bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A retrovirus-based protein complementation assay screen reveals functional AKT1-binding partners
Authors: Ding Zhiyong , Liang Jiyong , Lu Yiling , Yu Qinghua , Songyang Zhou , Lin Shiaw-Yih , Mills Gordon B.
Published: October 2006

We developed a retrovirus-based protein-fragment complementation assay (RePCA) screen to identify protein–protein interactions in mammalian cells. In RePCA, bait protein is fused to one fragment of a rationally dissected fluorescent protein, such as GFP, intensely fluorescent protein, or red fluorescent protein. The second, complementary fragment of the fluorescent protein is fused to an endogenous protein by in-frame exon traps in the enhanced retroviral mutagen vector. An interaction between bait and host protein (prey) places the two parts of the fluorescent molecule in proximity, resulting in reconstitution of fluorescence. By using RePCA, we identified a series of 24 potential interaction partners or substrates of the serine/threonine protein kinase AKT1. We confirm that α-actinin 4 (ACTN4) interacts physically and functionally with AKT1. siRNA-mediated ACTN4 silencing down-regulates AKT phosphorylation, blocks AKT translocation to the membrane, increases p27
Kip1
levels, and inhibits cell proliferation. Thus, ACTN4 is a critical regulator of AKT1 localization and function.
Evidence for licensing of IFN-γ-induced IFN regulatory factor 1 transcription factor by MyD88 in Toll-like receptor-dependent gene induction program
Authors: Negishi Hideo , Fujita Yasuyuki , Yanai Hideyuki , Sakaguchi Shinya , Ouyang Xinshou , Shinohara Masahiro , Takayanagi Hiroshi , Ohba Yusuke , Taniguchi Tadatsugu , Honda Kenya
Published: October 2006

The recognition of microbial components by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) initiates signal transduction pathways, which trigger the expression of a series of target genes. It has been reported that TLR signaling is enhanced by cytokines such as IFN-γ, but the mechanisms underlying this enhancement remain unclear. The MyD88 adaptor, which is essential for signaling by many TLRs, recruits members of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family of transcription factors, such as IRF5 and IRF7, to evoke the activation of TLR target genes. In this study we demonstrate that IRF1, which is induced by IFN-γ, also interacts with and is activated by MyD88 upon TLR activation. We provide evidence that MyD88-associated IRF1 migrates into the nucleus more efficiently than non-MyD88-associated IRF1 and that this IRF1 selectively participates in the TLR-dependent gene induction program. The critical role of MyD88-dependent “IRF1 licensing” is underscored by the observation that the induction of a specific gene subset downstream of the TLR–MyD88 pathway, such as IFN-β, inducible NO synthase, and IL-12p35, are impaired inIrf1-deficient cells. Thus, our present study places IRF1 as an additional member participating in MyD88 signaling and provides a mechanistic insight into the enhancement of the TLR-dependent gene induction program by IFN-γ.
Abrasion Resistance of Field‐Assisted Ion‐Exchanged Glass
Authors: Saha Chandan Kumar , Cooper Alfred R.
Published: October 2006

The fracture strength of HF‐etched samples was measured as a function of field‐assisted K‐Na ion exchange depth, as well as the severity of abrasion. As expected, the more severe the abrasion, the greater the depth required to make the strength insensitive to abrasion. An abrasion‐independent weakening mechanism that increased with exchange depth was also found to be operative.
Release of Short‐Lived Fission Products from Intact and Defected UO2 Fuel Elements
Authors: Hastings Ian J. , Hunt C. E. Laurence , Lipsett John J. , MacDonald Roderick D.
Published: October 2006

The rates of escape of short‐lived isotopes of xenon and krypton to the coolant from a deliberately defected UO2 fuel element are at least 100 times greater than the release rates for identical species within an intact element. The enhanced escape is consistent with accelerated transport mechanisms under defect conditions. The rate of escape to the coolant of radioiodines is less than that for the short‐lived gases, reflecting strong bonding between the iodine species and internal UO2 and zirconium alloy surfaces.
Transformation Range Viscosity of Fluorozirconate Glasses
Authors: Shelby James E. , Pantano Carlo G. , Tesar Aleta A.
Published: October 2006

Transformation range viscosity was measured for multicomponent fluorozirconate glasses in the system 0.56ZrF4·(0.34‐x)BaF2·0.06LaF3·0.04AlF3·xRF, where R =Li, Na, K, or Cs. The results indicate that the viscosity of these glasses can be described by an Arrhenius equation over the viscosity range from 107 to 1012 Pa·s with an activation energy of the order of 650 to 850 kJ. In general, the effects of alkali fluoride additions on the viscosity of fluorozirconate glasses are comparable to those in silicate systems.
Erosion Damage in Glass and Alumina
Authors: RITTER J. E. , STRZEPA P. , JAKUS K. , ROSENFELD L. , BUCKMAN K. J.
Published: October 2006

The effect of room‐temperature erosion on material removal from and strength properties of soda‐lime glass and sintered alumina was determined. The results were compared to the elastic/plastic indentation fracture model. The dependence of erosion rate and strength of soda‐lime glass on the kinetic energy of the impacting particles was in good agreement with predictions. The lack of agreement between theory and experiment for sintered alumina was attributed to microstructural aspects of the erosion damage that are not modeled by indentation fracture.
Thermodynamic Investigations in the System U‐Mo‐O
Authors: CHATTOPADHYAY G. , TRIPATHI S.N. , KERKAR A.S.
Published: October 2006

The phase diagram of the system U‐Mo‐O in the region UO2‐MoO2‐O was investigated by X‐ray phase analysis and electromotive force measurements. The isothermal section at 1000 K is presented. The free energy of formation of UMoO5was determined from the oxygen potential measurement by a ZrO2.CaO solid electrolyte galvanic cell. This gave at 1000 K

A redetermination of the free energy of formation of MoO2 yielded (ΔG in kJ.mol−1)

for 1040 to 1290 K. The free energies of formation of three other phases were calculated using the key values from the literature, and the phase diagram obtained in the present investigation. The values at 1000 K are

From the present investigation it was concluded that ternary phases of the system U‐Mo‐O will not play any role in the fission product‐fuel interaction, while in the nuclear waste calcine, only UMoO6 could be of importance. A vaporization study of the latter phase has been suggested.
Effect of Processing Parameters on the Surface Area of Freeze‐Dried and Spray‐Dried Alumina
Authors: SARKAR SATYA K. , SHARMA MITTHAN L. , BHASKAR HIRA L. , DEBNATH DEV K.
Published: October 2006

The effect of variations in calcination temperature and time, solution concentration, and spraying pressure on the surface area of alumina was studied. Increasing the calcination temperature and time results in a decrease in surface area, whereas increasing the solution concentration and spraying pressure for a given nozzle diameter increases the surface area.
Quantitative Analysis of Monoclinic‐Stabilized Cubic ZrO2 Systems by X‐Ray Diffraction
Authors: TORAYA HIDEO , YOSHIMURA MASAHIRO , SŌMIYA SHIGEYUKI
Published: October 2006

An equation for a nonlinear calibration curve of volume fraction vs integrated intensity ratio is presented for monoclinic‐stabilized cubic ZrO2 systems containing YO1.5, CaO, and MgO. A parameter in the equation was evaluated theoretically and is given for a range of cubic solid solution compositions.
Liquid Immiscibility in the Systems Na2O‐Yb2O3‐B2O3‐SiO2 and K2O‐Yb2O3‐B2O3‐SiO2
Authors: TAYLOR PETER , ASHMORE SHEILA D. , CAMPBELL ALLAN B.
Published: October 2006

Limits of miscibility were determined for portions of the systems Na2O‐Yb2O3‐B2O3‐SiO2 and K2O‐Yb2O3‐B2O3‐SiO2 in the range 650° to 800°C, at Yb2O3 concentrations up to 5 mol%, and at a fixed SiO2/B2O3 mole ratio of 2.0. Regions of the phase diagrams at higher Yb2O3 concentrations were not accessible because of interference from crystallization. The miscibility gaps have topographies similar to those found in the alkali‐metallalkaline‐earth borosilicate systems, X2O‐MO‐B2O3‐SiO2.
Contact Damage in Hot‐Pressed and Chemically‐Vapor‐Deposited Zinc Sulfide
Authors: KIRCHNER HENRY P. , TIRACORDA J. A. , LARCHUK T. J.
Published: October 2006

Hot‐pressed zinc sulfide was indented by spherical indenters under static and impact loading. The static and impact damage characteristics were compared with earlier results for chemically‐vapor‐deposited (CVD) zinc sulfide, showing that hot‐pressed zinc sulfide is less resistant to contact damage than CVD zinc sulfide.
Phase Diagram of the Pseudobinary System Ga2O3‐Bi2‐x3+Bix5+O3+x2‐
Authors: GREBIEN MICHAEL , HABEREY FLORIAN , SAHL KURT
Published: October 2006

The pseudobinary system Ga2O3‐Bi2‐x3+Bix5+O3+x2‐ was studied in view of its importance for growth of SrGa12O19 crystals from a bismuth oxide flux. A subsolidus transition of γ*‐Bi2O3 to a β′‐phase and a strictly stoichiometric 1:2 phase with 33.3 mol% bismuth oxide were found. The single‐crystal data for the compound indicated space group P21212, with lattice constants a=0.79180±0.0003 nm, b =0.8288±0.0003 nm, and c =0.5889±0.0003 nm; the measured density was 7.1±0.3 g/cm3 and the cell content (Z) 2.
Formation and Microstructure of Mg‐Si‐O–N Glasses
Authors: SHAW T. M. , THOMAS G. , LOEHMAN R. E.
Published: October 2006

Bulk oxynitride glasses in the Mg‐Si‐O–N system were prepared by melting mixtures of SiO2, MgO, and Si3N4 powders and the microstructures and compositions of the glasses were analyzed by electron microscopy, energy and wavelength dispersive X‐ray analysis, and energy loss spectrometry. The melting experiments indicate the presence of a limited glass‐forming region in the system. For the melting conditions used, nitrogen was found to be a necessary constituent of the melts to prevent crystallization on cooling. Extension of the miscibility gap in the binary MgO‐SiO2 system into the Mg‐Si‐O–N system results in phase separation in most of the glasses. A partial plot of the miscibility gap in the Mg–Si‐O–N system is established from analysis of the composition of the phases formed during phase separation of the glasses.
Coalescence of Two Equal Cylinders: Exact Results for Creeping Viscous Plane Flow Driven by Capillarity
Authors: Hopper Robert W.
Published: October 2006

The coalescence of two equal viscous cylinders under the influence of capillarity is of interest in the theory of sintering. Although the flow in typical cylinder coalescence experiments is not planar, the plane‐flow case is of general interest and is a good approximation in the early stage. An essentially exact analytic solution giving the shape as a function of time for slow plane flow is presented in simple closed form.
Properties and Structure of Lanthanum Borate Glasses
Authors: CHAKRABORTY INDRA N. , SHELBY JAMES E. , CONDRATE ROBERT A.
Published: October 2006

Glass formation limits were determined for the lanthanum borate glasses. Stable immiscibility prevents the formation of clear glasses over the range 0 to 20 mol% La2O3, but excellent quality glasses could be formed between 20 and 28 mol% La2O3. Data are reported for the density, refractive index, thermal expansion coefficient, glass transformation and dilatometric softening temperatures, transformation range viscosity, helium permeability, and chemical durability of these glasses. A limited Raman and infrared spectroscopy study suggests that lanthanum plays a similar structural role in these glasses and in the related crystals.
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder respond similarly to age‐matched controls in both speed and accuracy if goal‐directed movements are made across the midline
Authors: Smits‐Engelsman B. C. M. , Bloem‐van der Wel H. E. , Duysens J.
Published: October 2006

Background  The conventional view among many clinicians is that crossing the midline in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) results in degradation of their performance. However, no kinematic data yet exist to support this view. We therefore tested this assumption in an experimental setting.

Methods  A group of age‐ and gender‐matched children with DCD (n = 48) and a group of typically developing children (n = 48) were compared while performing goal‐directed movements with a pen on a XY‐tablet. We examined whether speed or accuracy changed if the goal‐directed movements were made towards targets positioned either at the midline, the contralateral (crossed) side or the ipsilateral (uncrossed) side of the body midline.

Results  Our results showed that movements in the contralateral workspace were less accurate for both groups of children in the tested age range (6–11 years). The movements made towards the targets in the midline were the fastest, and the pen pressure for movements in the ipsilateral space was the highest. However, these effects were similar for children with and without DCD. As expected, children with DCD made more errors, were slower and pressed more erratically on their pen, but this difference was irrespective of the position of their hand in the workspace.

Conclusion  Crossing the midline in children with DCD for small amplitude movements (2.5 cm), as tested in this study, does not result in increased degradation of the goal‐directed movements compared with their typically developing peers. This implies that, contrary to expectation, there is no evidence for a preferential deficit in DCD in brain structures involved in making movements in the contralateral workspace.
The development and standardization of the Children Activity Scales (ChAS‐P/T) for the early identification of children with Developmental Coordination Disorders
Authors: Rosenblum S.
Published: October 2006

Background  Previous studies have emphasized the importance of early identification of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) to prevent the development of secondary academic, emotional and social manifestations of the disorder. The aim of this study was to develop a valid parent and teacher questionnaire – the Children Activity Scales for parents (ChAS‐P) and for teachers (ChAS‐T) – to identify children aged 4–8 years at risk for DCD and to examine the reliability and validity of these questionnaires.

Methods  The questionnaires’ content and face validity were established, and then cut‐off scores were determined based on responses of 355 teachers and 216 parents. Internal consistencies were also calculated. Factor analyses were performed, and construct validity was determined by examining the questionnaires’ ability to discriminate between 30 children aged 5–6.5 years diagnosed with DCD and 30 typically developing children. Concurrent validity was examined by comparing questionnaire scores with those of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M‐ABC).

Results  High values were obtained for internal consistency (0.96–0.94) for the ChAS‐T and the ChAS‐P respectively. Factor analysis revealed four distinct factors within the ChAS‐P and three within the ChAS‐T, reinforcing the theoretical validity of the items selected and appropriateness for identifying DCD. Construct validity was indicated by finding significant differences between the groups’ scores on the ChAS‐T and the ChAS‐P. Significant correlations between the children’s scores on the questionnaires and those of the M‐ABC confirmed their concurrent validity.

Conclusions  Initial results suggest that the ChAS‐T and Chas‐P are reliable tools to identify children at risk for DCD.
List of publications on the economic and social history of Great Britain and Ireland published in 2005
Authors: Hale Matthew , Hawkins Richard , Wright Catherine
Published: October 2006

(The place of publication is London and the date 2005 unless otherwise stated.)
Symptomatology of Epileptic Seizures in the First Three Years of Life
Authors: Hamer H. M. , Wyllie E. , Lüders H. O. , Kotagal P. , Acharya J.
Published: October 2006

Summary: Purpose: Few data are available concerning symptomatology of epileptic seizures in infants.

Methods: We reviewed 296 videotaped seizures from 76 patients aged 1–35 months (mean, 15.1 months) who underwent video‐EEG monitoring at our institution from 1988 to 1998. Seizure symptomatology was first classified based on observable behavioral and motor manifestations and then correlated with ictal EEG.

Results: Four seizure types accounted for 81% of all seizures seen in this group: epileptic spasms (24%), clonic seizures (20%), tonic seizures (17%), and hypomotor seizures (20%; characterized by arrest or significant decrease of behavioral motor activity with indeterminate level of consciousness). The remaining seizures included small numbers of myoclonic, atonic, and versive seizures. All 12 focal motor seizures and all five versive seizures were associated with focal EEG seizure patterns, seen in the contralateral hemisphere in all but one patient with versive seizures. Generalized motor seizures (clinically generalized at onset) were accompanied either by focal (19 of 51; 37%) or generalized (32 of 51; 63%) EEG seizures. Hypomotor seizures also were associated with focal (14 of 20; 70%) or generalized (six of 20; 30%) EEG seizures. Four patients with generalized epileptic spasms had generalized EEG seizures in the setting of focal epilepsy based on neuroimaging, interictal EEG, and in two cases also on postresection seizure freedom. Seizure types not seen in this age group included auras, seizures with prominent automatisms (except in one case), and classic generalized tonic‐clonic seizures.

Conclusions: The repertoire of seizure manifestation in the first 3 years of life appears to be limited. In infants, focal motor seizures are reliably associated with focal EEG seizures in the contralateral hemisphere, whereas generalized motor and hypomotor clinical seizures may be either focal or generalized on EEG. Epileptic spasms may be seen in focal as well as generalized epilepsies. Video‐EEG monitoring and neuroimaging may be critical for clarifying the focal or generalized nature of the epilepsy in infants.
Effect of Postconditioning on Coronary Blood Flow Velocity and Endothelial Function and LV Recovery After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: MA XIAOJING , ZHANG XINGHUA , LI CHUNMEI , LUO MAN
Published: October 2006

Objective: Postconditioning is a novel approach to myocardial protection during ischemia reperfusion. Our study observed the effect of postconditioning on coronary blood flow velocity and endothelial function in patients who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Ninety‐four patients with their first acute myocardial infarction who underwent revascularization within 12 hours of onset by primary PCI were recruited in the study. All the patients were randomized to two groups, IR group (PCI without postconditioning) and Postcond group (PCI with postconditioning). Corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) was used to evaluate velocity of coronary blood after PCI. Creatine phosphokinase (CK), CK‐MB, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured before and after PCI. Arterial endothelial function was studied noninvasively by examination of brachial artery responses to endothelium‐dependent and endothelium‐independent stimuli by echo Doppler technique. Wall motion score index (WMSI) was assessed by two‐dimensional echocardiography before and 8 weeks after angioplasty.

Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, sex, presence of angiographically visible collaterals, and elapsed time from the onset of symptoms until perfusion. Patients with postconditioning had much faster CTFC than patients without postconditioning (25.38 ± 5.35 vs 29.23 ± 5.54). After 8 weeks, the WMSI improved significantly in both groups, but the ΔWMSI in Postcond group was significantly larger than that of IR group (1.20 ± 0.30 vs 1.04 ± 0.36, P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between ΔWMSI and CTFC in IR group and Postcond group (r =−0.9032, P < 0.01; r =−0.7884, P < 0.01). The peaks of CK and CK‐MB of Postcond group were much lower than that of IR group (1236.57 ± 813.21 U/L vs 1697.36 ± 965.74 U/L; 116.92 ± 75.83 U/L vs 172.41 ± 92.64 U/L), and MDA‐reactive products were significantly lower than that in the IR group at any same time after PCI. All patients with acute myocardial infarction had a depressed endothelium‐dependent vasodilation function, while the endothelium‐dependent vasodilation function was improved in Postcond group.

Conclusion: Postconditioning is a simple, operative procedure for salvaging the coronary endothelial function and cardiomyocyte. It could be used widely in clinic and to better the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction.
The evolution of density‐dependent dispersal in a noisy spatial population model
Authors: Kun Ádám , Scheuring István
Published: October 2006

It is well‐known that dispersal is advantageous in many different ecological situations, e.g. to survive local catastrophes where populations live in spatially and temporally heterogeneous habitats. However, the key question, what kind of dispersal strategy is optimal in a particular situation, has remained unanswered. We studied the evolution of density‐dependent dispersal in a coupled map lattice model, where the population dynamics are perturbed by external environmental noise. We used a very flexible dispersal function to enable evolution to select from practically all possible types of monotonous density‐dependent dispersal functions. We treated the parameters of the dispersal function as continuously changing phenotypic traits. The evolutionary stable dispersal strategies were investigated by numerical simulations. We pointed out that irrespective of the cost of dispersal and the strength of environmental noise, this strategy leads to a very weak dispersal below a threshold density, and dispersal rate increases in an accelerating manner above this threshold. Decreasing the cost of dispersal increases the skewness of the population density distribution, while increasing the environmental noise causes more pronounced bimodality in this distribution. In case of positive temporal autocorrelation of the environmental noise, there is no dispersal below the threshold, and only low dispersal below it, on the other hand with negative autocorrelation practically all individual disperses above the threshold. We found our results to be in good concordance with empirical observations.
Cumulative reproduction and survival costs in female red deer
Authors: Moyes K. , Coulson T. , Morgan B. J. T. , Donald A. , Morris S. J. , Clutton‐Brock T. H.
Published: October 2006

Successful reproduction in a single breeding event has consistently been shown to reduce condition, fecundity and survival to the following breeding season. Few studies have examined the cumulative costs of frequent reproduction on survival. Here we use a dataset of female red deer (Cervus elaphus) from the Isle of Rum, Scotland, to model survival probability within a mark–recapture framework. By including both recent reproduction and long‐term cumulative reproductive effort in the models we tested whether knowledge of lifetime reproductive effort improves our estimates of survival probability. We found that the fit of the model was significantly improved with the inclusion of longer‐term measures of reproductive history. Heterogeneity in the reproductive performance of individuals influenced the expected survival cost of reproduction, with high cumulative reproductive effort associated with high survival, except with individuals reproducing in their first year where reproduction was associated with a decrease in survival. This work emphasises the need to account for reproductive history when estimating the survival probabilities of animals.
The Relations of the North American Flora to That of South America
Authors: Bray William L.
Published: October 2006

Reviewing the floral relations of North and South America as illustrated in the foregoing instances, we may say that the phenomena of distribution agree fairly with the record of physical conditions which have succeeded each other and those which still exist, and upon which we might almost
à priori
have predicted an analogous set of distribution phenomena. In this relationship we may distinguish three categories of distribution:

(1) Those due to the conditions of human civilization, commerce, etc. This has resulted in placing the same species in similar regions of both continents, as, for example,
Fagonia cretica
in Lower California and Chile;
Munroa squarrosa
, western plains of North America, plains of Argentine and high plateaus of Chile and Bolivia;
Frankenia grandiflora
, Southern California and Arizona, coast lands of Chile;
Oxytheca dendroidea
,
Lastarriaea chilensis
, and
Chorizanthe commissuralis
, all in Southern California and Western Chile.

(2) Those due to the operation of natural causes acting under present conditions of climate, geology, etc. Under this head may be cited such species as
sida leprosa
,
hastata
,
anomala
,
Cienfugosia sulphurea
,
Spergularia plattensis
and, in general, elements of Gulf zone distribution; also certain elements which still find a pathway along the continental axis, including some alpine and mountain xerophilous genera.

(3) The third category of distribution would include those phenomena due to geological and climatic changes acting through long periods. Under this head are included the elements of greatest significance in the relationship of the North and South America floras. The endemic boreal flora of the Andes, the equally endemic boreal flora of the Mexican Cordilleras, and genera with sharply distinct species or sub-genera in the arid extra-tropical regions of both continents, which may be called remnant elements.
Mycobacteria and Fungi in Moisture-Damaged Building Materials
Authors: Torvinen Eila , Meklin Teija , Torkko Pirjo , Suomalainen Sini , Reiman Marjut , Katila Marja-Leena , Paulin Lars , Nevalainen Aino
Published: October 2006

In contrast to the growth of fungi, the growth of mycobacteria in moisture-damaged building materials has rarely been studied. Environmental mycobacteria were isolated from 23% of samples of moisture-damaged materials (
n
= 88). The occurrence of mycobacteria increased with increasing concentrations of fungi. Mycobacteria may contribute to indoor exposure and associated adverse health effects.
Abundance and Population Structure of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria That Inhabit Canal Sediments Receiving Effluents from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Urakawa Hidetoshi , Maki Hideaki , Kawabata Sumiko , Fujiwara Taketomo , Ando Haruo , Kawai Toshio , Hiwatari Takehiko , Kohata Kunio , Watanabe Masataka
Published: October 2006

A polyphasic, culture-independent study was conducted to investigate the abundance and population structure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in canal sediments receiving wastewater discharge. The abundance of AOB ranged from 0.2 to 1.9% and 1.6 to 5.7% of the total bacterial fraction by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Clone analysis and restriction endonuclease analysis revealed that the AOB communities influenced by the wastewater discharge were dominated by
Nitrosomonas
, were similar to each other, and were less diverse than the communities outside of the immediate discharge zone.
Phylogenetic Diversity, Localization, and Cell Morphologies of Members of the Candidate Phylum TG3 and a Subphylum in the PhylumFibrobacteres, Recently Discovered Bacterial Groups Dominant in Termite Guts
Authors: Hongoh Yuichi , Deevong Pinsurang , Hattori Satoshi , Inoue Tetsushi , Noda Satoko , Noparatnaraporn Napavarn , Kudo Toshiaki , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: October 2006

Recently we discovered two novel, deeply branching lineages in the domainBacteriafrom termite guts by PCR-based analyses of 16S rRNA (Y. Hongoh, P. Deevong, T. Inoue, S. Moriya, S. Trakulnaleamsai, M. Ohkuma, C. Vongkaluang, N. Noparatnaraporn, and T. Kudo, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71:6590-6599, 2005). Here, we report on the specific detection of these bacteria, the candidate phylum TG3 (Termite Group 3) and a subphylum in the phylumFibrobacteres, by fluorescence in situ hybridization in the guts of the wood-feeding termitesMicrocerotermessp. andNasutitermes takasagoensis. Both bacterial groups were detected almost exclusively from the luminal fluid of the dilated portion in the hindgut. Each accounted for approximately 10% of the total prokaryotic cells, constituting the second-most dominant groups in the whole-gut microbiota. The detected cells of both groups were in undulate or vibroid forms and apparently resembled small spirochetes. The cell sizes were 0.2 to 0.4 by 1.3 to 6.0 μm and 0.2 to 0.3 by 1.3 to 4.9 μm in the TG3 andFibrobacteres, respectively. Using PCR screenings with specific primers, we found that both groups are distributed among various termites. The obtained clones formed monophyletic clusters that were delineated by the host genus rather than by the geographic distance, implying a robust association between these bacteria and host termites. TG3 clones were also obtained from a cockroach gut, lake sediment, rice paddy soil, and deep-sea sediments. Our results suggest that the TG3 andFibrobacteresbacteria are autochthonous gut symbionts of various termites and that the TG3 members are also widely distributed among various other environments.
Stabilization of Frozen
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
in Glycerol Suspensions: Freezing Kinetics and Storage Temperature Effects
Authors: Fonseca F. , Marin M. , Morris G. J.
Published: October 2006

The interactions between freezing kinetics and subsequent storage temperatures and their effects on the biological activity of lactic acid bacteria have not been examined in studies to date. This paper investigates the effects of three freezing protocols and two storage temperatures on the viability and acidification activity of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
CFL1 in the presence of glycerol. Samples were examined at −196°C and −20°C by freeze fracture and freeze substitution electron microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure proportions of ice and glass transition temperatures for each freezing condition tested. Following storage at low temperatures (−196°C and −80°C), the viability and acidification activity of
L. delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
decreased after freezing and were strongly dependent on freezing kinetics. High cooling rates obtained by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen resulted in the minimum loss of acidification activity and viability. The amount of ice formed in the freeze-concentrated matrix was determined by the freezing protocol, but no intracellular ice was observed in cells suspended in glycerol at any cooling rate. For samples stored at −20°C, the maximum loss of viability and acidification activity was observed with rapidly cooled cells. By scanning electron microscopy, these cells were not observed to contain intracellular ice, and they were observed to be plasmolyzed. It is suggested that the cell damage which occurs in rapidly cooled cells during storage at high subzero temperatures is caused by an osmotic imbalance during warming, not the formation of intracellular ice.
Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Antitumor Deoxysugar Pathways in
Streptomyces griseus
: Reconstitution of “Unnatural Natural Gene Clusters” for the Biosynthesis of Four 2,6-
d
-Dideoxyhexoses
Authors: Pérez María , Lombó Felipe , Baig Irfan , Braña Alfredo F. , Rohr Jürgen , Salas José A. , Méndez Carmen
Published: October 2006

Combinatorial biosynthesis was applied to
Streptomyces
deoxysugar biosynthesis genes in order to reconstitute “unnatural natural gene clusters” for the biosynthesis of four
d
-deoxysugars (
d
-olivose,
d
-oliose,
d
-digitoxose, and
d
-boivinose). Expression of these gene clusters in
Streptomyces albus
16F4 was used to prove the functionality of the designed clusters through the generation of glycosylated tetracenomycins. Three glycosylated tetracenomycins were generated and characterized, two of which (
d
-digitoxosyl-tetracenomycin C and
d
-boivinosyl-tetracenocmycin C) were novel compounds. The constructed gene clusters may be used to increase the capabilities of microorganisms to synthesize new deoxysugars and therefore to produce new glycosylated bioactive compounds.
Global Surveillance of In Vitro Activity of Micafungin against
Candida
: a Comparison with Caspofungin by CLSI-Recommended Methods
Authors: Pfaller M. A. , Boyken L. , Hollis R. J. , Messer S. A. , Tendolkar S. , Diekema D. J.
Published: October 2006

Micafungin is an echinocandin antifungal agent that has recently been approved for the prevention of invasive fungal infection and the treatment of esophageal candidiasis. Prospective sentinel surveillance for the emergence of in vitro resistance to micafungin among invasive
Candida
sp. isolates is indicated. We determined the in vitro activity of micafungin against 2,656 invasive (bloodstream or sterile site) unique patient isolates of
Candida
spp. collected from 60 medical centers worldwide in 2004 and 2005. We performed antifungal susceptibility testing according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A2 method and used a 24-hour prominent inhibition endpoint for determination of the MIC. Caspofungin was tested in parallel against all isolates. Of 2,656 invasive
Candida
sp. isolates, species distribution was 55.6%
Candida albicans
, 14.4%
Candida parapsilosis
, 13.4%
Candida glabrata
, 10.1%
Candida tropicalis
, 2.4%
Candida krusei
, 1.7%
Candida guilliermondii
, 0.9%
Candida lusitaniae
, 0.6%
Candida kefyr
, and 0.9% other
Candida
species. Overall, micafungin was very active against
Candida
(MIC
50
/MIC at which 90% of the isolates tested are inhibited [MIC
90
], 0.015/1 μg/ml; 96% inhibited at a MIC of ≤1 μg/ml, 100% inhibited at a MIC of ≤2 μg/ml) and comparable to caspofungin (MIC
50
/MIC
90
, 0.03/0.25 μg/ml; 99% inhibited at a MIC of ≤2 μg/ml). Results by species, expressed as MIC
50
/MIC
90
(micrograms per milliliter), were as follows:
C. albicans
, 0.015/0.03;
C. glabrata
, 0.015/0.015;
C. tropicalis
, 0.03/0.06;
C. krusei
, 0.06/0.12;
C. kefyr
, 0.06/0.06;
C. parapsilosis
, 1/2;
C. guilliermondii
, 0.5/1;
C. lusitaniae
, 0.12/0.25; other
Candida
spp., 0.25/1. Although the species distribution varied considerably among the different geographic regions, there was no difference in micafungin activity across the regions. Micafungin has excellent in vitro activity against invasive clinical isolates of
Candida
from centers worldwide.
First Isolation of
Clostridium amygdalinum
from a Patient with Chronic Osteitis
Authors: Carlier Jean-Philippe , Manich Maria , Loïez Caroline , Migaud Henri , Courcol René J.
Published: October 2006

We describe a case of osteitis caused by a new and unusual
Clostridium
species,
Clostridium amygdalinum
, an environmental, moderately thermophilic bacterium. This is the first documented report of human infection caused by this organism.
Evaluation of a Multiplex PCR-Based Reverse Line Blot-Hybridization Assay for Identification of Serotype and Surface Protein Antigens of
Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Zeng Xianyu , Kong Fanrong , Morgan Julie , Gilbert Gwendolyn L.
Published: October 2006

A 33-primer multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot (mPCR/RLB) assay was developed to identify
Streptococcus agalactiae
serotypes and surface protein antigen genes simultaneously. It was evaluated by using 551 clinical isolates. The mPCR/RLB assay was more sensitive than conventional serotyping, especially for protein antigen typing, but otherwise the results correlated well.
Viability of
Trichomonas vaginalis
in Urine: Epidemiologic and Clinical Implications
Authors: Shafir Shira C. , Sorvillo Frank J.
Published: October 2006

The impact of the viability of
Trichomonas vaginalis
in urine on wet mount, culture, and PCR methods was assessed. To minimize the chance of false-negative results, urine specimens should be processed within 30 min of specimen collection and maintained at 37°C, since temperature appears to affect the viability of
Trichomonas
.
Acquisition of
Helicobacter pylori
Infection in Rhesus Macaques Is Most Consistent with Oral-Oral Transmission
Authors: Solnick Jay V. , Fong Julie , Hansen Lori M. , Chang Kikuko , Canfield Don R. , Parsonnet Julie
Published: October 2006

Socially housed rhesus monkeys rapidly acquired
Helicobacter pylori
infection, although the organism was rarely cultivated from saliva, feces, or the environment. Since the concentrations of
H. pylori
in vomit were compatible with what is known about the infectious dose, our results are most consistent with an oral-oral means of transmission.
Cross-Sectional Comparison of an Automated Hybrid Capture 2 Assay and the Consensus GP5+/6+ PCR Method in a Population-Based Cervical Screening Program
Authors: Hesselink A. T. , Bulkmans N. W. J. , Berkhof J. , Lorincz A. T. , Meijer C. J. L. M. , Snijders P. J. F.
Published: October 2006

In this cross-sectional study, clinical performances of the hybrid capture 2 assay using an automated instrument (i.e., rapid capture system) (hc2-RCS) and the high-risk human papillomavirus GP5+/6+ PCR-enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test were compared using cervical scrape specimens from 8,132 women that participated in a population-based screening trial. The hc2-RCS test scored significantly more samples positive (6.8%) than the GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA (4.8%) (
P
< 0.0005). This could be attributed largely to a higher positivity rate by the hc2-RCS test for women with cytologically normal, borderline, or mild dyskaryosis. A receiver operator characteristics analysis of the semiquantitative hc2-RCS results in relation to different cytology categories revealed that these differences are owing to differences in assay thresholds. For women classified as having moderate dyskaryosis or worse who also had underlying histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or cervical cancer (≥CIN3), the hc2-RCS scored 97% (31/32) of samples positive, versus 91% (29/32) by GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA. However, this difference was not significant (
P
= 0.25). After increasing the hc2-RCS cutoff from 1.0 to 2.0 relative light units/cutoff value of the HPV16 calibrator (RLU/CO), no additional CIN3 lesions were missed by hc2-RCS, but the number of test-positive women with normal, borderline, or mild dyskaryosis was significantly decreased (
P
< 0.0005). However, at this RLU/CO, the difference in test positivity between hc2-RCS and the GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA was still significant (
P
= 0.02). The use of an RLU/CO value of 3.0 revealed no significant difference between hc2-RCS and GP5+/6+ PCR-EIA results, and equal numbers of smears classified as ≥CIN3 (i.e., 29/32) were detected by both methods. In summary, both assays perform very well for the detection of ≥CIN3 in a population-based cervical screening setting. However, adjustment of the hc2-RCS threshold to an RLU/CO value of 2.0 or 3.0 seems to produce an improved balance between the clinical sensitivity and specificity for ≥CIN3 in population-based cervical screening.
Symptomatic colonic spirochaetosis in an immunocompetent patient
Authors: Lin R K , Miyai K , Carethers J M
Published: October 2006

Spirochaetes are organisms that can infect the colon of people with normal or compromised immune systems. Infected patients can present with a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. However, some report a lack of association between specific symptoms and the presence of spirochaetes. It is therefore unclear whether the spirochaetes colonising the colon are true pathogens. Diagnosis is typically made by histological examination, with the biopsy specimen showing a band-like growth of spirochaetes adherent to the colonic luminal surface, giving an accentuated brush-border appearance. A course of metronidazole can eliminate the spirochaetes, but treatment might not lead to improvement of symptoms. Owing to the lack of a definite association between symptoms and the presence of spirochaetes, observation without specific antibiotic treatment can be pursued in most patients.
Expression of steroidogenic enzymes and synthesis of sex steroid hormones from DHEA in skeletal muscle of rats
Authors: Aizawa Katsuji , Iemitsu Motoyuki , Maeda Seiji , Jesmin Subrina , Otsuki Takeshi , Mowa Chishimba N. , Miyauchi Takashi , Mesaki Noboru
Published: October 2006

The functional importance of sex steroid hormones (testosterone and estrogens), derived from extragonadal tissues, has recently gained significant appreciation. Circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is peripherally taken up and converted to testosterone by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and 17β-HSD, and testosterone in turn is irreversibly converted to estrogens by aromatase cytochrome P-450 (P450arom). Although sex steroid hormones have been implicated in skeletal muscle regulation and adaptation, it is unclear whether skeletal muscles have a local steroidogenic enzymatic machinery capable of metabolizing circulating DHEA. Thus, here, we investigate whether the three key steroidogenic enzymes (3β-HSD, 17β-HSD, and P450arom) are present in the skeletal muscle and are capable of generating sex steroid hormones. Consistent with our hypothesis, the present study demonstrates mRNA and protein expression of these enzymes in the skeletal muscle cells of rats both in vivo and in culture (in vitro). Importantly, we also show an intracellular formation of testosterone and estradiol from DHEA or testosterone in cultured muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner. These findings are novel and important in that they provide the first evidence showing that skeletal muscles are capable of locally synthesizing sex steroid hormones from circulating DHEA or testosterone.
Temporal Development of Asymmetric Reward-Induced Bias in Macaques
Authors: Ding Long , Hikosaka Okihide
Published: October 2006

Time and expected outcome are two ubiquitous factors contributing to decision-making. However, it is unclear how they interact to influence motor responses. When two differential reward outcomes are expected at the end of a waiting period, behavioral bias is consistently induced, manifested as shorter latencies for motor responses associated with the preferred reward. To examine how this bias develops in time during the waiting period, we manipulated the duration of the waiting period in an asymmetric reward saccade task in monkeys. We found that the bias increases with the duration of waiting period. Surprisingly, the bias resulted from gradual suppression of saccades to nonpreferred targets rather than from facilitation of saccades to preferred targets. These results have important implications on the neural correlates of reward-induced bias.
Vaccination with Viable Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Prevents Metastatic Tumors by Attack on Tumor Vasculature with Both Cellular and Humoral Immunity
Authors: Chen Xin-Yuan , Zhang Wei , Zhang Wang , Wu Sheng , Bi Feng , Su Yi-Jing , Tan Xiang-Yang , Liu Jian-Ning , Zhang Jing
Published: October 2006

Purpose: Because tumor endothelium is rarely targeted by immunity but is critically important for tumor growth, the immunity against tumor endothelium is to be developed as a novel antitumor strategy.

Experimental Design: First, viable human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were immunized to C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice to evoke specific CTLs as well as antibodies against tumor endothelium. Lewis lung carcinoma or myeloma cells were subsequently inoculated to evaluate the effect on tumor growth by vaccination. Second, the effect on tumor metastasis by vaccination was studied using tumor-resected mice receiving HUVEC immunization 3 days after excision. Third, the immune sera and T lymphocytes from HUVEC-immunized mice were transferred to tumor-bearing mice and added to cultured HUVECs to investigate their antiproliferative effect.

Results: Viable HUVEC immunization showed potent antitumor effects in Lewis lung carcinoma and myeloma tumor models. Both immune sera and CTL inhibited tumor growth and specifically suppressed proliferation of HUVECs. Particularly, tumors entirely disappeared on day 90 after tumor inoculation in four of six tumor-bearing mice receiving CTL therapy. In a metastatic tumor model, we found that the HUVEC vaccination prolonged life span from 30.9 to 41.5 days after tumor resection compared with PBS-treated mice without apparent side effects.

Conclusions: Vaccination with viable HUVECs evoked both humoral and cellular immunity against tumor microvasculature, and therefore significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged life span of tumor-resected mice. This may provide with a novel treatment for metastatic tumors. Moreover, we have established a convenient method to evoke specific CTL against tumor angiogenesis.
Perforation of Composite Plates and Sandwich Panels under Quasi-static and Projectile Loading
Authors: Lin Chunfu , Fatt Michelle S. Hoo
Published: October 2006

Analytical solutions for the deformation, penetration, and perforation of composite plates and sandwich panels subjected to quasi-static punch indentation and projectile impact are derived. Discrete spring-mass models are used to calculate the impact response of the composite plates and sandwich panels. Equivalent load resistance functions are obtained from the quasi-static analysis and adjusted for high strain rate. A generalized solution methodology for projectile impact of composite plates and sandwich panels are then proposed based on three key factors: (i) the contact load duration, (ii) the through-thickness transit time, and (iii) the lateral transit time. A two-dimensional wave propagation model is used to determine the ballistic limits of E-glass/polyester panels and GLARE fiber-metal laminates, and predicted values are found to be within 20 and 13% of the experimental results, respectively. A quasi-static impact model is used to predict the ballistic limit for E-glass/epoxy-aluminum honeycomb sandwich impacted by hemispherical nose projectile and the predicted values are within 11% of test results.
A Discrete Slab Absorber: Absorption Efficiency and Theory Analysis
Authors: Duan Yuping , Liu Shunhua , Wen Bin , Guan Hongtao , Wang Guiqin
Published: October 2006

Slab absorber is an important topic not only for military purposes but also for commercial application. Single-layer compact slab absorber cannot meet the required wave absorption in broad wave band besides some absorption peaks, and it is very necessary to develop a new kind of absorber to meet the need of absorption in broad wave band. In this study, a discrete slab absorber (DSA) has been developed by isolating conductive medium in absorbing matrix, and the reflection loss test indicates that the DSA exhibited excellent absorption effectiveness at 8-18 GHz. With the increasing carbon black (CB) content of the isolated conductive particles in the slab absorber, the reflection loss increases in the range 8-18 GHz. When mass fraction of CB gets to 30%, the reflection loss is below 10 dB in the range 8.5-18 GHz, and the effective absorption band below 10 dB gets to 9 GHz. In comparison, the compact slab sample with 30 mass% CB only shows two absorption peaks and the effective absorption band below 10 dB is under 1 GHz. Finally, an absorption mechanism is suggested.