bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preventing and curing citrulline‐induced autoimmune arthritis in a humanized mouse model using a Th2‐polarizing iNKT cell agonist
Authors: Walker Kyle M , Rytelewski Mateusz , Mazzuca Delfina M , Meilleur Shannon A , Mannik Lisa A , Yue David , Brintnell William C , Welch Ian , Cairns Ewa , Haeryfar S M Mansour
Published: September 2011

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate lymphocytes with unique reactivity to glycolipid antigens bound to non‐polymorphic CD1d molecules. They are capable of rapidly releasing pro‐ and/or anti‐inflammatory cytokines and constitute attractive targets for immunotherapy of a wide range of diseases including autoimmune disorders. In this study, we have explored the beneficial effects of OCH, a Th2‐polarizing glycolipid agonist of iNKT cells, in a humanized mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in which citrullinated human proteins are targeted by autoaggressive immune responses in mice expressing an RA susceptibility human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR4 molecule. We found for the first time that treatment with OCH both prevents and cures citrulline‐induced autoimmune arthritis as evidenced by resolved ankle swelling and reversed histopathological changes associated with arthritis. Also importantly, OCH treatment blocked the arthritogenic capacity of citrullinated antigen‐experienced splenocytes without compromising their global responsiveness or altering the proportion of splenic naturally occurring CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. Interestingly, administering the Th1‐promoting iNKT cell glycolipid ligand α‐C‐galactosylceramide into HLA‐DR4 transgenic mice increased the incidence of arthritis in these animals and exacerbated their clinical symptoms, strongly suggesting a role for Th1 responses in the pathogenesis of citrulline‐induced arthritis. Therefore, our findings indicate a role for Th1‐mediated immunopathology in citrulline‐induced arthritis and provide the first evidence that iNKT cell manipulation by Th2‐skewing glycolipids may be of therapeutic value in this clinically relevant model, a finding that is potentially translatable to human RA.
Optimal diabatic bases via thermodynamic bounds
Authors: Yeganeh Sina , Van Voorhis Troy
Published: September 2011

Describing kinetic processes within a perturbation theory approach such as Fermi's golden rule requires an understanding of the initial and final states of the system. A number of different methods have been proposed for obtaining these diabatic-like states, but a robust criterion for evaluating their accuracy has not been established. Here, we approach the problem of determining the most appropriate set of diabatic states for use in incoherent rate expressions. We develop a method that rotates an initial set of diabats into an optimized set beginning with a zeroth-order diabatic Hamiltonian and choosing the rotation that minimizes the effect of non-diabatic terms on the thermodynamic free energy. The Gibbs-Bogoliubov (GB) bound on the Helmholtz free energy is thus used as the diabatic criterion. We first derive the GB free energy for a two site system and then find an expression general for any electronic system Hamiltonian. Efficient numerical methods are used to perform the minimization subject to orthogonality constraints, and we examine the resulting diabats for system Hamiltonians in various parameter regimes. The transition from localized to delocalized states is clearly seen in these calculations, and some interesting features are discussed.
Light propagation in single mode polymer nanotubes integrated on photonic circuits
Authors: Huby Nolwenn , Luc Duvail Jean , Duval Daphné , Pluchon David , Bêche Bruno
Published: September 2011

We report the theoretical and experimental study of photonic propagation in organic dielectric nanotubes elaborated by a wetting template method and showing off an aspect ratio as high as 200. Single mode behaviour is theoretically demonstrated without any cut-off conditions. Efficient evanescent coupling between polymer microstructures and nanotubes dispersed on a photonic chip as well as the high confinement and propagation in a single nanotube have been demonstrated. These results show the potential of well-defined one-dimensional nanostructures as building blocks for integrated organic photonic devices. Applications such as sensing and high speed communication are envisaged.
Trapping of a photoexcited electron by a donor in nanometer-scale phosphorus-doped silicon-on-insulator field-effect transistors
Authors: Udhiarto Arief , Moraru Daniel , Mizuno Takeshi , Tabe Michiharu
Published: September 2011

We study interaction of single-electron current and incident photons in nanometer-scale phosphorus-doped silicon-on-insulator field-effect transistors. Trapping events of a photoexcited-electron by a trap donor are observed as random telegraph signals in single-electron-tunneling current flowing through a current-path donor. Trapping causes a potential change at the current-path donor, inducing a current change. An opposite current change is caused by electron detrapping from the trap donor to the current-path donor. This indicates that only a few donors (two donors in this study) work in the interaction between single-electron transport and photoexcited-electron trapping, even in the presence of many donors.
Traveling wave-induced aerodynamic propulsive forces using piezoelectrically deformed substrates
Authors: Jafferis Noah T. , Stone Howard A. , Sturm James C.
Published: September 2011

We use integrated piezoelectric actuators and sensors to demonstrate the propulsive force produced by controllable transverse traveling waves in a thin plastic sheet suspended in air above a flat surface, thus confirming the physical basis for a “flying” carpet near a horizontal surface. Experiments are conducted to determine the dependence of the force on the height above the ground and the amplitude of the traveling wave, which qualitatively confirm previous theoretical predictions.
Cd diffusion and thermal stability of CdZnO/ZnO heterostructures
Authors: Yu. Azarov A. , Zhang T. C. , Svensson B. G. , Yu. Kuznetsov A.
Published: September 2011

Structural properties and thermal stability of CdZnO/ZnO heterostructures grown on sapphire substrate by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) have been studied. Zn/Cd interdiffusion and Cd evaporation appear as key factors limiting the thermal stability of CdZnO/ZnO heterostructures. Cd diffusion in MOVPE ZnO is found to start already at 600 °C with an activation energy of ∼2.2 eV and yields a saturation in the Cd concentration at 0.1-1 at. %. The actual Cd content remaining in the samples upon annealing is determined by a competition between Cd evaporation via the surface and diffusion/segregation in the bulk.
Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci for kernel morphology traits in a non-1BL.1RS×1BL.1RS wheat cross
Authors: Xiao Yonggui , He Shengmei , Yan Jun , Zhang Yong , Zhang Yelun , Wu Yunpeng , Xia Xianchun , Tian Jichun , Ji Wanquan , He Zhonghu
Published: September 2011

The improvement of kernel morphology traits is an important goal in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding programs because of their close relationship with grain yield and milling quality. The aim of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for kernel morphology traits using 240 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the non-1BL.1RS translocation cv. PH 82-2 and the 1BL.1RS translocation cv. Neixiang 188, grown in six environments in China. Inclusive composite interval mapping identified 71 main-effect QTL on 16 chromosomes for seven kernel morphology traits measured by digital imaging, viz. kernel length, width, perimeter, area, shape factor, factor form-density and width/length ratio. Each of these loci explained from 2.6 to 28.2% of the phenotypic variation. Eight QTL clusters conferring the largest effects on kernel weight and kernel morphology traits were detected on chromosomes 1BL.1RS (2), 2A, 4A, 4B, 6B, 6D and 7A. Fourteen epistatic QTL were identified for all kernel morphology traits except kernel width/length ratio, involving 24 main-effect QTL distributed on 13 chromosomes, and explaining 2.5–8.3% of the phenotypic variance. Five loci, viz. Sec-1 on 1BL.1RS, Glu-B1 on 1BL, Xcfe53 on 2A, Xwmc238 on 4B, and Xbarc174 on 7A, were detected consistently across environments, and their linked DNA markers may be used for marker-assisted selection in breeding for improved wheat kernel traits and grain yield.
Nitrogen fixation in annual Trifolium species in alkaline soils as assessed by the 15N natural abundance method
Authors: Denton Matthew D. , Coventry David R. , Bellotti William D. , Howieson John G.
Published: September 2011

Annual clover species such as Trifolium purpureum Loisel., T. resupinatum L., and T. alexandrinum L. are adapted to alkaline soil conditions and provide certain agronomic advantages over annual medics (Medicago spp.). Annual clovers have not been widely grown in alkaline soils in Australia, and quantifying their dinitrogen (N2) fixation in alkaline soils is important in understanding their potential role in mixed farming systems of southern Australia. Using the 15N natural abundance technique, it was estimated that annual clovers fixed 101–137 kg N/ha at Roseworthy and 59–62 kg N/ha at Mallala, on Calcarosols with soil pH of 8.0 and 8.5, respectively. Species differed in the percentages of fixed N2 estimated in shoot dry matter, which was highest in T. alexandrinum (77–85%), moderate in T. resupinatum (76%), and lowest in T. purpureum (65–74%). Naturally occurring soil rhizobia (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii) provided adequate nodulation, as inoculation with different strains of rhizobia had little influence on nodulation or N2 fixation. These results indicate that clovers can provide a significant contribution of fixed N2 to mixed farming systems. Examination of nodules indicated variable nodule occupancy by the inoculant rhizobia and that 69% of shoot N was fixed when clovers were nodulated by the soil populations of rhizobia. A simple model is defined to identify the potential interactions between inoculated legumes and soil rhizobia, and the options for enhancing symbiotic effectiveness are discussed.
Interhead tension determines processivity across diverse N-terminal kinesins
Authors: Shastry Shankar , Hancock William O.
Published: September 2011

Consistent with their diverse intracellular roles, the processivity of N-terminal kinesin motors varies considerably between different families. Kinetics experiments on isolated motor domains suggest that differences in processivity result from differences in the underlying biochemistry of the catalytic heads. However, the length of the flexible neck linker domain also varies from 14 to 18 residues between families. Because the neck linker acts as a mechanical element that transmits interhead tension, altering its mechanical properties is expected to affect both front and rear head gating, mechanisms that underlie processive walking. To test the hypothesis that processivity differences result from family-specific differences in neck linker mechanics, we systematically altered the neck linker length in kinesin-1, -2, -3, -5, and -7 motors and measured run length and velocity in a single-molecule fluorescence assay. Shortening the neck linkers of kinesin-3 (Unc104/KIF1A) and kinesin-5 (Eg5/KSP) to 14 residues enhanced processivity to match kinesin-1, which has a 14-residue neck linker. After substituting a single residue in the last alpha helix of the catalytic core, kinesin-7 (CENP-E) exhibited this same behavior. This convergence of processivity was observed even though motor speeds varied over a 25-fold range. These results suggest that differences in unloaded processivity between diverse kinesins is primarily due to differences in the lengths of their neck linker domains rather than specific tuning of rate constants in their ATP hydrolysis cycles.
Cigarette smoking increases copy number alterations in nonsmall-cell lung cancer
Authors: Huang Yen-Tsung , Lin Xihong , Liu Yan , Chirieac Lucian R. , McGovern Ray , Wain John , Heist Rebecca , Skaug Vidar , Zienolddiny Shanbeh , Haugen Aage , Su Li , Fox Edward A. , Wong Kwok-Kin , Christiani David C.
Published: September 2011

Cigarette smoking has been a well-established risk factor of lung cancer for decades. How smoking contributes to tumorigenesis in the lung remains not fully understood. Here we report the results of a genome-wide study of DNA copy number and smoking pack-years in a large collection of nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors. Genome-wide analyses of DNA copy number and pack-years of cigarette smoking were performed on 264 NSCLC tumors, which were divided into discovery and validation sets. The copy number-smoking associations were investigated in three scales: whole-genome, chromosome/arm, and focal regions. We found that heavy cigarette smokers (>60 pack-years) have significantly more copy number gains than non- or light smokers (≤60 pack-years) (
P
= 2.46 × 10
−4
), especially in 8q and 12q. Copy number losses tend to occur away from genes in non/light smokers (
P
= 5.15 × 10
−5
) but not in heavy smokers (
P
= 0.52). Focal copy number analyses showed that there are strong associations of copy number and cigarette smoking pack-years in 12q23 (
P
= 9.69 × 10
−10
) where
IGF1
(insulin-like growth factor 1) is located. All of the above analyses were tested in the discovery set and confirmed in the validation set. DNA double-strand break assays using human bronchial epithelial cell lines treated with cigarette smoke condensate were also performed, and indicated that cigarette smoke condensate leads to genome instability in human bronchial epithelial cells. We conclude that cigarette smoking leads to more copy number alterations, which may be mediated by the genome instability.
Ultraslow growth rates of giant gypsum crystals
Authors: Van Driessche A. E. S. , García-Ruíz J. M. , Tsukamoto K. , Patiño-Lopez L. D. , Satoh H.
Published: September 2011

Mineralogical processes taking place close to equilibrium, or with very slow kinetics, are difficult to quantify precisely. The determination of ultraslow dissolution/precipitation rates would reveal characteristic timing associated with these processes that are important at geological scale. We have designed an advanced high-resolution white-beam phase-shift interferometry microscope to measure growth rates of crystals at very low supersaturation values. To test this technique, we have selected the giant gypsum crystals of Naica ore mines in Chihuahua, Mexico, a challenging subject in mineral formation. They are thought to form by a self-feeding mechanism driven by solution-mediated anhydrite-gypsum phase transition, and therefore they must be the result of an extremely slow crystallization process close to equilibrium. To calculate the formation time of these crystals we have measured the growth rates of the {010} face of gypsum growing from current Naica waters at different temperatures. The slowest measurable growth rate was found at 55 °C, 1.4 ± 0.2 × 10
-5
 nm/s, the slowest directly measured normal growth rate for any crystal growth process. At higher temperatures, growth rates increase exponentially because of decreasing gypsum solubility and higher kinetic coefficient. At 50 °C neither growth nor dissolution was observed indicating that growth of giant crystals of gypsum occurred at Naica between 58 °C (gypsum/anhydrite transition temperature) and the current temperature of Naica waters, confirming formation temperatures determined from fluid inclusion studies. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of applying advanced optical techniques in laboratory experiments to gain a better understanding of crystal growth processes occurring at a geological timescale.
Longitudinal evidence that fatherhood decreases testosterone in human males
Authors: Gettler Lee T. , McDade Thomas W. , Feranil Alan B. , Kuzawa Christopher W.
Published: September 2011

In species in which males care for young, testosterone (T) is often high during mating periods but then declines to allow for caregiving of resulting offspring. This model may apply to human males, but past human studies of T and fatherhood have been cross-sectional, making it unclear whether fatherhood suppresses T or if men with lower T are more likely to become fathers. Here, we use a large representative study in the Philippines (
n
= 624) to show that among single nonfathers at baseline (2005) (21.5 ± 0.3 y), men with high waking T were more likely to become partnered fathers by the time of follow-up 4.5 y later (
P
< 0.05). Men who became partnered fathers then experienced large declines in waking (median: −26%) and evening (median: −34%) T, which were significantly greater than declines in single nonfathers (
P
< 0.001). Consistent with the hypothesis that child interaction suppresses T, fathers reporting 3 h or more of daily childcare had lower T at follow-up compared with fathers not involved in care (
P
< 0.05). Using longitudinal data, these findings show that T and reproductive strategy have bidirectional relationships in human males, with high T predicting subsequent mating success but then declining rapidly after men become fathers. Our findings suggest that T mediates tradeoffs between mating and parenting in humans, as seen in other species in which fathers care for young. They also highlight one likely explanation for previously observed health disparities between partnered fathers and single men.
Compression and self-entanglement of single DNA molecules under uniform electric field
Authors: Tang Jing , Du Ning , Doyle Patrick S.
Published: September 2011

We experimentally study the effects of a uniform electric field on the conformation of single DNA molecules. We demonstrate that a moderate electric field (∼200 V/cm) strongly compresses isolated DNA polymer coils into isotropic globules. Insight into the nature of these compressed states is gained by following the expansion of the molecules back to equilibrium after halting the electric field. We observe two distinct types of expansion modes: a continuous molecular expansion analogous to a compressed spring expanding, and a much slower expansion characterized by two long-lived metastable states. Fluorescence microscopy and stretching experiments reveal that the metastable states are the result of
intramolecular
self-entanglements induced by the electric field. These results have broad importance in DNA separations and single molecule genomics, polymer rheology, and DNA-based nanofabrication.
Unusual superconducting state at 49 K in electron-doped CaFe
2
As
2
at ambient pressure
Authors: Lv Bing , Deng Liangzi , Gooch Melissa , Wei Fengyan , Sun Yanyi , Meen James K. , Xue Yu-Yi , Lorenz Bernd , Chu Ching-Wu
Published: September 2011

We report the detection of unusual superconductivity up to 49 K in single crystalline CaFe
2
As
2
via electron-doping by partial replacement of Ca by rare-earth. The superconducting transition observed suggests the possible existence of two phases: one starting at 49 K, which has a low critical field < 4 Oe, and the other at 21 K, with a much higher critical field > 5 T. Our observations are in strong contrast to previous reports of doping or pressurizing layered compounds AeFe
2
As
2
(or Ae122), where Ae = Ca, Sr, or Ba. In Ae122, hole-doping has been previously observed to generate superconductivity with a transition temperature (
T

c

) only up to 38 K and pressurization has been reported to produce superconductivity with a
T

c

up to 30 K. The unusual 49 K phase detected will be discussed.
Potassium-selective block of barium permeation through single KcsA channels
Authors: Piasta Kene N. , Theobald Douglas L. , Miller Christopher
Published: September 2011

Ba2+, a doubly charged analogue of K+, specifically blocks K+ channels by virtue of electrostatic stabilization in the permeation pathway. Ba2+ block is used here as a tool to determine the equilibrium binding affinity for various monovalent cations at specific sites in the selectivity filter of a noninactivating mutant of KcsA. At high concentrations of external K+, the block-time distribution is double exponential, marking at least two Ba2+ sites in the selectivity filter, in accord with a Ba2+-containing crystal structure of KcsA. By analyzing block as a function of extracellular K+, we determined the equilibrium dissociation constant of K+ and of other monovalent cations at an extracellular site, presumably S1, to arrive at a selectivity sequence for binding at this site: Rb+ (3 µM) > Cs+ (23 µM) > K+ (29 µM) > NH4+ (440 µM) >> Na+ and Li+ (>1 M). This represents an unusually high selectivity for K+ over Na+, with |ΔΔG0| of at least 7 kcal mol−1. These results fit well with other kinetic measurements of selectivity as well as with the many crystal structures of KcsA in various ionic conditions.
Viable Extreme Preterm Birth and Some Neonatal Outcomes in Double Cerclage versus Traditional Cerclage: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Broumand Farzaneh , Bahadori Fatemeh , Behrouzilak Tahereh , Yekta Zahra , Ashrafi Farkhondeh
Published: September 2011

The pregnant women at higher risk of preterm labor, referred to the perinatal clinic of Kosar University Hospital in Urmia district of Iran, were enrolled into a parallel randomized clinical trial. In the investigational arm of the clinical trial, a double cervical cerclage procedure was performed addition to McDonald cerclage. In the control group however, only McDonald cerclage was performed. Extreme preterm labor (GA < 33 weeks) was the primary endpoint of this clinical trial. Age, gestational age at cerclage time, and gravidity were not found to be statistically different between the groups. Means of gestational age were 37.4 and 36.2 weeks, respectively, for the investigational and control groups. The gestational age was 1.2 weeks longer for double cerclage group but the difference was not found to be statistically significant. Preterm birth before 33 weeks of gestation was not experienced by any of the patients who received double cerclage, but five women in control group developed such an extreme preterm labor (). The absolute risk reduction in using double cerclage over traditional method was 18 percent (95% confidence interval, 4%–32%). Double cerclage appeared to have higher efficacy than traditional cerclage in preventing preterm labor <33 weeks of gestation.
Retropharyngeal Abscess in Adults: Five Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Authors: Harkani A. , Hassani R. , Ziad T. , Aderdour L. , Nouri H. , Rochdi Y. , Raji A.
Published: September 2011

Retropharyngeal abscesses are rare in adults. They occur mostly in immunocompromised patients or as a foreign body complication. We report 5 cases of retropharyngeal abscess collected in the ENT Department of CHU Mohammed VI of Marrakech, during a two-year period (December 2008 to December 2009). Local trauma by foreign body ingestion was the aetiology in four patients. The presenting symptoms, for all patients, were fever, odynophagia, torticollis, and trismus, and the clinical examination showed bulging of the posterior wall of the oropharynx. The radiography of cervical spine showed prevertebral thickening in all cases, this thickening was associated with an aspect of vertebral lysis of the fourth cervical vertebra in one case. A CT scan was performed in all our cases and showed features of retropharyngeal abscess which was associated, in one case, with spondylodiscitis. The biological assessment found one case of diabetes. The intradermal reaction to the tuberculin was clearly positive in one case. Endobuccal abscess puncture was practiced in 4 cases; only one organism was identified by culture:Staphylococcus aureustreatment was based on triple intravenous antibiotics and anti-Koch's therapy (in one case), and the surgical drainage under general anesthesia was also performed in the case of the diabetes patient which required also the correction of hyperglycemia in intensive care unit. The outcome was good in all our patients. The diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess can be difficult and one must seek a comorbidity; a tuberculosis aetiology must be considered in countries with a high prevalence. The management of these cases is based on antibiotics and surgical drainage.
In situmulti-axial loading frame to probe elastomers using X-ray scattering
Authors: Pannier Yannick , Proudhon Henry , Mocuta Cristian , Thiaudière Dominique , Cantournet Sabine
Published: September 2011

Anin situtensile–shear loading device has been designed to study elastomer crystallization using synchrotron X-ray scattering at the Synchrotron Soleil on the DiffAbs beamline. Elastomer tape specimens of thickness 2 mm can be elongated by up to 500% in the longitudinal direction and sheared by up to 200% in the transverse direction. The device is fully automated and plugged into theTANGOcontrol system of the beamline allowing synchronization between acquisition and loading sequences. Experimental results revealing the evolution of crystallization peaks under load are presented for several tension/shear loading sequences.
Effect of intracranial bleeds on the neurocognitive, academic, behavioural and adaptive functioning of boys with haemophilia
Authors: MILES B. S. , ANDERSON P. , AGOSTINO A. , GOLOMB M. R. , ACHONU C. , BLANCHETTE V. , FELDMAN B. M. , McLIMONT M. , REVEL‐VILK S. , STAIN A. , BARNES M. A.
Published: September 2011

Summary.  Brain insults are a risk factor for neuropsychological and academic deficits across several paediatric conditions. However, little is known about the specific effects of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) in boys with haemophilia. The study compared neurocognitive, academic and socio‐emotional/behavioural outcomes of boys with haemophilia with and without a history of ICH. Of 172 consecutive patients seen at a Pediatric Comprehensive Care Hemophila Centre, 18 had a history of ICH. Sixteen boys between the ages of 3 and 17 years were available for study and were matched to controls with haemophilia of the same age and disease severity and on the basis of maternal education. Groups were compared on neuropsychological and academic outcomes. Attention, socio‐emotional function and executive skills were compared using data from parent questionnaires. Differences were found in intellectual function, visual‐spatial skill, fine motor dexterity and particularly language‐related skills, including vocabulary, word reading and applied math problem solving. Despite these group differences, outcomes were within the average range for most boys with ICH. No group differences were found in behavioural and socio‐emotional functioning. Although ICH in haemophilia is not benign, it was not associated with significant cognitive and academic consequences for most boys. Early neuropsychological assessment may be indicated when there is a history of ICH. Investigation of age at ICH and quantitative measures of brain in relation to neurocognitive outcomes in larger groups of boys with ICH would be useful.
Severe haemophilia A patients have reduced numbers of peripheral memory B cells
Authors: IRIGOYEN M. B. , FELIPPO M. E. , PRIMIANI L. , CANDELA M. , BIANCO R. P. , DE BRACCO M. M. , GALASSI N.
Published: September 2011

Summary.  The development of inhibitors is a complication of replacement treatment in Haemophilia. Loss of factor VIII‐specific memory B cells in the spleen is associated with down regulation of antibodies in mice treated with high doses of FVIII, but changes in B cell memory have not been described in haemophilic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenotype of circulating lymphocytes in severe haemophilia A. Twenty patients with inhibitors (PI), 22 without inhibitors (P), nine patients during immune tolerance induction (ITI) treatment and 20 healthy donors (HD) were included. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined using flow cytometry. Anti‐FVIII antibodies were measured using Bethesda and flow cytometry. Percentages of T subsets and B lymphocytes were similar in all groups. In contrast, memory B cells (CD27+) were decreased in PI and P compared with HD, but the level of significance was higher in PI (P = 0.001) than P (P = 0.01). PI with high level of anti‐FVIII antibodies presented the lowest B memory values. CD70 expression was also lowest in PI. Non‐switched CD27+ subpopulation (IgD+) was prevalent in PI, but did not show statistical significance. When ITI failed, the percentages of CD27+ B cells after 12 months of ITI were lowest. In a longitudinal study performed in four patients, an increased percentage of CD27+ and CD70+ B cells during ITI was found. This work suggests that different peripheral lymphocyte markers, such as CD27 and CD70 on B cells, may be helpful to evaluate anti‐FVIII response and to monitor the success of ITI.
The lack of chiral specificity in a termite queen pheromone
Authors: YAMAMOTO YUUKA , KOBAYASHI TOHRU , MATSUURA KENJI
Published: September 2011

The queens of many social insects produce pheromones that influence the behaviour and physiology of colony members. Pheromones produced by queens have long been considered as the prime factor inhibiting the differentiation of new reproductive individuals. A volatile pheromone consisting of a blend of n‐butyl‐n‐butyrate and 2‐methyl‐1‐butanol comprises a queen pheromone that inhibits the differentiation of female neotenic reproductives (secondary queens) of a termite Reticulitermes speratus. 2‐Methyl‐1‐butanol is the first chiral molecule to be identified as a primer pheromone in social insects, which presents the intriguing question of whether enantiomeric composition plays a role in caste regulation. In the present study, we report that the (R)‐ and (S)‐enantiomers and the racemic mixture of 2‐methyl‐1‐butanol show significant inhibitory effects on the differentiation of new female neotenics in combination with n‐butyl‐n‐butyrate, whereas no significant difference in inhibitory activity is observed among them. These results suggests that termites recognize 2‐methyl‐1‐butanol as a queen signal but they do not distinguish between the stereostructures of the enantiomers.
Is there a role for rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM) therapy in the treatment of leprosy? Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Setia Maninder S. , Shinde Santosh S. , Jerajani Hemangi R. , Boivin Jean‐François
Published: September 2011

Background  A combination of rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM) is one of the newer recommendations for treatment of leprosy. We performed a systematic review and a meta‐analysis of studies that had evaluated the efficacy of ROM therapy in treatment of paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients.

Methods  Studies were identified by searching the PubMed, Embase, LILACS and Cochrane databases. Data were abstracted from all relevant studies, and fixed effects models were used to calculate the summary estimate of effect in paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients.

Results  Six studies comparing ROM therapy to multidrug therapy and eight studies that evaluated the effect of ROM therapy alone (no comparison group) were included in the review and meta‐analysis. The combined estimate for single dose ROM vs. multidrug therapy in paucibacillary leprosy patients suggested that ROM was less effective than multidrug therapy in these patients [relative risk: 0.91, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.86–0.97]. However, the combined estimate for multiple doses of ROM vs. multidrug therapy in multibacillary leprosy patients suggested that ROM was as effective as multidrug therapy in reducing bacillary indices in these patients (proportion change: −4%, 95% CI −31% to 23%). No major side effects were reported in either the ROM or the multidrug treatment groups.

Conclusions  Single‐dose ROM therapy was less effective than multidrug therapy in paucibacillary patients. However, there are insufficient data to come to a valid conclusion on the efficacy of multidose ROM therapy in multibacillary leprosy, and additional studies with ROM therapy in multibacillary leprosy are needed. Furthermore, multiple doses may be considered as another alternative even for paucibacillary patients, and randomised controlled trials of this therapy may be useful to understand its contribution in the treatment and control of leprosy.
Olfactory response of Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to synthetic methyl salicylate in laboratory bioassays
Authors: Gadino Angela N. , Walton Vaughn M. , Lee Jana C.
Published: September 2011

The herbivore‐induced plant volatile (HIPV) methyl salicylate (MeSA) is widely present in the chemical profile of several plant species and is known to attract natural enemies, including predatory mites. In this study, the response of Typhlodromus pyri, a key predator of pest mites in west coast vineyards, to synthetically produced MeSA was tested using a Y‐tube olfactometer in laboratory bioassays. Six doses ranging from 0.002 to 200 μg of MeSA diluted in 0.1 ml hexane were tested. Significantly higher proportions of T. pyri preferred MeSA at doses 0.02, 0.2 and 20 μg. No differences in response to MeSA were detected at the highest (200 μg), intermediate (2 μg) and lowest (0.002 μg) doses. Mite response to MeSA was a function of dose when fitting polynomial and logistic regression models using dose and square of the log dose prediction factors. Results indicate that synthetic MeSA may be applied to attract predatory arthropod populations in vineyards to enhance biological control of pest mites.
Marriage, Divorce, and Interstate Risk Sharing*
Authors: Halla Martin , Scharler Johann
Published: September 2011

In this paper, we study the importance of marriage for interstate risk sharing in the US. We find that US federal states in which married couples account for a higher share of the population are less exposed to state‐specific output shocks. Thus, in addition to improving the allocation of risk at the individual level, marriage also has implications for risk sharing at the more aggregated state level. Quantitatively, the impact of marriage on interstate risk sharing varies over divorce regimes.
Romantic Relationship Commitment and Its Linkages with Commitment to Parents and Friends during Adolescence
Authors: De Goede Irene H. A. , Branje Susan , van Duin Jet , VanderValk Inge E. , Meeus Wim
Published: September 2011

This five‐wave longitudinal study examines linkages between adolescents' perceptions of romantic relationship commitment and the development of adolescents' perceptions of commitment to parents and friends. A total of 218 early‐to‐middle adolescents (39.0 percent boys) and 185 middle‐to‐late adolescents (30.8 percent boys) participated. Multivariate growth curves showed that higher base levels of commitment and a stronger positive development of commitment to parents and friends were associated with higher levels of later commitment to romantic partners. The effects were equally strong in early‐to‐middle adolescence and middle‐to‐late adolescence. Also, commitment to parents and commitment to friends were associated equally strong to romantic relationship commitment. No gender differences were found regarding these linkages. Overall, this study shows the importance of parents and friends for boys and girls regarding committed romantic relationships. The results support the idea of one stable and general working model used in different types of relationships.
Secondary School Transition and the Use of Different Sources of Information for the Construction of the Academic Self‐concept
Authors: Gniewosz Burkhard , Eccles Jacquelynne S. , Noack Peter
Published: September 2011

This study focuses on processes involved in students' academic self‐concept constructions before, during, and after secondary school transition. The study is based on a four‐wave longitudinal dataset (N = 1953). Structural equation modeling showed that during school transition, the impact of grades on students' academic self‐concepts in Math and English decreased whereas the effects of maternal competence perceptions increased. After the transition, the effects of grades increased, while the effects maternal competence beliefs decreased again. The results are interpreted in terms of differential emphasizing of sources of information for students' self‐concept construction. During school transition, elementary school grades lost informational value for self‐evaluations due to the changed frame of reference. To secure stable and valid self‐assessments, students emphasized other sources than grades; in this, case information obtained through parental competence appraisals. After transition, when valid grades were available for the students' constructions again, the temporarily heightened parental influence decreased again.
Commercial, non‐profit and governmental residential elderly care in Flanders: Differences in client selection and efficiency?
Authors: Verschuere Bram , Moray Nathalie , Decramer Adelien
Published: September 2011

Verschuere B, Moray N, Decramer A. Commercial, non‐profit and governmental residential elderly care in Flanders: differences in client selection and efficiency?

Inspired by New Public Management, governments have stimulated competition, outsourcing and privatisation in the public sector. Also, in care of the elderly, there has been a substantial increase in commercial provision. The present study explored the presumed differences in the performance of public (governmental), private non‐profit and private commercial elderly care organisations. We used quantitative indicators on the population of residential elderly care organisations in Flanders (Belgium). Although we found that commercial elderly care facilities tended to be more input‐efficient while non‐profit and public elderly care facilities tended to be more attentive to recruiting and housing residents with high care needs, these results need to be interpreted in light of the regulatory framework in which the different types of elderly care facilities operate.
False positives or hidden dimensions: What can monetary and multidimensional measurement tell us about child poverty in Vietnam?
Authors: Roelen Keetie , Gassmann Franziska , de Neubourg Chris
Published: September 2011

Roelen K, Gassmann F, de Neubourg C. False positives or hidden dimensions: what can monetary and multidimensional measurement tell us about child poverty in Vietnam?

A widely used division between poverty measures based on conceptual underpinnings and analytical outcomes is that of monetary versus multidimensional measures. Comparisons of the use and outcomes of the two methods have shown that they predominantly provide different pictures of poverty in terms of size, rank and group. This article contributes to the long‐standing and ongoing debate on poverty measurement by comparing the use of monetary and multidimensional poverty approaches, with a special focus on children in Vietnam and extending the empirical analysis beyond conventional methods. In addition to investigating whether poverty outcomes or groups of identified poor children differ when using the two different poverty measures, we also investigated the drivers underlying these differences. Findings confirm a considerable degree of mismatch: both poverty measures proved to be inadequate proxies for the other and factors underlying the identification by either one or both of the measures differed.
Long‐lasting neuroprotection and neurological improvement in stroke models with new, potent and brain permeable inhibitors of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase
Authors: Moroni F , Cozzi A , Chiarugi A , Formentini L , Camaioni E , Pellegrini‐Giampietro DE , Chen Y , Liang S , Zaleska MM , Gonzales C , Wood A , Pellicciari R
Published: September 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES Thienyl‐isoquinolone (TIQ‐A) is a relatively potent PARP inhibitor able to reduce post‐ischaemic neuronal death in vitro. Here we have studied, in different stroke models in vivo, the neuroprotective properties of DAMTIQ and HYDAMTIQ, two TIQ‐A derivatives able to reach the brain and to inhibit PARP‐1 and PARP‐2.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Studies were carried out in (i) transient (2 h) middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), (ii) permanent MCAO (pMCAO) and (iii) electrocoagulation of the distal portion of MCA in conjunction with transient (90 min) bilateral carotid occlusion (focal cortical ischaemia).

KEY RESULTS In male rats with tMCAO, HYDAMTIQ (0.1–10 mg·kg−1) injected i.p. three times, starting 4 h after MCAO, reduced infarct volumes by up to 70%, reduced the loss of body weight by up to 60% and attenuated the neurological impairment by up to 40%. In age‐matched female rats, HYDAMTIQ also reduced brain damage. Protection, however, was less pronounced than in the male rats. In animals with pMCAO, HYDAMTIQ administered 30 min after MCAO reduced infarct volumes by approximately 40%. In animals with focal cortical ischaemia, HYDAMTIQ treatment decreased post‐ischaemic accumulation of PAR (the product of PARP activity) and the presence of OX42‐positive inflammatory cells in the ischaemic cortex. It also reduced sensorimotor deficits for up to 90 days after MCAO.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our results show that HYDAMTIQ is a potent PARP inhibitor that conferred robust neuroprotection and long‐lasting improvement of post‐stroke neurological deficits.
Inhibitory effect of bufalin and cinobufagin on steroidogenesis via the activation of ERK in human adrenocortical cells
Authors: Kau Mei‐Mei , Wang Jiing‐Rong , Tsai Shiow‐Chwen , Yu Ching‐Han , Wang Paulus S
Published: September 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Bufalin and cinobufagin exhibit cardiotonic and natriuretic activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bufalin and cinobufagin on aldosterone and cortisol secretion and their mechanisms of action in human adrenocortical cells (NCI‐H295).

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH H295 cells were incubated with bufalin or cinobufagin in the presence or absence of angiotensin II (Ang II), forskolin, 8‐Br‐cAMP, corticosterone or deoxycortisol. The role of ERK1/2 was studied by use of the inhibitor of MEK (U0126). The binding of transcription factor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF‐1) to steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) gene promoter was analysed by EMSA.

KEY RESULTS Bufalin and cinobufagin markedly inhibited basal, Ang II‐, forskolin‐ or 8‐Br‐cAMP‐stimulated aldosterone and cortisol secretion, and the conversions of corticosterone to aldosterone and deoxycortisol to cortisol. Bufalin and cinobufagin also inhibited StAR protein expression and SF‐1 binding to StAR gene promoter. They both increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and U0126 fully abolished these effects on ERK1/2 in H295 cells. Furthermore, U0126 reversed the inhibitory effects of bufalin and cinobufagin on StAR protein expression and the binding of SF‐1 to StAR gene promoter. However, U0126 did not completely reverse their inhibitory effects on aldosterone and cortisol release.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The inhibitory effects of bufalin and cinobufagin on steroidogenesis of aldosterone and cortisol were associated with inhibition of aldosterone synthase and 11β‐hydroxylase, as well as the suppression of StAR protein expression and SF‐1 binding to StAR promoter via the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in H295 cells.
NEW EVIDENCE FOR MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC VARIATION IN THE COSMOPOLITAN COCCOLITHOPHORE EMILIANIA HUXLEYI (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) FROM THE COX1b‐ATP4 GENES1
Authors: Hagino Kyoko , Bendif El Mahdi , Young Jeremy R. , Kogame Kazuhiro , Probert Ian , Takano Yoshihito , Horiguchi Takeo , de Vargas Colomban , Okada Hisatake
Published: September 2011

Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) W. W. Hay et H. Mohler is a cosmopolitan coccolithophore occurring from tropical to subpolar waters and exhibiting variations in morphology of coccoliths possibly related to environmental conditions. We examined morphological characters of coccoliths and partial mitochondrial sequences of the cytochrome oxidase 1b (cox1b) through adenosine triphosphate synthase 4 (atp4) genes of 39 clonal E. huxleyi strains from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Mediterranean Sea, and their adjacent seas. Based on the morphological study of culture strains by SEM, Type O, a new morphotype characterized by coccoliths with an open central area, was separated from existing morphotypes A, B, B/C, C, R, and var. corona, characterized by coccoliths with central area elements. Molecular phylogenetic studies revealed that E. huxleyi consists of at least two mitochondrial sequence groups with different temperature preferences/tolerances: a cool‐water group occurring in subarctic North Atlantic and Pacific and a warm‐water group occurring in the subtropical Atlantic and Pacific and in the Mediterranean Sea.
A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE GENUS PADINA (DICTYOTALES, PHAEOPHYCEAE) INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW SPECIES FROM JAPAN, HAWAII, AND THE ANDAMAN SEA1
Authors: Ni‐Ni‐Win  , Hanyuda Takeaki , Arai Shogo , Uchimura Masayuki , Prathep Anchana , Draisma Stefano G. A. , Phang Siew Moi , Abbott Isabella A. , Millar Alan J. K. , Kawai Hiroshi
Published: September 2011

A taxonomic study of the genus Padina from Japan, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii based on morphology and gene sequence data (rbcL and cox3) resulted in the recognition of four new species, that is, Padina macrophylla and Padina ishigakiensis from Ryukyu Islands, Japan; Padina maroensis from Hawaii; and Padina usoehtunii from Myanmar and Thailand. All species are bistratose and morphologically different from one another as well as from any known taxa by a combination of characters relating to degree of calcification; the structure, position, and arrangement of hairlines (HLs) and reproductive sori; and the presence or absence of rhizoid‐like groups of hairs and an indusium. Molecular phylogenetic analyses demonstrated a close relationship between P. ishigakiensis, P. macrophylla, P. maroensis, and Padina australis Hauck. The position of P. usoehtunii, however, was not fully resolved, being either sister to a clade comprising the other three new species and P. australis in the rbcL tree or more closely related to a clade comprising several other recently described species in the cox3 tree. The finding of the four new species demonstrates high species diversity particularly in southern Japan. The following characters were first recognized here to be useful for species delimitation: the presence or absence of small rhizoid‐like groups of hairs on the thallus surface, structure and arrangement of HLs on both surfaces either alternate or irregular, and arrangement of the alternating HLs between both surfaces in equal or unequal distance. The evolutionary trajectory of these and six other morphological characters used in species delineation was traced on the phylogenetic tree.