bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clearance seal compressors with linear motor drives. Part 1: Background and system analysis
Authors: Liang Kun , Dadd Mike , Bailey Paul
Published: April 2013

Linear compressors with clearance seals and flexure bearings have been used for many years for space applications, and this article describes the development of linear compressors at Oxford. A new design of moving magnet motor is introduced and the use of flexure springs, linear motors, valves and their integration are all discussed. A ring down test indicates that the ‘viscous’ damping in the linear compressor is acceptable (in terms of the decay ratio against the number of periods). The measured motor characteristics compared well with the vector fields electromagnetic finite element model. With a revised structural design it is predicted that the motor efficiency would be ∼86% for the rated power (200 W shaft power at 50 Hz) enabling the linear compressor to have a high overall efficiency. The companion paper covers the experimental evaluation of the linear compressor.
Fighting Organized Crime
Authors: Lombardo Robert M.
Published: April 2013

This article reviews the history of law enforcement efforts against traditional organized crime in Chicago. While the historical record is replete with examples of the relationship between corrupt police officials and Chicago’s underworld, little has been written about the often valiant efforts directed at the Capone Syndicate and the Chicago Outfit by the law enforcement community. This article seeks to fill this void. Reviewing mainly primary sources, this article argues that police corruption was the direct result of political direction and not the concerted acts of the Chicago Police Department or individual acts of law enforcement officers. These findings have important implications for the study of organized crime and further clarify the role of machine politics as a direct cause of organized crime in American society.
The influence of torsional and tensile pre-straining on the validity of ductile fracture criteria
Authors: Vilotic Dragisa , Alexandrov Sergei , Sidjanin Leposava , Vilotic Marko
Published: April 2013

Continuous loading and smooth strain paths are usually used to obtain data for empirical ductile fracture criteria or to verify such criteria. It is of interest to understand whether or not these ductile fracture criteria are valid for discontinuous paths. To this end, an experimental program is carried out and its results are combined with two conventional empirical ductile fracture criteria. It is shown that the criteria are not applicable for discontinuous loading paths. Based on the experimental results obtained and experimental results available in the literature it is hypothesized that a measure of rotation of the principal stress (or principal strain rate) axes relative to the material affects the initiation of ductile fracture.
Your Wait Time From This Point Will Be . . .
Authors: Ledbetter Jonathan L. , Mohamed-Ameen Amira , Oglesby James M. , Boyce Michael W.
Published: April 2013

Amusement park developers have begun designing queue systems to make the wait for service less cumbersome for guests. Maister introduced a theoretical framework with eight guidelines for improving customer satisfaction and minimizing the perception of wait duration. These guide- lines were designed to be generalizable to a wide range of settings but do not fully take into account the unique characteristics of theme park queues. The following proposed guidelines offer a taxonomy for reducing the negative impact of subjective perception of time and provide a specific framework for designing these queued environments in an amusement park setting.
Anterior Ankle Impingement After Tendo-Achilles Lengthening for Long-Standing Equinus Deformity in Residual Poliomyelitis
Authors: Sung Ki Hyuk , Chung Chin Youb , Lee Kyoung Min , Lee Seung Yeol , Park Moon Seok
Published: April 2013

Background:

This study was performed to investigate anterior ankle impingement after tendo-Achilles lengthening for long-standing equinus deformity in patients with residual poliomyelitis and to investigate whether the severity of preoperative equinus deformity affected the occurrence of symptomatic anterior impingement.

Methods:

Twenty-seven consecutive patients (mean age, 43.8 ± 9.4 years) with residual poliomyelitis who underwent tendo-Achilles lengthening for equinus foot deformity were included. On lateral foot-ankle weight-bearing radiographs, the tibiocalcaneal angle, plantigrade angle, and McDermott grade were measured and the presence of anterior blocking spur was evaluated.

Results:

Eleven patients (40.7%) had anterior ankle impingement on radiographic findings preoperatively and 24 patients (88.9%) at latest follow-up. There was a significant difference in McDermott grade between preoperative and latest follow-up ( P < .001). There were significant differences in tibiocalcaneal angle and plantigrade angle between the patients with anterior ankle pain and without anterior ankle pain ( P = .006 and .011, respectively) and between the patients with anterior blocking spur and without anterior blocking spur ( P = .005 and .010, respectively).

Conclusions:

Most patients with residual poliomyelitis had anterior ankle impingement after tendo-Achilles lengthening for long-standing equinus deformity, and the presence of symptomatic anterior ankle impingement was significantly associated with the severity of the equinus deformity. Therefore, for residual poliomyelitis patients with severe long-standing equinus deformity, surgeons should consider the possibility of a subsequent anterior procedure for anterior impingement after tendo-Achilles lengthening.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Storytelling Diamond
Authors: Rosile Grace Ann , Boje David M. , Carlon Donna M. , Downs Alexis , Saylors Rohny
Published: April 2013

In the two decades since storytelling was called the “sensemaking currency of organizations,” storytelling scholarship has employed a wide variety of research methods. The storytelling diamond model introduced here offers a map of this paradigmatic terrain based on wider social science ontological, epistemological, and methodological (both quantitative and qualitative) considerations. The model is beneficial for both researchers and reviewers as they plan for and assess the quality and defensibility of storytelling research designs. The main paradigms considered in the storytelling diamond model are narrativist, living story, materialist, interpretivist, abstractionist, and practice all as integrated by the antenarrative process.
Influence of phase composition on fretting wear behavior of thermally sprayed aluminum bronze coatings
Authors: Yang J , An YL , Zhao XQ , Chen J , Liu N , Hou GL , Zhou HD , Chen JM
Published: April 2013

Single α-phase and duplex ( α+ β′) phase aluminum bronze (CuAl) coatings were deposited on 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steels by atmosphere plasma spray. The fretting wear behaviors of the two types of coatings were investigated in relation to their phase composition. The damage mechanisms of the coatings were identified by analysing their worn surfaces using scanning electron microscopy and three-dimensional non-contact surface profiler. A discussion about the identified fretting damage mechanisms was carried out. Results show that duplex CuAl coating has higher hardness than the single α-phase CuAl coating but the former has poorer resistance against fretting wear than the latter in mixed stick-slip regime and gross slip regime. The toughness reduction due to the dendritic distribution of the β′ phase in duplex CuAl coating could explain the low fretting wear resistance observed in the duplex coating. In stick regime, single α-phase CuAl coating has a lower friction coefficient but it has a higher wear rate than the duplex coating, which is attributed to the lower hardness and hence more severe plastic deformation.
Attachment in people with dementia and their caregivers: A systematic review
Authors: Nelis Sharon M. , Clare Linda , Whitaker Christopher J.
Published: April 2013

Attachment bonds are important for personality development, emotion regulation and mental health throughout the lifespan. This systematic review explores the relevance of attachment for people with dementia, and how attachment influences the experience of caregivers of people with dementia. Eighteen studies were included. Three focused on attachment in terms of parent fixation in dementia, three examined attachment behaviour in dementia, five addressed attachment and dementia-related behavioural problems, and seven concentrated on attachment in caregivers. Attachment behaviours were evident at various stages of dementia and the presence of parent fixation was observed when attachment needs were not being met. Insecure attachment was related to neuropsychiatric symptoms. Attachment security had important consequences for caregiver psychological health. Implications of methodological issues such as the choice of respondent, measurement issues, and the lack of a longitudinal perspective are discussed. The implications of attachment for the support of people with dementia and caregivers are considered.
Does Francis ignore the health services “4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse”: what does this mean for the modern NHS?
Authors: Baxter Michael A
Published: April 2013

The recent Francis report has spotlighted poor standard of care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust in the UK. It asks how this could have happened in a hospital with internal governance mechanisms and regular review from a plethora of external regulators. It further asks who is responsible and accountable for this failure.

The report also underscores a widely held anxiety that “mid Staffs” is not unique and such catastrophic failures in care could, and will happen again despite more enhanced regulation and scrutiny.

The unasked question in the report is fundamental and revealing. WHY did this happen?

This does not require a detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanisms which were designed to detect fault, but rather what was the underlying cause of these often basic care failures.

The thesis of this article is that four fundamental changes - 3 in the elements of service delivery and 1 in the requirements for care - have conflated to create a major problem and a service which is unable to face the demands that will increasingly be placed on it.

The solutions to this current dilemma require acknowledgement of these issues and transformational changes in the way we think, work and deliver healthcare.
VibraTip® durability in clinical practice: how long does it last?
Authors: Horsfield Ian , Levy Andy
Published: April 2013

VibraTip® is a battery-powered, disposable, key fob-sized source of vibration used to assess the integrity of vibration perception. To find out how long the device lasts, the stability of its vibration output was measured in response to two usage patterns:-

in the first, VibraTip® was subject to 7000 half second activations separated by 2 second rests. This yielded fairly consistent frequency output for the first 6000 activations but an early reduction in amplitude over the first 1000 activations, steadying between 2000 and 6000 activations.

in the second, designed to mimic more closely real life clinical usage, runs of ten, half second activations at 2 second intervals were interspersed by 10 minute rests. The cycle was repeated 350 times in all with additional overnight rests to allow electrochemical recovery. VibraTip® performance under these conditions was highly consistent over at least the first 1500 activations, with very little change in vibration frequency even after 3500 discharges.

These results indicate that usage patterns markedly affect VibraTip® durability. Rests between ‘patients’ and overnight, characteristic of normal clinical activity, suggests that VibraTip® is likely to provide very consistent performance in the clinical arena for many months of routine use.
Inhuman commerce: Anti-slavery and the ownership of freedom
Authors: Brace Laura
Published: April 2013

This article explores the British anti-slavery writings of the mid- to late 18th century, and the meanings which they gave to the idea of owning a property in the person. It addresses the construction of a particular moral and political landscape where freedom was understood as both a kind of property and as non-domination, and slavery was constructed as a form of theft, and as the exercise of arbitrary power. This created a complex moral space, where possession, commerce, savagery, tyranny and the emergence of race were all caught up with each other and entangled with the concept of consent. The article concludes with the suggestion that our current understandings of slavery continue to be informed by our notions of contract and consent, and so by conceptions of freedom and ownership that take us back to the tensions and debates of the 18th century.
Arendt’s Machiavellian moment
Authors: Baluch Faisal
Published: April 2013

In this article, I offer a reassessment of the influence of two disparate bodies of thought – republicanism and existentialism – on Hannah Arendt. Arendt, I argue, is not involved in an ‘agonistic appropriation’ of Heidegger. Arendt identifies two opposed attitudes in Heidegger’s work. The first Promethean moment places Heidegger squarely in the tradition of Western political philosophy, and the second seemingly correcting for this recommends a quietism. Arendt rejects both these attitudes. Machiavelli rather than Heidegger, I argue, is the key influence on Arendt's political thought. Through a reading of Arendt’s published works and her unpublished 1955 lecture notes on Machiavelli I show that the central categories of Arendt’s thought emerge from her meditation on Machiavelli’s texts. Arendt finds in Machiavelli a performative understanding of politics, an accurate understanding of the connection between morality and politics, and a primacy given to politics that she thought it deserves.
A Brotherhood Perspective
Authors: Grande Stuart W. , Sherman Ledric , Shaw-Ridley Mary
Published: April 2013

The objective of this research was to explore interview data to understand and characterize the nature of brotherhood in a sample of African American men at two historically Black colleges and universities. The authors used thematic analysis on semistructured interview data, collected by an ethnically diverse research team. Recruitment and interviews were conducted at two historically Black colleges and universities in Texas. Twenty African American men, 18 to 35 years old, were randomly selected from 62 recruited participants. Five categories framed brotherhood and health care utilization: (a) trust lessens individual barriers to action, (b) identity unites men through a process of authentication, (c) generations lead by example, (d) approaching life as a shared learning experience, and (e) social pressure and ridicule uphold collective action. Findings suggest that participants trust a group view, identify with the collective, and respond to social pressure to conform; therefore, brotherhood acts as a support mechanism, and its validation influences individual-level engagement and nonengagement.
Molecular Karyotyping: A Revolutionary Concept in Prenatal Diagnosis
Authors: Charan P , Palma-Dias R , Walker Sp , Ganeesamoorthy D , McGillivray G , Woodrow N
Published: April 2013

The ‘standard of care’ for chromosome testing has recently changed. For the last 30 years it has involved chromosome testing using microscope analysis. New technology using ‘DNA chips’, i.e. molecular karyotyping or microarray has now become available and is routinely offered to pregnant women undergoing invasive testing for an ultrasound detected fetal abnormality.

Women who choose to take advantage of this technology undergo extensive counselling in a multidisciplinary setting regarding the possible implications of an abnormal result. They are advised that there are some molecular changes which are known to be harmless and will not be reported. They are also counselled that some molecular changes will be reported but their clinical significance is uncertain.

This article reviews the current evidence-based role of molecular karyotyping in routine clinical practice in the setting of ultrasound detected fetal abnormality.
The Use of Football as a Country Branding Strategy. Case Study
Authors: Ginesta Xavier , de San Eugenio Jordi
Published: April 2013

The main objective of this article is to analyse the sport place branding strategy of Qatar, a Persian Gulf country that is using the income from the commercialisation of its gas to create an economy, which can be successful in the future without depending on this natural source. Sport, above all football, has been a key sector in which the Qatari government believes in order to promote the image of its country worldwide. One of the most interesting examples used in this article is the relationship between the Qatar Foundation and FC Barcelona. Using a qualitative methodology, this article aims to understand the key pillars of this strategy and why sport mega-events have been so important when governments want to increase their reputation in the international sphere.
Unscrambling butterfly oogenesis
Authors: Carter Jean-Michel , Baker Simon C , Pink Ryan , Carter David RF , Collins Aiden , Tomlin Jeremie , Gibbs Melanie , Breuker Casper J
Published: April 2013

Background

Butterflies are popular model organisms to study physiological mechanisms underlying variability in oogenesis and egg provisioning in response to environmental conditions. Nothing is known, however, about; the developmental mechanisms governing butterfly oogenesis, how polarity in the oocyte is established, or which particular maternal effect genes regulate early embryogenesis. To gain insights into these developmental mechanisms and to identify the conserved and divergent aspects of butterfly oogenesis, we analysed ade novoovarian transcriptome of the Speckled Wood butterflyPararge aegeria(L.), and compared the results with known model organisms such asDrosophila melanogasterandBombyx mori.

Results

A total of 17306 contigs were annotated, with 30% possibly novel or highly divergent sequences observed.Pararge aegeriafemales expressed 74.5% of the genes that are known to be essential forD. melanogasteroogenesis. We discuss the genes involved in all aspects of oogenesis, including vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, plus those implicated in hormonal control of oogenesis and transgenerational hormonal effects in great detail. Compared to other insects, a number of significant differences were observed in; the genes involved in stem cell maintenance and differentiation in the germarium, establishment of oocyte polarity, and in several aspects of maternal regulation of zygotic development.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable resources to investigate a number of divergent aspects of butterfly oogenesis requiring further research. In order to fully unscramble butterfly oogenesis, we also now also have the resources to investigate expression patterns of oogenesis genes under a range of environmental conditions, and to establish their function.
Global remodeling of nucleosome positions in C. elegans
Authors: Locke George , Haberman Devorah , Johnson Steven M , Morozov Alexandre V
Published: April 2013

Background

Eukaryotic chromatin architecture is affected by intrinsic histone-DNA sequence preferences, steric exclusion between nucleosome particles, formation of higher-order structures, and in vivo activity of chromatin remodeling enzymes.

Results

To disentangle sequence-dependent nucleosome positioning from the other factors, we have created two high-throughput maps of nucleosomes assembled in vitro on genomic DNA from the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. A comparison of in vitro nucleosome positions with those observed in a mixed-stage, mixed-tissue population of C. elegans cells reveals that in vivo sequence preferences are modified on the genomic scale. Indeed, G/C dinucleotides are predicted to be most favorable for nucleosome formation in vitro but not in vivo. Nucleosome sequence read coverage in vivo is distinctly lower in chromosome arms than in central regions; the observed changes in apparent nucleosome sequence specificity, likely due to genome-wide chromatin remodeler activity, contribute to the formation of these megabase-scale chromatin domains. We also observe that the majority of well-positioned in vivo nucleosomes do not occupy thermodynamically favorable sequences observed in vitro. Finally, we find that exons are intrinsically more amenable to nucleosome formation compared to introns. Nucleosome occupancy of introns and exons consistently increases with G/C content in vitro but not in vivo, in agreement with our observation that G/C dinucleotide enrichment does not strongly promote in vivo nucleosome formation.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of both sequence specificity and active nucleosome repositioning in creating large-scale chromatin domains, and the antagonistic roles of intrinsic sequence preferences and chromatin remodelers in C. elegans.

Sequence read data has been deposited into Sequence Read Archive (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra; accession number SRA050182). Additional data, software and computational predictions are available on the Nucleosome Explorer website (http://nucleosome.rutgers.edu).
Comprehensive annotation of secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes and gene clusters of Aspergillus nidulans, A. fumigatus, A. niger and A. oryzae
Authors: Inglis Diane O , Binkley Jonathan , Skrzypek Marek S , Arnaud Martha B , Cerqueira Gustavo C , Shah Prachi , Wymore Farrell , Wortman Jennifer R , Sherlock Gavin
Published: April 2013

Background

Secondary metabolite production, a hallmark of filamentous fungi, is an expanding area of research for the Aspergilli. These compounds are potent chemicals, ranging from deadly toxins to therapeutic antibiotics to potential anti-cancer drugs. The genome sequences for multiple Aspergilli have been determined, and provide a wealth of predictive information about secondary metabolite production. Sequence analysis and gene overexpression strategies have enabled the discovery of novel secondary metabolites and the genes involved in their biosynthesis. The Aspergillus Genome Database (AspGD) provides a central repository for gene annotation and protein information for Aspergillus species. These annotations include Gene Ontology (GO) terms, phenotype data, gene names and descriptions and they are crucial for interpreting both small- and large-scale data and for aiding in the design of new experiments that further Aspergillus research.

Results

We have manually curated Biological Process GO annotations for all genes in AspGD with recorded functions in secondary metabolite production, adding new GO terms that specifically describe each secondary metabolite. We then leveraged these new annotations to predict roles in secondary metabolism for genes lacking experimental characterization. As a starting point for manually annotating Aspergillus secondary metabolite gene clusters, we used antiSMASH (antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite Analysis SHell) and SMURF (Secondary Metabolite Unknown Regions Finder) algorithms to identify potential clusters in A. nidulans, A. fumigatus, A. niger and A. oryzae, which we subsequently refined through manual curation.

Conclusions

This set of 266 manually curated secondary metabolite gene clusters will facilitate the investigation of novel Aspergillus secondary metabolites.
Lactobacillusspecies isolated from vaginal secretions of healthy and bacterial vaginosis-intermediate Mexican women: a prospective study
Authors: Martínez-Peña Marcos Daniel , Castro-Escarpulli Graciela , Aguilera-Arreola Ma Guadalupe
Published: April 2013

Background

Lactobacillus jensenii, L. iners, L. crispatus and L. gasseri are the most frequently occurring lactobacilli in the vagina. However, the native species vary widely according to the studied population. The present study was performed to genetically determine the identity of Lactobacillus strains present in the vaginal discharge of healthy and bacterial vaginosis (BV) intermediate Mexican women.

Methods

In a prospective study, 31 strains preliminarily identified as Lactobacillus species were isolated from 21 samples collected from 105 non-pregnant Mexican women. The samples were classified into groups according to the Nugent score criteria proposed for detection of BV: normal (N), intermediate (I) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). We examined the isolates using culture-based methods as well as molecular analysis of the V1–V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequence analysis was performed to reject clones.

Results

Clinical isolates (25/31) were classified into four groups based on sequencing and analysis of the 16S rRNA gene: L. acidophilus (14/25), L. reuteri (6/25), L. casei (4/25) and L. buchneri (1/25). The remaining six isolates were presumptively identified as Enterococcus species. Within the L. acidophilus group, L. gasseri was the most frequently isolated species, followed by L. jensenii and L. crispatus. L. fermentum, L. rhamnosus and L. brevis were also isolated, and were placed in the L. reuteri, L. casei and L. buchneri groups, respectively. ERIC profile analysis showed intraspecific variability amongst the L. gasseri and L. fermentum species.

Conclusions

These findings agree with previous studies showing that L. crispatus, L. gasseri and L. jensenii are consistently present in the healthy vaginal ecosystem. Additional species or phylotypes were detected in the vaginal microbiota of the non-pregnant Mexican (Hispanic-mestizo) population, and thus, these results further our understanding of vaginal lactobacilli colonisation and richness in this particular population.
Risk factors of short-term mortality after acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on dialysis: a population-based study
Authors: Yang Ju-Yeh , Lee Tsung-Chun , Montez-Rath Maria E , Chertow Glenn M , Winkelmayer Wolfgang C
Published: April 2013

Background

Impaired kidney function is an established predictor of mortality after acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB); however, which factors are associated with mortality after ANVUGIB among patients undergoing dialysis is unknown. We examined the associations among demographic characteristics, dialysis-specific features, and comorbid conditions with short-term mortality after ANVUGIB among patients on dialysis.

Methods

Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: United States Renal Data System (USRDS), a nation-wide registry of patients with end-stage renal disease. Participants: All ANVUGIB episodes identified by validated algorithms in Medicare-covered patients between 2003 and 2007. Measurements: Demographic characteristics and comorbid conditions from 1 year of billing claims prior to each bleeding event. We used logistic regression extended with generalized estimating equations methods to model the associations among risk factors and 30-day mortality following ANVUGIB events.

Results

From 2003 to 2007, we identified 40,016 eligible patients with 50,497 episodes of ANVUGIB. Overall 30-day mortality was 10.7% (95% CI: 10.4-11.0). Older age, white race, longer dialysis vintage, peritoneal dialysis (vs. hemodialysis), and hospitalized (vs. outpatient) episodes were independently associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality. Most but not all comorbid conditions were associated with death after ANVUGIB. The joint ability of all factors captured to discriminate mortality was modest (c=0.68).

Conclusions

We identified a profile of risk factors for 30-day mortality after ANVUGIB among patients on dialysis that was distinct from what had been reported in non-dialysis populations. Specifically, peritoneal dialysis and more years since initiation of dialysis were independently associated with short-term death after ANVUGIB.
Interference coordination of heterogeneous LTE systems using remote radio heads
Authors: Kim Jaewon , Lee Donghyun , Sung Wonjin
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we present an operational strategy to mitigate co-channel interference (CCI) by using geographically distributed remote radio heads (RRHs). The inter-node CCI becomes a dominant performance degradation factor for heterogeneous network (HetNet) systems. Recently, there are emerging attempts in Third Generation Partnership Project to adopt advanced techniques to Long Term Evolution Advanced systems to mitigate CCI problems for HetNet systems, namely, the coordinated multipoint transmission (CoMP). However, the CoMP scheme cannot control the CCI generated from outside coordination boundaries. To resolve this problem, we propose a partial activation strategy by using RRHs deployed near cell edge which results in moving coverage boundary effects. Based on Monte Carlo system level simulations, performance of the conventional strategies and the presented strategy is evaluated. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the enhanced inter-cell interference coordination and CoMP schemes especially for users located near cell edge areas.
Early exercise improves cerebral blood flow through increased angiogenesis in experimental stroke rat model
Authors: Zhang Pengyue , Yu Huixian , Zhou Naiyun , Zhang Jie , Wu Yi , Zhang Yuling , Bai Yulong , Jia Jie , Zhang Qi , Tian Shan , Wu Junfa , Hu Yongshan
Published: April 2013

Background

Early exercise after stroke promoted angiogenesis and increased microvessles density. However, whether these newly formatted vessels indeed give rise to functional vascular and improve the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in impaired brain region is still unclear. The present study aimed to determine the effect of early exercise on angiogenesis and CBF in ischemic region.

Methods

Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)and randomly divided into early exercise and non-exercised control group 24 h later. Two weeks later, CBF in ischemic region was determined by laser speckle flowmetry(LSF). Meantime, micro vessels density, the expression of tie-2, total Akt and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and infarct volume were detected with immunohistochemistry, 2,3,5 triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and western blotting respectively. The function was evaluated by seven point’s method.

Results

Our results showed that CBF, vessel density and expression of Tie-2, p-Akt in ischemic region were higher in early exercise group compared with those in non-exercise group. Consistent with these results, rats in early exercise group had a significantly reduced infarct volume and better functional outcomes than those in non-exercise group.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that early exercise after MCAO improved the CBF in ischemic region, reduced infarct volume and promoted the functional outcomes, the underlying mechanism was correlated with angiogenesis in the ischemic cortex.
Behavioral characterization of the 6-hydroxidopamine model of Parkinson’s disease and pharmacological rescuing of non-motor deficits
Authors: Carvalho Miguel M , Campos Filipa L , Coimbra Bárbara , Pêgo José M , Rodrigues Carla , Lima Rui , Rodrigues Ana J , Sousa Nuno , Salgado António J
Published: April 2013

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition that is characterized by motor symptoms as a result of dopaminergic degeneration, particularly in the mesostriatal pathway. However, in recent years, a greater number of clinical studies have focused on the emergence of non-motor symptoms in PD patients, as a consequence of damage on the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic networks, and on their significant impact on the quality of life of PD patients. Herein, we performed a thorough behavioral analysis including motor, emotional and cognitive dimensions, of the unilateral medial forebrain bundle (MFB) 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned model of PD, and further addressed the impact of pharmacological interventions with levodopa and antidepressants on mood dimensions.

Results

Based on apomorphine-induced turning behaviour and degree of dopaminergic degeneration, animals submitted to MFB lesions were subdivided in complete and incomplete lesion groups. Importantly, this division also translated into a different severity of motor and exploratory impairments and depressive-like symptoms; in contrast, no deficits in anxiety-like and cognitive behaviors were found in MFB-lesioned animals. Subsequently, we found that the exploratory and the anhedonic behavioural alterations of MFB-lesioned rats can be partially improved with the administration of both levodopa or the antidepressant bupropion, but not paroxetine.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that this model is a relevant tool to study the pathophysiology of motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. In addition, the present data shows that pharmacological interventions modulating dopaminergic transmission are also relevant to revert the non-motor behavioral deficits found in the disease.
Dynamic cross-regulation of antigen-specific effector and regulatory T cell subpopulations and microglia in brain autoimmunity
Authors: Martinez-Pasamar Sara , Abad Elena , Moreno Beatriz , Velez de Mendizabal Nieves , Martinez-Forero Ivan , Garcia-Ojalvo Jordi , Villoslada Pablo
Published: April 2013

Background

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is considered a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease with a prototypical oscillatory behavior, as evidenced by the presence of clinical relapses. Understanding the dynamics of immune cells governing the course of MS, therefore, has many implications for immunotherapy. Here, we used flow cytometry to analyze the time-dependent behavior of antigen-specific effector (Teff) and regulatory (Treg) T cells and microglia in mice model of MS, Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), and compared the observations with a mathematical cross-regulation model of T-cell dynamics in autoimmune disease.

Results

We found that Teff and Treg cells specific to myelin olygodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) developed coupled oscillatory dynamics with a 4- to 5-day period and decreasing amplitude that was always higher for the Teff populations, in agreement with the mathematical model. Microglia activation followed the oscillations of MOG-specific Teff cells in the secondary lymphoid organs, but they were activated before MOG-specific T-cell peaks in the CNS. Finally, we assessed the role of B-cell depletion induced by anti-CD20 therapy in the dynamics of T cells in an EAE model with more severe disease after therapy. We observed that B-cell depletion decreases Teff expansion, although its oscillatory behavior persists. However, the effect of B cell depletion was more significant in the Treg population within the CNS, which matched with activation of microglia and worsening of the disease. Mathematical modeling of T-cell cross-regulation after anti-CD20 therapy suggests that B-cell depletion may influence the dynamics of T cells by fine-tuning their activation.

Conclusions

The oscillatory dynamics of T-cells have an intrinsic origin in the physiological regulation of the adaptive immune response, which influences both disease phenotype and response to immunotherapy.
Synthesis, insecticidal, and antibacterial activities of novel neonicotinoid analogs with dihydropyridine
Authors: He Yinju , Hu Deyu , Lv Mingming , Jin Linhong , Wu Jian , Zeng Song , Yang Song , Song Baoan
Published: April 2013

Background

Nilaparvata lugens, a major pest in rice-growing areas, is extremely difficult to manage. Neonicotinoids have increasingly been used in crop protection and animal health care againstN. lugens. To discover new bioactive molecules and pesticides, we combined the active structure of cyanoacrylates, aromatic aldehydes, and substituted pyridyl (thiazolyl) methyl-2-substituted-methylidene-imidazolidine derivatives for the design and synthesis of a series of novel neonicotinoid analogs with dihydropyridine.

Results

A series of neonicotinoid analogs with dihydropyridine were synthesized. Their structures were characterized by IR,1H NMR,13C NMR, and elemental analysis and their insecticidal and antibacterial activities were assessed. Preliminary biological activity tests showed that all of the title compounds feature insecticidal activities againstN. lugensat 500 mg/L. Moreover, some compounds showed promising antibacterial activities againstPseudomonas solanacearum(e.g., Tobacco bacterial wilt and Tomato bacterial wilt) at a dose of 200 mg/L.

Conclusion

A synthetic route to obtain neonicotinoid analogs with dihydropyridine by the reaction of intermediates2(pyridyl (thiazolyl) methyl-2-substituted-methyl-ideneimidazolidine) and intermediates1(cyanoacrylates) and different aromatic aldehydes in acetonitrile under reflux conditions is presented. The effects of different solvents, bases, and reaction time on the reaction of3awere investigated. The results of this study suggest that neonicotinoid analogs with dihydropyridine could causeN. lugensdeath and restrainP. solanacearumgrowth.
Extreme intra-familial variability of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: a case series
Authors: Bygarski Elizabeth , Paterson Melanie , Lemire Edmond G
Published: April 2013

Introduction

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder that classically presents as sudden death in infancy secondary to central hypoventilation. Most cases are caused by polyalanine repeat mutations in the paired-like homeobox 2B gene, PHOX2B. More severe disease is typically associated with nonpolyalanine repeat mutations. We report the case of a family with nonpolyalanine repeat mutations that uncharacteristically has many individuals who were mildly symptomatic and only diagnosed after genetic testing. We highlight the highly variable clinical presentation of this condition and the need for clinicians to remain vigilant.

Case presentation

We identified 10 individuals in a large extended Caucasian family of German and Austrian background with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Case 1: A 16-year old male proband presented for reproductive counseling. He had a previous history of apneic spells and Hirschsprung disease in the neonatal period. A PHOX2B nonpolyalanine repeat mutation was identified in the proband and used to screen his extended family.

Cases 2 to 10: Several mildly symptomatic family members (males aged 5, 13, 42 and 80 years; females aged 28, 44, 46 and 48 years) spanning four generations were identified after genetic screening. A newborn boy from this family was also recently diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease and went on to have an abnormal sleep study.

Conclusions

In this report, we highlight the significant phenotypic variability of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, previously thought to be a rare genetic condition. Given the extreme clinical variability, it is possible that the prevalence of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in the general population is much higher than previous estimates. This is of major importance to all clinicians who will need to maintain a high index of suspicion for this not so rare and highly clinically variable genetic condition that spans all ages. As the familial mutation has been identified, presymptomatic and prenatal diagnostic testing are available options for family members.
Lignin biosynthesis perturbations affect secondary cell wall composition and saccharification yield in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Van Acker Rebecca , Vanholme Ruben , Storme Véronique , Mortimer Jennifer C , Dupree Paul , Boerjan Wout
Published: April 2013

Background

Second-generation biofuels are generally produced from the polysaccharides in the lignocellulosic plant biomass, mainly cellulose. However, because cellulose is embedded in a matrix of other polysaccharides and lignin, its hydrolysis into the fermentable glucose is hampered. The senesced inflorescence stems of a set of 20 Arabidopsis thaliana mutants in 10 different genes of the lignin biosynthetic pathway were analyzed for cell wall composition and saccharification yield. Saccharification models were built to elucidate which cell wall parameters played a role in cell wall recalcitrance.

Results

Although lignin is a key polymer providing the strength necessary for the plant’s ability to grow upward, a reduction in lignin content down to 64% of the wild-type level in Arabidopsis was tolerated without any obvious growth penalty. In contrast to common perception, we found that a reduction in lignin was not compensated for by an increase in cellulose, but rather by an increase in matrix polysaccharides. In most lignin mutants, the saccharification yield was improved by up to 88% cellulose conversion for the cinnamoyl-coenzyme A reductase1 mutants under pretreatment conditions, whereas the wild-type cellulose conversion only reached 18%. The saccharification models and Pearson correlation matrix revealed that the lignin content was the main factor determining the saccharification yield. However, also lignin composition, matrix polysaccharide content and composition, and, especially, the xylose, galactose, and arabinose contents influenced the saccharification yield. Strikingly, cellulose content did not significantly affect saccharification yield.

Conclusions

Although the lignin content had the main effect on saccharification, also other cell wall factors could be engineered to potentially increase the cell wall processability, such as the galactose content. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the effect of lignin perturbations on plant cell wall composition and its influence on saccharification yield, and provide new potential targets for genetic improvement.
DNA methylation and transcriptional noise
Authors: Huh Iksoo , Zeng Jia , Park Taesung , Yi Soojin V
Published: April 2013

Background

DNA methylation is one of the most phylogenetically widespread epigenetic modifications of genomic DNA. In particular, DNA methylation of transcription units (‘gene bodies’) is highly conserved across diverse taxa. However, the functional role of gene body methylation is not yet fully understood. A long-standing hypothesis posits that gene body methylation reduces transcriptional noise associated with spurious transcription of genes. Despite the plausibility of this hypothesis, an explicit test of this hypothesis has not been performed until now.

Results

Using nucleotide-resolution data on genomic DNA methylation and abundant microarray data, here we investigate the relationship between DNA methylation and transcriptional noise. Transcriptional noise measured from microarrays scales down with expression abundance, confirming findings from single-cell studies. We show that gene body methylation is significantly negatively associated with transcriptional noise when examined in the context of other biological factors.

Conclusions

This finding supports the hypothesis that gene body methylation suppresses transcriptional noise. Heavy methylation of vertebrate genomes may have evolved as a global regulatory mechanism to control for transcriptional noise. In contrast, promoter methylation exhibits positive correlations with the level of transcriptional noise. We hypothesize that methylated promoters tend to undergo more frequent transcriptional bursts than those that avoid DNA methylation.
Microwave imaging for neoadjuvant chemotherapy monitoring: initial clinical experience
Authors: Meaney Paul M , Kaufman Peter A , Muffly Lori S , Click Michael , Poplack Stephen P , Wells Wendy A , Schwartz Gary N , di Florio-Alexander Roberta M , Tosteson Tor D , Li Zhongze , Geimer Shireen D , Fanning Margaret W , Zhou Tian , Epstein Neil R , Paulsen Keith D
Published: April 2013

Introduction

Microwave tomography recovers images of tissue dielectric properties, which appear to be specific for breast cancer, with low-cost technology that does not present an exposure risk, suggesting the modality may be a good candidate for monitoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Eight patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer were imaged longitudinally five to eight times during the course of treatment. At the start of therapy, regions of interest (ROIs) were identified from contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging studies. During subsequent microwave examinations, subjects were positioned with their breasts pendant in a coupling fluid and surrounded by an immersed antenna array. Microwave property values were extracted from the ROIs through an automated procedure and statistical analyses were performed to assess short term (30 days) and longer term (four to six months) dielectric property changes.

Results

Two patient cases (one complete and one partial response) are presented in detail and demonstrate changes in microwave properties commensurate with the degree of treatment response observed pathologically. Normalized mean conductivity in ROIs from patients with complete pathological responses was significantly different from that of partial responders (P value = 0.004). In addition, the normalized conductivity measure also correlated well with complete pathological response at 30 days (P value = 0.002).

Conclusions

These preliminary findings suggest that both early and late conductivity property changes correlate well with overall treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced breast cancer. This result is consistent with earlier clinical outcomes that lesion conductivity is specific to differentiating breast cancer from benign lesions and normal tissue.
Cross-talk between intraepithelial γδ T cells and epithelial cells
Authors: Witherden Deborah A , Havran Wendy L
Published: April 2013

Intraepithelial γδ T cells play pivotal roles in homeostasis, tissue repair, inflammation, and protection from malignancy. In some tissues, γδ T cells are the only resident T cell population, whereas in others, they coexist with αβ T cells and other lymphocyte populations. γδ T cell function in the epithelium requires constant communication between cells in the form of cell-to-cell contacts and cell-to-matrix interactions. These interactions coordinate with the timely production of specific cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and glycosaminoglycans, which have specialized effects on neighboring epithelial cells. Antigens that activate these T cells are not well-defined, and they do not express classic costimulatory or coreceptor molecules. As such, an understanding of the mechanisms used by epithelial γδ T cells to maintain homeostasis and facilitate wound repair has necessitated the identification of novel molecular interactions between γδ T cells and their neighboring epithelial cells.
How psychiatrists should introduce themselves in the first consultation: an experimental study
Authors: Priebe Stefan , Palumbo Claudia , Ahmed Sajjad , Strappelli Nadia , Gavrilovic Jelena Jankovic , Bremner Stephen
Published: April 2013

Background

How psychiatrists introduce themselves in the first consultation may influence the therapeuticrelationship. There is no evidence about what type of introduction patients prefer.

Aims

To assess experimentally patients' preferences for how psychiatrists introduce themselves.

Method

Twelve psychiatrists were filmed, each with three different introductions: stating name, profession and reason for consultation; the same, plus information on what will happen during the consultation; and the same, plus disclosure of a personal difficulty. Six randomly selected videos, of different psychiatrists, two of each type of introduction, were rated by each of 120 psychiatric in- and out-patients on Likert-type scales.

Results

Patients gave the most positive ratings to psychiatrists who introduced themselves with information about what will happen in the consultation rather than ones with briefer introductions or with additional personal disclosure (P = 0.002). Preferences were similar in different subgroups.

Conclusions

Psychiatrists should introduce themselves with information about what they intend to do in theconsultation, but without personal disclosure.