bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-House vs. Off-the-Shelf e-HRM Applications
Authors: Al-Ibraheem Nawaf , Ruël Huub
Published: May 2010

Companies new to the e-HRM technologies are overwhelmed by the dilemma of choosing either the ready-made, off-the-shelf e-HRM systems, or develop their own e-HRM systems in house in order to implement the e-HR transformation. Therefore, this research was done to shed some light on the differences and similarities between off-the-shelf e-HRM systems and in-house developed ones, with regards to some elements developed in a preliminary framework, such as the implementation and development approaches, e-HRM activities they facilitated, application types and characteristics, and e-HRM outcome and benefits. This comparison provided insightful information that could help companies make the most effective choice between the two systems. It was found through this research that factors such as continuous user involvement, effective communication, and strong change management are most considered by companies that develop e-HRM in house, while advocates of off-the-shelf e-HRM systems are most affected by success factors such as business process reengineering, planning and vision, and project management. Another finding was that increasing efficiency, providing customer-oriented service excellence, and improving self services were top goals accomplished by companies developing their e-HRM system in house. These findings, beside many other ones discovered in this research, would help companies decide which system best fits their needs and accomplish high levels of effectiveness gained from the transformation of their HR function to e-HR.
Adaptive Municipal Electronic Forms
Authors: Kuiper Pieternel , van Dijk Betsy
Published: May 2010

Adaptation of electronic forms (e-forms) seems to be a step forward to reduce the burden for people who fill in forms. Municipalities more and more offer e-forms online that can be used by citizens to request a municipal product or service or by municipal employees to place a request on behalf of a citizen. The impression exists that not all users of municipal e-forms are entirely satisfied about the current e-forms. To improve the customer satisfaction a shift must be made from a supply-led to a demand-led approach, including possibilities for tailored information and services. A municipal e-form can automatically adjust to the background, knowledge, interest, goals and restrictions of the user. The user can also adjust the form to his/her needs. Adaptive municipal e-forms can be used for different purposes, that is to make an appointment, to announce a change of address, or to request a passport or building permit. This chapter describes how municipal e-forms can be improved by the use of adaptation.
HRIS Project Teams Skills and Knowledge
Authors: Williams Hazel , Tansley Carole , Foster Carley
Published: May 2010

Global, enterprise-wide, information systems (GEIS) projects are often delayed with budget over-runs often due to a lack of understanding of the key roles required on the project. The “hybrid” knowledge and skills requirement of functional GEIS teams, typically composed of both IT personnel and representatives from the departments where the system is going to be used, are generally not acknowledged and understood. This chapter presents the findings of a study conducted with project teams working in a multi-national organisation implementing and maintaining the HR “pillar” of an SAP GEIS located in four countries. The main purpose of that study was the identification of HRIS skills and knowledge in the key roles on the global project and make suggestions for development of project team members. Using a human capital frame of reference, we provide a guiding framework which can be used as a sensemaking tool by those responsible for managing people working in hybrid roles on such projects.
IT-Based Integration of HRM in a Foreign MNC Subsidiary
Authors: Smale Adam , Heikkilä Jukka-Pekka
Published: May 2010

The design and implementation of a globally integrated e-HRM system within a multinational corporation (MNC) requires different parties to reach some form of agreement on which HR processes must be standardised and which must be locally adapted. In this respect, the IT-based integration of HRM presents an intriguing setting in which to study micro-political behaviour during HRM integration, that is, how parties promote their own interests and the strategies they use during negotiations. Accordingly, the study’s aims were to identify those issues which generated the greatest degree of conflict during the IT-based integration of HRM, the key actors involved and the resources that were deployed during negotiations. A longitudinal, in-depth case study approach was used, and followed the integration of a global e-HRM system in the Finnish subsidiary of a large European-owned MNC over a period of nearly two years. Qualitative data was collected via semi-structured interviews with key subsidiary HR personnel and was complemented with company documentation. The findings indicate that the key areas of conflict were system design, the standardised use of English, and grey areas of HR policy. Three key parties were identified as being involved in subsequent negotiations. These parties utilised a range of negotiation resources including business case logic, technical know-how, internal benchmarking, local constraints and ignorance.
Introduction
Authors: Guo Huaqun
Published: May 2010

Emerging vehicular networks in the forms of Intra-Vehicle (InV), Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), and Vehicleto- Infrastructure (V2I) communications will enable a variety of applications for safety, traffic efficiency, driver assistance, as well as infotainment to be incorporated into modern automobile designs. At the same time, networked Electronic Control Units (ECUs) are increasingly being deployed in automobiles to realize functions such as engine management, air-bag deployment, and even in intelligent brake systems. In addition, users now expect to sit in an automobile and have their brought-in devices, and beamed-in services harmoniously integrated with the built-in interfaces inside the automobile. Thus, widespread adoption of vehicular networks is fast becoming a reality and critical data is being exchanged with-inside and with-outside vehicle via vehicular networks. This chapter gives an overview of this emerging area of vehicular networks, its potential applications, its potential wireless technologies for data exchange, and its research activities in the Europe, the United States (U.S.), Japan, and Singapore.
Drive by Wire Systems
Authors: Anwar Sohel
Published: May 2010

An overview of the drive by wire technology is presented along with in-depth coverage of salient drive by systems such as throttle-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and steer-by-wire systems, and hybrid-electric propulsion. A review of drive by wire system benefits in performance enhancements and vehicle active safety is then discussed. This is followed by in-depth coverage of technological challenges that must be overcome before drive-by-wire systems can be production ready. Current state of the art of possible solutions to these technological hurdles is then discussed. Future trends in the drive-by-wire systems and economic and commercialization aspects of these system are presented at the conclusion of the chapter.
Electromagnetic Compatibility Issues in Automotive Communications
Authors: Hubing Todd H.
Published: May 2010

Engineers and engineering managers involved in the design of automotive electronic systems need to have a basic familiarity with electronic noise and the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues that influence the design and the performance of automotive systems. When EMC issues are addressed early in a product’s design cycle, the resulting designs often meet all EMC requirements without significant cost or performance problems. EMC problems detected after a product has been built and tested, on the other hand, can be very difficult and costly to fix. This chapter reviews automotive EMC requirements and discusses the design of automotive electronics for EMC. The objective of the chapter is to provide non-EMC engineers and engineering managers with basic information that will help them recognize the importance of designing for electromagnetic compatibility, rather than addressing electronic noise problems as they arise.
MAC and Routing Protocols for Vehicle to Vehicle Communications
Authors: Long Xiaobo , Sikdar Biplab
Published: May 2010

Numerous efforts are currently under progress to enhance the safety and efficiency of vehicular traffic through intelligent transportation systems. In addition, the growing demand for access to data and information from human users on the go has created the need for advanced vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicleto- roadside communication systems capable of high data rates and amenable to high degrees of node mobility. Vehicular communications and networks are expected to be used for a number of purposes such as for enabling mobile users to transfer data and information from other networks such as the Internet and also for implementing services such as Intersection Decision Systems (IDS), Automated Highway Systems (AHS), and Advanced Vehicle Safety Systems (AVS). In this chapter the authors describe medium access control (MAC) and routing protocols for vehicular networks and the various factors that affect their design and performance.
Inter-Vehicular Communications Using Wireless Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Aquino-Santos Raúl , Rangel-Licea Víctor , García-Ruiz Miguel A. , González-Potes Apolinar , Álvarez-Cardenas Omar , Edwards-Block Arthur
Published: May 2010

This chapter proposes a new routing algorithm that allows communication in vehicular ad hoc networks. In vehicular ad hoc networks, the transmitter node cannot determine the immediate future position of the receiving node beforehand. Furthermore, rapid topological changes and limited bandwidth compound the difficulties nodes experience when attempting to exchange position information. The authors first validate their algorithm in a small-scale network with test bed results. Then, for large-scale networks, they compare their protocol with the models of two prominent reactive routing algorithms: Ad-Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector and Dynamic Source Routing on a multi-lane circular dual motorway, representative of motorway driving. Then the authors compare their algorithm with motorway vehicular mobility, a location-based routing algorithm, on a multi-lane circular motorway. This chapter then provides motorway vehicular mobility results of a microscopic traffic model developed in OPNET, which the authors use to evaluate the performance of each protocol in terms of: Route Discovery Time, End to End Delay, Routing Overhead, Overhead, Routing Load, and Delivery Ratio.
Integrating Traffic Flow Features to Characterize the Interference in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Du Lili , Ukkusuri Satish , Kalyanaraman Shivkumar
Published: May 2010

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) are composed of vehicles equipped with advanced wireless communication devices. As a paradigm of decentralized advanced traveler information systems (ATIS), VANETs have obtained interests of researchers in both communication and transportation fields. The research in this chapter investigates several fundamental issues, such as the connectivity, the reachability, the interference, and the capacity, with respect to information propagation in VANETs. The authors’ work is distinguished with previous efforts, since they incorporate the characteristics of traffic into these issues in the communication layer of VANETs; this mainly addresses the issue of the interference. Previous efforts to solve this problem only consider static network topologies. However, high node mobility and dynamic traffic features make the interference problem in VANETs quite different. To investigate this problem, this chapter first demonstrates the interference features in VANETs incorporating realistic traffic flow features based on a validated simulation model. Then, analytical expressions are developed to evaluate the interference under different traffic flow conditions. These analytical expressions are validated within the simulation framework. The results show that the analytical expressions perform very well to capture the interference in VANETs. The results from this work can facilitate the development of better algorithms for maximizing throughput in the VANETs.
The Localisation Problem in Cooperative Vehicle Applications
Authors: Ibañez-Guzmán Javier
Published: May 2010

The next paradigm towards enhancing vehicle safety and road transportation represent cooperative systems. Advances in computer and communications technologies are facilitating the establishment of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) wireless communications links. This enables the sharing and aggregation of information which results in an extension of the driver awareness horizon in an electronic manner. In this chapter, V2V and V2I applications are considered as a spatio-temporal problem. The tenet is that sharing information can be made only if this is time stamped and related to a spatial description of the information sources. The chapter formulates the spatio-temporal problem having as constraint the precision of the pose estimates of the vehicles involved. It regards the localisation problem and accuracy of digital road maps as a combined issue that needs to be addressed for the successful deployment of cooperative vehicle applications. Two case studies, intersection safely and an overtaking manoeuvre are included. Recommendations on the precision limits of the vehicle pose estimations and the potential uncertainties that need to be considered when designing V2V and V2I applications complete the chapter.
Simulation of VANET Applications
Authors: Cristea Valentin , Gradinescu Victor , Gorgorin Cristian , Diaconescu Raluca , Iftode Liviu
Published: May 2010

This chapter systematically presents actual issues regarding the simulation of VANET applications. Some of them refer to challenges in developing VANET simulators. The chapter discusses simulator architectures, models used for representing the communication among vehicles, vehicles mobility features, and simulation tool implementation methods. A critical analysis of the solutions adopted in some well-known actual simulators is also included. Other issues relate to the use of simulation in the evaluation of applications that aim at improving the traffic safety and control. Representative city and highway application scenarios are discussed, and results that can be obtained by simulation, along with ways these results can be exploited by VANET developers and users are highlighted. Future trends in the development of simulators that produce more accurate results and their use for the evaluation of more sophisticated traffic control solutions are also included.
In-Vehicle Network Architecture for the Next-Generation Vehicles
Authors: Mahmud Syed Masud
Published: May 2010

New types of communication networks will be necessary to meet various consumer and regulatory demands as well as satisfy requirements of safety and fuel efficiency. Various functionalities of vehicles will require various types of communication networks and networking protocols. For example, driveby- wire and active safety features will require fault tolerant networks with time-triggered protocols to guarantee deterministic latencies. Multimedia systems will require high-bandwidth networks for video transfer, and body electronics need low-bandwidth networks to keep the cost down. As the size and complexity of the network grows, the ease of integration, maintenance and troubleshooting has become a major challenge. To facilitate integration and troubleshooting of various nodes and networks, it would be desirable that networks of future vehicles should be partitioned, and the partitions should be interconnected by a hierarchical or multi-layer physical network. This book chapter describes a number of ways using which the networks of future vehicles could be designed and implemented in a cost-effective manner. The book chapter also shows how simulation models can be developed to evaluate the performance of various types of in-vehicle network topologies and select the most appropriate topology for given requirements and specifications.
Television Content Enrichment and Sharing
Authors: Bulterman Dick C.A. , Cesar Pablo , Jansen Jack , Guimarães Rodrigo Laiola
Published: May 2010

This chapter reports on the Ambulant Annotator, a middleware extension for Personal Digital Recorders (PDR), in the form of a lightweight authoring tool, which allows the viewer to personalize television content and share it with others. Traditionally, social interactive television research has focused on the provision of synchronous communication mechanisms between distributed peers in the form of direct communication channels (text or audio chats) or distributed control (joint television watching experience). This chapter considers a broader approach that enhances the connectedness between users by providing video sharing capabilities. The Ambulant Annotator empowers viewer-side enrichment of multimedia content in the form of video fragmentation, fragments annotation and enrichment. Once the user has created his personalized enriched version of the video content, the Ambulant Annotator provides mechanisms to share it with his social network by using asynchronous communication technologies. The video manipulation mechanisms presented in this chapter does not modify the original video material, but are encoded as separate overlays in such a way that Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions on content reuse are respected.
Watching in Public
Authors: O’Hara Kenton , Glancy Maxine
Published: May 2010

In this chapter the authors present a field study of BBC Big Screens Public Space Broadcasting initiative. Under this initiative, large screens have been installed in several urban locations across the United Kingdom and used to screen a range of television content and interactive applications. The chapter discusses a number of different findings and themes. These include different types of screen use such as viewing of standard television content, event-based use of the screens and interactive use of the screen. The chapter then goes on to discuss the content in relationship to its placement in a particular local context. Following this, the chapter looks at how architectural features shape the way the screens are used and impact on audience behaviour. Finally the authors explore issues of health and safety that impact on content choice and pragmatics of scheduling.
Avian kleptoparasitism of the digger wasp Sphex pensylvanicus
Authors: Benttinen Justin , Preisser Evan
Published: May 2010

Kleptoparasitism (one organism stealing prey from another) is especially common in birds. Avian kleptoparasites should be especially likely to target insects such as digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) that occur in large aggregations and repeatedly deliver large prey to the same nesting site. We document kleptoparasitism of digger wasps (Sphex pensylvanicus L.) by sparrows (Passer domesticus (L.)) and catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis (L.)). During summer 2008, we observed 697 wasp provisioning attempts (return of a prey-laden wasp to a marked nesting site) in a mown field. One-third (244/697) of attempts were intercepted by birds, primarily sparrows, which increased their hourly total number and hourly number of successful attacks per capita. Wasps maintained a consistent rate of successful provisioning attempts but may not have been able to do so indefinitely. Energetic costs related to kleptoparasitism may exert strong selection pressures on affected digger wasps.
Host selection and reproductive performance of Phloeosinus bicolor (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in indigenous and exotic Cupressus in Tunisia
Authors: Belhabib Raoudha , Lieutier François , Jamaa Mohamed Lahbib Ben , Nouira Said
Published: May 2010

Host preferences and reproductive performance of the juniper bark beetle, Phloeosinus bicolor (Brulle), on logs from different parts of the bole of indigenous Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae) and exotic C. arizonica Greene and C. sempervirens var. atlantica (Gaussen) Silba were experimentally studied in the field and laboratory in Tunisia. Attack densities were around 1/dm2 in the field, fecundity was 10 – 25 eggs per female’s gallery, with a sex ratio close to 1. There was no effect of cypress taxon or log category on host selection or attack parameters (attack density, density of systems, density of galleries, rate of successful attacks), although values for C. sempervirens tended to be higher than those for C. arizonica. Reproductive performance (gallery length and fecundity) was highest in C. arizonica and lowest in C. sempervirens var. atlantica, with C. sempervirens in an intermediate position; egg densities did not differ. Gallery length and fecundity showed a significant linear correlation but were lower in C. sempervirens var. atlantica than in the other two taxa. Thus there seems to be no relationship between host preference and host suitability in P. bicolor: its ability to choose and oviposit in various cypress taxa fits with its polyphagous status.
Parasitism of a successful weed biological control agent, Neogalerucella calmariensis
Authors: Norman Kathryn , Cappuccino Naomi , Forbes Mark R.
Published: May 2010

We investigated parasitism of the purple loosestrife beetle, Neogalerucella calmariensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced weed biological control agent, at 13 sites in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, Canada. Beetles were parasitized by gregarine gut protozoans (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) and much less commonly by nematodes (Nematoda: probably Mermithidae) and ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Erythraeidae). Female beetles had more gregarines than did males and the gregarine load was marginally higher in individuals from the original release sites than in individuals from recently colonized sites. Despite its overall success as a biological control agent, N. calmariensis harbours a substantial parasite load.
The Optimal Antigen Response of Chimeric Antigen Receptors Harboring the CD3ζ Transmembrane Domain Is Dependent upon Incorporation of the Receptor into the Endogenous TCR/CD3 Complex
Authors: Bridgeman John S. , Hawkins Robert E. , Bagley Steve , Blaylock Morgan , Holland Mark , Gilham David E.
Published: May 2010

Chimeric Ag receptors (CARs) expressed in T cells permit the redirected lysis of tumor cells in an MHC-unrestricted manner. In the Jurkat T cell model system, expression of a carcinoembryonic Ag-specific CD3ζ CAR (MFEζ) resulted in an increased sensitivity of the transduced Jurkat cell to generate cytokines when stimulated through the endogenous TCR complex. This effect was driven through two key characteristics of the MFEζ CAR: 1) receptor dimerization and 2) the interaction of the CAR with the endogenous TCR complex. Mutations of the CAR transmembrane domain that abrogated these interactions resulted in a reduced functional capacity of the MFEζ CAR to respond to carcinoembryonic Ag protein Ag. Taken together, these results indicate that CARs containing the CD3ζ transmembrane domain can form a complex with the endogenous TCR that may be beneficial for optimal T cell activation. This observation has potential implications for the future design of CARs for cancer therapy.
Small RNAs Guide Hematopoietic Cell Differentiation and Function
Authors: Navarro Francisco , Lieberman Judy
Published: May 2010

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression that help direct normal differentiation and malignant transformation of hematopoietic cells. This review summarizes our current knowledge of how miRNAs function in normal and malignant hematopoiesis and how miRNAs might be applied for disease treatment.
Transcription-Dependent Mobilization of Nucleosomes at Accessible TCR Gene Segments In Vivo
Authors: Kondilis-Mangum Hrisavgi D. , Cobb Robin Milley , Osipovich Oleg , Srivatsan Sruti , Oltz Eugene M. , Krangel Michael S.
Published: May 2010

Accessibility of chromosomal recombination signal sequences to the RAG protein complex is known to be essential for V(D)J recombination at Ag receptor loci in vivo. Previous studies have addressed the roles of cis-acting regulatory elements and germline transcription in the covalent modification of nucleosomes at Ag receptor loci. However, a detailed picture of nucleosome organization at accessible and inaccessible recombination signal sequences has been lacking. In this study, we have analyzed the nucleosome organization of accessible and inaccessible Tcrb and Tcra alleles in primary murine thymocytes in vivo. We identified highly positioned arrays of nucleosomes at Dβ, Jβ, and Jα segments and obtained evidence indicating that positioning is established at least in part by the regional DNA sequence. However, we found no consistent positioning of nucleosomes with respect to recombination signal sequences, which could be nucleosomal or internucleosomal even in their inaccessible configurations. Enhancer- and promoter-dependent accessibility was characterized by diminished abundance of certain nucleosomes and repositioning of others. Moreover, some changes in nucleosome positioning and abundance at Jα61 were shown to be a direct consequence of germline transcription. We suggest that enhancer- and promoter-dependent transcription generates optimal recombinase substrates in which some nucleosomes are missing and others are covalently modified.
Human β-Defensin 2 and 3 and Their Mouse Orthologs Induce Chemotaxis through Interaction with CCR2
Authors: Röhrl Johann , Yang De , Oppenheim Joost J. , Hehlgans Thomas
Published: May 2010

β-defensins play a dual role during immune response. Their direct antimicrobial properties contribute to the local innate immune response by combating microbial invasions. Furthermore, previous studies revealed the capacity of certain β-defensin family members to chemoattract immature dendritic cells and CD45RO+ CD4+ T cells through chemokine receptor CCR6. However, because β-defensins also chemoattract macrophages and monocytes, which do not express CCR6, efforts have been made to identify other receptors for these polypeptides. In this study, we demonstrate the capacity of human β-defensin (hBD)2 and 3 and their mouse orthologs, β-defensin 4 and 14, to interact with CCR2, a chemokine receptor expressed on monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. These β-defensins, fused to the Fc region of human IgG1, showed binding to CCR2-transfected HEK293 cells, as revealed by flow cytometry. The β-defensin fusion proteins also induced CCR2-specific chemotaxis of transfected HEK293 cells, human peripheral blood monocytes, and mouse peritoneal exudate cells in a dose-dependent manner. Preincubation of human monocytes with CCL2/MCP-1, the chemokine ligand for CCR2, abolished migration induced by β-defensins. Conversely, preincubation with hBD2:Ig or hBD3:Ig inhibited MCP-1 induced migration. Peritoneal exudate cells from CCR2-deficient mice failed to migrate toward these fusion proteins. In conclusion, the β-defensins used in this study contribute to the innate and adaptive immune response in their role as chemoattractants. Our data indicate that hBD2 and hBD3, together with their mouse orthologs (β-defensin 4 and 14), are chemotactic for a broad spectrum of leukocytes in a CCR6- and CCR2-dependent manner.
Phagocytosis and Phagosome Acidification Are Required for Pathogen Processing and MyD88-Dependent Responses to Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Ip W. K. Eddie , Sokolovska Anna , Charriere Guillaume M. , Boyer Laurent , Dejardin Stephanie , Cappillino Michael P. , Yantosca L. Michael , Takahashi Kazue , Moore Kathryn J. , Lacy-Hulbert Adam , Stuart Lynda M.
Published: May 2010

Innate immunity is vital for protection from microbes and is mediated by humoral effectors, such as cytokines, and cellular immune defenses, including phagocytic cells (e.g., macrophages). After internalization by phagocytes, microbes are delivered into a phagosome, a complex intracellular organelle with a well-established and important role in microbial killing. However, the role of this organelle in cytokine responses and microbial sensing is less well defined. In this study, we assess the role of the phagosome in innate immune sensing and demonstrate the critical interdependence of phagocytosis and pattern recognition receptor signaling during response to the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. We show that phagocytosis is essential to initiate an optimal MyD88-dependent response to Staphylococcus aureus. Prior to TLR-dependent cytokine production, bacteria must be engulfed and delivered into acidic phagosomes where acid-activated host enzymes digest the internalized bacteria to liberate otherwise cryptic bacterial-derived ligands that initiate responses from the vacuole. Importantly, in macrophages in which phagosome acidification is perturbed, the impaired response to S. aureus can be rescued by the addition of lysostaphin, a bacterial endopeptidase active at neutral pH that can substitute for the acid-activated host enzymes. Together, these observations delineate the interdependence of phagocytosis with pattern recognition receptor signaling and suggest that therapeutics to augment functions and signaling from the vacuole may be useful strategies to increase host responses to S. aureus.
Differential Roles of IL-2–Inducible T Cell Kinase-Mediated TCR Signals in Tissue-Specific Localization and Maintenance of Skin Intraepithelial T Cells
Authors: Xia Mingcan , Qi Qian , Jin Yan , Wiest David L. , August Avery , Xiong Na
Published: May 2010

Tissue-specific innate-like γδ T cells are important components of the immune system critical for the first line of defense, but mechanisms underlying their tissue-specific development are poorly understood. Our study with prototypical skin-specific intraepithelial γδT lymphocytes (sIELs) found that among different thymic γδ T cell subsets fetal thymic precursors of sIELs specifically acquire a unique skin-homing property after positive selection, suggesting an important role of the TCR selection signaling in “programming” them for tissue-specific development. In this study, we identified IL-2–inducible T cell kinase (ITK) as a critical signal molecule regulating the acquirement of the skin-homing property by the fetal thymic sIEL precursors. In ITK knockout mice, the sIEL precursors could not undergo positive selection-associated upregulation of thymus-exiting and skin-homing molecules sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 and CCR10 and accumulated in the thymus. However, the survival and expansion of sIELs in the skin did not require ITK-transduced TCR signaling, whereas its persistent activation impaired sIEL development by inducing apoptosis. These findings provide insights into molecular mechanisms underlying differential requirements of TCR signaling in peripheral localization and maintenance of the tissue-specific T cells.
5-Androstenediol Ameliorates Pleurisy, Septic Shock, and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice
Authors: Nicoletti Ferdinando , Auci Dominick L. , Mangano Katia , Flores-Riveros Jaime , Villegas Sonia , Frincke James M. , Reading Christopher L. , Offner Halina
Published: May 2010

Androstenediol (androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol; 5-AED), a natural adrenal steroid, has been shown to suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in female SJL/J mice. We here report that 5-AED limits inflammation and proinflammatory cytokines including TNFαin murine models of carrageenan-induced pleurisy and lippopolysaccaride- (LPS) induced septic shock. 5-AED binds to and transactivates sex steroid receptors with the same general rank order of potency (ERβ > ERα ≫ AR). 5-AED provides benefit in EAE in a dose-dependent fashion, even when treatment is delayed until onset of disease. The minimally effective dose may be as low as 4 mg/kg in mice. However, benefit was not observed when 5-AED was given in soluble formulation, leading to a short half-life and rapid clearance. These observations suggest that treatment with 5-AED limits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in these animal models and, ultimately, when formulated and administered properly, may be beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis and other Th1-driven autoimmune diseases.
Cystic hemangioblastoma of the brainstem
Authors: Agrawal Amit , Kakani Anand , Vagh Sunita J , Hiwale Kishore M , Kolte Gaurav
Published: May 2010

Hemangioblastomas are very highly vascular neoplasm with benign characteristics and; in comparison to cerebellar hemangioblastoma; cases of cystic hemangioblastoma of the brain stem are rare with only a few case reports available in the literature. We report the case of a 43-year-old-female with cystic hemagioblastoma of the brainstem managed successfully and review the relevant literature.
Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage as initial presentation of dural sinus thrombosis
Authors: Sharma Shriram , sharma Nalini , Yeolekar M. E.
Published: May 2010

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the older is most often due to aneurismal rupture. Other vascular lesions are known to rarely cause SAH. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) can be diffi cult to diagnose because of its wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Its diagnosis can be further complicated when patients initially present with acute SAH. We report a case of dural venous sinus thrombosis with SAH, most probably, due to raised venous pressure draining venous tributaries. A 59-year-old man presented with severe headache. Computerized tomography (CT) scan head was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested right parasagittal fronto-parietal hemorrhage. No aneurysm was detected on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). MRV revealed superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and lateral sinus thrombosis. DSA showed occlusion of intracranial SSS and lateral venous sinus. The patient improved with anticoagulant therapy. This case highlights the fact that SAH may reveal a CVT, and emphasizes on the inclusion of MRV in the diagnostic workup of SAH, particularly in cases in which aneurysm is not detected.
Management of pregnant female with meningioma for craniotomy
Authors: Sahu Sandeep , Lata Indu , Gupta Devendra
Published: May 2010

Intracranial meningioma during pregnancy challenges the skill of obstetricians, neurosurgeons and neuroanesthesiologists in resection of the tumor and to secure delivery of the baby. Advances in fetal and maternal monitoring, neuroanesthesia, and microsurgical techniques allow safe neurosurgical management of these patients. Urgent neurosurgical intervention is reserved for the management of malignancies, active hydrocephalus, and benign brain tumors associated with signs of impending herniation or progressive neurological defi cit. Particular attention is given to maintain stable maternal hemodynamics to avoid uterine hypo perfusion and fetal hypoxia intraoperatively. Therefore, the major challenge of neuroanesthesia during pregnancy is to provide an appropriate balance between competing, and even contradictory, clinical goals of neuroanesthesiology and obstetric practice.
Drug interaction as cause of spontaneously resolving epidural spinal hematoma on warfarin therapy
Authors: Sagar Amitabh , Hassan KM
Published: May 2010

We present a case of a 42-year-old male, an old case of deep vein thrombosis on warfarin and other drugs like quetiapine, aspirin, diclofenac sodium, fenofi brate, atorvastatin, propanolol and citalopram for concurrent illnesses, who presented with widespread mucocutaneous bleeding and epidural spinal hematoma. The epidural bleed presented clinically as a nontraumatic, rapidly improving myeloradiculopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine revealed an epidural hematoma at D12-L1 level. The case was managed conservatively due lack of neurosurgical facilities. The patient gained full neurological recovery on conservative management alone. This case highlights the problem of drug interaction on warfarin therapy and also an unusual spontaneous recovery of spinal hematoma. Our case was anticoagulated in the recommended therapeutic INR range of 2.2 to 2.4. Most of the similar cases reported in literature were also anticoagulated in the therapeutic range. Thus intraspinal hemorrhage is a rare but dangerous complication of anticoagulant therapy. It must be suspected in any patient on anticoagulant agents who complains of local or referred spinal pain associated with neurological defi cits. Drug interactions with warfarin are common. High suspicion and immediate intervention are essential to prevent complications from intraspinal hemorrhage.
Communication between radial nerve and medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
Authors: Yogesh S. , Marathe RR , Mankar SR , Joshi M , Sontakke YA
Published: May 2010

Radial nerve is usually a branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. It innervates triceps, anconeous, brachialis, brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus muscles and gives the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm, lower lateral cutaneous nerve of arm, posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm; without exhibiting any communication with the medial cutaneous nerve of forearm or any other nerve. We report communication between the radial nerve and medial cutaneous nerve of forearm on the left side in a 58-year-old male cadaver. The right sided structures were found to be normal. Neurosurgeons should keep such variations in mind while performing the surgeries of axilla and upper arm.
Unilateral variant motor innervations of flexure muscles of arm
Authors: Yogesh A S , Joshi M , Chimurkar V K , Marathe R R
Published: May 2010

The musculocutaneous nerve usually branches out from the lateral cord of brachial plexus. It innervates the corcobrachialis, biceps brachii and brachialis muscles and continues as the lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm without exhibiting any communication with the median nerve or any other nerve. We report unilateral variation in motor innervations of the left arm in a 58-year-old male cadaver. The musculocutaneous nerve was found to be absent. A muscular branch of the median nerve was supplying the coracobrachialis muscle. In the middle of arm, the median nerve was found to be branching out, bifurcating and supplying the long and short head of biceps. The median nerve was found to be giving a separate branch, which supplied the brachialis muscle and continued as the lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm. The right sided structures were found to be normal. Surgeons should keep such variations in mind while performing arm surgeries.
Competition between crustacean zooplankton in continuous cultures
Authors: Schulze Peter C. , Zagarese Horacio E. , Williamson Craig E.
Published: May 2010

It has been proposed that cases of diaptomid dominance in oligotrophic lakes are due to lower food requirements for Diaptomus species than Daphnia species. We test this hypothesis by competing Daphnia pulicaria and Diaptomus oregonensis populations in continuous and semicontinuous cultures.

The threshold food concentrations for population growth of D. pulicaria and D. oregonensis were statistically indistinguishable. The thresholds of both species were within the range of concentrations characteristic of ultraoligotrophic lakes. The dominant species varied across experiments in a pattern consistent with an effect of temporal variation in food concentration. Neither our data nor previously published studies provide support for the hypothesis that cases of Diaptomus dominance in oligotrophic lakes are due to a simple difference in threshold food concentrations.
Multiscale variability in bacterioplankton abundance, production, and specific growth rate in a temperate salt‐marsh tidal creek
Authors: Shiah Fuh‐Kwo , Ducklow Hugh W.
Published: May 2010

Heterotrophic bacterioplankton abundance, production, and specific growth rate in a salt‐marsh tidal creek were measured weekly from April 1991 to September 1992. During the same period, tidal and diel sampling studies were performed in May, June, and October 1991 and May and August 1992. Seasonal variability of bacterial abundance, production, and specific growth rate was regulated by temperature during nonsummer seasons when temperature was <20°C. During summer, bacterial variables were not limited by temperature. Daily variability of bacterial abundance, production, and specific growth rate was regulated interactively by tidal mixing, substrate supply, and temperature over several tidal cycles. Higher bacterial abundance, production, and specific growth rate observed at low tide indicated that bacterial growth rate in the tidal creek was higher than in the adjacent river waters. This pattern might be due to larger nutrient fluxes originating in the tidal creek. Occasionally, the tidal effect was overridden by temperature during study periods when temperature changed dramatically over several tidal cycles. Bacterial diel patterns in production and specific growth rate in the tidal creek occurred only when day‐night temperature differences exceeded 10°C, with maximal values during daytime. Short‐term temperature manipulation experiments suggested that diel patterns in bacterial production and specific growth rate were probably caused by temperature, not light intensity. Thus, temperature regulated both seasonal and diel variations in bacterial production.
Molecular and isotopic tracers used to examine sources of organic matter and its incorporation into the food webs of San Francisco Bay
Authors: Canuel Elizabeth A. , Cloern James E. , Ringelberg David B. , Guckert James B. , Rau Greg H.
Published: May 2010

Multiple indicators (Chl a, C: N ratios, [δ13C]POC, and two classes of lipid biomarker compounds—sterols and phospholipid ester‐linked fatty acids) were used to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in the origin of particulate organic matter (POM) in the San Francisco Bay (SFB) estuary. Comparisons were made between the northern and southern subestuaries of SFB, as well as along the salinity gradient of northern SFB. Two sample types were collected—seston, which was used to characterize the bulk POM, and tissues of the suspension‐feeding bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis—in order to evaluate the assimilable portion of the POM. Samples were collected around biological and physical events (phytoplankton blooms and freshwater inflow) thought to be the primary mechanisms controlling temporal variability in organic matter sources. Seston samples indicate that phytoplankton sources of POM are important throughout the entire SFB system, with additional inputs of organic matter from bacterial and terrestrial vascular plant sources delivered to the northern region. Analysis of biomarker compounds in P. amurensis tissues indicates that phytoplankton supply a large fraction of the assimilable carbon to clams throughout SFB, although isotopic analysis of clam tissues suggests that the origin of this reactive carbon varies spatially and that freshwater algae are an important source of reactive organic matter to clams living in northern SFB.
Experimental evidence of passive accumulation of marine bivalve larvae on filamentous epibenthic structures
Authors: Harvey Michel , Bourget Edwin , Ingram R. Grant
Published: May 2010

A series of multifactorial experiments were carried out, in the field and in a flume, to test the hypothesis that early recruitment of semimobile bivalve spat on an epibenthic filamentous substratum is directly related to the heterogeneity (branching pattern) and the diameter of their individual branches or filaments and to evaluate the likelihood that passive settlement processes influence bivalve larval early recruitment on filamentous natural epibenthic substrata. The experiments were carried out with three‐dimensional plastic structures similar in shape to hydroids and filamentous benthic algae—the preferred larval settlement substrata of several bivalve species in the field. Field experiments showed a highly significant effect for both branch heterogeneity and diameter. The 3‐D structures collecting the highest number of spat per unit area were those offering smallest diameter and heterogeneity. Flume experiments that used inert particles and the same silicone‐coated, 3‐D structures reproduced early recruitment abundance patterns observed on heterogeneous structures in the field. Comparison of results from the field to those from the laboratory suggests that passive settlement processes are sufficient to explain early recruitment patterns of some bivalve species on scales of order 10 cm, although alternative, biological hypotheses were not tested in this study.
Simulation of dissolved oxygen profiles in a transparent, dimictic lake
Authors: Stefan Heinz G. , Fang Xing , Wright David , Eaton John G. , McCormick J. Howard
Published: May 2010

Thrush Lake is a small, highly transparent lake in northeastern Minnesota. From 1986 to 1991, vertical profiles of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a concentration, underwater light irradiance, and Secchi depths were measured at monthly intervals during the ice‐free period. Average Secchi depth was 7.5 m. Metalimnetic oxygen maxima were observed every summer. The oxygen peaks were related to Chl a distribution and water transparency. A deterministic one‐dimensional model was developed to simulate vertical dissolved oxygen (D.O.) profiles on a daily time scale throughout the open‐water season. The model includes oxygen production by photosynthesis and surface reaeration as well as oxygen consumption by plant respiration and biochemical and sedimentary oxygen demand. The measurements suggest that the model must use different Chl a and sedimentary oxygen demand values in the surface mixed layer and below the surface mixed layer in conjunction with high transparency to obtain a metalimnetic oxygen maximum. Measured Chl a values are specified as input to the D.O. model. The model reproduces measured D.O. distributions with a standard error of 1.4 mg liter−1 and shows the observed metalimnetic oxygen maxima. Model output changes only slightly with starting date of simulation and initial D.O. values. Simulated water temperature and D.O. distributions in the lake, especially the surface mixed‐layer depth and the metalimnetic oxygen maxima, are sensitive to changes in water transparency.
Regulation of copper concentration in the oceanic nutricline by phytoplankton uptake and regeneration cycles
Authors: Sunda William G. , Huntsman Susan A.
Published: May 2010

Similar sigmoidal relationships were observed between cellular Cu: C ratios and free cupric ion concentration for the neritic alga Thalassiosira pseudonana and two oceanic species (Thalassiosira oceanica and Emiliania huxleyi) grown in trace metal ion buffered media. Only 5–9‐fold variations in cell Cu: C were observed for these species over the [Cu2+] range 3 × 10−15 to 3 × 10−12 M, with increasing cell copper vs. [Cu2+] slopes above and below this range. At the mean [Cu2+] for the euphotic zone of the North Pacific (10−13.2 M), cell Cu: C ratios for the three species were 4.4, 4.4, and 3.8 µmol mol−1, similar to values for plankton taken from North Pacific waters. These values also match the mean Cu: C ratio of 4.1 µmol mol−1 determined from slopes of linear relationships between Cu and PO4 in the nutricline of the central North Pacific and the “Redfield” C : PO4 ratio in plankton of 106 : 1. This agreement provides strong evidence that copper concentrations in remote oceanic nutriclines are regulated by phytoplankton uptake and regeneration processes.