bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forest fragmentation and body condition in wintering black-capped chickadees
Authors: Turcotte Yves , Desrochers André
Published: May 2008

Winter represents a critical energy management challenge for northern birds. Subzero temperatures may persist almost without interruption for months, food supply steadily decreases, day length greatly limits time available for foraging, and they must endure long fasting at night. Body condition represents a potentially important concept to our understanding of how severe winters impact individual fitness and populations. Many researchers have addressed body condition in small wintering birds. However, studies published so far have rarely been placed into a landscape context, despite reported effects of landscape structure on the ecology of birds exposed to severe winters. We investigated whether forest cover affects body condition in a population of black-capped chickadees ( Poecile atricapillus (L., 1766)) during winter. We measured residual body mass, fat score, and rate of growth of induced feathers to assess body condition in 12 landscapes with forest cover ranging from 10% to 87%. Forest cover was not associated with any of these measures of body condition, suggesting that highly deforested and fragmented landscapes were not energetically more costly to chickadees. However, we may not rule out the possibility that this result was biased against by a higher emigration or mortality rate of individuals in poor body condition.
Age- and sex-specific settlement patterns of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) offspring
Authors: Loison A. , Darmon G. , Cassar S. , Jullien J.-M. , Maillard D.
Published: May 2008

The social, spatial, and genetic structures of populations depend on where offspring settle and reproduce in relation to their parent’s home range. However, the patterns of settlement in wild populations of large mammals are often poorly described owing to the difficulty of monitoring mother–offspring pairs over a long period. Here, we investigated sex-specific settlement patterns in chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra (L., 1758)) based on the study of 31 mother–offspring pairs. We calculated the distance between the center of the mother’s range and the center of her offspring’s range, and tested whether this distance differed when the offspring was immature (i.e., a yearling) and after offspring sexual maturity (>2 years of age). We found no sex effect on the distance between centers of mother and offspring ranges for yearling offsprings. However, mature sons ranged farther away from their mother than mature daughters. Daughters appear to settle close to their mother’s home range. The distance at which a daughter settles compared with her mother’s range seems to be determined before 2 years of age. On the contrary, the distance between the center of the locations of yearling males and the center of locations of their mother does not predict how far away males will eventually settle when mature. We discuss the implications of these patterns for generating female social structures, as well as population spatial and genetic structures.
RESEARCH ON FAULT DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM OF ROTATING MACHINERY BASED ON MACHINERY CONFIGURATION
Authors: CHEN PING , XIE ZHIJIANG
Published: May 2008

The knowledge representation of multi-symptom fuzzy production rules based on machinery configuration model, and the establishment and maintenance mechanism of knowledge base based on relational database are studied in the paper. With the support of ADO technique, the access to knowledge base and fault reasoning are realized. Application shows that the expert system has the merits of being simple to construct and of high reasoning efficiency. And, the adaptability and universality of fault diagnosis expert system to rotate machinery are greatly increased.
CAD AND CAE TECHNOLOGIES OF A NOVEL PLANE SIX-BAR SWAYING MACHINE
Authors: ZOU CHANGPING , DU LI , HUANG XIANDE
Published: May 2008

A new type of six-bar swaying machine was put forward, which is an ingenious combination of plane multi-bar mechanism and high pressure oil cylinder. Preliminary analysis shows that this machine has many advantages, such as the torque produced by its unit weight, its small size, its light deadweight, etc. Thus it can be applied to situations that need swaying mechanism with low rotational speed and great torque. Firstly, the mechanism composition and working principle of the swaying machine were introduced. Secondly, parameterized modeling of the mechanism was carried out by utilizing software ADAMS. Then kinematic analysis and kinetic analysis were completed by using ADAMS. Finally, key dimensions were adjusted according to kinetic analysis. These tasks are believed to be beneficial to the development of the novel transmission.
RESEARCH ON PRODUCTION PROCEDURE REAL-TIME SUPERVISORY CONTROL TECHNIQUE IN RFID-BASED CIRCUMSTANCE
Authors: YE JIANFANG , WANG ZHENXIAO , PAN XIAOHONG
Published: May 2008

In order to realize the supervisory control of production process, RFID-technology is introduced and a RFID-based application solution which is oriented to the process sequence of production manufacturing is proposed. Under this circumstance, borrowing the idea of axiomatic design, a mapping from part process field to monitor field is elaborately constructed and it bridges the wide gap between the virtual world and physical world. Combined with the part manufacturing process sequence, a real-time supervisory control model of production procedure logistic flow is designed. This model can be used in RFID middleware to explain and interpret the RFID real-time data so as to provide meaningful and valuable data for decision making.
NON-NORMAL STATISTICAL TOLERANCE ANALYSIS USING ANALYTICAL CONVOLUTION METHOD
Authors: LIU S. G. , WANG P. , LI Z. G.
Published: May 2008

In statistical tolerance analysis, it is usually assumed that the statistical tolerance is normally distributed. But in practice, there are many non-normal distributions, such as uniform distribution, triangular distribution, etc. The simple way to analyze non-normal distributions is to approximately represent it with normal distribution, but the accuracy is low. Monte-Carlo simulation can analyze non-normal distributions with higher accuracy, but is time consuming. Convolution method is an accurate method to analyze statistical tolerance, but there are few reported works about it because of the difficulty. In this paper, analytical convolution is used to analyze non-normal distribution, and the probability density functions of closed loop component are obtained. Comparing with other methods, convolution method is accurate and faster.
PROGRESSIVE STRATEGIES FOR MONTE-CARLO TREE SEARCH
Authors: CHASLOT GUILLAUME M. J-B. , WINANDS MARK H. M. , HERIK H. JAAP VAN DEN , UITERWIJK JOS W. H. M. , BOUZY BRUNO
Published: May 2008

Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) is a new best-first search guided by the results of Monte-Carlo simulations. In this article, we introduce two progressive strategies for MCTS, called progressive bias and progressive unpruning. They enable the use of relatively time-expensive heuristic knowledge without speed reduction. Progressive bias directs the search according to heuristic knowledge. Progressive unpruning first reduces the branching factor, and then increases it gradually again. Experiments assess that the two progressive strategies significantly improve the level of our Go program Mango. Moreover, we see that the combination of both strategies performs even better on larger board sizes.
UNLEASHING THE VERMIN (VECTORED ROUTE-LENGTH MINIMIZATION)
Authors: SMARANDACHE FLORENTIN , BHATTACHARYA SUKANTO
Published: May 2008

We have posed a simple but interesting graph theoretic problem and posited a heuristic solution procedure, which we have christened as Vectored Route-lenght Minimization (VeRMin). Basically, it constitutes a re-casting of the classical "shortest route" problem in a strictly Euclidean space. We have presented only a heuristic solution process hoping that a formal proof will eventually emerge as the problem receives wider exposure within mathematical circles.
Plant sex chromosomes: molecular structure and function
Authors: Jamilena M. , Mariotti B. , Manzano S.
Published: May 2008

Recent molecular and genomic studies carried out in a number of model dioecious plant species, including Asparagus officinalis, Carica papaya, Silene latifolia, Rumex acetosa and Marchantia polymorpha, have shed light on the molecular structure of both homomorphic and heteromorphic sex chromosomes, and also on the gene functions they have maintained since their evolution from a pair of autosomes. The molecular structure of sex chromosomes in species from different plant families represents the evolutionary pathway followed by sex chromosomes during their evolution. The degree of Y chromosome degeneration that accompanies the suppression of recombination between the Xs and Ys differs among species. The primitive Ys of A. officinalis and C. papaya have only diverged from their homomorphic Xs in a short male-specific and non-recombining region (MSY), while the heteromorphic Ys of S. latifolia, R. acetosa and M. polymorpha have diverged from their respective Xs. As in the Y chromosomes of mammals and Drosophila, the accumulation of repetitive DNA, including both transposable elements and satellite DNA, has played an important role in the divergence and size enlargement of plant Ys, and consequently in reducing gene density. Nevertheless, the degeneration process in plants does not appear to have reached the Y-linked genes. Although a low gene density has been found in the sequenced Y chromosome of M. polymorpha, most of its genes are essential and are expressed in the vegetative and reproductive organs in both male and females. Similarly, most of the Y-linked genes that have been isolated and characterized up to now in S. latifolia are housekeeping genes that have X-linked homologues, and are therefore expressed in both males and females. Only one of them seems to be degenerate with respect to its homologous region in the X. Sequence analysis of larger regions in the homomorphic X and Y chromosomes of papaya and asparagus, and also in the heteromorphic sex chromosomes of S. latifolia and R. acetosa, will reveal the degenerative changes that the Y-linked gene functions have experienced during sex chromosome evolution.
Clinical Characteristics of Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy in Chinese Patients
Authors: Song Zong-Ming , Sheng Yan-Juan , Chen Qing-Shan , Xue An-Quan , Lin Bin , Li Ying-Zi , Fu Xiao-Ying
Published: May 2008

Purpose: To review the clinical features of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) in Chinese patients. Methods: All patients with AZOOR during 2002–2004 in our hospitals were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Seven consecutive Chinese patients with AZOOR were recruited and followed up for 4–18 months. Their age ranged from 26 to 47 years and all were affected bilaterally. They were from the cities near the Pacific Ocean and were used to eating seafood. The common complaints were slightly reduced visual acuity and photopsia. At least one eye of each patient had a visual field defect or decreased local area sensitivity and one patient had bilateral blind spot enlargement. Ten in 14 eyes showed increased numbers of vitreous cells and 4 eyes had anterior chamber inflammatory cells and a keratic precipitate. In their initial examination, minimal or no fundus changes were found, only yellow-white dots or gray dots presented on the deep retina or outer retinal layer. Fundus fluorescent angiography showed large-area depigmentation and hyperfluorescein spots corresponding to fundus findings. Electroretinogram (ERG) or multifocal ERG was abnormal in all eyes with no changes in their follow-up examination. Not all of the initial diagnoses of these patients were consistent with the final ones. Conclusions: AZOOR is not a common disease in China, but easy to misdiagnose. Female predilection, photopsia, visual field defect, ERG abnormality and minimal ophthalmoscopic changes are the common characteristics of AZOOR in Chinese patients. Living habits may play a role in the development of AZOOR.
Change of Visual Acuity Recording Methods in Clinical Studies across the Years
Authors: Moutray Tanya Natasha , Williams Michael Andrew , Jackson A.J.
Published: May 2008

Purpose: To report any differences in the visual acuity (VA) recording method used in peer-reviewed ophthalmology clinical studies over the past decade. Methods: We reviewed the method of assessing and reporting VA in 160 clinical studies from 2 UK and 2 US peer-reviewed journals, published in 1994 and 2004. Results: The method used to assess VA was specified in 62.5% of UK-published and 60% of US-published papers. In the results sections of the UK publications the VA measurements presented were Snellen acuity (n = 58), logMAR acuity (n = 20) and symbol acuity (n = 1). Similarly in the US publications the VA was recorded in the results section using Snellen acuity (n = 60) and logMAR acuity (n = 14). Overall 10% of the authors appeared to convert Snellen acuity measurements to logMAR format. Five studies (3%) chose to express Snellen-type acuities in decimal form, a method which can easily lead to confusion given the increased use of logMAR scoring systems. Conclusion: The authors recommend that to ensure comparable visual results between studies and different study populations it would be useful if clinical scientists worked to standardized VA testing protocols and reported results in a manner consistent with the way in which they are measured.
Accessibility of Health Information on the Internet to the Visually Impaired User
Authors: Lüchtenberg Marc , Kuhli-Hattenbach Claudia , Sinangin Yesim , Ohrloff Christian , Schalnus Rainer
Published: May 2008

Purpose: Web sites containing health information should be accessible to visually impaired persons. Methods: 139 web sites containing medical information addressing laymen or patients were evaluated with respect to their accessibility. A quantitative checklist which is based upon the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was used. Results: Only 18% (15 sites) achieved WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) level A or AA. WAI level AA was reached by only 1% (1 site) of the web sites. None of the web sites reached level AAA; 82% of the assessed web sites offering consumer health information are not fully accessible to visually impaired persons. Conclusion: The accessibility of web-based health content to visually impaired users should be improved. Health information on the web should at least meet the requirements of priority 1 (level A), preferably priority 2 (level AA) of the W3C guidelines.
Prevention of Oxidative Stress to the Retina by Pyruvate
Authors: Hegde Kavita R. , Varma Shambhu D.
Published: May 2008

Aim: Oxidative stress is considered to be a significant risk factor in the pathogenesis of many eye diseases associated with aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of retinal tissue to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage, and to examine if this can be prevented by compounds having the ability to scavenge ROS as well as support the tissue bioenergetically via normal as well as anaplerotic metabolic pathways. Methods: Experiments were conducted on retinas isolated from CD-1 mice. The isolated retinas were incubated in Medium 199, generating ROS by the action of xanthine oxidase and uricase on xanthine. Parallel experiments were conducted in the presence of pyruvate (10 mM). The extent of oxidative damage to the tissue was assessed by determining the levels of glutathione. Malonaldehyde was used as an index of the peroxidative degradation of lipids. Results: Exposure of the tissue to ROS resulted in a significant decrease in its glutathione content. There was a simultaneous increase in the level of malonaldehyde. These effects were substantially attenuated by pyruvate. Conclusions: While ROS has been previously implicated in the genesis of many aging diseases of the retina, methods to prevent or treat them are currently in their infancy. The present investigations suggest that this can be accomplished by the use of certain compounds of endogenous origin, such as pyruvate, which have the dual properties of acting as ROS scavengers while also acting as metabolic agonists. By virtue of its oxyradical scavenging property, it is expected to inhibit the oxidative degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids required to maintain the structural and functional integrity of the tissue.
Higher Serum Vitamin D3 Levels Are Associated with Better Cognitive Test Performance in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Oudshoorn C. , Mattace-Raso F.U.S. , van der Velde N. , Colin E.M. , van der Cammen T.J.M.
Published: May 2008

Background/Aims: Recent studies suggest that vitamin D metabolites may be important for preserving cognitive function via specific neuroprotective effects. No large studies have examined the association between vitamin D status and cognition. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test scores of 225 older outpatients who were diagnosed as having probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition to the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels, we analyzed the serum vitamin B1, B6 and B12 levels. Results: An association was found between MMSE test scores and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels, with a β-coefficient of 0.05 (p = 0.01). Vitamin-D-sufficient patients had significantly higher MMSE scores as compared to vitamin-D-insufficient ones. No association was found with the other serum vitamin levels. Conclusions: These data support the idea that a relationship exists between vitamin D status and cognition in patients with probable AD. However, given the cross-sectional design of this study, no causality can be concluded. Further prospective studies are needed to specify the contribution of vitamin D status to the onset and course of cognitive decline and AD.
Response to Definitive Chemoradiotherapy and Survival in Patients with an Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma versus Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Matched-Pair Analysis
Authors: Tougeron David , Di Fiore Frédéric , Hamidou Hadji , Rigal Olivier , Paillot Bernard , Michel Pierre
Published: May 2008

Objectives: The impact of the histological tumour type in patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for an oesophageal cancer is not well established. The aim of this retrospective matched-pair analysis was to evaluate the clinical complete response (CCR) to definitive CRT and the outcome between 2 groups of patients. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with an oesophageal adenocarcinoma (ADC) were matched according to the tumour stage and the WHO performance as well as the CRT regimen status including 57 patients with an oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). CRT was based on radiotherapy combined with a cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Results: A CCR was observed in 40 patients (70.2%) with an SCC as compared with 26 patients (45.6%) with an ADC (p = 0.013). SCC patients received significantly more of planned cisplatin and radiotherapy doses than ADC patients (82.0 vs. 67.7%, p = 0.042, and 92.5 vs. 84.5%, p = 0.023, respectively). In responders to CRT, local recurrence was significantly more frequent in SCC patients (52.5 vs. 26.9%, p = 0.046). Median survival in all patients as well as in responders to CRT was not different between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Our study showed that treatment completion and CCR to definitive CRT were more frequent in SCC with, however, more local recurrences in these patients. Further studies are required to confirm this difference in response rate to definitive CRT according to histological type of the tumour in oesophageal cancer.
Abnormal structure of the Y chromosome detected in bovine gonadal hypoplasia (XY female) by FISH
Authors: Kawakura K. , Miyake Y-I. , Murakami R.K. , Kondoh S. , Hirata T-I. , Kaneda Y.
Published: May 2008

The structure of the Y chromosome was investigated by FISH and G banding in 3 cases of bovine XY females shown by PCR to lack the SRY gene. Although 2 different repeat-DNA sequences (BC1.2 and btDYZ-1) hybridized to the short arm of the Y chromosome in a normal bull, they hybridized to both arms of the Y chromosome in the XY females. In the Y chromosome from XY females, only the centromeric region was darkly stained by G banding, in comparison with dark staining on the long arm of a normal Y chromosome. From the results obtained, it seemed that the Y chromosome from the XY females was structurally abnormal, namely an isochromosome with an identical short arm. Our results also confirm that SRY is located on the long arm of the Y chromosome in bovine.
Assignment of the gene for human tetranectin (TNA) to chromosome 3p22→p21.3 by somatic cell hybrid mapping
Authors: Durkin M.E. , Naylor S.L. , Albrechtsen R. , Wewer U.M.
Published: May 2008

Tetranectin is a plasminogen-binding protein that is induced during the mineralization phase of osteogenesis. By screening a human chromosome 3 somatic cell hybrid mapping panel, we have localized the human tetranectin gene (TNA) to 3p22→p21.3, which is distinct from the loci of two human connective tissue disorders that map to the short arm of chromosome 3, MFS2 and LRS1.
Assignment of rat thromboxane synthase gene (Tbxas) to chromosome 4q21→q22 by fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Takeuchi K. , Tsutsumi E. , Abe T. , Takahashi N. , Kato T. , Taniyama Y. , Ikeda Y. , Abe K.
Published: May 2008

Thromboxane A2 plays physiological and pathophysiological roles in many tissues. We isolated a cDNA for rat thromboxane synthase from the kidney and here show the location of rat thromboxane synthase gene (Tbxas) on rat chromosome 4q21→q22 by fluorescence in situ hybridization to metaphase chromatin of rat lymphocytes.
Alul in situ digestion of human alphoid and classical satellite DNA regions: High-resolution digital image analysis of FISH signals from condensed and extended chromatin
Authors: Fernández J.L. , Valverde D. , Goyanes V. , Buño I. , Gosálvez J.
Published: May 2008

Human lymphocyte chromatin either extended or condensed in interphase nuclei and chromosomes was in situ digested by the restriction endonuclease AluI and then hybridized with alphoid probes specific for chromosome 1 (D1Z5 locus), for chromosome X (DXZ1 locus), and with a classical satellite DNA probe specific for chromosome 9 (D9Z1 locus). Fluorescent hybridization signals were quantified by digital analysis of high-resolution images obtained by a Photo-CD system in an attempt to analyze the differential DNA removal produced by AluI in specific repetitive DNA sequences with known restriction site frequency and distribution. The analysis of area and average pixel grey count of hybridization signals suggests that the greater the degree of chromatin stretching, the higher the accessibility of the probe and/or reporter molecules to the target. Nevertheless, this greater hybridization efficiency does not result in a higher fluorescence intensity due to dispersion of individual signals. Specific repetitive DNA at D9Z1 locus (classical) remained impervious to digestion, while that at DXZ1 (alphoid) was extensively removed, according to the frequency and distribution of restriction sites. Nevertheless, though the restriction sites were at least as frequent as at the DXZ1 locus, DNA at the D1Z5 locus (alphoid) was only partially removed. This indicates that chromatin organization within the C-band partially prevents extraction of alphoid sequences, supporting the hypothesis that alphoid DNA sequences are differentially organized among chromosomes. Overall, the same results were obtained from condensed and extended chromatin, suggesting that higher-order chromatin organization does not influence the in situ DNA cleavage and removal by AluI.
Human type I cytokeratin genes are a compact cluster
Authors: Ceratto N. , Dobkin C. , Carter M. , Jenkins E. , Yao X.-L. , Cassiman J.-J. , Aly M.S. , Bosco P. , Leube R. , Langbein L. , Feo S. , Romano V.
Published: May 2008

A YAC clone (211F11) containing approximately 0.5 Mb of human DNA was isolated from a human genomic library by PCR-based screening with cytokeratin (KRT) 13-specific primers. The YAC clone was mapped by FISH to the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q12→q21), a region to which several other type I KRT genes had been mapped previously. We now show by Southern blot hybridization and PFGE analyses that KRT13, 14, 15, and 16 are all contained within YAC clone 211F11. Long-range restriction mapping analysis of clone 211F11 and of two smaller YAC clones that were also isolated with KRT13-specific primers, suggests that KRT13, 14, 15, 16 and their linked type I genes KRT17 and 19, are contained in less than 150 kb of genomic DNA. According to our reconstruction it then appears that at least six type I KRT genes are arranged in a highly compact cluster. The three YACs reported in this study represent a new tool to dissect the molecular structure of the locus of the human type I KRT genes.
Isolation and mapping of a human zinc finger gene (ZNF188) homologous to ZNF187, a serum-response-element binding protein
Authors: Ishikawa S. , Kai M. , Takei Y. , Okui K. , Takahashi T. , Suzuki M. , Ogawa M. , Nakamura Y.
Published: May 2008

From a human pancreas cDNA library we isolated and characterized a novel zinc finger gene encoding a protein homologous to ZNF187, a serum response element-binding protein. The full-length cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1,686 nucleotides encoding a predicted 562-amino-acid peptide that included an ATP-GTP binding site and seven C2H2 zinc finger domains. The consensus sequence of the C2H2 domains (CX2CX3FX5LX2HX3H) is common in the SRE-binding region present in Drosophila Krüppel proteins. An alternatively spliced form of the transcript found in the cDNA library lacked both the ATP-GTP binding site and any C2H2 zinc finger domains. We localized this gene (ZNF188) to chromosome band 7q22.1→q22.3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
MCM4 and PRKDC, human genes encoding proteins MCM4 and DNA-PKcs, are close neighbours located on chromosome 8q12→q13
Authors: Ladenburger E.M. , Fackelmayer F.O. , Hameister H. , Knippers R.
Published: May 2008

A human genomic DNA fragment containing the 5’ region of MCM4, a gene encoding replication protein MCM4/Cdc21 was isolated. At a distance of about 800 base pairs upstream of MCM4, the fragment was shown to also contain the 5’ end of PRKDC, a gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). The genomic DNA fragment was used for hybridization to human metaphase chromosome spreads. The cytogenetic map location of the two closely adjacent genes was determined to be 8ql2→ql3.
Mapping AAC1, AAC2 and AACP, the genes for arylamine N-acetyltransferases, carcinogen metabolising enzymes on human chromosome 8p22, a region frequently deleted in tumours
Authors: Matas N. , Thygesen P. , Stacey M. , Risch A. , Sim E.
Published: May 2008

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are encoded at two loci on 8p22, a region subject to deletions in bladder tumours. The two functional genes (AAC1 and AAC2 alias NAT1 and NAT2) without introns in the coding region, encode enzymes which metabolise carcinogens, including bladder carcinogens. They are both multi-allelic and certain alleles have been implicated as susceptibility factors in bladder cancer. There is a third N-acetyltransferase gene, a pseudogene, AACP alias NATP, which we show is also located on chromosome 8 at the p22 region. We have mapped a series of YAC clones (ICI and CEPH) containing the NAT genes and the markers D8S21 an RFLP marker, and D8S261, a microsatellite marker. We show that D8S21 is a portion of the coding region of AAC2. The order of genes in this region, covering some 2 Mb, is TEL–D8S261–AAC1–AACP–AAC2 (D8S21) –CEN. The restriction map also illustrates that there are likely to be other expressed genes in the region through the identification of CpG islands.
Assignment of the TCRA/TCRD locus to sheep chromosome bands 7q1.4→q2.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Massari S. , Antonacci R. , De Caro F. , Lipsi M.R. , Ciccarese S.
Published: May 2008

Two genomic clones for the TCRA/TCRD locus have been isolated and characterized in sheep. The first clone corresponds to a new sheep Vα element, the other to the entire Cδ gene. Chromosomal mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of Vα and Cδ clones localized the TCRA/TCRD locus on sheep chromosome region 7q14→q22. This is the first physical assignment for genomic clones on sheep chromosome 7 by FISH. Moreover, the present data put the ovine 7q14→q22 and the human 14q11.2 regions in the same syntenic group.
A cytogenetically anchored genetic map of bovine chromosome 1 obtained by integrating flow-sorted chromosome-derived microsatellite markers into the international bovine map
Authors: Vaiman D. , Schibler L. , Oustry A. , Schmitz A. , Furet J.-P. , Barendse W. , Cribiu E.P.
Published: May 2008

A genomic library was constructed from a peak of flow-sorted bovine chromosomes 1 + X after PCR amplification. Forty-three bovine chromosome 1 microsatellites were isolated, genetically mapped and integrated in the international genetic map. In addition, BAC clones from a goat BAC library were identified for five markers (DVEPC119, INRA011, BM4307, KAP8 and MAF64). These goat BACs could be mapped by FISH onto bovine chromosome 1 to bands 1q44→q45, 1q25, 1q21,1q12and 1q14→q21, respectively. This map reduces the average interval between consecutive markers on the international bovine genetic map from 5.5 cM to 2.5 cM, and provides a good starting point for positional cloning projects in cattle, sheep or goats.
A mouse gene (Dgcr6) related to the Drosophila gonadal gene is expressed in early embryogenesis and is the homolog of a human gene deleted in DiGeorge syndrome
Authors: Lindsay E.A. , Baldini A.
Published: May 2008

We report the identification of a mouse gene, Dgcr6, which shows high sequence similarity to gonαdal (gdl), a Drosophila gene of unknown function. Dgcr6 is the mouse homolog of human DGCR6, previously shown to be deleted in DiGeorge syndrome, a developmental field defect affecting the derivatives of the pharyngeal arches which is associated with 22q11.2 deletions. The Dgcr6 transcript has a 594 nucleotide open reading frame (ORF) encoding 198 amino acids. We previously mapped Dgcr6 to mouse chromosome 16B1-B3, a region known to contain other mouse homologs of genes deleted in DiGeorge syndrome. Expression studies were performed by Northern blotting analysis on mouse embryo and adult tissues and by RNA in situ hybridization on mouse embryo sections. Results show that Dgcr6 transcripts are abundant during mouse embryogenesis, from at least 7 days post coitum. In particular, high expression was detected in the brain, spinal cord and pharyngeal arches. On adult tissues high expression was detected in testis. The function of Dgcr6 is to be determined, but its developmental expression suggests that this gene may play a role in the developmental defects associated with 22q11.2 deletions.
Map integration at human chromosome 10: molecular and cytogenetic analysis of a chromosome-specific somatic cell hybrid panel and genomic clones, based on a well-supported genetic map
Authors: Marzella R. , Kokkinaki M.A. , Kapsetaki M. , Ricco A. , Argyrokastritis A. , Kamakari S. , Sarafidou T. , Archidiacono N. , Roussou A. , Pasparaki A. , Rocchi M. , Moschonas N.K.
Published: May 2008

Well-characterized, chromosome-specific somatic cell hybrid panels are powerful tools for the analysis of the human genome. We have characterized a panel of human × hamster somatic cell hybrids retaining fragments of human chromosome 10 by fluorescence in situ hybridization and associated them to genetic markers. Most of the hybrids were generated by the radiation-reduction method, starting from a chromosome 10-specific monochromosomal hybrid, whereas some were collected from hybrids retaining chromosome 10-specific fragments as a result of spontaneous in vitro rearrangements. PCR was used to score the retention of 57 microsatellite markers evenly distributed along a well-supported framework genetic map containing 149 loci uniquely placed at 69 anchor points (odds exceeding 1,000:1), with an average spacing of 2.8 cM. As an additional resource for genomic studies involving human chromosome 10, we report the cytogenetic localization of a series of YAC and PAC clones recognized by at least one genetic marker. Somatic cell hybrids provide a powerful source of partial chromosome paints useful for detailed clinical cytogenetic and primate chromosome evolution investigations. Furthermore, correlation of the above physical, genetic, and cytogenetic data contribute to an emerging consensus map of human chromosome 10.
Heterochromatin heterogeneity and chromosome variability in four species of gobiid fishes (Perciformes: Gobiidae)
Authors: Caputo V. , Marchegiani F. , Sorice M. , Olmo E.
Published: May 2008

A karyological study of four species of gobiid fishes, Gobius niger, G. paganellus, G. cobitis, and Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Perciformes, Gobiidae), was conducted by standard, fluorochrome staining (using chromomycin A3 mithramycin, and DAPI), Alu-I digestion, and CBG- and RBG-banding methods. Our cytogenetic data indicate that heterochromatin in these taxa is highly differentiated, exhibiting heterogeneity in staining characteristics, and presumably in underlying DNA sequences, and a different capability for promoting Robertsonian fusions.
Identification of positional candidates for neurological disorders on chromosome 13q14→q22
Authors: Nothwang H.G. , Wirth J. , Brandl B. , Haaf T. , Nielsen K.B. , Tommerup N. , Ropers H.H.
Published: May 2008

In the course of a research project aimed at the molecular characterization of balanced chromosome rearrangements associated with mental retardation (MR), several YACs spanning MR-associated chromosomal rearrangements in the 13q14→q22 region were identified. To facilitate the search for relevant candidate genes, we have analyzed a total of 102 EST clones from this region. Sequence comparisons revealed that these 102 clones represent up to 72 distinct transcripts. When no physical mapping data were available, a minimal YAC contig was screened for each unique transcript by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or hybridization. Fifty-eight independent ESTs could be localized to YAC clones between the markers D13S1248 and DBS1201. Several ESTs are located on YAC clones detecting chromosomal rearrangements in MR patients. One EST was mapped within the critical region for Rieger syndrome type 2, and three transcripts were identified in the region for the nocturnal enuresis type 1. Some ESTs showed homologies to known genes, including the cadherin-related tumor suppressor gene from Drosophila, the yeast mitotic control protein DIS3, and the human α-2-macroglobulin receptor associated protein.
HPV Typing in Women with Cervical Precancerous and Cancerous Lesions in Northwestern Iran
Authors: Esmaeili Mohsen , Bonyadi Mortaza , Dastranj Ali , Alizadeh Masoumeh , Melli Manizheh Sayyah , Shobeiri Mehri Jafari
Published: May 2008

Background/Aims: The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of cervical cancer is now well established. This investigation was designed to study the prevalence of the four most common high-risk HPVs in the archival tissues with precancerous and cancerous lesions from patients from northwestern Iran. Methods: 133 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens were tested for HPV DNA by using GP5+/6+-based general PCR and two type-specific PCRs. Results: In total, 84 (64%) out of 131 amplifiable samples were positive for HPV DNA. The most prevalent oncogenic HPV was type 16 (67.6%) followed by types 31 (22.8%), 18 (7.6%) and 33 (1%). Multiple HPV infections were present in 20 (15.3%) of the 131 samples. Notably, of these 20 cases with multiple infections, 15 were from patients with invasive cervical cancer. Conclusions: The multiplicity of HPV genotypes was noted in invasive cervical carcinoma samples, along with rather different circulating HPV types in the study population. Hence, relevant HPV typing information in cervical carcinoma is very important for planning more efficient screening programs and for further HPV vaccine design.
Modeling Optical Turbulence and Seeing over Mauna Kea: Verification and Algorithm Refinement*
Authors: Cherubini T. , Businger S. , Lyman R.
Published: May 2008

An optical turbulence algorithm has been running operationally since April 2005 at the Mauna Kea Weather Center. The algorithm makes use of information on turbulence kinetic energy provided by a planetary boundary layer scheme available in the Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model and estimates the turbulent fluctuations of the atmospheric refractive index and seeing over the summit area of Mauna Kea. To investigate the potential and limitations of the optical turbulence algorithm, one year of observed seeing data from four observatories is compared with the model forecast seeing and a statistical analysis is carried out. Sensitivity tests regarding the accuracy of the underlying numerical weather forecasts and the model’s eddy diffusivity scheme are performed. Results from a simple calibration of the optical turbulence algorithm are presented.
A Comparison of Compressible and Anelastic Models of Deep Dry Convection
Authors: Smith Jonathan W. , Bannon Peter R.
Published: May 2008

The response to an instantaneous diabatic warming and the resulting hydrostatic and geostrophic adjustment in compressible and anelastic models is examined. The comparison of the models includes examining the initial conditions, time evolution, potential vorticity, and both the traditional and available energetics. Between the two models, the buoyancy flow fields and potential vorticity perturbations are qualitatively and quantitatively similar. Traditional and available energetics can both be accurately conserved within the models. There are some short-lived (e.g., several minutes) differences in the model solutions as the compressible model undergoes an acoustic adjustment that contains vertically propagating acoustic waves and horizontally propagating Lamb waves. The acoustic waves are effectively eliminated in an upper-level numerical sponge layer using Rayleigh damping. Moreover, the relative computational efficiency and accuracy of the two models are assessed.
Radioluminescence study of surface and ceramic body of lustred majolicas
Authors: Galli A. , Martini M. , Panzeri L. , Sibilia E.
Published: May 2008

Radioluminescence (RL), the light emission observed during the excitation of a material by ionising radiation, has been applied to a set of ceramic samples, chosen as representatives of the three main classes of lustred majolicas: Egyptian Fatimid (the tenth to eleventh centuries), Hispano–Moresque (the eleventh to fourteenth centuries) and Italian (the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries). Before the RL characterisation, all the samples were dated by thermoluminescence. The present study was aiming at characterising the three components of the lustred ceramics: the ceramic body, the glaze and the surface lustre, in order to find, if any, the RL associated emissions.
Analysis of ancient embroideries by IBA techniques
Authors: Migliori A. , Massi M. , Giuntini L.
Published: May 2008

Ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques are often used to study works of art, mainly for their non-destructive character. In these techniques, products of interactions between beams and targets are exploited to determine the elemental composition of the sample surface down to depths from few micrometres to hundreds of micrometres, depending on incident particles, their energy and target material.

For samples with surface inhomogeneities, information about elemental distribution can be essential to discriminate contributions from different areas. At the authors’ laboratory in Florence (LABEC), the external scanning proton microprobe facility — installed on a beam line of the 3 MV Tandem Accelerator — allows samples to be analysed in atmosphere, with spatial resolution down to around micrometres, and to extract elemental maps from the investigated areas.

Recently, there has been the opportunity of analysing a ‘gold lace embroidery’ (using silk threads, spiral wrapped by a sort of miniature golden tape) after a cartoon by Raffaellino del Garbo (the fifteenth–sixteenth centuries).
Time esophageal pH < 4 overestimates the prevalence of pathologic esophageal reflux in subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease treated with proton pump inhibitors
Authors: Gerson Lauren B , Triadafilopoulos George , Sahbaie Peyman , Young Winston , Sloan Sheldon , Robinson Malcolm , Miner Philip B , Gardner Jerry D
Published: May 2008

Background

A Stanford University study reported that in asymptomatic GERD patients who were being treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), 50% had pathologic esophageal acid exposure.

Aim

We considered the possibility that the high prevalence of pathologic esophageal reflux might simply have resulted from calculating acidity as time pH < 4.

Methods

We calculated integrated acidity and time pH < 4 from the 49 recordings of 24-hour gastric and esophageal pH from the Stanford study as well as from another study of 57 GERD subjects, 26 of whom were treated for 8 days with 20 mg omeprazole or 20 mg rabeprazole in a 2-way crossover fashion.

Results

The prevalence of pathologic 24-hour esophageal reflux in both studies was significantly higher when measured as time pH < 4 than when measured as integrated acidity. This difference was entirely attributable to a difference between the two measures during the nocturnal period. Nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough was not a useful predictor of pathologic nocturnal esophageal reflux.

Conclusion

In GERD subjects treated with a PPI, measuring time esophageal pH < 4 will significantly overestimate the prevalence of pathologic esophageal acid exposure over 24 hours and during the nocturnal period.
Recruitment of Coactivator Glucocorticoid Receptor Interacting Protein 1 to an Estrogen Receptor Transcription Complex Is Regulated by the 3′,5′-Cyclic Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate-Dependent Protein Kinase
Authors: Fenne Ingvild S. , Hoang Tuyen , Hauglid Marianne , Sagen Jørn Vegard , Lien Ernst A. , Mellgren Gunnar
Published: May 2008

Steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs), such as glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) are recruited to the DNA-bound nuclear receptors (NRs) and are also shown to enhance the gene transactivation by other transcription factors. In contrast to the two other members of the SRC family, SRC-1 and SRC-3/amplified in breast cancer 1, SRC-2/GRIP1 is regulated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase [protein kinase A (PKA)] that stimulates its ubiquitination and degradation. In this report we demonstrate that COS-1 and MCF-7 cells treated with cAMP-elevating agents and 8-para-chlorophenylthio-cAMP for short periods of time showed an increase in GRIP1 coactivator function, whereas prolonged stimulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway led to a decline in GRIP1-mediated activation and protein levels. Furthermore, MCF-7 breast cancer cells were subjected to chromatin immunoprecipitation assays after stimulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway. cAMP/PKA initiated a rapid recruitment of GRIP1 to the endogenous estrogen receptor (ER)-α target pS2 gene promoter. In contrast to the estradiol-induced recruitment of GRIP1 to pS2, we observed an additional increase in GRIP1 recruitment on inhibition of the proteasome, suggesting that inhibition of GRIP1 degradation leads to accumulation at the pS2. Real-time PCR experiments confirmed that cAMP/PKA enhanced the expression of pS2. Moreover, confocal imaging of COS-1 cells transfected with yellow fluorescent protein-GRIP1 and cyan fluorescent protein-ERα revealed that PKA led to redistribution and colocalization of yellow fluorescent protein-GRIP1 and cyan fluorescent protein-ERα in subnuclear foci. In conclusion, these results suggest that activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway stimulates recruitment of GRIP1 to an ER-responsive gene promoter. The initial stimulation of GRIP1 coactivator function is followed by an increased turnover and subsequent degradation of GRIP1 protein.
The Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Estradiol in the Regulation of Endometrial Angiogenesis and Cell Proliferation in the Marmoset
Authors: Fraser Hamish M. , Wilson Helen , Silvestri Audrey , Morris Keith D. , Wiegand Stanley J.
Published: May 2008

The present studies explore the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and estradiol on angiogenesis and stromal and epithelial cell proliferation in the marmoset endometrium during the proliferative phase of the ovulatory cycle. At the start of the proliferative phase, marmosets were 1) treated with vehicle, 2) treated with a VEGF inhibitor (VEGF Trap, aflibercept), 3) ovariectomized, 4) ovariectomized and given replacement estradiol, or 5) treated with VEGF Trap and given replacement estradiol. The uterus was examined 10 d later in the late proliferative phase. Changes in endothelial and epithelial cell proliferation were quantified using a volumetric density method after immunohistochemistry for bromodeoxyuridine to localize proliferating cells, CD31 to visualize endothelial cells, and dual staining to distinguish endothelial cell proliferation. Endothelial proliferation was elevated in late proliferative controls but virtually absent after VEGF Trap. Ovariectomy had a similar inhibitory effect, whereas angiogenesis was restored by estrogen replacement. Estradiol replacement in VEGF Trap-treated marmosets resulted in only a small increase in endothelial cell proliferation that remained significantly below control values. VEGF Trap treatment and ovariectomy also markedly reduced stromal cell proliferation but resulted in increased stromal cell density associated with a reduction in overall endometrial volume. Estrogen replacement in both ovariectomized and VEGF Trap-treated animals restored stromal proliferation rates and cell density. These results show that endometrial angiogenesis and stromal proliferation during the proliferative phase are driven by estradiol and that the effect of estrogen on angiogenesis is mediated largely by VEGF.
Swing Once More: Relating Timing and Tempo in Expert Jazz Drumming
Authors: Honing Henkjan , de Haas W. Bas
Published: May 2008

Swing refers to a characteristic long-short subdivision of the beat that is generally considered a crucial aspect that contributes to the quality of a jazz or pop performance. The current study measures this pattern (referred to as the 'swing ratio') at different tempi in jazz drumming. The experimental setup differs from earlier studies in a number of ways. First, swing ratios were systematically measured at different beat durations in a musically realistic range. Second, repeated performances were collected to check for consistency. Third, drummers were asked to perform on a full MIDI drum kit. The results show that professional jazz drummers have enormous control over their timing. Nevertheless, the swing ratio is not kept constant, but it is systematically adapted to a global tempo. As such, this study provides further support for the hypothesis that expressive timing generally does not scale with tempo.