bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employment Growth in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services in Great Britain during the 1990s — Variations at the Regional and Sub-Regional Level
Authors: Chadwick Andrew , Glasson John , Smith Helen Lawton
Published: March 2008

This paper examines the changing geography of employment in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) in Britain. KIBS represent an important element of the so-called ‘knowledge economy’ and have been amongst the fastest growing employment sectors in advanced economies in recent years. However, during the 1990s in Britain, this employment growth was very unevenly distributed, both between regions and at the sub-regional level. The evidence presented in the paper suggests that KIBS growth in the 1990s was strongest in London and in a group of inter-linked local economies stretching in a broad arc to the north, west and south of the capital within the ‘Greater South East’ region. Examples of strong KIBS sector growth outside this region tend to be more isolated. There is little evidence of significant decentralisation of KIBS employment from the largest cities to smaller settlements.
Utilising a Demand-led Approach in a Local Labour Market
Authors: Spoonley Paul
Published: March 2008

Traditional labour market activation policies have tended to be focused on labour supply and improving the opportunities for new entrants or re-entrants to obtain appropriate paid employment. This emphasis was encouraged in the 1980s and 1990s by shifts in the location and nature of employment (deindustrialisation), growing and persistent levels of unemployment and policy concerns with labour market disadvantage. More recently, the need to ensure international competitiveness, often by minimising local labour costs and enhancing labour flexibility, has been accompanied by a concern amongst employers at the impact of skill shortages. One response has been to shift the policy focus from supply to demand, essentially by seeking to understand the changing nature of local labour demand and by developing appropriate labour market initiatives. This paper analyses the case study provided by a labour market initiative in a regional labour market in New Zealand to assess the utility of such an approach. The Waitakere Employment and Skills Project (WESP) is a collaborative approach to labour demand, involving a number of economic development and local/national government agencies, as well as a university research team (including the author).
Effect of Building Construction on Aspergillus Concentrations in a Hospital
Authors: Goebes Marian D. , Baron Ellen Jo , Mathews Kathleen L. , Hildemann Lynn M.
Published: March 2008

Air samples taken in a hospital undergoing construction and analyzed with a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the Aspergillus genus did not show elevated concentrations of Aspergillus or particulate matter with a diameter of 5 μm or less in patient areas. Air samples from the construction zone indicated the containment system, which used polyethylene film barrier and negative pressure, was effective.
ChIPCodis: mining complex regulatory systems in yeast by concurrent enrichment analysis of chip-on-chip data
Authors: Abascal Federico , Carmona-Saez Pedro , Carazo Jose-Maria , Pascual-Montano Alberto
Published: March 2008

Motivation: Eukaryotic genes are often regulated by multiple transcription factors (TFs). Depending on the interactions among different TFs the expression of a gene can be tuned to respond to diverse environmental conditions. Chip-on-chip experiments provide a snapshot of which TF are in vivo bound to which genes in a particular condition, and have been applied to characterize the regulatory code of yeast under several experimental settings. ChIPCodis mines this data to provide new insights about how the expression of a particular group of genes is regulated. For a given list of yeast genes ChIPCodis determines which combinations of TFs are significantly over-represented in a series of environmental conditions.

Availabilty:  http://chipcodis.dacya.ucm.es

Contact:  pascual@fis.ucm.es

Supplementary information:  http://chipcodis.dacya.ucm.es/sm.html
Prognostic Ability of Practitioners of Traditional Arabic Medicine: Comparison with Western Methods through a Relative Patient Progress Scale
Authors: Graz Bertrand
Published: March 2008

The ancient Greek medical theory based on balance or imbalance of humors disappeared in the western world, but does survive elsewhere. Is this survival related to a certain degree of health care efficiency? We explored this hypothesis through a study of classical Greco‐Arab medicine in Mauritania. Modern general practitioners evaluated the safety and effectiveness of classical Arabic medicine in a Mauritanian traditional clinic, with a prognosis/follow‐up method allowing the following comparisons: (i) actual patient progress (clinical outcome) compared with what the traditional ‘tabib’ had anticipated (= prognostic ability) and (ii) patient progress compared with what could be hoped for if the patient were treated by a modern physician in the same neighborhood. The practice appeared fairly safe and, on average, clinical outcome was similar to what could be expected with modern medicine. In some cases, patient progress was better than expected. The ability to correctly predict an individual′s clinical outcome did not seem to be better along modern or Greco‐Arab theories. Weekly joint meetings (modern and traditional practitioners) were spontaneously organized with a modern health centre in the neighborhood. Practitioners of a different medical system can predict patient progress. For the patient, avoiding false expectations with health care and ensuring appropriate referral may be the most important. Prognosis and outcome studies such as the one presented here may help to develop institutions where patients find support in making their choices, not only among several treatment options, but also among several medical systems.
Who Uses CAM? A Narrative Review of Demographic Characteristics and Health Factors Associated with CAM Use
Authors: Bishop Felicity L. , Lewith G. T.
Published: March 2008

Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) are used by an extensive number of patients in the UK and elsewhere. In order to understand this pattern of behavior, it is helpful to examine the characteristics of people who use CAM. This narrative review collates and evaluates the evidence concerning the demographic characteristics and health status factors associated with CAM use in community‐based non‐clinical populations. A systematic literature search of computerized databases was conducted, and published research papers which present evidence concerning associations between CAM use and demographic and health characteristics are discussed and evaluated. The evidence suggests that people who use CAM tend to be female, of middle age and have more education. In terms of their health, CAM users tend to have more than one medical condition, but might not be more likely than non‐users to have specific conditions such as cancer or to rate their own general health as poor. The multivariate studies that have been conducted suggest that both demographic and health characteristics contribute independently to CAM use. In conclusion, demographic characteristics and factors related to an individual′s health status are associated with CAM use. Future research is needed to address methodological limitations in existing studies.
Decomposition of one-dimensional waveform using iterative Gaussian diffusive filtering methods
Authors: Jeng Yih-Nen , Huang P.G , Cheng You-Chi
Published: March 2008

The Gaussian smoothing method is shown to have a wide transition zone around the cut-off frequency selected to filter a given dataset. We proposed two iterative Gaussian smoothing methods to tighten the transition zone: one being approximately diffusive and the other being strictly diffusive. The first version smoothes repeatedly the remaining high-frequency parts and the second version requires an additional step to further smooth the resulting smoothed response in each of the smoothing operation. Based on the choice of the criterion for accuracy, the smoothing factor and the number of iterations are derived for an infinite data length in both methods. By contrast, for a finite-length data string, results of the interior points (sufficiently away from the two endpoints) obtained by both methods can be shown to exhibit an approximate diffusive property. The upper bound of the distance affected by the error propagation inward due to the lack of data beyond the two ends is numerically estimated. Numerical experiments also show that results of employing the iterative Gaussian smoothing method are almost the same as those obtained by the strict diffusive version, except that the error propagation distance induced by the latter is slightly deeper than that of the former. The proposed method has been successfully applied to decompose the wave formation of a number of test cases including two sets of real experimental data.
Single molecule measurements and molecular motors
Authors: Yanagida Toshio , Iwaki Mitsuhiro , Ishii Yoshiharu
Published: March 2008

Single molecule imaging and manipulation are powerful tools in describing the operations of molecular machines like molecular motors. The single molecule measurements allow a dynamic behaviour of individual biomolecules to be measured. In this paper, we describe how we have developed single molecule measurements to understand the mechanism of molecular motors. The step movement of molecular motors associated with a single cycle of ATP hydrolysis has been identified. The single molecule measurements that have sensitivity to monitor thermal fluctuation have revealed that thermal Brownian motion is involved in the step movement of molecular motors. Several mechanisms have been suggested in different motors to bias random thermal motion to directional movement.
Stochastic rotational catalysis of proton pumping F-ATPase
Authors: Nakanishi-Matsui Mayumi , Futai Masamitsu
Published: March 2008

F-ATPases synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate coupled with an electrochemical proton gradient in bacterial or mitochondrial membranes and can hydrolyse ATP to form the gradient. F-ATPases consist of a catalytic F1and proton channel F0formed from the α3β3γδϵ andab2c10subunit complexes, respectively. The rotation of γϵc10couples catalyses and proton transport. Consistent with the threefold symmetry of the α3β3catalytic hexamer, 120° stepped revolution has been observed, each step being divided into two substeps. The ATP-dependent revolution exhibited stochastic fluctuation and was driven by conformation transmission of the β subunit (phosphate-binding P-loop/α-helix B/loop/β-sheet4). Recent results regarding mechanically driven ATP synthesis finally proved the role of rotation in energy coupling.
Nanobiomechanics of proteins and biomembrane
Authors: Ikai Atsushi
Published: March 2008

A review of the work done in the Laboratory of Biodynamics of Tokyo Institute of Technology in the last decade has been summarized in this article in relation to the results reported from other laboratories. The emphasis here is the application of nanomechanics based on the force mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to proteins and protein-based biological structures. Globular proteins were stretched in various ways to detect the localized rigidity inside of the molecule. When studied by this method, bovine carbonic anhydrase II (BCA II), calmodulin and OspA protein all showed the presence of localized rigid structures inside the molecules. Protein compression experiments were done on BCA II to obtain an estimate of the Young modulus and its change in the process of denaturation. Then, the AFM probe method was turned on to cell membranes and cytoplasmic components. Force curves accompanying the extraction process of membrane proteins from intact cells were analysed in relation to their interaction with the cytoskeletal components. By pushing the AFM probe further into the cytoplasm, mRNAs were recovered from a live cell with minimal damage, and multiplied using PCR technology for their identification. Altogether, the work introduced here forms the basis of nanomechanics of protein and protein-based biostructures and application of the nanomechanical technology to cell biology.
Naturally arising point mutations in non-essential domains of equine infectious anemia virus Rev alter Rev-dependent nuclear-export activity
Authors: Sparks Wendy O. , Dorman Karin S. , Liu Sijun , Carpenter Susan
Published: March 2008

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) exhibits a high rate of genetic variation in vivo, and results in a clinically variable disease in infected horses. In vivo populations of EIAV have been characterized by the presence of distinct, genetic subpopulations of Rev that differ in phenotype and fluctuate in dominance in a manner coincident with each clinical stage of disease. This study examined the specific mutations that arose in vivo and altered the phenotype. The Rev protein was found to be highly conserved, and only 10 aa mutations were observed at a frequency greater than 10 % in the sample population. Nine of these mutations were capable of significantly altering Rev activity, either as single mutations in the context of the founder variant, or in the context of cumulatively fixed mutations. The results indicated that limited genetic variation outside the essential functional domains of Rev can alter the phenotype and may confer a selective advantage in vivo.
Effect of NS3 and NS5B proteins on classical swine fever virus internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation and its host cellular translation
Authors: Xiao Ming , Bai Yan , Xu Hui , Geng Xiaolu , Chen Jun , Wang Yujing , Chen Jiakuan , Li Bo
Published: March 2008

A full-length NS3 (NS3F) and a truncated NS3 protein (NS3H) with an RNA helicase domain possess RNA helicase activity. Using an in vitro system with a monocistronic reporter RNA or DNA, containing the CSFV 5′-UTR, we observed that both NS3F and NS3H enhanced internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated and cellular translation in a dose-dependent manner, but NS3 protease (NS3P) that lacks a helicase domain did not. NS3F was stronger than NS3H in promoting both translations. These results showed that viral RNA helicase could promote viral and cellular translation, and higher RNA helicase activity might be more efficient. The NS5B protein, the viral replicase, did not significantly affect the IRES-directed or cellular translation alone. NS5B significantly enhanced the stimulative effect of NS3F on both IRES-mediated and cellular translation, but did not affect that of NS3H or NS3P. This suggests that NS5B and NS3 interact via the protease domain during the enhancement of translation.
Occurrence, function and evolutionary origins of ‘2A-like’ sequences in virus genomes
Authors: Luke Garry A. , de Felipe Pablo , Lukashev Alexander , Kallioinen Susanna E. , Bruno Elizabeth A. , Ryan Martin D.
Published: March 2008

2A is an oligopeptide sequence mediating a ribosome ‘skipping’ effect, producing an apparent ‘cleavage’ of polyproteins. First identified and characterized in picornaviruses, ‘2A-like’ sequences are found in other mammalian viruses and a wide range of insect viruses. Databases were analysed using a motif conserved amongst 2A/2A-like sequences. The newly identified 2A-like sequences (30 aa) were inserted into a reporter polyprotein to determine their cleavage activity. Our analyses showed that these sequences fall into two categories. The majority mediated very high (complete) cleavage to separate proteins and a few sequences mediated cleavage with lower efficiency, generating appreciable levels of the uncleaved form. Phylogenetic analyses of 2A-like sequences and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) indicated multiple, independent, acquisitions of these sequences at different stages during virus evolution. Within a virus family, 2A sequences are (probably) homologous, but diverge due to other evolutionary pressures. Amongst different families, however, 2A/2A-like sequences appear to be homoplasic.
Morpholino oligomers targeting the PB1 and NP genes enhance the survival of mice infected with highly pathogenic influenza A H7N7 virus
Authors: Gabriel Gülsah , Nordmann Alexandra , Stein David A. , Iversen Patrick L. , Klenk Hans-Dieter
Published: March 2008

Peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMO) are single-stranded nucleic acid-analogue antisense agents that enter cells readily and can reduce gene expression by steric blocking of complementary RNA (cRNA) sequences. Here, we tested a panel of PPMO designed to target conserved sequences in the RNA genome segments encoding polymerase subunits of a highly pathogenic mouse-adapted influenza A virus (SC35M; H7N7). Three PPMO, targeting the translation start site region of PB1 or NP mRNA or the 3′-terminal region of NP viral RNA (vRNA), potently inhibited virus replication in MDCK cells. Primer extension assays showed that treatment with any of the effective PPMO led to markedly reduced levels of mRNA, cRNA and vRNA. Initially, the potential toxicity of a range of intranasally administered PPMO doses was evaluated, by measuring their effect on body weight of uninfected mice. Subsequently, a non-toxic dosing regimen was used to investigate the effect of various PPMO on SC35M infection in a mouse model. Mice administered intranasal treatment of PPMO targeting the PB1-AUG region or NP vRNA, at 3 μg per dose, given once 3 h before and once 2 days after intranasal infection with 10×LD50 of SC35M, showed a 2 log10 reduction of viral titre in the lungs and 50 % survival for the 16 day duration of the experiment, whereas the NP-AUG-targeted PPMO treatment resulted in 30 % survival of an otherwise lethal infection. These data suggest that PPMO provide a useful reagent to investigate influenza virus molecular biology and may constitute a therapeutic strategy against highly pathogenic influenza viruses.
Association of serum and mucosal neutralizing antibodies to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) with HPV-16 infection and cervical disease
Authors: Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. , Williamson Anna-Lise , Stewart Debbie , Passmore Jo-Ann S. , Denny Lynette , Allan Bruce , Marais Dianne J.
Published: March 2008

We investigated neutralizing antibodies to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) in serum and cervical washes from 84 women with normal cytology or cervical disease. Serum neutralizing antibodies were detected in 78 % of women infected at the cervix with HPV-16, compared with 35 % (P=0.002) of women infected with HPV-16-related types (α9 HPV types), 14 % (P<0.0001) of women infected with HPV-16 non-related types and none of HPV-uninfected women. A significant correlation between HPV-16 infection and serum HPV-16-neutralizing antibodies was observed (rs=0.97;P=0.032). Cervical neutralizing antibodies were detected in 38 % of women with HPV-16 infection and in 17 % of women infected with the HPV-16-related type HPV-31. Cervical neutralizing antibodies correlated with HPV-16 infection (rs=0.95;P=0.08), but not with cervical disease. Serum and cervical HPV-16 antibody responses were not affected significantly by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. In conclusion, serum and cervical HPV-16-neutralizing antibodies were found to correlate with HPV-16 infection, but not with cervical disease.
Effect of basal core promoter and pre-core mutations on hepatitis B virus replication
Authors: Jammeh Saffie , Tavner Fiona , Watson Roger , Thomas Howard C. , Karayiannis Peter
Published: March 2008

There are two hypotheses explaining a fulminant outcome after hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, both of which may be applicable at the same time: (i) basal core promoter (BCP) mutations increase viral replication, allowing rapid spread of the virus through the liver, and (ii) pre-core (pre-C) mutations abrogating hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) synthesis remove its tolerogenic effect, leading to a vigorous immune response. This study investigated the effect of these mutations on virus replication efficiency and HBeAg production. Substitutions A1762T/G1764A and T1753C, C1766T and T1768A in the BCP region, and G1896A and G1899A in the pre-C region, were examined either alone or in combination, using a common genetic background. Huh7 cells were transfected with these constructs and real-time PCR was used to quantify released virion-associated and intracellular HBV DNA, pregenomic RNA and pre-C mRNA. In addition, culture supernatants were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBeAg. The double BCP mutation (A1762T/G1764A) and the pre-C mutations (G1896A, G1899A), either alone or in combination, had no appreciable effect on the replication capacity of the virus. In contrast, clones with mutations at positions 1766/1768, 1762/1764/1766 and 1753/1762/1764 exhibited increased-replication phenotypes. HBeAg was undetectable in all cultures transfected with constructs bearing the G1896A stop-codon mutation, as expected. In contrast, constructs with additional mutations in the BCP region had appreciably lower levels of HBeAg expression than the wild type. Thus, core promoter mutations other than those at 1762/1764 appear to upregulate viral DNA replication and, at the same time, greatly reduce HBeAg production.
Human cytomegalovirus serum neutralizing antibodies block virus infection of endothelial/epithelial cells, but not fibroblasts, early during primary infection
Authors: Gerna Giuseppe , Sarasini Antonella , Patrone Marco , Percivalle Elena , Fiorina Loretta , Campanini Giulia , Gallina Andrea , Baldanti Fausto , Revello M. Grazia
Published: March 2008

A panel of human sera exhibited a ≥128-fold higher neutralizing potency against a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) clinical isolate propagated and tested in endothelial (or epithelial) cells than against the same virus infecting human fibroblasts. In a group of 18 primary infections, the reverse geometric mean titre was in the range of 10–15 in human fibroblasts within the first 3 months after the onset of infection, whereas the endothelial cell infection-neutralizing activity was already present within the first 10 days, reaching median levels of 122, 320 and 545 at respectively 30, 60 and 90 days after onset, then declining slowly. This difference was also confirmed in the majority of reactivated and remote HCMV infections, as well as in a hyperimmune globulin preparation. The antibody response to HCMV pUL131A, pUL130 and pUL128 locus products, which are required for endothelial/epithelial cell infection, provided a potential molecular basis for such a differential neutralizing activity. In addition, monoclonal/monospecific antibodies raised against the pUL131A, pUL130 and pUL128 proteins were found to display an inhibitory activity on HCMV plaque formation and HCMV leukocyte transfer from HCMV-infected cells. Hence, conventional determination of the neutralizing activity of human sera in fibroblasts is misleading. Antibodies to pUL131A, pUL130 and pUL128 appear to display a major HCMV-neutralizing and dissemination-inhibiting activity.
Protection of cats against lethal influenza H5N1 challenge infection
Authors: Vahlenkamp Thomas W. , Harder Timm C. , Giese Matthias , Lin Fengsheng , Teifke Jens P. , Klopfleisch Robert , Hoffmann Ralf , Tarpey Ian , Beer Martin , Mettenleiter Thomas C.
Published: March 2008

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 of Asian origin continues to circulate in poultry and wild birds, causing considerable concern for veterinary and public health in Asia, Europe and Africa. Natural transmission of HPAIV H5N1 from poultry to humans, resulting in infections associated with high mortality, and from poultry or wild birds to large felids and domestic cats has been reported. Experimental infection of cats with HPAIV H5N1 derived from a human patient resulted in lethal disease. The role of cats in the adaptation of HPAIV H5N1 to mammals and vaccination regimens for the eventual protection of cats, however, remain to be elucidated. Here, it was shown that cats can be protected against a lethal high-dose challenge infection by an inactivated, adjuvanted heterologous H5N6 avian influenza virus vaccine. The challenge HPAIV H5N1 was derived from a naturally infected cat. In non-vaccinated cats, low-dose exposure resulted in asymptomatic infections with minimal virus excretion. As diseased cats can transmit the infection to naïve contact animals, the epidemiological role of H5N1-infected cats in endemically infected areas as a link between wild birds, poultry and humans needs close inspection, and vaccination of cats should be considered to reduce possible human exposure.
Analysis of the mechanism of antibody-dependent enhancement of feline infectious peritonitis virus infection: aminopeptidase N is not important and a process of acidification of the endosome is necessary
Authors: Takano Tomomi , Katada Yukari , Moritoh Saiko , Ogasawara Mika , Satoh Kumi , Satoh Ryoichi , Tanabe Maki , Hohdatsu Tsutomu
Published: March 2008

Infection of the monocyte/macrophage lineage with feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) is enhanced in the presence of anti-FIPV antibodies (antibody-dependent enhancement or ADE). We investigated the following unclear points concerning ADE of FIPV infection: (i) involvement of the virus receptor, feline aminopeptidase N (fAPN), in ADE activity in FIPV infection; (ii) necessity of acidification of the endosome in cellular invasion of FIPV. Virus receptor-blocking experiments using anti-fAPN antibodies at 4 or 37 °C and experiments using fAPN-negative U937 cells revealed that fAPN is not involved in ADE of FIPV infection. Experiments using lysosomotropic agents clarified that acidification of the endosome is necessary for cellular invasion by FIPV, regardless of the presence or absence of antibodies. These findings may be very important for understanding the mechanism of ADE of FIPV infection.
Measles virus inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcription and replication by blocking cell-cycle progression of CD4+ T lymphocytes
Authors: García Mayra , Yu Xiao-Fang , Griffin Diane E. , Moss William J.
Published: March 2008

Acute measles virus (MV) infection results in a decrease in plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA levels in co-infected children. An in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture system was used to assess the mechanisms by which MV blocks HIV-1 replication. MV inhibited proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, the target cell for HIV-1 replication. In the presence of MV, cells did not progress to G1b and S phases, steps critical for the completion of HIV-1 reverse transcription and productive replication. This block in cell-cycle progression was characterized by an increased proportion of CD4+ and HIV-1-infected cells retained in the parental generation in PBMCs co-cultured with MV and HIV-1, and decreased levels of cyclins and RNA synthesis. Early HIV-1 replication was also inhibited in the presence of MV, as measured by reduced expression of a luciferase reporter gene and lower levels of both early (LTR) and late (LTR–gag) DNA intermediates of HIV-1 reverse transcription in the presence of CCR5-tropic HIV-1. The effects of MV on lymphoproliferation and p24 antigen production were reproduced by n-butyrate and hydroxyurea, drugs that block the cell cycle in G1a and G1/S, respectively. It was concluded that MV inhibits HIV-1 productive replication in part by blocking the proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes.
Genome-wide analysis of Fis binding inEscherichia coliindicates a causative role for A-/AT-tracts
Authors: Cho Byung-Kwan , Knight Eric M. , Barrett Christian L. , Palsson Bernhard Ø.
Published: March 2008

We determined the genome-wide distribution of the nucleoid-associated protein Fis inEscherichia coliusing chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-resolution whole genome-tiling microarrays. We identified 894 Fis-associated regions across theE. coligenome. A significant number of these binding sites were found within open reading frames (33%) and between divergently transcribed transcripts (5%). Analysis indicates that A-tracts and AT-tracts are an important signal for preferred Fis-binding sites, and that A6-tracts in particular constitute a high-affinity signal that dictates Fis phasing in stretches of DNA containing multiple and variably spaced A-tracts and AT-tracts. Furthermore, we find evidence for an average of two Fis-binding regions per supercoiling domain in the chromosome of exponentially growing cells. Transcriptome analysis shows that ∼21% of genes are affected by the deletion offis; however, the changes in magnitude are small. To address the differential Fis bindings under growth environment perturbation, ChIP-chip analysis was performed using cells grown under aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions. Interestingly, the Fis-binding regions are almost identical in aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions—indicating that theE. coligenome topology mediated by Fis is superficially identical in the two conditions. These novel results provide new insight into how Fis modulates DNA topology at a genome scale and thus advance our understanding of the architectural bases of theE. colinucleoid.
Genomic evolution of the placenta using co-option and duplication and divergence
Authors: Knox Kirstin , Baker Julie C.
Published: March 2008

The invention of the placenta facilitated the evolution of mammals. How the placenta evolved from the simple structure observed in birds and reptiles into the complex organ that sustains human life is one of the great mysteries of evolution. By using a timecourse microarray analysis including the entire lifetime of the placenta, we uncover molecular and genomic changes that underlie placentation and find that two distinct evolutionary mechanisms were utilized during placental evolution in mice and human. Ancient genes involved in growth and metabolism were co-opted for use during early embryogenesis, likely enabling the accelerated development of extraembryonic tissues. Recently duplicated genes are utilized at later stages of placentation to meet the metabolic needs of a diverse range of pregnancy physiologies. Together, these mechanisms served to develop the specialized placenta, a novel structure that led to expansion of the eutherian mammal, including humankind.
Epidemiological survey of Vibrio vulnificus infection in Japan between 1999 and 2003
Authors: INOUE Yuji , ONO Tomomichi , MATSUI Tamano , MIYASAKA Jiro , KINOSHITA Yoshihiro , IHN Hironobu
Published: March 2008

The frequency of Vibrio vulnificus infection is very rare and there are many questions regarding its epidemiology in Japan. To investigate the clinical course and epidemiology of V. vulnificus infection in Japan, we performed a retrospective questionnaire survey in which 1693 hospitals from all over Japan were surveyed, including advanced life saving emergency centers and dermatology institutions. Of the 1693 hospitals, we received answers from 1045. Ninety‐four cases were confirmed as V. vulnificus infections during 1999 and 2003. Sixty‐eight (72.3%) of the 94 patients had the septic type infection with a mortality rate of 75.0% (51/68 patients died). The prognosis of patients with the septic type was worse than that of the wound type (P < 0.001). V. vulnificus infections occurred from June to November and none occurred in winter. Many infections occurred in western Japan with the majority of infections (50/94) occurring in Kyushu. In particular, 43 infections occurred in marine coastal areas of the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, which have many tidelands. Seventy‐seven of 89 patients (86.5%) had liver function impairment as an underlying disease, and 53 (59.6%) had liver cirrhosis, of whom nine (10.1%) suffered from liver cancer. The incidence of V. vulnificus infection was different according to districts. Geographic and climatic factors also contributed to the occurrence of V. vulnificus infection.
Preliminary study among truck drivers in Turkey: Effects of ultraviolet light on some skin entities
Authors: KAVAK Ayse , PARLAK Ali Haydar , YESILDAL Nuray , AYDOGAN Ilker , ANUL Huseyin
Published: March 2008

In this study, we aimed to compare driver (left) and opposite (right) sides for some skin entities in drivers. We also evaluated the effect of occupational duration, age and skin type among this population. One hundred and forty‐eight truck drivers were included in this study. Sun exposed areas were classified. Dermatological entities such as actinic keratosis, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, melanocytic nevus, spider angioma, ephelid, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma were compared to driver and right sides. In addition, drivers were divided into two subgroups according to: (i) age (subgroups A1, 20–40 years, and A2, >40 years); (ii) occupational duration (subgroups O1, 1–10 years, and 02, >10 years); and (iii) skin type (subgroups S1, skin types I and II, and S2, skin types III and IV. Each of the two subgroups were compared with respect to the total prevalence (left and right sides) of lesions excluding the location. Seborrheic keratosis and lentigo solaris were found to be increased on the driver side of the face (P = 0.00) and ear (P = 0.013), respectively. Statistically significant increases of lesions on the driver side were determined according to the subgroups: melanocytic nevi were found to be increased on the driver side in A1 (P = 0.00), A2 (P = 0.00), O2 (P = 0.00), S1 (P = 0.00) and S2 (P = 0.006) groups; actinic keratoses were found to be significantly increased on the driver side in A2 and O2 groups (P = 0.03 for both).
Discoid lupus erythematosus exacerbated by contact dermatitis caused by use of squaric acid dibutylester for topical immunotherapy in a patient with alopecia areata
Authors: SHIMAOKA Yayoi , HATAMOCHI Atsushi , HAMASAKI Yoichiro , SUZUKI Hiromi , IKEDA Hideyuki , YAMAZAKI Soji
Published: March 2008

A 57‐year‐old Japanese male patient with an 18‐year history of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) presented with alopecia on his scalp, and was clinically diagnosed to have alopecia areata. He was started on topical immunotherapy with squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) for the treatment of alopecia areata. The patient was first sensitized with the application of 2% SADBE on the right upper arm, followed subsequently by re‐exposure to a low concentration of SADBE to provoke contact dermatitis on the scalp as treatment. Approximately 2 months later, he developed multiple red scaly lesions on his scalp and face, which were diagnosed histopathologically as DLE. DLE is known to be exacerbated by a variety of factors, including sunlight, X‐rays, tattoos, burns, and some forms of cutaneous trauma, including dermatitis. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have only been two reported cases of DLE exacerbated by contact dermatitis.
Multiple cutaneous neoplasms in a patient with Rothmund–Thomson syndrome: Case report and published work review
Authors: STINCO Giuseppe , GOVERNATORI Gianantonio , MATTIGHELLO Paolo , PATRONE Pasquale
Published: March 2008

Rothmund–Thomson syndrome (RTS) is a rare genodermatosis characterized by early poikilodermatous skin lesions, often combined with juvenile cataracts, photosensitivity and bone defects. Data in the published work indicate that there is an increased risk of RTS patients developing malignant tumors. Herein, we report the multiple skin carcinomas observed in a case of RTS and review the published work on the occurrence of malignant tumors in these patients. We report the case of a 63‐year‐old male with RTS who developed multiple cutaneous neoplasms (three basal cell carcinomas, three squamous cell carcinomas and Bowen's disease) over the previous 15 years. A published work review confirmed that RTS is a genetic condition that predisposes subjects to the development of bone tumors, especially at an early age, and skin tumors at an adult age. Therefore, alongside careful osteoarticular monitoring to identify a bone tumor quickly, during the life of a patient suffering from the syndrome, it is just as important to take appropriate preventive action and monitor the possible onset of skin tumors.
Developing social work students' communication skills with children and young people: a model for the qualifying level curriculum
Authors: Lefevre Michelle , Tanner Karen , Luckock Barry
Published: March 2008

Currently, there is no explicit requirement for qualifying level social workers to be skilled in communicating with children. In a recent Knowledge Review, we argued that practitioners should have a basic level of competence in such skill at the point of qualification. If that argument is accepted then how this should be acquired within the qualifying social work curriculum needs consideration. The authors present a framework for understanding those components of skilled communication with children that should be included in the qualifying curriculum. A whole programme approach to curriculum development will be outlined which, we suggest, might enable students to develop the knowledge, capabilities and values required for skilled practice in this area.
Mental health and educational difficulties in children in contact with Children's Social Services
Authors: Guglani Sacha , Rushton Alan , Ford Tamsin
Published: March 2008

The British Child Mental Health Survey 1999 collected data from 10 438 children aged 5–15 years, selected at random from the child benefit register. At 2 and 3 years, all those with a psychiatric disorder and a random third without were followed up with further detailed interviews about the services contacted if parents reported service contact or if parents expressed concern about their child's mental health at baseline and follow‐up, but reported no service use. We compared children in contact with Children's Social Services with children in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or no services. The children in contact with Children's Social Services had a high level of psychopathology and considerable educational difficulties. Despite this, they often had no contact with CAMHS or access to provision for special educational needs. It also became clear that parents were often using Children's Social Services as a first‐line service, i.e. a way of trying to access help. The results provide us with an interesting insight into the level of need of those children in contact with Children's Social Services and we hope to stimulate discussion about how liaison between all the services children access can better provide for their needs.
Young people leaving care: health, well‐being and outcomes
Authors: Dixon Jo
Published: March 2008

This paper focuses on the health and well‐being of young people making the transition from care to independent adulthood. It draws on findings from a wider study of outcomes for young people leaving care in England. Notably, the study used, as its key outcome indicators, measures of general and mental well‐being. In doing so, it was able to explore the interrelationship between these areas and young people's overall progress after care. The paper explores the extent to which young people experience difficulties related to physical and mental health, disability and emotional and behavioural problems. It will show that such difficulties can impact upon and be influenced by overall well‐being and post‐care progress in more traditional outcome areas such accommodation and career, and will suggest that the transition from care itself can adversely affect health and well‐being. The paper considers these issues within the context of a changing policy framework which has given increased priority to the health and well‐being of young people in and leaving care, particularly in light of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000. It considers the ways that young people are supported to address health and well‐being and the implications for and impact on leaving care services.
Achieving permanency for youth in foster care: assessing and strengthening emotional security
Authors: Frey Lauren , Cushing Gretta , Freundlich Madelyn , Brenner Eliot
Published: March 2008

For some youth in foster care, the closest family or family‐like relationships are with the foster parents with whom they have lived for extended periods of time. Nonetheless, child welfare agencies often do not explore these relationships and the potential they may hold for youth for legal permanence through adoption or guardianship. Recognizing that social workers often lack resources to help them initiate permanency conversations, Casey Family Services, a direct service child welfare agency in the USA, developed a tool that social workers can use to explore youth's sense of emotional security with their foster parents and foster parents' sense of claiming and attachment with youth in their care. The research literature that suggests that emotional security is a critical component of successful permanence provided the foundation for the development of the Belonging and Emotional Security Tool (BEST). When used with youth and foster parents, the BEST was found to advance meaningful permanency conversations. The authors provide case examples of its use and discuss future directions for using the BEST and broadening its application.
Severe atopic dermatitis is associated with a high burden of environmental Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Leung A. D. , Schiltz A. M. , Hall C. F. , Liu A. H.
Published: March 2008

Background
About 90% of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus worsens AD by secreting superantigens and structural molecules within the cell wall that induce skin inflammation. Therefore, S. aureus in the home may contribute to persistent skin inflammation and disease severity.

Objective
To quantify S. aureus burden in homes of participants with AD of varying severities.

Methods
Participants with mild (n=18), moderate (n=14), severe (n=15), and no AD (n=15), collected dust from their bed and bedroom floor, and from their home vacuum cleaner bag. DNA was extracted from dust samples, and the S. aureus‐specific femB gene was quantified using quantitative real‐time PCR. Data was log‐transformed, and then statistically analysed with anova, student's t‐test, and Spearman's r.

Results
Participants with severe AD (geometric mean: 14.67 pg/mg dust) had significantly more S. aureus DNA in their bed dust than those with moderate (0.41 pg/mg dust, P<0.0001), mild (1.42 pg/mg dust, P=0.0051), and no AD [0.09 pg/mg dust, P<0.0001 (t‐test)]. Similar patterns were observed for dust from the bedroom floors and vacuum bags. S. aureus DNA was highest in dust from beds as compared with bedroom floors or vacuum bags (medians: 1.51, 0.69, 0.21 pg/mg dust, respectively; P=0.007). Eczema Area and Severity Index scores correlated with S. aureus DNA from the bed (Spearman's r=0.7263; P=0.0004) and floor (0.6846; P=0.0002) dust, but not with the vacuum bag dust (0.3783; 0.0684).

Conclusions
In the home and especially the bedroom, higher levels of S. aureus may contribute to disease severity and persistence in AD patients.
Brood burrow construction and brood care by Heliocopris japetus (Klug) and Heliocopris hamadryas (Fabricius) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)
Authors: KLEMPERER H. G. , BOULTON RUDYERD
Published: March 2008

Brood burrow construction and brood care were studied by excavating burrows of different ages and by re‐excavating certain burrows after a defined interval.

Brood burrows consisted of tunnels running via an upper chamber to a lower chamber 0.55–1.3 m below ground.

The female excavated the upper chamber, filled it with dung, then excavated the lower chamber and packed it with dung from the upper chamber.

Soil was removed from around the dung to give adungmasslying free in the lower chamber. The male was present during and just before this stage, and may cooperate in pushing soil out through the tunnel. Later the tunnel was filled with soil, excluding the male from the lower chamber.

The female formed the dung mass into balls each of which contained an egg. Development of the larvae led to an expansion at the upper pole, producing a pear shape. Third instar larvae were found in pears with a soil covering.

In the case of H.japetus the pears later became soil‐covered balls containing the new adults, and the female remained in the chamber and died after the young had emerged.

The push‐ups of H.japetus and of H.hamadryas were distinguishable, reflecting slight differences in the technique of burrow construction. H.hamadryas burrows were deeper and contained smaller brood balls.
The population dynamics of the stinging nettle aphid, Microlophium carnosum (Bukt.)
Authors: PERRIN R. M.
Published: March 2008

Populations of Microlophium carnosum on patches of perennial stinging nettle, Urtica dioica increased rapidly during April and May to reach their peaks in June. The decline in numbers was equally rapid and very small populations persisted into autumn; parthenogenetic over‐wintering was recorded.

Suboptimal ambient temperature and mortality due to natural enemies contributed mainly to the post‐peak development of aphid populations.

The combined effects of intraspecific competition and a deterioration in the food quality of the host plant appeared to be the major factors determining the temporal pattern of aphid abundance.

Variation in the size of populations between the three sampled sites was correlated with differences in the food quality of nettles as indicated by aphid mean relative growth rate.

Each nettle patch has a particular ‘carrying capacity’ for aphids, within which a biennial fluctuation between relatively large and small aphid populations appeared to be emerging at most of the sites investigated. A natural or aphid‐induced cycle in host plant quality, or alternatively, the persistent effects of intraspecific competition over several generations, may explain this fluctuation.
The hosts and distribution of British thrips
Authors: PITKIN BRIAN R.
Published: March 2008

The host relationships and distribution of the 146 ‘native’ species of British thrips are reviewed.

The spermatophyte hosts, the species of thrips breeding on each plant taxon, and the mycophagous and ‘predatory’ species are listed.
The hosts of Nemeritis canescens a problem in the host specificity of insect parasitoids
Authors: SALT GEORGE
Published: March 2008

Published records of the hosts of N.canescens have been collected and critically examined.

It is accepted that canescens has developed on twenty‐three species; on one of them perhaps accidentally, on two with some doubt.

Twelve species were parasitized in nature; nine species in the laboratory. Two species served as hosts when artificially infected.

The natural hosts belong in the Pyralidae, Tinaeidae and Yponomeutidae; the laboratory hosts in the Pyralidae, Oecophoridae and Gelechiidae. One individual was reared from a Tortricid, perhaps accidentally.

The host specificity of N.canescens is not easily explained on either a systematic or an ecological basis. It offers interesting problems for research.
The status of the swallowtail butterfly in Britain
Authors: DEMPSTER J. P. , KING M. L. , LAKHANI K. H.
Published: March 2008

Since the early 1950s, when the British swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon britannicus) became extinct at Wicken Fen, this subspecies has been confined to marshes around the Norfolk Broads. Here too, however, its abundance appears to be declining.

The ecology of the butterfly has been studied in Norfolk and at Wicken (by small‐scale introductions) and the main factors determining its abundance are described.

A morphometric study of museum specimens has shown that populations of the butterfly in Norfolk and at Wicken differed in a number of size and shape characters. These differences were most marked between 1890 and 1920, but subsequently were almost lost.

Studies of the status and performance of the butterfly's food plant, Peucedanum palustre have shown that it is smaller, produces less seed, and is shorter‐lived at Wicken than in Norfolk.

In the light of these findings, the possibility of successfully re‐establishing the butterfly at Wicken, and the possible causes of the decline of the species in Norfolk are discussed.