bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A microfluidic device with integrated optics for microparticle switching
Authors: Hoi Siew-Kit , Hu Zhi-Bin , Yan Yuanjun , Sow Chorng-Haur , Bettiol Andrew A.
Published: November 2010

We report a high efficiency and noninvasive microfluidic particle switching device with integrated optical microstructures. Microfluidic channels are combined with a cylindrical microlens and an optical fiber to achieve on-chip optical switching of colloidal particles without the need for an optical microscope. A laser beam is coupled into an optical fiber and redirected by the microlens. The angle of incidence of the optical force can be changed by varying the position of the optical fiber relative to the microlens. Under certain circumstances, a switching efficiency approaching 100% was achieved with a relatively fast response time for a solution containing 10 μm polystyrene spheres.
Density of Mn interstitials in (Ga,Mn)As epitaxial layers determined by anomalous x-ray diffraction
Authors: Holý V. , Martí X. , Horák L. , Caha O. , Novák V. , Cukr M. , Schülli T. U.
Published: November 2010

Densities of Mn ions in epitaxial layers of (Ga,Mn)As were determined by anomalous x-ray diffraction, i.e., by a measurement of the dependence of the intensity of weak diffraction 002 on the photon energy around the Mn K absorption edge. From the measured data it was possible to determine the density of Mn ions in substitutional positions and the difference in the Mn densities in two possible interstitial positions in the GaAs lattice. The data demonstrate that the rate of the out-diffusion of the Mn interstitials from the Ga tetrahedrons significantly exceeds that from the As tetrahedrons.
β-
N
-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is part of the histone code
Authors: Sakabe Kaoru , Wang Zihao , Hart Gerald W.
Published: November 2010

Dynamic posttranslational modification of serine and threonine residues of nucleocytoplasmic proteins by β-
N
-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a regulator of cellular processes such as transcription, signaling, and protein–protein interactions. Like phosphorylation, O-GlcNAc cycles in response to a wide variety of stimuli. Although cycling of O-GlcNAc is catalyzed by only two highly conserved enzymes, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), which adds the sugar, and β-
N
-acetylglucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), which hydrolyzes it, the targeting of these enzymes is highly specific and is controlled by myriad interacting subunits. Here, we demonstrate by multiple specific immunological and enzymatic approaches that histones, the proteins that package DNA within the nucleus, are O-GlcNAcylated in vivo. Histones also are substrates for OGT in vitro. We identify O-GlcNAc sites on histones H2A, H2B, and H4 using mass spectrometry. Finally, we show that histone O-GlcNAcylation changes during mitosis and with heat shock. Taken together, these data show that O-GlcNAc cycles dynamically on histones and can be considered part of the histone code.
Nonexponential decay of internal rotational correlation functions of native proteins and self-similar structural fluctuations
Authors: Cote Yoann , Senet Patrick , Delarue Patrice , Maisuradze Gia G. , Scheraga Harold A.
Published: November 2010

Structural fluctuations of a protein are essential for the function of native proteins and for protein folding. To understand how the main chain in the native state of a protein fluctuates on different time scales, we examined the rotational correlation functions (RCFs),
C
(
t
), of the backbone N-H bonds and of the dihedral angles γ built on four consecutive
C

α

atoms. Using molecular dynamics simulations of a model
α
/
β
protein (VA3) in its native state, we demonstrate that these RCFs decay as stretched exponentials, ln[
C
(
t
)] ≈ 
D

α

t

α

with a constant
D

α

and an exponent α (0 < 
α
 < 0.35) varying with the free-energy profiles (FEPs) along the amino acid sequence. The probability distributions of the fluctuations of the main chain computed at short time scale (1 ps) were identical to those computed at large time scale (1 ns) if the time is rescaled by a factor depending on
α
 < 1. This self-similar property and the nonexponential decays (
α
 ≠ 1) of the RCFs are described by a rotational diffusion equation with a time-dependent diffusion coefficient
D
(
t
) = 
αD

α

t

α
-1

. The present findings agree with observations of subdiffusion (
α
 < 1) of fluorescent probes within a protein molecule. The subdiffusion of
15
N-H bonds did not affect the value of the order parameter
S
2
extracted from the NMR relaxation data by assuming normal diffusion (
α
 = 1) of
15
N-H bonds on a nanosecond time scale. However, we found that the RCF does not converge to
S
2
on the nanosecond time scale for residues with multiple-minima FEPs.
Temperature-driven phase transformation in self-assembled diphenylalanine peptide nanotubes
Authors: Heredia A , Bdikin I , Kopyl S , Mishina E , Semin S , Sigov A , German K , Bystrov V , Gracio J , Kholkin A L
Published: November 2010

Diphenylalanine (FF) peptide nanotubes (PNTs) represent a unique class of self-assembled functional biomaterials owing to a wide range of useful properties including nanostructural variability, mechanical rigidity and chemical stability. In addition, strong piezoelectric activity has recently been observed paving the way to their use as nanoscale sensors and actuators. In this work, we fabricated both horizontal and vertical FF PNTs and examined their optical second harmonic generation and local piezoresponse as a function of temperature. The measurements show a gradual decrease in polarization with increasing temperature accompanied by an irreversible phase transition into another crystalline phase at about 140–150 °C. The results are corroborated by the molecular dynamic simulations predicting an order–disorder phase transition into a centrosymmetric (possibly, orthorhombic) phase with antiparallel polarization orientation in neighbouring FF rings. Partial piezoresponse hysteresis indicates incomplete polarization switching due to the high coercive field in FF PNTs.
Hysteresis behaviour of low-voltage organic field-effect transistors employing high dielectric constant polymer gate dielectrics
Authors: Kim Se Hyun , Yun Won Min , Kwon Oh-Kwan , Hong Kipyo , Yang Chanwoo , Choi Woon-Seop , Park Chan Eon
Published: November 2010

Here, we report on the fabrication of low-voltage-operating pentacene-based organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) that utilize crosslinked cyanoethylated poly(vinyl alcohol) (CR-V) gate dielectrics. The crosslinked CR-V-based OFET could be operated successfully at low voltages (below 4 V), but abnormal behaviour during device operation, such as uncertainty in the field-effect mobility (μ) and hysteresis, was induced by the slow polarization of moieties embedded in the gate dielectric (e.g. polar functionalities, ionic impurities, water and solvent molecules). In an effort to improve the stability of OFET operation, we measured the dependence of μ and hysteresis on dielectric thickness, CR-V crosslinking conditions and sweep rate of the gate bias. The influence of the CR-V surface properties on μ, hysteresis, and the structural and morphological features of the pentacene layer grown on the gate dielectric was characterized and compared with the properties of pentacene grown on a polystyrene surface.
Energy distributions of highly charged ions escaping from a plasma via a low-voltage laser-induced discharge
Authors: Romanov I V , Rupasov A A , Shikanov A S , Paperny V L , Moorti A , Bhat R K , Naik P A , Gupta P D
Published: November 2010

The results of experimental studies of ion beams escaping from both a laser-produced plasma and a plasma of laser-induced vacuum discharge are presented. The parameters of the discharge with an Al cathode are as follows: current amplitude is about 1.7 kA and current rise rate is about 7.5 × 109 A s−1 as the capacitor voltage is 2.3 kV. The discharge is initiated with a laser pulse of 30 ps length, energy less than 10 mJ and power density I
L = 5 × 1011 W cm−2. It is shown that the discharge is a source of accelerated and highly charged ions of the cathode material. The production of Al ions is observed at the instant when the discharge current rise rate attains a peak value and just at that same instant a pinching occurs in front of the cathode jet expanding into the interelectrode gap. Ion energy distributions are characterized by the presence of a significant non-Maxwellian tail of the accelerated ions. The maximum ion charge state and energy per charge unit are +8 and 13 keV/Z, respectively. The energy is comparable to the value observed under similar experimental conditions for the laser-produced plasma at a pulse energy of 400 mJ and power density I
L = 2 × 1013 W cm−2.
Nitrate-Nitrite-Nitric Oxide Pathway
Authors: Weitzberg Eddie , Hezel Michael , Lundberg Jon O. , Warner David S.
Published: November 2010

The gaseous radical nitric oxide is involved in numerous physiologic and pathophysiological events important in anesthesiology and intensive care. Nitric oxide is endogenously generated from the amino acid l-arginine and molecular oxygen in reactions catalyzed by complex nitric oxide synthases. Recently, an alternative pathway for nitric oxide generation was discovered, wherein the inorganic anions nitrate (NO3) and nitrite (NO2), most often considered inert end products from nitric oxide generation, can be reduced back to nitric oxide and other bioactive nitrogen oxide species. This nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway is regulated differently than the classic l-arginine-nitric oxide synthase nitric oxide pathway, and it is greatly enhanced during hypoxia and acidosis. Several lines of research now indicate that the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway is involved in regulation of blood flow, cell metabolism, and signaling, as well as in tissue protection during hypoxia. The fact that nitrate is abundant in our diet gives rise to interesting nutritional aspects in health and disease. In this article, we present an overview of this field of research with emphasis on relevance in anesthesiology and intensive care.
A Mutation in ArabidopsisSEEDLING PLASTID DEVELOPMENT1Affects Plastid Differentiation in Embryo-Derived Tissues during Seedling Growth
Authors: Ruppel Nicholas J. , Logsdon Charles A. , Whippo Craig W. , Inoue Kentaro , Hangarter Roger P.
Published: November 2010

Oilseed plants like Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) develop green photosynthetically active embryos. Upon seed maturation, the embryonic chloroplasts degenerate into a highly reduced plastid type called the eoplast. Upon germination, eoplasts redifferentiate into chloroplasts and other plastid types. Here, we describe seedling plastid development1 (spd1), an Arabidopsis seedling albino mutant capable of producing normal green vegetative tissues. Mutant seedlings also display defects in etioplast and amyloplast development. Precocious germination of spd1 embryos showed that the albino seedling phenotype of spd1 was dependent on the passage of developing embryos through the degreening and dehydration stages of seed maturation, suggesting that SPD1 is critical during eoplast development or early stages of eoplast redifferentiation. The SPD1 gene was found to encode a protein containing a putative chloroplast-targeting sequence in its amino terminus and also domains common to P-loop ATPases. Chloroplast localization of the SPD1 protein was confirmed by targeting assays in vivo and in vitro. Although the exact function of SPD1 remains to be defined, our findings reveal aspects of plastid development unique to embryo-derived cells.
ArabidopsisTyrosylprotein Sulfotransferase Acts in the Auxin/PLETHORA Pathway in Regulating Postembryonic Maintenance of the Root Stem Cell Niche
Authors: Zhou Wenkun , Wei Lirong , Xu Jian , Zhai Qingzhe , Jiang Hongling , Chen Rong , Chen Qian , Sun Jiaqiang , Chu Jinfang , Zhu Lihuang , Liu Chun-Ming , Li Chuanyou
Published: November 2010

Recent identification of the Arabidopsis thaliana tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST) and a group of Tyr-sulfated peptides known as root meristem growth factors (RGFs) highlights the importance of protein Tyr sulfation in plant growth and development. Here, we report the action mechanism of TPST in maintenance of the root stem cell niche, which in the Arabidopsis root meristem is an area of four mitotically inactive quiescent cells plus the surrounding mitotically active stem cells. Mutation of TPST leads to defective maintenance of the root stem cell niche, decreased meristematic activity, and stunted root growth. We show that TPST expression is positively regulated by auxin and that mutation of this gene affects auxin distribution by reducing local expression levels of several PIN genes and auxin biosynthetic genes in the stem cell niche region. We also show that mutation of TPST impairs basal- and auxin-induced expression of the PLETHORA (PLT) stem cell transcription factor genes and that overexpression of PLT2 rescues the root meristem defects of the loss-of-function mutant of TPST. Together, these results support that TPST acts to maintain root stem cell niche by regulating basal- and auxin-induced expression of PLT1 and PLT2. TPST-dependent sulfation of RGFs provides a link between auxin and PLTs in regulating root stem cell niche maintenance.
Effects of pulse methylprednisolone and oral methylprednisolone treatments on serum levels of oxidative stress markers in Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Authors: Akarsu Ersin , Buyukhatipoglu Hakan , Aktaran Şebnem , Kurtul Naciye
Published: November 2010

Background  Recent evidence has shown that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, and this is an issue of considerable research interest in the field of infiltrative ophthalmopathy. Therefore, we evaluated both the relationship between Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) and serum levels of certain indicators of oxidative stress, and the effects of methylprednisolone treatment on serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in patients with euthyroid GO.

Materials and Methods  We compared GO patients to both Graves’ patients without ophthalmopathy and healthy controls. Ultimately, we assessed four subject groups. Graves’ patients with ophthalmopathy (GO) were subcategorized into two groups: Group A subjects (n = 18) were given intravenous glucocorticoid and Group B patients (n = 15) were given oral glucocorticoid. Graves’ patients without ophthalmopathy comprised Group C (n = 20), and healthy controls comprised Group D (n = 15). Serum levels of MDA and GSH were measured at baseline and after 4 and 24 weeks of observation via spectrophotometric methods.

Results  We found that serum MDA levels were significantly higher in the two GO groups (Groups A and B) than in GO patients without ophthalmopathy or healthy controls. Conversely, GSH levels were significantly lower in the two GO groups than in Groups C and D. MDA and GSH levels were not different between the latter two groups. MDA levels were strongly and positively correlated with a clinical activity score (CAS). In Group A, MDA levels and the CAS were significantly lower than in Group B at 4 weeks. After 24 weeks, however, MDA levels and the CAS were similar in these two groups.

Conclusion  Oxidative stress appears to be involved in the pathophysiology of GO. Relative to oral dosing, the intravenous administration of a glucocorticoid seems to yield more rapid improvement in disease activity. MDA might be useful as an indicator of clinical activity.
Phylogenetic species delimitation in ectomycorrhizal fungi and implications for barcoding: the case of the Tricholoma scalpturatum complex (Basidiomycota)
Authors: JARGEAT PATRICIA , MARTOS FLORENT , CARRICONDE FABIAN , GRYTA HERVÉ , MOREAU PIERRE‐ARTHUR , GARDES MONIQUE
Published: November 2010

Population studies have revealed that the fungal ectomycorrhizal morphospecies Tricholoma scalpturatum consists of at least two genetically distinct groups that occur sympatrically in several geographical areas. This discovery prompted us to examine species boundaries and relationships between members formerly assigned to T. scalpturatum and allied taxa using phylogenetic analyses. Sequence data were obtained from three nuclear DNA regions [internal transcribed spacer (ITS), gpd and tef], from 101 carpophores collected over a large geographical range in Western Europe, and some reference sequences from public databases. The ITS was also tested for its applicability as DNA barcode for species delimitation. Four highly supported phylogenetic clades were detected. The two previously detected genetic groups of T. scalpturatum were assigned to the phylospecies Tricholoma argyraceum and T. scalpturatum. The two remaining clades were referred to as Tricholoma cingulatum and Tricholoma inocybeoides. Unexpectedly, T. cingulatum showed an accelerated rate of evolution that we attributed to narrow host specialization. This study also reveals recombinant ITS sequences in T. inocybeoides, suggesting a hybrid origin. The ITS was a useful tool for the determination of species boundaries: the mean value of intraspecific genetic distances in the entire ITS region (including 5.8S rDNA) was <0.2%, whereas interspecific divergence estimates ranged from 1.78% to 4.22%. Apart from giving insights into the evolution of the T. scalpturatum complex, this study contributes to the establishment of a library of taxonomically verified voucher specimens, an a posteriori correlation between phenotype and genotype, and DNA barcoding of ectomycorrhizal fungi.
TSGA10 – A Target for Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 1 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Smith C. J. A. , Oscarson M. , Rönnblom L. , Alimohammadi M. , Perheentupa J. , Husebye E. S. , Gustafsson J. , Nordmark G. , Meloni A. , Crock P. A. , Kämpe O. , Bensing S.
Published: November 2010

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is a rare monogenic autoimmune disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. High‐titre autoantibodies are a characteristic feature of APS1 and are often associated with particular disease manifestations. Pituitary deficits are reported in approximately 7% of APS1 patients, with immunoreactivity to pituitary tissue frequently described. Using APS1 patient serum to immunoscreen a pituitary cDNA expression library, testis specific, 10 (TSGA10) was isolated. Immunoreactivity against TSGA10 was detected in 5/99 (5.05%) patients with APS1, but also in 5/135 (3.70%) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 1/188 (0.53%) healthy controls. TSGA10 autoantibodies were not detected in the serum from patients with any other autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies against TSGA10 were detectable from a young age in 4/5 positive APS1 patients with autoantibody titres remaining relatively constant over time. Furthermore, real‐time PCR confirmed TSGA10 mRNA to be most abundantly expressed in the testis and also showed moderate and low expression levels throughout the entire body. TSGA10 should be considered as an autoantigen in a subset of APS1 patients and also in a minority of SLE patients. No recognizable clinical phenotype could be found to correlate with positive autoantibody reactivity.
Transmission mode affects the population genetic structure of Daphnia parasites
Authors: WOLINSKA J. , SPAAK P. , KOERNER H. , PETRUSEK A. , SEDA J. , GIESSLER S.
Published: November 2010

Parasite life cycle variation can shape parasite evolution, by predisposing them towards different population genetic structures. We compared the population genetic structure of two co‐occurring parasite species of Daphnia, to collect evidence for their expected transmission modes. The ichthyosporean Caullerya mesnili has a direct life cycle, whereas the microsporidian Berwaldia schaefernai is hypothesized to require passage through a secondary host. The parasites were collected from three geographically isolated Daphnia populations. The nucleotide variation in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was assessed at the within‐individual, within‐population and among‐population levels, using amova. We detected significant partitioning at all levels, except for a lack of among‐population variation in Berwaldia. This was confirmed by neighbour‐joining and principal component analyses; Caullerya populations were distinct from each other, while there was much overlap among parasite isolates representing different populations of Berwaldia. This all implies a higher amount of gene flow for Berwaldia, consistent with the hypothesized transmission mode.
Phylogenetic relationships of the Cretaceous frog Beelzebufo from Madagascar and the placement of fossil constraints based on temporal and phylogenetic evidence
Authors: RUANE S. , PYRON R. A. , BURBRINK F. T.
Published: November 2010

The placement of fossil calibrations is ideally based on the phylogenetic analysis of extinct taxa. Another source of information is the temporal variance for a given clade implied by a particular constraint when combined with other, well‐supported calibrations. For example, the frog Beelzebufo ampinga from the Cretaceous of Madagascar has been hypothesized to be a crown‐group member of the New World subfamily Ceratophryinae, which would support a Late Cretaceous connection with South America. However, phylogenetic analyses and molecular divergence time estimates based on other fossils do not support this placement. We derive a metric, Δt, to quantify temporal divergence among chronograms and find that errors resulting from mis‐specified calibrations are localized when additional nodes throughout the tree are properly calibrated. The use of temporal information from molecular data can further assist in testing phylogenetic hypotheses regarding the placement of extinct taxa.
Evolvability of an avian life history trait declines with father’s age
Authors: KIM S.‐Y. , DRUMMOND H. , TORRES R. , VELANDO A.
Published: November 2010

Studies of laboratory organisms have suggested that parental age affects the genetic variance of offspring traits. This effect can engender age‐specific variance in genetic contributions to evolutionary change in heritable traits under directional selection, particularly in age‐structured populations. Using long‐term population data of the blue‐footed booby (Sula nebouxii), we tested whether genetic variance of recruiting age varies with parental age. Using robust quantitative genetic models fitted to pedigree, we found a significant genotype‐by‐paternal age interaction for recruiting age. Genetic potential for adaptive change in recruiting age was greater in progeny of young (age 1–6 years) fathers (males: CVA = 6.68; females: CVA = 7.59) than those of middle age (7–9 years) fathers (males: CVA = 4.64; females: CVA = 5.08) and old (10–14 years) fathers (CVA = 0 for both sexes). Therefore, parental age dependence of heritable variance, in addition to age‐related variation in survival and fecundity, should affect the strength of natural selection for evolutionary changes. Our results provide rare evidence for the influence of parental age on the evolutionary potential of a life history trait in a wild population.
Genomic medicine in non‐small cell lung cancer: Paving the path to personalized care
Authors: SRIRAM Krishna Bajee , LARSEN Jill Everland , YANG Ian Anthony , BOWMAN Rayleen Veronica , FONG Kwun Meng
Published: November 2010

Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer‐related mortality and non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of all lung cancer. The prognosis of NSCLC remains poor across all stages, despite advances in staging techniques and treatments. The findings of recent high‐throughput mRNA microarray studies have shown potential in refining current NSCLC diagnosis, classification, prognosis and treatment paradigms. Emerging microarray studies of microRNA, DNA copy number and methylation profiles are also providing novel insights into the biology of NSCLC. Currently there are several challenges, such as the reproducibility and cost of microarray platforms that will need to be addressed prior to the implementation of these genomic technologies to routine thoracic oncology practice. In addition, genomic tests (such as prognosis and prediction gene expression signatures) will need to be validated in well designed prospective studies that aim to answer clinically relevant questions. If successful, the integration of microarray‐based genomic information with existing clinicopathological models may enhance the ability of clinicians to match the most effective treatment to an individual patient. Such a strategy may improve survival and reduce treatment‐related morbidity in NSCLC patients.
Refinement of metre perception – training increases hierarchical metre processing
Authors: Geiser Eveline , Sandmann Pascale , Jäncke Lutz , Meyer Martin
Published: November 2010

Auditory metre perception refers to the ability to extract a temporally regular pulse and an underlying hierarchical structure of perceptual accents from a sequence of tones. Pulse perception is widely present in humans, and can be measured by the temporal expectancy for prospective tones, which listeners generate when presented with a metrical rhythm. We tested whether musical expertise leads to an increased perception and representation of the hierarchical structure of a metrical rhythm. Musicians and musical novices were tested in a mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm for their sensitivity to perceptual accents on tones of the same pulse level (metre‐congruent deviant) and on tones of a lower hierarchical level (metre‐incongruent deviant). The difference between these two perceptual accents was more pronounced in the MMNs of the musicians than in those of the non‐musicians. That is, musical expertise includes increased sensitivity to metre, specifically to its hierarchical structure. This enhanced higher‐order temporal pattern perception makes musicians ideal models for investigating neural correlates of metre perception and, potentially, of related abstract pattern perception. Finally, our data show that small differences in sensitivity to higher‐order patterns can be captured by means of an MMN paradigm.
Human papillomavirus prevalence, distribution and correlation to histopathological parameters in a large Swedish cohort of men with penile carcinoma
Authors: Kirrander Peter , Kolaric Aleksandra , Helenius Gisela , Windahl Torgny , Andrén Ove , Stark Jennifer Rider , Lillsunde‐Larsson Gabriella , Elgh Fredrik , Karlsson Mats
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the overall and type‐specific human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and distribution in penile carcinoma and determine the correlation to histopathological parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analysed HPV status in 241 patients with penile carcinoma, treated at Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden, between 1984 and 2008. Age and date at diagnosis was recorded.

The tumour specimens were categorized according to the UICC 2002 TNM classification. A subset of patients was operatively staged with regard to lymph node status.

A commercially available Real Time PCR was used to detect 13 different types of HPV (6,11,16,18,31,33,35,45,51,52,56,58 and 59).

RESULTS

We excluded 25 patients due to low DNA quality. Of the remaining 216, 179 (82.9%) tumour specimens were HPV infected. The majority of cases positive for HPV (70.4%) were infected by a single‐type. The most frequent type was HPV 16 followed by HPV 18.

No significant association between HPV status and pathological tumour stage, grade or lymph node status was found.

CONCLUSION

The HPV prevalence found is higher than in most other studies, further strengthening HPV as an etiological agent in penile carcinoma. Furthermore, the high prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 raises the question of what potential impact current HPV vaccines that target these specific HPV types might have on penile carcinoma. No significant association between HPV status and histopathological parameters was found in the present study. Additional investigations are needed to draw final conclusions on the prognostic value of HPV status in penile carcinoma.
Relationship between premature ejaculation and genetic polymorphisms of the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3)
Authors: Safarinejad Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

The process of ejaculation is highly influenced by genetic and neurobiological factors. Central dopaminergic drugs facilitate ejaculation. Genetic variation in SLC6A3 may alter the expression of dopamine transporter gene (DAT). This study evaluated the associations between genetic polymorphisms of the DAT and PE.

A statistically significant association was observed between the presence of 9‐repeat allele and 9/10 genotype and PE. The presence of 7‐repeat allele had protective effect against PE.

OBJECTIVE

• To investigate the possible relationships between premature ejaculation (PE) polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene (SLC6A3, DAT1), which has a polymorphic 40 base pair (40 bp) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) sequence in the 3′‐untranslated region (3′ VNTR).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• Cohorts of 270 Iranian men with PE and 266 age‐matched healthy Iranian subjects were genotyped for the DAT1‐VNTR polymorphism.

RESULTS

• The 10‐repeat allele frequencies were similar in the control (90.2%) and patient groups (88.5%) (P = 0.8).

• A statistically significant association was observed between the presence of the nine‐repeat allele and PE (chi‐squared test = 4.346, odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57–3.15, P = 0.026).

• The frequencies of the 9/10 genotype were also significantly higher in the PE patients than in normal controls (chi‐squared test = 4.466, OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.52–3.21, P = 0.028). The presence of the seven‐repeat allele had a protective effect against PE (chi‐squared test = 2.324, OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.47–0.89, P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

• The findings of the present study suggest that DAT1‐VNTR polymorphisms resulting in higher dopamine concentrations were associated with vulnerability to PE.

• Further studies are needed to replicate these results and to evaluate the role of inconsistency in the DAT genes and how this affects the development of PE.
Low pretreatment total testosterone (<3 ng/mL) predicts extraprostatic disease in prostatectomy specimens from patients with preoperative localized prostate cancer
Authors: Xylinas Evanguelos , Ploussard Guillaume , Durand Xavier , Fabre Alban , Salomon Laurent , Allory Yves , Vordos Dimitri , Hoznek Andras , Abbou Claude Clément , de la Taille Alexandre
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)  Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between pretreatment testosterone levels and pathological specimen characteristics, by prospectively examining serum androgen concentrations in a well‐studied cohort of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 107 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer had an assay of total testosterone before laparoscopic RP at our institution.

The results were classified into two groups based on the total serum testosterone: group1, <3 ng/mL; group 2, ≥3 ng/mL.

Student’s t‐test was used to compare continuous variables, and Fisher’s exact test or the chi‐squared test was used to compare categorical variables.

Survival curves were established using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log‐rank test. In all tests, P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

All patients had localized prostate cancer based on digital rectal examination (DRE) and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Groups 1 and 2 were similar in terms of age, body mass index, preoperative co‐morbidities (cardiovascular and diabetes mellitus), clinical stage of prostate cancer and preoperative PSA levels.

In pathological specimens, low total testosterone (<3 ng/mL) was an independent risk factor for high Gleason score (>7) and for locally advanced pathological stage (pT3 and pT4).

Higher preoperative testosterone correlated with disease confined to the gland.

There was no association between serum testosterone levels and surgical margin status, on the one hand, and biochemical recurrence on the other.

CONCLUSION

Low serum testosterone appears to be predictive of aggressive disease (Gleason score >7 and extraprostatic disease, pathological stage >pT2) in patients who underwent RP for localized prostate cancer.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ALLOCATION OF DECISION‐MAKING ACROSS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS: THE CASE OF PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRIES
Authors: Ben‐Ner Avner , Ren Ting
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT**:  The article compares the allocation of decision‐making across stakeholder groups in for‐profit, nonprofit and local government personal care facilities in one state in the United States. We analyze detailed survey data on nursing homes, childcare centers and group homes. We find that in comparison to nonprofit and government organizations, for‐profit firms delegate more decision‐making power to executives and owners, and less to their employees, consumers, families, boards of directors, and community representatives. The differences, although generally small, support the hypothesis that decision‐making is allocated to different groups in accord with the broad objectives of the organization.
Conservative Party Modernisation and David Cameron's Politics of the Family
Authors: HAYTON RICHARD
Published: November 2010

A key feature of David Cameron's electoral appeal is his carefully cultivated image as a ‘family man’. Cameron has repeatedly stressed the importance of the family to his political views and stated his desire to see marriage rewarded through the tax system. At the same time, Cameron has presented himself as a modernising leader, keen to demonstrate that he and his party are in touch with contemporary society. Central to this effort to detoxify the Conservative brand has been an emphasis on social liberalism. The potential conflict between these two objectives reflects the division in the party between social liberals and traditionalists, which has become increasingly apparent over the past decade. This article examines Conservative party policy and rhetoric on social and moral issues since 1997, particularly gay rights and family policy. It notes that a significant divide remains in the Conservative party between social liberals and traditionalists, so in this respect Cameron's modernisation project remains far from complete.
A Social Role Theory Perspective on Gender Gaps in Political Attitudes
Authors: Diekman Amanda B. , Schneider Monica C.
Published: November 2010

Men and women tend to espouse different political attitudes, as widely noted by both journalists and social scientists. A deeper understanding of why and when gender gaps exist is necessary because at least some gender differences in the political realm are both pervasive and impactful. In this article, we apply a social role theory framework to understanding gender gaps in political attitudes. The core principles are that men's and women's political attitudes diverge because of diffuse gender roles (e.g., broad expectations based on sex) as well as differential specific roles (e.g., family and occupational roles). We delineate several mechanisms by which diffuse and specific roles would produce differences and similarities in political attitudes. In particular, our analysis examines (a) the influence of gender-stereotypic expectations, (b) internalized traits and goals, and (c) variations in status and resources. A range of evidence shows that the general shape of gender differences in political attitudes aligns with the social roles of men and women, particularly with regard to elements that associate agency and higher status with men and communion and lower status with women. Additionally, we consider intersections among diffuse gender roles and specific roles, following the general principle that gender gaps in political attitudes emerge especially when both diffuse gender roles and specific roles emphasize agency for men and communion for women. The consideration of a social role perspective offers opportunities not only to integrate existing data about gender gaps in political attitudes but also to highlight directions for new research.
Acute Atrial Dilatation Slows Conduction and Increases AF Vulnerability in the Human Atrium
Authors: RAVELLI FLAVIA , MASÈ MICHELA , DEL GRECO MAURIZIO , MARINI MASSIMILIANO , DISERTORI MARCELLO
Published: November 2010

Stretch Slows Conduction in the Human Atrium. Introduction: The mechanisms by which atrial stretch favors the development of a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF) are not fully understood. In this study, the role of stretch‐induced conduction changes in the creation of a proarrhythmic substrate has been investigated by quantifying the spatial distribution of local conduction velocities (CVs) in the human atrium during acute atrial dilatation.

Methods and Results: Electroanatomic mapping of right atrial activation was performed in 10 patients during coronary sinus pacing under control condition and during acute atrial dilatation. Atrial stretch was obtained by simultaneous atrioventricular (AV) pacing at a cycle length of 450–500 ms. Local CVs were accurately estimated by applying the principle of triangulation and spatially mapped over the whole right atrial endocardial surface. Simultaneous AV pacing significantly increased right atrial volume from 72.0 ± 29.0 to 86.3 ± 31.3 mL (P < 0.001). The 23% increase in atrial volume resulted in an overall decrease in atrial CV from 65.8 ± 5.9 to 55.2 ± 7.2 cm/s (P < 0.001) and an increased incidence of slow conduction sites or local conduction blocks from 10.3 ± 4.2% to 15.9 ± 7.7% (P < 0.01). Acute atrial dilatation concurrently increased AF vulnerability, with 6 of 10 patients developing AF episodes under stretch condition.

Conclusion: Quantification of stretch‐induced conduction changes in the human atrium is feasible by combining simultaneous AV pacing and CV map construction. Acute atrial dilatation results in conduction slowing and significant increase in AF vulnerability, suggesting the role of stretch‐induced conduction disturbances in the creation of a substrate for AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 394‐401)
Too Much Democracy? Primaries and Candidate Success in the 2006 Mexican National Elections
Authors: Bruhn Kathleen
Published: November 2010

Abstracts

Do primaries help political parties perform better in general elections, or do they undermine electoral performance by contributing to internal divisions and to the weakening of party organizations? This article examines the effect of holding a primary on the general election prospects of candidates, using cases from two of the three major parties in Mexico's 2006 national legislative elections. In both parties, primaries fail to systematically produce candidates with advantages in the general election, due largely to organizational deficits of the parties and low entry requirements for aspiring precandidates. Indeed, outside urban centers, where parties tend to be better organized, primaries actually seem to hurt party performance in subsequent general elections.
The Adaptation of the FSLN: Daniel Ortega's Leadership and Democracy in Nicaragua
Authors: Martí i Puig Salvador
Published: November 2010

This article explores the capacity of the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) to adapt to a changing Nicaraguan political environment over the last three decades. It focuses on the FSLN's transformation from the 1980s until its recent return to power. The analysis uses the tools offered by studies on the transformation and adaptation of political parties in adverse contexts. It concentrates on the four key stages of the FSLN's transformation: the 1980s, the five-year period following the FSLN's defeat in the elections (1990–1995), the following decade in opposition (1996–2006), and the return to government. The key elements of the FSLN's adaptation relate to the centralization of party resources around the undisputed leadership of Daniel Ortega.
Multisectoral Movement Alliances and Media Access: Salvadoran Newspaper Coverage of the Health Care Struggle
Authors: Kowalchuk Lisa
Published: November 2010

Focusing on the social movement that resisted the privatization of health care in El Salvador in 2002–3, this article asks how the movement's multisectoral composition influenced news coverage of the health care policy debate. Specifically, it examines whether the diversity of perspectives in the alliance was reflected in the media's source selection and framing of the policy issues. A content analysis of Salvadoran newspapers' coverage shows that the media relied mainly on just two movement actors to represent the antiprivatization position: the striking doctors and the leftist opposition party. It also reveals that a period of elite dissensus on the policy issues opened a temporary opportunity to insert movement messages in the coverage. The study indicates that a multisectoral alliance does not enhance movement influence through the news media, though broad alliances confer strategic advantages for the movement's broader communication work.
The Association of Controlling Pseudoephedrine Availability on Methamphetamine‐related Emergency Department Visits
Authors: Hendrickson Robert G. , Cloutier Robert L. , Fu Rongwei
Published: November 2010

Objectives:  Methamphetamine is a drug of abuse that has been manufactured locally by chemical conversion from the decongestant pseudoephedrine. In July 2006, an Oregon state law was enacted to establish pseudoephedrine as a schedule III drug and make it available by prescription only. This study sought to determine if this legislation altered the number of emergency department (ED) visits that are related to methamphetamine use.

Methods:  This was a retrospective analysis of a database created during a prospective study aimed at determining the effect of methamphetamine on ED visits. That prospective study was 1 year in duration and required ED clinicians to determine whether a patient’s visit was related to methamphetamine and if the patient had confirmed use of methamphetamine. The clinicians received initial and continued education and training on methamphetamine during the study period. The questions were asked at every ED visit during the study period and were electronically linked to the patient’s disposition and could not be circumvented. The study period was divided into prelegislation (February 5, 2006, to June 30, 2006) and postlegislation periods (July 1, 2006, to February 5, 2007).

Results:  Over the 1‐year study period, 37,625 patients were enrolled, 1.90% (n = 714) of patients had methamphetamine‐related ED visits (MREDVs), and 1.65% (n = 620) had confirmed methamphetamine use. Patients with MREDVs were more likely than patients with non‐MREDVs to be white and uninsured. The number and proportion of weekly MREDVs significantly decreased from the prelegislation period to the postlegislation period (mean number of weekly visits, 18.0 vs. 11.3, p = 0.001; mean proportion of weekly visits, 2.3% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.003). The number and proportion of weekly confirmed users of methamphetamine also significantly decreased during the study period (mean number of weekly users, 14.6 vs. 10.3, p = 0.004; mean proportion of weekly users, 1.9% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.017). There were no significant differences in the diagnoses of MREDVS between the pre‐ and postlegislation periods.

Conclusions:  This study found an association between the enactment of legislation that limits pseudoephedrine availability and a decrease in MREDVs and confirmed users of methamphetamine in the study ED.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:1216–1222 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
A non‐human primate model for analysis of safety, persistence, and function of adoptively transferred T cells
Authors: Berger C. , Berger M. , Anderson D. , Riddell S.R.
Published: November 2010

Background  Adoptive immunotherapy with antigen‐specific effector T‐cell (TE) clones is often limited by poor survival of the transferred cells. We describe here a Macaca nemestrina model for studying transfer of T‐cell immunity.

Methods  We derived, expanded, and genetically marked CMV‐specific CD8+ TE clones with surface markers expressed on B cells. TE cells were adoptively transferred, and toxicity, persistence, retention of introduced cell‐surface markers, and phenotype of the persisting T cells were evaluated.

Results  CD8+ TE clones were efficiently isolated from distinct memory precursors and gene‐marking with CD19 or CD20 permitted in vivo tracking by quantitative PCR. CD19 was a more stable surface marker for tracking cells in vivo and was used to re‐isolate cells for functional analysis. Clonally derived CD8+ TE cells differentiated in vivo to phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous memory T‐cell subsets.

Conclusions  These studies demonstrate the utility of Macaca nemestrina for establishing principles for T‐cell therapeutics applicable to humans.
How to balance the offspring quality–quantity tradeoff when environmental cues are unreliable
Authors: Fischer Barbara , Taborsky Barbara , Kokko Hanna
Published: November 2010

Maternal effects on offspring size can have a strong effect on fitness, as larger offspring often survive better under harsh environmental conditions. Selection should hence favour mothers that find an optimal solution to the offspring size versus number tradeoff. If environmental conditions are variable, there will not be a single optimal offspring size, as predicted in a constant environment, but plastic responses can be favoured. To be able to adjust offspring size in an adaptive manner, mothers have to use environmental cues to predict offspring environmental conditions. Cues can be unreliable, however, particularly in species where individuals occupy different niches at different life stages. Here we model the evolution of plasticity of offspring size when the environmental cues mothers use to predict the conditions experienced by their offspring are not perfectly reliable. Our results show that plastic strategies are likely to be superior to fixed strategies in a stochastically varying environment when the environmental cues are at least moderately reliable, with the threshold depending on plasticity costs and the difference of resources available to mothers. Plasticity is more likely to occur if resource availability is not too different between environments. For any given scenario, plasticity in offspring size is favoured if offspring survival varies greatly between environmental states. Whenever plastic strategies are optimal, the occurring switches performed by mothers between small and large offspring are predicted to be substantial, as small adjustments are unlikely to reap fitness benefits great enough to overcome the costs of plasticity.