bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
British pharmacy professionals' beliefs and participation in continuing professional development: a review of the literature
Authors: Donyai Parastou , Herbert Rebecca Z , Denicolo Pam M , Alexander Angela M
Published: August 2011

Objectives

Continuing professional development (CPD) has potential to be useful in pharmacy revalidation but past uptake and attitudes to CPD in Great Britain (GB) need to be mapped. This review examines published literature to chart the participation and beliefs of pharmacy professionals towards CPD in GB in a decade that had seen a formal transition from continuing education to CPD.

Methods

A comprehensive review of the published literature was conducted to identify studies of the uptake of, or attitudes towards, CPD cross different sectors of pharmacy in GB from 2000 to 2010.

Key findings

Twenty-two studies were included and analysed, including 13 research papers, six conference papers, two news items reporting survey outcomes and one commissioned study. Eight barriers to CPD were identified as: time, financial costs and resource issues, understanding of CPD, facilitation and support for CPD, motivation and interest in CPD, attitudes towards compulsory CPD, system constraints, and technical problems. Pharmacy professionals on the whole agreed with the principle of engaging with CPD but there was little evidence to suggest widespread and wholehearted acceptance and uptake of CPD, essential for revalidation.

Conclusions

If CPD is to succeed, people's beliefs and attitudes must be addressed by recognising and modifying perceived barriers through a combination of regulatory, professional, work-related and personal channels. A number of recommendations are made. Direct experience of effective CPD in the absence of perceived barriers could impact on personal development, career development and patient benefit thus strengthening personal beliefs in the value of CPD in an iterative manner.
Longitudinal study of low and high achievers in early mathematics
Authors: Navarro Jose I. , Aguilar Manuel , Marchena Esperanza , Ruiz Gonzalo , Menacho Inmaculada , Van Luit Johannes E. H.
Published: August 2011

Background. Longitudinal studies allow us to identify, which specific maths skills are weak in young children, and whether there is a continuing weakness in these areas throughout their school years.

Aims. This 2‐year study investigated whether certain socio‐demographic variables affect early mathematical competency in children aged 5–7 years.

Sample. A randomly selected sample of 127 students (64 female; 63 male) participated. At the start of the study, the students were approximately 5 years old (M= 5.2; SD= 0.28; range = 4.5–5.8).

Method. The students were assessed using the Early Numeracy Test and then allocated to a high (n= 26), middle (n= 76), or low (n= 25) achievers group. The same children were assessed again with the Early Numeracy Test at 6 and 7 years old, respectively. Eight socio‐demographic characteristics were also evaluated: family model, education of the parent(s), job of the parent(s), number of family members, birth order, number of computers at home, frequency of teacher visits, and hours watching television.

Results. Early Numeracy Test scores were more consistent for the high‐achievers group than for the low‐achievers group. Approximately 5.5% of low achievers obtained low scores throughout the study. A link between specific socio‐demographic characteristics and early achievement in mathematics was only found for number of computers at home.

Conclusions. The level of mathematical ability among students aged 5–7 years remains relatively stable regardless of the initial level of achievement. However, early screening for mathematics learning disabilities could be useful in helping low‐achieving students overcome learning obstacles.
Changes of SERCA activity have only modest effects on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content in rat ventricular myocytes
Authors: Bode E. F. , Briston S. J. , Overend C. L. , O’Neill S. C. , Trafford A. W. , Eisner D. A.
Published: August 2011

Non‐Technical Summary  Cardiac contraction is caused by an increase of calcium (Ca2+) concentration in the cells of the heart, the so‐called ‘systolic Ca2+ transient’. The majority of this Ca2+ is provided by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which acts as a Ca2+ store within the cell itself. Before the heart can contract again the Ca2+ store needs to be replenished and so Ca2+ is pumped back into the SR by the sarco‐endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA). We show that a given fractional decrease of SERCA activity produces a much smaller decrease of SR Ca2+ content. This means that changes of SERCA activity can produce large changes of systolic Ca2+ without the need for energetically expensive alterations of SR Ca2+ content.
In vivo passive mechanical behaviour of muscle fascicles and tendons in human gastrocnemius muscle–tendon units
Authors: Herbert Robert D. , Clarke Jillian , Kwah Li Khim , Diong Joanna , Martin Josh , Clarke Elizabeth C. , Bilston Lynne E. , Gandevia Simon C.
Published: August 2011

Non‐Technical Summary  Relaxed skeletal muscles behave like springs that resist joint motion. There have been few in vivo studies of the spring‐like properties of relaxed muscles. In this study, ultrasound was used to image human calf muscles while muscle length was changed by rotating the ankle of relaxed subjects. The muscles of some subjects buckled at short lengths. At short lengths most muscle fascicles (bundles of muscle cells) are slack. As the muscle is lengthened the slack is progressively taken up, first in some fascicles then in others. The increase in muscle length is due partly to increases in the length of muscle fascicles but most of the increase in muscle length occurs in the tendons.
Biophysical properties and functional consequences of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐induced ROS release in intact myocardium
Authors: Biary Nora , Xie Chaoqin , Kauffman Justin , Akar Fadi G.
Published: August 2011

Non‐Technical Summary  Oxidative stress is a hallmark of various cardiovascular disorders that results in cellular dysfunction and death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐induced ROS release (RIRR) is a fundamental mechanism which amplifies ROS levels within the cardiomyocyte resulting in cellular oxidative stress. Despite elegant studies describing the phenomenon of RIRR in isolated myocytes, its biophysical properties and functional consequences in intact myocardium remain unclear. Here, we use ROS imaging to extend the concept of RIRR to the level of the intact heart. We establish regenerative superoxide production as the mediator of RIRR‐related arrhythmias and reveal their strong dependence on a key mitochondrial channel, known as the inner membrane anion channel (IMAC). We demonstrate the efficacy of suppressing RIRR and related arrhythmias either by pharmacologically blocking IMAC or scavenging ROS using a synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetic.
Experimental Methodology Using Digital Image Correlation to Assess Ballistic Helmet Blunt Trauma
Authors: Hisley Dixie M. , Gurganus James C. , Drysdale Andrew W.
Published: August 2011

As modern helmets have become quite capable of defeating the penetration capabilities of ballistic threats, Soldiers may experience head injuries due to blunt trauma caused by helmet back face deformation (BFD). Possible resulting injuries include skull fracture, hematoma, concussion, contusion, diffuse axonal injury, etc. Some of these injuries have been associated with traumatic brain injury. In order to assess potential injury mechanisms prior to fielding new helmets, we have developed a means to experimentally replicate and measure helmet BFD that can be correlated to injury criteria. In this study, helmet performance test methodology is developed using a digital image correlation (DIC) technique. DIC provides the capability to measure dynamic displacements, thereby providing the ability to calculate deformation, velocity, and acceleration rates. We have shown that digital image correlation is an experimentation technique that accurately captures BFD area and rate of deformation for impacts against combat helmets. We used the DIC data to calculate a new metric; the available energy that could potentially impact a Soldier’s head. Our study shows that DIC data upholds the hypothesis that helmet BFD mechanically loads the skull similar to a direct impact from a less-than-lethal projectile or blunt object impact. The available energy obtained from DIC measurements was used to calculate the blunt criterion (BC) for helmet standoff distances of 12.7 mm (0.5 in) and 19.1 mm (0.75 in), which in turn can provide a prediction of the probability of abbreviated injury scale (AIS) levels and, in particular, skull fracture. DIC can be used to provide dynamic helmet performance data that will allow increased understanding of BFD and quantitative assessment and validation of helmet performance results. Knowledge of the conditions leading to head trauma obtained through DIC experimentation should enable the selection of new energy-absorbing materials for helmets; thus, allowing new helmet design candidate performances to be objectively evaluated. Test data and characterization of helmet response could then be used to achieve improved warfighter survivability.
A New Design of a Two-Stage Cycloidal Speed Reducer
Authors: Blagojevic Mirko , Marjanovic Nenad , Djordjevic Zorica , Stojanovic Blaza , Disic Aleksandar
Published: August 2011

A new design of a two-stage cycloidal speed reducer is presented in this paper. A traditional two-stage cycloidal speed reducer is obtained by the simple combination of single-stage cycloidal speed reducers. A single-stage reducer engages two identical cycloid discs in order to balance dynamical loads and to obtain uniform load distribution. Consequently, the traditional two-stage reducer has four cycloid discs, in total. The newly designed two-stage cycloidal speed reducer, presented in this paper, has one cycloid disc for each stage, that is, two cycloid discs in total, which means that it is rather compact. Due to its specific concept, this reducer is characterized by good load distribution and dynamic balance, and this is described in the paper. Stress state analysis of cycloidal speed reducer elements was also realized, using the finite elements method (FEM), for the most critical cases of conjugate gear action (one, two, or three pairs of teeth in contact). The results showed that cycloid discs are rather uniformly loaded, justifying the design solution presented here. Experimental analysis of the stress state for cycloid discs was realized, using the strain gauges method. It is easy to conclude, based on the obtained results, that even for the most critical case (one pair of teeth in contact) stresses on cycloid discs are in the allowed limits, thus providing normal functioning of the reducer for its anticipated lifetime.
Growth temperature control of the epitaxy, magnetism, and transport in SrTiO3(001)/La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 thin films
Authors: Sharma M. , Gazquez J. , Varela M. , Schmitt J. , Leighton C.
Published: August 2011

The authors report a detailed study of the influence of deposition temperature on the microstructure, phase purity, nanoscale chemical homogeneity, stoichiometry, and magnetic and electronic properties of epitaxial La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 thin films grown on SrTiO3(001) substrates via reactive dc magnetron sputtering. The results are interpreted in terms of the temperature-dependent interplay between crystallization, strain relaxation, and cation mobility (which improve with increasing deposition temperature), and oxygenation (which deteriorates at the highest deposition temperatures). In addition to the established approach to epitaxial sputter deposition based on high temperature deposition combined with subsequent ex situ annealing in O2, our results also identify a narrow deposition temperature window ∼600–625 °C, where single phase, highly crystalline, low surface roughness epitaxial films can be obtained with close to ideal stoichiometry without postdeposition annealing. Electronic and magnetic properties similar to bulk single crystals can be obtained in this region.
Noise reduction in spectral CT: Reducing dose and breaking the trade‐off between image noise and energy bin selection
Authors: Leng Shuai , Yu Lifeng , Wang Jia , Fletcher Joel G. , Mistretta Charles A. , McCollough Cynthia H.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

: Our purpose was to reduce image noise in spectral CT by exploiting data redundancies in the energy domain to allow flexible selection of the number, width, and location of the energy bins.

Methods

: Using a variety of spectral CT imaging methods, conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstructions were performed and resulting images were compared to those processed using a Local HighlY constrained backPRojection Reconstruction (HYPR‐LR) algorithm. The mean and standard deviation of CT numbers were measured within regions of interest (ROIs), and results were compared between FBP and HYPR‐LR. For these comparisons, the following spectral CT imaging methods were used:(i) numerical simulations based on a photon‐counting, detector‐based CT system, (ii) a photon‐counting, detector‐based micro CT system using rubidium and potassium chloride solutions, (iii) a commercial CT system equipped with integrating detectors utilizing tube potentials of 80, 100, 120, and 140 kV, and (iv) a clinical dual‐energy CT examination. The effects of tube energy and energy bin width were evaluated appropriate to each CT system.

Results

: The mean CT number in each ROI was unchanged between FBP and HYPR‐LR images for each of the spectral CT imaging scenarios, irrespective of bin width or tube potential. However, image noise, as represented by the standard deviation of CT numbers in each ROI, was reduced by 36%–76%. In all scenarios, image noise after HYPR‐LR algorithm was similar to that of composite images, which used all available photons. No difference in spatial resolution was observed between HYPR‐LR processing and FBP. Dual energy patient data processed using HYPR‐LR demonstrated reduced noise in the individual, low‐ and high‐energy images, as well as in the material‐specific basis images.

Conclusions

: Noise reduction can be accomplished for spectral CT by exploiting data redundancies in the energy domain. HYPR‐LR is a robust method for reducing image noise in a variety of spectral CT imaging systems without losing spatial resolution or CT number accuracy. This method improves the flexibility to select energy bins in the manner that optimizes material identification and separation without paying the penalty of increased image noise or its corollary, increased patient dose.
Phosphorylation Barcoding as a Mechanism of Directing GPCR Signaling
Authors: Liggett Stephen B.
Published: August 2011

GRK-mediated phosphorylation patterns orchestrate GPCR signaling output.
Intracellular Signaling and the Origins of the Sensations of Itch and Pain
Authors: Han Sang-Kyou , Simon Melvin I.
Published: August 2011

Signals underlying itch and pain emanating from the application of the same compound may be encoded by different receptors.
International Pneumococcal Clones Match or Exceed the Fitness of Other Strains despite the Accumulation of Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Rudolf Daniel , Michaylov Nikolay , van der Linden Mark , Hoy Ludwig , Klugman Keith P. , Welte Tobias , Pletz Mathias W.
Published: August 2011

A few international pneumococcal clones dominate the population of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci. Despite the scientific paradigm that a loss in fitness is the price for acquisition of resistance, these clones spread successfully. One hundred fifty-four isolates from adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were analyzed. Thirty percent showed a close relationship to international clones and had fitness equal to or exceeding that of other strains (
P
= 0.015); these factors may result in the endurance of these strains despite a reduction of antibiotic usage.
Is Cefazolin Inferior to Nafcillin for Treatment of Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia?
Authors: Lee Shinwon , Choe Pyoeng Gyun , Song Kyoung-Ho , Park Sang-Won , Kim Hong Bin , Kim Nam Joong , Kim Eui-Chong , Park Wan Beom , Oh Myoung-don
Published: August 2011

About 20% of methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
(MSSA) isolates have a substantial inoculum effect with cefazolin, suggesting that cefazolin treatment may be associated with clinical failure for serious MSSA infections. There are no well-matched controlled studies comparing cefazolin with nafcillin for the treatment of MSSA bacteremia. A retrospective propensity-score-matched case-control study was performed from 2004 to 2009 in a tertiary care hospital where nafcillin was unavailable from August 2004 to August 2006. The cefazolin group (
n
= 49) included MSSA-bacteremic patients treated with cefazolin during the period of nafcillin unavailability, while the nafcillin group (
n
= 84) comprised those treated with nafcillin. Treatment failure was defined as a composite outcome of a change of antibiotics due to clinical failure, relapse, and mortality. Of 133 patients, 41 patients from each group were matched by propensity scores. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the matched groups. The treatment failure rates were not significantly different at 4 or 12 weeks (10% [4/41] versus 10% [4/41] at 4 weeks [
P
> 0.99] and 15% [6/41] versus 15% [6/41] at 12 weeks [
P
> 0.99]). Cefazolin treatment was interrupted less frequently than nafcillin treatment due to drug adverse events (0% versus 17%;
P
= 0.02). Cefazolin had clinical efficacy similar to that of nafcillin and was more tolerable than nafcillin for the treatment of MSSA bacteremia.
Development of Peptide-Conjugated Morpholino Oligomers as Pan-Arenavirus Inhibitors
Authors: Neuman Benjamin W. , Bederka Lydia H. , Stein David A. , Ting Joey P. C. , Moulton Hong M. , Buchmeier Michael J.
Published: August 2011

Members of the
Arenaviridae
family are a threat to public health and can cause meningitis and hemorrhagic fever, and yet treatment options remain limited by a lack of effective antivirals. In this study, we found that peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMO) complementary to viral genomic RNA were effective in reducing arenavirus replication in cell cultures and
in vivo
. PPMO complementary to the Junín virus genome were designed to interfere with viral RNA synthesis or translation or both. However, only PPMO designed to potentially interfere with translation were effective in reducing virus replication. PPMO complementary to sequences that are highly conserved across the arenaviruses and located at the 5′ termini of both genomic segments were effective against Junín virus, Tacaribe virus, Pichinde virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-infected cell cultures and suppressed viral titers in the livers of LCMV-infected mice. These results suggest that arenavirus 5′ genomic termini represent promising targets for pan-arenavirus antiviral therapeutic development.
Enteral Tube Feeding Alters the Oral Indigenous Microbiota in Elderly Adults
Authors: Takeshita Toru , Yasui Masaki , Tomioka Mikiko , Nakano Yoshio , Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Yamashita Yoshihisa
Published: August 2011

Enteral tube feeding is widely used to maintain nutrition for elderly adults with eating difficulties, but its long-term use alters the environment of the oral ecosystem. This study characterized the tongue microbiota of tube-fed elderly adults by analyzing the 16S rRNA gene. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiles of 44 tube-fed subjects were compared with those of 54 subjects fed orally (average age, 86.4 ± 6.9 years). Bar-coded pyrosequencing data were also obtained for a subset of the subjects from each group (15 tube-fed subjects and 16 subjects fed orally). The T-RFLP profiles demonstrated that the microbiota of the tube-fed subjects was distinct from that of the subjects fed orally (permutational multivariate analysis of variance [perMANOVA],
P
< 0.001). The pyrosequencing data revealed that 22 bacterial genera, including
Corynebacterium
,
Peptostreptococcus
, and
Fusobacterium
, were significantly more predominant in tube-fed subjects, whereas the dominant genera in the subjects fed orally, such as
Streptococcus
and
Veillonella
, were present in much lower proportions. Opportunistic pathogens rarely detected in the normal oral microbiota, such as
Corynebacterium striatum
and
Streptococcus agalactiae
, were often found in high proportions in tube-fed subjects. The oral indigenous microbiota is disrupted by the use of enteral feeding, allowing health-threatening bacteria to thrive.
Transmission of Intestinal Bifidobacterium longum subsp.
longum
Strains from Mother to Infant, Determined by Multilocus Sequencing Typing and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism
Authors: Makino Hiroshi , Kushiro Akira , Ishikawa Eiji , Muylaert Delphine , Kubota Hiroyuki , Sakai Takafumi , Oishi Kenji , Martin Rocio , Ben Amor Kaouther , Oozeer Raish , Knol Jan , Tanaka Ryuichiro
Published: August 2011

The gastrointestinal tracts of neonates are colonized by bacteria immediately after birth. It has been discussed that the intestinal microbiota of neonates includes strains transferred from the mothers. Although some studies have indicated possible bacterial transfer from the mother to the newborn, this is the first report confirming the transfer of bifidobacteria at the strain level. Here, we investigated the mother-to-infant transmission of
Bifidobacterium longum
subsp.
longum
by genotyping bacterial isolates from the feces of mothers before delivery and of their infants after delivery. Two hundred seven isolates from 8 pairs of mothers and infants were discriminated by multilocus sequencing typing (MLST) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. By both methods, 11 strains of
B. longum
subsp.
longum
were found to be monophyletic for the feces of the mother and her infant. This finding confirms that these strains were transferred from the intestine of the mother to that of the infant. These strains were found in the first feces (meconium) of the infant and in the feces at days 3, 7, 30, and 90 after birth, indicating that they stably colonize the infant's intestine immediately after birth. The strains isolated from each family did not belong to clusters derived from any of the other families, suggesting that each mother-infant pair might have unique family-specific strains.
Influence of head positioning on the assessment of Chiari‐like malformation in Cavalier King Charles spaniels
Authors: Upchurch J. J. , McGonnell I. M. , Driver C. J. , Butler L. , Volk H. A.
Published: August 2011

Chiari‐like malformation (CM) is almost omnipresent in the Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS), often leading to syringomyelia (SM). Morphometric studies have produced variable results concerning relationship between the brain parenchyma within the caudal cranial fossa (CCF) and SM. The present study assesses the effect of head position, one potential confounder. Magnetic resonance images of CKCS with CM were reviewed in extended and flexed head positions. Volumes were calculated from transverse T2‐weighted brain images. Mid‐sagittal images were used for measurement of cerebellar herniation and CSF space between cerebellum and brainstem. Fourteen CKCS were included into the study, seven dogs with CM and seven with CM/SM. There was no difference between the relative brain parenchyma within the CCF in extended position and flexed position, or the brain parenchyma within the rostral and middle cranial fossae proportion. Cerebellar herniation and CSF space between cerebellum and brainstem were significantly increased in the flexed position. Cerebellar herniation and CSF space differed significantly between CM and CM/SM in a flexed head position. Volumetric measurements did not vary with head position. Cerebellar herniation and CSF space between the cerebellum and the brainstem were larger in a flexed head position.
Canopy-scale relationships between foliar nitrogen and albedo are not observed in leaf reflectance and transmittance within temperate deciduous tree species
Authors: Bartlett Megan K. , Ollinger Scott V. , Hollinger David Y. , Wicklein Haley F. , Richardson Andrew D.
Published: August 2011

Strong positive correlations between the maximum rate of canopy photosynthesis, canopy-averaged foliar nitrogen concentration, and canopy albedo have been shown in previous studies. While leaf-level relationships between photosynthetic capacity and foliar nitrogen are well documented, it is not clear whether leaf-level relationships between solar-weighted reflectance and nitrogen underlie the canopy-scale patterns. Using an integrating sphere, we measured the reflectance and transmittance (350–2500 nm) of both individual leaves and multileaf stacks. Samples were collected from 12 broadleaf species at the Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts, USA. Across all species, foliar nitrogen (both mass-based nitrogen concentration and area-based nitrogen content) and leaf mass / area ratio were negatively, rather than positively, correlated with solar-weighted reflectance and transmittance in ultraviolet–visible and near-infrared wavelength bands (350–700 nm and 700–2500 nm, respectively). Leaf-level anatomy and biochemistry, therefore, do not appear to drive the canopy-level association between increasing foliar nitrogen content and increasing canopy albedo. This suggests that interactions between leaf optical properties and structural canopy-scale traits that correlate with nitrogen content (perhaps some combination of crown shape, leaf area index, leaf angular distribution, or other structural characteristics of the canopy), may instead underlie the previously observed relationship between nitrogen and canopy-level shortwave albedo.
Measuring and analyzing color and texture information in anatomical leaf cross sections: an approach using computer vision to aid plant species identification
Authors: Sá Junior Jarbas Joaci de M. , Backes André R. , Rossatto Davi Rodrigo , Kolb Rosana M. , Bruno Odemir M.
Published: August 2011

Currently, studies on leaf anatomy have provided an important source of characters helping taxonomic, systematic, and phylogenetic studies. These studies strongly rely on measurements of characters (such as tissue thickness) and qualitative information (structures description, presence–absence of structures). In this work, we provide a new computational approach that semiautomates the collection of some quantitative data (cuticle, adaxial epidermis, and total leaf thickness) and accesses a new source of information in leaf cross-section images: the texture and the color of leaf tissues. Our aim was to evaluate this information for plant identification purposes. We successfully tested our system identifying eight species from different phylogenetic positions in the angiosperm phylogeny from the neotropical savanna of central Brazil. The proposed system checks the potential of identifying the species for each extracted measure using the Jeffrey–Matusita distance and composes a feature vector with the most important metrics. A linear discriminant analysis with leave-one-out to classify the samples was used. The experiments achieved a 100% success rate in terms of identifying the studied species accessing the above-described parameters, demonstrating that our computational approach can be a helpful tool for anatomical studies, especially ones devoted to plant identification and systematic studies.
Analysis of genetic diversity of Lactarius hatsudake in South China
Authors: He Li , Liang Guo , Guoying Zhou , Jun-ang Liu
Published: August 2011

Lactarius hatsudake is a type of ectomycorrhizal fungus that significantly influences the growth of pine trees. It is widely prevalent in Asian countries and has a high economic value. Artificial cultivation of this fungus has not been achieved as yet; therefore, excessive manual harvesting may cause serious damages to the site of its production. In this study, we analyzed 41 samples of L. hatsudake from south China using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. By comparing the differences among ITS sequences to identify the haplotype diversity within each population, the relationships among local populations, the relationship between the level of genetic differentiation and geographical separation, and the contributions of local and regional geographical separations to the overall ITS haplotype variation were analyzed. Genetic analysis indicates that ITS sequences obtained from these 41 L. hatsudake samples could be identified as 18 haplotypes, of which 13 haplotypes were contained in only a single sample, whereas the remaining sequence types all were contained in two or more samples. The most common sequence type, haplotype 6, was found in 16 samples and was distributed across nearly every region. The Mantel test demonstrated that there is no significant linear relationship between geographical distance and the FST value of genetic difference. Results of this research illustrates that there exists a certain degree of genetic intermixing among natural populations of L. hatsudake. From the group genetic analysis, it appears that there exists genetic differentiation of lower frequencies in natural populations of L. hatsudake; however, the linear relationship between the degree of genetic differentiation and geographical distance is not distinctly apparent.
Comparison of commercial DNA extraction kits for isolation and purification of bacterial and eukaryotic DNA from PAH-contaminated soils
Authors: Mahmoudi Nagissa , Slater Greg F. , Fulthorpe Roberta R.
Published: August 2011

Molecular characterization of the microbial populations of soils and sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is often a first step in assessing intrinsic biodegradation potential. However, soils are problematic for molecular analysis owing to the presence of organic matter, such as humic acids. Furthermore, the presence of contaminants, such as PAHs, can cause further challenges to DNA extraction, quantification, and amplification. The goal of our study was to compare the effectiveness of four commercial soil DNA extraction kits (UltraClean Soil DNA Isolation kit, PowerSoil DNA Isolation kit, PowerMax Soil DNA Isolation kit, and FastDNA SPIN kit) to extract pure, high-quality bacterial and eukaryotic DNA from PAH-contaminated soils. Six different contaminated soils were used to determine if there were any biases among the kits due to soil properties or level of contamination. Extracted DNA was used as a template for bacterial 16S rDNA and eukaryotic 18S rDNA amplifications, and PCR products were subsequently analyzed using denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis (DGGE). We found that the FastDNA SPIN kit provided significantly higher DNA yields for all soils; however, it also resulted in the highest levels of humic acid contamination. Soil texture and organic carbon content of the soil did not affect the DNA yield of any kit. Moreover, a liquid–liquid extraction of the DNA extracts found no residual PAHs, indicating that all kits were effective at removing contaminants in the extraction process. Although the PowerSoil DNA Isolation kit gave relatively low DNA yields, it provided the highest quality DNA based on successful amplification of both bacterial and eukaryotic DNA for all six soils. DGGE fingerprints among the kits were dramatically different for both bacterial and eukaryotic DNA. The PowerSoil DNA Isolation kit revealed multiple bands for each soil and provided the most consistent DGGE profiles among replicates for both bacterial and eukaryotic DNA.
Thirty years of research on atrial natriuretic factor: historical background and emerging concepts
Authors: de Bold Adolfo J.
Published: August 2011

The discovery of the natriuretic properties of atrial muscle extracts pointed to the existence of an endocrine function of the heart that is now known to be mediated by the polypeptide hormones atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). On the basis of such a finding, approximately 27 000 publications to date have described a wide variety of biological properties of the heart hormones as well as their application as therapeutic agents and biomarkers of cardiac disease. Stimulation of secretion of ANF and BNP from the atria is mediated through mechanisms involving G proteins of the Gqor Gotypes. We showed that the latter type underlies the transduction of muscle stretch into stimulated secretion and that it is more highly abundant in atria than in ventricles. The Gαo-1 subunit appears to play a key role in the biogenesis of atrial granules and in the intracellular targeting of their contents. Protein interaction studies using a yeast two-hybrid approach showed interactions between Gαo-1, proANF, and the intermediate conductance, calcium-activated K+channel SK4. Pharmacological inhibition of this channel decreases ANF secretion. Unpublished studies using in vitro knockdowns suggest interdependency in granule protein expression levels. These studies suggest previously unknown mechanisms of intracellular targeting and secretion control of the heart hormones that may find an application in the therapeutic manipulation of circulating ANF and BNP.
COMPARING CLIMATE COMMITMENTS: A MODEL-BASED ANALYSIS OF THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD
Authors: MCKIBBIN WARWICK J. , MORRIS ADELE C. , WILCOXEN PETER J.
Published: August 2011

The political accord struck by leaders at the United Nations negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009 allows participants to express their greenhouse gas commitments in a variety of ways. This paper compares the environmental and economic performance of these disparate commitments using the G-Cubed model of the global economy. We focus on fossil-fuel-related CO2 and assume targets are achieved domestically. We show how different formulations make the same targets appear different in stringency and explore the Accord's spillover effects across countries. We find that commitments by Japan and Europe imply high carbon prices and relatively high GDP losses. The United States and China both have moderate carbon prices and moderate GDP effects. Australia and Eastern Europe/Former Soviet Union have relatively large GDP effects despite small or zero carbon prices because their terms of trade decline. OPEC suffers a large drop in GDP from a sharp decline in world oil demand.
Discrete Element Simulation of Elastoplastic Shock Wave Propagation in Spherical Particles
Authors: Shoaib M. , Kari L.
Published: August 2011

Elastoplastic shock wave propagation in a one‐dimensional assembly of spherical metal particles is presented by extending well‐established quasistatic compaction models. The compaction process is modeled by a discrete element method while using elastic and plastic loading, elastic unloading, and adhesion at contacts with typical dynamic loading parameters. Of particular interest is to study the development of the elastoplastic shock wave, its propagation, and reflection during entire loading process. Simulation results yield information on contact behavior, velocity, and deformation of particles during dynamic loading. Effects of shock wave propagation on loading parameters are also discussed. The elastoplastic shock propagation in granular material has many practical applications including the high‐velocity compaction of particulate material.
Coral Bleaching Susceptibility Is Decreased following Short-Term (1–3 Year) Prior Temperature Exposure and Evolutionary History
Authors: Haslun Joshua A. , Strychar Kevin B. , Buck Gregory , Sammarco Paul W.
Published: August 2011

Coral exposed to short periods of temperature stress (≥1.0°C above mean monthly maximum) and/or increased frequencies of high temperatures may bolster resilience to global warming associated with climate change. We comparedMontastraea cavernosa(Linnaeus, 1767; Cnidaria, Scleractinia, Faviidae) from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). Thermal stress has been reported frequently within the FKNMS; however, corals in the FGBNMS experience nominal exposures to similar stressors. Corals were exposed to three temperatures (27°C, 31°C, and 35°C) for 72 h. Colonies from the FKNMS lost significantly fewer viable and necrotic zooxanthellae under conditions of acute stress (35°C) than the FGBNMS colonies. This indicates that the FKNMS corals are less temperature-sensitive than those in the FGBNMS. The observed differences point to greater prior temperature exposure and adaptation in the former versus the latter site when correlated to previous years of thermal exposure.
Multipurpose Prevention Technologies: Biomedical Tools to Prevent HIV-1, HSV-2, and Unintended Pregnancies
Authors: Thurman Andrea Ries , Clark Meredith R. , Doncel Gustavo F.
Published: August 2011

Statistics clearly show an unmet need for highly effective contraception, especially in less developed countries. Many of these countries are at the core of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and show very high prevalence rates for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as that caused by HSV-2. A woman at risk of unintended pregnancy due to unprotected intercourse is also at risk for HIV/STI. Owing to their causative interrelationship, combining protection against these conditions will result in enhanced prevention and health benefits. Existing multipurpose prevention modalities such as condoms and physical barriers, albeit efficacious, face cultural hurdles that have so far hindered their widespread use. Success has recently been demonstrated in large clinical trials, demonstrating proof of concept of microbicides in reducing the incidence of HIV-1 and HSV-2 among at-risk populations. The challenge heretofore is to refine these products to make them more potent, convenient, accessible, and acceptable. Potent antiviral drugs released topically in the female reproductive tract by innovative delivered systems and formulations will provide safe, effective, and acceptable multipurpose prevention tools. This paper provides an overview of existing and novel approaches to multipurpose prevention strategies.
Variable Clinical Presentations of Riedel's Thyroiditis: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Zakeri Hamidreza , Kashi Zahra
Published: August 2011

Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland and has been reported in 0.05% of thyroid surgeries. Herein we report two cases of Riedel's thyroiditis with variable clinical presentations. One of these cases was a 51-year-old man who was presented with hypothyroidism and the other a 17-year-old young male with thyrotoxicosis. In these cases, age may be a determining factor in presenting symptoms and signs, disease process, and response to treatment.
Cross-Genome Comparisons of Newly Identified Domains inMycoplasma gallisepticumand Domain Architectures with OtherMycoplasmaspecies
Authors: Chilamakuri Chandra Sekhar Reddy , Joshi Adwait , Rani Sane Sudha , Offmann Bernard , Sowdhamini R.
Published: August 2011

Accurate functional annotation of protein sequences is hampered by important factors such as the failure of sequence search methods to identify relationships and the inherent diversity in function of proteins related at low sequence similarities. Earlier, we had employed intermediate sequence search approach to establish new domain relationships in the unassigned regions of gene products at the whole genome level by takingMycoplasma gallisepticumas a specific example and established new domain relationships. In this paper, we report a detailed comparison of the conservation status of the domain and domain architectures of the gene products that bear our newly predicted domains amongst 14 otherMycoplasmagenomes and reported the probable implications for the organisms. Some of the domain associations, observed inMycoplasmathat afflict humans and other non-human primates, are involved in regulation of solute transport and DNA binding suggesting specific modes of host-pathogen interactions.
Survey of European and Major ISC Facilities for Supporting Mars and Sample Return Mission Aerothermodynamics and Tests Required for Thermal Protection System and Dynamic Stability
Authors: Bugel Mathilde , Reynier Philippe , Smith Arthur
Published: August 2011

In the frame of future sample return missions to Mars, asteroids, and comets, investigated by the European Space Agency, a review of the actual aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics capabilities in Europe for Mars entry of large vehicles and high-speed Earth reentry of sample return capsule has been undertaken. Additionally, capabilities in Canada and Australia for the assessment of dynamic stability, as well as major facilities for hypersonic flows available in ISC, have been included. This paper provides an overview of European current capabilities for aerothermodynamics and testing of thermal protection systems. This assessment has allowed the identification of the needs in new facilities or upgrade of existing ground tests for covering experimentally Mars entries and Earth high-speed reentries as far as aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, and thermal protection system testing are concerned.
Relationship between Biomarkers of Cigarette Smoke Exposure and Biomarkers of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Platelet Activation in Adult Cigarette Smokers
Authors: Liu Jianmin , Liang Qiwei , Frost-Pineda Kimberly , Muhammad-Kah Raheema , Rimmer Lonnie , Roethig Hans , Mendes Paul , Sarkar Mohamadi
Published: August 2011

Background: Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for several diseases, including cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, but the role of specific smoke constituents in these diseases has not been clearly established.

Methods: The relationships between biomarkers of potential harm (BOPH), associated with inflammation [white blood cell (WBC), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, and von Willebrand factor (vWF)], oxidative stress [8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epiPGF2α)] and platelet activation [11-dehydro-thromboxin B2 (11-dehTxB2)], and machine-measured tar yields (grouped into four categories), biomarkers of exposure (BOE) to cigarette smoke: nicotine and its five metabolites (nicotine equivalents), 4-methylnitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (total NNAL), carboxyhemoglobin, 1-hydroxypyrene, 3-hydroxypropylmercapturic acid, and monohydroxybutenyl-mercapturic acid, were investigated in 3,585 adult smokers and 1,077 nonsmokers.

Results: Overall, adult smokers had higher levels of BOPHs than nonsmokers. Body mass index (BMI), smoking duration, tar category, and some of the BOEs were significant factors in the multiple regression models. Based on the F value, BMI was the highest ranking factor in the models for WBC, hs-CRP, fibrinogen, and 8-epiPGF2α, respectively, and gender and smoking duration for 11-dehTxB2 and vWF, respectively.

Conclusions: Although several demographic factors and some BOEs were statistically significant in the model, the R2 values indicate that only up to 22% of the variability can be explained by these factors, reflecting the complexity and multifactorial nature of the disease mechanisms.

Impact: The relationships between the BOEs and BOPHs observed in this study may help with the identification of appropriate biomarkers and improve the design of clinical studies in smokers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(8); 1760–9. ©2011 AACR.
Localized Fibroglandular Tissue as a Predictor of Future Tumor Location within the Breast
Authors: Pereira Snehal M. Pinto , McCormack Valerie A. , Hipwell John H. , Record Carol , Wilkinson Louise S. , Moss Sue M. , Hawkes David J. , dos-Santos-Silva Isabel
Published: August 2011

Background: Mammographic density (MD) is a strong marker of breast cancer risk, but it is unclear whether tumors arise specifically within dense tissue.

Methods: In 231 British women diagnosed with breast cancer after at least one negative annual screening during a mammographic screening trial, we assessed whether tumor location was related to localized MD 5 years prior to diagnosis. Radiologists identified tumor locations on digitised films. We used a validated algorithm to align serial images from the same woman to locate the corresponding point on the prediagnostic film. A virtual 1 cm square grid was overlaid on prediagnostic films and MD calculated for each square within a woman's breast (mean = 271 squares/film). Conditional logistic regression, matching on a woman's breast, was used to estimate the odds of a tumor arising in a square in relation to its prediagnostic square-specific MD.

Results: Median (interquartile range) prediagnostic MD was 98.2% (46.8%–100%) in 1 cm-squares that subsequently contained the tumor and 41.0% (31.5%–53.9%) for the whole breast. The odds of a tumor arising in a 1 cm-square were, respectively, 6.1 (95% CI: 1.9–20.1), 16.6 (5.2–53.2), and 25.5-fold (8.1–80.3) higher for squares in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of prediagnostic MD relative to those in the lowest quartile within that breast (Ptrend < 0.001). The corresponding odds ratios were 2.3 (1.3–4.0), 3.9 (2.3–6.4), and 4.6 (2.8–7.6) if a 3 cm-square grid was used.

Conclusion: Tumors arise predominantly within the radiodense breast tissue.

Impact: Localized MD may be used as a predictor of subsequent tumor location within the breast. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(8); 1718–25. ©2011 AACR.
Assessment of Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Ovarian Cancer Mortality
Authors: Goode Ellen L. , Chenevix-Trench Georgia , Hartmann Lynn C. , Fridley Brooke L. , Kalli Kimberly R. , Vierkant Robert A. , Larson Melissa C. , White Kristin L. , Keeney Gary L. , Oberg Trynda N. , Cunningham Julie M. , Beesley Jonathan , Johnatty Sharon E. , Chen Xiaoqing , Goodman Katelyn E. , Armasu Sebastian M. , Rider David N. , Sicotte Hugues , Schmidt Michele M. , Elliott Elaine A. , Høgdall Estrid , Krüger Kjær Susanne , Fasching Peter A. , Ekici Arif B. , Lambrechts Diether , Despierre Evelyn , Høgdall Claus , Lundvall Lene , Karlan Beth Y. , Gross Jenny , Brown Robert , Chien Jeremy , Duggan David J. , Tsai Ya-Yu , Phelan Catherine M. , Kelemen Linda E. , Peethambaram Prema P. , Schildkraut Joellen M. , Shridhar Vijayalakshmi , Sutphen Rebecca , Couch Fergus J. , Sellers Thomas A.
Published: August 2011

Background: Invasive ovarian cancer is a significant cause of gynecologic cancer mortality.

Methods: We examined whether this mortality was associated with inherited variation in approximately 170 candidate genes/regions [993 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)] in a multistage analysis based initially on 312 Mayo Clinic cases (172 deaths). Additional analyses used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; 127 cases, 62 deaths). For the most compelling gene, we immunostained Mayo Clinic tissue microarrays (TMA, 326 cases) and conducted consortium-based SNP replication analysis (2,560 cases, 1,046 deaths).

Results: The strongest initial mortality association was in HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) at rs1800793 (HR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.3–2.2, P = 2.0 × 10−5) and with overall variation in HGF (gene-level test, P = 3.7 × 10−4). Analysis of TCGA data revealed consistent associations [e.g., rs5745709 (r2 = 0.96 with rs1800793): TCGA HR = 2.4, CI = 1.4–4.1, P = 2.2 × 10−3; Mayo Clinic + TCGA HR = 1.6, CI = 1.3–1.9, P = 7.0 × 10−5] and suggested genotype correlation with reduced HGF mRNA levels (P = 0.01). In Mayo Clinic TMAs, protein levels of HGF, its receptor MET (C-MET), and phospho-MET were not associated with genotype and did not serve as an intermediate phenotype; however, phospho-MET was associated with reduced mortality (P = 0.01) likely due to higher expression in early-stage disease. In eight additional ovarian cancer case series, HGF rs5745709 was not associated with mortality (HR = 1.0, CI = 0.9–1.1, P = 0.87).

Conclusions: We conclude that although HGF signaling is critical to migration, invasion, and apoptosis, it is unlikely that HGF genetic variation plays a major role in ovarian cancer mortality. Furthermore, any minor role is not related to genetically-determined expression.

Impact: Our study shows the utility of multiple data types and multiple data sets in observational studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(8); 1638–48. ©2011 AACR.