bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Action sociale partisane, ethnicisation et citoyenneté culturelle en Italie du Sud
Authors: Pietron Florian
Published: March 2024

Cet article se focalise sur le modèle d’action sociale partisane expérimenté à Naples au sein de la Maison du peuple, située dans l’ancien hôpital psychiatrique judiciaire de la ville. Ce complexe de 9000 m2 abandonné depuis plusieurs années fut occupé par un collectif de militant·e·s communistes en 2015 dans le but de donner vie à des pratiques sociales, politiques et culturelles à travers le principe d’autogestion. En 2017, le collectif décida de fonder l’organisation politique de gauche radicale Potere al popolo! (Pouvoir au peuple!). La structure fut alors convertie en Maison du peuple, au sein de laquelle les militant·e·s expérimentent désormais un modèle d’action sociale hybride. Afin d’analyser ce modèle, nous proposons le concept d’« action sociale partisane », définie comme une forme d’action collective impliquant la production de pratiques sociales par une organisation politique. Sur le plan empirique, nous présentons l’histoire de ce projet collaboratif et nous faisons état des pratiques organisées par les participant·e·s au sein de cet espace. Aussi, nous analysons les logiques d’action sur lesquelles se fonde le modèle étudié ainsi que leur évolution depuis la fondation de l’organisation politique Potere al popolo!. Enfin, en nous appuyant sur la théorie actionnaliste développée par Alain Touraine, nous interrogeons les effets de l’action sociale partisane au sein de la Maison du peuple de Naples, en ce qui concerne la redéfinition de leur identité culturelle par les acteurs·rice·s impliqué·e·s. En conclusion, nous discutons le rapport entre citoyenneté culturelle et processus de subjectivation.
Une participation dépolitisée ? Des modalités d’appropriation aux écueils de l’institutionnalisation de la Fête des voisins
Authors: Demichel-Basnier Sarah
Published: March 2024

En principe, la Fête des voisins est portée de manière autonome par les citoyens désireux de raviver les solidarités de voisinage et de définir collectivement les modalités du vivre-ensemble. À partir d’une recherche qualitative (entretiens, observations, corpus documentaire) menée dans une ville moyenne située dans l’ouest de la France et comportant des quartiers concernés par la Politique de la Ville, cet article interroge la dimension politique de l’événement lorsque la participation des habitants fait l’objet d’une institutionnalisation par la municipalité. Il met d’abord en évidence la manière dont la Fête des voisins s’articule à des objectifs politiques qui conduisent les acteurs institutionnels à osciller entre une logique d’accompagnement des habitants et une logique d’encadrement de leurs pratiques. Ensuite, en s’intéressant aux modalités d’appropriation des habitants, l’article montre les variations sociales et de genre dans la participation à l’événement, mais aussi la manière dont celle-ci peut ouvrir un espace d’expression tant sur des problématiques individuelles que collectives. Ainsi, bien que l’institutionnalisation de la Fête des voisins reproduise certains écueils de l’injonction à la participation qui traverse l’action publique française, elle donne à voir des formes de citoyenneté ordinaire et reste un dispositif pouvant favoriser le développement des capacités d’agir des habitants.
Saisir l’engagement habitant dans un projet CLTB
Authors: Gyselynck Charlotte
Published: March 2024

Cet article entend saisir les formes et les enjeux de l’engagement habitant au sein du projet de logement collectif Arc-en-Ciel du Community Land Trust Brussels (CLTB). L’enquête ethnographique consécutive à la fin du programme d’accompagnement du projet par le CLTB met en évidence l’importance des préoccupations matérielles dans le quotidien des habitant·e·s. Ces dernier·ère·s s’y engagent de façon variable, de la prise de parole publique aux engagements s’exprimant davantage par le registre de l’action. L’article souligne la façon dont le décalage d’intensité de ces engagements peut devenir source de tension, révélant l’équilibre complexe entre les intérêts individuels et collectifs que suppose un projet CLTB.
Tiers-lieux et politiques de solidarité en France : la quête contrariée du pouvoir d’agir
Authors: Tehel Amélie , Pasquier Romain , de Guibert Armelle
Published: March 2024

Les tiers-lieux sont en plein développement en France ces dernières années. Cette contribution se concentre sur les tiers-lieux solidaires, des espaces qui agissent au quotidien en faveur des personnes en situation de vulnérabilité. Entre occasions d’expérimentation fructueuses et fragilités structurelles, nous interrogeons la manière dont les tiers-lieux solidaires peuvent ou non favoriser le développement du pouvoir d’agir des personnes vulnérables. Notre analyse s’appuie sur une enquête ethnographique auprès de plusieurs tiers-lieux solidaires en France, conduite dans le cadre d’un projet postdoctoral. Cette étude empirique se compose d’observations et d’entretiens conduits avec des personnes en situation de vulnérabilité, ainsi qu’avec les équipes professionnelles qui coordonnent, animent et assurent leur accompagnement. Par leur démarche d’hospitalité, d’accompagnement personnalisé et d’horizontalité des relations, les tiers-lieux solidaires semblent en effet constituer des espaces particulièrement propices à l’expérimentation en faveur de l’accompagnement social. Toutefois, l’action solidaire en tiers-lieu se révèle particulièrement exigeante pour les professionnel·le·s qui y exercent. Le tiers-lieu est un espace d’incertitude (modèles économiques fragiles, conditions matérielles parfois précaires), et l’exercice professionnel n’y est pas toujours aisé (changement de pratiques professionnelles, ambiguïté entre activité professionnelle et engagement citoyen…). Ainsi, les tiers-lieux solidaires nous apparaissent remarquables dans la qualité de leur engagement et dans leur capacité à expérimenter de nouveaux modes de faire. Toutefois, ils semblent également assumer une démarche palliative face à la fragilisation des engagements politiques en matière d’action sociale.
L’horizon de la démocratie habitée à l’épreuve du cinéma participatif du Centre Vidéo de Bruxelles
Authors: Póvoas Ana
Published: March 2024

Cet article traite d’un nouveau référentiel théorique à même de prendre en compte la dimension politique des enjeux spatiaux des sociétés contemporaines : la démocratie habitée. Ce référentiel est tout d’abord construit à partir du croisement des axes de renouvellement de l’éducation permanente en Belgique francophone avec la théorie de la justice spatiale que je propose au sein d’un groupe de chercheurs, dont font également partie Jacques Lévy et Jean-Nicolas Fauchille. Dans la première partie, je synthétise les référentiels historiques de l’éducation permanente ainsi que leur traduction dans la régulation de ce champ par la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWB). À partir de ce portrait, j’identifie l’émergence du nouveau référentiel de la démocratie habitée. Celui-ci postule que la production collective d’un projet culturel ou artistique de longue haleine peut partager, dans certaines conditions, les finalités et les outils de diverses formes de démocratie participative. Avec une focale géographique, cette production collective concerne ici un travail citoyen qui porte spécifiquement sur des questions relatives à l’habiter de l’espace contemporain. Dans la deuxième partie de l’article, j’élabore l’étude de cas d’un dispositif d’éducation permanente de cinéma participatif : les Ateliers urbains du Centre Vidéo de Bruxelles (CVB). L’analyse de cas s’appuie sur un processus de réflexivité collaborative lente, que je développe avec le CVB depuis 2020. Les va-et-vient entre théorie et analyse empirique des films et de ses méthodes ont permis de problématiser trois enjeux de cohérence interne des pratiques de démocratie habitée, présentés dans la conclusion.
Un modèle d’échanges citoyens et collaboratifs : les résidences d’artistes
Authors: Desmet Nathalie
Published: March 2024

L’expansion des pratiques artistiques sociales et collaboratives depuis les années 1990 place les résidences d’artistes comme des dispositifs particulièrement adaptés à la construction d’une citoyenneté culturelle, notamment dans les zones isolées ou oubliées. De nombreuses résidences reçoivent des artistes pour des projets précis et les sélectionnent en fonction de leurs capacités présupposées à créer du commun, tout en répondant aux enjeux soulevés par les transformations sociétales et environnementales actuelles. Des entretiens avec des artistes et des responsables de résidence, une observation participante et l’analyse de récits de résidence ont permis d’établir que cette émancipation ne passe pas uniquement par la participation à des ateliers de création encadrés ou à des actions de médiation, mais par la présence même des artistes et les méthodes et pratiques de recherche qu’ils apportent sur le territoire. Cette présence temporaire s’ancre autour de l’hospitalité et des possibilités qu’elle offre localement. L’accueil constitue également l’une des conditions pour que des échanges se créent au gré des envies et des affinités personnelles, pour que les résidences puissent devenir des sites d’apprentissage et de production de connaissances libres. Notre étude montre enfin comment ces résidences, en laissant la possibilité au dissensus de s’exprimer, permettent la construction de la subjectivité et de la solidarité dans la résolution de problèmes communs, mêlant ainsi jouissance de droits culturels et exercice de la citoyenneté.
L’espace médiatique comme lieu d’exercice de la citoyenneté culturelle sourde
Authors: Abdelmoumeni Pierini Laure , Achille Marie , Bieth Fanny , Heussaff Sarah , Lacombe Florence , Leduc Véro
Published: March 2024

La population sourde représente environ 8 % de la population au Canada. Considérées socialement comme des personnes handicapées, les personnes sourdes forment une minorité culturelle et linguistique – qui connaît un taux de participation sociale moindre. Si les perspectives prédominantes considèrent la surdité comme un manque et une incapacité, plusieurs personnes s’identifiant comme Sourdes sont fières de leur appartenance à une ou plusieurs communautés et cultures sourdes, et de signer une ou plusieurs langues des signes. Dans le cadre de la rechercheOn vous fait signe! Citoyenneté culturelle des personnes sourdes et pratiques d’accessibilité culturelle, l’équipe de la Chaire de recherche du Canada sur la citoyenneté culturelle des personnes sourdes et les pratiques d’équité culturelle a mené, en 2021, 21 entrevues vidéo avec des artistes sourd·e·s et des travailleur·euse·s culturel·le·s sourd·e·s et entendant·e·s ayant développé des pratiques exemplaires en matière d’accessibilité culturelle. Ces entrevues permettent de coconstruire une définition de la citoyenneté culturelle des personnes sourdes, d’en documenter les principaux enjeux, et de comprendre comment les relations de pouvoir traversent les lieux de la culture. Les résultats de la recherche suggèrent que les perspectives sourdes sur la citoyenneté culturelle diffèrent de la revue de la littérature sur le concept. Ces entrevues ont été enregistrées afin de diffuser des extraits de ces riches réflexions, sous la forme de courtes capsules vidéo thématiques. Cette approche se fonde sur l’importance de l’agentivité médiatique et du développement de modes de production des connaissances par et pour les personnes sourdes. Ainsi, en fin d’article, nous situons la vidéo comme meilleure forme d’écriture des langues des signes, et comme technique propice au développement des savoirs signés, au témoignage et à la sensibilisation.
Intervenções cognitivo-comportamentais para depressão na adolescência: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Roza Sarah Aline , Roza Thiago Henrique
Published: March 2024

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os principais achados reportados por pesquisas desenvolvidas na última década acerca de intervenções de TCC em grupo para o tratamento da depressão em adolescentes. Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura por meio das bases de dados PubMed, PsychoINFO e BVS-Brasil, no período de 17 a 20 de junho de 2023. Após a análise dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, um total de 11 artigos completos constituíram a amostra final. Técnicas terapêuticas como a reestruturação cognitiva, a psicoeducação e a regulação emocional demonstraram ser importantes para a redução ou remissão de sintomas depressivos em adolescentes. Além disso, novos programas incluindo o suporte colaborativo de professores também parecerem ser efetivos quando trazendo o TCC para adolescentes com depressão. Conclui-se que, em comparação com outros tratamentos terapêuticos ou farmacológicos, as intervenções em TCC, frequentemente, apresentam potencial benéfico para o tratamento da depressão em adolescentes.
Polarización, elecciones y ‘deep fakes’: elementos para una tormenta perfecta en un año electoral
Authors: López-Borrull Alexandre
Published: March 2024

Hace apenas cinco años, escribí un artículo en esta misma revista en el que hablaba de desinformación y elecciones europeas. En aquel momento, parecía que las elecciones habían tenido unos resultados «aceptables» para el statu quo y se concluyó con que se había sabido actuar contra la desinformación de forma adecuada en relación con la activación del Código de Buenas Prácticas contra la Desinformación, al cual debían adherirse las grandes plataformas y redes sociales.
Sequences in finite fields yielding divisors of Mersenne, Fermat and Lehmer numbers, I
Authors:   Pondicherry University, Ramasamy A. M. S.
Published: March 2024

The aim of this work is to present a method using the cyclic sequences $\{M_k\},\{\theta_{t,k}\}$ and $\{\psi_{t,k} \}$ in the finite fields $\mathbb{F}_\rho$, with $\rho$ a prime, that yield divisors of Mersenne, Fermat and Lehmer numbers. The transformations $\tau_t$ and $\sigma_t$ are introduced which lead to the proof of the cyclic nature of the sequences $\{\theta_{t,k}\}$ and $\{\psi_{t,k}\}$. Results on the roots of the $H(x)$-polynomials in $\mathbb{F}_\rho$ form the central theme of the study.
MotorNet: a Python toolbox for controlling differentiable biomechanical effectors with artificial neural networks
Authors: Codol Olivier , Michaels Jonathan A. , Kashefi Mehrdad , Pruszynski J. Andrew , Gribble Paul L.
Published: March 2024

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a powerful class of computational models for unravelling neural mechanisms of brain function. However, for neural control of movement, they currently must be integrated with software simulating biomechanical effectors, leading to limiting impracticalities: (1) researchers must rely on two different platforms and (2) biomechanical effectors are not generally differentiable, constraining researchers to reinforcement learning algorithms despite the existence and potential biological relevance of faster training methods. To address these limitations, we developed MotorNet, an open-source Python toolbox for creating arbitrarily complex, differentiable, and biomechanically realistic effectors that can be trained on user-defined motor tasks using ANNs. MotorNet is designed to meet several goals: ease of installation, ease of use, a high-level user-friendly API, and a modular architecture to allow for flexibility in model building. MotorNet requires no dependencies outside Python, making it easy to get started with. For instance, it allows training ANNs on typically used motor control models such as a two joint, six muscle, planar arm within minutes on a typical desktop computer. MotorNet is built on PyTorch and therefore can implement any network architecture that is possible using the PyTorch framework. Consequently, it will immediately benefit from advances in artificial intelligence through PyTorch updates. Finally, it is open source, enabling users to create and share their own improvements, such as new effector and network architectures or custom task designs. MotorNet’s focus on higher order model and task design will alleviate overhead cost to initiate computational projects for new researchers by providing a standalone, ready-to-go framework, and speed up efforts of established computational teams by enabling a focus on concepts and ideas over implementation.
Identification of fallopian tube microbiota and its association with ovarian cancer
Authors: Yu Bo , Liu Congzhou , Proll Sean C , Manhardt Enna , Liang Shuying , Srinivasan Sujatha , Swisher Elizabeth , Fredricks David N
Published: March 2024

Investigating the human fallopian tube (FT) microbiota has significant implications for understanding the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer (OC). In this large prospective study, we collected swabs intraoperatively from the FT and other surgical sites as controls to profile the microbiota in the FT and to assess its relationship with OC. Eighty-one OC and 106 non-cancer patients were enrolled and 1001 swabs were processed for 16S rRNA gene PCR and sequencing. We identified 84 bacterial species that may represent the FT microbiota and found a clear shift in the microbiota of the OC patients when compared to the non-cancer patients. Of the top 20 species that were most prevalent in the FT of OC patients, 60% were bacteria that predominantly reside in the gastrointestinal tract, while 30% normally reside in the mouth. Serous carcinoma had higher prevalence of almost all 84 FT bacterial species compared to the other OC subtypes. The clear shift in the FT microbiota in OC patients establishes the scientific foundation for future investigation into the role of these bacteria in the pathogenesis of OC.
A previously undescribed scene-selective site is the key to encoding ego-motion in naturalistic environments
Authors: Kennedy Bryan , Malladi Sarala N. , Tootell Roger B. H. , Nasr Shahin
Published: March 2024

Current models of scene processing in the human brain include three scene-selective areas: the Parahippocampal Place Area (or the temporal place areas; PPA/TPA), the restrosplenial cortex (or the medial place area; RSC/MPA) and the transverse occipital sulcus (or the occipital place area; TOS/OPA). Here, we challenged this model by showing that at least one other scene-selective site can also be detected within the human posterior intraparietal gyrus. Despite the smaller size of this site compared to the other scene-selective areas, the posterior intraparietal gyrus scene-selective (PIGS) site was detected consistently in a large pool of subjects (
n
=59; 33 females). The reproducibility of this finding was tested based on multiple criteria, including comparing the results across sessions, utilizing different scanners (3T and 7T) and stimulus sets. Furthermore, we found that this site (but not the other three scene-selective areas) is significantly sensitive to ego-motion in scenes, thus distinguishing the role of PIGS in scene perception relative to other scene-selective areas. These results highlight the importance of including finer scale scene-selective sites in models of scene processing – a crucial step toward a more comprehensive understanding of how scenes are encoded under dynamic conditions.
Emergence of ion-channel mediated electrical oscillations in Escherichia coli biofilms
Authors: Akabuogu Emmanuel U , Martorelli Victor , Krašovec Rok , Roberts Ian S , Waigh Thomas A
Published: March 2024

Bacterial biofilms are communities of bacteria usually attached to solid strata and often differentiated into complex structures. Communication across biofilms has been shown to involve chemical signaling and, more recently, electrical signaling in Gram positive biofilms. We report for the first time, community-level synchronized membrane potential dynamics in three-dimensional
E. coli
biofilms. Two hyperpolarization events are observed in response to light stress. The first requires mechanically sensitive ion channels (MscK, MscL and MscS) and the second needs the Kch-potassium channel. The channels mediated both local spiking of single
E. coli
biofilms and long-range coordinated electrical signaling in
E. coli
biofilms. The electrical phenomena are explained using Hodgkin-Huxley and 3D fire-diffuse-fire agent-based models. These data demonstrate that electrical wavefronts based on potassium ions are a mechanism by which signaling occurs in Gram negative biofilms and as such may represent a conserved mechanism for communication across biofilms.
Genetic associations between circulating immune cells and periodontitis highlight the prospect of systemic immunoregulation in periodontal care
Authors: Ye Xinjian , Bai Yijing , Li Mengjun , Ye Yuhang , Chen Yitong , Liu Bin , Dai Yuwei , Wang Shan , Pan Weiyi , Wang Zhiyong , Mao Yingying , Chen Qianming
Published: March 2024

Periodontitis drives irreversible destruction of periodontal tissue and is prone to exacerbating inflammatory disorders. Systemic immunomodulatory management continues to be an attractive approach in periodontal care, particularly within the context of "predictive, preventive, and personalized" periodontics. In the present study, genetic proxies identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for circulating immune cells and periodontitis were incorporated into a comprehensive Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. Univariable MR, multivariable MR, subgroup analysis, reverse MR, and Bayesian model averaging (MR-BMA) were utilized to investigate the causal relationships. Furthermore, transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and colocalization analysis were deployed to pinpoint the underlying genes. Consequently, the MR study indicated a causal association between circulating neutrophils, natural killer T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and an elevated risk of periodontitis. MR-BMA analysis revealed that neutrophils were the primary contributors to periodontitis. The high-confidence genes
S100A9
and
S100A12
, located on 1q21.3, could potentially serve as immunomodulatory targets for neutrophil-mediated periodontitis. These findings hold promise for early diagnosis, risk assessment, targeted prevention, and personalized treatment of periodontitis. Considering the marginal association observed in our study, further research is required to thoroughly comprehend the biological underpinnings and ascertain the clinical relevance.
Rabphilin-3A negatively regulates neuropeptide release, through its SNAP25 interaction
Authors: Abramian Adlin , Hoogstraaten Rein I , Murphy Fiona H , McDaniel Kathryn F , Toonen Ruud F , Verhage Matthijs
Published: March 2024

Neuropeptides and neurotrophins are stored in and released from dense core vesicles (DCVs). While DCVs and synaptic vesicles (SVs) share fundamental SNARE/SM proteins for exocytosis, a detailed understanding of DCV exocytosis remains elusive. We recently identified the RAB3-RIM1 pathway to be essential for DCV, but not SV exocytosis, highlighting a significant distinction between the SV and DCV secretory pathways. Whether RIM1 is the only RAB3 effector that is essential for DCV exocytosis is currently unknown. In this study, we show that rabphilin-3A (RPH3A), a known downstream effector of RAB3A, is a negative regulator of DCV exocytosis. Using live-cell imaging at single-vesicle resolution with RPH3A deficient hippocampal mouse neurons, we show that DCV exocytosis increased threefold in the absence of RPH3A. RAB3A-binding deficient RPH3A lost its punctate distribution, but still restored DCV exocytosis to WT levels when re-expressed. SNAP25-binding deficient RPH3A did not rescue DCV exocytosis. In addition, we show that RPH3A did not travel with DCVs, but remained stationary at presynapses. RPH3A null neurons also had longer neurites, which was partly restored when ablating all regulated secretion with tetanus neurotoxin. Taken together, these results show that RPH3A negatively regulates DCV exocytosis, potentially also affecting neuron size. Furthermore, RAB3A interaction is required for the synaptic enrichment of RPH3A, but not for limiting DCV exocytosis. Instead, the interaction of RPH3A with SNAP25 is relevant for inhibiting DCV exocytosis.
From Green Vision to Market Reality: Exploring Sustainable Initiatives and Challenges in India
Authors: Choudhury Nibir Pratim
Published: March 2024

In the era of globalization and heightened environmental awareness, the relevance of green marketing has surged in India. This exploratory study investigates the evolution and significance of green marketing, shedding light on its golden rules and integration into the marketing mix. Emphasizing the imperative for sustainable green marketing, the study explores its objectives and delves into challenges faced by Indian companies. Recent data underscores the profitability of green marketing, propelled by consumer demand. A scrutiny of the Indian corporate sector reveals noteworthy green initiatives by key players such as H.C.L., O.N.G.C., Kansai Nerolac, Wipro, I.T.C., Tata, and Godrej. Challenges encountered include conveying new environmental concepts, managing costs, and gaining stakeholder cooperation. The study advocates aligning marketing practices with environmental considerations for holistic, eco-friendly approaches fostering sustainable growth in both business and the environment.
Current Strategies for Management of Plant Viruses and Future Perspectives: Enhancing Crop Health, Yield and Productivity
Authors: Soni Akshita , Kushvaha Ram Prasad , Snehi Sunil Kumar
Published: March 2024

Plant viruses pose significant threats to agricultural productivity and food security worldwide. This article explores various management strategies employed to overcome the impact of plant viruses on crops, with a focus on enhancing crop health and productivity. It underscores the need for proactive management strategies to minimize yield losses, reduce disease spread, and maintain sustainable crop production through preventive measures such as Conventional and Non- conventional approaches by highlighting the key methods such as the use of resistant cultivars, cultural practices, vector control, thermos, electro, and chemotherapy, along with CRISPR, RNAi, and nanotechnology. This review article provides an overview of the current management approaches employed for controlling plant viruses.
Studying the Efficacy of Some Organic Compounds as a Source of Potassium Fertilization and their Effect on the Wheat-Peanut Crop System in Sandy Soil
Authors: El-Abdeen Hanaa A. Zein , Morsy Heba Y. A. , El-Etr Wafaa M. T. , Shady Marwa A. H.
Published: March 2024

To encourage sustainable agriculture and increase net revenue for the agricultural community, the use of expensive chemical fertilizers should be reduced and replaced with locally produced organic byproducts. For this reason, a field experiment was conducted on sand soil at Ismailia Agric. Res. Station in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, to evaluate the impact of various organic K rates 0, 50%, 75%, and 100% from the recommended plant dose) and three different K organic sources i.e., seaweed (SWE), yeast sludge (YS), and filter mud cake (FMC), in two successive seasons of wheat (Triticum sativac. v. Giza 168) as a winter crop and peanut (Arachis hypogaeac. v. Giza 6) as a summer crop season; to study how responsive they are to different potassium rates and sources applied to crop productivity. After both crops were harvested, the chemical features of the soil were also assessed. The current findings state that the use of varied organic K rates and sources boosted the yield components of wheat and peanut crops, as well as the nutritional total content in straw, grains, or seed of both wheat and peanut, as compared to the control treatment.  Furthermore, the application of all treatments improved pH, EC, OM, and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC); the availability of P, K, and soluble K followed a similar pattern after the wheat-peanut crop was harvested.  Furthermore, the highest increases resulted from 75% of the recommended K dose, and the best organic sources of K were YS and SWE for wheat and peanut, respectively. In conclusion, the use of tested organic potassium sources is a good alternative to mineral potassium fertilizers, is economical, which is reflected in crop yield, and is environmentally friendly.
Cover Picture: Arresting, Fixing, and Separating Dimers Composed of Uniform Silica Colloidal Spheres (Adv. Funct. Mater. 12/2006)
Authors: Ibisate M. , Zou Z. , Xia Y.
Published: July 2006

In colloidal suspensions of silica, particles undergo constant collisions. By controlling various parameters, the repulsive barrier can be reduced, thereby substantially increasing the number of collision‐induced dimerization events. Xia and co‐workers report on p. 1627 that the dimers could be arrested and then permanently fixed by introducing a small amount of fresh tetraethylorthosilicate into the colloidal suspension, with monodisperse dimer yields of up to 50 %. This yield could be increased to 80 % by centrifugation in a density gradient medium.

When fresh tetraethylorthosilicate is introduced into a colloidal suspension of silica spheres, it hydrolyzes and condenses in situ to arrest and fix the dimers resulting from constant collisions between the spheres. By optimizing the experimental parameters (including the length of aging time) and the diameter of the silica spheres, as well as the concentrations of counterions, water, and ammonia, it is possible to routinely produce monodisperse dimers with a yield as high as 50 %. When combined with centrifugation using a density gradient medium, the yield of such dimers could be further increased to 80 %. It is believed that this method will provide a simple and versatile approach to the high‐volume production of dimers from spherical colloids composed of different materials. These dimers may find widespread use in a range of applications such as fabrication of photonic crystals and fundamental studies related to colloidal science.
Changes in ornithine decarboxylase activity in response to temperature stress and stimulation of juvenile hormone in Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera, Tephritidae)
Authors: Cardoso V.V. , Prestes P.R. , Moreira J.C.F. , Oliveira A.K.
Published: July 2006

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity was analyzed in Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera) females (4 days old) submitted to temperature stress (6°C and 20/6°C) and the topical application of juvenile hormone (JH). ODC activity and ejaculatory apodeme measurements (length and width) were made in males (15 days old) after 6°C stress. JH dose of 500 ng and incubation of 3, 7, and 18 h increased ODC activity. Females reared at 6°C and 20/6°C had higher ODC activity than those reared at 25°C. The treatment of 6°C and JH incubation for 1 h increased ODC activity when compared to 6°C treatments only. However, the treatment of 20/6°C only after 3 or 18 h of JH incubation resulted in higher ODC activity than controls (20/6°C) or 20/6°C plus 1 h of JH incubation. Males did not undergo differences in ODC activity when reared at 6°C or 25°C but the ejaculatory apodeme measurements was higher in those reared at 25°C than in those reared at 6°C. The results can be considered an adaptive process to environmental changes. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 62:176–185, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Specificity of an extracellular proteinase from Conidiobolus coronatus and its inhibition by an inhibitor from insect hemolymph
Authors: Bania Jacek , Samborski Jaroslaw , Bogus Mieczyslawa , Polanowski Antoni
Published: July 2006

The relatively little‐investigated entomopathogen Conidiobolus coronatus secretes several proteinases into culture broth. Using a combination of ion‐exchange and size‐exclusion chromatography, we purified to homogeneity a serine proteinase of Mr 30,000–32,000, as ascertained by SDS‐PAGE. The purified enzyme showed subtilisin‐like activity. It very effectively hydrolyzed N‐Suc‐Ala2‐Pro‐Phe‐pNa with a Km‐1.36 × 10–4 M and Kcat‐24 s–1, and N‐Suc‐Ala2‐Pro‐Leu‐pNa with Km‐6.65 × 10–4 M and Kcat‐11 s–1. The specificity index kcat/Km for the tested substrates was calculated to be 176,340 s–1 M–1 and 17,030 s–1 M–1, respectively. Using oxidized insulin B chain as a substrate, the purified proteinase exhibited specificity to aromatic and hydrophobic amino‐acid residues, such as Phe, Leu, and Gly at the P1 position, splitting primarily the peptide bonds: Phe1‐Val2, Leu15‐Tyr16, and Gly23‐Phe24. The proteinase appeared to be sensitive to the specific synthetic inhibitors of the serine proteinases DFP (diisopropyl flourophosphate) and PMSF (phenyl‐methylsulfonyl fluoride) as well as to some naturally occurring protein inhibitors of chymotrypsin. It is worth noting that the enzyme exhibited the highest sensitivity to inhibition by AMCI‐1 (with an association constant of 3 × 1010 M–1), an inhibitor of cathepsin G/chymotrypsin from the larval hemolymph of Apis mellifera, reinforcing the possibility of involvement of inhibitors from hemolymph in insect innate immunity. The substrate specificity and proteinase inhibitor effects indicate that the purified proteinase from the fermentation broth of Conidiobolus coronatus is a subtilisin‐like serine proteinase. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 62:186–196, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of the genetic association of the PTPN22 R620W polymorphism in familial and sporadic systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kaufman Kenneth M. , Kelly Jennifer A. , Herring Billy J. , Adler Adam J. , Glenn Stuart B. , Namjou Bahram , Frank Summer G. , Dawson Sarah L. , Bruner Gail R. , James Judith A. , Harley John B.
Published: July 2006

Objective

The R620W (1858C→T) polymorphism in PTPN22 has been implicated in type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroid disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to evaluate this polymorphism in patients with familial SLE and in those with sporadic SLE.

Methods

A total of 4,981 DNA samples were genotyped (from 1,680 SLE patients, 1,834 family members, and 1,467 controls). Both population‐based case–control and family‐based association designs were used for the analyses.

Results

In the European American familial SLE cohort, the minor 1858T allele was more common in randomly selected patients compared with controls (χ2 = 5.61, P = 0.018, odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.07–1.99). The heterozygous C/T genotype was also more common in these European American patients compared with controls (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.15–2.30). Family‐based association tests showed preferential transmission of the 1858T allele to affected offspring (χ2 = 5.87, P = 0.015). In contrast, the frequency of the 1858T minor allele was not significantly increased in the European American patients with sporadic SLE compared with controls, nor did these patients have preferential transmission of the 1858T allele. Indeed, the difference in the 1858T allele frequency between patients with familial SLE and those with sporadic SLE was measurable (allelic χ2 = 4.22, P = 0.04, OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02–2.24). Our data also showed that among patients with SLE, the 1858T allele was separately associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus and with autoimmune thyroid disease, confirming the findings of other investigators.

Conclusion

The 1858T allele of PTPN22 is associated with familial SLE but not with sporadic SLE in European Americans, thereby potentially explaining previous contradictory reports.
Influence of CTLA4 haplotypes on susceptibility and some extraglandular manifestations in primary Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Downie‐Doyle Sarah , Bayat Noushin , Rischmueller Maureen , Lester Susan
Published: July 2006

Objective

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA‐4) is a key negative regulator of the T cell immune response, and the CTLA4 gene is highly polymorphic. Many positive associations between CTLA4 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and various autoimmune diseases have been identified. Two CTLA4 SNPs that are important relative to genetic susceptibility in human autoimmune diseases are the +49GA polymorphism in exon 1 and the CT60A/G polymorphism in the 3′‐untranslated region. Using these 2 polymorphisms as markers, we investigated possible genetic associations of CTLA4 in Australian patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Methods

One hundred eleven Australian Caucasian patients with primary SS and 156 population‐based controls were genotyped for CTLA4 by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism methods, using the restriction enzymes BseXI (+49G/A) and HpyCh4 IV (CT60).

Results

The CT60 and +49G/A SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium, and only 3 haplotypes were observed. Significant differences in the haplotype frequencies between patients with primary SS and controls (P = 0.032) were observed, with susceptibility to primary SS associated with both the +49A;CT60A haplotype and the +49A;CT60G haplotype, whereas the +49G;CT60G haplotype was protective against primary SS. The +49A;CT60G haplotype association was predominantly with Ro/La autoantibody–positive primary SS, and the dose of this haplotype influenced the severity of daytime sleepiness (P = 0.036). The +49A;CT60A haplotype appeared to be protective against the development of Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with primary SS (odds ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.27–0.91).

Conclusion

The CTLA4 +49G/A and CT60 haplotypes are associated with susceptibility to primary SS and with some extraglandular manifestations of the disease.
Association of α‐actinin–binding anti–double‐stranded DNA antibodies with lupus nephritis
Authors: Renaudineau Yves , Croquefer Sabine , Jousse Sandrine , Renaudineau Eric , Devauchelle Valérie , Guéguen Paul , Hanrotel Catherine , Gilburd Boris , Saraux Alain , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Putterman Chaim , Youinou Pierre
Published: July 2006

Objective

Anti–double‐stranded DNA (anti‐dsDNA) antibodies may contribute to the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis (GN) by cross‐reacting with α‐actinin in murine models and in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We therefore sought to determine possible disease associations with serologic and clinical features and to characterize this new autoantibody specificity.

Methods

One hundred patients with SLE were recruited into this multicenter study, as well as 100 rheumatic disease controls and 2,100 healthy blood donors. Clinical disease was evaluated by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI; excluding the anti‐DNA component). Anti‐dsDNA antibodies were detected by conventional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Anti–α‐actinin antibodies were detected by ELISA, and their specificity was confirmed by Western blotting and by indirect immunofluorescence using rat kidney sections and mesangial cells as substrates. Highly positive sera were selected for absorption experiments and were affinity‐purified for cross‐reactivity studies and measurement of antibody avidity.

Results

Sera from 62 of the SLE patients had anti‐dsDNA antibodies; 21 of these sera also had anti–α‐actinin antibodies, as compared with 1 of the 38 sera without anti‐dsDNA antibodies. Of the 22 patients with anti–α‐actinin antibodies, 10 had GN, as compared with 14 of the 78 without anti–α‐actinin antibodies (P< 0.01). In patients with GN, anti–α‐actinin, but not anti‐dsDNA, antibodies correlated with the SLEDAI score (minus the anti‐DNA component) and with treatment. The fraction of serum anti‐dsDNA antibodies that cross‐reacted with α‐actinin exhibited high avidity for dsDNA, as determined using a commercial EIA for high‐avidity anti‐dsDNA antibodies and an in‐house conventional ELISA.

Conclusion

The α‐actinin–binding antibodies are significantly associated with GN in SLE. Whether such autoantibodies may anticipate the development of this complication of SLE remains to be verified.
Phosphocitrate blocks calcification‐induced articular joint degeneration in a guinea pig model
Authors: Cheung Herman S. , Sallis John D. , Demadis Konstantino D. , Wierzbicki Andrzej
Published: July 2006

Objective

Calcium deposition occurs frequently in osteoarthritic (OA) joints. However, evidence for a causal role of calcification in cartilage degeneration is inferential. The present study was undertaken to examine the role of calcification in OA disease progression and to evaluate a formulation of phosphocitrate (PC) as a potential therapeutic agent.

Methods

We have identified a guinea pig OA model in which meniscal calcification appears to correlate with aging and disease progression. We synthesized a new formulation of PC, [CaNa(PC)2(H2O)]n (CaNaPC), which is a potent antimineralization agent and a specific inhibitor of crystal‐induced biologic effects. After weekly treatment of guinea pigs with experimental OA with CaNaPC for 3 months, we examined calcification in menisci and cartilage degeneration. As a control, we examined whether similar CaNaPC treatment had any therapeutic effect in a hemi‐meniscectomy model in which there is no known crystal involvement.

Results

Meniscal calcification correlated with cartilage degeneration in this animal model. PC treatment led to significant reduction of calcium deposits and arrested OA disease progression. Similar treatment had no effect in the hemi‐meniscectomy model.

Conclusion

CaNaPC diminishes mineralization in a cutaneous calcergy model and a model of OA in which intraarticular mineralization is a prominent feature. In the OA guinea pig model, inhibition of calcification is accompanied by diminished cartilage degeneration. CaNaPC has no therapeutic effect in the hemi‐meniscectomy model. We conclude that pathologic calcification may initiate or amplify processes leading to cartilage degeneration and that CaNaPC may interrupt such a pathway.
An Adaptive Two‐stage Design with Treatment Selection Using the Conditional Error Function Approach
Authors: Wang Jixian
Published: July 2006

As an approach to combining the phase II dose finding trial and phase III pivotal trials, we propose a two‐stage adaptive design that selects the best among several treatments in the first stage and tests significance of the selected treatment in the second stage. The approach controls the type I error defined as the probability of selecting a treatment and claiming its significance when the selected treatment is indifferent from placebo, as considered in Bischoff and Miller (2005). Our approach uses the conditional error function and allows determining the conditional type I error function for the second stage based on information observed at the first stage in a similar way to that for an ordinary adaptive design without treatment selection. We examine properties such as expected sample size and stage‐2 power of this design with a given type I error and a maximum stage‐2 sample size under different hypothesis configurations. We also propose a method to find the optimal conditional error function of a simple parametric form to improve the performance of the design and have derived optimal designs under some hypothesis configurations. Application of this approach is illustrated by a hypothetical example. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of mixing intensity on cell seeding and proliferation in three‐dimensional fibrous matrices
Authors: Ouyang Anli , Yang Shang‐Tian
Published: July 2006

Nonwoven fibrous matrices have been widely used in cell and tissue cultures because their three‐dimensional (3‐D) structures with large surface areas and pore spaces can support high‐density cell growth. Although cell adherence and growth on 2‐D surfaces have been thoroughly investigated, very little is known for cells cultured in 3‐D matrices. The effects of mixing intensity on cell seeding, adherence, and growth in fibrous matrices were thus investigated. Chinese Hamster Ovary and osteosarcoma cells were inoculated into nonwoven polyethylene terephthalate matrices by dynamic and static seeding methods, of which the former was found to be superior in seeding efficiency and cell distribution in the matrices. Dynamic seeding increased seeding efficiency from ∼40% to more than 90%. When higher mixing intensities were applied, both cell attachment and detachment rates increased. Cell attachment was transport limited, as indicated by the increased attachment rate with increasing the mass transfer coefficient of the cells. Meanwhile, cell detachment from the 3‐D matrix can be described by the Bell model. The effects of matrix pore size on cell adherence and proliferation were also investigated. In general, the smaller pore size is favorable to cell attachment and proliferation. Further analysis revealed that the interaction between mixing intensity and pore size played a vital role in hydrodynamic damage to cells, which was found to be significant when the Kolomogorov eddy size was smaller than the matrix pores. Increasing mixing intensity also increased oxygen transfer, decreased the lactate yield from glucose, and improved cell growth. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96: 371–380. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MRP1/GS‐X pump ATPase expression: is this the explanation for the cytoprotection of the heart against oxidative stress‐induced redox imbalance in comparison to skeletal muscle cells?
Authors: Krause Maurício S. , Oliveira Lino P. , Silveira Elza M. S. , Vianna Damiana R. , Rossato Juliane S. , Almeida Bibiana S. , Rodrigues Mariana F. , Fernandes Augustus J. M. , Costa João A. Bonatto , Curi Rui , de Bittencourt Paulo I. Homem
Published: July 2006

Striated muscle activity is always accompanied by oxidative stress (OxStress): the more intense muscle work and/or its duration, the more a redox imbalance may be attained. In spite of cardiac muscle functioning continuously, it is well known that the heart does not suffer from OxStress‐induced damage over a broad physiological range. Although the expression of antioxidant enzymes may be of importance in defending heart muscle against OxStress, a series of combined antioxidant therapeutic approaches have proved to be mostly ineffective in avoiding cellular injury. Hence, additional mechanisms may be involved in heart cytoprotection other than antioxidant enzyme activities. The strong cardiotoxic effect of doxorubicin‐induced cancer chemotherapy shed light on the possible role for multidrug resistance‐associated proteins (MRP) in this context. Muscle activity‐induced ‘physiological’ OxStress enhances the production of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) thus increasing the ratio of GSSG to glutathione (GSH) content inside the cells, which, in turn, leads to redox imbalance. Since MRP1 gene product (a GS‐X pump ATPase) is a physiological GSSG transporter, adult Wistar rats were tested for MRP1 expression and activity in the heart and skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius), in as much as the latter is known to be extremely sensitive to muscle activity‐induced OxS. MRP1 expression was completely absent in skeletal muscle. In contrast, the heart showed an exercise training‐dependent induction of MRP1 protein expression which was further augmented (2.4‐fold) as trained rats were challenged with a session of acute exercise. On the other hand, inducible expression of the 70‐kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), a universal marker of cellular stress, was completely absent in the heart of sedentary and acutely exercised rats, whereas skeletal muscle showed a conspicuous exercise‐dependent HSP70 expression, which decreased by 45% with exercise training. This effect was paralleled by a 58% decrease in GSH content in skeletal muscle which was even higher (an 80%‐fall) after training thus leading to a marked redox imbalance ([GSSG]/[GSH] raised up to 38‐fold). In the heart, GSH contents and [GSSG]/[GSH] ratio remained virtually unchanged even after exercise challenges, while GS‐X pump activity was found to be 20% higher in the heart related to skeletal muscle. These findings suggest that an intrinsic higher capacity to express the MRP1/GS‐X pump may dictate the redox status in the heart muscle thus protecting myocardium by preventing GSSG accumulation in cardiomyocytes as compared to skeletal muscle fibres. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.