bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of chemical heterogeneity on protein self-assembly in water
Authors: Chong Song-Ho , Ham Sihyun
Published: April 2012

Hydrophobicity is thought to underlie self-assembly in biological systems. However, the protein surface comprises hydrophobic and hydrophilic patches, and understanding the impact of such a chemical heterogeneity on protein self-assembly in water is of fundamental interest. Here, we report structural and thermodynamic investigations on the dimer formation of full-length amyloid-β proteins in water associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Spontaneous dimerization process—from the individual diffusive regime at large separations, through the approach stage in which two proteins come close to each other, to the structural adjustment stage toward compact dimer formation—was captured in full atomic detail via unguided, explicit-water molecular dynamics simulations. The integral-equation theory of liquids was then applied to simulated protein structures to analyze hydration thermodynamic properties and the water-mediated interaction between proteins. We demonstrate that hydrophilic residues play a key role in initiating the dimerization process. A long-range hydration force of enthalpic origin acting on the hydrophilic residues provides the major thermodynamic force that drives two proteins to approach from a large separation to a contact distance. After two proteins make atomic contacts, the nature of the water-mediated interaction switches from a long-range enthalpic attraction to a short-range entropic one. The latter acts both on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues. Along with the direct protein–protein interactions that lead to the formation of intermonomer hydrogen bonds and van der Waals contacts, the water-mediated attraction of entropic origin brings about structural adjustment of constituent monomer proteins toward the formation of a compact dimer structure.
Enhancement of hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis in diet-induced obese mice
Authors: Trottier Mark D. , Naaz Afia , Li Yihang , Fraker Pamela J.
Published: April 2012

A rodent model of diet-induced obesity revealed that obesity significantly altered hematopoietic and lymphopoietic functions in the bone marrow and thymus. C57BL/6 mice were fed a mixed high-fat diet (HFD) of 45% fat or 10% fat diet (lean controls) for 180 d. A sustained increase in the numbers of cells found in bone marrow and thymus of HFD mice occurred from day 90 to day 180. However, with the exception of a 10–18% increase in the proportion of lymphocytes, the composition of monocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, and mixed progenitor lineages remained normal in the marrow. Likewise, thymuses of HFD mice increased 30–50% in size compared with controls, with analogous increases in thymocyte numbers. The overall thymus cellular composition remained normal. Although increased blood and lymphatic volume in obese mice would play a role in increased hematopoiesis, there were large and disproportionate increases in blood leukocytes of HFD mice, indicating that homeostasis was not maintained. Leptin, which promotes lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis, reached 100 ng/mL in sera from HFD mice. Moreover, a three- to sixfold increase in adipocytes in marrow resulted in spiked leptin mRNA expression in bones of HFD mice compared with lean controls. Other cytokines and growth factors did not show any increases in obese marrow. The substantial increase in lymphopoietic and hematopoietic processes in HFD mice indicates that the primary tissues are another facet of the immune system dysregulated by obesity, which was perhaps fostered by higher amounts of leptin in marrow and serum.
Introduction.
Authors: Bosland P. W. , Votava E. J.
Published: April 2012

This chapter focuses on the domestication, history and spread, ethnobotany, iconography, value and crop area of peppers. Their nutritive value and medicinal uses are also discussed.
Seeds.
Authors: Bosland P. W. , Votava E. J.
Published: April 2012

This chapter focuses on the importance of pollination in seed production and hybridization in hybrid seed production. The seed morphology, dormancy, germination and chemical composition of pepper seeds are discussed and the importance of plant nutrition in seed yield is highlighted.
Chemical composition.
Authors: Bosland P. W. , Votava E. J.
Published: April 2012

This chapter focuses on the chemical composition of pepper fruits, i.e. water, fixed (fatty) oils, steam-volatile oil, carotenoids, resin, protein, fibre and minerals, among others. The importance of these compounds in the nutritive value, taste, colour and aroma of pepper fruits are also discussed.
Harvesting.
Authors: Bosland P. W. , Votava E. J.
Published: April 2012

This chapter focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of hand harvesting of peppers and the development of machinery that can harvest a pepper crop with relatively little damage to the plants or pods. The breeding for plant architectures that facilitate machine harvesting is also discussed.
Postharvest handling.
Authors: Bosland P. W. , Votava E. J.
Published: April 2012

This chapter focuses on the postharvest handling of peppers for use as a fresh commodity or processed. The various processing methods (canning, pickling, freezing, fermentation, dehydration or extraction for oleoresins) are discussed and the importance of the maintenance of the quality through all phases, from field production to consumption, are highlighted.
‘We're still human beings, we're not aliens’: promoting the citizenship rights and cultural diversity of Traveller children in schools: Scottish and English perspectives
Authors: Deuchar Ross , Bhopal Kalwant
Published: April 2012

This article examines the experiences of Traveller children in schools. It uses data from two studies (one in Scotland and the other in England) to examine Traveller children's views about attending school (particularly in relation to their values and ambitions), their experiences of racism and prejudice and their views on how teachers perceive them. In our research, we draw from case study data to argue that despite public policy discourse around citizenship, the reality is one in which Traveller children continue to be viewed as outsiders. Due to this positioning, they do not enjoy the same rights as other children and they are not regarded as full citizens in the school environment. We argue that in order for schools to consider issues of diversity and inclusion, they must address ways in which Traveller children can be included as full citizens in schools, particularly in relation to their marginalised position in society.
Do public subsidies affect the performance of new technology-based firms? The importance of evaluation schemes and agency goals
Authors: Grilli Luca , Murtinu Samuele
Published: April 2012

New technology-based firms (NTBFs) greatly contribute to the dynamic efficiency of the economic system. To perform this role, NTBFs need external financing. However, private financing of this type of firm is particularly subject to market inefficiencies. This seems to recommend policy intervention and NTBFs often find support through payment of direct public subsidies. When these are based on ex ante selective screening procedures of applicants and awarded competitively, direct public support may exert a positive effect on the performance of NTBFs beyond the amount of the subsidy. By picking promising projects, governments may signal the quality of a firm to third parties, thereby lowering information asymmetries. This paper contributes to the literature on the differing impact of various subsidies on firm performance by crossing the evaluation dimension (i.e. selective vs. automatic subsidies) with the dimension of the specific goal (R&D-enhancing vs. other measures) for which a subsidy may be implemented. Our results show that the evaluation mechanism and the goal of the subsidy are both important dimensions in the policy design domain and that selective R&D subsidies outperform other types of scheme in fostering NTBF performance.
The PDZ-adaptor protein syntenin-1 regulates HIV-1 entry
Authors: Gordón-Alonso Mónica , Rocha-Perugini Vera , Álvarez Susana , Moreno-Gonzalo Olga , Ursa Ángeles , López-Martín Soraya , Izquierdo-Useros Nuria , Martínez-Picado Javier , Muñoz-Fernández Maria Ángeles , Yáñez-Mó María , Sánchez-Madrid Francisco
Published: April 2012

Syntenin-1 is a cytosolic adaptor protein involved in several cellular processes requiring polarization. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) attachment to target CD4+T-cells induces polarization of the viral receptor and coreceptor, CD4/CXCR4, and cellular structures toward the virus contact area, and triggers local actin polymerization and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) production, which are needed for successful HIV infection. We show that syntenin-1 is recruited to the plasma membrane during HIV-1 attachment and associates with CD4, the main HIV-1 receptor. Syntenin-1 overexpression inhibits HIV-1 production and HIV-mediated cell fusion, while syntenin depletion specifically increases HIV-1 entry. Down-regulation of syntenin-1 expression reduces F-actin polymerization in response to HIV-1. Moreover, HIV-induced PIP2accumulation is increased in syntenin-1–depleted cells. Once the virus has entered the target cell, syntenin-1 polarization toward the viral nucleocapsid is lost, suggesting a spatiotemporal regulatory role of syntenin-1 in actin remodeling, PIP2production, and the dynamics of HIV-1 entry.
Orm protein phosphoregulation mediates transient sphingolipid biosynthesis response to heat stress via the Pkh-Ypk and Cdc55-PP2A pathways
Authors: Sun Yidi , Miao Yansong , Yamane Yukari , Zhang Chao , Shokat Kevan M. , Takematsu Hiromu , Kozutsumi Yasunori , Drubin David G.
Published: April 2012

Sphingoid intermediates accumulate in response to a variety of stresses, including heat, and trigger cellular responses. However, the mechanism by which stress affects sphingolipid biosynthesis has yet to be identified. Recent studies in yeast suggest that sphingolipid biosynthesis is regulated through phosphorylation of the Orm proteins, which in humans are potential risk factors for childhood asthma. Here we demonstrate that Orm phosphorylation status is highly responsive to sphingoid bases. We also demonstrate, by monitoring temporal changes in Orm phosphorylation and sphingoid base production in cells inhibited for yeast protein kinase 1 (Ypk1) activity, that Ypk1 transmits heat stress signals to the sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway via Orm phosphorylation. Our data indicate that heat-induced sphingolipid biosynthesis in turn triggers Orm protein dephosphorylation, making the induction transient. We identified Cdc55–protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as a key phosphatase that counteracts Ypk1 activity in Orm-mediated sphingolipid biosynthesis regulation. In total, our study reveals a mechanism through which the conserved Pkh-Ypk kinase cascade and Cdc55-PP2A facilitate rapid, transient sphingolipid production in response to heat stress through Orm protein phosphoregulation. We propose that this mechanism serves as the basis for how Orm phosphoregulation controls sphingolipid biosynthesis in response to stress in a kinetically coupled manner.
Regulation of queen development through worker aggression in a predatory ant
Authors: Penick Clint A. , Liebig Jürgen
Published: April 2012

Extreme developmental plasticity within the eusocial insects defines the separation between the queen and worker castes. The switch between these 2 developmental pathways is thought to be under tight social control. Although a large emphasis has been placed on the effect of larval nutrition on caste determination, workers of many species have no direct control over larval feeding. This may be particularly relevant to the early evolution of ants, when behaviors that allow fine control over larval nutrition, such as mouth-to-mouth food exchange between larvae and workers, were probably not yet present. We investigated larval-directed aggression as an alternative means to regulate queen development in the ant Harpegnathos saltator, a species that retains ancestral characteristics. We tested worker response toward natural queen-destined larvae and larvae induced to develop as queens using a juvenile hormone analog (JHA). Workers from colonies that were not rearing queens bit queen-destined larvae, whereas worker-destined larvae were not attacked. When colonies were naturally rearing queens, workers did not bite JHA-treated larvae, and a larger proportion of these larvae developed into queens compared with larvae that received biting. This supports the hypothesis that workers of H. saltator use biting to inhibit queen development during periods when the conditions for queen rearing are not met. We propose that mechanical stress, in addition to nutrition, could serve as a mechanism to regulate queen development in species that lack fine control over larval food consumption, and this may have played a role during the early evolution of eusociality in ants.
State and parameter estimation of the heat shock response system using Kalman and particle filters
Authors: Liu Xin , Niranjan Mahesan
Published: April 2012

Motivation: Traditional models of systems biology describe dynamic biological phenomena as solutions to ordinary differential equations, which, when parameters in them are set to correct values, faithfully mimic observations. Often parameter values are tweaked by hand until desired results are achieved, or computed from biochemical experiments carried out in vitro. Of interest in this article, is the use of probabilistic modelling tools with which parameters and unobserved variables, modelled as hidden states, can be estimated from limited noisy observations of parts of a dynamical system.

Results: Here we focus on sequential filtering methods and take a detailed look at the capabilities of three members of this family: (i) extended Kalman filter (EKF), (ii) unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and (iii) the particle filter, in estimating parameters and unobserved states of cellular response to sudden temperature elevation of the bacterium Escherichia coli. While previous literature has studied this system with the EKF, we show that parameter estimation is only possible with this method when the initial guesses are sufficiently close to the true values. The same turns out to be true for the UKF. In this thorough empirical exploration, we show that the non-parametric method of particle filtering is able to reliably estimate parameters and states, converging from initial distributions relatively far away from the underlying true values.

Availability and implementation: Software implementation of the three filters on this problem can be freely downloaded from http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/mn/HeatShock

Contact:  m.niranjan@southampton.ac.uk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Boosting automatic event extraction from the literature using domain adaptation and coreference resolution
Authors: Miwa Makoto , Thompson Paul , Ananiadou Sophia
Published: April 2012

Motivation: In recent years, several biomedical event extraction (EE) systems have been developed. However, the nature of the annotated training corpora, as well as the training process itself, can limit the performance levels of the trained EE systems. In particular, most event-annotated corpora do not deal adequately with coreference. This impacts on the trained systems' ability to recognize biomedical entities, thus affecting their performance in extracting events accurately. Additionally, the fact that most EE systems are trained on a single annotated corpus further restricts their coverage.

Results: We have enhanced our existing EE system, EventMine, in two ways. First, we developed a new coreference resolution (CR) system and integrated it with EventMine. The standalone performance of our CR system in resolving anaphoric references to proteins is considerably higher than the best ranked system in the COREF subtask of the BioNLP'11 Shared Task. Secondly, the improved EventMine incorporates domain adaptation (DA) methods, which extend EE coverage by allowing several different annotated corpora to be used during training. Combined with a novel set of methods to increase the generality and efficiency of EventMine, the integration of both CR and DA have resulted in significant improvements in EE, ranging between 0.5% and 3.4% F-Score. The enhanced EventMine outperforms the highest ranked systems from the BioNLP'09 shared task, and from the GENIA and Infectious Diseases subtasks of the BioNLP'11 shared task.

Availability: The improved version of EventMine, incorporating the CR system and DA methods, is available at: http://www.nactem.ac.uk/EventMine/.

Contact:  makoto.miwa@manchester.ac.uk
Light-mediated Kleaf induction and contribution of both the PIP1s and PIP2s aquaporins in five tree species: walnut (Juglans regia) case study
Authors: Ben Baaziz Khaoula , Lopez David , Rabot Amelie , Combes Didier , Gousset Aurelie , Bouzid Sadok , Cochard Herve , Sakr Soulaiman , Venisse Jean-Stephane
Published: April 2012

Understanding the response of leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) to light is a challenge in elucidating plant–water relationships. Recent data have shown that the effect of light on Kleaf is not systematically related to aquaporin regulation, leading to conflicting conclusions. Here we investigated the relationship between light, Kleaf, and aquaporin transcript levels in five tree species (Juglans regia L., Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L., Salix alba L. and Populus tremula L.) grown in the same environmental conditions, but differing in their Kleaf responses to light. Moreover, the Kleaf was measured by two independent methods (high-pressure flow metre (HPFM) and evaporative flux method (EFM)) in the most (J. regia) and least (S. alba) responsive species and the transcript levels of aquaporins were analyzed in perfused and unperfused leaves. Here, we found that the light-induced Kleaf value was closely related to stronger expression of both the PIP1 and PIP2 aquaporin genes in walnut (J. regia), but to stimulation of PIP1 aquaporins alone in F. sylvatica and Q. robur. In walnut, all newly identified aquaporins were found to be upregulated in the light and downregulated in the dark, further supporting the relationship between the light-mediated induction of Kleaf and aquaporin expression in walnut. We also demonstrated that the Kleaf response to light was quality-dependent, Kleaf being 60% lower in the absence of blue light. This decrease in Kleaf was correlated with strong downregulation of three PIP2 aquaporins and of all the PIP1 aquaporins tested. These data support a relationship between light-mediated Kleaf regulation and the abundance of aquaporin transcripts in the walnut tree.
Cross-species infection of pigs with a novel rabbit, but not rat, strain of hepatitis E virus isolated in the United States
Authors: Cossaboom Caitlin M. , Córdoba Laura , Sanford Brenton J. , Piñeyro Pablo , Kenney Scott P. , Dryman Barbara A. , Wang Youchun , Meng Xiang-Jin
Published: April 2012

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important human pathogen. In addition to humans, HEV has also been identified in pig, chicken, mongoose, deer, rat, rabbit and fish. There are four recognized and two putative genotypes of mammalian HEV. Genotypes 1 and 2 are restricted to humans, while genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic. The recently identified rabbit HEV is a distant member of genotype 3. Here, we first expressed and purified the recombinant capsid protein of rabbit HEV and showed that the capsid protein of rabbit HEV cross-reacted with antibodies raised against avian, rat, swine and human HEV. Conversely, we showed that antibodies against rabbit HEV cross-reacted with capsid proteins derived from chicken, rat, swine and human HEV. Since pigs are the natural host of genotype 3 HEV, we then determined if rabbit HEV infects pigs. Twenty pigs were divided into five groups of four each and intravenously inoculated with PBS, US rabbit HEV, Chinese rabbit HEV, US rat HEV and swine HEV, respectively. Results showed that only half of the pigs inoculated with rabbit HEV had low levels of viraemia and faecal virus shedding, indicative of active but not robust HEV infection. Infection of pigs by rabbit HEV was further verified by transmission of the virus recovered from pig faeces to naïve rabbits. Pigs inoculated with rat HEV showed no evidence of infection. Preliminary results suggest that rabbit HEV is antigenically related to other HEV strains and infects pigs and that rat HEV failed to infect pigs.
Nutritional control of mRNA isoform expression during developmental arrest and recovery in C. elegans
Authors: Maxwell Colin S. , Antoshechkin Igor , Kurhanewicz Nicole , Belsky Jason A. , Baugh L. Ryan
Published: April 2012

Nutrient availability profoundly influences gene expression. Many animal genes encode multiple transcript isoforms, yet the effect of nutrient availability on transcript isoform expression has not been studied in genome-wide fashion. When Caenorhabditis elegans larvae hatch without food, they arrest development in the first larval stage (L1 arrest). Starved larvae can survive L1 arrest for weeks, but growth and post-embryonic development are rapidly initiated in response to feeding. We used RNA-seq to characterize the transcriptome during L1 arrest and over time after feeding. Twenty-seven percent of detectable protein-coding genes were differentially expressed during recovery from L1 arrest, with the majority of changes initiating within the first hour, demonstrating widespread, acute effects of nutrient availability on gene expression. We used two independent approaches to track expression of individual exons and mRNA isoforms, and we connected changes in expression to functional consequences by mining a variety of databases. These two approaches identified an overlapping set of genes with alternative isoform expression, and they converged on common functional patterns. Genes affecting mRNA splicing and translation are regulated by alternative isoform expression, revealing post-transcriptional consequences of nutrient availability on gene regulation. We also found that phosphorylation sites are often alternatively expressed, revealing a common mode by which alternative isoform expression modifies protein function and signal transduction. Our results detail rich changes in C. elegans gene expression as larvae initiate growth and post-embryonic development, and they provide an excellent resource for ongoing investigation of transcriptional regulation and developmental physiology.
Development of new IL28B genotyping method using Invader Plus assay
Authors: Kani Satomi , Tanaka Yasuhito , Matsuura Kentaro , Watanabe Tsunamasa , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Orito Etsuro , Inose Ken , Motojuku Nao , Wakimoto Yukio , Mizokami Masashi
Published: April 2012

IL28B polymorphism is associated with the response to pegylated interferon‐α with ribavirin (PEG‐IFN‐α/RBV) treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients. As a genotyping assay for IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in clinical practice, the Invader Plus assay was developed. The accuracy, intra‐assay, inter‐assay precision, and the limit of detection of the Invader Plus assay were evaluated. Two SNPs (rs8099917 and rs12979860) associated with IL28B were genotyped by the Invader Plus and TaqMan assay in 512 Japanese patients. In comparison with direct sequencing, the Invader Plus assay showed 99% accuracy in rs8099917 and 100% accuracy in rs12979860. Intra‐assay and inter‐assay precision were sufficient to use in clinical practice and the detection limit was 1ngDNA/assay. Genotyping by rs8099917 showed that 361 (71%), 144 (28%) and seven (1%) of the patients were major homozygous, heterozygous and minor homozygous types, respectively. Five of the 512 cases (1%) had haplotype differences, but none showed differences between the two genotyping methods. For patients with HCV genotype 1, the prevalence of responders in the major homozygous type was 83.3%, and that of non‐responders in the minor heterozygous/homozygous type was 72.5%. A convenient IL28B genotyping method using the Invader Plus assay could be useful to predict  the treatment outcome in clinical practice.
Developmental pharmacokinetics of propylene glycol in preterm and term neonates
Authors: De Cock Roosmarijn F. W. , Knibbe Catherijne A. J. , Kulo Aida , de Hoon Jan , Verbesselt Rene , Danhof Meindert , Allegaert Karel
Published: April 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Propylene glycol is commonly used as an excipient in dose forms and is ingested by neonates when administering different drugs.

• While propylene glycol is generally considered to be safe, toxic effects like bradycardia, lactic acidosis and convulsions have been reported.

• Information on the pharmacokinetics of propylene glycol in neonates is lacking to provide insight into the possible risk of toxicity.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This study describes the pharmacokinetics of propylene glycol in preterm and term neonates co‐administered with paracetamol and phenobarbital.

• A pharmacokinetic model was developed which identified birth weight and postnatal age as important covariates for clearance.

• The model was used to simulate exposure to propylene glycol co‐administered with both drugs.

AIM Propylene glycol (PG) is often applied as an excipient in drug formulations. As these formulations may also be used in neonates, the aim of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of propylene glycol, co‐administered intravenously with paracetamol (800 mg PG/1000 mg paracetamol) or phenobarbital (700 mg PG/200 mg phenobarbital) in preterm and term neonates.

METHODS A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed based on 372 PG plasma concentrations from 62 (pre)term neonates (birth weight (bBW) 630–3980 g, postnatal age (PNA) 1–30 days) using NONMEM 6.2. The model was subsequently used to simulate PG exposure upon administration of paracetamol or phenobarbital in neonates (gestational age 24–40 weeks).

RESULTS In a one compartment model, birth weight and PNA were both identified as covariates for PG clearance using an allometric function (CLi= 0.0849 × {(bBW/2720)1.69× (PNA/3)0.201}). Volume of distribution scaled allometrically with current bodyweight (Vi= 0.967 × {(BW/2720)1.45}) and was estimated 1.77 times higher when co‐administered with phenobarbital compared with paracetamol. By introducing these covariates a large part of the interindividual variability on clearance (65%) as well as on volume of distribution (53%) was explained. The final model shows that for commonly used dosing regimens, the population mean PG peak and trough concentrations range between 33–144 and 28–218 mg l−1 (peak) and 19–109 and 6–112 mg l−1 (trough) for paracetamol and phenobarbital formulations, respectively, depending on birth weight and age of the neonates.

CONCLUSION A pharmacokinetic model was developed for PG co‐administered with paracetamol or phenobarbital in neonates. As such, large variability in PG exposure may be expected in neonates which is dependent on birth weight and PNA.
‘If kids don't feel safe they don't do anything’: young people's views on seeking and receiving help from Children's Social Care Services in England
Authors: Jobe Alison , Gorin Sarah
Published: April 2012

This paper presents findings from qualitative interviews with 24 young people (11–17 years) who have been referred to Children's Social Care Services in England. The paper explores young people's experiences of help seeking and their experiences of receiving help for maltreatment through statutory agencies. A central finding is the importance of relationships for young people when seeking and receiving help. It is through trusting relationships with professionals that young people are most likely to disclose maltreatment and/or engage with services. The paper concludes that young people's expectations and needs are not always met by the current safeguarding system and that the system needs to become more child‐centred if it is to address the concerns maltreated young people have consistently voiced through research.
From parental engagement to the engagement of social work services: discussing reductionist and democratic forms of partnership with families
Authors: Roose Rudi , Roets Griet , Van Houte Sabine , Vandenhole Wouter , Reynaert Didier
Published: April 2012

Social work has moved from a child protection discourse towards a child welfare discourse that views the relationship between social workers and families as a partnership. Partnership with families in the field of child protection and child welfare, however, mirrors diverse ideological motives of social policy, civil society and practice. We engage in a theoretical discussion of different interpretations of partnership. We draw a primary distinction between reductionist and democratic forms of partnership with families. In a reductionist approach, social workers activate parents in order to realize the goals set by social work. A democratic approach to partnership refers to a shared responsibility between social workers, parents and children. In this approach, effective partnership is not something to be realized as an outcome, but a point of departure that implies a joint search for meaning and an experiment with which social workers engage. This engagement presents ‘non‐participation’ not as problematic but as an essential element of participation. The focus then shifts from a methodical approach to partnership – how to activate people to participate in the care process – to the question of how the engagement of social workers can be constructed together with families.
Young people's perspectives of being parented in critical situations: teenage non‐offenders and desisters speak out
Authors: Murray Cathy
Published: April 2012

This paper considers young people's perspectives of being parented and draws on a study that comprised secondary analysis of 112 qualitative interviews with teenagers who had either never offended or who had ceased to offend for at least a year. Young people's offending behaviour has traditionally been linked to parenting styles, but it is parenting practices that proved central to parental responses to revelations about their offspring's offending. During the interviews, desisters gave accounts of their upbringing and, in particular, the parenting they experienced in one critical situation, namely when their offending came to light. At this point, parents of desisters were reported to be more punitive, more emotional and less measured than they were customarily, and non‐offenders anticipated similar reactions from their parents if they were to offend in the future. The relevance of the findings for professional interventions, especially parenting programmes, and for social workers in child protection is discussed, and suggestions for further research is made.
Shared decision‐making: a voice for the Lakota people
Authors: Herzberg Linda
Published: April 2012

Child welfare has long been a concern for American Indians, so much so that Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978. The ICWA was intended to address was the large number of children placed out of home as a result of abuse and/or neglect, and the corresponding lack of tribal and community input regarding their removal and placement. This paper focuses on one group of American Indian people, the Lakota, whose children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. As a promising practice, shared decision‐making will be offered as a culturally appropriate model to build dialogue and cooperation between social workers and their Lakota clients. Shared decision‐making holds promise to help address the important social justice issues identified by Congress and by the Lakota people in the 1970s and which remain largely unresolved some 40 years later.
Education and employment opportunities among staff in Aboriginal family service agencies
Authors: Brown Jason , Fraehlich Cheryl
Published: April 2012

The purpose of the study was to describe ways that successful culture‐based Aboriginal preventive family service agencies offer employment and education opportunities for staff. Staff in three inner‐city, culture‐based Aboriginal family agencies were asked about their employment and educational opportunities. Forty‐four individuals were asked the question: ‘what employment and education opportunities have you had while in this job?’ A total of 81 unique responses were received. Participants grouped the responses into eight themes including: planning for services, promotion within the agency, specific skill development, enhanced self‐confidence, cultural awareness, teaching others, workshops as well as certified training. Differences between the experiences of study participants and the existing literature indicate that practices within culture‐based Aboriginal family agencies are distinct in relation to funding, staff mobility, strengths‐base, practical training and cultural knowledge, and that these should be understood and recognized formally in funding decisions and in future research.
Identical germline mutations in the TMEM127 gene in two unrelated Japanese patients with bilateral pheochromocytoma
Authors: Takeichi Naomi , Midorikawa Sanae , Watanabe Atsushi , Naing Banyar Than , Tamura Hideki , Wakakuri‐Kano Toshiko , Ishizaki Akira , Sugihara Hitoshi , Nissato Sumiko , Saito Yuria , Aita Yuichi , Ishii Kiyo‐aki , Igarashi Takehito , Kawakami Yasushi , Hara Hisato , Ikeda Tatsuhiko , Shimizu Kazuo , Suzuki Shinichi , Shimano Hitoshi , Kawamoto Masashi , Shimada Takashi , Watanabe Tsuyoshi , Oikawa Shinichi , Takekoshi Kazuhiro
Published: April 2012

Objective

Recently, TMEM127 was shown to be a new pheochromocytoma susceptibility gene; this is consistent with its function as a tumour suppressor gene (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2009, 94, 2817). Most pheochromocytomas arise from the adrenal medulla, and in approximately half of the cases, the tumours are bilateral (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2009, 94, 2817; Journal of the American Medical Association, 2004, 292, 943; Human Mutation, 2010, 31, 41; Science, 2009, 325, 1139). The aim of the present study was to determine whether TMEM127 mutations are involved in the pathogenesis of pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas in Japanese subjects.

Patients and Methods

For this study, 74 unrelated patients with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma who tested negative for mutations and deletions in RET, VHL, SDHB and SDHD were recruited through a multi‐institutional collaborative effort in Japan. The TMEM127 gene sequence was determined in their germline DNA, and tumour DNA was analysed for the loss of heterozygosity. In addition, their TMEM127 gene sequences were compared with sequences from 114 normal healthy, ethnically matched controls.

Results

Among the 74 eligible patients, two unrelated patients (2·7%) with bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma were found to have an identical germline TMEM127 mutation (c.116_119delTGTC, p.Ile41ArgfsX39) associated with 2q deletion loss of heterozygosity, which was also previously described in a Brazilian case (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2004, 292, 943). We also determined that none of the 114 normal healthy controls had this deletion mutation.

Conclusion

This is the first report showing that TMEM127 mutation plays a pathological role in pheochromocytoma in an Asian population. Although our surveillance is limited, the prevalence and the phenotype of this gene mutation appear to be similar to those reported in previous studies.
S100P immunostaining identifies a subset of peripheral‐type intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas with morphological and molecular features similar to those of perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas
Authors: Tsai Jia‐Huei , Huang Wen‐Chih , Kuo Kuan‐Ting , Yuan Ray‐Hwang , Chen Yu‐Ling , Jeng Yung‐Ming
Published: April 2012

Tsai J‐H, Huang W‐C, Kuo K‐T, Yuan R‐H, Chen Y‐L & Jeng Y‐M  (2012) Histopathology S100P immunostaining identifies a subset of peripheral‐type intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas with morphological and molecular features similar to those of perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas

Aims:  S100P is a calcium‐binding protein that is frequently expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathological significance of the expression of S100P in peripheral intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Methods and results:  Immunohistochemical staining was used to investigate S100P expression in 112 cases of peripheral ICC. The results were compared with those for perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Patients with S100P‐positive peripheral ICC were more likely to have elevated serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19‐9 than those with S100P‐negative peripheral ICCs. All cases of peripheral ICC associated with intrahepatic lithiasis and all cases with intraductal/periductal growth patterns were positive for S100P. S100P‐positive peripheral ICCs were highly associated with ‘bile duct’ morphology rather than cholangiolar differentiation. Nearly all cases of perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were positive for S100P. Similarly to perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, S100P‐positive peripheral ICCs showed more frequent expression of CEA and MUC2, and were more likely to be N‐cadherin‐negative, than S100P‐negative cases. Notably, K‐RAS mutations were only detected in S100P‐positive peripheral ICCs, with a frequency similar to that in perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Patients with S100P‐positive peripheral ICC were more likely to have poor prognoses than those with S100P‐negative tumours.

Conclusions:  S100P immunostaining identifies a subset of peripheral ICC that probably originates from larger bile ducts. This subset of peripheral ICCs shares common morphological and molecular features with perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas.
A novel genotyping technique for distinguishing between Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates virulent and avirulent to ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel)
Authors: Fujiwara‐Nagata E , Ikeda J , Sugahara K , Eguchi M
Published: April 2012

We developed a simple genotyping method for Flavobacterium psychrophilum for analysing two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gyrA gene and to distinguish between isolates that are virulent and avirulent to ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel). The genotyping method is an on/off switch assay and is based on the polymerase chain reaction technique with phosphorothioated primers. We classified 232 isolates from four families of fish (i.e. Plecoglossidae, Osmeridae, Cyprinidae and Salmonidae) into four genotypes (G‐C, A‐T, A‐C and G‐T). The G‐C type isolates exhibited strong pathogenicity to ayu, whereas the A‐T and G‐T types did not show any pathogenicity to this species. The A‐C type exhibited no or weak pathogenicity to ayu. These results indicate that genotyping F. psychrophilum isolates with two SNPs from gyrA can clearly distinguish between isolates potentially harmful to ayu (G‐C type) and those that are potentially not harmful or less harmful (A‐C, A‐T and G‐T type). The on/off switch assay provides a quick, simple, and very powerful DNA genotyping technique for F. psychrophilum isolates.
Effect of host diet and adult parasitoid diet on egg load dynamics and egg size of braconid parasitoids attacking Anastrepha ludens
Authors: CICERO LIZETTE , SIVINSKI JOHN , ALUJA MARTÍN
Published: April 2012

The quantity and quality of host nutrients can affect fitness‐related traits in hymenopteran parasitoids, including oogenesis. The present study tested the prediction that a high host quality will influence oogenesis‐related traits positively in synovigenic parasitoids, and that a high‐quality adult parasitoid diet can positively affect the same parameters, potentially compensating for development on low‐quality hosts. Four braconid parasitoid species with contrasting life histories are reared on a low‐quality diet [Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae reared on mango] or a high‐quality (artificial) diet. Adult parasitoids are provided with a high‐quality (honey ad libitum), moderate‐quality (honey every other day) or low‐quality (guava pulp) diet. Generalist species that encounter high variation in host quality naturally are predicted to be more flexible in dealing with nutrient shortfalls than specialist species. By contrast to the predictions, low‐quality hosts yield parasitoids with higher egg loads in two species: Opius hirtus Fisher and Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmead. However, as predicted, a high‐quality adult diet exerts a positive effect on egg load (Utetes anastrephae Viereck), egg size (Doryctobracon crawfordi Viereck) and egg maturation rate (D. longicaudata, O. hirtus and U. anastrephae). The generalist D. longicaudata varies in egg load and maturation rate depending on host quality and adult diet, respectively. Evidence of the combined effect of both factors on parasitoid fertility is presented for the specialist O. hirtus. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Colletotrichum acutatum, A New Pathogen of Hazelnut
Authors: Sezer Arzu , Dolar Fatma Sara
Published: April 2012

Colletotrichum acutatum J.H. Simmonds was identified from fruit clusters of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) in Turkey. Pathogenicity tests were conducted under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. Necrotic, sunken lesions and rot were observed on leaves, fruit clusters and pedicels. This is the first report of C. acutatum as a pathogen of hazelnut.
Contamination rates of different urine collection methods for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections in young children: An observational cohort study
Authors: Tosif Shidan , Baker Alice , Oakley Ed , Donath Susan , Babl Franz E
Published: April 2012

Aims:  The optimal method for diagnostic collection of urine in children is unclear. National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence recommend specimens taken by clean catch urine (CCU) for identification of urinary tract infection (UTI). We investigated contamination rates for CCU, suprapubic aspiration (SPA), catheter specimen urine (CSU) and bag specimen urine (BSU) collections.

Method:  Retrospective observational cohort study with review of microbiology data and medical records at a large tertiary children's hospital. We reviewed urine culture growth from consecutive first urine specimens of children aged <2 years, over a 3‐month period in 2008. Patient demographics, collection method, location (emergency department, inpatient ward), culture growth, history of UTI, urogenital tract abnormality and antibiotic use were assessed. Contamination rates for collection methods were compared using logistic regression.

Results:  Urine culture specimens of 599 children (mean age 7.0 months, 54% male) were included. There were 34% CCU, 16% CSU, 14% SPA, 2% BSU and 34% with unknown sample method. Contamination rates were 26% in CCU, 12% in CSU (odds ratio (OR) 0.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2–0.8) and 1% in SPA (OR 0.03 95% CI 0.0–0.3). Concurrent antibiotics use was associated with a lower contamination rate. Contamination rates were not associated with age, sex, location, history of UTI or urogenital abnormalities.

Conclusion:  Contamination rates in CCU are much higher than in CSU and SPA samples. Ideally, SPA should be used for microbiological assessment of urine in young children. Collection procedures need to be optimised if CCU is used.
Detection of prion protein oligomers by single molecule fluorescence imaging
Authors: Shibano Satoko , Sasaki Kensuke , Kidoaki Satoru , Iwaki Toru
Published: April 2012

The degree of polymerization of PrP has a close relationship with the pathological mechanisms of prion diseases. We examined, at the molecular level, the polymerization state of PrP in lysates of prion‐infected cells using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). The crude lysates were fractionated by gel‐filtration spin columns according to their molecular size. Both the oligomer‐rich and the monomer‐rich fractions were probed with fluorescein‐labeled anti‐PrP antibodies (mAb SAF70 and mAb 8G8). Fluorescent spots of varying intensity were detected, with the ratio of intense fluorescent spots being greater in the oligomer fraction samples with mAb SAF70 than those with 8G8, the specific epitope of which is thought to be buried in abnormal PrP molecules. The results indicated that PrP oligomers could be specifically detected and conformational changes of abnormal PrP molecules observed. Imaging by TIRFM may aid in determining the polymerization state and properties of PrP oligomers in pathological processes.
Extracranial metastasizing solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) of meninges: Histopathological features of a case with long‐term follow‐up
Authors: Gessi Marco , Gielen Gerrit H. , Roeder‐Geyer Eva‐Dorette , Sommer Clemens , Vieth Michael , Braun Veit , Kuchelmeister Klaus , Pietsch Torsten
Published: April 2012

Extrapleural solitary fibrous tumors are uncommon mesenchymal neoplasms frequently observed in middle‐aged adults and are classified, according to the WHO classification of soft tissue tumors, as part of the hemangiopericytoma tumor group. However, these two entities remain separated in the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system. In fact, meningeal solitary fibrous tumors are believed to be benign lesion and only in a minority of cases local relapses have been described, although detailed survival clinical studies on solitary fibrous tumors of meninges are rare. In contrast to hemangiopericytoma, which frequently shows distant extracranial metastases, such an event is exceptional in patients with meningeal solitary fibrous tumors and has been clinically reported in a handful of cases only and their histopathological features have not been investigated in detail. In this report, we describe the detailed clinico‐pathological features of a meningeal solitary fibrous tumor presenting during a 17‐year follow‐up period, multiple intra‐, extracranial relapses and lung metastases.
Epithelioid angiosarcoma arising in schwannoma: Report of three Chinese cases with review of the literature
Authors: Li Chao , Chen Ying , Zhang Hong , Zheng Xiongwei , Wang Jian
Published: April 2012

Angiosarcoma arising in a schwannoma is extremely rare with only eleven cases having been reported in the English literature. We describe here three further cases occurring in adult males with a pre‐existing longstanding schwannoma. The tumor arose each from the vagus, ischiadic and adrenergic nerve respectively. None of the patients had von Recklinghausen's disease. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of a mixture of a benign schwannoma and an epithelioid angiosarcoma. The two components changed abruptly within the tumor. The endothelial cell differentiation was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. A review of published reports, including the present cases, suggests a poor prognosis with a high rate of local recurrence, distant metastasis and mortality.