors: Thornber Karen L.
Published: August 2009

This article analyzes interactions among the early twentieth-century Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese literary worlds. The author first develops a general conceptualization of intra–East Asian literary contact nebulae. These were the ambiguous spaces, both physical and creative, where imperial Japanese, semicolonial Chinese, and colonial Korean and Taiwanese writers interacted with one another and transculturated (i.e., discussed, translated, and intertextualized) one another's writings. Among the most intriguing literary contact nebulae are Chinese and Korean transculturations of censored Japanese literature. The second half of the article explores two key examples of this phenomenon: colonial Korean translation and intertextualization of the Japanese writer Nakano Shigeharu's poem “Ame no furu Shinagawa eki” (Shinagawa Station in the Rain, February 1929) and wartime Chinese translation and intertextualization of the Japanese writer Ishikawa Tatsuzō's novella “Ikiteiru heitai” (Living Soldiers, March 1938). These transculturations embody multifaceted amalgams of (semi)colonial literary collaboration, acquiescence, and resistance vis-à-vis metropolitan imperial and cultural authority.
Base Cultures: Sex Workers and Servicemen in Occupied Japan
Authors: Kovner Sarah
Published: August 2009

This article examines how the bodies of Japanese women became a key site of political and cultural contestation during the Allied occupation. The sale of sex, once legally recognized and regulated, became a conspicuous symbol of postwar chaos. Ostracizing sex workers who catered to servicemen provided a means to display an abiding nationalism without directly confronting the occupiers. But these women were also indispensable in the economy of military base cities. Journalists and social critics sought to discern or impose order by devising elaborate taxonomies, cartographies, health regimes, and moral codes. Sex workers were active participants in this process, but their personal testimonies show how their lives defied categorization. When the Diet finally intervened with the 1956 Prostitution Prevention Law, it was merely the culmination of a long process involving every segment of Japanese society.
Everyday Life as Critique in Late Colonial Korea: Kim Namch'ŏn's Literary Experiments, 1934–43
Authors: Park Sunyoung
Published: August 2009

Perhaps the most renowned leftist writer of late colonial Korea, Kim Namch'ŏn left a complex body of work that has so far defied an encompassing interpretation. On the one hand, in his theoretical writings, Kim consistently advocated realism as his aesthetic principle. On the other hand, within his fictional writings, Kim also displayed an antithetical interest in the fragmentary scenes of modern life, which he often depicted through experimental techniques of a modernist aesthetic sensibility. In this essay, an attempt is made to provide a unified account of Kim's works. Special attention is given to Kim's early theorization of the everyday as a proper literary space for a materialist critique of society. This focus on everyday life, it is argued, enabled Kim to critique both the teleological outlook of dogmatic socialism and the utopian vision of pan-Asianism, but it did not shelter him from a fascination with the daily spectacles of urban modernity.
Tegumental surface changes in adult Paramphistomum microbothrium (Fischoeder 1901) following in vitro administration of artemether
Authors: Shalaby H.A. , El Namaky A.H. , Kamel R.A. , Derbala A.A.
Published: August 2009

The treatment of paramphistomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, has been carried out with different fasciolicidal compounds, all showing weak efficacy. Therefore, the search for alternative paramphistomicidal drugs is warranted. In the present study, the in vitro effects of artemether on adult Paramphistomum microbothrium were evaluated, for the first time, using scanning electron microscopy. After 24 h of incubation with 10 μg ml− 1 artemether, tegumental damage of both anterior and posterior ends of the fluke had occurred in the majority of the specimens examined. Sensory papillae surrounding the oral aperture were ruptured, while those at the acetabular region appeared to be sunken due to tegumental swelling. The tegumental disruption became more pronounced and both oral sucker and acetabulum were severely distorted, on increasing the concentration to 20 μg ml− 1. With higher concentration of 30 μg ml− 1, gross swellings of the body of the fluke, clearly visible to the naked eye, were observed, and damage to both oral sucker and acetabulum was so extreme that little recognizable structure remained.
Duplication of internal jugular veins: case report
Authors: Wong B Y W , Strachan D R , Loney E L
Published: August 2009

Objectives:

We report a rare case of internal jugular vein duplications, in order to raise the level of awareness of this anomaly amongst ENT surgeons, radiologists and intensive care practitioners. We briefly review and discuss the related literature.

Case report:

Duplicated internal jugular veins are a rare anatomical finding. They may be subclinical, or may present with neck swellings that may be mistaken for laryngocoeles or branchial cysts. We present a case of bilateral internal jugular vein duplication in a young adult. The referral was made on the basis of intermittent neck swelling, dyspnoea and dysphagia. Conservative treatment was instigated, and symptoms improved without surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

Only a handful of cases of duplicated internal jugular veins have been reported. The current case is unique, as no previously reported cases have presented with dyspnoea and dysphagia. We suggest a conservative approach, as there is currently no evidence that duplicated internal jugular veins cause any adverse health outcomes.
Detection of multiple infections by Monocystis strains in a single earthworm host using ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence variation
Authors: VELAVAN T. P. , SCHULENBURG H. , MICHIELS N. K.
Published: August 2009

Monocystis sp. are sporocyst-forming apicomplexan parasites common in seminal vesicles of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris where they may account for temporary castration. This study describes the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal cistron of Monocystis sp. This region, including ITS-1, the 5·8S ribosomal RNA gene, and ITS-2, was PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced for Monocystis sp. isolated from the seminal vesicles of several wild-caught L. terrestris. Our analysis revealed substantial polymorphisms, also within single host organisms, indicating intra-host diversity of parasites. These genetic markers are the first that allow distinction of Monocystis sp. genotypes, opening new avenues for the study of parasite diversity within and between hosts.
Morphological characterization ofCryptosporidium parvumlife-cycle stages in anin vitromodel system
Authors: BOROWSKI H. , THOMPSON R. C. A. , ARMSTRONG T. , CLODE P. L.
Published: August 2009

Cryptosporidium parvumis a zoonotic protozoan parasite that mainly affects the ileum of humans and livestock, with the potential to cause severe enteric disease. We describe the complete life cycle ofC. parvumin anin vitrosystem. Infected cultures of the human ileocecal epithelial cell line (HCT-8) were observed over time using electron microscopy. Additional data are presented on the morphology, development and behavioural characteristics of the different life-cycle stages as well as determining their time of occurrence after inoculation. Numerous stages ofC. parvumand their behaviour have been visualized and morphologically characterized for the first time using scanning electron microscopy. Further, parasite-host interactions and the effect ofC. parvumon host cells were also visualized. An improved understanding of the parasite's biology, proliferation and interactions with host cells will aid in the development of treatments for the disease.
Developmental age, physical fitness andToxocaraseroprevalence amongst lower-secondary students living in rural areas contaminated withToxocaraeggs
Authors: JAROSZ W. , MIZGAJSKA-WIKTOR H. , KIRWAN P. , KONARSKI J. , RYCHLICKI W. , WAWRZYNIAK G.
Published: August 2009

Scarce and inconclusive information on general biological impact ofToxocarainvasion on paratenic hosts, and people in particular, has led us to undertake a comprehensive study of the problem. The study has been conducted in a rural environment, which is considered a toxocarosis risk factor. In total 200 soil samples have been screened forToxocaraeggs by flotation, of which 14·5% were positive. Backyards close to households were most heavily contaminated with infectious eggs – 21·7% of positive samples. ELISA serological tests performed on 242 lower-secondary students found 14·5% of the studied population to be definitely positive – 16·5% of boys and 12·8% of girls, respectively. The odds of being infected withToxocarawere 2 times (CI: 1·15–3·85) more likely for individuals who owned a cat than those who did not own a cat. Strong significant correlation between seropositivity and the presence of a dog in a household was found with boys. The level of developmental age was significantly higher in seropositive than in seronegative students. No significant correlation has been observed between the motor abilities and seropositivity of students. Seropositive boys had significantly lower end-of-year grades than their seronegative counterparts.
Sex differences in the developmental antecedents of aggression
Authors: Boden Joseph M.
Published: August 2009

Archer examines sex differences in aggression, and argues that these differences may be better explained by sexual selection theory than by social role theory. This commentary examines sex differences in the developmental antecedents of aggression and violence, and presents a preliminary framework for examining whether the observed sex differences amongst these developmental antecedents can also be accounted for by sexual selection theory.
Human sexual dimorphism, fitness display, and ovulatory cycle effects
Authors: Sefcek Jon A. , Sacco Donald F.
Published: August 2009

Social roles theorists claim that differences between the sexes are of limited consequence. Such misperceptions lead to misunderstanding the important role of sexual selection in explaining phenotypic differences both between species and within humans. Countering these claims, we explain how sexual dimorphism in humans affect expressions of artistic display and patterns of male and female aggression across the ovulatory cycle.
Two more things for consideration: Sexual orientation and conduct disorder
Authors: Dickins Thomas Edmund , Sergeant Mark James Timothy
Published: August 2009

We add to Archer's review with mention of sexual orientation differences in aggression and empathy, which suggest a biological basis for the mediating role of empathy. We also note that Archer's view of sex differences will illuminate discussion of conduct disorder, which can only be of help to researchers in this field.
Development of sex differences in physical aggression: The maternal link to epigenetic mechanisms
Authors: Tremblay Richard E. , Côté Sylvana M.
Published: August 2009

As Archer argues, recent developmental data on human physical aggression support the sexual selection hypothesis. However, sex differences are largely due to males on a chronic trajectory of aggression. Maternal characteristics of these males suggest that, in societies with low levels of physical violence, females with a history of behavior problems largely contribute to maintenance of physical aggression sex differences.
Biophobia breeds unparsimonious exceptionalism
Authors: Gaulin Steven J. C.
Published: August 2009

With respect to aggressiveness it is not enough to say that humans are “like other mammals.” We resemble only those species where males have higher maximum reproductive rates than females. In such species males evolve a set of hormonally mediated competitive traits via sexual selection. Because humans match the predictions of this general evolutionary model, attempts to (re)explain men's aggressiveness in sociological terms are superfluous and misleading.
Sex differences in dream aggression
Authors: Schredl Michael
Published: August 2009

Dream research shows sex differences in dream aggression that fit very well with the findings for waking-life aggressive behaviour. Dream studies are a valuable tool for investigating variables underlying the sex difference in aggression. One might argue that studying dream aggression might be even more promising because aggression in dreams is not socially labelled, as being aggressive in waking life is.
Sex differences in aggression: What does evolutionary theory predict?
Authors: Cashdan Elizabeth
Published: August 2009

The target article claims that evolutionary theory predicts the emergence of sex differences in aggression in early childhood, and that there will be no sex difference in anger. It also finds an absence of sex differences in spousal abuse in Western societies. All three are puzzling from an evolutionary perspective and warrant further discussion.
More holes in social roles
Authors: Kenrick Douglas T. , Griskevicius Vladas
Published: August 2009

Given the strength of Archer's case for a sexual selection account, he is too accommodating of the social roles alternative. We present data on historical changes in violent crime contradicting that perspective, and discuss recent evidence showing how an evolutionary perspective predicts sex similarities and differences responding in a flexible and functional manner to adaptively relevant triggers across different domains.
Sexual selection and social roles: Two models or one?
Authors: van den Berghe Pierre L.
Published: August 2009

Nothing is gained by opposing “sexual selection” and “social roles,” or by proclaiming the supremacy of one over the other. Instead, we should develop a unitary model of gene-culture coevolution, allowing for the complex interaction of both, and varying importance of each, all within our double, species-specific, adaptive, evolutionary track.
What kind of selection?
Authors: Campbell Anne
Published: August 2009

Supporting a mediating role for fear in inhibiting female aggression, a recent study shows that aversion to “risky” impulsivity completely mediates the sex difference in direct aggression but not in angry acts where dangerous retaliation is unlikely. A more inclusive use of the term “sexual selection” to encompass reproductive advantage would recognise females' crucial role in nurturing and protecting offspring.
Sex differences in aggression: Origins and implications for sexual integration of combat forces
Authors: Browne Kingsley R.
Published: August 2009

Sex differences in aggressive and risk-taking behaviors have practical implications for sexual integration of military combat units. The social-role theory implies that female soldiers will adapt to their role and display the same aggressive and risk-taking propensities as their male comrades. If sex differences reflect evolved propensities, however, adoption of the soldier's role is unlikely to eliminate those differences.
Dominating versus eliminating the competition: Sex differences in human intrasexual aggression
Authors: Benenson Joyce F.
Published: August 2009

Archer presents a traditional view of intrasexual competition. Knowledge of a species' social structure provides a more complete picture. Human males compete against individuals with whom they may cooperate later in inter-group aggression. By contrast, females compete against individuals for a mate's continued support. Females' aggression may aim at eliminating the competition, whereas males simply may attempt to dominate others.
Does sexual selection explain why human aggression peaks in early childhood?
Authors: Behme Christina
Published: August 2009

Archer provides seemingly compelling evidence for his claim that sexual selection explains sex differences in human aggression better than social role theory. I challenge Archer's interpretation of some of this evidence. I argue that the same evidence could be used to support the claim that what has been selected for is theability to curbaggression and discuss implications for Archer's theory.
Ultimate and proximate influences on human sex differences
Authors: Bailey Drew H. , Oxford Jonathan K. , Geary David C.
Published: August 2009

We agree with Archer that human sex differences in aggression are well explained by sexual selection, but note that “social learning” explanations of human behaviors are not logically mutually exclusive from “evolutionary” explanations and therefore should not be framed as such. We discuss why this type of framing hinders the development of both social learning and evolutionary theories of human behavior.
Refining the sexual selection explanation within an ethological framework
Authors: Archer John
Published: August 2009

My response is organized into three sections. The first revisits the theme of the target article, the explanatory power of sexual selection versus social role theory. The second considers the range and scope of sexual selection, and its application to human sex differences. Two topics are examined in more detail: (1) the paternity uncertainty theory of partner violence; (2) evolution of inter-group aggression. Section 4 covers ultimate and proximal explanations and their integration within an ethological approach. I consider the development of sex differences in aggression, and their causal mechanisms, within this framework.
RETHINKING THE GREAT EARTHWORK OF TIKAL: A HYDRAULIC HYPOTHESIS FOR THE CLASSIC MAYA POLITY
Authors: Silverstein Jay E. , Webster David , Martinez Horacio , Soto Alvaro
Published: August 2009

The earthworks of Tikal have long been understood as the most extensive example of defensive architecture in the Maya Lowlands, with the ditch and embankment seen as part of a system of defense anchoring the north and south territorial limits of Tikal to impassablebajoson its flanks. New survey and excavation data suggest that the extent and course of the earthworks are not consistent with the demarcation of the north and south limits of the polity, and that the morphology of the feature is not consistent with a well-conceived or finished defensive construction. Here we present a hypothetical model of the earthworks as a limestone filtration trench that could have been used to collect subsurface water to mitigate the effects of canicular drought or to support off-season agriculture.
INTRODUCTION
Authors: Hirth Kenneth G. , McCafferty Geoffrey G. , Fowler William R.
Published: August 2009

Over the past four decades the interpretive capacity of lithic analysis in Mesoamerica has changed dramatically. Lithic studies have grown from simple artifact descriptions to a powerful approach for studying and interpreting pre-Hispanic economy. The linchpin for this change was the development of the lithic technology approach (Collins 1975; Crabtree 1968; Flenniken 1981) and its use in asking culturally meaningful questions about the Mesoamerican past (Sheets 1975; Spence 1967). The utility of this approach is as obvious to those who employ it, as it is elusive to those who do not. It involves the recovery, analysis and interpretation of flaked stone residues, that is, the large and small flakes and chips produced when stone tools are manufactured and used. Moreover, it is the study of the mundane to view the mundane, and obtain a window onto the economic patterns of everyday life. The reward from studying thousands of ordinary flaked stone remains comes from the insight it provides for reconstructing and modeling past economic behavior.
OBSIDIAN BLADE PRODUCTION FOR CRAFT CONSUMPTION AT KAMINALJUYU
Authors: Heath Anderson J. , Hirth Kenneth G.
Published: August 2009

The interpretation of craft activity in Mesoamerica has been hindered by difficulties in recognizing and defining the archaeological signatures associated with obsidian blade production and consumption. Theoretical advances and experimental approaches have improved our understanding, but few studies have investigated the role of obsidian blade production in craft activity using empirical data from archaeological assemblages. The present study addresses this problem by presenting an analysis of obsidian flakes and blades recovered from a workshop refuse context at Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala. Technological and use wear analyses suggest that core-shaping by-products in the form of irregular percussion and pressure blades were used in craft activity. Fine blades were underrepresented in the assemblage, suggesting that cores or blades left the workshop as finished goods. These analyses demonstrate that the actual behavior of artisans likely did not conform exactly to the dichotomous theoretical categories of production and consumption that archaeologists routinely use.
On the Random Satisfiable Process
Authors: KRIVELEVICH MICHAEL , SUDAKOV BENNY , VILENCHIK DAN
Published: August 2009

In this work we suggest a new model for generating random satisfiablek-CNF formulas. To generate such formulas. randomly permute all$2^k\binom{n}{k}$possible clauses over the variablesx1,. . .,xn, and starting from the empty formula, go over the clauses one by one, including each new clause as you go along if, after its addition, the formula remains satisfiable. We study the evolution of this process, namely the distribution over formulas obtained after scanning through the firstmclauses (in the random permutation's order).

Random processes with conditioning on a certain property being respected are widely studied in the context of graph properties. This study was pioneered by Ruciński and Wormald in 1992 for graphs with a fixed degree sequence, and also by Erdős, Suen and Winkler in 1995 for triangle-free and bipartite graphs. Since then many other graph properties have been studied, such as planarity andH-freeness. Thus our model is a natural extension of this approach to the satisfiability setting.

Our main contribution is as follows. Form≥cn,c=c(k) a sufficiently large constant, we are able to characterize the structure of the solution space of a typical formula in this distribution. Specifically, we show that typically all satisfying assignments are essentially clustered in one cluster, and all bute−Ω(m/n)nof the variables take the same value in all satisfying assignments. We also describe a polynomial-time algorithm that finds w.h.p. a satisfying assignment for such formulas.
Introduction
Authors: Brightwell Graham
Published: August 2009

This Special Issue of CPC is devoted to papers from the conference honouring the 65th birthday of Tom Trotter, held at the Georgia Institute of Technology, May 5–9 2008. The organizing committee consisted of Graham Brightwell, Dwight Duffus, Stefan Felsner, Hal Kierstead, Prasad Tetali, Robin Thomas, Peter Winkler and Xingxing Yu.
Severe tooth loss in older adults as a key indicator of compromised dietary quality
Authors: Savoca Margaret R , Arcury Thomas A , Leng Xiaoyan , Chen Haiying , Bell Ronny A , Anderson Andrea M , Kohrman Teresa , Frazier Rebecca J , Gilbert Gregg H , Quandt Sara A
Published: August 2009

Objective

Poor oral health influences the dietary quality of older individuals. The objective of the present study was to relate the number of teeth to adherence to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans among an ethnically diverse sample of older adults.

Design

A block cluster design was used to obtain a sample of older adults. Data were weighted to census data for ethnicity and gender. Dietary intakes were assessed using an FFQ and converted into Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) scores.

Setting

Two counties in North Carolina, USA, with large African-American and American Indian populations.

Subjects

Community-dwelling older adults (N 635).

Results

Three hundred and twenty-six participants had severe tooth loss (0–10 teeth remaining), compared with 305 participants with 11+ teeth. After controlling for socio-economic factors, those with 0–10 teeth had lower total HEI-2005 scores and consumed less Total Fruit, Meat and Beans, and Oils, and more energy from Solid Fat, Alcohol and Added Sugar, compared with those with 11+ teeth. Less than 1 % of those with 0–10 teeth and 4 % of those with 11+ teeth met overall HEI-2005 recommendations. Those with 0–10 teeth were less likely to eat recommended amounts of Total Vegetables, Dark Green and Orange Vegetables, and energy from Solid Fat, Alcohol and Added Sugar.

Conclusions

Older adults with severe tooth loss are less likely than those with moderate to low tooth loss to meet current dietary recommendations. Nutrition interventions for older adults should take oral health status into consideration and include strategies that specifically address this as a barrier to healthful eating.
Molecular mechanisms of leukocyte trafficking in T-cell-mediated skin inflammation: insights from intravital imaging
Authors: Deane James A. , Hickey Michael J.
Published: August 2009

Infiltration of T cells is a key step in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory skin diseases atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis. Understanding the mechanisms of T cell recruitment to the skin is therefore of fundamental importance for the discovery and application of novel therapies for these conditions. Studies of both clinical samples and experimental models of skin inflammation have implicated specific adhesion molecules and chemokines in lymphocyte recruitment. In particular, recent studies using advanced in vivo imaging techniques have greatly increased our understanding of the kinetics and molecular basis of this process. In this review, we summarise the current understanding of the cellular immunology of antigen-driven dermal inflammation and the roles of adhesion molecules and chemokines. We focus on results obtained using intravital microscopy to examine the dermal microvasculature and interstitium to determine the mechanisms of T cell recruitment and migration in experimental models of T-cell-mediated skin inflammation.