bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What do spring migrants reveal about sex and host selection in the melon aphid?
Authors: Thomas Sophie , Boissot Nathalie , Vanlerberghe-Masutti Flavie
Published: April 2012

Background

Host plants exert considerable selective pressure on aphids because the plants constitute their feeding, mating and oviposition sites. Therefore, host specialisation in aphids evolves through selection of the behavioural and chemical mechanisms of host-plant location and recognition, and through metabolic adaptation to the phloem content of the host plant. How these adaptive traits evolve in an aphid species depends on the complexity of the annual life cycle of that species. The purpose of this field study was to determine how winged spring-migrant populations contribute to the evolution and maintenance of host specialisation inAphis gossypiithrough host-plant choice and acceptance. We also assessed whether host-specialised genotypes corresponded exclusively to anholocyclic lineages regardless of the environmental conditions.

Results

The spring populations of cotton-melon aphids visiting newly planted melon crops exhibited an unexpectedly high level of genetic diversity that contrasted with the very low diversity characterising the host-specialised populations of this aphid species. This study illustratedin naturahost-plant-selection pressure by showing the great differences in genetic diversity between the spring-migrant populations (alate aphids) and the melon-infesting populations (the apterous offspring of the alate aphids). Moreover, an analysis of the genetic composition of these alate and apterous populations in four geographic regions suggested differences in life-history strategies, such as host choice and reproductive mode, and questioned the common assertion thatA. gossypiiis an anholocyclic species throughout its distribution area, including Europe.

Conclusions

Our results clearly demonstrate that the melon plant acts as a selective filter against the reproduction of non-specialised individuals. We showed that olfactory cues are unlikely to be decisivein naturafor host recognition by spring-migrant aphid populations that are not specialised on Cucurbitaceae. The agroecosystem structure and history of the four studied regions may have partially shaped the genetic structure of the spring-migrant populations ofA. gossypii. Cucurbitaceae-specialised genotypes corresponded exclusively to anholocyclic lineages, regardless of the environmental conditions. However, some genotypes that were genetically close to the host-specialised genotypes and some genotypes that probably originated from wild plants had never been previously sampled; both were holocylic.
tkt1, located on a novel pathogenicity island, is prevalent in avian and human extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Li Ganwu , Kariyawasam Subhashinie , Tivendale Kelly A , Wannemuehler Yvonne , Ewers Christa , Wieler Lothar H , Logue Catherine M , Nolan Lisa K
Published: April 2012

Background

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli are important pathogens of human and animal hosts. Some human and avian extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli are indistinguishable on the basis of diseases caused, multilocus sequence and phylogenetic typing, carriage of large virulence plasmids and traits known to be associated with extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli virulence.

Results

The gene tkt1 identified by a previous signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis study, was found on a 16-kb genomic island of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) O1, the first pathogenic Escherichia coli strain whose genome has been completely sequenced. tkt1 was present in 39.6% (38/96) of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, while only 6.25% (3/48) of E. coli from the feces of apparently healthy chickens was positive. Further, tkt1 was predominantly present in extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli belonging to the B2 phylogenetic group, as compared to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli of other phylogenetic groups. The tkt1-containing genomic island is inserted between the metE and ysgA genes of the E. coli K12 genome. Among different extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli of the B2 phylogenetic group, 61.7% of pathogenic Escherichia coli, 80.6% of human uropathogenic E.coli and 94.1% of human neonatal meningitis-causing E. coli, respectively, harbor a complete copy of this island; whereas, only a few avian fecal E. coli strains contained the complete island. Functional analysis showed that Tkt1 confers very little transketolase activity but is involved in peptide nitrogen metabolism.

Conclusion

These results suggest tkt1 and its corresponding genomic island are frequently associated with avian and human ExPEC and are involved in bipeptide metabolism.
Mutations in the potassium channel subunit KCNE1 are associated with early-onset familial atrial fibrillation
Authors: Olesen Morten S , Bentzen Bo H , Nielsen Jonas B , Steffensen Annette B , David Jens-Peter , Jabbari Javad , Jensen Henrik K , Haunsø Stig , Svendsen Jesper H , Schmitt Nicole
Published: April 2012

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. The potassium current IKsis essential for cardiac repolarization. Gain-of-function mutations in KV7.1, the pore-forming α-subunit of the IKschannel, have been associated with AF. We hypothesized that early-onset lone AF is associated with mutations in the IKschannel regulatory subunit KCNE1.

Methods

In 209 unrelated early-onset lone AF patients (< 40 years) the entire coding sequence ofKCNE1was bidirectionally sequenced. We analyzed the identified KCNE1 mutants electrophysiologically in heterologous expression systems.

Results

Two non-synonymous mutations G25V and G60D were found inKCNE1that were not present in the control group (n = 432 alleles) and that have not previously been reported in any publicly available databases or in the exom variant server holding exom data from more than 10.000 alleles. Proband 1 (female, age 45, G25V) had onset of paroxysmal AF at the age of 39 years. Proband 2 (G60D) was diagnosed with lone AF at the age of 33 years. The patient has inherited the mutation from his mother, who also has AF. Both probands had no mutations in genes previously associated with AF. In heterologous expression systems, both mutants showed significant gain-of-function for IKsboth with respect to steady-state current levels, kinetic parameters, and heart rate-dependent modulation.

Conclusions

Mutations in KV7.1 leading to gain-of-function of IKscurrent have previously been described in lone AF, yet this is the first time a mutation in the beta-subunitKCNE1is associated with the disease. This finding further supports the hypothesis that increased potassium current enhances AF susceptibility.
Extending the sufficient component cause model to describe the Stable Unit Treatment Value Assumption (SUTVA)
Authors: Schwartz Sharon , Gatto Nicolle M , Campbell Ulka B
Published: April 2012

Causal inference requires an understanding of the conditions under which association equals causation. The exchangeability or no confounding assumption is well known and well understood as central to this task. More recently the epidemiologic literature has described additional assumptions related to the stability of causal effects. In this paper we extend the Sufficient Component Cause Model to represent one expression of this stability assumption--the Stable Unit Treatment Value Assumption. Approaching SUTVA from an SCC model helps clarify what SUTVA is and reinforces the connections between interaction and SUTVA.
Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of lung in adults: 2 rare cases report and review of the literature
Authors: Feng Anning , Cai Hourong , Sun Qi , Zhang Yifen , Chen Lulu , Meng Fanqing
Published: April 2012

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), also named congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), is a congenital abnormality of lung which is uncommon in adults. Here we present 2 adult cases of CCAM with unusual clinical and pathologic findings. One case was complicated with aspergillosis which was seldom reported. The other case was suffered bilateral lesions and the patient's mother had been previously radiographically discovered bilateral cystic lesions that CCAM could not be ruled out. A review of currently published related literatures has also been provided.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/6406766736634578.
Hippocampal function is not required for the precision of remote place memory
Authors: Kitamura Takashi , Okubo-Suzuki Reiko , Takashima Noriko , Murayama Akiko , Hino Toshiaki , Nishizono Hirofumi , Kida Satoshi , Inokuchi Kaoru
Published: April 2012

Background

During permanent memory formation, recall of acquired place memories initially depends on the hippocampus and eventually become hippocampus-independent with time. It has been suggested that the quality of original place memories also transforms from a precise form to a less precise form with similar time course. The question arises of whether the quality of original place memories is determined by brain regions on which the memory depends.

Results

To directly test this idea, we introduced a new procedure: a non-associative place recognition memory test in mice. Combined with genetic and pharmacological approaches, our analyses revealed that place memory is precisely maintained for 28 days, although the recall of place memory shifts from hippocampus-dependent to hippocampus-independent with time. Moreover, the inactivation of the hippocampal function does not inhibit the precision of remote place memory.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the quality of place memories is not determined by brain regions on which the memory depends.
Strategies for modulating the inflammatory response after decompression from abdominal compartment syndrome
Authors: Shah Shinil K , Jimenez Fernando , Letourneau Phillip A , Walker Peter A , Moore-Olufemi Stacey D , Stewart Randolph H , Laine Glen A , Cox Charles S
Published: April 2012

Background

Management of the open abdomen is an increasingly common part of surgical practice. The purpose of this review is to examine the scientific background for the use of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) in the open abdomen as a way to modulate the local and systemic inflammatory response, with an emphasis on decompression after abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS).

Methods

A review of the relevant English language literature was conducted. Priority was placed on articles published within the last 5 years.

Results/Conclusion

Recent data from our group and others have begun to lay the foundation for the concept of TAC as a method to modulate the local and/or systemic inflammatory response in patients with an open abdomen resulting from ACS.
Differential gene expression in gall midge susceptible rice genotypes revealed by suppressive subtraction hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries and microarray analysis
Authors: Rawat Nidhi , Neeraja Chiruvuri Naga , Nair Suresh , Bentur Jagadish S
Published: April 2012

Background

A major pest of rice, the Asian rice gall midge (Orseolia oryzae Wood-Mason), causes significant yield losses in the rice growing regions throughout Asia. Feeding by the larvae induces susceptible plants to produce nutritive tissue to support growth and development. In order to identify molecular signatures during compatible interactions, genome wide transcriptional profiling was performed using SSH library and microarray technology.

Results

Results revealed up-regulation of genes related to primary metabolism, nutrient relocation, cell organization and DNA synthesis. Concomitantly, defense, secondary metabolism and signaling genes were suppressed. Further, real-time PCR validation of a selected set of 20 genes, in three susceptible rice varieties (TN1, Kavya and Suraksha) during the interaction with the respective virulent gall midge biotypes, also revealed variation in gene expression in Kavya as compared to TN1 and Suraksha.

Conclusions

These studies showed that virulent insects induced the plants to step up metabolism and transport nutrients to their feeding site and suppressed defense responses. But Kavya rice mounted an elevated defense response during early hours of virulent gall midge infestation, which was over-powered later, resulting in host plant susceptibility.
Bacterial microcosms obey Taylor's law: effects of abiotic and biotic stress and genetics on mean and variance of population density
Authors: Kaltz Oliver , Escobar-Páramo Patricia , Hochberg Michael E , Cohen Joel E
Published: April 2012

Introduction

According to the empirical regularity called Taylor's law, the variance of population density in samples of populations is a power of the mean population density. The exponent is often between 1 and 2. Our experiments investigated how genetics, evolution, and environment shape Taylor's law.

Methods

Genetically different strains (wild type and hypermutator) of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens evolved and were assayed under different environmental conditions (with and without antibiotic rifampicin and bacteriophage SBW25φ2, separately and in combination).

Results

Experimental treatments altered the exponent b, but not the power law form, of the relation between variance and mean population density. Bacterial populations treated only with rifampicin had a narrow range of mean population densities and exponent b = 5.43. Populations exposed to rifampicin plus phage had b = 1.51. In ancestral, control, and phage-exposed populations, mean abundance varied widely and b was not significantly different from 2. Evolutionary factors (mutation rate, selection) and ecological factors (abiotic, biotic) jointly influenced b.

Conclusions

Taylor's power law relationship accurately and robustly described variance as a function of mean population density, with overall exponent b = 1.89. These and other experiments with different factors acting on bacterial population size support the relevance of models that predict 'universal' patterns of fluctuation scaling.
Effects of palmitoylethanolamide on intestinal injury and inflammation caused by ischemia-reperfusion in mice
Authors: Di Paola Rosanna , Impellizzeri Daniela , Torre Agata , Mazzon Emanuela , Cappellani Alessandro , Faggio Caterina , Esposito Emanuela , Trischitta Francesca , Cuzzocrea Salvatore
Published: April 2012

Our primary aim in this study was to test the hypothesis that PEA, a member of the fatty acid ethanolamide family and an endogenous PPAR-α ligand, exerts anti-inflammatory effects on SAO shock, causing a severe form of circulatory shock and enhanced formation of ROS. SAO shock was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk, resulting in a total occlusion of these arteries for 30 min. After this period of occlusion, the clamps were removed. In this study, we demonstrated that the administration of PEA, 5 min before reperfusion, significantly reduced all of the parameters involved during inflammation, such as proinflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, P-selectin) expression, NF-κB expression, and apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2, TUNEL assay) activation. In addition, to study whether the protective action of PEA on SAO shock is also related to the activation of PPAR-α, we have investigated the effect of PEA in PPAR-α KO mice subjected to SAO shock. Our study clearly demonstrates that PEA significantly attenuated the degree of intestinal injury and inflammation caused by I/R injury. Moreover, the positive effects of PEA were at least in part dependent on the PPAR-α pathway. The results clearly indicate that PEA exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, also in a SAO shock model, which could imply a future use of PEA in the treatment of I/R shock.
Seismic velocity and attenuation structures of the Queen Charlotte Basin from full-waveform tomography of seismic reflection data
Authors: Takam Takougang E. M. , Calvert A. J.
Published: April 2012

We applied viscoacoustic waveform tomography to four seismic reflection lines from the central and northern part of the Queen Charlotte sedimentary basin and, using frequencies of 7–12 Hz, we estimated the compressional velocity and attenuation above a depth of approximately 1.2 km. We refined our previously published inversion strategy by alternating between phase-only and amplitude-plus-phase velocity inversion for the first two pairs of frequencies used, and added a second step, in which we inverted for attenuation from the lowest frequency using the final recovered velocity model and an initial homogeneous [Formula: see text]-model. Our recovered velocity and attenuation models demonstrated an overall good correlation with the available sonic and gamma-ray logs. Modeled seismic data matches the field data well and 1D velocity and attenuation profiles extracted at line intersections show a good correlation, thus demonstrating the robust nature of the results. Recovered velocities aid in interpreting shallow structures not readily identifiable on the conventional migration such as Quaternary strata and Pliocene faulting. Recovered attenuation values in the sedimentary rocks are generally consistent with saturated sandstones and consistent with the geology interpreted from well logs. Localized regions of elevated attenuation and associated low velocities correlate with siltstones and shales, the presence of hydrocarbons, or inferred increases in porosity due to fracturing. Seafloor pockmarks, where venting of gas occurs, are underlain by low velocities and an anomalous attenuation variation, and pipe-like gas chimneys are interpreted in two other areas of Hecate Strait. Igneous basement is associated with high velocity and high attenuation in its uppermost part, suggesting the presence of volcanic rocks, but the elevated attenuation may also be due to scattering and elastic mode conversions not included in the viscoacoustic inversion.
COUP-TFII controls amygdala patterning by regulating neuropilin expression
Authors: Tang Ke , Rubenstein John L. R. , Tsai Sophia Y. , Tsai Ming-Jer
Published: April 2012

The development of the progenitor zones in the pallium, lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) and medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) in the subpallium has been well studied; however, so far the role of the caudal ganglionic eminence (CGE), a posterior subpallial domain, in telencephalon patterning remains poorly understood. COUP-TFII, an orphan nuclear receptor, is preferentially expressed in the CGE. We generated COUP-TFII mouse mutants, using Rx-Cre (RxCre;COUP-TFIIF/F), to study its function in telencephalon development. In these mutants, we found severe defects in the formation of the amygdala complex, including the lateral (LA), basolateral (BLA) and basomedial (BMA) amygdala nuclei. Molecular analysis provided evidence that the migration of CGE-derived Pax6+ cells failed to settle into the BMA nucleus, owing to reduced expression of neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) and Nrp2, two semaphorin receptors that regulate neuronal cell migration and axon guidance. Our ChIP assays revealed that Nrp1 and Nrp2 genes are the direct targets of COUP-TFII in the telencephalon in vivo. Furthermore, our results showed that the coordinated development between the CGE originated subpallial population (Pax6+ cells) and pallial populations (Tbr1+ and Lhx2+ cells) was essential for patterning the amygdala assembly. Our study presented novel genetic evidence that the caudal ganglionic eminence, a distinct subpallial progenitor zone, contributes cells to the basal telencephalon, such as the BMA nucleus.
STUNTEDmediates the control of cell proliferation by GA inArabidopsis
Authors: Lee Li Yen Candy , Hou Xingliang , Fang Lei , Fan Shuguo , Kumar Prakash P. , Yu Hao
Published: April 2012

Gibberellins (GA) are an important family of plant growth regulators, which are essential for many aspects of plant growth and development. In the GA signaling pathway, the action of GA is opposed by a group of DELLA family repressors, such as RGA. Although the mechanisms of action of the DELLA proteins have been studied in great detail, the effectors that act downstream of DELLA proteins and bring about GA-responsive growth and development remain largely unknown. In this study, we have characterized STUNTED (STU), a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK) VI family gene, which is ubiquitously detectable in all the tissues examined. RGA activity and GA signaling specifically mediate the levels of STU transcripts in shoot apices that contain actively dividing cells. stu-1 loss-of-function mutants exhibit retarded growth in many aspects of plant development. During the vegetative phase, stu-1 seedlings develop smaller leaves and shorter roots than wild-type seedlings, while during the reproductive phase, stu-1 exhibits delayed floral transition and lower fertility. The reduced stature of stu-1 partly results from a reduction in cell proliferation. Furthermore, we present evidence that STU serves as an important regulator mediating the control of cell proliferation by GA possibly through two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, SIM and SMR1. Taken together, our results suggest that STU acts downstream of RGA and promotes cell proliferation in the GA pathway.
Association of Malodorous Urine With Urinary Tract Infection in Children Aged 1 to 36 Months
Authors: Gauthier Marie , Gouin Serge , Phan Véronique , Gravel Jocelyn
Published: April 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether parental reporting of malodorous urine is associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) in children.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective consecutive cohort study in the emergency department of a pediatric hospital from July 31, 2009 to April 30, 2011. All children aged between 1 and 36 months for whom a urine culture was prescribed for suspected UTI (ie, unexplained fever, irritability, or vomiting) were assessed for eligibility. A standardized questionnaire was administered to the parents by a research assistant. The primary outcome measure was a UTI.

RESULTS:

Three hundred ninety-six children were initially enrolled, but 65 were excluded a posteriori either because a urine culture, although prescribed, was not done (11), was collected by bag (39), and/or showed gross contamination (25). Therefore, 331 children were included in the final analysis. Their median age was 12 months (range, 1–36). Criteria for UTI were fulfilled in 51 (15%). A malodorous urine was reported by parents in 57% of children with UTI and in 32% of children without UTI. On logistic regression, malodorous urine was associated with UTI (odds ratio 2.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.54–5.20). This association remained statistically significant when adjusted for gender and the presence of vesicoureteral reflux (odds ratio 2.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.46–5.08).

CONCLUSIONS:

Parental reporting of malodorous urine increases the probability of UTI among young children being evaluated for suspected UTI. However, this association is not strong enough to definitely rule in or out a diagnosis of UTI.
Briefing: The cultural life of public spaces
Authors: Pugalis Lee
Published: April 2012

Within a UK context of radical policy reform and broader global economic shifts, the homogenisation of public space and the decimation of cultural life are leading-edge issues of contemporary concern. Drawing on empirics from a broader research project, this briefing paper reports on the (ongoing) production of public spaces and extracts some pointers for practice pertaining to planning for their cultural life. Underutilisation, temporal dimensions and perceptions of urban quality are analysed, before tentatively considering future directions. Multi-stakeholder coproduction is put forward as a potentially fruitful mode of working.
Ein Instrument zur Schätzung von Holzernteproduktivitäten mittels der kNN-Methode
Authors: Kostadinov Fabian , Lemm Renato , Thees Oliver
Published: April 2012

A software tool for the estimation of wood harvesting productivity using the kNN method

For operational planning and management of wood harvests it is important to have access to reliable information on time consumption and costs. To estimate these efficiently and reliably, appropriate methods and calculation tools are needed. The present article investigates whether use of the method of the k nearest neighbours (kNN) is appropriate in this case. The kNN algorithm is first explained, then is applied to two sets of data “combined cable crane and processor” and “skidder”, both containing wood harvesting figures, and thus the estimation accuracy of the method is determined. It is shown that the kNN method's estimation accuracy lies within the same order of magnitude as that of a multiple linear regression. Advantages of the kNN method are that it is easy to understand and to visualize, together with the fact that estimation models do not become out of date, since new data sets can be constantly taken into account. The kNN Workbook has been developed by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). It is a software tool with which any data set can be analysed in practice using the kNN method. This tool is also presented in the article.
Breach of confidentiality: unintentional common practice due to misunderstanding and unawareness
Authors: Khan Mohammad Waseem
Published: April 2012

Advancement in medical technology has helped man kind in several ways and no one can deny the contribution of medical technology in the field of medicine. On the other hand technology has also given rise to some ethical issues. The issue of confidentiality is one of those issues. Patients keeping their trust on physician reveals all concerned confidential information to their physician with surety that physician will not reveal it to other person and will keep it confidential. It has been common in practice that, physicians unintentionally breach their patients confidentiality by discussing cases and history of their patients in public places, hospital elevators, and with their students. In a busy hospital setting it can be difficult to maintain confidentiality for patients. Increasing workloads lead to discussions of patients in public areas which is not an acceptable excuse. The very next person present there listening the discussion could be a patient's friend, relative, or media member that is not entitled to this privileged information. In all these cases permission must be received from the patient prior to any disclosure.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bioethics.v2i3.10259Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2011;2(3):16-18
Public responsibility and shortage of resource in healthcare
Authors: Lasker Shamima Parvin
Published: April 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bioethics.v2i3.10265Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2011;2(3):19-20
Integration of FDG- PET/CT into external beam radiation therapy planning
Authors: Beyer T. , Boellaard R. , De Ruysscher D. , Grgic A. , Lee J. A. , Pietrzyk U. , Sattler B. , Schaefer A. , van Elmpt W. , Vogel W. , Oyen W. J. G. , Nestle U. , Thorwarth D.
Published: April 2012

This work addresses the clinical adoption of FDG-PET/CT for image-guided radiation therapy planning (RTP). As such, important technical and methodological aspects of PET/CTbased RTP are reviewed and practical recommendations are given for routine patient management and clinical studies. First, recent developments in PET/CT hardware that are relevant to RTP are reviewed in the context of quality control and system calibration procedures that are mandatory for a reproducible adoption of PET/CT in RTP. Second, recommendations are provided on image acquisition and reconstruction to support the standardization of imaging protocols. A major prerequisite for routine RTP is a complete and secure data transfer to the actual planning system. Third, state-of-the-art tools for image fusion and co-registration are discussed briefly in the context of PET/CT imaging preand post-RTP. This includes a brief review of state-of-the-art image contouring algorithms relevant to PET/CT-guided RTP. Finally, practical aspects of clinical workflow and patient management, such as patient setup and requirements for staff training are emphasized. PET/ CT-guided RTP mandates attention to logistical aspects, patient set-up and acquisition parameters as well as an in-depth appreciation of quality control and protocol standardization. Conclusion: Upon fulfilling the requirements to perform PET/CT for RTP, a new dimension of molecular imaging can be added to traditional morphological imaging. As a consequence, PET/CT imaging will support improved RTP and better patient care. This document serves as a guidance on practical and clinically validated instructions that are deemed useful to the staff involved in PET/CT-guided RTP.
Suppression of Astrocyte Lineage in Adult Hippocampal Progenitor Cells Expressing Hippocampal Cholinergic Neurostimulating Peptide Precursor in an in Vivo Ischemic Model
Authors: Toyoda Takanari , Matsukawa Noriyuki , Sagisaka Takafumi , Uematsu Norihiko , Kanamori Tetsuko , Kato Daisuke , Mizuno Masayuki , Wake Hiroaki , Hida Hideki , Borlongan Cesario V. , Ojika Kosei
Published: April 2012

Hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP) is known to promote differentiation of septohippocampal cholinergic neurons. The HCNP precursor protein (HCNP-pp) may play several roles, for example, as an ATP-binding protein, a Raf kinase inhibitor protein, and a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein, as well as a precursor for HCNP. This study therefore aimed to elucidate the involvement of HCNP-pp in specific neural lineages after stroke using a hypoxic–ischemic (HI) rat model of brain ischemia. The specific neural lineages in the hippocampus were investigated 14 days after ischemia. Some bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)+ neural progenitor cells in the hippocampus of hypoxic, HI, or sham-operated rats expressed HCNP-pp. Almost half of the BrdU+/HCNP-pp+ cells also expressed the oligodendrocyte lineage marker 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase, whereas only a few BrdU+/HCNP-pp+ cells in the hippocampus in HI brains expressed the neuronal lineage marker, doublecortin (DCX). Interestingly, no BrdU+/HCNP-pp+ progenitor cells in hypoxic, HI, or sham-operated brains expressed the astrocyte lineage marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein. Together with previous in vitro data, the results of this study suggest that the expression level of HCNP-pp regulates the differentiation of neural progenitor cells into specific neural lineages in the HI hippocampus, indicating that neural stem cell fate can be controlled via the HCNP-pp mediating pathway.
The rare peat moss Sphagnum wulfianum (Sphagnaceae) did not survive the last glacial period in northern European refugia
Authors: Kyrkjeeide Magni Olsen , Hassel Kristian , Flatberg Kjell I. , Stenøien Hans K.
Published: April 2012

• Premise of the study: Organisms may survive unfavorable conditions either by moving to more favorable areas by means of dispersal or by adapting to stressful environments. Pleistocene glacial periods represent extremely unfavorable conditions for the majority of life forms, especially sessile organisms. Many studies have revealed placements of refugial areas and postglacial colonization patterns of seed plants, but little is still known about areas of long‐term survival and historical migration routes of bryophytes. Given overall differences in stress tolerance between seed plants and bryophytes, it is of interest to know whether bryophytes have survived periods of extreme climatic conditions better then seed plants in northern areas.

• Methods: The haploid and rarely spore‐producing peat moss Sphagnum wulfianum is mostly found in areas that were covered by ice during the last glacial maximum. Twelve microsatellite markers were amplified from 43 populations (367 shoots) of this species, and data were analyzed using population genetic diversity statistics, Bayesian clustering methods, and coalescence‐based inference tools to estimate historical and demographic parameters.

• Key results: Genetic diversity within populations was low, but populations were highly differentiated, with two main genetic clusters being recognized.

• Conclusion: The two main genetic groups have diverged quite recently in the Holocene, and the pattern of genetic variability and structuring gives no support for survival in Scandinavian refugia during the last glacial period in this species. The dispersal ability of this plant thus seems surprisingly high despite its infrequent spore production.
The Influence of Initial Peritoneal Transport Characteristics, Inflammation, and High Glucose Exposure on Prognosis for Peritoneal Membrane Function
Authors: Fernández-Reyes M. José , Bajo M. Auxiliadora , Peso Gloria Del , Ossorio Marta , Díaz Raquel , Carretero Beatriz , Selgas Rafael
Published: April 2012

♦ Background

Fast transport status, acquired with time on peritoneal dialysis (PD), is a pathology induced by peritoneal exposure to bioincompatible solutions. Fast transport has important clinical consequences and should be prevented.

♦ Objective

We analyzed the repercussions of initial peritoneal transport characteristics on the prognosis for peritoneal membrane function, and also whether the influence of peritonitis and high exposure to glucose are different according to the initial peritoneal transport characteristics or the moment when such events occur.

♦ Methods

The study included 275 peritoneal dialysis patients with at least 2 peritoneal function studies (at baseline and 1 year). Peritoneal kinetic studies were performed at baseline and annually. Those studies consist of a 4-hour dwell with glucose (1.5% during 1981 – 1990, and 2.27% during 1991 – 2002) to calculate the peritoneal mass transfer coefficients of urea and creatinine (milliliters per minute) using a previously described mathematical model.

♦ Results

Membrane prognosis and technique survival were independent of baseline transport characteristics. Fast transport and ultrafiltration (UF) failure are reversible conditions, provided that peritonitis and high glucose exposure are avoided during the early dialysis period. The first year on PD is a main determining factor for the membrane's future, and the mass transfer coefficient of creatinine at year 1 is the best functional predictor of future PD history. After 5 years on dialysis, permeability frequently increases, and UF decreases. Icodextrin is associated with peritoneal protection.

♦ Conclusions

Peritoneal membrane prognosis is independent of baseline transport characteristics. Intrinsic fast transport and low UF are reversible conditions when peritonitis and high glucose exposure are avoided during the early dialysis period. Icodextrin helps in glucose avoidance and is associated with peritoneal protection.
Sexualité et pathologies du vieillissement chez les hommes et les femmes âgés
Authors: Colson Marie-Hélène
Published: April 2012

La sexualité se vit bien au-delà des limites théoriques de nos représentations. Elle n’est plus aujourd’hui un tabou pour les plus âgés d’entre nous, mais bien une nouvelle réalité. Elle apparaît même pour la majorité la condition indispensable pour continuer à entretenir un sentiment amoureux et une relation affective. Si les maladies chroniques et le vieillissement pathologique altère en profondeur la sexualité, le vieillissement physiologique des hommes et des femmes qui vieillissent en bonne santé semble, contrairement aux idées reçues, n’avoir que très peu de conséquences sur l’accomplissement sexuel. Les fausses croyances, la solitude affective et la maladie apparaissent comme les seuls vrais paramètres à même de limiter concrètement la sexualité des plus âgés.
Du mythe de jouvence à la santé tactile, le temps du toucher sensoriel
Authors: Andrieu Bernard
Published: April 2012

L’apparence corporelle a pu être comprise comme entièrement rectifiable par des techniques de restauration et de réparation avant que son vieillissement ne confronte le sujet à une nouvelle recherche plus intérieure et intercorporelle. Cette santé tactile trouve dans la relation une sensorialité lente et profonde qui rend le vif de la chair. Nous décrivons ici ce passage de l’apparence à l’être dans le monde corporel.
The Pursuit of Flow in the Design of Rehabilitation Systems for Ambient Assisted Living
Authors: Middleton Anthea M. , Ward Tomas E.
Published: April 2012

This review paper gathers together the key sources on the science of engagement and immersion, in particular the concept of flow. Flow is a psychological description for full immersion in an activity. It provides a useful framework within which to understand the coupling between pervasive computing and end users. The article discusses the concept of flow in a general psychological sense and extracts those features relevant to gaming, and in particular the human-computer interaction (HCI) aspect of such systems. The requirements for achieving flow such as reward, situational control, feedback and clarity of purpose as applicable to a pervasive computing environment are discussed in detail. The primary application focus of flow in this paper lies in the area of ambient-assisted living solutions for rehabilitation purposes. In the context of using virtual environments to aid in skill training or medical rehabilitation, dynamic difficulty adjustment (DDA) and enjoyment are two key elements used to create a fully immersive experience. This paper both reviews the techniques for creating these elements and describes possibilities for harnessing related methods as evaluation techniques for immersion in HCI-based rehabilitation environments, which may offer an alternative to current survey-based mechanisms.
On Spam Susceptibility and Browser Updating
Authors: Luong Eric , Huynh Toan , Miller James
Published: April 2012

This study examines the intersection between the group of users susceptible to spam and users who continue to use out-dated browsers. Specifically, it empirically determines if an association between unsafe user behaviour and the use of an out-dated browser exists. A case study is conducted wherein spam-like emails are sent to 25,000 random email users. The emails each contain a link to a webpage that records information on any visitors. The collected data is parsed and analyzed. Information was recorded on 90 distinct visitors. Analysis showed that approximately 66% of visitors were using out-dated browsers. The work implies that future research on the problem of spam should include browser version information (as a dichotomous variable) as a covariant in their analysis. The results suggest that greater effort must be put into educating the public about safe online behaviour and best practices, including the importance of updating software.
Technoethics
Authors: Heller Peter B.
Published: April 2012

Technoethics relates to the impact of ethics in technology, technological change, and technological advances and their applications. This is true both in established fields such as bioethics or computer ethics or engineering ethics but also in new areas of research such as neuroethics. As pioneering breakthroughs are made in, say, extending life or robotization, novel questions arise regarding the rightness or wrongness of keeping terminal cases alive even at the expense of such trade-offs as making life possible for premature or defective babies in the first case or replacing workers in the second. Some of these agonizing dilemmas are treated in the paper highlighting the ambivalence and difficulty – and corresponding controversy – in reaching ethical decisions in technological applications.
The Perpetration and Prevention of Cyber Crime
Authors: Kumar Poonam , Mittal Saurabh
Published: April 2012

Cyber crime has become an integral part of the transnational threat landscape and conjures up pressing images of nefarious and increasingly complex online activity. More recently, the concept of ‘organized crime’ has been attributed to cyber criminality. There has been subsequent disagreement and confusion concerning whether such crime is a derivation of traditional organized crime or an evolution of such crime within the online space. This paper analyses the opaque state of affairs which has been exacerbated by the relative lack of clear evidence attesting to and supporting either scenario. Technological advances have always been used to the advantage of the criminal fraternity. The crucial question that remains is whether those advances have merely facilitated the commission of physical crime or whether in fact they have led to the creation of a new wave of traditional, but virtual, organized crime. The paper also explores the behavioral ramifications on cyber crime on the informational value of the internet and its usage in consumer with demographic analysis level of its threat and increasing crime rate thus eroding the attractiveness of internet as a viable marketing channel.
Using XML-Based Multicasting to Improve Web Service Scalability
Authors: Tekli Joe , Damiani Ernesto , Chbeir Richard
Published: April 2012

Web services’ (WS) emphasis on open standards provides substantial benefits over previous application integration techniques. A major WS feature is SOAP, a simple, robust and extensible XML-based protocol for the exchange of messages. For this reason, SOAP WS on virtual hosts are now widely used to provide shared functionalities on clouds. Unfortunately, SOAP has two major performance-related drawbacks: i) verbosity, related to XML, that leads to increased network traffic, and ii) high computational burden of XML parsing and processing, that leads to high latency. In this paper, we address these two issues and present new results regarding our framework for Differential SOAP Multicasting (DSM). The main idea behind our framework is identifying the common pattern and differences between SOAP messages, modeled as trees, so as to multicast similar messages together. Our method is based on the well known concept of Tree Edit Distance, built upon a novel filter-differencing architecture to reduce message aggregation time, identifying only those messages which are relevant (i.e., similar enough) for similarity evaluation. In this paper we focus on recent improvements to the filter-differencing architecture, including a dedicated differencing output format designed to carry the minimum amount of diff information, in the multicast message, so as to minimize the multicast message size, and therefore reduce the network traffic. Simulation experiments highlight the relevance of our method in comparison with traditional and dedicated multicasting techniques.
A Metamorphic Relation-Based Approach to Testing Web Services Without Oracles
Authors: Sun Chang-ai , Wang Guan , Mu Baohong , Liu Huai , Wang ZhaoShun , Chen T. Y.
Published: April 2012

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) has become a major application development paradigm. As a basic unit of SOA applications, Web services significantly affect the quality of the applications constructed from them. In the context of SOA, the specification and implementation of Web services are completely separated. The lack of source code and the restricted control of Web services limit the testability of Web services, and make the oracle problem prominent. In this context, can one alleviate the test oracle problem, or effectively and efficiently test such Web services even without oracles? It is an important issue which has not been yet adequately addressed. To address the challenge of testing Web services, the authors propose a metamorphic relation-based approach to testing Web services without oracles. The proposed approach leverages so-called metamorphic relations to generate test cases and evaluate test results. To make the proposed approach practical and effective, the authors proposed a framework taking into account the unique features of SOA, and developed a prototype which partially automates the framework. Three case studies are conducted to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The work presented in the paper not only alleviates the test oracle problem of testing Web services, but also delivers an effective and efficient test technique without oracles.
Informational Odds Ratio: A Useful Measure of Epidemiologic Association in Environment Exposure Studies
Authors: Efird Jimmy T. , Lea Suzanne , Toland Amanda , Phillips Christopher J.
Published: April 2012

The informational odds ratio (IOR) measures the post-exposure odds divided by the pre-exposure odds (ie, information gained after knowing exposure status). A desirable property of an adjusted ratio estimate is collapsibility (ie, the combined crude ratio will not change after adjusting for a variable that is not a confounder). Adjusted traditional odds ratios (TORs) are not collapsible. In contrast, Mantel-Haenszel adjusted IORs generally are collapsible. IORs are a useful measure of disease association in environmental case-referent studies, especially when the disease is common in the exposed and/or unexposed groups.
Therapy for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: HP-NAP
Authors: D'Agostino Daniele , Racioppi Marco , Filianoti Alessio , Di Gianfrancesco Luca , Codolo Gaia , Fassan Matteo , Munari Fabio , Rugge Massimo , D'Elios Mario Milco , de Bernard Marina , Pagano Francesco , Bassi PieFrancesco
Published: April 2012

Purpose

Patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence after 2 induction courses of BCG are eligible for radical cystectomy. So, in the last years research to discover new drugs for the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence after failure of first and second line therapy is ongoing. In accordance to the results obtained with BCG, whose mechanism depends on the induction of the T helper 1 (TH1) immune response, we investigated the activity of a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 ligand, named Helicobacter Pylori Neutrophil Activating Protein (HP-NAP), that we recently demonstrated being able of enhancing the differentiation of Th1 cells, both in vitro and in vivo, because of its ability to create an IL-12 enriched milieu.

Materials and Methods

We show here, in a mouse model of bladder neoplasm implants, that local administration of HP-NAP decreases tumor growth by inducing tumor necrosis.

Results

The result is joined up with a massive cluster of both CD4+ and CD8+ IFN-γ+ cells, within neoplasm and regional lymph nodes. It is of note that HP-NAP-treated tumors show also a reduced vascularization due to the anti-angiogenic activity of IFN-γ induced by HP-NAP.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that the activity of HP-NAP against urothelial tumor burden warrants subsequent in vivo studies.
Nephroprotective Effect of POLYCAN on Acute Renal Failure Induced by Cisplatin in Rats
Authors: Ku Sae-Kwang , Lee Young-Joon , Lee Sung-Dong , Cho Hyung-Rae , Moon Seung-Bae , Kim Ki-Young , Kwon Young-Sam , Kim Joo Wan
Published: April 2012

We performed to evaluate the effect of POLYCAN (β-glucan) on cisplatin-(CDDP-)induced acute renal failure (ARF) in rats. POLYCAN was administered orally once a day for 32 days. Each of 8 rats per group was selected based on the body weight (BW) after acclimatization and they were sacrificed at 5 days after CDDP injection.
There was significant (P<0.05) increase of BW after CDDP dosing in all POLYCAN groups than vehicle control and significant (P<0.01 or P<0.05) decrease of absolute and relative kidney weight were detected in all POLYCAN groups compared with vehicle control. In addition, serum BUN and creatinine level in all POLYCAN groups were significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) lower than vehicle control and the percentage of degenerative regions significantly (P<0.01) decreased in all POLYCAN groups. As the results of CDDP-induced ARF process, dramatic decrease of the BW, increase of the kidney weight, serum BUN, and creatinine level were detected in vehicle control group compared with sham control group. The changes by CDDP-induced ARF process in POLYCAN groups were significantly and dose-dependently improved compared with vehicle control group. Therefore, POLYCAN has enough potential to develop as a new agent of prevention or treatment for ARF.