bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiplexed methylation profiles of tumor suppressor genes and clinical outcome in lung cancer
Authors: Castro Mónica , Grau Laura , Puerta Patricia , Gimenez Liliana , Venditti Julio , Quadrelli Silvia , Sánchez-Carbayo Marta
Published: September 2010

Background

Changes in DNA methylation of crucial cancer genes including tumor suppressors can occur early in carcinogenesis, being potentially important early indicators of cancer. The objective of this study was to examine a multiplexed approach to assess the methylation of tumor suppressor genes as tumor stratification and clinical outcome prognostic biomarkers for lung cancer.

Methods

A multicandidate probe panel interrogated DNA for aberrant methylation status in 18 tumor suppressor genes in lung cancer using a methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay (MS-MLPA). Lung cancer cell lines (n = 7), and primary lung tumors (n = 54) were examined using MS-MLPA.

Results

Genes frequently methylated in lung cancer cell lines including SCGB3A1, ID4, CCND2 were found among the most commonly methylated in the lung tumors analyzed. HLTF, BNIP3, H2AFX, CACNA1G, TGIF, ID4 and CACNA1A were identified as novel tumor suppressor candidates methylated in lung tumors. The most frequently methylated genes in lung tumors were SCGB3A1and DLC1(both 50.0%). Methylation rates for ID4, DCL1, BNIP3, H2AFX, CACNA1G and TIMP3 were significantly different between squamous and adenocarcinomas. Methylation of RUNX3, SCGB3A1, SFRP4, and DLC1 was significantly associated with the extent of the disease when comparing localized versus metastatic tumors. Moreover, methylation of HTLF, SFRP5 and TIMP3 were significantly associated with overall survival.

Conclusions

MS-MLPA can be used for classification of certain types of lung tumors and clinical outcome prediction. This latter is clinically relevant by offering an adjunct strategy for the clinical management of lung cancer patients.
Expression of Leukotriene Receptors in the Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion and the Effects on Pain Behaviors
Authors: Okubo Masamichi , Yamanaka Hiroki , Kobayashi Kimiko , Fukuoka Tetsuo , Dai Yi , Noguchi Koichi
Published: September 2010

Background:

Leukotrienes (LTs) belong to the large family of lipid mediators implicated in various inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Four distinct types (BLT1, BLT2, CysLT1 and CysLT2) of G-protein-coupled receptors for LTs have been identified. Several studies have reported that LTs are involved in inflammatory pain, but the mechanism and the expression of LT receptors in the nociceptive pathway are unknown.

Results:

We investigated the precise expression of these four types of LT receptors in the adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) using reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) and radioisotope-labeled in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). We detected mRNAs for BLT1 and CysLT2 in the DRG, but not for BLT2 and CysLT1. CysLT2 mRNA was preferentially expressed by small sized DRG neurons (about 36% of total neurons), whereas BLT1 mRNA was expressed by non-neuronal cells. Double labeling analysis of CysLT2 with NF-200, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), isolectin B4 (IB4), transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) and P2X3 receptor revealed that many CysLT2-labeled neurons were localized with unmyelinated and non-peptidergic neurons, and interestingly, CysLT2 mRNA heavily co-localized with TRPV1 and P2X3-positive neurons. Intraplantar injection of LTC4, a CysLT2 receptor agonist, itself did not induce the thermal hyperalgesia, spontaneous pain behaviors or swelling of hind paw. However, pretreatment of LTC4 remarkably enhanced the painful behaviors produced by alpha, beta-methylene adenosine 5′-triphosphate (αβ-me-ATP), a P2X3 receptor agonist.

Conclusions:

These data suggests that CysLT2 expressed in DRG neurons may play a role as a modulator of P2X3, and contribute to a potentiation of the neuronal activity following peripheral inflammation.
Sepsis is a major determinant of outcome in critically ill HIV/AIDS patients
Authors: Japiassú André M , Amâncio Rodrigo T , Mesquita Emerson C , Medeiros Denise M , Bernal Helena B , Nunes Estevão P , Luz Paula M , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Bozza Fernando A
Published: September 2010

Introduction

New challenges have arisen for the management of critically ill HIV/AIDS patients. Severe sepsis has emerged as a common cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission for those living with HIV/AIDS. Contrastingly, HIV/AIDS patients have been systematically excluded from sepsis studies, limiting the understanding of the impact of sepsis in this population. We prospectively followed up critically ill HIV/AIDS patients to evaluate the main risk factors for hospital mortality and the impact of severe sepsis on the short- and long-term survival.

Methods

All consecutive HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU of an infectious diseases research center, from June 2006 to May 2008, were included. Severity of illness, time since AIDS diagnosis, CD4 cell count, antiretroviral treatment, incidence of severe sepsis, and organ dysfunctions were registered. The 28-day, hospital, and 6-month outcomes were obtained for all patients. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis measured the effect of potential factors on 28-day and 6-month mortality.

Results

During the 2-year study period, 88 HIV/AIDS critically ill patients were admitted to the ICU. Seventy percent of patients had opportunist infections, median CD4 count was 75 cells/mm3, and 45% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Location on a ward before ICU admission, cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions on the first day after admission, and the presence of severe sepsis/septic shock were associated with reduced 28-day and 6-month survival on a univariate analysis. After a multivariate analysis, severe sepsis determined the highest hazard ratio (HR) for 28-day (adjusted HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.21-8.07) and 6-month (adjusted HR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.42-7.86) mortality. Severe sepsis occurred in 44 (50%) patients, mainly because of lower respiratory tract infections. The survival of septic and nonseptic patients was significantly different at 28-day and 6-month follow-up times (log-rank and Peto test, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Severe sepsis has emerged as a major cause of admission and mortality for hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients, significantly affecting short- and longer-term survival of critically ill HIV/AIDS patients.
Prevalence and characteristics of symptomatic and asymptomatic tuboovarian masses in women with HIV: an ultrasonographic study
Authors: Napolitano R , Sansone M , Floridia M , Cappelli C , Maruotti G M , Agangi A , Capone A , Mazzarelli L L , Martinelli P
Published: September 2010

HIV-positive women with pelvic inflammatory disease have been reported to have an increased prevalence of tuboovarian masses (TOMs). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic ultrasonographic TOMs in women with HIV and to identify associated factors in order to formulate a selective ultrasonographic screening strategy. Two-hundred and four HIV outpatients underwent transvaginal ultrasonography. Eight (3.9%) had a diagnosis of TOM (5 were asymptomatic). Two profiles of patients at risk for TOM were identified who could be considered for selective screening strategies: the ‘long-term infected’ (age>35 years, diagnosis of HIV infection more than 5 years ago, HIV clinical category C, CD4 counts below 200/mm3, >5 lifetime partners and on antiretroviral therapy) and the ‘recently diagnosed with HIV’ (African ethnicity, age 25–35, HIV diagnosis in the previous year, >5 lifetime partners, HIV clinical category C and not on antiretroviral therapy).
Diabetes and genital warts: an unhappy coalition
Authors: Yong M , Parkinson K , Goenka N , O'Mahony C
Published: September 2010

Through clinical practice, it is often perceived that patients with diabetes are more likely to suffer from severe and recalcitrant warts. This study was set up to investigate if genital warts were more common in patients with diabetes and to determine if patients with diabetes and genital warts required more treatment than those without diabetes. Only female patients with diabetes and genital warts were investigated and were compared to the non-diabetic population. Results suggested that patients with diabetes had more extensive warts and recurrences. This study will hopefully further inform the debate surrounding preferential use of quadrivalent human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine as opposed to bivalent HPV vaccine especially in the setting of a Diabetes Young Person's clinic.
Seasonal variation in mortality of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in HIV-infected patients
Authors: Miller R F , Evans H E R , Copas A J , Huggett J F , Edwards S G , Walzer P D
Published: September 2010

A seasonal variation in the presentation of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) has been reported and a previous study from this centre noted a seasonal variation in mortality rates. This study examined seasonal influences (including climatic factors) within-host factors (clinical and laboratory-derived variables), the infectious burden of P. jirovecii in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, the presence of dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) mutations in P. jirovecii, variations in knowledge and skills of junior medical staff, and mortality in 547 episodes of PCP occurring in 494 HIV-infected patients. The overall mortality rate was 13.5%. There was a seasonal variation in mortality: highest in autumn (21.2%) and lowest in spring (9.7%), P = 0.047. After adjustment was made for prognostic factors previously identified as being associated with mortality (increasing patient age, second/third episode of PCP, low haemoglobin, low PaO2, presence of medical co-morbidity and pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma), there was no seasonal association with mortality, P = 0.249. The quantity of P. jirovecii DNA in BAL fluid showed no evidence of seasonal variation, P = 0.67; DHPS mutations were identified with equal frequency in each season and the mortality rate for February and August (when junior medical staff arrive in new posts) was 16.7%, only slightly greater than for other months (13.0%).
Universal hepatitis C screening in genitourinary medicine
Authors: Maclean R , Fox E
Published: September 2010

Our genitourinary (GU) medicine service currently offers all attendees hepatitis C testing, regardless of risk factors. We carried out a retrospective case-note review of all cases of hepatitis C diagnosed in 2008 to determine whether a significant number of these cases would have been missed if screening was targeted at high-risk groups. Twenty-three cases of hepatitis C were diagnosed from approximately 30,000 screening tests, of which 19 were available for study. In all, 53% (10/19) were polymerase chain reaction-negative resolved infection and 47% (9/19) were chronic active hepatitis. All cases of infection had identifiable risk factors for infection with hepatitis C. We are now changing our guidelines to screen only those with identifiable risk factors.
Illicit substance use in pregnancy – a review
Authors: Scott Katherine , Lust Karin
Published: September 2010

Illicit substance use is not uncommon in women of childbearing age. The direct effects of illicit substance use on the mother, pregnancy and the fetus are not well understood, in contrast to the indirect effects of social disadvantage and intercurrent medical and psychiatric illness, which are well documented. We have undertaken a review of the current literature regarding the effects of illicit substance use in pregnancy and include a suggested approach to identification and management of at-risk women.
Intrathecal baclofen pump – a viable therapeutic option in pregnancy
Authors: Tandon Saira S , Hoskins Iffath , Azhar Salman
Published: September 2010

Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid analogue, is used as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic to relieve symptoms in patients with intractable spasticity arising from cerebral or spinal aetiology such as in traumatic brain injury or multiple sclerosis. As it is often used in women of reproductive age, it is imperative to know the safety and associated maternal and fetal risks. The Food and Drug Administration has assigned the drug to Pregnancy Category C because of the lack of controlled data in humans. Animal studies have revealed an increased incidence of omphalocele if used in doses several times the recommended human dose. Baclofen should only be given during pregnancy when the benefits outweigh the risks. Baclofen is considered compatible with breast feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pregnancy outcomes in sickle cell disease: a retrospective cohort study from two tertiary centres in the UK
Authors: Chase A R , Sohal M , Howard J , Laher R , McCarthy A , Layton D M , Oteng-Ntim E
Published: September 2010

The objective of this retrospective cohort study from two tertiary centres in the UK was to describe the pregnancy outcomes of women with sickle cell disease (SCD) who booked at these centres between 2004 and 2008, and to compare this with historical data. The study population comprised 122 singleton pregnancies in women with SCD: homozygous sickle cell disease 64, sickle cell haemoglobin C disease 45, sickle b plus thalassaemia 11, sickle cell haemoglobin E disease 1 and sickle cell delta disease 1 from 2004 to 2008 managed in the joint haematology/obstetric antenatal clinics in two tertiary teaching hospitals. The main outcome measures were the frequency of sickle cell crises and obstetric complications. Age and gestation at booking were 18–43 years (mean 29.7) and 9–36 weeks gestation (mean 17.3), respectively. Complications of SCD occurred in 25% of pregnancies. Fifty-four percent of women had induction of labour and 39% were delivered by emergency caesarean section. Thirty-three percent had a postpartum haemorrhage. Nineteen percent of women delivered before 37 completed weeks. Birth weight below 2500 g occurred in 20% of singleton pregnancies. Three neonates developed transient complications related to maternal opiate exposure postnatally. Three intrauterine deaths occurred at 24, 29 and 34 weeks. Two of these had congenital defects, and the other severe intrauterine growth restriction. No maternal deaths occurred. Successful pregnancy outcomes can be achieved in SCD. There has been an improvement in fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality compared with historical data. Pregnancy in women with SCD remains high risk. Early access to antenatal care and to expertise in SCD is essential. A matched control population from the same time period and prospective data collection is needed to address confounders such as ethnicity and deprivation.
A case of ectopic fascioliasis in the skin
Authors: Yi-zhu Xiao , Zhi-bang Yang
Published: September 2010

A four-year-old boy presented to the hospital with a four-month history of recurrent bouts of fever and abdominal pain. Half a month before being admitted to hospital, multiple red cutaneous nodules had emerged at the left epigastric region and a dark red serpentine track appeared under the skin at the same site. The day after the patient was admitted to the hospital, a living worm broke through the skin and appeared at one end of the subcutaneous track. The flatworm was identified as Fasciola hepatica in its juvenile stage. Eosinophilia was distinct in our patient and provides an important clue to diagnosing parasitosis.
Competitive Actions and Dynamics in the Digital Age: An Empirical Investigation of Social Networking Firms
Authors: Gnyawali Devi R. , Fan Weiguo , Penner James
Published: September 2010

This paper examines two important questions in the context of the social networking services (SNS) firms: what kind of competitive moves do SNS firms undertake and to what extent do the competitive moves impact firm performance? We blend the literature streams on information systems (IS) and strategic management and argue that given the unique characteristics of this nascent industry, SNS firms' competitive moves are likely to focus on value cocreation, as well as enhancement of the repertoire of their moves. We propose a conceptual model by blending value cocreation perspectives from the IS literature and repertoire of competitive actions from the competitive dynamics literature, and test our hypotheses using archival data. Results show that firms that emphasize value cocreation actions through the engagement of codevelopers in their technology platform and formation of strategic alliances enhance their performance. Furthermore, firms that undertake complex action repertoires achieve better performance. This study provides unique insights about the ways in which firms compete in the industry and has several implications for future research.
Changing the Competitive Landscape: Continuous Innovation Through IT-Enabled Knowledge Capabilities
Authors: Joshi K. D. , Chi Lei , Datta Avimanyu , Han Shu
Published: September 2010

We theoretically and empirically investigate the relationship between information technology (IT) and firm innovation. Invoking absorptive capacity (ACAP) theory, we introduce and develop the concepts of three types of IT-enabled knowledge capabilities. Firm innovation is examined through two observable innovation outcomes: patents, and new product and service introductions. These innovation outcomes are often labeled as competitive actions aggressively undertaken by firms to gain market share or to achieve profitability. We use secondary data about IT-enabled knowledge capabilities and innovation outcomes of 110 firms. Our data results provide strong support for our main assertion that knowledge capabilities that are enhanced through the use of IT contribute to firm innovation. The study's findings suggest that the three types of IT-enabled knowledge capabilities have differential effects on firm innovation. This study substantially contributes to the information systems (IS) research, methodology, and practice in multiple ways.
Managerial Interpretations of the Role of Information Systems in Competitive Actions and Firm Performance: A Grounded Theory Investigation
Authors: Vannoy Sandra A. , Salam A. F.
Published: September 2010

Using an interpretive grounded theory research approach, we investigate the utilization of organization-wide information systems in the competitive actions and responses undertaken by top managers to sustain their firms' leading competitive position. Our central contribution is a model that explicates the role of information systems in the process by which competitive actions or responses are conceived, enacted, and executed, and resulting impacts on firm performance—issues that have been largely missing from contemporary research in both the information systems and competitive dynamics domains. This study has important implications for both research and practice. Specifically, researchers should consider organizational context; the intentions and actions of key players; and the process of conceiving, enacting, and executing competitive actions or responses carried out by the organization to account for the impact of information systems on firm performance. Findings suggest that when managers envision information systems as a resource that provides opportunities for competitive actions rather than viewing information systems in a service role, competitive advantages will evolve. Furthermore, practitioners will be better able to leverage information systems investments if they recognize the embedded role of information systems within the competitive actions or responses a firm undertakes to maintain or improve relative performance.
A Network Perspective of Digital Competition in Online Advertising Industries: A Simulation-Based Approach
Authors: Chang Ray M. , Oh Wonseok , Pinsonneault Alain , Kwon Dowan
Published: September 2010

Using agent-based simulation experiments, we investigate the outcome of SAs between two smaller online search engine companies in competition with a dominant market leader in settings where an advertiser's decision making is the consequence of a combination of NI (e.g., an individual's willingness to follow others' decisions) and IP. In particular, we focus on a context in which the combined search engine company competes with a market leader holding a larger share of the market than the two runner-up “underdogs” combined. Our results indicate that, with the presence of NI and cascading effects, an alliance with “only” 35%–40% combined market share could compete with a leader whose market share, at the time of an alliance, is 60%–65%. Although important, size alone might be insufficient to build the market as suggested by the “vanilla” network effect theory. Another noteworthy finding is that a nonlinear association exists between NI and an alliance outcome; the combined runner-up companies have the best chance of success when the extent of NI is midrange, rather than on the high or low end of continuum. Contrary to the conventional view, this finding might also stimulate discussions among network science researchers. Furthermore, our results suggest that NI substantially moderates the relationship between the combined market share at the time of an alliance and the likelihood of resulting alliance success.
The MicroRNA Spectrum in 12 Body Fluids
Authors: Weber Jessica A , Baxter David H , Zhang Shile , Huang David Y , How Huang Kuo , Jen Lee Ming , Galas David J , Wang Kai
Published: September 2010

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that play an important role in regulating various biological processes through their interaction with cellular messenger RNAs. Extracellular miRNAs in serum, plasma, saliva, and urine have recently been shown to be associated with various pathological conditions including cancer.

METHODS

With the goal of assessing the distribution of miRNAs and demonstrating the potential use of miRNAs as biomarkers, we examined the presence of miRNAs in 12 human body fluids and urine samples from women in different stages of pregnancy or patients with different urothelial cancers. Using quantitative PCR, we conducted a global survey of the miRNA distribution in these fluids.

RESULTS

miRNAs were present in all fluids tested and showed distinct compositions in different fluid types. Several of the highly abundant miRNAs in these fluids were common among multiple fluid types, and some of the miRNAs were enriched in specific fluids. We also observed distinct miRNA patterns in the urine samples obtained from individuals with different physiopathological conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNAs are ubiquitous in all the body fluid types tested. Fluid type–specific miRNAs may have functional roles associated with the surrounding tissues. In addition, the changes in miRNA spectra observed in the urine samples from patients with different urothelial conditions demonstrates the potential for using concentrations of specific miRNAs in body fluids as biomarkers for detecting and monitoring various physiopathological conditions.
Reviews: The Craft Reader, Glenn Adamson (ed.),(2010); A Theory of Craft, Howard Risatti,(2007); Reworthit! A catalogue of the W001worths project Reworthit!, Stephen Bottomley (2010),
Authors: McLaren Graham , Mitchell Victoria , Humphrey David
Published: September 2010

The Craft Reader, Glenn Adamson (ed.), (2010) Oxford and New York: Berg, 641 pp., ISBN 978 184788 304 9, cloth, 70.00, ISBN 978 184788 303 2, paperback, 24.99

A Theory of Craft, Howard Risatti, (2007) Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 327pp,
ISBN 978-0-8078-3135-9 Hardback, 42.95 (USA)/35.50 (UK).

Reworthit! A catalogue of the W001worths project

Reworthit! Stephen Bottomley (2010),68 pp., ISBN 978-1-904443-39-1, paperback, 19.95
The African National Congress's Radio Freedom and its audiences in apartheid South Africa, 19631991
Authors: Lekgoathi Sekibakiba Peter
Published: September 2010

This article discusses the social history of Radio Freedom, the African National Congress's (ANC) clandestine radio station between 1963 and 1991. The article focuses on the audiences of Radio Freedom, how they listened to the station, which messages they appropriated from it, and the
impact of these messages on political mobilization in the country. The article advances arguments about how radio broadcasting became a strategic priority for the ANC and its allies in the aftermath of the violent crushing and the turn to the armed struggle. Radio became one of the key tools
used by the liberation movement to counter the apartheid state's propaganda messages and to articulate an alternative political perspective. Through Radio Freedom, the ANC could directly connect with its supporters inside the country and influence political mobilization particularly during
the 1970s and 1980s. Despite the illegality of tuning into the station and the jamming techniques used by the state to block signal transmission, individuals from the younger, more politically active generation of black South Africans did find creative but discreet ways of tuning into Radio
Freedom. This station was arguably one of the major sources of information on the ANC, shaping political education and understanding of the developments and influencing political activities inside the country.
SW Radio Africa and the challenges of operating a Zimbabwean exile radio station in London
Authors: Batist Danielle
Published: September 2010

This article explores how the Zimbabwean station SW Radio Africa operates as an exile radio station in London. In contrast to most diasporic media, SW Radio Africa broadcasts from the diaspora back into the homeland via the shortwave. This article demonstrates how the station's journalists
combine old media such as radio with the use of new media technologies like mobile phones and the Internet in order to reach both new and existing audiences in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora. The article highlights the range of constraints that SW Radio Africa staff members face in their daily
work, including safety, threats, dependency on donor funding and challenges in consulting official government and opposition sources. It argues that SW Radio Africa journalists describe their own role in the context of the crisis as both journalist and activist. Their personal involvement
in the Zimbabwean crisis makes them feel part of an ongoing struggle that they cannot and do not want to abandon until independent media can operate freely from Zimbabwe.
The aesthetic independence of the screenplay
Authors: Koivumki M.-R
Published: September 2010

The aesthetic independence of an artwork is usually defined by the direct relationship between the viewer and the artwork. The screenplay, however, is actualized for the viewer only via cinematic performance. Therefore, we should ask how the viewer experiences the performance and to
what extent this experience is created by the contribution of the screenplay, and especially which elements are realized in the presentation and contribute to building up the performance for the viewer to experience.

The approach I am leaning on, and through which I am hoping to gain new
insights into the aesthetic independence, is dramaturgical and thus practice-based. The common hermeneutic approach in artistic research usually defines what the artworks are and how they exist in our world as cultural phenomena. Through the dramaturgical approach I explore how the screenplay
functions within the presentational process.

I discuss the contribution of the screenplay as a literary artwork by asking how the literary characteristics of the screenplay appear in a film and their function in the performance. I also explore the screenplay's contribution from the viewer's
point of view. Here I am not leaning on the perception theories; instead I am using my own observation of the cinematic performance. Lastly, I discuss the dramaturgical process as an interpretive continuum that leads from the screenwriter to the viewer.
The plot point, the darkest moment, and the answered question: three ways of modelling the three-quarter-point
Authors: Keating Patrick
Published: September 2010

Many contemporary screenplay manuals, following Syd Field, encourage writers to place an act break approximately three-quarters of the way through the story. Although this would appear to be an area of widespread agreement, this essay argues that the manuals do not always define the
3/4-point in the same way. One common approach is to define the 3/4-point as a causally significant plot point; another approach is to regard it as an extreme point on an emotional curve, typically the darkest moment; and a third approach is to conceive of the 3/4-point as the answer to a
previously introduced question. Taking a closer look at these three competing models of the 3/4-point can help us uncover the manuals' competing assumptions about narrative structure, showing how they conceptualize causality, emotion and comprehension.
Effective Long-Term Culturing of Paramecia
Authors: Lewis William C. , Collins Kevin
Published: September 2010

Paramecia have many benefits in a biology classroom. They provide educational opportunities for students to learn about protists. Viewing paramecia allows students to observe organelles such as contractile vacuoles, food vacuoles, oral grooves, trichocysts, and macronuclei. The organism can be cultured easily and inexpensively using a plastic food container, wheat seeds, brewer's yeast, a standard aquarium, and a tank heater. An individual culture can typically last 2 to 3 weeks, and sometimes up to a month. Using this simple culturing method, a constant, on-demand supply of paramecia can be available in any biology classroom. This, coupled with the ability to concentrate paramecia, opens the door to a wide variety of laboratory applications.
Measuring the financial efficiencies and performances of Turkish funds
Authors: Gökgöz F.
Published: September 2010

Measuring the financial efficiencies of mutual funds in emerging markets has played an important role in finance literature. Charnes et al. (1978) advocated Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a valuable mathematical programming technique, which is used to measure the technical, pure and scale efficiencies of decision making units. The general form of DEA is the CCR model that depends on the assumption of constant returns to scale. Subsequently, Banker et al. (1984) developed an alternative DEA model which includes a variable returns to scale approach. The aim of this study is to measure and compare the financial efficiencies of Turkish securities and pension funds in the 2006–2007 period. In this respect, 36 securities mutual funds (SMFs) and 41 pension mutual funds (PMFs) have been evaluated comparatively according to classical portfolio performance measures and DEA models. Results from performance indices and DEA models reveal that PMFs have higher portfolio performances and financial efficiencies than SMFs in the 2006–2007 period. However, SMFs and PMFs have shown considerable increases in efficiency in the 2006–2007 period according to CCR and BCC models. Of the 77 funds studied, 23 funds in 2007 and 20 funds in 2006 demonstrated scale efficiency. Furthermore, the input ratios should be considerably improved for 2006 and 2007. But, mostly the output values of the funds were found to have remained unchanged in the case of PMFs and SMFs in 2007. The output ratios for 2006 should be considerably improved, especially in the case of SMFs. Finally, the DEA method is evaluated as a substantial quantitative tool for investors in analysing the financial efficiencies of funds in the capital markets.
Natural Grassland Response to Herbicides and Application Timing for Selective Control of Tall Fescue, an Invasive Cool-Season Grass
Authors: Ruffner Marvin E. , Barnes Thomas G.
Published: September 2010

Natural grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America. Conservation efforts are often hampered by exotic plant invasions in existing remnant natural grasslands. Tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix(Scop.) Holub.] is an introduced cool-season (C3) forage/turf grass which readily invades natural grasslands in Kentucky and neighboring states. Our study objectives were to (1) compare the efficacy and application timing effect of clethodim to that of imazapic to selectively remove tall fescue from natural grasslands and (2) evaluate the response of the nontarget grassland plant community (i.e., native grass and forb canopy cover) following herbicide treatments. Clethodim and imazapic treatments consisted of early (April 4, 2001) and late (April 20, 2001) applications, and these were applied at 0.23 and 0.21 kg ai ha−1, respectively. Both herbicides reduced tall fescue cover (P ≤ 0.05); herbicide application timing had no effect on herbicide efficacy to control tall fescue. Native grass cover was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in all herbicide-treated plots compared to the untreated controls, except for the late clethodim-treated plots. All herbicide treatments increased forb abundance compared to controls. Spring applications of clethodim were equally effective to those of imazapic at controlling tall fescue in natural grasslands. Imazapic released native grasses better than clethodim, whereas clethodim was better at increasing forb abundance. Furthermore, early clethodim treatments had fewer nontarget effects on native C4grasses compared to late clethodim treatments. Overall, clethodim shows promise as a beneficial management tool for tall fescue control in C4-dominated natural grasslands.
Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum) Management in Florida's Apalachicola Bottomland Hardwood Forests
Authors: Minogue Patrick J. , Bohn Kimberly K. , Osiecka Anna , Lauer Dwight K.
Published: September 2010

Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum) is an invasive vine that has been identified as an economic and ecological threat in forest ecosystems of the Southeast. In two separate studies, we examined the use of directed sprays of glyphosate, imazapyr, and metsulfuron-methyl herbicides, alone and in combination, for control of Japanese climbing fern and for impacts to associated vegetation in mixed bottomland hardwood–cypress forests at two first terrace sites of the Apalachicola River in north Florida. Two yr after treatment, various rates of glyphosate alone generally provided greater percent control (84 to 95%) than imazapyr alone (−25 to 86%) or metsulfuron-methyl alone (−5 to 53%). Combinations of 2% glyphosate and imazapyr and/or metsulfuron-methyl resulted in 81 to 97% control at 2 yr after treatment, with no significant differences among the combination treatments or 2% glyphosate alone. Change in percent cover of associated vegetation groups was not influenced by treatment except for one location where graminoid cover increased 1 yr after metsulfuron-methyl treatment but decreased after imazapyr or glyphosate application. Species richness of dominant understory vegetation remained nearly constant at both locations regardless of treatment. These data indicate that glyphosate alone or in combination with imazapyr or metsulfuron-methyl will provide effective, although not complete, control of Japanese climbing fern, and that directed herbicide sprays minimally impact nontarget vegetation.
Ecotype Variability and Edaphic Characteristics for Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) Populations in Mississippi
Authors: Bryson Charles T. , Krutz L. Jason , Ervin Gary N. , Reddy Krishna N. , Byrd John D.
Published: September 2010

Cogongrass is a highly invasive, perennial grass that is found on all continents, except Antarctica. It continues to spread at an alarming rate in the southeastern United States. Cogongrass has been reported from a wide array of habitats; however, soils from areas where cogongrass grows have never been characterized. Live cogongrass plants, herbarium specimens, and soil samples were collected from 53 cogongrass populations from across the 10 physiographic regions and land use areas in Mississippi. Cogongrass leaf and inflorescence morphology varied among sites, and plants were found in soils varying widely in texture (ranging from 28 to 86% sand, 3 to 48% silt, and 6 to 43% clay), organic matter content (ranging from 0.9 to 5.0%), pH (ranging from 4.4 to 8.0), and nutrient status: 6 to 190 kg ha−1(15 to 470 lb A−1) of phosphorus (P), 46 to 734 kg ha−1of potassium (K), 150 to 7,620 kg ha−1of calcium (Ca), 26 to 1,090 kg ha−1of magnesium (Mg), 1 to 190 kg ha−1of zinc (Zn), 145 to 800 kg ha−1of estimated sulfur (S) based on organic matter, and 57 to 300 kg ha−1of sodium (Na). These soil parameters were highly variable among cogongrass populations, even within physiographic regions or land use areas, and encompassed much of the soil physiochemical diversity within the state. Soil characteristics were significantly correlated with leaf length (Ca, K, Mg, P, Zn, and percentage of sand and silt), leaf width (Ca, P, Mg, and percentage of sand and silt), the leaf length-to-width ratio (K and P), inflorescence length (Na, P, and pH), inflorescence width (S, organic matter, and pH), and the inflorescence length-to-width ratio (S and organic matter). These data indicate that cogongrass is able to establish, emerge, grow, and reproduce on a wide array of soils in Mississippi. This ability provides cogongrass an advantage over other plant species that are more limited in the soil types that support their growth.
Wild and Cultivated Potato (Solanum sect. Petota) Escaped and Persistent Outside of its Natural Range
Authors: Simon Reinhard , Xie Conghua H. , Clausen Andrea , Jansky Shelley H. , Halterman Dennis , Conner Tony , Knapp Sandra , Brundage Jennifer , Symon David , Spooner David
Published: September 2010

Wild potato contains about 100 species that are native to the Americas from the southwestern United States to central Chile and adjacent Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. We report the occurrence of naturalized populations of the wild potato Solanum chacoense in seven sites in southern Australia, eastern China, England, New Zealand, the eastern United States, central Peru, and east-central Argentina. Modeling similar climatic niches on the basis of the distribution of S. chacoense from South America shows that observations of naturalized S. chacoense overlap with predicted areas. A literature review reveals that although S. chacoense possesses traits typical of an invasive species, all populations presently appear to be contained near their site of introduction.
Effects of 1-Year vs. Annual Treatment of Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) in Forests
Authors: Loeb Robert E. , Germeraad Jesse , Treece Travis , Wakefield Daniel , Ward Steve
Published: September 2010

Amur honeysuckle recovery following treatments annually and only in 1-year, during 2002 to 2009, was compared in the forests of Radnor Lake State Natural Area in Nashville, TN. Annual treatment areas had significantly lower mean Amur honeysuckle plant counts than 1-yr treatment areas for both ≤ 1 m (3.3 ft) and > 1 m plant heights and on both sloped and level areas, except for plants ≤ 1 m tall on level areas, which most likely indicated more soil moisture increasing seedling establishment and root sprouting in the first year after treatment. The significant, positive Pearson's product moment correlations for Amur honeysuckle counts of plants ≤ 1 m tall, with arboreal basal area and with canopy species diversity in the level areas of the annual treatment plots, were also most likely evidence for the importance of greater soil moisture during the first year after treatment for greater Amur honeysuckle recovery. For land managers interested in native vegetation restoration, guidance is provided to plan for long-term, invasive plant species treatment and recovery monitoring.
Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia): An Invasive Coastal Species
Authors: Cousins Matthew M. , Briggs Jeanne , Gresham Chuck , Whetstone Jack , Whitwell Ted
Published: September 2010

Beach vitex is a salt-tolerant, perennial, invasive shrub that has naturalized in coastal areas of the southeastern United States. Since its introduction in the 1980s, this Pacific Rim native has invaded many fragile beach-dune ecosystems along the Mid-Atlantic, Southern Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico. Large-scale monocultures of beach vitex supplant native species through rapid vegetative reproduction and seed production. Fruits are capable of water-based dispersal, allowing for potential rapid range expansion in coastal areas. Ecosystem damage resulting from exclusion of native plant species by beach vitex and fears associated with potential negative effects on sea turtle nesting have served to promote the control and survey efforts presently underway in coastal areas of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland.
Viability, Growth, and Fertility of Knotweed Cytotypes in North America
Authors: Gammon Melinda A. , Baack Eric , Orth Jennifer Forman , Kesseli Rick
Published: September 2010

Hybridization between two introduced plant species can influence the invasion capabilities of the exotic taxa, but the role of hybridization will likely differ in different invasions, even of the same species. Until now, studies concerning the ploidy of Japanese knotweed, giant knotweed, and their hybrids have been conducted in Europe or native ranges in Asia. Here, we assess the role of hybridization and ploidy in a U.S. invasion. We use flow cytometry to characterize DNA content in (1) established families in a common garden, (2) seedlings grown from common garden parents, and (3) wild populations. We also measured fertility in the garden and the field and vegetative growth traits in the garden. Although the majority of our parental and hybrid samples had ploidy levels previously documented in Europe (4X and 8X for parental species; 6X for hybrids), we found a wider range of knotweed cytotypes established in our garden (4X, 6X, 7X, 8X, 9X, and 10X) and additionally detected 5X, 11X, 12X, and possibly 14X ploidy levels in progeny from garden seed parents. The unexpected cytotypes were not confined to the greenhouse or common garden, in that all < 11X ploidy levels were also found in field populations in Massachusetts. In several cases, these data contradicted our expectations on the basis of morphological and molecular analysis, suggesting both significant introgression and the introduction of multiple cytotypes from Asia. With one exception (14X), we found all cytotypes were capable of strong vegetative growth, seed set, and the production of viable pollen. Without barriers to sexual reproduction, introgression is expected to progress, creating a progressively more diverse swarm of invasive genotypes.
Driven pile construction control procedures and design
Authors: Roohnavaz C.
Published: September 2010

The depot of the MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon line in Bangkok was designed and constructed as an elevated concrete platform structure of some 250 000 m2, supported by 17 000 driven prestressed, precast concrete piles. The design of piles considered full hydrostatic pressure in the long term, with soft clay negative skin friction due to the ongoing land subsidence. These requirements required that the piles be founded sufficiently in a deep sand stratum in order to ensure an adequate factor of safety against bearing capacity failure. This paper reports on the rigorous construction control procedures that were implemented with the aid of a pile driving analyser, in order to ensure that the design requirements were achieved. The procedures included monitoring the drive system performance, driving stresses, assessment of pile integrity and evaluation of pile capacity. The timely development and implementation of these procedures was fundamental to the early completion of piling, and to confidence in the integrity and capacity of the piles.
Daily Corticosteroids Reduce Infection-associated Relapses in Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Gulati Ashima , Sinha Aditi , Sreenivas Vishnubhatla , Math Aparna , Hari Pankaj , Bagga Arvind
Published: September 2010

Background and objectives

Relapses of nephrotic syndrome often follow minor infections, commonly of the upper respiratory tract. Daily administration of maintenance prednisolone during intercurrent infections was examined to determine whether the treatment reduces relapse rates in children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

In a randomized controlled trial (nonblind, parallel group, tertiary-care hospital), 100 patients with idiopathic, frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome eligible for therapy with prolonged low-dose, alternate-day prednisolone with or without levamisole were randomized to either receive their usual dose of alternate-day prednisolone daily for 7 days during intercurrent infections (intervention group) or continue alternate-day prednisolone (controls). Primary outcome was assessed by comparing the rates of infection-associated relapses at 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the frequency of infections and the cumulative amount of prednisolone received in both groups.

Results

Patients in the intervention group showed significantly lower infection-associated (rate difference, 0.7 episodes/patient per year; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.3, 1.1) and lower total relapse rates (0.9 episodes/patient per year, 95% CI 0.4, 1.4) without increase in steroid toxicity. Poisson regression, adjusted for occurrence of infections, showed that daily administration of prednisolone during infections independently resulted in 59% reduction in frequency of relapses (rate ratio, 0.41; 95% CI 0.3, 0.6). For every six patients receiving this intervention, one showed a reduction of relapse frequency to less than three per year.

Conclusions

Daily administration of maintenance doses of prednisolone, during intercurrent infections, significantly reduces relapse rates and the proportion of children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.
Plasmonic abilities of gold and silver spherical nanoantennas in terms of size dependent multipolar resonance frequencies and plasmon damping rates
Authors: Kolwas K. , Derkachova A.
Published: September 2010

Absorbing and emitting optical properties of a spherical plasmonic nanoantenna are described in terms of the size dependent resonance frequencies and damping rates of the multipolar surface plasmons (SP). We provide the plasmon size characteristics for gold and silver spherical particles up to the large size retardation regime where the plasmon radiative damping is significant. We underline the role of the radiation damping in comparison with the energy dissipation damping in formation of receiving and transmitting properties of a plasmonic particle. The size dependence of both: the multipolar SP resonance frequencies and corresponding damping rates can be a convenient tool in tailoring the characteristics of plasmonic nanoantennas for given application. Such characteristics enable to control an operation frequency of a plasmonic nanoantenna and to change the operation range from the spectrally broad to spectrally narrow and vice versa. It is also possible to switch between particle receiving (enhanced absorption) and emitting (enhanced scattering) abilities. Changing the polarization geometry of observation it is possible to effectively separate the dipole and the quadrupole plasmon radiation from all the non-plasmonic contributions to the scattered light.
Fourier optics approach to imaging with sub-wavelength resolution through metal-dielectric multilayers
Authors: Kotyński R.
Published: September 2010

Metal-dielectric layered stacks for imaging with sub-wavelength resolution are regarded as linear isoplanatic systems — a concept popular in Fourier optics and in scalar diffraction theory. In this context, a layered flat lens is a one-dimensional spatial filter characterised by the point spread function. However, depending on the model of the source, the definition of the point spread function for multilayers with sub-wavelength resolution may be formulated in several ways. Here, a distinction is made between a soft source and hard electric or magnetic sources. Each of these definitions leads to a different meaning of perfect imaging. It is shown that some simple interpretations of the PSF, such as the relation of its width to the resolution of the imaging system are ambiguous for the multilayers with sub-wavelenth resolution. These differences must be observed in point spread function engineering of layered systems with sub-wavelength sized PSF.