bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalized thermoelastic interaction in a fiber-reinforced anisotropic half-space under hydrostatic initial stress
Authors: Abbas Ibrahim A , Othman Mohamed IA
Published: June 2011

The propagation of plane waves in fiber-reinforced, anisotropic thermoelastic half-space proposed by Lord-Shulman under hydrostatic initial stress is discussed. The problem has been solved numerically using a finite element method. Numerical results for the temperature distribution, the displacement components and the thermal stress are given and illustrated graphically. Comparisons are made with the results predicted by the theory of generalized thermoelasticity with one relaxation time for different values of pressure. It is found that the hydrostatic initial stress has a great effect on the distribution of field quantities.
Bakhtin’s realism and embodiment: Towards a revision of the dialogical self
Authors: Cresswell James , Baerveldt Cor
Published: June 2011

How can we understand socially constituted selfhood? H. Hermans has addressed this question with the notion of the Dialogical Self that he draws from the philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin. We focus on Bakhtin’s discussion of realism in relation to how he has been interpreted by Hermans. This notion of realism (which we coined ‘‘expressive realism’’) highlights how sociality is inseparably related to embodied experience, thus making way for a sociocultural psychology that takes into account life as it is experientially lived. We point out how Hermans’ vision of the Dialogical Self neglects such embodied experience. This discussion leads to the claim that Bakhtin sees the self as social insofar as our most primary embodied experience is social, where Hermans anchors the sociality of self in inter-subjective exchange. Accordingly, an extension of the Dialogical Self is offered through discussion of these points.
Tailoring identities
Authors: Tulviste Peeter
Published: June 2011

In the first part of this article, some consequences of telling truth about history in the Soviet Union and Russia are briefly described: crises of history teaching in schools, and ongoing ‘‘history wars’’ with the neighboring countries that have regained independence. In both cases, the problem is how to use historical knowledge in constructing identity narratives when the knowledge is contradictory. In this context, some issues analyzed in Carretero and Kriger’s and Tileagã’s work are discussed. Carretero and Kriger (2011) demonstrate that students in Argentina are largely unable to present a logically coherent story of the origins of their country. The difficulties the students experienced were related to the fact that the task they had to solve was highly artificial. They had to offer a high-level rational analysis of ideological texts which is not needed for the successful functioning of these texts. Tileagã’s (2011) paper is about how a former secret informer of the KGB-like organization in Communist Romania copes with the fact that his disgusting secret becomes public. In the coping process, the person makes use not only of his own memory, but also of his diaries as well as of the Securitate documents in the archives. All the three sources provide tools for reshaping identity and self-esteem, which can never be totally negative. Elaborating a typology of statements that people use in situations like this one would present further interest.
Party elites’ perceptions of voting behaviour
Authors: Ekengren Ann-Marie , Oscarsson Henrik
Published: June 2011

We propose a framework for analysing party elite perceptions of voting behaviour based on four party competition and voting behaviour models: the Downsian proximity, saliency, competence and directional models. We analyse whether and to what extent party elite perceptions support these theories of party competition and voting behaviour. Empirical analysis is based solely on internal party documents from two Swedish parties, the Social Democrats and the Conservatives, from 1964 to 1988/1991. We demonstrate that elements of all four party competition models have characterized Swedish party elite thinking and reasoning about voting behaviour in recent decades. Discussion in the Social Democratic elite was most in line with Downs' model. Until the mid-1970s, Downs' model tended to be combined with the competence model and thereafter with the saliency model. The Conservative elite clearly favoured the salience and competence models until the early 1970s and the saliency and Downs' models since then.
Dialogical Memorialization, International Travel and the Public Sphere: A Cultural Sociology of Commemoration and Tourism at the First World War Gallipoli Battlefields
Authors: West Brad
Published: June 2011

As part of a larger ethnographic research project, this article analyses the history of memorialization on the First World War Gallipoli battlefields and its relationship with international travel and tourism. It contrasts the original Australian and New Zealand memorialization on the site with Turkish memorials constructed there in the late 20th century, a significant proportion of which are characterized by direct symbolic recognition of the ‘other’. Drawing on Bakhtin’s writings on referential discourses I refer to these as being dialogical. At Gallipoli this dialogical memorialization facilitated the rise of Australian tourism to the battlefields by allowing for a cosmopolitan reimagining of the military campaign, which included emphasizing extraordinary cases of humanity and framing soldiers as tourists. A cultural sociology of the public sphere is proposed as a way of comprehending such tourism, one that avoids assumptions about the severing of meaningful cultural ties with the events and institutions of modernity.
The ‘insider/outsider’ dilemma of ethnography: Working with young children and their families in cross-cultural contexts
Authors: Gregory Eve , Ruby Mahera
Published: June 2011

In this article we unravel the difficulty of being researchers in the homes and classrooms of children and their families whose origins are, for one of us, very different and, for the other, very similar to our own. We first situate our work within theories of early socialization and literacy teaching which underpin our understanding of how young children in cross-cultural contexts learn. We then turn to the question of working with the families and teachers of these children which poses dilemmas not explained by the theories presented. We illustrate these through a series of vignettes typifying both the ‘Outsider’ and the ‘Insider’ role. The stories highlight paradigmatic moments of complexity, clashes or collusion which we unpick in terms of their generalizability for others working in the field. Finally, we extend theories of dialogue in our search for a methodology for collaborative work in future cross-cultural ethnographic studies.
The Effect of Chain-kinks on the Phases and Structure of a Series of Thermotropic Liquid Crystal Polyesters Prepared by a Novel Non-aqueous Dispersion Route
Authors: Blundell D.J. , Macdonald W.A. , Chivers R.A.
Published: June 2011

A series of aromatic polyesters have been synthesized by a non-aqueous dispersion route, comprising monomer residues of x parts p-hydraxybenzoic acid and (1- x)/2 parts of each of hydroqzcinone and isophthalic acid. The nascent polymers are in a novel particulate form with a molecular organization that differs front melt-processed polymer. By decreasing x, increasing amounts of kinked meta phenyl units are intro duced into an otherwise para-phenyl chain. The phase diagram deduced from DSC and hot stage microscopy shows the series spans frorn isotropic to liquid crystalline behaviour with an interesting borderline region. Three crystal forms are observed. One is associated with cooling from the mesophase and contains the kinked isophthalic acid units; this exhibits a relatively high Enthalpy of Fusion. Mouldings from the series show a gradual change in modulus with x.
Thermosetting Resins from Blends of Ethnyl Terminated Materials
Authors: Connell J.W. , Hergenrother P.M. , Havens S.J.
Published: June 2011

As part of a program on high performance adhesives and composite matrices for aerospace structural applications, work was performed on new 177°C performing thermosets. An ethynyl terminated aspartimide and an ethynyl terminated imidothioether were blended with ethynyl terminated arylene ether oligomers of various molecular weights and the blends were thermally cured. The crosslink density of the thermoset was controlled by composition, cure temperature and time. Electron beam radiation exposure provided results similar to those obtained from isothernal aging of specimens at elevated temperatures. Neat resin, adhesive and composite properties of various thermosets are presented.
in exile/in flight: Two Poems From a Poetic Autoethnography of Academic Banishment
Authors: Prendergast Monica
Published: June 2011

From 2008 to 2010, I was assistant professor in the Division of Creative Arts in Learning at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For various reasons—including my older son’s need to complete his final 2 years of high school in Canada—I commuted to and from my family home in Victoria, British Columbia to Boston. The position itself, teaching within a graduate program in arts integration, also called for substantial travel as the program is carried out in over 20 states. During this challenging time, I met many friends and colleagues who told me of their own periods of academic exile. This seems to be a common occurrence, as scholars are most often not able to choose where they work. Although we are highly privileged members of the social elite, we share this experience with migrant workers around the world who are forced, due to economic duress, to spend long periods away from loved ones.
Exploring News Coverage of Femicide: Does Reporting the News Add Insult to Injury?
Authors: Richards Tara N. , Kirkland Gillespie Lane , Dwayne Smith M.
Published: June 2011

The news media help shape society’s perception of social problems as well as public opinion of victims and offenders. Currently, there is extensive research devoted to the media’s portrayal of violence against women but very little examination of femicide (for purposes of this research, defined as the murder of female intimate partners). Using newspaper coverage of femicide cases across the state of North Carolina over a 6-year period (995 articles representing 299 cases), the current study examines the news media’s use of direct and indirect victim-blaming language, the sources cited in femicide reporting, and whether femicide cases are contextualized as an individual problem or within the broader social issue of intimate partner violence (IPV). Consistent with previous research, findings indicate that public sources (i.e., law enforcement) were the most commonly cited sources of information in news coverage of femicide compared to private sources (i.e., friends and family); however, domestic violence experts are cited more often than in prior studies. In addition, direct and indirect victim-blaming language is not as pervasive as previous research has suggested. Finally, the percentage of articles that contextualized the femicide as IPV is lower than that found in prior studies of femicide. Implications of these findings and future research are discussed.
Osteoporosis in Men: Insights for the Clinician
Authors: Adler Robert A.
Published: June 2011

Osteoporosis has finally been recognized as an important disorder in men. Men have osteoporotic fractures about 10 years later in life than women. Owing to increasing life expectancy, more fractures are predicted. Important risk factors for men include advancing age, smoking or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, glucocorticoid therapy, and androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Other groups at risk for osteoporosis include those with alcohol abuse, men on enzyme-inducing antiseizure drugs, and those with malabsorption or history of surgery for peptic ulcer disease. History and physical examination will likely reveal secondary causes of osteoporosis. Some, but not all organizations, recommend screening for osteoporosis in men older than age 70. In the USA, The Department of Veterans Affairs recommends case finding rather than screening. Evaluation starts with bone mineral density testing by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the spine, hip, and in some cases forearm. A few laboratory tests can be helpful, including measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Most studies of osteoporosis therapy in men are small; but alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, and teriparatide are FDA-approved to increase bone density in men with osteoporosis. A new potent antiresorptive agent, denosumab, increased bone density dramatically in men on androgen deprivation therapy and is approved for this indication in Europe. Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in men should lead to fewer fractures and probably fewer deaths.
Diamond-like carbon coated on polyethylene terephthalate by Thermionic Vacuum Arc
Authors: Pat Suat , Temel Sinan , Ekem Naci , Korkmaz Şadan , Özkan Mehmet , Balbağ M Zafer
Published: June 2011

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were deposited on transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using a thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method. The TVA method parameters used to produce DLC coating and the volt—ampere characteristic during the plasma ignition were determined with 22 A of filament current. The crystal orientations and surface morphology of the deposited DLC thin films were investigated using X-ray diffractometer and atomic force microscopy. Reflectance and refractive indices of DLC-coated PET were analyzed by interferometry. According to experimental measurement, DLC-coated thin film was polycrystalline with (1 1 1) and (1 1 0) preferred orientations. Refractive indices were approximately 2.60 in the visible range. DLC-coated PET reflection is close to the PET substrate in the infrared region. According to Fresnel equation, the DLC-coated PET reflection decreased from 19.25% to 10% at 632 nm due to local coating agglomeration. Surface hardness increased to from 2.77 to 10 GPa with DLC coating.
Effect of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) content on properties of extruded poly(ethylene terephthalate) sheets
Authors: Curtzwiler Greg , Vorst Keith , Danes Jeffrey E , Auras Rafael , Singh Jay
Published: June 2011

Sixty (60) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets containing 0—100% recycled-PET (RPET) bottle flake were produced using industrial extruders. The PET/RPET sheets were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet— visible spectroscopy, mechanical testing, and inductively coupled plasma—atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP—AES). The absorbance at 350 nm, %crystallinity, crystallization temperature, and crystallization peak offset were found to be both unaffected by a silicone mold release coating and reasonably valid indicators of %RPET. Mechanical testing determined that incorporating recycled content into virgin resin will significantly alter the composite mechanical properties; analysis indicated that there was approximately a 2-, 3-, and 30-MPa increase in stress at the proportional limit, stress at yield, and Young’s modulus, respectively, in the machine direction at 40% RPET concentration when compared to virgin resin. The ICP—AES determined that PET/RPET sheets can be safely used for food packaging as according to California Health and Safety Code.
Stromal upregulation of lateral epithelial adhesions: Gene expression analysis of signalling pathways in prostate epithelium
Authors: Chambers Karen F , Pearson Joanna F , Pellacani Davide , Aziz Naveed , Gužvić Miodrag , Klein Christoph A , Lang Shona H
Published: June 2011

Background

Stromal signalling increases the lateral cell adhesions of prostate epithelial cells grown in 3D culture. The aim of this study was to use microarray analysis to identify significant epithelial signalling pathways and genes in this process.

Methods

Microarray analysis was used to identify genes that were differentially expressed when epithelial cells were grown in 3D Matrigel culture with stromal co-culture compared to without stroma. Two culture models were employed: primary epithelial cells (ten samples) and an epithelial cell line (three experiments). A separate microarray analysis was performed on each model system and then compared to identify tissue-relevant genes in a cell line model.

Results

TGF beta signalling was significantly ranked for both model systems and in both models the TGF beta signalling gene SOX4 was significantly down regulated. Analysis of all differentially expressed genes to identify genes that were common to both models found several morphology related gene clusters; actin binding (DIAPH2, FHOD3, ABLIM1, TMOD4, MYH10), GTPase activator activity (BCR, MYH10), cytoskeleton (MAP2, MYH10, TMOD4, FHOD3), protein binding (ITGA6, CD44), proteinaceous extracellular matrix (NID2, CILP2), ion channel/ ion transporter activity (CACNA1C, CACNB2, KCNH2, SLC8A1, SLC39A9) and genes associated with developmental pathways (POFUT1, FZD2, HOXA5, IRX2, FGF11, SOX4, SMARCC1).

Conclusions

In 3D prostate cultures, stromal cells increase lateral epithelial cell adhesions. We show that this morphological effect is associated with gene expression changes to TGF beta signalling, cytoskeleton and anion activity.
Physiologic and molecular consequences of endothelial Bmpr2 mutation
Authors: Majka Susan , Hagen Moira , Blackwell Thomas , Harral Julie , Johnson Jennifer A , Gendron Robert , Paradis Helene , Crona Daniel , Loyd James E , Nozik-Grayck Eva , Stenmark Kurt R , West James
Published: June 2011

Background

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is thought to be driven by dysfunction of pulmonary vascular microendothelial cells (PMVEC). Most hereditary PAH is associated with BMPR2 mutations. However, the physiologic and molecular consequences of expression of BMPR2 mutations in PMVEC are unknown.

Methods

In vivo experiments were performed on adult mice with conditional endothelial-specific expression of the truncation mutation Bmpr2delx4+, with age-matched transactivator-only mice as controls. Phenotype was assessed by RVSP, counts of muscularized vessels and proliferating cells, and staining for thromboses, inflammatory cells, and apoptotic cells. The effects of BMPR2 knockdown in PMVEC by siRNA on rates of apoptosis were assessed. Affymetrix expression arrays were performed on PMVEC isolated and cultured from triple transgenic mice carrying the immortomouse gene, a transactivator, and either control, Bmpr2delx4+or Bmpr2R899Xmutation.

Results

Transgenic mice showed increased RVSP and corresponding muscularization of small vessels, with histologic alterations including thrombosis, increased inflammatory cells, increased proliferating cells, and a moderate increase in apoptotic cells. Expression arrays showed alterations in specific pathways consistent with the histologic changes. Bmpr2delx4+and Bmpr2R899Xmutations resulted in very similar alterations in proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and adhesion; Bmpr2delx4+cells showed upregulation of platelet adhesion genes and cytokines not seen in Bmpr2R899XPMVEC. Bmpr2 mutation in PMVEC does not cause a loss of differentiation markers as was seen with Bmpr2 mutation in smooth muscle cells.

Conclusions

Bmpr2 mutation in PMVECin vivomay drive PAH through multiple, potentially independent, downstream mechanisms, including proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and thrombosis.
Pneumonia and poverty: a prospective population-based study among children in Brazil
Authors: Thörn Lícia KAM , Minamisava Ruth , Nouer Simonne S , Ribeiro Luiza H , Andrade Ana Lucia
Published: June 2011

Background

Children in developing country suffer the highest burden of pneumonia. However, few studies have evaluated associations between poverty and pneumonia.

Methods

A prospective population-based study on pneumonia was carried out as part of the Latin America Epidemiological Assessment of Pneumococcus (LEAP study). Chest x-rays were obtained for children one to 35 months old with suspected pneumonia presenting to emergency care centers and hospital emergency rooms in Goiania, Brazil. Chest radiographs were evaluated according to WHO guidelines. Clustering of radiologically-confirmed pneumonia were evaluated using a Poisson-based spatial scan statistic. Associations between census socioeconomic indicators and pneumonia incidence rates were analyzed using generalized linear models.

Results

From May, 2007 to May, 2009, chest radiographs were obtained from 11 521 children with clinical pneumonia; 3955 episodes were classified as radiologically-confirmed. Incidence rates were significantly higher in very low income areas (4825.2 per 105) compared to high income areas (1637.3 per 105). Spatial analysis identified clustering of confirmed pneumonia in Western (RR 1.78; p = 0.001) and Southeast (RR 1.46; p = 0.001) regions of the city, and clustering of hospitalized pneumonia in the Western region (RR 1.69; p = 0.001). Lower income households and illiteracy were associated with pneumonia incidence.

Conclusions

In infants the risk of developing pneumonia is inversely associated with the head of household income and with the woman educational level. Areas with deprived socioeconomic conditions had higher incidence of pneumonia and should be targeted for high vaccination coverage.
Alternative health care consultations in Ontario, Canada: A geographic and socio-demographic analysis
Authors: Williams Allison M , Kitchen Peter , Eby Jeanette
Published: June 2011

Background

An important but understudied component of Canada's health system is alternative care. The objective of this paper is to examine the geographic and socio-demographic characteristics of alternative care consultation in Ontario, Canada's largest province.

Methods

Data is drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS Cycle 3.1, 2005) for people aged 18 or over (n = 32,598) who had a consultation with an alternative health care provider. Four groups of consultations are examined: (1) all consultations (2) massage therapy (3) acupuncture, and (4) homeopath/naturopath. Descriptive statistics, mapping and logistic regression modeling are employed to analyze the data and to compare modalities of alternative health care use.

Results

In 2005, more than 1.2 million adults aged 18 or over consulted an alternative health care provider, representing about 13% of the total population of Ontario. The analysis revealed a varied geographic pattern of consultations across the province. Consultations were fairly even across the urban to rural continuum and rural residents were just as likely to consult a provider as their urban counterparts. From a health perspective, people with a chronic condition, lower health status and self-perceived unmet health care needs were more likely to see an alternative health provider. Women with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome and chemical sensitivities were more likely to see an alternative provider if they felt their health care needs were not being met.

Conclusions

The analysis revealed that geography is not a factor in determining alternative health care consultations in Ontario. By contrast, there is a strong association between these consultations and socio-demographic characteristics particularly age, sex, education, health and self-perceived unmet health care needs. The results underscore the importance of women's health needs as related to alternative care use. The paper concludes that there is a need for more place-specific research that explores the reasons why people use specific types of alternative health care as tied to socio-economic status, health, place of residence, and knowledge of these treatments.
Increased serum myeloid-related protein 8/14 level is associated with atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Peng Wen Hui , Jian Wei Xia , Li Hai Ling , Hou Lei , Wei Yi Dong , Li Wei Ming , Xu Ya Wei
Published: June 2011

Background

Myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) is a stable heterodimer formed by two different calcium-binding proteins (MRP8 and MRP14). Studies have identified that MRP8/14 regulates vascular inflammation and serves as a novel marker of acute coronary syndrome. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between serum levels of MRP8/14, hsCRP, endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end-products (esRAGE) and the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD), or carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) when CAD was not yet developed in diabetic patients.

Methods

Serum levels of MRP8/14, esRAGE and hsCRP were measured in 375 diabetic patients. Then the results of those who had CAD were compared against who had not. Also, we investigated the associations between above-mentioned indicators and IMT of subjects without CAD in both diabetic group and non-diabetic one.

Results

Serum MRP8/14 was significantly higher in CAD than in non-CAD group (9.7 ± 3.6 ug/ml vs. 8.2 ± 3.0 ug/ml, P < 0.001). It was associated with severity of CAD (r = 0.16, P = 0.026). In non-CAD group, MRP8/14 was associated with IMT in patients with (r = 0.30, P < 0.001) or without diabetes (r = 0.26, P = 0.015). The areas under the curves of receiver operating characteristic for CAD were 0.63 (95% CI 0.57-0.68) for MRP8/14, 0.76 (95% CI 0.71-0.81) for hsCRP and 0.62 (95% CI 0.56 -0.67) for esRAGE.

Conclusion

In summary, we report that diabetic patients with CAD had elevated plasma MRP8/14 levels which were also positively correlated with the severity of CAD and carotid IMT in patients without clinically overt CAD.
Temporal trends in serum concentrations of polychlorinated dioxins, furans, and PCBs among adult women living in Chapaevsk, Russia: a longitudinal study from 2000 to 2009
Authors: Humblet Olivier , Sergeyev Oleg , Altshul Larisa , Korrick Susan A , Williams Paige L , Emond Claude , Birnbaum Linda S , Burns Jane S , Lee Mary M , Revich Boris , Shelepchikov Andrey , Feshin Denis , Hauser Russ
Published: June 2011

Background

The present study assessed the temporal trend in serum concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls (PCBs) among residents of a Russian town where levels of these chemicals are elevated due to prior industrial activity.

Methods

Two serum samples were collected from eight adult women (in 2000 and 2009), and analyzed with gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Results

The average total toxic equivalency (TEQ) decreased by 30% (from 36 to 25 pg/g lipid), and the average sum of PCB congeners decreased by 19% (from 291 to 211 ng/g lipid). Total TEQs decreased for seven of the eight women, and the sum of PCBs decreased for six of eight women. During this nine year period, larger decreases in serum TEQs and PCBs were found in women with greater increases in body mass index.

Conclusions

This study provides suggestive evidence that average serum concentrations of dioxins, furans, and PCBs are decreasing over time among residents of this town.
Vertex maps on graphs-trace theorems
Authors: Bernhardt Chris
Published: June 2011

The paper proves two theorems concerning the traces of Oriented Markov Matrices of vertex maps on graphs. These are then used to give a Sharkoksky-type result for maps that are homotopic to the identity and that flip at least one edge.

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification

37E15, 37E25
Developmental regulation of the neuroinflammatory responses to LPS and/or hypoxia-ischemia between preterm and term neonates: An experimental study
Authors: Brochu Marie-Elsa , Girard Sylvie , Lavoie Karine , Sébire Guillaume
Published: June 2011

Background

Preterm and term newborns are at high risk of brain damage as well as subsequent cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. Indeed, hypoxia-ischemia (HI), pathogen exposures, and associated intracerebral increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines have all been linked to perinatal brain damage. However, the developmental effects of potential variations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine ratios remain unknown.

Methods

Using rat models of perinatal brain damage induced by exposures to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or HI at distinct levels of maturity, we compared cytokine expression at stages of cerebral development equivalent to either preterm (postnatal day 1, P1) or term (P12) newborns.

Results

At P1, expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine within the brain was either not modulated (IL-6, IL-10) or down-regulated (IL-1ra, TGF-β1) by HI, LPS or LPS+HI. In contrast, there was at P12 an up-regulation of all anti-inflammatory cytokines studied in HI or LPS+HI condition, but not after LPS exposure. Interestingly, IL-1β was the main pro-inflammatory cytokine up-regulated moderately at P1, and strongly at P12, with a weak co-expression of TNF-α observed mainly at P12. These age-dependant inflammatory reactions were also accompanied, under HI and LPS+HI conditions, at P12 only, by combined: (i) expression of chemokines CINC-1 and MCP-1, (ii) blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, and (iii) intracerebral recruitment of systemic immune cells such as neutrophils. In contrast, sole LPS induced IL-1β responses mainly within white matter at P1 and mainly within gray matter at P12, that were only associated with early MCP-1 (but no CINC-1) induction at both ages, without any recruitment of neutrophils and CD68+ cells.

Conclusion

HI and LPS+HI induce pro-inflammatory oriented immune responses in both preterm and term like brains, with a maximal inflammatory response triggered by the combination of LPS+HI. The profile of these neuroinflammatory responses presented striking variations according to age: no or down-regulated anti-inflammatory responses associated with mainly IL-1β release in preterm-like brains (P1), in sharp contrast to term-like brains (P12) presenting stronger anti-and pro-inflammatory responses, including both IL-1β and TNF-α releases, and BBB leakage. These developmental-dependant variations of neuroinflammatory response could contribute to the differential pattern of brain lesions observed across gestational ages in humans. This also highlights the necessity to take into consideration the maturation stage, of both brain and immune systems, in order to develop new anti-inflammatory neuroprotective strategies.
Array-based techniques for fingerprinting medicinal herbs
Authors: Niu Linhai , Mantri Nitin , Li Chun Guang , Xue Charlie , Pang Edwin
Published: June 2011

Poor quality control of medicinal herbs has led to instances of toxicity, poisoning and even deaths. The fundamental step in quality control of herbal medicine is accurate identification of herbs. Array-based techniques have recently been adapted to authenticate or identify herbal plants. This article reviews the current array-based techniques, eg oligonucleotides microarrays, gene-based probe microarrays, Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH)-based arrays, Diversity Array Technology (DArT) and Subtracted Diversity Array (SDA). We further compare these techniques according to important parameters such as markers, polymorphism rates, restriction enzymes and sample type. The applicability of the array-based methods for fingerprinting depends on the availability of genomics and genetics of the species to be fingerprinted. For the species with few genome sequence information but high polymorphism rates, SDA techniques are particularly recommended because they require less labour and lower material cost.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection alters endogenous retrovirus expression in distinct brain regions of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Greenwood Alex D , Vincendeau Michelle , Schmädicke Ann-Christin , Montag Judith , Seifarth Wolfgang , Motzkus Dirk
Published: June 2011

Background

Prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE) are transmissible neurodegenerative diseases which are presumably caused by an infectious conformational isoform of the cellular prion protein. Previous work has provided evidence that in murine prion disease the endogenous retrovirus (ERV) expression is altered in the brain. To determine if prion-induced changes in ERV expression are a general phenomenon we used a non-human primate model for prion disease.

Results

Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fasicularis) were infected intracerebrally with BSE-positive brain stem material from cattle and allowed to develop prion disease. Brain tissue from the basis pontis and vermis cerebelli of the six animals and the same regions from four healthy controls were subjected to ERV expression profiling using a retrovirus-specific microarray and quantitative real-time PCR. We could show that Class I gammaretroviruses HERV-E4-1, ERV-9, and MacERV-4 increase expression in BSE-infected macaques. In a second approach, we analysed ERV-K-(HML-2) RNA and protein expression in extracts from the same cynomolgus macaques. Here we found a significant downregulation of both, the macaque ERV-K-(HML-2) Gag protein and RNA in the frontal/parietal cortex of BSE-infected macaques.

Conclusions

We provide evidence that dysregulation of ERVs in response to BSE-infection can be detected on both, the RNA and the protein level. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the differential expression of ERV-derived structural proteins in prion disorders. Our findings suggest that endogenous retroviruses may induce or exacerbate the pathological consequences of prion-associated neurodegeneration.
Proteomic patterns of cervical cancer cell lines, a network perspective
Authors: Higareda-Almaraz Juan Carlos , Enríquez-Gasca María delRocío , Hernández-Ortiz Magdalena , Resendis-Antonio Osbaldo , Encarnación-Guevara Sergio
Published: June 2011

Background

Cervical cancer is a major mortality factor in the female population. This neoplastic is an excellent model for studying the mechanisms involved in cancer maintenance, because the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the etiology factor in most cases. With the purpose of characterizing the effects of malignant transformation in cellular activity, proteomic studies constitute a reliable way to monitor the biological alterations induced by this disease. In this contextual scheme, a systemic description that enables the identification of the common events between cell lines of different origins, is required to distinguish the essence of carcinogenesis.

Results

With this study, we sought to achieve a systemic perspective of the common proteomic profile of six cervical cancer cell lines, both positive and negative for HPV, and which differ from the profile corresponding to the non-tumourgenic cell line, HaCaT. Our objectives were to identify common cellular events participating in cancer maintenance, as well as the establishment of a pipeline to work with proteomic-derived results. We analyzed by means of 2D SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry the protein extracts of six cervical cancer cell lines, from which we identified a consensus of 66 proteins. We call this group of proteins, the "central core of cervical cancer". Starting from this core set of proteins, we acquired a PPI network that pointed, through topological analysis, to some proteins that may well be playing a central role in the neoplastic process, such as 14-3-3ζ.In silicooverrepresentation analysis of transcription factors pointed to the overexpression of c-Myc, Max and E2F1 as key transcription factors involved in orchestrating the neoplastic phenotype.

Conclusions

Our findings show that there is a "central core of cervical cancer" protein expression pattern, and suggest that 14-3-3ζ is key to determine if the cell proliferates or dies. In addition, our bioinformatics analysis suggests that the neoplastic phenotype is governed by a non-canonical regulatory pathway.
Discrete derivative: a data slicing algorithm for exploration of sharing biological networks between rheumatoid arthritis and coronary heart disease
Authors: Zheng Guang , Jiang Miao , He Xiaojuan , Zhao Jing , Guo Hongtao , Chen Gao , Zha Qinglin , Lu Aiping
Published: June 2011

Background

One important concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is "treating different diseases with the same therapy". In TCM practice, some patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and some other patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) can be treated with similar therapies. This suggests that there might be something commonly existed between RA and CHD, for example, biological networks or biological basis. As the amount of biomedical data in leading databases (i.e., PubMed, SinoMed, etc.) is growing at an exponential rate, it might be possible to get something interesting and meaningful through the techniques developed in data mining.

Results

Based on the large data sets of Western medicine literature (PubMed) and traditional Chinese medicine literature (SinoMed), by applying data slicing algorithm in text mining, we retrieved some simple and meaningful networks. The Chinese herbs used in treatment of both RA and CHD, might affect the commonly existed networks between RA and CHD. This might support the TCM concept of treating different diseases with the same therapy.

Conclusions

First, the data mining results might show the positive answer that there are biological basis/networks commonly existed in both RA and CHD. Second, there are basic Chinese herbs used in the treatment of both RA and CHD. Third, these commonly existed networks might be affected by the basic Chinese herbs. Forth, discrete derivative, the data slicing algorithm is feasible in mining out useful data from literature of PubMed and SinoMed.
Correlation between endothelial function and carotid atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients with long-standing disease
Authors: González-Juanatey Carlos , Llorca Javier , González-Gay Miguel A
Published: June 2011

Introduction

In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT), two surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, in a series of Spanish patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without clinically evident cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Methods

One hundred eighteen patients who fulfilled the 1987 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for RA, had no history of CV disease and had at least one year of follow-up after disease diagnosis were randomly selected. Brachial and carotid ultrasonography were performed to determine FMD and carotid IMT, respectively.

Results

Carotid IMT values were higher and FMD percentages derived by performing ultrasonography were lower in individuals with a long duration from the time of disease diagnosis. Patients with a disease duration ≤ 7 years had significantly lower carotid IMT (mean ± SD) 0.69 ± 0.17 mm than those with long disease duration (0.81 ± 0.12 mm in patients with ≥ 20 years of follow-up). Also, patients with a long disease duration had severe endothelial dysfunction (FMD 4.0 ± 4.0% in patients with disease duration from 14.5 to 19.7 years) compared with those with shorter disease duration (FMD 7.4 ± 3.8% in patients with disease duration ≤ 7 years). Linear regression analysis revealed that carotid IMT was unrelated to FMD in the whole sample of 118 patients. However, carotid IMT was negatively associated with FMD when the time from disease diagnosis ranged from 7.5 to 19.7 years (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

In patients with RA without CV disease, endothelial dysfunction and carotid IMT increased with the duration of RA. The association between FMD and carotid IMT values was observed only in patients with long disease duration.
Security risk assessments in public transport networks
Authors: Sánchez M M
Published: June 2011

This article presents a research that was aimed at developing a better understanding of current threats and how to conduct risk assessments in public transport networks by following generic guidelines that can be adapted according to each organization's needs. The aim is to facilitate the task of identifying threats and conduct a vulnerability analysis to help decision makers to prioritize resources in a systematic manner and consequently increase resilience. This article also highlights the main benefits and constraints of performing risk assessments and how the results of risk assessments can be used as a solid foundation for a structured, analytically clear, and systematic approach to security planning for a public transport network.

In addition to the summary of the above research, a questionnaire was distributed among three main operators in Europe to gain more insight about the current state of the art in risk assessments in public transport systems. Key aspects of the research can be found presented as Guidelines for Users in the accompanying papers by Barr and Luyten.
Comparison of injectors for compression ignition of natural gas with entrained diesel
Authors: Brown B S , Laforet C A , Rogak S N , Munsh S R
Published: June 2011

New fuel injector prototypes for heavy-duty engines have been developed to use direct-injection natural gas with small amounts of entrained diesel as an ignition promoter. This ‘co-injection’ is different from other dual-fuel engine systems, where diesel and gas are introduced separately. Two co-injectors were compared with a Westport HPDI injector that injects diesel and gas through separate systems into the cylinder. All injectors have identical gas-nozzle geometry and inject fuel into the cylinder near top-dead-centre, but differ in the manner of introducing the diesel. Both co-injectors introduce diesel into the gas plenum before the gas needle is actuated, causing a two-phase gas-blast injection. The first co-injector (‘B’) injects the diesel with relatively high velocity into the gas plenum, which probably disperses it over a large volume inside the injector. The second prototype (‘CS’) introduces the diesel at very low velocity so that it may remain near the needle seat prior to injection.

The injectors were tested in a 2.5-litre single-cylinder engine with 17:1 compression ratio. Load varied from 6 to 13 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure. Temperature-controlled exhaust-gas recirculation of 0 or 30 per cent was used.

Co-injection of natural gas and diesel can increase the ignition delay relative to the HPDI system (which uses a pure diesel pilot injection). The HPDI and CS injectors required 7–15 per cent diesel fuelling (by energy), while B required 9 to 20 per cent diesel fuelling. All injectors yielded the same fuel economy (within 2 per cent). However, premixed diesel, gas, and air can burn rapidly enough to produce knock. Knock was typically inaudible (below 3 bar intensity) and greatly reduced for conditions with exhaust-gas recirculation. With co-injector CS, all gaseous emissions could be brought very close to those of the HDPIJ36 injector, but co-injector B resulted in high hydrocarbon and CO emissions at low load. Particulate emissions from the co-injectors were slightly lower than for the J36 injector, possibly due to more fuel/air premixing prior to ignition.
Ethical and legal issues in organ transplantation: Indian scenario
Authors: Mathiharan Karunakaran
Published: June 2011

In 1994, the Government of India enacted the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) to prevent commercial dealings in human organs. However, a greater number of scandals involving medical practitioners and others in the kidney trade has surfaced periodically in every state in India. The present regulatory system has failed mainly due to the misuse of Section 9(3) of the THOA, which approves the consent given by a live unrelated donor for the removal of organs for the reason of affection or attachment towards the recipient or for any other special reason. Currently in India, approximately 3500–4000 kidney transplants and 150–200 liver transplants are performed annually. However, the availability of organs from brain-dead persons is very low. As a result, live related or unrelated donors form the main source of organ transplantation. Therefore, physicians and policy-makers should re-examine the value of introducing regulated incentive-based organ donation to increase the supply of organs for transplantation and to end unlawful financial transaction.
Distribution of Nutrients Among Soil–Plant Pools in ‘Tifton 85’ Bermudagrass Pastures Grazed at Different Intensities
Authors: Liu Kesi , Sollenberger Lynn E. , Silveira Maria L. , Vendramini João M.B. , Newman Yoana C.
Published: June 2011

Choice of grazing intensity (i.e., stocking rate or grazed sward height) has an important role in the functioning of grassland ecosystems; however, the effect of grazing intensity on size and relative importance of various grassland nutrient pools is not well understood. The objective of this 2‐yr study, conducted on soils from the Plummer and Sparr series, was to determine the effect of stubble height after grazing (SH) on nutrient distribution among plant and soil (0‐ to 20‐cm depth) nutrient pools in ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) pastures. Swards were stocked rotationally and grazed every 28 d to SH of 8, 16, and 24 cm. Green herbage, plant litter, and root–rhizome pool masses increased as SH increased. Plant nutrient concentrations (g kg−1) were relatively unresponsive to SH, but soil C and N concentrations increased by 23 and 34%, respectively, as SH increased. Nutrient content (kg ha−1) of all plant pools increased as SH increased, mainly a function of increasing pool mass. Soil pool P and K content (Mehlich‐1) were not affected by SH, but total C (17%) and N (27%) content increased with taller SH. The soil pool to 20 cm contained approximately 40, 85, 90, and 80% of K, P, N, and C, respectively. Reducing grazing intensity of Tifton 85 bermudagrass pastures appears to be a viable strategy for increasing nutrient content of most plant pools and for increasing the N and C content of the soil pool.
Divergent Mass Selection for Leaf Chlorophyll Content Measured Using Chlorophyll Meter Readings in a Maize Composite Population
Authors: Korkovelos A. E. , Goulas C. K.
Published: June 2011

Leaf chlorophyll content is correlated with photosynthetic activity indicators and leaf nitrogen concentration. Three cycles of divergent mass selection for chlorophyll content were performed to estimate heritability, response to selection, and correlated changes in grain yield for these traits in a synthetic maize (Zea mays L.) population. Selection for high and low chlorophyll content was performed in the field using the SPAD chlorophyll meter, and response to selection was measured in field evaluations of the C0, C1, C2, and C3 populations. The divergent selection responses cycle−1 were 1.2 SPAD unit increase versus 0.2 decrease at anthesis and 0.9 increase versus 0.9 decrease at grain‐filling period relative to the base average of 55.9 and 53.5, respectively. The C3 high and low selections showed significant differences in chlorophyll content at anthesis and grain filling stages, but no significant selection indirect response was detected for grain yield. Thus, our data indicate that leaf chlorophyll content is heritable and that it can be manipulated through conventional breeding methodology. Additional cycles of chlorophyll content selection are needed to determine if chlorophyll content will be useful as an indirect selection criterion for yield improvement.