bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Extended-Host-Range Pseudo-T-Even Bacteriophage Kpp95 Isolated on
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Wu Lii-Tzu , Chang Shu-Ying , Yen Ming-Ren , Yang Tsuey-Ching , Tseng Yi-Hsiung
Published: March 2007

Kpp95, isolated on
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, is a bacteriophage with the morphology of T4-type phages and is capable of rapid lysis of host cells. Its double-stranded genomic DNA (ca. 175 kb, estimated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) can be cut only by restriction endonucleases with a cleavage site flanked either by A and T or by T, as tested, suggesting that it contains the modified derivative(s) of G and/or C. Over 26 protein bands were visualized upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the virion proteins. N-terminal sequencing indicated that the most abundant band (46 kDa) is the major coat protein (gp23) which has been cleaved from a signal peptide likely with a length similar to that of T4. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the central region (263 amino acid residues) of gp23 and the full length of gp18 and gp19 placed Kpp95 among the pseudo-T-even subgroup, most closely related to the coliphage JS98. In addition to being able to lyse many extended-spectrum β-lactamase strains of
K. pneumoniae
, Kpp95 can lyse
Klebsiella oxytoca
,
Enterobacter agglomerans
, and
Serratia marcescens
cells. Thus, Kpp95 deserves further studies for development as a component of a therapeutic cocktail, owing to its high efficiencies of host lysis plus extended host range.
Dynamics of Genomic-Library Enrichment and Identification of Solvent Tolerance Genes for
Clostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Borden Jacob R. , Papoutsakis Eleftherios Terry
Published: March 2007

A
Clostridium acetobutylicum
ATCC 824 genomic library was constructed using randomly sheared DNA. Library inserts conferring increased tolerance to 1-butanol were isolated using two protocols. Protocol I utilized a single round of butanol challenges in batch culture, while protocol II, which gave clearly superior outcomes, was based on the serial transfer of stationary-phase cultures into progressively higher butanol concentrations. DNA microarray analysis made a high-resolution assessment of the dynamic process of library enrichment possible for the first time. Protocol I yielded a library insert containing the entire coding region of the gene CAC0003 (which codes for a protein of unknown function) but also several DNA fragments containing promoter regions. Protocol II enabled the successful identification of DNA fragments containing several intact genes conferring preferential growth under conditions of butanol stress. Since expression using the employed library is possible only from natural promoters, among the enriched genes, we identified 16 genes that constitute the first cistron of a transcriptional unit. These genes include four transcriptional regulators (CAC0977, CAC1463, CAC1869, and CAC2495). After subcloning plasmids carrying the CAC0003 and CAC1869 genes, strains 824(pCAC0003) and 824(pCAC1869) exhibited 13% and an 81% increases, respectively, in butanol tolerance relative to the plasmid control strain. 824(pCAC1869) consistently grew to higher cell densities in challenged and unchallenged cultures and exhibited prolonged metabolism. Our serial enrichment approach provided a more detailed understanding of the dynamic process of library enrichment under conditions of selective growth. Further characterization of the genes identified in this study will likely enhance our understanding of the complex phenotype of solvent tolerance.
Multiple Environmental Stress Tests Show No Common Phenotypes Shared among Contemporary Epidemic Strains of
Salmonella enterica
Authors: Kang Min-Su , Besser Thomas E. , Hancock Dale D. , Call Douglas R.
Published: March 2007

Phenotypic traits of coexisting epidemic and nonepidemic strains of
Salmonella enterica
serovars Typhimurium and Newport were compared. Different stress conditions were relatively more or less favorable for the epidemic strains. Transcriptional analysis identified specific upregulated genes during defined stress conditions, but there were no common traits shared by epidemic serovars.
The Alternative Sigma Factor σBand the Virulence Gene Regulator PrfA Both Regulate Transcription ofListeria monocytogenesInternalins
Authors: McGann Patrick , Wiedmann Martin , Boor Kathryn J.
Published: March 2007

SomeListeria monocytogenesinternalins are recognized as contributing to invasion of mammalian tissue culture cells. While PrfA is well established as a positive regulator ofL. monocytogenesvirulence gene expression, the stress-responsive σBhas been recognized only recently as contributing to expression of virulence genes, including some that encode internalins. To measure the relative contributions of PrfA and σBto internalin gene transcription, we used reverse transcription-PCR to quantify transcript levels for eight internalin genes (inlA, inlB, inlC, inlC2, inlD, inlE, inlF, andinlG) inL. monocytogenes10403S and in isogenic ΔprfA, ΔsigB, and ΔsigBΔprfAstrains. Strains were grown under defined conditions to produce (i) active PrfA, (ii) active σBand active PrfA, (iii) inactive PrfA, and (iv) active σBand inactive PrfA. Under the conditions tested, σBand PrfA contributed differentially to the expression of the various internalins such that (i) both σBand PrfA contributed toinlAandinlBtranscription, (ii) only PrfA contributed toinlCtranscription, (iii) only σBcontributed toinlC2andinlDtranscription, and (iv) neither σBnor PrfA contributed toinlFandinlGtranscription.inlEtranscript levels were undetectable. The important role for σBin regulating expression ofL. monocytogenesinternalins suggests that exposure of this organism to environmental stress conditions, such as those encountered in the gastrointestinal tract, may activate internalin transcription. Interplay between σBand PrfA also appears to be critical for regulating transcription of some virulence genes, includinginlA, inlB, andprfA.
Ex Vivo Stability of the Rodent-Borne Hantaan Virus in Comparison to That of Arthropod-Borne Members of the
Bunyaviridae
Family
Authors: Hardestam J. , Simon M. , Hedlund K. O. , Vaheri A. , Klingström J. , Lundkvist Å.
Published: March 2007

The possible effect of virus adaptation to different transmission routes on virus stability in the environment is not well known. In this study we have compared the stabilities of three viruses within the
Bunyaviridae
family: the rodent-borne
Hantavirus
Hantaan virus (HTNV), the sand fly-borne
Phlebovirus
sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), and the tick-borne
Nairovirus
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). These viruses differ in their transmission routes: SFSV and CCHFV are vector borne, whereas HTNV is spread directly between its hosts, and to humans, via the environment. We studied whether these viruses differed regarding stability when kept outside of the host. Viral survival was analyzed at different time points upon exposure to different temperatures (4°C, 20°C, and 37°C) and drying at 20°C. We observed clearly different stabilities under wet conditions, particularly at 4°C, where infectious SFSV, HTNV, and CCHFV were detectable after 528, 96, and 15 days, respectively. All three viruses were equally sensitive to drying, as shown by drying on aluminum discs. Furthermore, HTNV and SFSV partially survived for 2 min in 30% ethanol, whereas CCHFV did not. Electron microscopy images of HTNV, SSFSV, and CCHFV stored at 37°C until infectivity was lost still showed the occurrence of virions, but with abnormal shapes and densities compared to those of the nonincubated samples. In conclusion, our study points out important differences in ex vivo stability among viruses within the
Bunyaviridae
family.
Evolution of the Mating Type Locus: Insights Gained from the Dimorphic Primary Fungal Pathogens
Histoplasma capsulatum
,
Coccidioides immitis
, and
Coccidioides posadasii
Authors: Fraser James A. , Stajich Jason E. , Tarcha Eric J. , Cole Garry T. , Inglis Diane O. , Sil Anita , Heitman Joseph
Published: March 2007

Sexual reproduction of fungi is governed by the mating type (
MAT
) locus, a specialized region of the genome encoding key transcriptional regulators that direct regulatory networks to specify cell identity and fate. Knowledge of
MAT
locus structure and evolution has been considerably advanced in recent years as a result of genomic analyses that enable the definition of
MAT
locus sequences in many species as well as provide an understanding of the evolutionary plasticity of this unique region of the genome. Here, we extend this analysis to define the mating type locus of three dimorphic primary human fungal pathogens,
Histoplasma capsulatum
,
Coccidioides immitis
, and
Coccidioides posadasii
, using genomic analysis, direct sequencing, and bioinformatics. These studies provide evidence that all three species possess heterothallic bipolar mating type systems, with isolates encoding either a high-mobility-group (HMG) domain or an α-box transcriptional regulator. These genes are intact in all loci examined and have not been subject to loss or decay, providing evidence that the loss of fertility upon passage in
H. capsulatum
is not attributable to mutations at the
MAT
locus. These findings also suggest that an extant sexual cycle remains to be defined in both
Coccidioides
species, in accord with population genetic evidence. Based on these
MAT
sequences, a facile PCR test was developed that allows the mating type to be rapidly ascertained. Finally, these studies highlight the evolutionary forces shaping the
MAT
locus, revealing examples in which flanking genes have been inverted or subsumed and incorporated into an expanding
MAT
locus, allowing us to propose an expanded model for the evolution of the
MAT
locus in the phylum
Ascomycota
.
The MAD1 Adhesin of
Metarhizium anisopliae
Links Adhesion with Blastospore Production and Virulence to Insects, and the MAD2 Adhesin Enables Attachment to Plants
Authors: Wang Chengshu , St Leger Raymond J.
Published: March 2007

Metarhizium anisopliae
is a fungus of considerable metabolic and ecological versatility, being a potent insect pathogen that can also colonize plant roots. The mechanistic details of these interactions are unresolved. We provide evidence that
M. anisopliae
adheres to insects and plants using two different proteins, MAD1 and MAD2, that are differentially induced in insect hemolymph and plant root exudates, respectively, and produce regional localization of adhesive conidial surfaces. Expression of
Mad1
in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
allowed this yeast to adhere to insect cuticle. Expression of
Mad2
caused yeast cells to adhere to a plant surface. Our study demonstrated that as well as allowing adhesion to insects, MAD1 at the surface of
M. anisopliae
conidia or blastospores is required to orientate the cytoskeleton and stimulate the expression of genes involved in the cell cycle. Consequently, the disruption of
Mad1
in
M. anisopliae
delayed germination, suppressed blastospore formation, and greatly reduced virulence to caterpillars. The disruption of
Mad2
blocked the adhesion of
M. anisopliae
to plant epidermis but had no effects on fungal differentiation and entomopathogenicity. Thus, regulation, localization, and specificity control the functional distinction between
Mad1
and
Mad2
and enable
M. anisopliae
cells to adapt their adhesive properties to different habitats.
Phase Boundaries and Biological Membranes
Authors: Feigenson Gerald W.
Published: March 2007

Bilayer mixtures of lipids are used by many researchers as chemically simple models for biological membranes. In particular, observations on three-component bilayer mixtures containing cholesterol show rich phase behavior, including several regions of two-phase coexistence and one region of three-phase coexistence. Yet, the relationship between these simple model mixtures and biological membranes, which contain hundreds of different proteins and lipids, is not clear. Many of the model mixtures have been chosen for study because they exhibit readily observed phase separations, not because they are good mimics of cell membrane components. If the many components of cell membranes could be grouped in some way, then understanding the phase behaviors of biological membranes might be enhanced. Furthermore, if the underlying interaction energies between lipids and proteins can be determined, then it might be possible to model the distributions of lipids and proteins in a bilayer membrane, even in complex mixtures.
Exercise training enhances flow-induced vasodilation in skeletal muscle resistance arteries of aged rats: role of PGI2 and nitric oxide
Authors: Spier Scott A. , Delp Michael D. , Stallone John N. , Dominguez James M. , Muller-Delp Judy M.
Published: March 2007

Flow-induced vasodilation is attenuated with old age in rat skeletal muscle arterioles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether diminished cyclooxygenase (COX) signaling contributes to the age-induced attenuation of flow-induced vasodilation in gastrocnemius muscle arterioles and to determine whether, and through which mechanism(s), exercise training restores this deficit in old rats. Fischer 344 rats (3 and 22 mo old) were assigned to a sedentary or exercise-trained group. First-order arterioles were isolated from the gastrocnemius muscles, cannulated, and pressurized to 70 cmH2O. Diameter changes were determined in response to graded increases in intraluminal flow in the presence and absence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition [10−5 M NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)], COX inhibition (10−5 M indomethacin), or combination NOS (10−5 Ml-NAME) plus COX (10−5 M indomethacin) inhibition. Aging reduced flow-induced vasodilation in gastrocnemius muscle arterioles. Exercise training restored responsiveness to flow in arterioles of aged rats and enhanced flow-induced vasodilation in arterioles from young rats. l-NAME inhibition of flow-induced vasodilation was greater in arterioles from old rats compared with those from young rats and was increased after exercise training in arterioles from both young and old rats. Although the indomethacin-sensitive portion of flow-induced dilation was not altered by age or training, both COX-1 mRNA expression and PGI2 production increased with training in arterioles from old rats. These data demonstrate that exercise training restores flow-induced vasodilation in gastrocnemius muscle arterioles from old rats and enhances flow-induced vasodilation in gastrocnemius muscle arterioles from young rats. In arterioles from both old and young rats, the exercise training-induced enhancement of flow-induced dilation occurs primarily through a NOS mechanism.
Hic-5 promotes endothelial cell migration to lysophosphatidic acid
Authors: Avraamides C. , Bromberg M. E. , Gaughan J. P. , Thomas S. M. , Tsygankov A. Y. , Panetti T. S.
Published: March 2007

Endothelial cell migration is critical for proper blood vessel development. Signals from growth factors and matrix proteins are integrated through focal adhesion proteins to alter cell migration. Hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone 5 (Hic-5), a paxillin family member, is enriched in the focal adhesions in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (BPAE) cells, which migrate to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on denatured collagen. In this study, we investigate the role of Hic-5 in LPA-stimulated endothelial cell migration. LPA recruits Hic-5 to the focal adhesions and to the pseudopodia in BPAE cells plated on collagen, suggesting that recruitment of Hic-5 to focal adhesions is associated with endothelial cell migration. Knockdown of endogenous Hic-5 significantly decreases migration toward LPA, confirming involvement of Hic-5 in migration. To address the role of Hic-5 in endothelial cell migration, we exogenously expressed wild-type (WT) Hic-5 and green fluorescent protein Hic-5 C369A/C372A (LIM3 mutant) constructs in BPAE cells. WT Hic-5 expression increases chemotaxis of BPAE cells to LPA, whereas migration toward LPA of the green fluorescent protein Hic-5 C369A/C372A-expressing cells is similar to that shown in vector control cells. Additionally, ERK phosphorylation is enhanced in the presence of LPA in WT Hic-5 cells. A pharmacological inhibitor of MEK activity inhibits LPA-stimulated WT Hic-5 cell migration and ERK phosphorylation, suggesting Hic-5 enhances migration via MEK activation of ERK. Together, these studies indicate that Hic-5, a focal adhesion protein in endothelial cells, is recruited to the pseudopodia in the presence of LPA and enhances migration.
Modulation of pulmonary endothelial endothelin B receptor expression and signaling: implications for experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome
Authors: Tang Liping , Luo Bao , Patel Rakesh P. , Ling Yiqun , Zhang Junlan , Fallon Michael B.
Published: March 2007

The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) results from intrapulmonary vasodilation in the setting of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. In experimental HPS, pulmonary endothelial endothelin B (ETB) receptor overexpression and increased circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) contribute to vasodilation through enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-derived nitric oxide (NO) production. In both experimental cirrhosis and prehepatic portal hypertension, ETB receptor overexpression correlates with increased vascular shear stress, a known modulator of ETB receptor expression. We investigated the mechanisms of pulmonary endothelial ETB receptor-mediated eNOS activation by ET-1 in vitro and in vivo. The effect of shear stress on ETB receptor expression was assessed in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (RPMVECs). The consequences of ETB receptor overexpression on ET-1-dependent ETB receptor-mediated eNOS activation were evaluated in RPMVECs and in prehepatic portal hypertensive animals exposed to exogenous ET-1. Laminar shear stress increased ETB receptor expression in RPMVECs without altering mRNA stability. Both shear-mediated and targeted overexpression of the ETB receptor enhanced ET-1-mediated ETB receptor-dependent eNOS activation in RPMVECs through Ca2+-mediated signaling pathways and independent of Akt activation. In prehepatic portal hypertensive animals relative to control, ET-1 administration also activated eNOS independent of Akt activation and triggered HPS. These findings support that increased pulmonary microvascular endothelial ETB receptor expression modulates ET-1-mediated eNOS activation, independent of Akt, and contributes to the development of HPS.
Dysfunction of Golgi tethers, SNAREs, and SNAPs in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Sehgal Pravin B. , Mukhopadhyay Somshuvra , Xu Fang , Patel Kirit , Shah Mehul
Published: March 2007

Monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the rat is a widely used experimental model. We have previously shown that MCT pyrrole (MCTP) produces loss of caveolin-1 (cav-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase from plasma membrane raft microdomains in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAEC) with the trapping of these proteins in the Golgi organelle (the Golgi blockade hypothesis). In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying this intracellular trafficking block in experiments in cell culture and in the MCT-treated rat. In cell culture, PAEC showed trapping of cav-1 in Golgi membranes as early as 6 h after exposure to MCTP. Phenotypic megalocytosis and a reduction in anterograde trafficking (assayed in terms of the secretion of horseradish peroxidase derived from exogenously transfected expression constructs) were evident within 12 h after MCTP. Cell fractionation and immunofluorescence techniques revealed the marked accumulation of diverse Golgi tethers, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), and soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAPs), which mediate membrane fusion during vesicular trafficking (GM130, p115, giantin, golgin 84, clathrin heavy chain, syntaxin-4, -6, Vti1a, Vti1b, GS15, GS27, GS28, SNAP23, and α-SNAP) in the enlarged/circumnuclear Golgi in MCTP-treated PAEC and A549 lung epithelial cells. Moreover, NSF, an ATPase required for the “disassembly” of SNARE complexes subsequent to membrane fusion, was increasingly sequestered in non-Golgi membranes. Immunofluorescence studies of lung tissue from MCT-treated rats confirmed enlargement of perinuclear Golgi elements in lung arterial endothelial and parenchymal cells as early as 4 days after MCT. Thus MCT-induced PH represents a disease state characterized by dysfunction of Golgi tethers, SNAREs, and SNAPs and of intracellular vesicular trafficking.
Crystal structures of cubic nitroprussides: M[Fe(CN)5NO]·xH2O(M=Fe, Co, Ni). Obtaining structural information from the background
Authors: Gómez A. , Rodríguez-Hernández J. , Reguera E.
Published: March 2007

A new structural model is proposed for cubic nitroprussides and the crystal structure for the complex salts of Fe(2+),
Co(2+), and
Ni(2+) refined in that model. In cubic nitroprussides the building unit,
[Fe(CN)5NO]2−, and the assembling metal
(M=Fe2+,
Co2+,
Ni2+), have ¾ occupancy with three formula units per cell (Z=3). This leads to certain structural disorder and to different local environments for the outer metal. The crystallographic results are supported by the Mössbauer and infrared data. The XRD powder patterns, index in a cubic cell (Fm3m space group), show a sinuous background because of diffuse scattering from positional disorder of the metal centers. Because of this, the crystal structures were refined allowing the metal centers to move from the (0,0,0) and (0,0,1/2) positions (away from positional symmetry restrictions). The refinement under these conditions leads to excellent agreement factors (Rwp, Rp, S), good pattern background fitting, and produced a refined structural model consistent with the crystal chemistry of nitroprussides. The studied materials are obtained as hydrates. On heating, the crystal water evolves, and below 100°C an anhydrous phase is obtained, preserving the framework of the original hydrates. The loss of the crystal water leads to cell contraction that represents around 2% of cell volume reduction. On cooling down from room temperature to 77 and 12 K, a slight expansion for the -M-N≡C-Fe-C≡N-M- chain length is observed, suggesting that at low temperature and reduction in the metals charge delocalization on the
CN
bridges takes place. For
M=Fe
and Co the crystal structure was also refined for the anhydrous phase at 12, 77, and 300 K.
Evaluating the Imperative of Intraorganizational Collaboration
Authors: Gajda Rebecca , Koliba Christopher
Published: March 2007

“Collaboration” is a ubiquitously championed concept and widely recognized across the public and private sectors as the foundation on which the capacity for addressing complex issues is predicated. For those invested in organizational improvement, high-quality collaboration has become no less than an imperative. However, evaluators and program stakeholders often struggle to assess the quality of collaborative dynamics and the merits of collaborative structures. In this article, the authors describe an approach to demystifying and assessing interpersonal collaboration and use their consultancy work with school improvement stakeholders to illustrate a multistage collaboration evaluation process. Evaluators in a wide range of organizational settings are encouraged to utilize collaboration theory and the evaluation strategies presented herein to cultivate stakeholder capacity to understand, examine, and capitalize on the power of collaboration.
Studying Self-Evaluation Capacity Building in a Large International Development Organization
Authors: Taut Sandy
Published: March 2007

This action research study addresses the link between building evaluation capacity and enhancing evaluation use for learning. The author shares her experiences and reports on the evidence collected from a set of self-evaluation capacity-building interventions that she implemented. Using a mixed-method approach, the author first determined that the organization lacked the prerequisites to learn from evaluation. She then implemented self-evaluation capacity-building interventions, accompanied by a real-time study of how the participants changed attitudinally, cognitively, and behaviorally. Results indicate the potential of these interventions to facilitate an individual’s ability to learn from evaluation and underscore the need for supportive organizational contexts, structures, and processes if evaluation use for learning is to occur throughout the organization.
Translation and validation of a Japanese version of the irritable bowel syndrome-quality of life measure (IBS-QOL-J)
Authors: Kanazawa Motoyori , Drossman Douglas A , Shinozaki Masae , Sagami Yasuhiro , Endo Yuka , Palsson Olafur S , Hongo Michio , Whitehead William E , Fukudo Shin
Published: March 2007

Aims

To compare quality of life (QOL) for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) between the U.S. and Japan, it is indispensable to develop common instruments. The IBS-QOL, which is widely used in Western countries, was translated into Japanese as there has been a lack of Japanese disease-specific QOL measures for IBS.

Methods

The original 34 items of the IBS-QOL were translated from English into Japanese through two independent forward translations, resolution, back translation, and resolution of differences. Forty nine patients who had GI symptoms but did not have any organic diseases (including 30 IBS patients diagnosed by Rome II criteria) were recruited from Tohoku University Hospital in Sendai, Japan and completed a Japanese version of the IBS-QOL (IBS-QOL-J) concomitant with a Japanese version of the IBS severity index (IBSSI-J) twice within 7–14 days.

Results

The IBS-QOL-J demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha; 0.96) and high reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient; 0.92, p < 0.001). Convergent analyses confirmed that the overall score of IBS-QOL-J was significantly correlated with overall severity of IBS symptoms on the IBSSI-J (r = -0.36, p = 0.01) and with the individual items on the IBSSI-J that assess interference with life in general (r = -0.47, p = 0.001) and dissatisfaction with bowel habits (r = -0.32, p < 0.05). Eight patients who reported continuous abdominal pain in the past 6 months had significantly lower scores in the IBS-QOL-J than those who did not (53.7 +- 12.7 vs. 73.6 +- 19.5, p < 0.01). Age, sex, education or marital status did not affect scores on the measure.

Conclusion

The IBS-QOL-J is a reliable instrument to assess the disease-specific QOL for IBS. Considering cross-cultural comparison, this measure is likely to be a valuable tool to investigate the QOL in Japanese patients with IBS.
Fractal landscape method: an alternative approach to measuring area-restricted searching behavior
Authors: Tremblay Yann , Roberts Antony J. , Costa Daniel P.
Published: March 2007

Quantifying spatial and temporal patterns of prey searching is of primary importance for understanding animals' critical habitat and foraging specialization. In patchy environments, animals forage by exhibiting movement patterns consisting of area-restricted searching (ARS) at various scales. Here, we present a new method, the fractal landscape method, which describes the peaks and valleys of fractal dimension along the animal path. We describe and test the method on simulated tracks, and quantify the effect of track inaccuracies. We show that the ARS zones correspond to the peaks from this fractal landscape and that the method is near error-free when analyzing high-resolution tracks, such as those obtained using the Global Positioning System (GPS). When we used tracks of lower resolution, such as those obtained with the Argos system, 9.6–16.3% of ARS were not identified, and 1–25% of the ARS were found erroneously. The later type of error can be partially flagged and corrected. In addition, track inaccuracies erroneously increased the measured ARS size by a factor of 1.2 to 2.2. Regardless, the majority of the times and locations were correctly flagged as being in or out of ARS (from 83.8 to 89.5% depending on track quality). The method provides a significant new tool for studies of animals' foraging behavior and habitat selection, because it provides a method to precisely quantify each ARS separately, which is not possible with existing methods.
Limitations to maximum running speed on flat curves
Authors: Chang Young-Hui , Kram Rodger
Published: March 2007

Why is maximal running speed reduced on curved paths? The leading explanation proposes that an increase in lateral ground reaction force necessitates a decrease in peak vertical ground reaction force, assuming that maximum leg extension force is the limiting factor. Yet, no studies have directly measured these forces or tested this critical assumption. We measured maximum sprint velocities and ground reaction forces for five male humans sprinting along a straight track and compared them to sprints along circular tracks of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 m radii. Circular track sprint trials were performed either with or without a tether that applied centripetal force to the center of mass. Sprinters generated significantly smaller peak resultant ground reaction forces during normal curve sprinting compared to straight sprinting. This provides direct evidence against the idea that maximum leg extension force is always achieved and is the limiting factor. Use of the tether increased sprint speed, but not to expected values. During curve sprinting, the inside leg consistently generated smaller peak forces compared to the outside leg. Several competing biomechanical constraints placed on the stance leg during curve sprinting likely make the inside leg particularly ineffective at generating the ground reaction forces necessary to attain maximum velocities comparable to straight path sprinting. The ability of quadrupeds to redistribute function across multiple stance legs and decouple these multiple constraints may provide a distinct advantage for turning performance.
Factors Affecting Burden of South Koreans Providing Care to Disabled Older Family Members
Authors: Lee Minhong , Yoon Eunkyung , Kropf Nancy P.
Published: March 2007

This study examined the determinants of caregiving burden among South Koreans who care for their disabled older family members. A sample of 1,000 primary caregivers taken from the Comprehensive Study for Elderly Welfare Policy in Seoul, South Korea was analyzed. Independent variables included the demographic characteristics of caregivers and care recipients, the severity of cognitive impairment among care recipients, care recipients' functional abilities, financial adequacy and caregivers' degree of social support. Hierarchical regression was used to predict the levels of caregivers' burden. Similar to western care providers, South Korean caregivers who were in poor health and who had little informal social support, inadequate financial resources and more weekly caregiving hours were more likely to experience intense caregiving burden. Burden was also positively related to the functional and cognitive disabilities of care recipients. The results of this study indicate that certain aspects of caregiving are unique to South Koreans. Daughters-in-law were the most common caregiver within the sample which indicates that South Korean eldercare is non-consanguineous. Identifying predictors of South Korean caregivers' burden promotes a more comprehensive understanding of cultural experiences in caring for older adults.
Emotional Development across Adulthood: Differential Age-Related Emotional Reactivity and Emotion Regulation in a Negative Mood Induction Procedure
Authors: Kliegel Matthias , Jäger Theodor , Phillips Louise H.
Published: March 2007

The present study examines the hypothesis that older adults might differentially react to a negative versus neutral mood induction procedure than younger adults. The rationale for this expectation was derived from Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST), which postulates differential salience of emotional information and ability to regulate emotions across adulthood. The present data support a view of differential age-related effects of negative mood inductions with greater and more heterogeneous emotional reactivity among older adults, who showed a substantially greater decrease in self-rated pleasantness, calmness, and wakefulness than younger adults. Moreover, relative to the younger adults, emotion regulation in terms of mood repair was more effective among the older adults. The age-related mood effects are discussed in terms of SST and have practical implications for the study of emotion and cognition across adulthood.
Overcoming Physical Barriers to Diabetes Self-Care: Reframing Disability as an Opportunity for Ingenuity
Authors: Coonrod Beth Ann
Published: March 2007

In Brief

Physical barriers can pose a challenge in helping individuals achieve self-care goals. This article describes types of physical barriers and the decision-making process for developing strategies to overcome them. It also directs readers to resources offering information about, and detailed strategies for overcoming, specific physical barriers.
The Alphabet Soup of Diabetes Research Studies
Authors: Bardsley Joan K. , Passaro Maureen
Published: March 2007

This article describes the major studies that are most frequently known by their acronyms. Studies that are completed, currently underway, and anticipated to start soon are included. A description of the study design, outcomes when available, and funding sources is provided. The article also provides references regarding where to find information about participating in upcoming studies.
How Do We Diagnose Diabetes and Measure Blood Glucose Control?
Authors: Davidson Mayer B.
Published: March 2007

In Brief

In 1979, criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes were selected based on levels of glycemia on the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that were associated with the subsequent development of retinopapthy. Since then, five long-term studies have demonstrated that when HbA1c levels are maintained below 7% (normal 6%), development of retinopathy and microalbuminuria is practically nil. Approximately 60% of people with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations of 126–139 mg/dl and 70% of those with 2-h values on the OGTT of 200–239 mg/dl have normal HbA1c levels, with another third having values between 6 and 7%. This article offers an alternative approach to diagnosis using both FPG and HbA1c values.
Fine-Tuning Control: Pattern Management Versus Supplementation
Authors: Hirsch Irl B. , Farkas-Hirsch Ruth
Published: March 2007

In Brief

Sliding-scale insulin has a long history and, today, a variety of connotations. With the development of more sophisticated insulin regimens and insulin analogs, it is important to differentiate different types of insulin algorithms from more traditional sliding-scale insulin regimens, which have many disadvantages. For a flexible diabetes regimen to be effective, emphasis must also be given to matching food intake with the appropriate amount of insulin.
Optimal Exercise Intensity for Individuals With Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Authors: Wright David C. , Swan Pamela D.
Published: March 2007

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a transitory state between normoglycemia and frank diabetes. One in three individuals with IGT will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years if left untreated. A strong rationale exists for the implementation of strategies designed to reverse or stabilize the deterioration in glucose homeostasis in individuals with IGT.

Recent physical activity guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine have suggested that intermittent moderate-intensity exercise is beneficial and can improve the health status of these individuals. Specifically, the guidelines recommend that every American should accumulate 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per day.

The current guidelines are based predominantly on epidemiological data, and very little clinical evidence exists that this level of physical activity can significantly improve glycemic status. More intense exercise prescriptions would appear to be needed to improve glucose tolerance and insulin action. Although higher exercise intensity is a key determinant for improvements in glucose homeostasis, it may produce mechanical and oxidative damage that can result in transitory impairments in insulin action and glucose tolerance. Therefore, the optimal exercise intensity for an individual with IGT appears to lie between these two extremes.
Adding a Daily Dosage of Diabetes Wisdom to Your Prescription
Authors: Levetan Claresa
Published: March 2007

In the words of Dr. Elliott Joslin, “The person with diabetes who knows the most lives the longest.” Despite the technological advances in medicine and health coupled with the successful efforts of the American Diabetes Association and numerous other organizations in raising public awareness of the HbA1c blood test, most people with diabetes still cannot name the test or state their current HbA1c level or target goals.

The amount of patient information needed to manage diabetes on a daily basis is often overwhelming. Providing daily diabetes management tips in a calendar format allows patients to digest self-management techniques one day at a time without causing information overload.

In conjunction with the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, the peer review organization that conducts quality improvement projects for Medicare and Medicaid in Maryland and the District of Columbia, I set forth to develop a unique information and education resource for Medicare recipients. We first distributed the daily, spiral-bound diabetes calendar logbook in 1997, after conducting focus groups and gathering feedback from Medicare recipients. From 1998–2001, 964 patients with diabetes received the calendars yearly. The initial survey conducted among calendar recipients after the first year of use revealed that 83% found the calendar helpful; 70% liked the reminders, advice, and encouragement; 83% learned about the importance of the HbA1c test; and 92% better understood the importance of a foot exam. Patients attributed the benefits of the calendar to its permanence, content, and inspirational messages.1

Our experience has shown that a daily calendar format that includes concise daily tips, information notes, and inspirational messages about diabetes may be more beneficial to patients than traditional educational materials designed for one-time use. This article presents some of the barriers to delivering optimal self-management training materials and reviews the ongoing process of developing this tool.
Shaping Environments for Reductions in Type 2 Diabetes Risk Behaviors: A Look at CVD and Cancer Interventions
Authors: Miller Stephania T. , Schlundt David G. , Pichert James W. , Ahmed Nasar U.
Published: March 2007

In Brief

Among the many efforts to reduce the burden of diabetes in the United States, one involves focusing on communities. Evidence from cardiovascular disease and cancer-related community intervention projects indicate that such efforts show promise in reducing behavioral risk factors, many of which are the same for diabetes. Such projects, therefore, may provide insight for diabetes educators, researchers, and others who are interested in designing and implementing diabetes interventions within communities.
Common Drug Pathways and Interactions
Authors: Kroner Beverly A.
Published: March 2007

In Brief

This article focuses on common prescription drug interactions in the treatment of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. Mechanisms of the drug interactions and recommendations for clinical practice are highlighted. Because of concerns about potentially negative effects some prescription medications may have on glycemic control in people with diabetes, some of these drug-disease interactions are also addressed.
Use of Social Marketing to Develop Culturally Innovative Diabetes Interventions
Authors: Thackeray Rosemary , Neiger Brad L.
Published: March 2007

Diabetes continues to increase in magnitude throughout the United States and abroad. It is expected to increase by 165% from 2000 to 2050. Diabetes poses a particular burden to those in ethnic minority populations. African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians are more likely to be affected by diabetes, to be less active in health-promoting behavior, and to have fewer resources to address related complications compared with whites.

Because diabetes disproportionately affects ethnic minorities in the United States, it is imperative that interventions be tailored to these audiences. To develop effective interventions, program developers must identify an audience-centered planning process that provides a foundation for culturally innovative interventions.

Social marketing efforts in both domestic and international settings have been successful at improving the lives and health status of targeted individuals and communities. This article describes how the social marketing process can be used to create interventions that are culturally innovative and relevant. The Social Marketing Assessment and Response Tool (SMART) model is used to establish a relationship between social marketing and culturally specific interventions. The model incorporates a systematic and sequential process that includes preliminary planning; audience, channel, and market analyses; materials development and pretesting; implementation; and evaluation. Diabetes interventions that are developed and implemented with this approach hold promise as solutions that are more likely to be adopted by targeted audiences and to result in the desired health status changes.
Pooled Results of Community Pharmacy-Based Diabetes Education Programs in Underserved Communities
Authors: Hogue Valerie W. , Babamoto Kenneth S. , Jackson Tonya B. , Cohen Lisa B. , Laitinen David L.
Published: March 2007

Gaining access to diabetes education can be a challenge for many people with diabetes, particularly those who reside in rural or underserved communities. Community pharmacies are accessible to patients and serve as an ideal setting for the delivery of health education. This article describes the pooled results of a community pharmacy-based diabetes education program offered in three cities in the northeastern United States and demonstrating a positive impact on patients’ overall metabolic control.

CVS Health Connection is a health education resource center that was developed in three CVS/Pharmacy stores located in New Bedford, Mass.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Washington, D.C. Each center offers health information, monitoring services, wellness classes, and referrals to local health resources.

The diabetes education program offered through CVS Health Connection is a 12-month, individualized care program based on the American Diabetes Association National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. This study included 381 patients enrolled into the program at all three sites.

As a population, the clinical profile of these patients improved significantly after enrollment in the program. In those patients with follow-up measurements, hemoglobin A1c results; fasting blood glucose levels; LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels; systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements; and diabetes knowledge scores all improved statistically (P < 0.05). Only HDL cholesterol levels and quality of life scores did not improve significantly. While data for this study were gathered using a real-world collection approach, its results have important implications for community pharmacy-based programs to be developed in the future.
Diabetes and Female Sexual Functioning: A State-of-the-Art
Authors: Enzlin Paul , Mathieu Chantal , Demytteanere Koen
Published: March 2007

Progress in medical care has led to a shift in diabetes care and brought the issue of quality of life to the forefront. Sexuality, however, is an aspect of quality of life that has only recently gained more attention in clinical care. It is well known that diabetes can have an enormous influence on male sexual functioning. But what is known about the influence of diabetes on female sexual functioning? This article presents a review of the state-of-the-art of this neglected issue and describes a recent study by the authors that revealed a specific pattern of female sexual dysfunction.
The Family Approach to Diabetes Management: Theory Into Practice Toward the Development of a New Paradigm
Authors: Solowiejczyk Joe
Published: March 2007

In Brief

Family dynamics have been shown to have an impact on diabetes management and metabolic control in children and adolescents. This article discusses the use of a novel approach to working with adolescents and their families, which has had positive clinical results in terms of both management behaviors and metabolic control.
Transforming Diabetes Health Care
Authors: Hupke Cindy , Camp Anne W. , Chaufournier Roger , Langley Gerald J. , Little Kevin
Published: March 2007

In Brief

An initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Primary Health Care demonstrates that system-wide changes to improve care for chronically ill, underserved patients are possible and sustainable. Through the bureau’s Health Disparities Collaboratives, nearly 400 federally qualified health centers are focusing on the delivery of high quality care for people with diabetes and are testing and implementing system-wide changes using the Breakthrough Series model, the Chronic Care Model, and the Model for Improvement. This article describes that initiative and some of the results it has achieved collaboratively across the country.
Constructing a Bridge Across the Quality Chasm: A Practical Way to Get Healthier, Happier Patients, Providers, and Health Care Delivery Systems
Authors: McCulloch David K. , Davis Connie , Austin Brian T. , Wagner Edward H.
Published: March 2007

In Brief

Usual medical care is not organized to make for effective and productive interaction between medical providers and their patients. This article highlights this problem by describing a typical office visit from the perspectives of a patient and a primary care physician. It then describes the development of the Chronic Care Model, which provides practical suggestions for how to change several aspects of the organization and delivery of health care to improve this situation.
Depressive Affect Among Four Ethnic Groups of Male Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Fisher Lawrence , Laurencin Grace , Chesla Catherine A. , Skaff Marilyn M. , Mullan Joseph T. , Gardiner Phillip S. , Chun Kevin M.
Published: March 2007

In Brief Members of minority groups with diabetes display high rates of depressive affect and clinical depression. These rates vary by ethnic group, although all rates are higher than those of people without diabetes. Education, income, and family relationships may account for some of these differences.
Hyperglycemia in the Hospital
Authors: Thompson Cara L. , Dunn Kelli C. , Menon Meera C. , Kearns Lauren E. , Braithwaite Susan S.
Published: March 2007

In Brief This article reviews the use of subcutaneous insulin for hospitalized patients. Topics include the rationale for using insulin;scheduled insulin therapy to cover basal and nutritional needs; correction therapy; dose determination; establishment of timing of insulin action appropriate to the pattern of carbohydrate exposure; education of caregivers;and the design of hospital systems that will promote quality and help staff to manage complexity.
Selling Root Canals: Lessons Learned From Implementing a Hospital Insulin Infusion Protocol
Authors: Goldberg Philip A. , Inzucchi Silvio E.
Published: March 2007

In Brief Clinical studies have shown that maintaining normal blood glucose (BG) levels improves clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. However, achieving glycemic control in the hospital is difficult because it requires intensive nursing efforts, including frequent BG monitoring and complex intravenous insulin infusion protocols (IIPs). This article describes the successful implementation of a nurse-driven IIP that safely and effectively controls BG levels in critically ill patients. The authors then review some of the practical lessons they learned during this process,focusing on key issues that affect the ability of physicians and nurses to successfully implement such an IIP.