bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melanocyte homeostasis in vivo tolerates Rb1 loss in a developmentally independent fashion
Authors: Tonks Ian D. , Mould Arne W. , Schroder Wayne A. , Hacker Elke , Bosenberg Marcus , Hayward Nicholas K. , Walker Graeme J. , Kay Graham F.
Published: May 2010

There has been uncertainty regarding the precise role that the pocket protein Rb1 plays in murine melanocyte homeostasis. It has been reported that the TAT‐Cre mediated loss of exon 19 from a floxed Rb1 allele causes melanocyte apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. This is at variance with other findings showing, either directly or indirectly, that Rb1 loss in melanocytes has no noticeable effect in vivo, but in vitro leads to a semi‐transformed phenotype. In this study, we show that Rb1‐null melanocytes lacking exon 19 do not undergo apoptosis and survive both in vitro and in vivo, irrespective of the developmental stage at which Cre‐mediated ablation of the exon occurs. Further, Rb1 loss has no serious long‐term ramifications on melanocyte homeostasis in vivo, with Rb1‐null melanocytes being detected in the skin after numerous hair cycles, inferring that the melanocyte stem cell population carrying the Cre‐mediated deletion is maintained. Consequently, whilst Rb1 loss in the melanocyte is able to alter cellular behaviour in vitro, it appears inconsequential with respect to melanocyte homeostasis in the mouse skin.
Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient treated with a tumor necrosis factor‐α inhibitor
Authors: LEE Eun Jung , SONG Ran , PARK Ji‐Na , LEE Yeon‐Ah , SON Jun Seong , HONG Seung‐Jae , YANG Hyung‐In , LEE Sang‐Hoon
Published: May 2010

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune diseases. TNF‐α inhibitors have been shown to offer clinical benefits in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and Crohn’s disease. Occasionally, these agents have been associated with infectious complications because of their immunosuppressive activity. Globally, several cases of infections associated with TNF‐α inhibitors have been reported. However, Aspergillus infection associated with etanercept is very rare. We report a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a 51‐year‐old man with AS that developed after treatment with etanercept.
Pimecrolimus versus placebo in genital aphthous ulcers of Behcet’s disease: a randomized double‐blind controlled trial
Authors: CHAMS‐DAVATCHI Cheyda , BARIKBIN Behrooz , SHAHRAM Farhad , NADJI Abdolhadi , MOGHADDASSI Maryam , YOUSEFI Maryam , DAVATCHI Fereydoun
Published: May 2010

Background:  Genital aphthous ulcers of Behcet’s disease (BD) are painful and usually resistant to local treatments. Pimecrolimus is an ascomycin macrolactam, used in inflammatory skin diseases.

Objective:  To discover if pimecrolimus can accelerate the healing of BD genital aphthous ulcers.

Methods:  Ninety patients with genital aphthous ulcers were enrolled. Only patients treated with colchicine alone were selected. All patients signed a written consent form. Patients were randomly assigned to pimecrolimus or placebo cream, applied twice daily for 1 week. The primary outcome was the healing period. Up to 7 days, it was considered as a positive result. Results were compared by chi‐square test. The mean healing time was compared by analysis of variance. Analyses were done both by the ‘intention‐to‐treat’ and ‘treatment‐completed’ methods.

Results:  Both groups were similar at the entry (gender, age, ulcer size, pain intensity and treatment delay). By intention‐to‐treat analysis, in the pimecrolimus group, 18 patients had positive and 27 negative results. In the control group, four had positive and 41 negative results. The difference was significant (χ2 = 10.167, P = 0.001). By treatment‐completed analysis, with pimecrolimus, 18 patients had positive and 22 negative results. With placebo, four had positive, and 41 negative results. The difference was significant (χ2 = 12.574, P = 0.0004). Comparison of mean healing time in the pimecrolimus versus placebo group, demonstrated a significant acceleration both in intention‐to‐treat analysis (10.7 vs. 20.7 days, F = 17.466, P < 0.0001) and treatment‐completed analysis (8.3 vs. 20.7 days, F = 29.289, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:  Pimecrolimus is safe and efficient in the treatment of BD genital ulcers, by accelerating the healing process.
Value of serum and synovial fluid activin A and inhibin A in some rheumatic diseases
Authors: EL‐GENDI Salwa S. , MONIEM Alaa E. A. , TAWFIK Nabawia M. , ASHMAWY Mohammed M. , MOHAMMED Omnia A. , MOSTAFA Ahmed K. , ZAKHARI Madiha M. , HERDAN Omar M.
Published: May 2010

Aim:  The purpose of the study is to measure serum and synovial fluid levels of activin A and inhibin A in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and osteoarthritis (OA) and correlate them with disease activity parameters.

Subjects and methods:  This study included 60 patients with various rheumatic diseases (20 with RA, 20 with SLE and 20 with OA), as well as 10 healthy controls. All of them were subjected to complete history‐taking, examination and estimation of disease activity index. The following investigations were done for all subjects: serum and synovial activin A, inhibin A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), anti‐dsDNA and complements 3 and 4.

Results:  Serum levels of activin A were significantly higher in RA, SLE and OA than controls and in RA and SLE versus OA The mean values of serum inhibin A were significantly higher in all studied groups than controls. Synovial activin A and inhibin A were significantly higher in RA than OA. Positive correlations were found between serum activin A and disease activity parameters of RA. In SLE, positive correlations were found between serum activin A and inhibin A with ESR and SLE Disease Activity Index.

Conclusions:  Serum activin A and inhibin A were significantly higher in RA and SLE. Serum levels correlated positively with disease activity parameters of RA and SLE. However, synovial levels were significantly higher in RA than OA but showed no correlation or negative correlation with disease activity. We recommend further studies to detect the exact role of activin A and inhibin A in these conditions.
Well‐Being Assessment: An Evaluation of Well‐Being Scales for Public Health and Population Estimates of Well‐Being among US Adults
Authors: Kobau Rosemarie , Sniezek Joseph , Zack Matthew M. , Lucas Richard E. , Burns Adam
Published: May 2010

In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported testing of a number of well‐being scales for potential use on public health surveillance systems. The purpose of this study was to examine the descriptive and psychometric properties of the scales (i.e. Satisfaction with Life, Meaning in Life, Positive and Negative Affect, Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness, and global and domain‐specific life satisfaction) and to examine the distribution of well‐being levels in a representative sample of community‐dwelling US adults (N = 5,399) using a stratified analysis. The scales demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. Responses were negatively skewed, with most respondents reporting mildly positive levels of subjective well‐being. With the exception of autonomy, competence, and relatedness scales, all scales demonstrated good variability across socio‐demographic subgroups. Older age and higher levels of education, and income, were associated with higher levels of subjective well‐being. Most of the examined scales and related items merit consideration for continued testing in telephone surveys used in public health surveillance.
Non‐conceptual Experiential Content and Reason‐giving
Authors: LERMAN HEMDAT
Published: May 2010

According to John McDowell and Bill Brewer, our experiences have the type of content which can be the content of judgements ‐ content which is the result of the actualization of specific conceptual abilities. They defend this view by arguing that our experiences must have such content in order for us to be able to think about our environment. In this paper I show that they do not provide a conclusive argument for this view. Focusing on Brewer’s version of the argument, I show that it rests on a questionable assumption ‐ namely, that if a subject can recognize the normative bearing of a mental content upon what she should think and do, then this content must be the result of the actualization of conceptual capacities (and in this sense conceptual). I argue that considerations regarding the roles played by experience and concepts in our mental lives may require us to reject this assumption.
Context Sensitivity and Indirect Reports
Authors: WIELAND NELLIE
Published: May 2010

In this paper, I argue that Contextualist theories of semantics are not undermined by their purported failure to explain the practice of indirect reporting. I adopt Cappelen & Lepore’s test for context sensitivity to show that the scope of context sensitivity is much broader than Semantic Minimalists are willing to accept. The failure of their arguments turns on their insistence that the content of indirect reports is semantically minimal.
Removing GaAs substrate by nitric acid solution
Authors: Li C. C. , Guan B. L. , Chuai D. X. , Guo X. , Shen G. D.
Published: May 2010

A two-step removing GaAs substrate technique by using HNO3 solution is reported. In the authors’ experiments, as compared with other ratios, the etch rate of HNO3:H2O2:H2O=1:6:1 is faster. In addition, the etched surface by nitric acid solution has about 0.15 μm of surface smoothness. The high selectivity of HNO3:H2O2:H2O=1:4:1 for GaAs/GaInP is demonstrated with smooth morphology whose roughness is about 4.57 nm. The advantages of this technique are easy, repeatable, and no contamination. It is a very useful process in the light-emitting diode fabrication.
Comment on the Paleobiology and Classification of
Ardipithecus ramidus
Authors: Sarmiento Esteban E.
Published: May 2010

White and colleagues (Research Articles, 2 October 2009, pp. 64–106 and
www.sciencemag.org/ardipithecus
) reported
Ardipithecus ramidus
as an exclusive member of the human lineage post–African ape divergence. However, their analysis of shared-derived characters provides insufficient evidence of an ancestor-descendant relationship and exclusivity to the hominid lineage. Molecular and anatomical studies rather suggest that
Ar. ramidus
predates the human/African ape divergence.
Using Video to Build Learning Contexts Online
Authors: Schneps Matthew H. , Griswold Alex , Finkelstein Nancy , McLeod Michele , Schrag Daniel P.
Published: May 2010

An online course takes a systems approach to teaching Environmental Science.
mTORC1-Mediated Cell Proliferation, But Not Cell Growth, Controlled by the 4E-BPs
Authors: Dowling Ryan J. O. , Topisirovic Ivan , Alain Tommy , Bidinosti Michael , Fonseca Bruno D. , Petroulakis Emmanuel , Wang Xiaoshan , Larsson Ola , Selvaraj Anand , Liu Yi , Kozma Sara C. , Thomas George , Sonenberg Nahum
Published: May 2010

Proliferation Control

The protein complex mTORC1, which contains the protein kinase known as mammalian target of rapamycin, is an important regulator of cell proliferation and cell size. Among many targets, mTORC1 phosphorylates the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E–binding proteins (4E-BPs), thus controlling translation of proteins that regulate proliferation.

Dowling
et al.

(p.
1172
) used mice lacking expression of the 4E-BPs to show that these proteins contribute to mTORC1's activation of cell proliferation, but are dispensable for the effects of mTORC1 on cell growth. The latter required another mTORC1 target—the ribosomal protein S6 kinase. mTORC1 inhibitors are being explored as potential anticancer agents, and the presence of 4E-BPs was necessary for mTORC1 inhibitors to reduce the number and size of colonies formed by transformed mouse cells.
CITES Designation for Endangered Rosewood in Madagascar
Authors: Barrett Meredith A. , Brown Jason L. , Morikawa Megan K. , Labat Jean-Noël , Yoder Anne D.
Published: May 2010

Predicted forest losses and a recent government ban on logging build support for trade protection of Malagasy rosewood.
Uncorking the Southern Ocean's Vintage CO
2
Authors: Anderson Robert F. , Carr Mary-Elena
Published: May 2010

New radiocarbon evidence suggests that the Southern Ocean released CO
2
into the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age. Two scenarios could explain how and why.
Arduous Expedition to Sample Last Virgin Tropical Glaciers
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: May 2010

Next week, glaciologists will begin retrieving ice from Puncak Jaya, a mountain in Indonesia's Papua Province, to glean insights into ancient climate and compare cores with records from the handful of other tropical glaciers.
NRC Reports Strongly Advocate Action on Global Warming
Authors: Kerr Richard A. , Kintisch Eli
Published: May 2010

The three reports released last week by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) had a familiar theme—the human-induced warming of the planet—but the tone, especially as presented to the public, emphasized why the United States should act now.
Fears of Lax Surveillance if CDC Program Cut
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: May 2010

A proposal to stop funneling dollars directly to U.S. surveillance and research for most mosquito and other vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue has scientists concerned that if the plan sticks, the country will be ill-prepared to handle new emerging diseases and manage existing ones.
Hot on the Incense Trail
Authors: Lawler Andrew
Published: May 2010

Researchers long assumed that the frankincense trade did not flourish until 1000 B.C.E. or later. But Oman is providing an unusual combination of textual evidence, remote-sensing data, and careful excavations. The data suggest that the trade sprang up far earlier.
'The Cobra' Uncovers Ancient Civilizations—And Cold War Political Secrets
Authors: Lawler Andrew
Published: May 2010

In 1981, archaeologist Maurizio Tosi discovered Indus material in Oman, sparking a revolution in archaeology in that country, and he continues to study connections between the Indus and Arabia.
Hypervariability of Biofilm Formation and Oxacillin Resistance in a
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Strain Causing Persistent Severe Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient
Authors: Weisser Maja , Schoenfelder Sonja M. K. , Orasch Christina , Arber Caroline , Gratwohl Alois , Frei Reno , Eckart Martin , Flückiger Ursula , Ziebuhr Wilma
Published: May 2010

We report on a leukemic patient who suffered from a persistent, generalized, and eventually fatal
Staphylococcus epidermidis
infection during prolonged aplasia. Over a 6-week period, we isolated a genetically and phenotypically unstable
S. epidermidis
strain related to an epidemic clone associated with hospital infections worldwide. Strikingly, the strain showed a remarkable degree of variability, with evidence of selection and increasing predominance of biofilm-producing and oxacillin-resistant variants over time. Thus, in the early stages of the infection, the strain was found to generate subpopulations which had spontaneously lost the biofilm-mediating
ica
locus along with the oxacillin resistance-conferring
mecA
gene. These deletion mutants were obviously outcompeted by the
ica
- and
mecA
-positive wild-type genotype, with the selection and predominance of strongly biofilm-forming and oxacillin-resistant variants in the later stages of the infection. Also, a switch from protein- to polysaccharide intercellular adhesin/poly-
N
-acetylglucosamine (PIA/PNAG)-mediated-biofilm production was detected among
ica
-positive variants in the course of the infection. The data highlight the impact of distinct
S. epidermidis
clonal lineages as serious nosocomial pathogens that, through the generation and selection of highly pathogenic variants, may critically determine disease progression and outcome.
Evaluation of a Commercial Microarray System for Detection of SHV-, TEM-, CTX-M-, and KPC-Type β-Lactamase Genes in Gram-Negative Isolates
Authors: Endimiani Andrea , Hujer Andrea M. , Hujer Kristine M. , Gatta Julian A. , Schriver Andrew C. , Jacobs Michael R. , Rice Louis B. , Bonomo Robert A.
Published: May 2010

We evaluated the ability of a commercial microarray system (Check KPC/ESBL; Check-Points Health BV) to detect clinically important class A β-lactamase genes. A total of 106 Gram-negative strains were tested. The following sensitivity and specificity results were recorded, respectively: for
bla
SHV
, 98.8% and 100%; for
bla
TEM
, 100% and 96.4%; and for
bla
CTX-M
and
bla
KPC
, 100% and 100%.
In Vitro
Activity of Anidulafungin and Other Agents against Esophageal Candidiasis-Associated Isolates from a Phase 3 Clinical Trial
Authors: Pfaller M. A. , Hollis R. , Goldstein B. P. , Messer S. , Diekema D. , Henkel T.
Published: May 2010

The efficacy of anidulafungin, an echinocandin antifungal agent with potent anti-
Candida
activity, in treating esophageal candidiasis was tested in a double-blind study versus oral fluconazole. Isolates were identified and tested for susceptibility.
Candida albicans
represented >90% of baseline isolates. The MIC
90
of anidulafungin for all strains was 0.06 mg/liter.
Interleukin-22 (IL-22) Production by Pulmonary Natural Killer Cells and the Potential Role of IL-22 during Primary Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Guo Hailong , Topham David J.
Published: May 2010

We set out to test the hypothesis that interleukin-22 (IL-22), a cytokine crucial for epithelial cell homeostasis and recovery from tissue injury, would be protective during influenza virus infection. Recent studies have identified phenotypically and functionally unique intestinal NK cells capable of producing the cytokine IL-22. Unlike gut NK cells that produce IL-22, the surface phenotypes of lung NK cells were similar to those of spleen NK cells and were characteristically mature. With mitogen stimulation, both single and double IL-22- and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing lung NK cells were detected. However, only the IL-22+IFN-γ−lung NK subset was observed after stimulation with IL-23. IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) blocking dramatically inhibited IL-22 production, but not IFN-γ production. Furthermore, we found that NK1.1+or CD27−lung NK cells were the primary sources of IL-22. After influenza virus infection, lung NK cells were quickly activated to produce both IFN-γ and IL-22 and had increased cytotoxic potential. The level of IL-22 in the lung tissue declined shortly after infection, gradually returning to the baseline after virus clearance, although the IL-22 gene expression was maintained. Furthermore, depletion of NK cells with or without influenza virus infection reduced the protein level of IL-22 in the lung. Anti-IL-22 neutralizationin vivodid not dramatically affect weight loss and survival after virus clearance. Unexpectedly, anti-IL-22-treated mice had reduced virus titers. Our data suggest that during primary respiratory viral infection, IL-22 seems to a play a marginal role for protection, indicating a differential requirement of this cytokine for bacterial and viral infections.
A Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine Vector Provides Protection against Challenge in a Single Dose
Authors: Cobleigh Melissa A. , Buonocore Linda , Uprichard Susan L. , Rose John K. , Robek Michael D.
Published: May 2010

As one of the world's most common infectious diseases, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a serious worldwide public health problem, with HBV-associated liver disease accounting for more than half a million deaths each year. Although there is an effective prophylactic vaccine currently available to prevent infection, it has a number of characteristics that are suboptimal: multiple doses are needed to induce long-lasting immunity, immunity declines over time, it does not elicit protection in some individuals, and it is not effective therapeutically. We produced a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based vaccine vector expressing the HBV middle envelope surface protein (MS) and found that this vector was able to efficiently generate a strong HBs-specific antibody response following a single immunization in mice. A single immunization with the VSV-MS vector also induced robust CD8 T-cell activation. The CD8 T-cell response was greater in magnitude and broader in specificity than the response generated by a vaccinia virus-based vaccine vector or by recombinant protein immunization. Furthermore, a single VSV-MS immunization provided protection against virus challenge in mice. Given the similar antibody titers and superior T-cell responses elicited from a single immunization, a VSV-based HBV vaccine may have advantages over the current recombinant protein vaccine.
Critical Role of Airway Macrophages in Modulating Disease Severity during Influenza Virus Infection of Mice
Authors: Tate Michelle D. , Pickett Danielle L. , van Rooijen Nico , Brooks Andrew G. , Reading Patrick C.
Published: May 2010

Airway macrophages provide a first line of host defense against a range of airborne pathogens, including influenza virus. In this study, we show that influenza viruses differ markedly in their abilities to infect murine macrophagesin vitroand that infection of macrophages is nonproductive and no infectious virus is released. Virus strain BJx109 (H3N2) infected macrophages with high efficiency and was associated with mild disease following intranasal infection of mice. In contrast, virus strain PR8 (H1N1) was poor in its ability to infect macrophages and highly virulent for mice. Depletion of airway macrophages by clodronate-loaded liposomes led to the development of severe viral pneumonia in BJx109-infected mice but did not modulate disease severity in PR8-infected mice. The severe disease observed in macrophage-depleted mice infected with BJx109 was associated with exacerbated virus replication in the airways, leading to severe airway inflammation, pulmonary edema, and vascular leakage, indicative of lung injury. Thymic atrophy, lymphopenia, and dysregulated cytokine and chemokine production were additional systemic manifestations associated with severe disease. Thus, airway macrophages play a critical role in limiting lung injury and associated disease caused by BJx109. Furthermore, the inability of PR8 to infect airway macrophages may be a critical factor contributing to its virulence for mice.
Lethal Dissemination of H5N1 Influenza Virus Is Associated with Dysregulation of Inflammation and Lipoxin Signaling in a Mouse Model of Infection
Authors: Cilloniz Cristian , Pantin-Jackwood Mary J. , Ni Chester , Goodman Alan G. , Peng Xinxia , Proll Sean C. , Carter Victoria S. , Rosenzweig Elizabeth R. , Szretter Kristy J. , Katz Jacqueline M. , Korth Marcus J. , Swayne David E. , Tumpey Terrence M. , Katze Michael G.
Published: May 2010

Periodic outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses and the current H1N1 pandemic highlight the need for a more detailed understanding of influenza virus pathogenesis. To investigate the host transcriptional response induced by pathogenic influenza viruses, we used a functional-genomics approach to compare gene expression profiles in lungs from 129S6/SvEv mice infected with either the fully reconstructed H1N1 1918 pandemic virus (1918) or the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus Vietnam/1203/04 (VN/1203). Although the viruses reached similar titers in the lung and caused lethal infections, the mean time of death was 6 days for VN/1203-infected animals and 9 days for mice infected with the 1918 virus. VN/1203-infected animals also exhibited an earlier and more potent inflammatory response. This response included induction of genes encoding components of the inflammasome. VN/1203 was also able to disseminate to multiple organs, including the brain, which correlated with changes in the expression of genes associated with hematological functions and lipoxin biogenesis and signaling. Both viruses elicited expression of type I interferon (IFN)-regulated genes in wild-type mice and to a lesser extent in mice lacking the type I IFN receptor, suggesting alternative or redundant pathways for IFN signaling. Our findings suggest that VN/1203 is more pathogenic in mice as a consequence of several factors, including the early and sustained induction of the inflammatory response, the additive or synergistic effects of upregulated components of the immune response, and inhibition of lipoxin-mediated anti-inflammatory responses, which correlated with the ability of VN/1203 to disseminate to extrapulmonary organs.
Trafficking of UL37 Proteins into Mitochondrion-Associated Membranes during Permissive Human Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Bozidis Petros , Williamson Chad D. , Wong Daniel S. , Colberg-Poley Anamaris M.
Published: May 2010

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL37 proteins traffic sequentially from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the mitochondria. In transiently transfected cells, UL37 proteins traffic into the mitochondrion-associated membranes (MAM), the site of contact between the ER and mitochondria. In HCMV-infected cells, the predominant UL37 exon 1 protein, pUL37x1, trafficked into the ER, the MAM, and the mitochondria. Surprisingly, a component of the MAM calcium signaling junction complex, cytosolic Grp75, was increasingly enriched in heavy MAM from HCMV-infected cells. These studies show the first documented case of a herpesvirus protein, HCMV pUL37x1, trafficking into the MAM during permissive infection and HCMV-induced alteration of the MAM protein composition.
The N Terminus of Adenovirus Type 12 E1A Inhibits Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Expression by Preventing Phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 Ser
276
through Direct Binding
Authors: Jiao Junfang , Guan Hancheng , Lippa Andrew M. , Ricciardi Robert P.
Published: May 2010

The immune-escape strategy employed by human oncogenic adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) involves downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) transcription by disabling the transactivator NF-κB (p50/p65). This is accomplished by the Ad12 E1A protein (E1A-12), which prevents NF-κB from becoming phosphorylated by the protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKAc). In this study, we examined the interactions between E1A-12 and NF-κB. Our data show that an E1A-12 mutant retaining the N-terminal 66 amino acids was as effective as the wild-type E1A-12 protein (266 amino acids) in binding p65, preventing phosphorylation of p65-Ser
276
, and inhibiting transactivation. In contrast, the nontumorigenic adenovirus type 5 E1A protein (E1A-5) and other E1A-12 mutants lacking the N-terminal regions were severely defective in these activities. Further studies revealed that an N-terminal peptide consisting of residues 1 to 40 of E1A-12 was able to associate directly with p65
in vitro
and prevent PKAc from phosphorylating p65-Ser
276
. In the absence of the N terminus, there is an almost complete loss of E1A-12 binding to p65. These findings provide solid evidence for the role of the E1A-12 N terminus as an NF-κB binding domain. Significantly, this study indicates that the E1A-12 N terminus prevents PKAc from gaining access to p65 to account for Ser
276
hypophosphorylation. The E1A-12 N terminus interaction with p65 serves as a key explanation of how Ad12 downregulates MHC-I transcription and contributes to oncogenesis by escaping cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Gliding Motility Revisited: How Do the Myxobacteria Move without Flagella?
Authors: Mauriello Emilia M. F. , Mignot Tâm , Yang Zhaomin , Zusman David R.
Published: May 2010

In bacteria, motility is important for a wide variety of biological functions such as virulence, fruiting body formation, and biofilm formation. While most bacteria move by using specialized appendages, usually external or periplasmic flagella, some bacteria use other mechanisms for their movements that are less well characterized. These mechanisms do not always exhibit obvious motility structures.Myxococcus xanthusis a motile bacterium that does not produce flagella but glides slowly over solid surfaces. HowM. xanthusmoves has remained a puzzle that has challenged microbiologists for over 50 years. Fortunately, recent advances in the analysis of motility mutants, bioinformatics, and protein localization have revealed likely mechanisms for the twoM. xanthusmotility systems. These results are summarized in this review.
Jasmonate-dependent expression of a galactinol synthase gene is involved in priming of systemic fungal resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Cho Song Mi , Kang Eun Young , Kim Mi Seong , Yoo Seung Jin , Im Yang Ju , Kim Young Cheol , Yang Kwang Yeol , Kim Kil Yong , Kim Kwang Sang , Choi Yong Soo , Cho Baik Ho
Published: May 2010

Previously, root colonization by the rhizobacterium, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6, was shown to induce expression of galactinol synthase conferring systemic resistance against a fungal pathogen in cucumber leaves. Here, the Arabidopsis – Botrytis cinerea system is introduced to better understand signal transduction of galactinol and (or) raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO) during O6-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR). Among the 10 Arabidopsis galactinol synthase genes, only AtGolS1 was specifically induced upon infection with the fungal pathogen B. cinerea. AtGolS1 was primed by O6 colonization against the pathogen in Arabidopsis leaves. Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutants at the AtGolS1 gene site compromised O6-mediated ISR against the pathogen, thereby suggesting that AtGolS1 plays an important role in ISR. O6 colonization increased AtGolS1 transcription as well as ISR in several Arabidopsis signaling mutants, but not in the jar1-1 and coi1 mutant lines. Exogenous jasmonate treatment induced transcription of AtGolS1 in wild-type Col-0 plants, but salicylic acid and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate did not. These studies on signaling mutants and target gene expression indicate that expression of AtGolS1 in response to O6 colonization is mediated through the jasmonate-dependent pathway, stimulating ISR in Arabidopsis against B. cinerea infection.
Creative young minds plus serendipity — a recipe for science
Authors: Fowke Larry
Published: May 2010

The author highlights his 40-year academic career with emphasis on the major contributions of technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in his research laboratory. Postdoctoral research in Canberra, Australia, on algal cell division preceded a faculty position in the Biology Department, University of Saskatchewan, that stretched from 1970 until today. Early work in Saskatoon that focused on cultured plant cells and protoplasts developed into an investigation of the structure and function of plant coated vesicles. A short sabbatical in Sweden resulted in a 15-year research program on somatic embryogenesis in conifers. A return to the study of cell division over the last 10 plus years resulted in the discovery and analysis of a family of plant cell division inhibitors. The author’s story emphasizes the importance of having motivated and creative scientists in the laboratory, but also recognizes the impact of serendipity. International collaborations are also featured.
Tree age and tree species shape positive and negative interactions in a montane meadow
Authors: Haugo Ryan D. , Halpern Charles B.
Published: May 2010

Few studies have considered how interactions between woody and herbaceous species change in direction or magnitude over time or with traits of the dominant woody species. We used a chronosequence approach to explore these interactions in a montane meadow in which Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. and Abies grandis (Dougl. ex. D. Don) Lindl. have established gradually over a period of >70 years. Effects of individual trees (18–73 years old) were quantified by comparing plant community structure and composition under and adjacent to each tree. Trees generally exerted negative effects on cover and richness of resident meadow species and positive effects on colonizing forest herbs. Despite the average decline of meadow species under the canopy, cover was elevated (compared with adjacent meadow) under 33% of trees — most often under younger Pinus . Cover (but not richness) of meadow species declined with tree age, but the rate and magnitude of this decline did not differ under Pinus or Abies . In contrast, the cover and richness of forest herbs increased steeply with age under Abies, but not under Pinus. Our results illustrate the potential for complex and sometimes unpredictable interactions between woody and herbaceous species. A dynamic view of these relationships is critical for understanding or predicting the consequences of woody plant establishment in grassland and other herb-dominated ecosystems.
Localization of endophyticUndifilumfungi in locoweed seed and influence of environmental parameters on a locoweed in vitro culture system
Authors: Oldrup Erik , McLain-Romero Jennifer , Padilla Anna , Moya Andrew , Gardner Dale , Creamer Rebecca
Published: May 2010

Endophytic Undifilum oxytropis (Q. Wang, Nagao & Kakish) Pryor, Creamer, Shoemaker, McLain-Romero, & Hambleton found within toxic locoweeds ( Astragalus and Oxytropis spp.) produces the alkaloid swainsonine, which is responsible for locoism in grazing animals. We sought to determine the location of U. oxytropis within locoweed seed, develop endophyte free plants, and assess the influence of environmental stresses on locoweed and endophyte cultures. Undifilum was identified within the parenchyma layers in seeds of Astragalus lentiginosus M.E. Jones using light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. Astragalus lentiginosus and Oxytropis sericea Nutt. seedlings produced in embryo culture without seed coats did not contain swainsonine or fungus. Plants produced from whole seed contained U. oxytropis in both foliage and root tissues. When the in-vitro cultured plants of O. sericea and U. oxytropis cultures were subjected to environmental stresses including high temperature, low and high pH media, nutrient deficient media, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) amended media to simulate water deficit, both dry mass and swainsonine levels were affected. Swainsonine levels were greatest for O. sericea and Undifilum cultures in PEG or hydrochloric acid amended media. Plants grown in PEG-amended media had significantly greater dry mass, while Undifilum grown in PEG-amended media had lower dry mass than other treatments.
Does dose-dependent petal damage affect pollen limitation in an annual plant?
Authors: McCall Andrew C.
Published: May 2010

Damage to flowers by herbivores, or florivory, can have direct impacts on gamete survival and can also indirectly affect fitness by reducing pollinator service. While recent studies have examined the impact of natural or artificial floral damage, very few researchers have manipulated both damage and pollen addition to see whether pollen limitation is enhanced by damage, and no workers, to my knowledge, have examined whether pollen limitation is dependent on the levels of florivory used. I used a pollen addition treatment and six levels of artificial floral damage to investigate whether damage increases pollen limitation and whether that pollen limitation becomes more severe with increasing numbers of petals damaged in Nemophila menziesii Hook. & Arn. I found that artificial floral damage that mimics natural florivore damage increases pollen limitation, and that this pollen limitation generally increased with increasing numbers of petals damaged. The treatment with the heaviest amount of damage did not suffer the most pollen limitation, perhaps because flowers in this treatment remained radially symmetric. These findings suggest that florivory may decrease pollen import through pollinator deterrence and could thus serve as a selective force on either floral or defense traits in outcrossing plant populations.
EFFICIENT SIMILARITY SEARCH FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL TIME SEQUENCES
Authors: LEE SANGJUN , PARK JISOOK
Published: May 2010

We address the problem of similarity search in large multi-dimensional time sequence databases. There has been a lot of attention in similarity search in time sequence databases. However, most of the previous work on time sequences focused on one-dimensional sequences. Many applications such as multimedia databases or weather databases, however, need to handle multi-dimensional time sequences. In this paper, we extend our previous work on the similarity search by considering query types in multi-dimensional time sequence databases and more intensive experimental results that were not reported in the previous paper are illustrated. The proposed method can efficiently reduce the search space and guarantees no false dismissals.
COMPARATIVE STUDY ON WAVELET FILTER AND THRESHOLDING SELECTION FOR GPS/INS DATA FUSION
Authors: HASAN AHMED M. , SAMSUDIN KHAIRULMIZAM , RAMLI ABDUL RAHMAN , AZMIR RAJA SYAMSUL
Published: May 2010

Navigation and guidance of an autonomous vehicle require determination of the position and velocity of the vehicle. Therefore, fusing the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) is important. Various methods have been applied to smooth and predict the INS and GPS errors. Recently, wavelet de-noising methodologies have been applied to improve the accuracy and reliability of the GPS/INS system. In this work, analysis of real data to identify the optimal wavelet filter for each GPS and INS component for high quality error estimation is presented. A comprehensive comparison of various wavelet thresholding selections with different level of decomposition is conducted to study the effect on GPS/INS error estimation while maintaining the original features of the signal. Results show that while some wavelet filters and thresholding selection algorithms perform better than others on each of the GPS and INS components, no specific parameter selection perform uniformly better than others.
STATISTICAL MODELING FOR LEARNING VECTOR QUANTIZER CODEBOOK DESIGN IN THE WAVELET DOMAIN
Authors: JANSI RANI P. AROCKIA , SADASIVAM V.
Published: May 2010

A statistical approach for modeling the code vectors designed using a supervised learning neural network is proposed in this paper. Since wavelet-based compression is more robust under transmission and decoding errors, the proposed work is implemented in the wavelet domain. Two crucial issues in compression methods are the coding efficiency and the psycho visual quality achieved while modeling different image regions. In this paper, a high performance wavelet coder which provides a new framework for handling these issues in a simple and effective manner is proposed. First the input image is subjected to wavelet transform. Then the transformed coefficients are subjected to Quantization followed by the well known Huffman Encoder. In the Quantization process, initially a codebook is designed using Learning Vector Quantizer. Since codebook is an essential component for the reconstructed image quality and also to exploit the spatial energy compaction of the codevectors, the codebook is further modeled using Savitzky–Golay polynomial. Experimental results show that the proposed work gives better results in terms of PSNR that are competitive with the state-of-art coders in literature.
Complex temporal regulation of capillary morphogenesis by fibroblasts
Authors: Hurley Jennifer R. , Balaji Swathi , Narmoneva Daria A.
Published: May 2010

Interactions between endothelial and stromal cells are important for vascularization of regenerating tissue. Fibroblasts (FBs) are responsible for expression of angiogenic growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases, as well as collagen deposition and fibrotic myocardial remodeling. Recently, self-assembling peptide nanofibers were described as a promising environment for cardiac regeneration due to its synthetic nature and control over physiochemical properties. In this study, peptide nanofibers were used as a model system to quantify the dual role of fibroblasts in mediating angiogenesis chemically via expression of angiogenic factors and mechanically via cell-mediated scaffold disruption, extracellular matrix deposition, and remodeling. Human microvascular endothelial cells (ECs), FBs, or cocultures were cultured in three-dimensional nanofibers for up to 6 days. The peptide nanofiber microenvironment supported cell migration, capillary network formation, and cell survival in the absence of detectable scaffold contraction and proteolytic degradation. FBs enhanced early capillary network formation by “assisting” EC migration and increasing vascular endothelial growth factor and Angiopoietin-1 expression in a temporal manner. EC-FB interactions attenuated FB matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression while increasing collagen I deposition, resulting in greater construct stiffness and a more stable microenvironment in cocultures. Whereas FBs are critical for initial steps of angiogenesis in the absence of external angiogenic stimulation, coordinated efforts by ECs and FBs are required for a balance between cell-mediated scaffold disruption, extracellular matrix deposition, and remodeling at later time points. The findings of this study also emphasize the importance of developing a microenvironment that supports cell-cell interactions and cell migration, thus contributing toward an optimal environment for successful cardiac regeneration strategies.
Life-Threatening Clostridial Sepsis in a Postmenopausal Patient with Degenerating Uterine Leiomyoma
Authors: Bryant Christopher S. , Perry Latoya , Shah Jay P. , Kumar Sanjeev , Deppe Gunter
Published: May 2010

Clostridium perfringensis a fulminant infection that affects patients with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Fortunately,C. perfringens-associated sepsis and death in the gynecologic patient is rarely encountered. We report a case of intrauterineC. perfringenspresenting as life-threatening sepsis in a postmenopausal patient.
The Effects of Thermal Radiation, Hall Currents, Soret, and Dufour on MHD Flow by Mixed Convection over a Vertical Surface in Porous Media
Authors: Shateyi Stanford , Motsa Sandile Sydney , Sibanda Precious
Published: May 2010

The study sought to investigate the influence of a magnetic field on heat and mass transfer by mixed convection from vertical surfaces in the presence of Hall, radiation, Soret (thermal‐diffusion), and Dufour (diffusion‐thermo) effects. The similarity solutions were obtained using suitable transformations. The similarity ordinary differential equations were then solved by MATLAB routinebvp4c. The numerical results for some special cases were compared with the exact solution and those obtained by Elgazery (2009) and were found to be in good agreement. A parametric study illustrating the influence of the magnetic strength, Hall current, Dufour, and Soret, Eckert number, thermal radiation, and permeability parameter on the velocity, temperature, and concentration was investigated.
Detection of Thyroid Carcinoma Antigen with Quantum Dots and Monoclonal IgM Antibody (JT‐95) System
Authors: Fujioka Kouki , Manabe Noriyoshi , Nomura Mayumi , Watanabe Michiko , Takeyama Hiroshi , Hoshino Akiyoshi , Hanada Sanshiro , Yamamoto Kenji , Manome Yoshinobu
Published: May 2010

High‐intensity fluorescent nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), have been applied to a wide range of biological studies and medical studies by taking advantage of their fluorescent properties. On the other hand, we have reported the specificity of JT‐95 monoclonal IgM antibody, which recognizes the antigen of thyroid carcinomas. Here we show that the combination of QDs and JT‐95 monoclonal antibody was applicable to Western blotting analysis, ELISA‐like system, and fluorescent microscopic analysis of SW1736 thyroid carcinoma cell line. We have opened up the possibility that antibodies for higher specific recognition, even IgM, are applicable to the detection system with QDs.
NF1 Inactivation in Adult Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Authors: Parkin Brian , Ouillette Peter , Wang Yin , Liu Yan , Wright Whitney , Roulston Diane , Purkayastha Anjali , Dressel Amanda , Karp Judith , Bockenstedt Paula , Al-Zoubi Ammar , Talpaz Moshe , Kujawski Lisa , Liu Yang , Shedden Kerby , Shakhan Sajid , Li Cheng , Erba Harry , Malek Sami N.
Published: May 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify novel genes with importance to the biology of adult acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Experimental Design: We analyzed DNA from highly purified AML blasts and paired buccal cells from 95 patients for recurrent genomic microdeletions using ultra-high density Affymetrix single nucleotide polymorphism 6.0 array–based genomic profiling.

Results: Through fine mapping of microdeletions on 17q, we derived a minimal deleted region of ∼0.9-Mb length that harbors 11 known genes; this region includes Neurofibromin 1 (NF1). Sequence analysis of all NF1 coding exons in the 11 AML cases with NF1 copy number changes identified acquired truncating frameshift mutations in two patients. These NF1 mutations were already present in the hematopoetic stem cell compartment. Subsequent expression analysis of NF1 mRNA in the entire AML cohort using fluorescence-activated cell sorting sorted blasts as a source of RNA identified six patients (one with a NF1 mutation) with absent NF1 expression. The NF1 null states were associated with increased Ras-bound GTP, and short hairpin RNA–mediated NF1 suppression in primary AML blasts with wild-type NF1 facilitated colony formation in methylcellulose. Primary AML blasts without functional NF1, unlike blasts with functional NF1, displayed sensitivity to rapamycin-induced apoptosis, thus identifying a dependence on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling for survival. Finally, colony formation in methylcellulose ex vivo of NF1 null CD34+/CD38− cells sorted from AML bone marrow samples was inhibited by low-dose rapamycin.

Conclusions: NF1 null states are present in 7 of 95 (7%) of adult AML and delineate a disease subset that could be preferentially targeted by Ras or mammalian target of rapamycin–directed therapeutics. Clin Cancer Res; 16(16); 4135–47. ©2010 AACR.
Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Category IIIA with Serenoa repens plus Selenium and Lycopene (Profluss®) versus S. repens Alone: An Italian Randomized Multicenter-Controlled Study
Authors: Morgia G. , Mucciardi G. , Galì A. , Madonia M. , Marchese F. , Di Benedetto A. , Romano G. , Bonvissuto G. , Castelli T. , Macchione L. , Magno C.
Published: May 2010

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens + selenium and lycopene (Profluss®) versus S. repens alone for the treatment of category IIIa chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Patients and Methods: 102 patients with IIIa CP/CPPS were enrolled and randomized into two groups each to receive Profluss or S. repens alone for 8 weeks. Evaluation was based on results of the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), IPSS, maximum peak flow rate (MPFR), and PSA measurements at baseline and at weeks 4, 8 and 8 after the end of treatment. The primary endpoint was a >50% reduction in NIH-CPSI score. Secondary endpoints evaluated were MPFR, IPSS, PSA and white blood cell count. Results: No patients withdrew from the study. The mean NIH-CPSI score decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups; we observed a decrease in the total score from 27.45 to 13.27 in group 1 (–51.64%) and from 27.76 to 20.62 in group 2 (–26.06%). IPSS improved significantly (p < 0.001) in both arms, but more in group 1. PSA and white blood cell count decreased significantly (p < 0.007) only in group 1. The MPFR improved more in group 1 (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Profluss is a triple therapy that is safe and well tolerated. It ameliorates symptoms associated with IIIa CP/CPPS.