bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical alterations in the trapezius muscle of patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD) – A microdialysis study
Authors: Gerdle Björn , Lemming Dag , Kristiansen Jesper , Larsson Britt , Peolsson Michael , Rosendal Lars
Published: April 2007

The mechanisms behind the development of chronic trapezius myalgia in patients with whiplash associated disorders (WAD) appear to involve both peripheral and central components, but the specific contribution of alterations in muscle is not clear. Female patients with WAD and involvement of trapezius (N=22) and female controls (N=20; CON) were studied during an experiment compromised of rest (baseline), 20min repetitive low‐force exercise and 120min recovery. Their interstitial concentrations of serotonin (5‐HT), glutamate, lactate, pyruvate, potassium, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and blood flow were determined in the trapezius muscle using a microdialysis technique. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) over trapezius and tibialis anterior muscles were also assessed. In WAD, we found signs of generalized hypersensitivity according to PPT. The WAD group had significantly higher interstitial [IL‐6] and [5‐HT] in the trapezius than the CON. [Pyruvate] was overall significantly lower in WAD, and with lactate it showed another time‐pattern throughout the test. In the multivariate regression analysis of pain intensity [5‐HT] was the strongest regressor and positively correlated with pain intensity in WAD. In addition, blood flow, [pyruvate], and [potassium] influenced the pain intensity in a complex time dependent way. These findings may indicate that peripheral nociceptive processes are activated in WAD with generalized hypersensitivity for pressure and they are not identical with those reported in chronic work‐related trapezius myalgia, which could indicate different pain mechanisms.
Insular cortex and neuropsychiatric disorders: A review of recent literature
Authors: Nagai M. , Kishi K. , Kato S.
Published: April 2007

The insular cortex is located in the centre of the cerebral hemisphere, having connections with the primary and secondary somatosensory areas, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, temporal pole, orbitofrontal cortex, frontal and parietal opercula, primary and association auditory cortices, visual association cortex, olfactory bulb, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and motor cortex. Accordingly, dense connections exist among insular cortex neurons. The insular cortex is involved in the processing of visceral sensory, visceral motor, vestibular, attention, pain, emotion, verbal, motor information, inputs related to music and eating, in addition to gustatory, olfactory, visual, auditory, and tactile data. In this article, the literature on the relationship between the insular cortex and neuropsychiatric disorders was summarized following a computer search of the Pub-Med database. Recent neuroimaging data, including voxel based morphometry, PET and fMRI, revealed that the insular cortex was involved in various neuropsychiatric diseases such as mood disorders, panic disorders, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. Investigations of functions and connections of the insular cortex suggest that sensory information including gustatory, olfactory, visual, auditory, and tactile inputs converge on the insular cortex, and that these multimodal sensory information may be integrated there.
Anti‐cytokine autoantibodies are ubiquitous in healthy individuals
Authors: Watanabe Masato , Uchida Kanji , Nakagaki Kazuhide , Kanazawa Hiroko , Trapnell Bruce C. , Hoshino Yoshihiko , Kagamu Hiroshi , Yoshizawa Hirohisa , Keicho Naoto , Goto Hajime , Nakata Koh
Published: April 2007

Anti‐cytokine autoantibodies in healthy individuals have been widely reported but the occurrence is variable and inconstant. We hypothesized that cytokine‐binding in vivo may explain their variable and infrequent detection. Therefore, we focused on the detection of the cytokine‐autoantibody complexes and found that anti‐cytokine autoantibody to IL‐2, IL‐8, tumor necrosis factor‐α, vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor were present in all 15 individuals evaluated, while those to IL‐3, osteopontin and macrophage‐colony stimulating factor were not detected in anyone. Autoantibodies against IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, and interferon‐gamma were variously detected. Thus, we discovered that anti‐cytokine autoantibodies to multiple cytokines are ubiquitous in healthy individuals.
Managing and exploiting stress in the antibody factory
Authors: Cenci Simone , Sitia Roberto
Published: April 2007

Like us, our cells have evolved strategies to cope with, and sometimes utilize, stress. Molecular analyses of plasma cell biogenesis, lifestyle and death suggest that protein synthesis‐dependent stress is utilised to integrate differentiation, function and lifespan control. Plasma cells are short‐lived professional secretory cells, each of them capable of releasing several thousands antibodies per second. Their differentiation from B lymphocytes entails the spectacular enlargement of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), finalized to sustain massive Ig production. Nonetheless, symptoms of ER stress are evident, and the UPR‐related transcription factor XBP‐1 is essential for differentiation. Surprisingly, the development of such an efficient factory is matched by a decrease in proteasomes. The unbalanced load/capacity ratio leads to accumulation of polyubiquitinated molecules and predisposes plasma cells to apoptosis. Exuberant antibody secretion imposes considerable stress on metabolic and redox homeostasis. Collectively, these stressful conditions may link plasma cell death to antibody production, providing a molecular counter for secreted molecules, as well as an explanation for the peculiar sensitivity of myeloma cells towards proteasome inhibitors.
The α(1,2)‐mannosidase I inhibitor 1‐deoxymannojirimycin potentiates the antiviral activity of carbohydrate‐binding agents against wild‐type and mutant HIV‐1 strains containing glycan deletions in gp120
Authors: Balzarini Jan
Published: April 2007

Exposure of carbohydrate‐binding agents (CBAs) (i.e. the mannose‐specific plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin) to HIV‐1 progressively select for mutant HIV‐1 strains that contain N‐glycan deletions in their envelope gp120. This results in resistance of the mutant virus strains to the CBAs. Exposure of such mutant virus strains to the α(1,2)‐mannosidase I inhibitor 1‐deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) results in an enhanced suppression of mutant virus‐induced cytopathicity in CEM cell cultures. Moreover, when combined with CBAs at concentrations that showed poor if any suppression of mutant virus replication as single drugs, a synergistic antiviral activity of DMJ was observed. These observations argue for a combined exposure of CBAs and glycosylation inhibitors such as DMJ to HIV to afford a more pronounced suppression of virus replication, prior to, or during, CBA resistance development.
Women's perception of self‐worth and access to health care
Authors: Chamberlain J. , Watt S. , Mohide P. , Muggah H. , Trim K. , Bantebya Kyomuhendo G.
Published: April 2007

Objective: Research has shown differences in health status and health care utilization related to culture, economic status, and health care development. This paper reports on a study comparing attitudes of women in three countries, at various stages of development, about their own health and self‐worth and asks if these differences account for differences in health care utilization and inequities in health status. Method: A questionnaire, administered to 100 women in each of Yemen, Uganda and Canada, explored women's perception of their own health and health care seeking behavior. Result: Women's perception of themselves as worthy of care was positively related to utilization. The ability to make one's own health care decisions varied with her country's development level. Implementation strategies must consider women's decision‐making capacity. Conclusion: To achieve improved health status, policies and programs must commit to encouraging appropriate social and cultural changes, using a ‘cross‐sectoral approach’, involving both gender and development issues.
Effect of dietaryEnterolobium cyclocarpumon microbial protein flow and nutrient digestibility in sheep maintained fauna-free, with total mixed fauna or withEntodinium caudatummonofauna
Authors: Koenig K. M. , Ivan M. , Teferedegne B. T. , Morgavi D. P. , Rode L. M. , Ibrahim I. M. , Newbold C. J.
Published: April 2007

Three groups of five wethers with ruminal and duodenal cannulas and maintained as either fauna-free (FF) or inoculated with total mixed fauna (TF) orEntodinium caudatumas a single-species monofauna (EN) were used in an experiment with two 28 d periods. In the first period, the sheep were fed a control barley-based diet (40:60 concentrate to silage DM) and in the second period the diet was supplemented with 187 g DM ofEnterolobium cyclocarpumfor the last 12 d of the period. The diets of period 1 and 2 were isonitrogenous. There was no effect of fauna on apparent ruminal and total tract organic matter and fibre digestion, but bacterial and microbial N flow and efficiency were improved in FF sheep compared to TF sheep. In period 2, protozoal numbers were reduced between 31 and 88 % 2 h after feedingE. cyclocarpumfor the third to twelfth day of supplementation and by an average of 25 % in samples collected over the 24 h feeding cycle. Supplementation of the diet withE. cyclocarpumand the consequent protozoal reduction in TF and EN sheep improved the flow of non-ammonia N and bacterial N to the small intestine and the efficiency of microbial synthesis. However,E. cyclocarpumreduced ruminal organic matter digestion, especially in faunated sheep, and total tract organic matter, N and fibre digestion. Thus, a reduction in the protozoal cell numbers of 25 % was sufficient to achieve the beneficial effects of reduced fauna on the bacterial protein supply, but diet digestibility was reduced.
Implication of gap junction coupling in amphibian vitellogenin uptake
Authors: Mónaco M.E. , Villecco E.I. , Sánchez S.S.
Published: April 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological role and the expression pattern of heterologous gap junctions during Xenopus laevis vitellogenesis. Dye transfer experiments showed that there are functional gap junctions at the oocyte/follicle cell interface during the vitellogenic process and that octanol uncouples this intercellular communication. The incubation of vitellogenic oocytes in the presence of biotinylated bovine serum albumin (b-BSA) or fluorescein dextran (FDX), showed that oocytes develop stratum of newly formed yolk platelets. In octanol-treated follicles no sign of nascent yolk sphere formation was observed. Thus, experiments in which gap junctions were downregulated with octanol showed that coupled gap junctions are required for endocytic activity. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) was first evident at stage II of oogenesis and increased during the subsequent vitellogenic stages (III, IV and V), which would indicate that this Cx is related to the process that regulates yolk uptake. No expression changes were detected for Cx31 and Cx38 during vitellogenesis. Based on our results, we propose that direct gap junctional communication is a requirement for endocytic activity, as without the appropriate signal from surrounding epithelial cells X. laevis oocytes were unable to endocytose VTG.
Women's Participation in Annual Meetings: Comparative
Perspective from ISA
Authors: Breuning Marijke
Published: April 2007

Participation by women in the roles of chairpersons, papergivers, and
discussants on the panels and roundtables, as well as the poster sessions,
that convene at the annual meeting of the American Political Science
Association (APSA) has long been tracked by Gruberg (see, for example, but
not inclusive, Gruberg 1992; 1993; 1994; 1995; 2001; 2002; 2004; 2006). His reports provide a welcome record of
women's increasing presence at the APSA's annual meetings. This
study seeks to supplement Gruberg's efforts by providing a
comparative perspective with data from the most recent annual meeting of
the International Studies Association (ISA). The ISA's annual meeting
provides a useful comparison for two reasons. First, a very large
percentage of its members are political scientists, thus offering a
comparison to an association consisting of people with comparable training
and research agendas as represented at APSA. Second, the APSA has in
recent years sought to forge international connections, making ISA an
increasingly relevant sister organization.
Psychometrische Befunde zur Lehrerversion des “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire“ (SDQ-L)
Authors: Saile Helmut
Published: April 2007

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Soziale Integration und Qualität der Gleichaltrigenbeziehungen sind bei Kindern als Ausdruck sozialer Kompetenz zu betrachten und stehen mit der Entwicklung von Verhaltensauffälligkeiten in Zusammenhang. Fragestellung: Lassen sich Verhaltenauffälligkeiten und Stärken von Kindern über Lehrerurteile reliabel erfassen? Welche Zusammenhänge ergeben sich mit soziometrischen Indizes aus Sicht der Schüler? Methode: Untersucht wurden 642 Schüler im Alter zwischen neun und vierzehn Jahren anhand des SDQ-L sowie zweier soziometrischer Fragen (Wahl von Sitznachbarn). Ergebnisse: Die psychometrischen Eigenschaften sowie die faktorielle Validität des SDQ-L sind als gut zu bewerten. Urteile der Lehrer zu Problemen mit Gleichaltrigen und externalisierenden Verhaltensauffälligkeiten werden durch die passiven Wahlen der Mitschüler bestätigt (weniger positive und mehr negative passive Wahlen) und beruhen bei den Schülern auf Gegenseitigkeit (weniger Bindungen und mehr Ablehnungen). Schlussfolgerungen: Alle drei Datenquellen (Fremdurteil der Lehrer und Mitschüler, Selbsturteil der Schüler) stehen in wechselseitigem Bezug. Damit kann der SDQ-L Hinweise auf problematische Gleichaltrigenbeziehungen geben, die Ansatzpunkte für präventive Interventionen bieten.
Zur zeitlichen Gestaltung des Umlernens einer großmotorischen Bewegungsfertigkeit
Authors: Mühlbauer Thomas , Krug Jürgen
Published: April 2007

Zusammenfassung. Den Gegenstand der vorliegenden Studie bildete die Untersuchung der zeitlichen Gestaltung des Umlernens einer großmotorischen Bewegungsfertigkeit. Hierzu wurde das Umlernen nach einer kurzen Pause (2,5 Stunden) mit dem Umlernen nach einer längeren Pause (24 Stunden) verglichen sowie einer Lernsituation gegenübergestellt. Die Lernaufgabe beinhaltete die Ausführung des monopedalen Vertikalsprungs, mit dem Ziel der Optimierung des Parameters Sprunghöhe. Im Ergebnis konnten weder in der Aneignungs- noch in der Retentionsphase zeitabhängige Wirkungen nachgewiesen werden. Demnach könnte Techniktraining im Rahmen des motorischen Umlernens bei entsprechender Übungsdauer neben längeren auch in kürzeren Abständen erfolgen. Ungeachtet von der verwendeten Pausenlänge traten jedoch proaktive Interferenzeffekte beim späteren Abruf der umgelernten Bewegungsfertigkeit ein. Daraus lässt sich folgern, dass für das Umlernen längerfristige Strategien notwendig sind.
Seasonal modulation of seismicity in the Himalaya of Nepal
Authors: Bollinger L. , Perrier F. , Avouac J.‐P. , Sapkota S. , Gautam U. , Tiwari D. R.
Published: April 2007

For the period 1995–2000, the Nepal seismic network recorded 37 ± 8% fewer earthquakes in the summer than in the winter; for local magnitudes ML > 2 to ML > 4 the percentage increases from 31% to 63% respectively. We show the probability of observing this by chance is less than 1%. We find that most surface loading phenomena are either too small, or have the wrong polarity to enhance winter seismicity. We consider enhanced Coulomb failure caused by a pore‐pressure increase at seismogenic depths as a possible mechanism. For this to enhance winter seismicity, however, we find that fluid diffusion following surface hydraulic loading would need to be associated with a six‐month phase lag, which we consider to be possible, though unlikely. We favor instead the suppression of summer seismicity caused by stress‐loading accompanying monsoon rains in the Ganges and northern India, a mechanism that is discussed in a companion article.
Influence of the Icelandic Low latitude on the frequency of Greenland tip jet events: Implications for Irminger Sea convection
Authors: Bakalian F. , Hameed S. , Pickart R.
Published: April 2007

The occurrence of Greenland tip jet events has been reported as the dominant factor controlling the formation of intermediate water in the Irminger Sea. It has been suggested that the frequency of these events is correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation. To examine this process in more detail, we separate the North Atlantic Oscillation into Icelandic Low and Azores High components and carry out a regression fit of the frequency of tip jet events between 1961 and 2005. Our findings suggest that the frequency of Greenland tip jet events is highly dependent on the latitude of the Icelandic Low and the 2‐year time‐lagged February Icelandic Low latitude, with R2 = 0.48. We find that the winds near the southern tip of Greenland are predominately westerly during years when the Iceland Low is located above 63°N latitude. These conditions also correspond to colder air temperatures in the Labrador and Irminger Seas, implying larger oceanic heat losses due to the Greenland tip jet events and hence stronger convective overturning in the Irminger Sea.
Sea level variability in the Arctic Ocean from AOMIP models
Authors: Proshutinsky A. , Ashik I. , Häkkinen S. , Hunke E. , Krishfield R. , Maltrud M. , Maslowski W. , Zhang J.
Published: April 2007

Monthly sea levels from five Arctic Ocean Model Intercomparison Project (AOMIP) models are analyzed and validated against observations in the Arctic Ocean. The AOMIP models are able to simulate variability of sea level reasonably well, but several improvements are needed to reduce model errors. It is suggested that the models will improve if their domains have a minimum depth less than 10 m. It is also recommended to take into account forcing associated with atmospheric loading, fast ice, and volume water fluxes representing Bering Strait inflow and river runoff. Several aspects of sea level variability in the Arctic Ocean are investigated based on updated observed sea level time series. The observed rate of sea level rise corrected for the glacial isostatic adjustment at 9 stations in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas for 1954–2006 is estimated as 0.250 cm/yr. There is a well pronounced decadal variability in the observed sea level time series. The 5‐year running mean sea level signal correlates well with the annual Arctic Oscillation (AO) index and the sea level atmospheric pressure (SLP) at coastal stations and the North Pole. For 1954–2000 all model results reflect this correlation very well, indicating that the long‐term model forcing and model reaction to the forcing are correct. Consistent with the influences of AO‐driven processes, the sea level in the Arctic Ocean dropped significantly after 1990 and increased after the circulation regime changed from cyclonic to anticyclonic in 1997. In contrast, from 2000 to 2006 the sea level rose despite the stabilization of the AO index at its lowest values after 2000.
Aerosol–cloud drop concentration closure for clouds sampled during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation 2004 campaign
Authors: Fountoukis Christos , Nenes Athanasios , Meskhidze Nicholas , Bahreini Roya , Conant William C. , Jonsson Haflidi , Murphy Shane , Sorooshian Armin , Varutbangkul Varuntida , Brechtel Fred , Flagan Richard C. , Seinfeld John H.
Published: April 2007

This study analyzes 27 cumuliform and stratiform clouds sampled aboard the CIRPAS Twin Otter during the 2004 International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT) experiment. The data set was used to assess cloud droplet closure using (1) a detailed adiabatic cloud parcel model and (2) a state‐of‐the‐art cloud droplet activation parameterization. A unique feature of the data set is the sampling of highly polluted clouds within the vicinity of power plant plumes. Remarkable closure was achieved (much less than the 20% measurement uncertainty) for both parcel model and parameterization. The highly variable aerosol did not complicate the cloud droplet closure, since the clouds had low maximum supersaturation and were not sensitive to aerosol variations (which took place at small particle sizes). The error in predicted cloud droplet concentration was mostly sensitive to updraft velocity. Optimal closure is obtained if the water vapor uptake coefficient is equal to 0.06, but can range between 0.03 and 1.0. The sensitivity of cloud droplet prediction error to changes in the uptake coefficient, organic solubility and surface tension depression suggest that organics exhibit limited solubility. These findings can serve as much needed constraints in modeling of aerosol‐cloud interactions in the North America; future in situ studies will determine the robustness of our findings.
Evidence for montmorillonite or its compositional equivalent in Columbia Hills, Mars
Authors: Clark B. C. , Arvidson R. E. , Gellert R. , Morris R. V. , Ming D. W. , Richter L. , Ruff S. W. , Michalski J. R. , Farrand W. H. , Yen A. , Herkenhoff K. E. , Li R. , Squyres S. W. , Schröder C. , Klingelhöfer G. , Bell J. F.
Published: April 2007

During its exploration of the Columbia Hills, the Mars Exploration Rover “Spirit” encountered several similar samples that are distinctly different from Martian meteorites and known Gusev crater soils, rocks, and sediments. Occurring in a variety of contexts and locations, these “Independence class” samples are rough‐textured, iron‐poor (equivalent FeO ∼ 4 wt%), have high Al/Si ratios, and often contain unexpectedly high concentrations of one or more minor or trace elements (including Cr, Ni, Cu, Sr, and Y). Apart from accessory minerals, the major component common to these samples has a compositional profile of major and minor elements which is similar to the smectite montmorillonite, implicating this mineral, or its compositional equivalent. Infrared thermal emission spectra do not indicate the presence of crystalline smectite. One of these samples was found spatially associated with a ferric sulfate‐enriched soil horizon, possibly indicating a genetic relationship between these disparate types of materials. Compared to the nearby Wishstone and Watchtower class rocks, major aqueous alteration involving mineral dissolution and mobilization with consequent depletions of certain elements is implied for this setting and may be undetectable by remote sensing from orbit because of the small scale of the occurrences and obscuration by mantling with soil and dust.
Reduced Tissue Damage and Improved Recovery of Motor Function after Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice Deficient in Complement Component C4
Authors: You Zerong , Yang Jinsheng , Takahashi Kazue , Yager Phoebe H , Kim Hyung-Hwan , Qin Tao , Stahl Gregory L , Ezekowitz R Alan B , Carroll Michael C , Whalen Michael J
Published: April 2007

Complement component C4 mediates C3-dependent tissue damage after systemic ischemia—reperfusion injury. Activation of C3 also contributes to the pathogenesis of experimental and human traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, few data exist regarding the specific pathways (classic, alternative, and lectin) involved. Using complement knockout mice and a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model, we tested the hypothesis that the classic pathway mediates secondary damage after TBI. After CCI, C4c and C3d immunostaining were detected in cortical vascular endothelial cells in wild-type (WT) mice; however, C4c and C3d immunostaining were also detected in C1q−1/− mice, and C3d immunostaining was detected in C4−/− mice. After CCI, WT and C1q−1/− mice had similar motor deficits, Morris water maze performance, and brain lesion size. Naive C4−/− and WT mice did not differ in baseline motor performance, but C4−/− mice had reduced postinjury motor deficits (days 1 to 7, P < 0.05) and decreased brain tissue damage (days 14 and 35, P < 0.05) versus WT. Reconstitution of C4−/− mice with human C4 (hC4) reversed their protection against postinjury motor deficits ( P < 0.05 versus vehicle), but administration of hC4 did not impair postinjury motor performance (versus vehicle) in WT mice. The protective effects of C4−/− were functionally distinct from the classic pathway and terminal complement, as C1q−/− and C3−/− mice had postinjury tissue damage and motor dysfunction similar to WT. Thus, C4 contributes to motor deficits and brain tissue damage after CCI by mechanism(s) fundamentally different from those involved in experimental systemic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Downregulation of Hippocampal Adenosine Kinase after Focal Ischemia as Potential Endogenous Neuroprotective Mechanism
Authors: Pignataro Giuseppe , Maysami Samaneh , Studer Francesca E , Wilz Andrew , Simon Roger P , Boison Detlev
Published: April 2007

The rate of ischemic brain injury varies with the brain region, requiring only hours in striatum but days in hippocampus. Such maturation implies the existence of endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms. Adenosine is an endogenous neuroprotectant regulated by adenosine kinase (ADK). To investigate, whether adenosine might play a role in protecting the hippocampus after focal ischemia, we subjected transgenic mice, which overexpress ADK in hippocampal neurons (Adk-tg mice) to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Although the hippocampus of wild-type (wt) mice was consistently spared from injury after 60 mins of MCAO, hippocampal injury became evident in Adk-tg mice after only 15 mins of MCAO. To determine, whether downregulation of hippocampal ADK might qualify as candidate mechanism mediating endogenous neuroprotection, we evaluated ADK expression in wt mice after several periods of reperfusion after 15 or 60 mins of MCAO. After 60 mins of MCAO, hippocampal ADK was significantly reduced in both hemispheres after 1, 3, and 24 h of reperfusion. Reduction of ADK-immunoreactivity corresponded to a 2.2-fold increase in hippocampal adenosine at 3 h of reperfusion. Remarkably, a significant reduction of ADK immunoreactivity was also found in the ipsilateral (stroked) hippocampus after 15 mins of MCAO and 3 h of reperfusion. Thus, transient downregulation of hippocampal ADK after stroke might be a protective mechanism during maturation hippocampal cell loss.
Imaging Brain Inflammation with [11C]PK11195 by PET and Induction of the Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptor after Transient Focal Ischemia in Rats
Authors: Rojas Santiago , Martín Abraham , Arranz Maria J , Pareto Deborah , Purroy Jesús , Verdaguer Esther , Llop Jordi , Gómez Vanessa , Gispert Joan D , Milián Olga , Chamorro Ángel , Planas Anna M
Published: April 2007

[11C]PK11195 is used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies for imaging brain inflammation in vivo as it binds to the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) expressed by reactive glia and macrophages. However, features of the cellular reaction required to induce a positive [11C]PK11195 signal are not well characterized. We performed [11C]PK11195 PET and autoradiography in rats after transient focal cerebral ischemia. We determined [3H]PK11195 binding and PBR expression in brain tissue and examined the lesion with several markers. [11C]PK11195 standard uptake value increased at day 4 and grew further at day 7 within the ischemic core. Accordingly, ex vivo [3H]PK11195 binding increased at day 4, and increases further at day 7. The PET signal also augmented in peripheral regions, but to a lesser extent than in the core. Binding in the region surrounding infarction was supported by [11C]PK11195 autoradiography at day 7 showing that the radioactive signal extended beyond the infarcted core. Enhanced binding was preceded by increases in PBR mRNA expression in the ipsilateral hemisphere, and a 18-kDa band corresponding to PBR protein was detected. Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor immunohistochemistry showed subsets of ameboid microglia/macrophages within the infarcted core showing a distinctive strong PBR expression from day 4. These cells were often located surrounding microhemorrhages. Reactive astrocytes forming a rim surrounding infarction at day 7 also showed some PBR immunostaining. These results show cellular heterogeneity in the level of PBR expression, supporting that PBR is not a simple marker of inflammation, and that the extent of [11C]PK11195 binding depends on intrinsic features of the inflammatory cells.
Increased Expression of a Proline-Rich Akt Substrate (PRAS40) in Human Copper/Zinc-Superoxide Dismutase Transgenic Rats Protects Motor Neurons from Death after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Yu Fengshan , Narasimhan Purnima , Saito Atsushi , Liu Jing , Chan Pak H
Published: April 2007

The serine-threonine kinase, Akt, plays an important role in the cell survival signaling pathway. A proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40, has been characterized, and an increase in phospho-PRAS40 (pPRAS40) is neuroprotective after transient focal cerebral ischemia. However, the involvement of PRAS40 in the cell death/survival pathway after spinal cord injury (SCI) is unclear. Liposome-mediated PRAS40 transfection was performed to study whether overexpression of pPRAS40 is neuroprotective. We further examined the expression of pPRAS40 after SCI by immunohistochemistry and Western blot using copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) transgenic (Tg) rats and wild-type (Wt) littermates. We then examined the relationship between PRAS40 and Akt by injection of LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibitor, or Akt inhibitor IV, a compound that inhibits Akt activation after SCI. Our data demonstrated that increased pPRAS40 resulted in survival of more motor neurons compared with control complementary DNA transfection. Phosphorylated PRAS40 increased in the Wt rats after SCI, whereas there was a greater and prolonged increase in the SOD1 Tg rats. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that binding of pPRAS40 with 14-3-3 increased 1 day after SCI in the Wt rats, whereas there was a significant increase in the Tg rats. The inhibitor studies showed that phospho-Akt and pPRAS40 were decreased after injection of LY294002 or Akt inhibitor IV. We conclude that an increase in pPRAS40 by transfection after SCI results in survival of motor neurons, and overexpression of SOD1 in the Tg rats results in an increase in endogenous pPRAS40 and a decrease in motor neuron death through the PI3K/Akt pathway.
Semiclassical initial value series solution of the spin boson problem
Authors: Martin-Fierro Eva , Pollak Eli
Published: April 2007

A numerical solution for the quantum dynamics of the spin boson problem is obtained using the semiclassical initial value series representation approach to the quantum dynamics. The zeroth order term of the series is computed using the new forward-backward representation for correlation functions presented in the preceding adjacent paper. This leads to a rapid convergence of the Monte Carlo sampling, as compared to previous attempts. The zeroth order results are already quite accurate. The first order term of the series is small, demonstrating the rapid convergence of the semiclassical initial value representation series. This is the first time that the first order term in the semiclassical initial value representation series has been converged for systems with the order of 50degrees of freedom.
Experimental and numerical analysis of the electron injection in a Malmberg-Penning trap
Authors: Bettega G. , Cavaliere F. , Cavenago M. , Illiberi A. , Pozzoli R. , Romé M.
Published: April 2007

The injection phase in a Malmberg-Penning trap is investigated both experimentally in the ELTRAP [M. Amoretti et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74, 3991 (2003)] device, and numerically. The resulting plasma density distribution is studied by varying the source parameters, the external magnetic field strength, and the axial position of the external potential barrier. Space charge phenomena dominate the dynamics of the system; formation of hollow plasma columns and three-dimensional structures are observed. The processes are interpreted using a three-dimensional particle-in-cell code which solves the drift-Poisson system.
Probing hydrogen in ZnO nanorods using solid-state H1 nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Wang Li-Qiong , Exarhos Gregory J. , Windisch Charles F. , Yao Chunhua , Pederson Larry R. , Zhou Xiao-Dong
Published: April 2007

A low-temperature reflux method was developed to synthesize large quantities of well-dispersed freestanding ZnO nanorods, which enabled the direct observation and characterization of hydrogen by solid-state H1 magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In contrast to nano/micrometer particles of ZnO, a surprisingly sharp H1 NMR resonance was maintained in ZnO nanorods that were heated to 500°C, suggesting the existence of unusually stable hydrogen. Quantitative H1 NMR measurements indicate that about 0.1% on a molar basis of these hydrogen species resides in the lattice of ZnO nanorods. This work has demonstrated that H1 NMR is a powerful technique for probing hydrogen in ZnO nanorods.
Rheology and ultrasonic properties of Pt57.5Ni5.3Cu14.7P22.5 liquid
Authors: Harmon John S. , Demetriou Marios D. , Johnson William L.
Published: April 2007

The equilibrium and nonequilibrium viscosity and isoconfigurational shear modulus of Pt57.5Ni5.3Cu14.7P22.5 supercooled liquid are evaluated using continuous–strain-rate compression experiments and ultrasonic measurements. By means of a thermodynamically-consistent cooperative shear model, variations in viscosity with both temperature and strain rate are uniquely correlated to the variations in isoconfigurational shear modulus, which leads to an accurate prediction of the liquid fragility and to a good description of the liquid strain-rate sensitivity.
Enhanced response from metal/ZnO bilayer ultraviolet photodetector
Authors: Yadav Harish Kumar , Sreenivas K. , Gupta Vinay
Published: April 2007

Enhanced ultraviolet (UV) photoresponse is observed in rf magnetron sputtered ZnO thin films interfaced with ultrathin overlayers of different metals (Al, Cu, Sn, Pb, Au, and Te). Electrons transferred from a metal layer to the semiconductor at the interface compensate the surface states and increase the dark conductivity. Depending on the number of injected electrons, surface states are compensated to different extents and correspondingly increase the photoconductivity. The photoresponse of the Sn∕ZnO bilayer sample exhibits the highest responsivity (∼6kV∕W) at low UV intensity of 140μW∕cm2 (λ=365nm) with a relatively fast response speed of 65ms.
On the Spatial Structure of Administration
Authors: Parr John B
Published: April 2007

It is argued that the spatial structure of administration is influenced in part by the requirements of administrative logic and in part by the fact that an administrative structure has to exist within a broader and generally more complex functional structure. The main criteria for organising the spatial structure of administration under such conditions are outlined. Next, there is an examination of the extent to which these criteria can be satisfied in the context of a hierarchical urban system. It is shown that within such a framework these criteria may be in conflict. The approach is then continued at the scale of the city-region, where a similar conflict among criteria is seen to be present.
New Media Urbanism: Grounding Ambient Information Technology
Authors: McCullough Malcolm
Published: April 2007

The design challenge of pervasive computing demands new emphasis on ambient, embodied, and habitual experiences. This emphasis connects the younger field of interaction design with the more venerable disciplines of the built environment. In terms of knowledge representation its central problem becomes location modeling. This turn from the universal aspects of computing to its situated practices becomes both a defense of architecture and an agenda in urbanism. To complement more particular research compiled in this journal issue, this paper offers a connective overview of that position.
Mapping DigiPlace: Geocoded Internet Data and the Representation of Place
Authors: Zook Matthew A , Graham Mark
Published: April 2007

The recent development of web-based services that combine spatial coordinates and indexes of online material allows any web user to conduct geographically referenced Internet searches. In this paper we characterize the resulting hybrid space as DigiPlace—that is, the use of information ranked and mapped in cyberspace to navigate and understand physical places. We review relevant theories of hybrid combinations of physical and virtual space, how software (code) automatically produces space, and how the politics of code (particularly map generating code) shape the representation of places. The paper concludes with a case study of the DigiPlace created by GoogleMaps that utilizes the same code which powers Google's index of cyberspace. A central argument advanced by the case study concerns how the interactions between culture, code, information, and place construct DigiPlace and shade perceptions of the places that are mapped.
Corrigendum to: Drosera × sidjamesii (Droseraceae): systematics and ecology of a natural hybrid from Western Australia
Authors: Lowrie Allen , Conran John G.
Published: April 2007

The natural hybrid Drosera � sidjamesii Lowrie & Conran from Lake Gnangarra north of Perth, Western Australia is described and defined as a cross between D. nitidula Planch. subsp. omissa Marchant & Lowrie auct. non Diels and D. pulchella Lehm., between which it shows a high degree of intermediacy for almost all characters. Cytological examination of the hybrid and its parents confirms that the former at 2n = 46 is a combination of the 2n = 28 in D. nitidula subsp. omissa and 2n = 18 in D. pulchella. The hybrid grows along a narrow ecotone between the parental species, largely on sandy peat and along a presumed soil moisture/elevation gradient caused by the nearby lake. Nevertheless, within this ecotone the hybrid is significantly more frequent than either parental species, with D. pulchella mainly growing in peat soils closer to the lake and D. nitidula subsp. omissa on white sand further from the water. Field observations of morphotypes also suggest that the hybrid has arisen several times at the site, and that a limited number of plants at the site are becoming fertile and setting seed.
A family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked aspartyl proteases is required for virulence ofCandida glabrata
Authors: Kaur Rupinder , Ma Biao , Cormack Brendan P.
Published: April 2007

Candida glabratais a yeast pathogen of humans. We have established a tissue culture model to analyze the interaction ofC. glabratawith macrophages. Transcript profiling of yeast ingested by macrophages reveals global changes in metabolism as well as increased expression of a gene family (YPSgenes) encoding extracellular glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked aspartyl proteases. Eight of theseYPSgenes are found in a cluster that is unique toC. glabrata. Genetic analysis shows that theC. glabrata YPSgenes are required for cell wall integrity, adherence to mammalian cells, survival in macrophages and virulence. By monitoring the processing of a cell wall adhesin, Epa1, we also show that Yps proteases play an important role in cell wall re-modeling by removal and release of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell wall proteins.
Bacteriocin production as a mechanism for the antiinfective activity of
Lactobacillus salivarius
UCC118
Authors: Corr Sinéad C. , Li Yin , Riedel Christian U. , O'Toole Paul W. , Hill Colin , Gahan Cormac G. M.
Published: April 2007

The mechanisms by which probiotic strains enhance the health of the host remain largely uncharacterized. Here we demonstrate that
Lactobacillus salivarius
UCC118, a recently sequenced and genetically tractable probiotic strain of human origin, produces a bacteriocin
in vivo
that can significantly protect mice against infection with the invasive foodborne pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
. A stable mutant of
Lb. salivarius
UCC118 that is unable to produce the Abp118 bacteriocin also failed to protect mice against infection with two strains of
L. monocytogenes
, EGDe and LO28, confirming that bacteriocin production is the primary mediator of protection against this organism. Furthermore,
Lb. salivarius
UCC118 did not offer any protection when mice were infected with a strain of
L. monocytogenes
expressing the cognate Abp118 immunity protein AbpIM, confirming that the antimicrobial effect is a result of direct antagonism between
Lb. salivarius
and the pathogen, mediated by the bacteriocin Abp118.
In vivo
imaging and genetic analysis link bacterial motility and symbiosis in the zebrafish gut
Authors: Rawls John F. , Mahowald Michael A. , Goodman Andrew L. , Trent Chad M. , Gordon Jeffrey I.
Published: April 2007

Complex microbial communities reside within the intestines of humans and other vertebrates. Remarkably little is known about how these microbial consortia are established in various locations within the gut, how members of these consortia behave within their dynamic ecosystems, or what microbial factors mediate mutually beneficial host–microbial interactions. Using a gnotobiotic zebrafish–
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
model, we show that the transparency of this vertebrate species, coupled with methods for raising these animals under germ-free conditions can be used to monitor microbial movement and localization within the intestine
in vivo
and in real time. Germ-free zebrafish colonized with isogenic
P. aeruginosa
strains containing deletions of genes related to motility and pathogenesis revealed that loss of flagellar function results in attenuation of evolutionarily conserved host innate immune responses but not conserved nutrient responses. These results demonstrate the utility of gnotobiotic zebrafish in defining the behavior and localization of bacteria within the living vertebrate gut, identifying bacterial genes that affect these processes, and assessing the impact of these genes on host–microbial interactions.
Inverse Association between T‐Cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin Domain‐1 and T‐bet in a Mouse Model of Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Xu Geng , Cheng Lei , Wen Weiping , Oh Yun , Mou Zhonglin , Shi Jianbo , Xu Rui , Li Huabin
Published: April 2007

Background: It has been suggested that human hepatitis A virus cellular receptor, also known as T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain‐1 (TIM‐1), plays an important role in the development of allergic diseases on the basis of epidemiologic data, but the molecular mechanism has been unclear. In a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR), we examined the expression of TIM‐1 and its correlation with T helper1‐associated transcription factor, T‐bet, as a potential mediator of T‐cell immunoglobulin expression.

Methods: Mice were challenged intranasally with OVA to elicit AR. The expression of TIM‐1 in nasal tissues was examined by real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and the surface expression of TIM‐1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated by means of flow cytometry. In addition, the expression of TIM‐1 as well as T‐bet in splenic lymphocytes was examined by Western blotting.

Results: TIM‐1 mRNA was increased significantly in nasal tissues (P < .05) as seen by real‐time RT‐PCR. Flow cytometry indicated a differential TIM‐1 expression of 135.5 ± 34.2 in the AR group versus 51.1 ± 10.9 in the control group (P < .05). The mean values of normalized TIM‐1 were 0.43 ± 0.18 and 0.21 ± 0.10 in AR and control groups, respectively, whereas the mean values of normalized T‐bet were 0.22 ± 0.13 and 0.67 ± 0.17 in the AR and control groups, respectively. There was a significant difference in the production of TIM‐1 as well as T‐bet in AR mice versus control mice (P < .05). The increased production of TIM‐1 correlated significantly with the decreased T‐bet in spleen tissue of AR mice (r = −0.52, P < .05).

Conclusion: Our experimental model recapitulates an increase in lymphocyte TIM‐1 expression seen in AR both locally and systemically. Our results also demonstrate an inverse relationship between lymphocyte TIM‐1 and T‐bet expression, suggesting a possible mechanism that TIM‐1 influences the development of AR.
Bone Regeneration of Canine Skull Using Bone Marrow‐Derived Stromal Cells and β‐Tricalcium Phosphate
Authors: Umeda Hiroo , Kanemaru Shin‐ichi , Yamashita Masaru , Kishimoto Masanao , Tamura Yoshihiro , Nakamura Tatsuo , Omori Koichi , Hirano Shigeru , Ito Juichi
Published: April 2007

Objective: The aim of this study was to regenerate high‐quality cranial bone using tissue engineering techniques, with subsequent extension to clinical application. Our previous study with a 3‐month observation period indicated that a composite scaffold composed primarily of β‐tricalcium phosphate (TCP) had the potential for cranial bone regeneration. In this study, we investigated whether bone marrow derived stromal cells (BSCs) could promote the regeneration of cranial bone as determined after 3 and 6 months.

Study Design: The pilot study was conducted with 14 adult beagle dogs.

Materials and Methods: Craniotomy was performed in the same manner used clinically. The bone defect (2 × 2 cm) was created at each canine temporoparietal region. The test animals were divided into three groups. In group I, the bone defect was closed by replacing the original free bone flap without filling the residual gaps. In group II, the gap was filled with a composite scaffold consisting of collagen coated β‐TCP and autologous bone fragments with fibrin glue. In group III, autologous cultured BSCs and the composite scaffold were used to fill the gap. The sites of craniotomy were analyzed with three‐dimensional computed tomography and histologic examination 3 and 6 months after the operation.

Results: Bone regeneration was observed in groups II and III, with more extensive formation in group III than in group II. In group I, bone regeneration was not observed.

Conclusion: This study showed that BSCs have the potential to promote cranial bone regeneration and confirmed the efficacy of a composite scaffold made of β‐TCP and autologous bone fragments with fibrin glue.
Long‐Term Patient Satisfaction After Revision Rhinoplasty
Authors: Hellings Peter W. , Trenité Gilbert J. Nolst
Published: April 2007

Objective: In cases of dissatisfaction after rhinoplasty for esthetic or functional reasons, or both, revision rhinoplasty may be advocated to improve the patients' nasal performance. In contrast to studies on primary rhinoplasty, no objective outcome evaluation parameter has been validated in revision rhinoplasty, nor has there been a study specifically looking at long‐term satisfaction after revision rhinoplasty. We aim at studying patient satisfaction after a long‐term follow‐up of revision rhinoplasty performed at an academic referral center.

Methods: At a mean period of 2.5 years after revision rhinoplasty, 90 patients who underwent a revision rhinoplasty at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, were sent a questionnaire on general satisfaction together with the validated rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) questionnaire.

Results: Of the 46 patients who responded to the questionnaire, 88% experienced a significant improvement in nasal performance by revision rhinoplasty, and 79% would choose to undergo the revision procedure again. Subgroup analysis of the ROE scores demonstrated that good satisfaction was mainly obtained in the young adult and middle‐aged groups, without major differences between males and females. Satisfaction was unrelated to the open or closed technique used for revision, or to the graft material used. Interestingly, an inverse correlation was found between satisfaction and the number of previous rhinoplasties.

Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrates that revision rhinoplasty in an academic practice provides most patients with long‐standing satisfaction.