bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Back to Our Roots
Authors: Pope-Ruark Rebecca
Published: October 2012

This article argues for a scholarly research agenda in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) for the broad discipline of professional communication by distinguishing SoTL from other types of teacher-scholar practice, including anecdotal publications, action research, traditional educational research, and scholarly teaching. Doing so carefully positions SoTL as an extension of the pedagogical roots of business and technical communication and as a way to reinforce our teaching fortes, unite the fields within the discipline via research, and strengthen arguments for disciplinarity and academic respect.
Low degree of cortical pathology is associated with benign course of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Calabrese Massimiliano , Favaretto Alice , Poretto Valentina , Romualdi Chiara , Rinaldi Francesca , Mattisi Irene , Morra Aldo , Perini Paola , Gallo Paolo
Published: October 2012

Background:

Although a more favorable course of multiple sclerosis is associated with a low degree of cortical pathology, only longitudinal studies could definitely confirm this association.

Materials and Methods:

We followed 95 early relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS; median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) = 1.5, mean disease duration = 3.1 ± 1.3 years) and 45 benign MS patients (EDSS ≤ 3.0, disease duration ≥ 15 years, normal cognition) for 6 years, with EDSS evaluations every 6 months and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and then yearly.

Results:

At baseline, we detected 406 cortical lesions (CLs) in 67/95 (70.5%) early RRMS and in 24/45 (53.3%) benign MS patients ( p = 0.046). After 6 years, the appearance of new CLs was observed in 80/95 (84.2%; 518 CLs) of our early RRMS and in 25/45 (55.5%; 63 CLs; p < 0.001) benign MS patients. At baseline, after corrections for age and disease duration, we observed a cortical thinning of several frontal and temporal regions in our RRMS study patients, compared to the benign MS patients ( p ranging between 0.001–0.05). After 6 years, the cortical thinning had increased significantly in several cortices of RRMS patients, but only in the occipital-temporal ( p = 0.036) and superior parietal gyrus ( p = 0.035) of those with benign MS. Stepwise regression analysis revealed the CL volume ( p = 0.006) and the cortical thickness of the temporal middle ( p < 0.001), insular long ( p < 0.001), superior frontal ( p < 0.001) and middle frontal gyri ( p < 0.001) as the most sensitive independent predictors of a favorable disease course.

Conclusions:

Our data confirmed that a significantly milder cortical pathology characterizes the most favorable clinical course of MS. Measures of focal and diffuse grey matter should be combined to increase the accuracy in the identification of a benign MS course.
Men in despair: A qualitative psychological autopsy study of suicide in Northern Uganda
Authors: Kizza Dorothy , Knizek Birthe Loa , Kinyanda Eugene , Hjelmeland Heidi
Published: October 2012

The psychosocial circumstances surrounding men’s suicide in postconflict Central Northern Uganda were investigated using qualitative psychological autopsy interviews. Records of 17 men who died by suicide were identified through police and local leaders in Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps of Amuru and Gulu Districts. Two to five significant others were interviewed around each case. Data were analyzed by interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Lost dignity and social value, lack of hope for the family’s future, overwhelming family responsibility, and mental illness were circumstances found to have preceded the suicides. The protracted war in the Northern region of Uganda left men in rural communities feeling disempowered and disenfranchised. This may have contributed to suicidal behavior in some of them. Suicide prevention in this area needs to be multidisciplinary with an emphasis on helping both men and women understand and deal with the many social changes that have evolved over time and affected their traditional roles and responsibilities.
The development of effective quality measures relevant to the future practice of BBC news journalism online
Authors: Anderson Peter J , Egglestone Paul
Published: October 2012

The BBC’s online news provision has been increasingly pressured by forces that are both internal and external to the corporation within recent years. In the light of this, the concern here is twofold. First, the aim is to produce a more comprehensive framework for the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of specific, key aspects of the corporation’s online hard news output than currently exists. It is intended to be usable not only by expert outsiders looking in at the BBC’s standards, but, with a little basic training, by the organisation’s editorial staff, should the corporation choose to consider its merits and agree its adoption. The second aim is to provide a means of helping maintain and increase the quality of the same key aspects of BBC news output at the stages of reporting and editorial decision-making within ongoing stories.
Understanding social network sites: lessons from MySpace
Authors: Goodings Lewis
Published: October 2012

MySpace.com is an online social network site (SNS) where users build a ‘profile page’ to communicate with millions of other users all over the globe. MySpace users customise their profile page with words, photographs, pictures, music, biographical information and other visual/textual icons. There are a number of unique practices that are inherent to these new online social spaces that extend from the need to maintain a personal profile. For example, many users will regularly update their profiles with new visual or textual information in order to encourage future communication (a practice that will be identified as ‘profile changing’). MySpace witnessed a high number of people joining the site in 2005 but more recently there has been similar movement away from the site and towards other online spaces. This article takes an historical look at the use of MySpace in order to explore some wider issues in online communication practices. Through an empirical analysis of 100 open-access MySpace profiles, the author examines the use of SNSs in relation to issues of self, community and wastefulness. This work also addresses the ongoing need to blur the boundaries of how we understand the relationship between human experience and technology, particularly in relation to visual/textual, online/offline, reality/representation and social/psychological.
Then and Now: A Summary of Developments in the Field of Talmudic Literature through Contributions to the First and Second Editions of the Encyclopaedia Judaica
Authors: Milgram Jonathan S.
Published: October 2012

Through the lens of the contributions to the first and second editions of Encyclopaedia Judaica, this article summarizes the major developments in the field of talmudic literature which took place between the two publications. As the encyclopedia entries in both editions deal almost exclusively with matters pertaining to text, source and redaction criticism, this article, too, primarily discusses developments in these areas.
Are Young Adolescents’ Social and Emotional Skills Protective Against Involvement in Violence and Bullying Behaviors?
Authors: Polan Julie C. , Sieving Renee E. , McMorris Barbara J.
Published: October 2012

This study examined relationships between social–emotional skills and involvement in bullying and violence among young adolescents from ethnically diverse, economically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. Data were from 171 sixth- and seventh-grade students involved in a larger intervention study. Analyses examined relationships between social–emotional skills measures (intrapersonal skills, stress management skills, interpersonal skills) and involvement in violence, physical bullying, and relational aggression. Of social–emotional skills indicators, interpersonal skills and stress management skills demonstrated significant bivariate relationships with each of the bullying and violence outcomes. In multivariate models, greater interpersonal skills and greater stress management skills were significantly associated with lower odds of violence involvement. Greater stress management skills were also significantly associated with lower levels of physical bullying and relational aggression. Findings suggest that efforts to foster development of young adolescents’ social–emotional skills may, in turn, reduce their risk for involvement in bullying and violence.
The experimental research on the stab resistance of warp-knitted spacer fabric
Authors: Xuhong Miao , Xiangyong Kong , Gaoming Jiang
Published: October 2012

In view of the single structure of soft stab-resistant body armor at home and abroad and the difficulty in balancing the stab resistance and the portability, low-twist ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers and polyester monofilaments were chosen to produce stab-resistant warp-knitted spacer fabrics. In this paper, quasi-static stab tests were conducted to study the relationships among the stab resistance and fabric density, thickness and the spacer structure. The stab-resistant characteristic of warp-knitted spacer fabric was analyzed by the curve of penetration force versus penetration depth. The experimental results showed that the thickness and the density of warp-knitted spacer fabric and the compressive property of the spacer layer structure were the main influencing factors on the stab resistance. Three-layer composite structure of the warp-knitted spacer fabric could resist the penetration by stages during the penetration process and attained the purpose of multiple protection through the knife self-locking, energy dissipation and friction damping.
Common-Space Ideal Points, Committee Assignments, and Financial Interests in the State Legislatures
Authors: Battista James Coleman , Peress Michael , Richman Jesse
Published: October 2012

We present a new unified dataset of common-space ideal points, committee assignments, and financial interests for all state legislators in 1999. We describe the compilation of the dataset and offer a few possible applications.
Listening to Immigrant Latino Men in Rural Oregon
Authors: Harvey S. Marie , Branch Meredith R. , Hudson Deanne , Torres Antonio
Published: October 2012

This study explored factors that affect access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services including family planning among immigrant Latino men residing in rural Oregon communities that have experienced a high growth in their Latino population. In-depth interviews were conducted with 49 sexually active men aged 18 to 30 years who recently immigrated to the United States. Findings from content analysis identified multiple overlapping individual-level barriers, including lack of knowledge, perception of personal risk for unintended pregnancy and STIs, and fear of disease. On a service delivery level, structural factors and the importance of confianza when interacting with providers and clinic staff were dominant themes. The majority of these themes were grounded in a cultural context and linked to men’s cultural background, beliefs, and experiences. Examining the needs of immigrant Latino men through this cultural lens may be critically important for improving access and use of sexual and reproductive health services.
Transformational leadership and the work outcomes of Chinese migrant workers: The mediating effects of identification with leader
Authors: Miao Qing , Newman Alexander , Lamb Peter
Published: October 2012

This study examines the mediating influence of identification with leader on the relationship between follower perceptions of transformational leadership behavior and their work outcomes, using data obtained from migrant workers and their supervisors in a large manufacturing company located in south-eastern China. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that transformational leadership was positively related to the affective commitment and job performance of followers, and negatively related to their turnover intentions. In contrast, no significant influence was found of transformational leadership on the innovative behavior of followers. Subsequent analysis revealed that identification with leader mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and follower attitudes, but did not mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and follower job performance. These findings highlight the importance of cultural and wider contextual influences on the processes by which leadership impacts on the work outcomes of migrant workers in the Chinese manufacturing industry. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research provided.
Advances in the Surgical Management of Articular Cartilage Defects
Authors: Stein Spencer , Strauss Eric , Bosco Joseph
Published: October 2012

Objective:

The purpose of this review is to gain insight into the latest methods of articular cartilage implantation (ACI) and to detail where they are in the Food and Drug Administration approval and regulatory process.

Design:

A PubMed search was performed using the phrase “Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation” alone and with the words second generation and third generation. Additionally, clinicaltrials.gov was searched for the names of the seven specific procedures and the parent company websites were referenced.

Results:

Two-Stage Techniques: BioCart II uses a FGF2v1 culture and a fibrinogen, thrombin matrix, whereas Hyalograft-C uses a Hyaff 11 matrix. MACI uses a collagen I/III matrix. Cartipatch consists of an agarose-alginate hydrogel. Neocart uses a high-pressure bioreactor for culturing with a type I collagen matrix. ChondroCelect makes use of a gene expression analysis to predict chondrocyte proliferation and has demonstrated significant clinical improvement, but failed to show superiority to microfracture in a phase III trial. One Step Technique: CAIS is an ACI procedure where harvested cartilage is minced and implanted into a matrix for defect filling.

Conclusion:

As full thickness defects in articular cartilage continue to pose a challenge to treat, new methods of repair are being researched. Later generation ACI has been developed to address the prevalence of fibrocartilage with microfracture and the complications associated with the periosteal flap of first generation ACI such as periosteal hypertrophy. The procedures and products reviewed here represent advances in tissue engineering, scaffolds and autologous chondrocyte culturing that may hold promise in our quest to alter the natural history of symptomatic chondral disease.
Benefits versus risks of latest therapies in multiple sclerosis: a perspective review
Authors: Ontaneda Daniel , Di Capua Daniela
Published: October 2012

Disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) have now been available for almost 20 years. Interferon β (IFN-β) products and glatiramer acetate (GA) were the first available options and are now considered first-line agents for the treatment of MS. These medications have several years of favorable safety data, but are not effective in completely controlling disease activity in all patients. Alternate medications with increased efficacy have been developed and identified; however, these newer medications have known or potential safety concerns which have prompted clinicians to view them as second-line agents. Highly efficacious and safe medications are continuously being searched for and developed; however, time is needed to establish the long-term safety of any new therapeutic agent. MS practitioners are faced with the clinical dilemma of treating patients with very safe modestly effective medications or using more efficacious and potentially riskier agents. The risk–benefit profile of every medication will have to be weighed carefully and clinicians will need to gage the risk tolerance of each patient in order to tailor treatment. This review will summarize benefits and risks of recently approved therapies in MS and will provide a perspective view on the placement of these medications within the MS treatment algorithm in the near future.
The Commutative Property in Comorbid Diagnosis
Authors: Keeley Jared W. , DeLao Chafen S. , Kirk Claire L.
Published: October 2012

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition, text revision) assumes an additive model for describing comorbid symptomatology, including the commutativity of disorder descriptions across order of presentation (e.g., A + B = B + A). Given the high prevalence of individuals with comorbid conditions, it is important to investigate if clinicians follow an additive model when conceptualizing disorders. Three studies involving a total of 138 clinicians tested assumptions of commutativity for conceptualizations of three disorders—major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)—by either fixed-choice or free-response descriptions of all possible pairwise comparisons of the disorders. Clinicians demonstrated less-than-perfect commutativity for all disorder combinations, and this finding was replicated across two samples. In addition, MDD and ASPD tended to overshadow the presence of GAD in combinations. These results challenge the additive assumptions of the current diagnostic system and may suggest the order in which diagnoses are conceptualized influences the resulting symptomatology.
The New Genre Higher Education Framework
Authors: Sibal Kapil
Published: October 2012

Institutions of higher education exist to contribute to the collective growth of the society by nurturing the creative genius of individuals. This may be achieved by striking a fine balance between gifting intellectual freedom and monitoring the fulfilment of social obligations. An environment of this kind can only be built through a policy of non-interference and institutional autonomy. A governance structure like this does not necessarily suggest lack of accountability or decentralization of power. Rather, this implies great commitment towards academic, administrative and financial accountability through the process of self-regulation. Given that higher education is transcending international borders in the digital world, we are in greater need of establishing governance structures and international quality standards which foster competence and excellence in our higher education system without curtailing academic freedom.
Study on the application for electromagnetic controlled molten pool welding process in overhead and flat position welding
Authors: Shoichi M , Yukio M , Koki T , Yasushi T , Yukinori M , Yusuke M
Published: October 2012

In fusion welding, gravity makes a molten metal flow downward and it sometimes causes an irregular shaped weld bead and weld defects such as an undercut. To solve this problem, the authors propose a new electromagnetic controlled molten pool welding process method which controls the molten metal flow by using upward electromagnetic forces, and the applicability of this method to industry is examined. In flat position welding with excessive heat input, the molten metal tends to sag down and an undercut defect is likely to occur. It is found that the upward electromagnetic force given by adjusting the conditions of magnetic field can lift the molten metal up, resulting in the remarkably improved shape of a penetration bead. It is further found that, even in overhead position welding, a well shaped penetration bead without undercuts is obtained by adjusting the welding touch angle as well as magnetic field conditions.
Reduced rRNA expression and increased rDNA promoter methylation in CD34+ cells of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Raval Aparna , Sridhar Kunju J. , Patel Shripa , Turnbull Brit B. , Greenberg Peter L. , Mitchell Beverly S.
Published: October 2012

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders of hematopoietic stem cells characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis. The DNA-hypomethylating agents 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine are effective treatments for patients with MDS, increasing the time to progression to acute myelogenous leukemia and improving overall response rates. Although genome-wide increases in DNA methylation have been documented in BM cells from MDS patients, the methylation signatures of specific gene promoters have not been correlated with the clinical response to these therapies. Recently, attention has been drawn to the potential etiologic role of decreased expression of specific ribosomal proteins in MDS and in other BM failure states. Therefore, we investigated whether rRNA expression is dysregulated in MDS. We found significantly decreased rRNA expression and increased rDNA promoter methylation in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from the majority of MDS patients compared with normal controls. Treatment of myeloid cell lines with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine resulted in a significant decrease in the methylation of the rDNA promoter and an increase in rRNA levels. These observations suggest that an increase in rDNA promoter methylation can result in decreased rRNA synthesis that may contribute to defective hematopoiesis and BM failure in some patients with MDS.
IGHV-unmutated and IGHV-mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells produce activation-induced deaminase protein with a full range of biologic functions
Authors: Patten Piers E. M. , Chu Charles C. , Albesiano Emilia , Damle Rajendra N. , Yan Xiao-Jie , Kim Dorothy , Zhang Lu , Magli Amanda R. , Barrientos Jacqueline , Kolitz Jonathan E. , Allen Steven L. , Rai Kanti R. , Roa Sergio , Mongini Patricia K. , MacCarthy Thomas , Scharff Matthew D. , Chiorazzi Nicholas
Published: October 2012

Clonal evolution occurs during the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and activation-induced deaminase (AID) could influence this process. However, this possibility has been questioned in CLL because the number of circulating AID mRNA+ cells is exceedingly low; synthesis of AID protein by blood CLL cells has not been demonstrated; the full range of AID functions is lacking in unmutated CLL (U-CLL), and no prospective analysis linking AID expression and disease severity has been reported. The results of the present study show that circulating CLL cells and those within secondary lymphoid tissues can make AID mRNA and protein. This production is related to cell division because more AID mRNA was detected in recently divided cells and AID protein was limited to the dividing fraction and was up-regulated on induction of cell division. AID protein was functional because AID+ dividing cells exhibited more double-stranded DNA breaks, IGH class switching, and new IGHV-D-J mutations. Each of these actions was documented in U-CLL and mutated CLL (M-CLL). Furthermore, AID protein was associated with worse patient outcome and adverse cytogenetics. We conclude that the production of fully functional AID protein by U-CLL and M-CLL cells could be involved in clonal evolution of the disease.
Weakly isotone increasing mappings and endpoints in partially ordered metric spaces
Authors: Hussain N , Nashine HK , Kadelburg Z , Alsulami Saud M
Published: October 2012

The aim of this work is to extend the notion of weakly isotone increasing mappings to multivalued and present common endpoint theorems forT-weakly isotone increasing multivalued mappings satisfying generalized(ψ,φ)-weak contractive as well as almost contractive inequalities in complete partially ordered metric spaces. Examples are given in support of the new results obtained.

MSC:47H10, 54H25, 54H10.
MicroRNAs and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase-2 in human myocardial infarction: expression and bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Boštjančič Emanuela , Zidar Nina , Glavač Damjan
Published: October 2012

Background

Cardiac sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase-2 (SERCA2) plays one of the central roles in myocardial contractility. Both, SERCA2 mRNA and protein are reduced in myocardial infarction (MI), but the correlation has not been always observed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act by targeting 3'-UTR mRNA, causing translational repression in physiological and pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. One of the aims of our study was to identify miRNAs that could influence SERCA2 expression in human MI.

Results

The protein SERCA2 was decreased and 43 miRNAs were deregulated in infarcted myocardium compared to corresponding remote myocardium, analyzed by western blot and microRNA microarrays, respectively. All the samples were stored as FFPE tissue and in RNAlater. miRNAs binding prediction to SERCA2 including four prediction algorithms (TargetScan, PicTar, miRanda and mirTarget2) identified 213 putative miRNAs. TAM and miRNApath annotation of deregulated miRNAs identified 18 functional and 21 diseased states related to heart diseases, and association of the half of the deregulated miRNAs to SERCA2. Free-energy of binding and flanking regions (RNA22, RNAfold) was calculated for 10 up-regulated miRNAs from microarray analysis (miR-122, miR-320a/b/c/d, miR-574-3p/-5p, miR-199a, miR-140, and miR-483), and nine miRNAs deregulated from microarray analysis were used for validation with qPCR (miR-21, miR-122, miR-126, miR-1, miR-133, miR-125a/b, and miR-98). Based on qPCR results, the comparison between FFPE and RNAlater stored tissue samples, between Sybr Green and TaqMan approaches, as well as between different reference genes were also performed.

Conclusion

Combing all the results, we identified certain miRNAs as potential regulators of SERCA2; however, further functional studies are needed for verification. Using qPCR, we confirmed deregulation of nine miRNAs in human MI, and show that qPCR normalization strategy is important for the outcome of miRNA expression analysis in human MI.
Proteome remodelling during development from blood to insect-form Trypanosoma brucei quantified by SILAC and mass spectrometry
Authors: Gunasekera Kapila , Wüthrich Daniel , Braga-Lagache Sophie , Heller Manfred , Ochsenreiter Torsten
Published: October 2012

Background

Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of human African sleeping sickness and Nagana in cattle. In addition to being an important pathogen T. brucei has developed into a model system in cell biology.

Results

Using Stable Isotope Labelling of Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC) in combination with mass spectrometry we determined the abundance of >1600 proteins in the long slender (LS), short stumpy (SS) mammalian bloodstream form stages relative to the procyclic (PC) insect-form stage. In total we identified 2645 proteins, corresponding to ~30% of the total proteome and for the first time present a comprehensive overview of relative protein levels in three life stages of the parasite.

Conclusions

We can show the extent of pre-adaptation in the SS cells, especially at the level of the mitochondrial proteome. The comparison to a previously published report on monomorphic in vitro grown bloodstream and procyclic T. brucei indicates a loss of stringent regulation particularly of mitochondrial proteins in these cells when compared to the pleomorphic in vivo situation. In order to better understand the different levels of gene expression regulation in this organism we compared mRNA steady state abundance with the relative protein abundance-changes and detected moderate but significant correlation indicating that trypanosomes possess a significant repertoire of translational and posttranslational mechanisms to regulate protein abundance.
Marek’s disease virus infection induces widespread differential chromatin marks in inbred chicken lines
Authors: Mitra Apratim , Luo Juan , Zhang Huanming , Cui Kairong , Zhao Keji , Song Jiuzhou
Published: October 2012

Background

Marek’s disease (MD) is a neoplastic disease in chickens caused by the MD virus (MDV). Successful vaccine development against MD has resulted in increased virulence of MDV and the understanding of genetic resistance to the disease is, therefore, crucial to long-term control strategies. Also, epigenetic factors are believed to be one of the major determinants of disease response.

Results

Here, we carried out comprehensive analyses of the epigenetic landscape induced by MDV, utilizing genome-wide histone H3 lysine 4 and lysine 27 trimethylation maps from chicken lines with varying resistance to MD. Differential chromatin marks were observed on genes previously implicated in the disease such as MX1 and CTLA-4 and also on genes reported in other cancers including IGF2BP1 and GAL. We detected bivalent domains on immune-related transcriptional regulators BCL6, CITED2 and EGR1, which underwent dynamic changes in both lines as a result of MDV infection. In addition, putative roles for GAL in the mechanism of MD progression were revealed.

Conclusion

Our results confirm the presence of widespread epigenetic differences induced by MD in chicken lines with different levels of genetic resistance. A majority of observed epigenetic changes were indicative of increased levels of viral infection in the susceptible line symptomatic of lowered immunocompetence in these birds caused by early cytolytic infection. The GAL system that has known anti-proliferative effects in other cancers is also revealed to be potentially involved in MD progression. Our study provides further insight into the mechanisms of MD progression while revealing a complex landscape of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that varies depending on host factors.
Antibiotic producing microorganisms from River Wiwi, Lake Bosomtwe and the Gulf of Guinea at Doakor Sea Beach, Ghana
Authors: Tawiah Adelaide A , Gbedema Stephen Y , Adu Francis , Boamah Vivian E , Annan Kofi
Published: October 2012

Background

Microorganisms have provided a wealth of metabolites with interesting activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer. In this study, a total of 119 aquatic microbial isolates from 30 samples (taken from water bodies in Ghana) were screened by the agar-well diffusion method for ability to produce antibacterial-metabolites.

Results

Antibacterial activity was exhibited by 27 of the isolates (14 bacteria, 9 actinomycetes and 4 fungi) against at least one of the indicator microorganisms: Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Bacillus thuringiensis (ATCC 13838), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Proteus vulgaris (NCTC 4635) and Bacillus Subtilis (NCTC 10073). A sea isolate MAI2 (identified as a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity (lowest zone of inhibition = 22 mm). The metabolites of MAI2 extracted with chloroform were stable to heat and gave minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging between 250 and 2000 μg/ml. Bioautography of the extract revealed seven active components.

Conclusion

This study has therefore uncovered the potential of water bodies in the West African sub-region as reservoirs of potent bioactive metabolite producing microorganisms.
Fluoxetine prevents development of an early stress-related molecular signature in the rat infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex. Implications for depression?
Authors: Barreto Rafael A , Walker Frederick Rohan , Dunkley Peter R , Day Trevor A , Smith Doug W
Published: October 2012

Background

Psychological stress, particularly in chronic form, can lead to mood and cognitive dysfunction and is a major risk factor in the development of depressive states. How stress affects the brain to cause psychopathologies is incompletely understood. We sought to characterise potential depression related mechanisms by analysing gene expression and molecular pathways in the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (ILmPFC), following a repeated psychological stress paradigm. The ILmPFC is thought to be involved in the processing of emotionally contextual information and in orchestrating the related autonomic responses, and it is one of the brain regions implicated in both stress responses and depression.

Results

Genome-wide microarray analysis of gene expression showed sub-chronic restraint stress resulted predominantly in a reduction in transcripts 24 hours after the last stress episode, with 239 genes significantly decreased, while just 24 genes had increased transcript abundance. Molecular pathway analysis using DAVID identified 8 pathways that were significantly enriched in the differentially expressed gene list, with genes belonging to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor – neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (BDNF-Ntrk2) pathway most enriched. Of the three intracellular signalling pathways that are downstream of Ntrk2, real-time quantitative PCR confirmed that only the PI3K-AKT-GSK3B and MAPK/ERK pathways were affected by sub-chronic stress, with the PLCγ pathway unaffected. Interestingly, chronic antidepressant treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, prevented the stress-induced Ntrk2 and PI3K pathway changes, but it had no effect on the MAPK/ERK pathway.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that abnormal BDNF-Ntrk2 signalling may manifest at a relatively early time point, and is consistent with a molecular signature of depression developing well before depression-like behaviours occur. Targeting this pathway prophylactically, particularly in depression-susceptible individuals, may be of therapeutic benefit.
The SLEEPERgenes: a transposase-derived angiosperm-specific gene family
Authors: Knip Marijn , de Pater Sylvia , Hooykaas Paul JJ
Published: October 2012

Background

DAYSLEEPER encodes a domesticated transposase from the hAT-superfamily, which is essential for development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Little is known about the presence of DAYSLEEPER orthologs in other species, or how and when it was domesticated. We studied the presence of DAYSLEEPER orthologs in plants and propose a model for the domestication of the ancestral DAYSLEEPER gene in angiosperms.

Results

Using specific BLAST searches in genomic and EST libraries, we found that DAYSLEEPER-like genes (hereafter called SLEEPER genes) are unique to angiosperms. Basal angiosperms as well as grasses (Poaceae) and dicotyledonous plants possess such putative orthologous genes, but SLEEPER-family genes were not found in gymnosperms, mosses and algae. Most species contain more than one SLEEPER gene. All SLEEPERs contain a C2H2 type BED-zinc finger domain and a hATC dimerization domain. We designated 3 motifs, partly overlapping the BED-zinc finger and dimerization domain, which are hallmark features in the SLEEPER family. Although SLEEPER genes are structurally conserved between species, constructs with SLEEPER genes from grapevine and rice did not complement the daysleeper phenotype in Arabidopsis, when expressed under control of the DAYSLEEPER promoter. However these constructs did cause a dominant phenotype when expressed in Arabidopsis. Rice plant lines with an insertion in the RICESLEEPER1 or 2 locus displayed phenotypic abnormalities, indicating that these genes are functional and important for normal development in rice. We suggest a model in which we hypothesize that an ancestral hAT transposase was retrocopied and stably integrated in the genome during early angiosperm evolution. Evidence is also presented for more recent retroposition events of SLEEPER genes, such as an event in the rice genome, which gave rise to the RICESLEEPER1 and 2 genes.

Conclusions

We propose the ancestral SLEEPER gene was formed after a process of retro-transposition during the evolution of the first angiosperms. It may have acquired an important function early on, as mutation of two SLEEPER genes in rice, like the daysleeper mutant in A. thaliana gave a developmental phenotype indicative of their importance for normal plant development.
A possible involvement of Nrf2-mediated heme oxygenase-1 up-regulation in protective effect of the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole against indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats
Authors: Lee Ho-Jae , Han Young-Min , Kim Eun-Hee , Kim Yoon-Jae , Hahm Ki-Baik
Published: October 2012

Background

Proton pump is an integral membrane protein that is ubiquitous ATP binding cassette (ABC) involved in many transport processes in all living organisms, among which a specialized form of pump, so called p-type proton pump, exists in the parietal cells of stomach. Though proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently prescribed to prevent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-induced gastric damage, the acid suppressive actions do not suffice to explain.

Methods

In order to document the effects of pantoprazole, one of PPIs, on the NSAIDs-induced gastric damage, in vitro and in vivo studies were performed. Immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and RT-PCR were conducted to evaluate the induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) through Nrf2 activation in normal gastric mucosal RGM-1 cells or in vivo stomach tissues from rats treated with indomethacin and/or pantoprazole.

Results

Pantoprazole activated Nrf2 through inactivation of Keap1, after which the expression of HO-1 was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in RGM-1 cells. Increased ARE-DNA binding activity was observed maximally at 1 h with 300 μM of pantoprazole. The expression of HO-1 induced by pantoprazole was significantly associated with the increased in vitro tube formation (P < 0.05) and angiogenic factors including VEGF, bFGF, and HIF-1α. Indomethacin markedly increased the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-8, NOX-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM, whereas pantoprazole significantly decreased the expressions of indomethacin-induced these inflammatory mediators in accord with pantoprazole-induced HO-1 (P < 0.05) as documented with HO-1 inhibitor. In vivo model of indomethacin-induced gastric damage could validate in vitro-drawn results that pantoprazole remarkably protected against indomethacin-induced gastric damage, in which zinc protoporphyrin (5 mg/kg, ip) significantly abolished the protective efficacy of pantoprazole.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that Nrf2-mediated HO-1 induction of PPIs afforded a significant protective effect against NSAIDs-induced gastric damage beyond acid suppressive actions.
Clinicopathologic characteristics of high expression of Bmi-1 in esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Choy Bonnie , Bandla Santhoshi , Xia Yinglin , Tan Dongfeng , Pennathur Arjun , Luketich James D , Godfrey Tony E , Peters Jeffrey H , Sun Jun , Zhou Zhongren
Published: October 2012

Background

High expression of Bmi-1, a key regulatory component of the polycomb repressive complex-1, has been associated with many solid and hematologic malignancies including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, little is known about the role of Bmi-1 in esophageal adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study is to investigate the amplification and high expression of Bmi-1 and the associated clinicopathologic characteristics in esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

The protein expression level of Bmi-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) from tissue microarrays (TMA) constructed at the University of Rochester from using tissues accrued between 1997 and 2005. Types of tissues included adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions. Patients’ survival data, demographics, histologic diagnoses and tumor staging data were collected. The intensity (0–3) and percentage of Bmi-1 expression on TMA slides were scored by two pathologists. Genomic DNA from 116 esophageal adenocarcinoma was analyzed for copy number aberrations using Affymetrix SNP 6.0 arrays. Fisher exact tests and Kaplan-Meier methods were used to analyze data.

Results

By IHC, Bmi-1 was focally expressed in the basal layers of almost all esophageal squamous mucosa, which was similar to previous reports in other organs related to stem cells. High Bmi-1 expression significantly increased from squamous epithelium (7%), columnar cell metaplasia (22%), Barrett’s esophagus (22%), to low- (45%) and high-grade dysplasia (43%) and adenocarcinoma (37%). The expression level of Bmi-1 was significantly associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma differentiation. In esophageal adenocarcinoma, Bmi-1 amplification was detected by DNA microarray in a low percentage (3%). However, high Bmi-1 expression did not show an association with overall survival in both esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that high expression Bmi-1 is associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma and precancerous lesions, which implies that Bmi-1 plays an important role in early carcinogenesis in esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Association of antenatal care with facility delivery and perinatal survival – a population-based study in Bangladesh
Authors: Pervin Jesmin , Moran Allisyn , Rahman Monjur , Razzaque Abdur , Sibley Lynn , Streatfield Peter K , Reichenbach Laura J , Koblinsky Marge , Hruschka Daniel , Rahman Anisur
Published: October 2012

Background

Antenatal Care (ANC) during pregnancy can play an important role in the uptake of evidence-based services vital to the health of women and their infants. Studies report positive effects of ANC on use of facility-based delivery and perinatal mortality. However, most existing studies are limited to cross-sectional surveys with long recall periods, and generally do not include population-based samples.

Methods

This study was conducted within the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) in Matlab, Bangladesh. The HDSS area is divided into an icddr,b service area (SA) where women and children receive care from icddr,b health facilities, and a government SA where people receive care from government facilities. In 2007, a new Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) program was initiated in the icddr,b SA that strengthened the ongoing maternal and child health services including ANC. We estimated the association of ANC with facility delivery and perinatal mortality using prospectively collected data from 2005 to 2009. Using a before-after study design, we also determined the role of ANC services on reduction of perinatal mortality between the periods before (2005 – 2006) and after (2008–2009) implementation of the MNCH program.

Results

Antenatal care visits were associated with increased facility-based delivery in the icddr,b and government SAs. In the icddr,b SA, the adjusted odds of perinatal mortality was about 2-times higher (odds ratio (OR) 1.91; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.50, 2.42) among women who received ≤1 ANC compared to women who received ≥3 ANC visits. No such association was observed in the government SA. Controlling for ANC visits substantially reduced the observed effect of the intervention on perinatal mortality (OR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.78) to non-significance (OR 0.81; 95% CI: 0.65, 1.01), when comparing cohorts before and after the MNCH program initiation (Sobel test of mediation P < 0.001).

Conclusions

ANC visits are associated with increased uptake of facility-based delivery and improved perinatal survival in the icddr,b SA. Further testing of the icddr,b approach to simultaneously improving quality of ANC and facility delivery care is needed in the existing health system in Bangladesh and in other low-income countries to maximize health benefits to mothers and newborns.
Hypothermic manipulation of bone cement can extend the handling time during vertebroplasty
Authors: Lai Po-Liang , Tai Ching-Lung , Chu I-Ming , Fu Tsai-Sheng , Chen Lih-Huei , Chen Wen-Jer
Published: October 2012

Background

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is commonly used for clinical applications. However, the short handling time increases the probability of a surgeon missing the crucial period in which the cement maintains its ideal viscosity for a successful injection. The aim of this article was to illustrate the effects a reduction in temperature would have on the cement handling time during percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Methods

The injectability of bone cement was assessed using a cement compressor. By twisting the compressor, the piston transmits its axial load to the plunger, which then pumps the bone cement out. The experiments were categorized based on the different types of hypothermic manipulation that were used. In group I (room temperature, sham group), the syringes were kept at 22°C after mixing the bone cement. In group 2 (precooling the bone cement and the container), the PMMA powder and liquid, as well as the beaker, spatula, and syringe, were stored in the refrigerator (4°C) overnight before mixing. In group 3 (ice bath cooling), the syringes were immediately submerged in ice water after mixing the bone cement at room temperature.

Results

The average liquid time, paste time, and handling time were 5.1 ± 0.7, 3.4 ± 0.3, and 8.5 ± 0.8 min, respectively, for group 1; 9.4 ± 1.1, 5.8 ± 0.5, and 15.2 ± 1.2 min, respectively, for group 2; and 83.8 ± 5.2, 28.8 ± 6.9, and 112.5 ± 11.3 min, respectively, for group 3. The liquid and paste times could be increased through different cooling methods. In addition, the liquid time (i.e. waiting time) for ice bath cooling was longer than for that of the precooling method (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Both precooling (i.e. lowering the initial temperature) and ice bath cooling (i.e. lowering the surrounding temperature) can effectively slow polymerization. Precooling is easy for clinical applications, while ice bath cooling might be more suitable for multiple-level vertebroplasty. Clinicians can take advantage of the improved injectability without any increased cost.
Leptin, insulin and thyroid hormones in a cohort of Egyptian obese Down syndrome children: a comparative study
Authors: Yahia Sohier , EL-farahaty Reham M , El-Hawary Amany K , El-hussiny Mona A , Abdel-maseih Hanaa , El-Dahtory Faeza , El-Gilany Abdel-Hady
Published: October 2012

Background

Obesity is a major worldwide health problem. It is commonly observed in Down syndrome individuals than in the general population. The reason for increased risk of obesity in DS is unclear.

The current study was designed to clarify differences in some obesity- related hormones in a group of prepubertal Down syndrome children.

Methods

Thirty six Egyptian children with Down syndrome were enrolled in this study, divided according to their body mass index (BMI) into 23 obese and13 non obese. Another group of 43 non Down children were recruited, they were divided according to their BMI into 20 patients having simple obesity and 23 non obese, as control groups. Fasting blood samples were collected for estimation of fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, leptin, free thyroxin (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) and creatine kinase (CK). Insulin resistance was assessed by Homeostasis Model Assessment method (HOMA-IR). The ratio of leptin to BMI (LEP/BMI) was used as an index of leptin resistance.

Results

Median values of FBG, insulin, and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in Down versus non Down groups, while median values of leptin and leptin resistance were non-significantly different among Down versus non Down groups. Median TSH values were non- significantly different between obese Down and obese non Down. Although the median values of TSH and FT4 were within normal range in Down groups, four cases of subclinical hypothyroidism were encountered. Leptin levels were correlated with insulin and IR but not with TSH in Down groups.

Conclusion

Increased circulating leptin, a marker of leptin resistance in obese children with Down syndrome seems to be similar to that in children with simple obesity. Elevated FBG and insulin in obese Down children highlights the presence of early IR. Associated myopathy evidenced by mildly elevated CK levels could be an added factor for obesity in such group of patients.