bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the Histidine Utilization (Hut) System in Bacteria
Authors: Bender Robert A.
Published: August 2012

The ability to degrade the amino acid histidine to ammonia, glutamate, and a one-carbon compound (formate or formamide) is a property that is widely distributed among bacteria. The four or five enzymatic steps of the pathway are highly conserved, and the chemistry of the reactions displays several unusual features, including the rearrangement of a portion of the histidase polypeptide chain to yield an unusual imidazole structure at the active site and the use of a tightly bound NAD molecule as an electrophile rather than a redox-active element in urocanase. Given the importance of this amino acid, it is not surprising that the degradation of histidine is tightly regulated. The study of that regulation led to three central paradigms in bacterial regulation: catabolite repression by glucose and other carbon sources, nitrogen regulation and two-component regulators in general, and autoregulation of bacterial regulators. This review focuses on three groups of organisms for which studies are most complete: the enteric bacteria, for which the regulation is best understood; the pseudomonads, for which the chemistry is best characterized; andBacillus subtilis, for which the regulatory mechanisms are very different from those of the Gram-negative bacteria. The Hut pathway is fundamentally a catabolic pathway that allows cells to use histidine as a source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen, but other roles for the pathway are also considered briefly here.
Anaerobic Ammonium-Oxidizing Bacteria: Unique Microorganisms with Exceptional Properties
Authors: van Niftrik Laura , Jetten Mike S. M.
Published: August 2012

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria defy many microbiological concepts and share numerous properties with both eukaryotes and archaea. Among their most intriguing characteristics are their compartmentalized cell plan and archaeon-like cell wall. Here we review our current knowledge about anammox cell biology. The anammox cell is divided into three separate compartments by bilayer membranes. The anammox cell consists of (from outside to inside) the cell wall, paryphoplasm, riboplasm, and anammoxosome. Not much is known about the composition or function of both the anammox cell wall and the paryphoplasm compartment. The cell wall is proposed to be proteinaceous and to lack both peptidoglycan and an outer membrane typical of Gram-negative bacteria. The function of the paryphoplasm is unknown, but it contains the cell division ring. The riboplasm resembles the standard cytoplasmic compartment of other bacteria; it contains ribosomes and the nucleoid. The anammoxosome occupies most of the cell volume and is a so-called “prokaryotic organelle” analogous to the eukaryotic mitochondrion. This is the site where the anammox reaction takes place, coupled over the curved anammoxosome membrane, possibly giving rise to a proton motive force and subsequent ATP synthesis. With these unique properties, anammox bacteria are food for thought concerning the early evolution of the domains
Bacteria
,
Archaea
, and
Eukarya
.
Culture History and Population Heterogeneity as Determinants of Bacterial Adaptation: the Adaptomics of a Single Environmental Transition
Authors: Ryall Ben , Eydallin Gustavo , Ferenci Thomas
Published: August 2012

Diversity in adaptive responses is common within species and populations, especially when the heterogeneity of the frequently large populations found in environments is considered. By focusing on events in a single clonal population undergoing a single transition, we discuss how environmental cues and changes in growth rate initiate a multiplicity of adaptive pathways. Adaptation is a comprehensive process, and stochastic, regulatory, epigenetic, and mutational changes can contribute to fitness and overlap in timing and frequency. We identify culture history as a major determinant of both regulatory adaptations and microevolutionary change. Population history before a transition determines heterogeneities due to errors in translation, stochastic differences in regulation, the presence of aged, damaged, cheating, or dormant cells, and variations in intracellular metabolite or regulator concentrations. It matters whether bacteria come from dense, slow-growing, stressed, or structured states. Genotypic adaptations are history dependent due to variations in mutation supply, contingency gene changes, phase variation, lateral gene transfer, and genome amplifications. Phenotypic adaptations underpin genotypic changes in situations such as stress-induced mutagenesis or prophage induction or in biofilms to give a continuum of adaptive possibilities. Evolutionary selection additionally provides diverse adaptive outcomes in a single transition and generally does not result in single fitter types. The totality of heterogeneities in an adapting population increases the chance that at least some individuals meet immediate or future challenges. However, heterogeneity complicates the adaptomics of single transitions, and we propose that subpopulations will need to be integrated into future population biology and systems biology predictions of bacterial behavior.
Icatibant and ACE inhibitor angioedema
Authors: Illing Elizabeth Janet , Kelly Sara , Hobson Jonathan Charles , Charters Seema
Published: August 2012

Icatibant is a selective bradykinin 2 receptor antagonist, currently licensed for use in hereditary angioedema. Its benefit in ACE inhibitor angioedema is yet to be fully established. A handful of preliminary case reports suggest that it may be of benefit in reducing both symptom severity and possible hospital or intensive care admission. To date, there are no case reports of the usage of Icatibant in the emergency department in the UK. Here we report our experience of Icatibant in a 62-year-old gentleman presenting with severe oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal oedema while on an ACE inhibitor.
Injury trend analysis from the US Open Tennis Championships between 1994 and 2009
Authors: Sell Katie , Hainline Brian , Yorio Michael , Kovacs Mark
Published: August 2012

Objective

Injuries can be a debilitating aspect of professional tennis. Injury rates and trends at the US Open Tennis Championships over multiple years are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine injury trends in professional tennis players competing in a major professional tennis tournament between 1994 and 2009.

Methods

From 1994 to 2009, injury data from the US Open Tennis Championships were recorded. Injuries were classified by location and type using terminology derived from a consensus statement developed specifically for tennis. Injury rates were determined based on the exposure of an athlete to a match event, and were calculated as the ratio of injuries per 1000 match exposures (MEs).

Results

There was a statistically significant fluctuation in injuries across the timeframe analysed (p<0.05). There were 76.2±19.6 total injuries and 43.8±11.8 acute injuries per year seeking medical assistance. Muscle or tendon injuries were the most common type of acute injury. The rate of lower limb injuries was significantly higher than upper limb and trunk injuries (p<0.01). The ankle, followed by the wrist, knee, foot/toe and shoulder/clavicle were the most common injury sites.

Conclusions

Acute injuries occurred more frequently than gradual-onset injuries, and most common injury types were similar to previously examined populations. However, there were differences in injury location trends compared to previous research, suggesting that further research in this elite-level population is warranted.
Medical apps for smartphones: lack of evidence undermines quality and safety
Authors: Buijink Arthur Willem Gerard , Visser Benjamin Jelle , Marshall Louise
Published: August 2012

Increasing numbers of healthcare professionals are using smartphones and their associated applications (apps) in daily clinical care. While these medical apps hold great potential for improving clinical practice, little is known about the possible dangers associated with their use. Breaches of patient confidentiality, conflicts of interests and malfunctioning clinical decision-making apps could all negatively impact on patient care. We propose several strategies to enhance the development of evidence-based medical apps while retaining their open nature. The increasing use of medical apps calls for broader discussion across medicine's organising and accrediting bodies. The field of medical apps is currently one of the most dynamic in medicine, with real potential to change the way evidence-based healthcare is delivered in the future. Establishing appropriate regulatory procedures will enable this potential to be fulfilled, while at all times ensuring the safety of the patient.
Taking the long view: a systematic review reporting long-term perspectives on child unintentional injury
Authors: Mytton Julie A , Towner Elizabeth M L , Powell Jane , Pilkington Paul A , Gray Selena
Published: August 2012

Objective

The relative significance of child injury as a cause of preventable death has increased as mortality from infectious diseases has declined. Unintentional child injuries are now a major cause of death and disability across the world with the greatest burden falling on those who are most disadvantaged. A review of long-term data on child injury mortality was conducted to explore trends and inequalities and consider how data were used to inform policy, practice and research.

Methods

The authors systematically collated and quality appraised data from publications and documents reporting unintentional child injury mortality over periods of 20 years or more. A critical narrative synthesis explored trends by country income group, injury type, age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic group.

Findings

31 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified of which 30 were included in the synthesis. Only six were from middle income countries and none were from low income countries. An overall trend in falling child injury mortality masked rising road traffic injury deaths, evidence of increasing vulnerability of adolescents and widening disparities within countries when analysed by ethnic group and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

Child injury mortality trend data from high and middle income countries has illustrated inequalities within generally falling trends. There is scope for greater use of existing trend data to inform policy and practice. Similar evidence from low income countries where the burden of injury is greatest is needed.
Elevated, combined serum free light chain levels and increased mortality: a 5-year follow-up, UK study
Authors: Anandram Seetharam , Assi Lakhvir Kaur , Lovatt Tracy , Parkes Jayne , Taylor Joanne , Macwhannell Alan , Jacob Abraham , Handa Sunil , Harding Stephen , Basu Supratik
Published: August 2012

Aims

Abnormal serum free light chain (FLC) ratios are diagnostically important in almost all plasma cell disorders. However, absolute increases in polyclonal FLC levels are often discarded as inconsequential. Here we report an association between increased combined polyclonal FLC (cFLC: FLCκ plus FLCλ) concentrations and mortality.

Methods

723 patients sent for 30 routine haematological assessments were enrolled. Patients with a confirmed monoclonal gammopathy were removed. The remaining 527 patients were followed up for up to 4.5 years. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (V.19).

Results

During follow-up, there were 99 deaths (18.8%). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed 29% of these deaths occurred within the first 100 days (N=29). Multivariate analysis identified only cFLC >65 mg/l, albumin <33 g/l and  estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1.73 m2to be independently associated with mortality within 100 days and 4.5 years with, cFLC having the highest HR of 7.1. A simple risk stratification model based only on albumin and cFLC identified 86% mortality within 100 days and 62% over 4.5 years.

Conclusions

Elevated cFLC is significantly associated with increased mortality and with albumin can be used to identify patients at risk of mortality at 4.5 years with high-risk patients detected within 100 days.
Is the human sex ratio at birth a sentinel health indicator that is associated with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevalences in the 21st century?
Authors: Shifotoka Anna , Fogarty Andrew W
Published: August 2012

Background

A reduction in sex ratio at live birth has been proposed as a sentinel health indicator that can be used to monitor the health of populations.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that a lower sex ratio is associated with adverse national population health using the prevalences of HIV and tuberculosis as measures of societal well-being.

Methods

An ecological study design using routinely collected data and adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Results

The mean global sex ratio was 1.05. There was marked heterogeneity in the sex ratio between different global regions (p<0.0001). Those regions with the highest prevalences of HIV infection had lower sex ratios, with the value for the highest quartile being 0.022 (95% CIs CI 0.013 to 0.031) lower than the lowest quartile. Similarly, those areas with the highest quartile of tuberculosis infection had a sex ratio of 0.016 (95% CI 0.004 to 0.028) lower than those in the lowest quartile. Similar results were observed in a subgroup analysis limited to countries from the African continent.

Conclusions

The data are consistent with the hypothesis that a reduced sex ratio at live birth is a potential sentinel health indicator of lower population health. However, these data do not demonstrate either a casual relationship or reveal any biological mechanisms that may account for these observations.
Dynamic relations between fast-food restaurant and body weight status: a longitudinal and multilevel analysis of Chinese adults
Authors: Xu Hongwei , Short Susan E , Liu Tao
Published: August 2012

Background

Mixed findings have been reported on the association between Western fast-food restaurants and body weight status. Results vary across study contexts and are sensitive to the samples, measures and methods used. Most studies have failed to examine the temporally dynamic associations between community exposure to fast-food restaurants and weight changes.

Methods

Bayesian hierarchical regressions are used to model changes in body mass index, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR) as a function of changes in Western fast-food restaurants in 216 communities for more than 9000 Chinese adults followed up multiple times between 2000 and 2009.

Results

Number of Western fast-food restaurants is positively associated with subsequent increases in WHtR and WHpR among rural population. More fast-food restaurants are positively associated with a future increase in WHpR for urban women. Increased availability of fast food between two waves is related to increased WHtR for urban men over the same period. A past increase in number of fast-food restaurants is associated with subsequent increases in WHtR and WHpR for rural population.

Conclusions

The associations between community exposure to Western fast food and weight changes are temporally dynamic rather than static. Improved measures of exposure to community environment are needed to achieve more precise estimates and better understanding of these relationships. In light of the findings in this study and China's rapid economic growth, further investigation and increased public health monitoring is warranted since Western fast food is likely to be more accessible and affordable in the near future.
Evaluation of a community pharmacy delivered oral contraception service
Authors: Parsons Judith , Adams Christine , Aziz Najia , Holmes Jo , Jawad Ruhi , Whittlesea Cate
Published: August 2012

Introduction

In the UK half of all pregnancies are unplanned and half of teenage pregnancies terminated. Southwark and Lambeth have the highest teenage conception rates in London. In 2009, many teenage pregnancies in Southwark led to terminations. A contraception service was established where qualified pharmacists supplied oral contraception (OC) using a patient group direction (PGD). This service evaluation aimed to assess this service delivered in five community pharmacies.

Methods

Monthly data were submitted by each pharmacy to the Primary Care Trust on consultations, pills supplied, initial or subsequent supply and client referral. For specified periods consultation time was collected and a clinical notes audit undertaken. Client satisfaction was determined using a structured questionnaire returned to the pharmacy. Mystery shoppers were employed to assess the service.

Results

A total of 741 consultations were undertaken by seven pharmacists at five community pharmacies (October 2009–June 2011) with many (45.5%) occurring following emergency contraception supply. The mean consultation time was 19 minutes . Combined OC was most commonly supplied with nearly half (46.1%) of initial supplies to first-time pill users. Most consultations (92.2%) were with women aged under 30 years, with 22.5% aged under 20. Most consultations were with black or black British clients. Of the 99 women who completed the satisfaction questionnaires, most clients were very satisfied or satisfied with the service and felt comfortable talking to the pharmacist about contraception.

Conclusions

Trained pharmacists were clinically competent and provided OC in community pharmacy according to a PGD. This service was accessed by the target population; young women using emergency hormonal contraception who had not previously used OC. Clients were largely very satisfied with the service.
Evidence of nitrogen fixation in lodgepole pine inoculated with diazotrophicPaenibacillus polymyxa
Authors: Bal Amandeep , Chanway Christopher P.
Published: August 2012

Diazotrophic bacteria previously isolated from internal tissues of naturally regenerating lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta var. latifolia (Dougl.) Engelm.) seedlings were tested for their ability to colonize and fix nitrogen (N) in pine germinants in two experiments. Surface sterilized pine seed was sown in glass tubes containing an autoclaved sand – montmorillonite clay mixture that contained a N-limited nutrient solution labeled with15N as 0.35 mmol·L–1Ca(15NO3)2(5%15N label). Pine seed was inoculated with one of three of the following bacterial strains: Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2R, P. polymyxa P18b-2R, or Dyadobacter fermentans P19a-2R, and seedlings grew for either 27 or 35 weeks. At the end of each plant growth period, P. polymyxa strain P2b-2R was detected in the pine rhizosphere but not inside plant tissues. Pine foliar N concentrations were not affected by bacterial inoculation but significant foliar15N dilution was observed in seedlings treated with strain P2b-2R (30% and 66%, P < 0.05, in the first and second experiments, respectively). This strain also reduced seedling biomass in both experiments but effects were significant only in the second experiment (36%, P < 0.05). Notwithstanding the negative effect of bacterial inoculation on seedling growth, pine seedlings inoculated with strain P2b-2R derived 30% and 66%, respectively, of their foliar N from bacterial N fixation in two seedling growth experiments. These results demonstrate the possibility that some endophytic diazotrophs facilitate pine seedling growth in N-poor soils.
Pollination biology and genetic variability of a giant perfumed flower (Aristolochia giganteaMart. and Zucc., Aristolochiaceae) visited mainly by small Diptera
Authors: Hipólito Juliana , Viana Blandina Felipe , Selbach-Schnadelbach Alessandra , Galetto Leonardo , Kevan Peter G.
Published: August 2012

The genus Aristolochia presents conserved features in its basic structural plan of trap flowers and in its pollination syndrome. Visitors, usually flies, are attracted to the rotting-meat scented flowers and remain trapped until the second day, when the protogynous flowers release them. Aristolochia gigantea Mart. and Zucc showed many of these floral traits but display a citronella-like odour, giving the opportunity to study the reproductive ecology in this atypical species. Characteristics and behavior of pollinators, coupled with the distances between individual plants and populations, are important factors in patterns of genetic diversity. Thus, our objectives were to study the flower visitors, reproductive success, and gene flow in A. gigantea in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Results suggest that pollination by flies remains as a conserved interaction within the genus Aristolochia. The main pollinators appeared to be Megaselia spp. (Phoridae), evidenced primarily by the frequency of their occurrence within flowers and the transference of compatible pollen. On the other hand, the moderate to low levels of intrapopulation genetic variability found in A. gigantea, combined with low effective pollination and its reproductive dependence on biotic vectors, indicate that this species may be suffering gene erosion in the remaining populations located at Chapada Diamantina.
Biomass allocation and shade tolerance in tree species of the Atlantic Forest
Authors: Larcher Letícia , Boeger Maria Regina Torres , Marques Márcia Cristina Mendes
Published: August 2012

Light availability is an important factor determining plant morphology and niche occupation in tropical forests. In this study, we tested whether seedlings that differ in shade tolerance also differ in the way they partition their resources among stems and leaves. The morphology of the first pair of leaves (eophylls), cotyledons, stems, and seeds of 14 species (five shade tolerant and nine gap dependent) from the Atlantic Rainforest (Brazil) were analyzed. Significant differences were observed in the patterns of biomass allocation between the two ecological groups; shade-tolerant species invested more in total biomass, cotyledons, and leaves, whereas gap-dependent species allocated more biomass to stems and vertical growth. In conclusion, shade-tolerant and gap-dependent species invest more in photosynthesis and vertical growth, respectively. Apparently, these characteristics specific to each group are not related to the life history of the species studied but to the strategies developed to the environment in which they were inserted.
Development of mycelial slurries containing surfactant for cultivation of the edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom Rhizopogon roseolus (syn. Rhizopogon rubescens)
Authors: Shimomura Norihiro , Matsuda Miyuki , Ariyoshi Kunio , Aimi Tadanori
Published: August 2012

Rhizopogon roseolus (Corda) Th. M. Fr., known as shoro in Japanese, is an edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom. To successfully cultivate ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, inoculation and propagation methods must be developed, and isolates with superior traits must be selected. Pinus thunbergii Parl. seedlings were inoculated with several isolates of R. roseolus using the Petri dish technique and their mycorrhizal abilities were assessed. We selected a superior isolate that rapidly colonized and produced a lot of ectomycorrhizas in the roots of P. thunbergii. The selected strain was cultured in liquid medium, and the resultant mycelia were homogenized in saline solution to make a slurry. Adding surfactant to the mycelial slurry stimulated mycorrhizal formation in host roots. We investigated the effects of mycelial slurry containing surfactant on ectomycorrhizal formation of P. thunbergii and fruiting body formation in mother plant systems. Stimulatory effects of the slurry were observed not only on ectomycorrhizal formation of the seedlings but also on fruiting body formation. These results suggest that the mycelial slurries containing surfactant could serve as mycelial spawns for the cultivation of shoro under greenhouse conditions.
Two new species ofUndifilum, fungal endophytes ofAstragalus(locoweeds) in the United States
Authors: Baucom Deana L. , Romero Marie , Belfon Robert , Creamer Rebecca
Published: August 2012

New species of Undifilum , from locoweeds Astragalus lentiginosus Vitman and Astragalus mollissimus Torr., are described using morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses as Undifilum fulvum Baucom & Creamer sp. nov. and Undifilum cinereum Baucom & Creamer sp. nov. Fungi were isolated from dried plants of A. lentiginosus var. araneosus , diphysus , lentiginosus , and wahweapensis collected from Arizona, Oregon, and Utah, USA, and A. mollissimus var. biglovii , earleii , and mollissimus collected from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, USA. Endophytic fungi from Astragalus locoweeds were compared to Undifilum oxytropis isolates obtained from dried plant material of Oxytropis lamberteii from New Mexico and Oxytropis sericea from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Extremely slow growth in vitro was observed for all, and conidia, if present, were ellipsoid with transverse septa. However, in vitro color, growth on four different media, and conidium size differed between fungi from Astragalus spp. and U. oxytropis. Neighbor-joining analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene sequences revealed that U. fulvum and U. cinereum formed a clade distinct from U. oxytropis. This was supported by neighbor-joining analyses of results generated from random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments using two different primers.
LINEAR TIME RELATIONAL PROTOTYPE BASED LEARNING
Authors: GISBRECHT ANDREJ , MOKBEL BASSAM , SCHLEIF FRANK-MICHAEL , ZHU XIBIN , HAMMER BARBARA
Published: August 2012

Prototype based learning offers an intuitive interface to inspect large quantities of electronic data in supervised or unsupervised settings. Recently, many techniques have been extended to data described by general dissimilarities rather than Euclidean vectors, so-called relational data settings. Unlike the Euclidean counterparts, the techniques have quadratic time complexity due to the underlying quadratic dissimilarity matrix. Thus, they are infeasible already for medium sized data sets. The contribution of this article is twofold: On the one hand we propose a novel supervised prototype based classification technique for dissimilarity data based on popular learning vector quantization (LVQ), on the other hand we transfer a linear time approximation technique, the Nyström approximation, to this algorithm and an unsupervised counterpart, the relational generative topographic mapping (GTM). This way, linear time and space methods result. We evaluate the techniques on three examples from the biomedical domain.
Treatment of Diabetes Using Traditional Chinese Medicine: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Tong Xiao-Lin , Dong Liu , Chen Liang , Zhen Zhong
Published: August 2012

Diabetes is a major medical problem that imperils public health. Over two thousand years ago, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) called diabetes-related symptoms "Xiaoke" disease. In ancient China, TCM and Chinese herbal medicines were used widely in treating Xiaoke and abundant experience has been accumulated. This article discusses the TCM theory on diabetes and its achievements in the prevention and treatment of diabetes in the past. Using Chinese herbal medicine, recent progress in diabetes therapeutics, including data from clinical trials, are presented. Mechanistic studies from basic research are discussed. Yin-yang balance and a holistic approach of TCM may complement diabetes treatment in Western medicine. With continuous efforts, TCM could play a more important role in fighting this disease.
Anti-Diabetic Atherosclerosis Effect of Prunella vulgaris in db/db Mice with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Hwang Sun Mi , Kim Jin Sook , Lee Yun Jung , Yoon Jung Joo , Lee So Min , Kang Dae Gill , Lee Ho Sub
Published: August 2012

Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. This study was designed to investigate whether Prunella vulgaris (APV) would inhibit diabetic atherosclerosis in db/db mice with type 2 diabetes. The db/db mice were treated with high fat/high cholesterol (HFHC) diet and an aqueous extract of APV (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) for eight weeks to examine the long-term effect on metabolic abnormalities and diabetic atherosclerosis. APV treatment markedly lowered blood glucose and systolic blood pressure. The db/db mice experienced an increase in blood urea nitrogen as well as a decrease of creatinine clearance, the latter of which was restored by treatment with APV. Treatment with APV markedly decreased total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol and also increased the HDL-cholesterol. In addition, malondialdehyde and TGF-β1 were decreased by treatment of APV. On the other hand, total NO level was decreased in db/db mice. However, the NO level was increased by treatment with APV, suggesting an association with vascular dysfunction. Vascular relaxation of aortic rings by acetylcholine or SNP-inducement was ameliorated by APV in a dose-dependent manner. Damage of vascular intima and hypertrophic of media were observed in db/db mice; however its dysfunction was improved by the treatment of APV. APV treatment significantly reduced the aortic expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, ET-1, and nitrotyrosine. Furthermore, expression of eNOS in aortic was remarkably increased by APV treatment. Taken together, APV suppressed hyperglycemia and diabetic vascular dysfunction in HFHC diet-db/db mice. The present data suggest that Prunella vulgaris may prevent development of diabetic atherosclerosis.
Chemical Compositions, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiproliferative and Radical-Scavenging Activities of Actinidia callosa var. ephippioides
Authors: Liao Jung-Chun , Deng Jeng-Shyan , Chiu Chuan-Sung , Huang Shyh-Shyun , Hou Wen-Chi , Lin Wang-Ching , Huang Guan-Jhong
Published: August 2012

Oxidative stress and inflammation are related to several chronic diseases including cancer. Actinidia callosa var. ephippioides (ACE) is a special folk medicinal plant from Taiwan. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities of the methanol extract and fractions from the stem of ACE. Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, total phenolic content, flavonoid content, inhibition on nitric oxide (NO) productions by LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell, and on lung cancer cell proliferation were employed. Among all fractions, ethyl-acetate fraction (EA-ACE) showed higher TEAC, DPPH radical scavenging activities, polyphenol and flavonoid contents, respectively. EA-ACE also decreased the LPS-induced NO production and expressions of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in RAW264.7 cells. EA-ACE had the highest antiproliferative activity with an IC50 (The concentrations required for inhibition of 50% of cell viability) of 469.17 ± 3.59 μg/mL. Catechin also had good effects in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Catechin might be an important bioactive compound in the stem of ACE. The above experimental data indicated that the stem of ACE is a potent antioxidant medicinal plant, and such efficacy may be mainly attributed to its polyphenolic compounds.
KHC-4 Anti-Cancer Effects on Human PC3 Prostate Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Hwang Jin-Ming , Ting Wei-Jen , Wu Hsi-Chin , Chen Yi-Jyun , Tsai Fu-Jenn , Chen Po-Yuan , Liu Chin-Yu , Chou Li-Chen , Kuo Sheng-Chu , Huang Chih-Yang
Published: August 2012

A bicyclic chemical structure, such as that found in flavonoids, was discovered to have anti-cancer activity. Further synthetic structural modification created a series of 2-phenyl-4-quinolone analogs, especially KHC-4, with the same bicyclic chemical structure. This new structure was reported to have stronger anti-cancer activity. In KHC-4 treatments for 72 h on human prostate cancer PC3 cells, cytotoxic effects (IC50 =0.1 μM) increased dose dependently, causing Cdk1/cyclin B1 complex activity mannered cell cycle and proliferation. KHC-4 treatments suppressed Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein levels and upregulated Bax. At the same concentration, pro-caspase 9 protein was cleaved to an activated form, leading to cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the MMP-2 protein levels also decreased through KHC-4 treatment in PC3. In conclusion, KHC-4 presents great prostate cancer therapeutic effects for cell proliferation inhibition, induction of apoptosis and protection against tumor migration.
THERMODYNAMICS OF SOFT WALL AdS/QCD AT FINITE CHEMICAL POTENTIAL
Authors: SACHAN SHOBHIT , SIWACH SANJAY
Published: August 2012

We study the thermodynamics of soft wall model in AdS/QCD framework. The low temperature phase of QCD is described by thermal AdS and high temperature phase by AdS black hole solution of five-dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant. The chemical potential is introduced via the solution of U(1) vector field in the bulk. The difference of action densities in two phases is studied and the results are compared with hard wall model. The quark number susceptibility is also calculated in both models.
ON THE GRAPH EDIT DISTANCE COST: PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: SOLÉ-RIBALTA ALBERT , SERRATOSA FRANCESC , SANFELIU ALBERTO
Published: August 2012

We model the edit distance as a function in a labeling space. A labeling space is an Euclidean space where coordinates are the edit costs. Through this model, we define a class of cost. A class of cost is a region in the labeling space that all the edit costs have the same optimal labeling. Moreover, we characterize the distance value through the labeling space. This new point of view of the edit distance gives us the opportunity of defining some interesting properties that are useful for a better understanding of the edit distance. Finally, we show the usefulness of these properties through some applications.
ON THE INFLUENCE OF WORD REPRESENTATIONS FOR HANDWRITTEN WORD SPOTTING IN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Authors: LLADÓS JOSEP , RUSIÑOL MARÇAL , FORNÉS ALICIA , FERNÁNDEZ DAVID , DUTTA ANJAN
Published: August 2012

Word spotting is the process of retrieving all instances of a queried keyword from a digital library of document images. In this paper we evaluate the performance of different word descriptors to assess the advantages and disadvantages of statistical and structural models in a framework of query-by-example word spotting in historical documents. We compare four word representation models, namely sequence alignment using DTW as a baseline reference, a bag of visual words approach as statistical model, a pseudo-structural model based on a Loci features representation, and a structural approach where words are represented by graphs. The four approaches have been tested with two collections of historical data: the George Washington database and the marriage records from the Barcelona Cathedral. We experimentally demonstrate that statistical representations generally give a better performance, however it cannot be neglected that large descriptors are difficult to be implemented in a retrieval scenario where word spotting requires the indexation of data with million word images.
EVALUATION OF THE RISK OF STROKE WITH CONFIDENCE PREDICTIONS BASED ON ULTRASOUND CAROTID IMAGE ANALYSIS
Authors: LAMBROU ANTONIS , PAPADOPOULOS HARRIS , KYRIACOU EFTHYVOULOS , PATTICHIS CONSTANTINOS S. , PATTICHIS MARIOS S. , GAMMERMAN ALEXANDER , NICOLAIDES ANDREW
Published: August 2012

Conformal Predictors (CPs) are Machine Learning algorithms that can provide reliable confidence measures to their predictions. In this work, we make use of the Conformal Prediction framework for the assessment of stroke risk based on ultrasound images of atherosclerotic carotid plaques. For this application, images were recorded from 137 asymptomatic and 137 symptomatic plaques (symptoms are Stroke, Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), and Amaurosis Fugax (AF)). Two feature sets were extracted from the plaques; the first based on morphological image analysis and the second based on image texture analysis. Both sets were used in order to evaluate the performance of CPs on this problem. Four CPs were constructed using four popular classification methods, namely Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Naive Bayes Classification (NBC), and k -Nearest Neighbours. The results given by all CPs demonstrate the reliability and importance of the obtained confidence measures on the problem of stroke risk assessment.
MORPHOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE-RELATED LOCAL MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PC-12 CELLS STUDIED BY INTEGRATING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY AND IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE IMAGING
Authors: CHANG CHENG-TAO , LIN CHOU-CHING K. , JU MING SHAUNG
Published: August 2012

A cost-effective method that integrates high-resolution morphology using an atomic force microscope and immunofluorescence imaging for measuring the local mechanical properties of a cell was developed. By considering the normal indentation conditions and the distribution of the underlying cytoskeleton, a criterion for selecting indentation sites was proposed. PC-12 cells cultivated under normal and high D-glucose medium are employed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method. The apparent Young's modulus for each indentation site was estimated by fitting the data with a pyramidal punch contact mechanics model. The results showed that the cell bodies cultivated in the high D-glucose medium were higher but their growth cones were shorter than those cultivated in a normal medium. The Young's moduli of the growth cones were positively correlated with the density of the actin filament in the cytoskeleton. The Young's moduli at the growth cone and the nucleus region of cells cultivated in the high D-glucose medium were higher and lower, respectively, than those of the control group. The results demonstrated the integrated method could correlate local mechanical properties and distribution of actin filament of the growth cone of PC-12 cell.
STEREODYNAMICS, MASS EFFECT AND DOCKING FROM O(3P) + HD → OH + D AT Ecol = 0.4–1.0eV AND O(3P) + HD → OD + H AT Ecol = 0.5–1.0eV
Authors: CHAO VICTOR WEI-KEH (WU)
Published: August 2012

Quasiclassical Trajectory (QCT) calculation for O(3P) + HD → OH + D and O(3P) + HD → OD + H at E col = 0.4–1.0 eV and 0.5–1.0 eV, respectively, on the lowest PES 1 3A″ of Kuppermann et al. has been done. Distribution p(ϑr) of azimuthal angles between the relative velocity k of the reactants and rotational angular momentum vector j′ of either OH or OD , p(φr) of polar as well as dihedral angles correlating k - k′ -j′, p(ϑr, φr), and PDDCS dependent upon the scattering angle ϑt of either OH , or OD between k and k′ of the reactants and products, respectively, are presented and discussed. The stereodynamics and isotopic mass effects at the smallest possible collision energies 0.4 eV and 0.5 eV for OH and OD , respectively, are significantly different. The significant mass effect with quotient 1/2 of H/D, at the corresponding collision threshold may be applied for the investigation of docking mechanism, drug modification and delivery.
SOLVING THE SINGLE LAYER MULTICONFIGURATION TIME-DEPENDENT HARTREE–FOCK EQUATION IN SECOND QUANTIZATION REPRESENTATION BASED ON A DECOMPOSITION OF THE OVERALL FOCK SPACE
Authors: LI WENLIANG , WENWU X. , KELI H.
Published: August 2012

Very recently, the multilayer multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) method based on a decomposition of the overall Fock space in second quantization representation was proposed [Wang H, Thoss M, J Chem Phys131:024114, 2009], and they have presented demonstrative numerical example on vibrationally coupled electron transport. Followed by the thinking, the strategies of the implement of the theory to deal with multielectron dynamics with consideration coulomb interaction were discussed in detail. Some demonstrative calculations have been carried out by using the single layer MCTDHF method. The influences of the different choice way of initial condition, such as the species of basis function, the type of decomposition of the full Fock space, the choice of the spin orbitals, the number of the single particle function and so on, on the imaginary time propagation are mainly studied. The bridge between the generalized theory and the calculation application has been set up.
DETECTION AND DECOMPOSITION: TREATMENT-INDUCED CYCLIC GENE EXPRESSION DISRUPTION IN HIGH-THROUGHPUT TIME-SERIES DATASETS
Authors: JIAO YUHUA , ROSA BRUCE A , OH SOOKYUNG , MONTGOMERY BERONDA L , QIN WENSHENG , CHEN JIN
Published: August 2012

Higher organisms possess many genes which cycle under normal conditions, to allow the organism to adapt to expected environmental conditions throughout the course of a day. However, treatment-induced disruption of regular cyclic gene expression patterns presents a significant challenge in novel gene discovery experiments because these disruptions can induce strong differential regulation events for genes that are not involved in an adaptive response to the treatment. To address this cycle disruption problem, we reviewed the state-of-art periodic pattern detection algorithms and a pattern decomposition algorithm (PRIISM), which is a knowledge-based Fourier analysis algorithm designed to distinguish the cyclic patterns from the rest gene expression patterns, and discussed potential future improvements.
Endogenous Plant Cell Wall Digestion: A Key Mechanism in Insect Evolution
Authors: Calderón-Cortés Nancy , Quesada Mauricio , Watanabe Hirofumi , Cano-Camacho Horacio , Oyama Ken
Published: August 2012

The prevailing view that insects lack endogenous enzymes for plant cell wall (PCW) digestion had led to the hypothesis that PCW digestion evolved independently in different insect taxa through the establishment of symbiotic relationships with microorganisms. However, recent studies reporting endogenous PCW-degrading genes and enzymes for several insects, including phylogenetically basal insects and closely related arthropod groups, challenge this hypothesis. Here, we summarize the molecular and biochemical evidence on the mechanisms of PCW digestion in insects to analyze its evolutionary pathways. The evidence reveals that the symbiotic-independent mechanism may be the ancestral mechanism for PCW digestion. We discuss the implications of this alternative hypothesis in the evolution of plant-insect interactions and suggest that changes in the composition of lignocellulolytic complexes were involved in the evolution of feeding habits and diet specializations in insects, playing important roles in the evolution of plant-insect interactions and in the diversification of insects.
Functional and Phylogenetic Approaches to Forecasting Species' Responses to Climate Change
Authors: Buckley Lauren B. , Kingsolver Joel G.
Published: August 2012

Shifts in phenology and distribution in response to both recent and paleontological climate changes vary markedly in both direction and extent among species. These individualistic shifts are inconsistent with common forecasting techniques based on environmental rather than biological niches. What biological details could enhance forecasts? Organismal characteristics such as thermal and hydric limits, seasonal timing and duration of the life cycle, ecological breadth and dispersal capacity, and fitness and evolutionary potential are expected to influence climate change impacts. We review statistical and mechanistic approaches for incorporating traits in predictive models as well as the potential to use phylogeny as a proxy for traits. Traits generally account for a significant but modest fraction of the variation in phenological and range shifts. Further assembly of phenotypic and phylogenetic data coupled with the development of mechanistic approaches is essential to improved forecasts of the ecological consequences of climate change.
Taxes and Investment Choice
Authors: Dammon Robert M. , Spatt Chester S.
Published: August 2012

Taxes have a first-order effect on investors' trading decisions and portfolio choices and on the equilibrium pricing of assets. In this review, we investigate how certain features of the tax code impact investors and asset markets. We begin by considering how tax heterogeneity across investors and across securities can lead to market segmentation and discuss the nature of equilibrium prices and allocations with tax clienteles. We then turn our attention to the optimal trading of assets when the tax on capital gains and losses is deferred until the asset is sold. In the absence of portfolio considerations, the optimal trading policies are driven entirely by the desire of investors to minimize the tax cost of owning assets. We next focus on an investor's lifetime portfolio choice problem with capital gains taxes and discuss how the investor's optimal trading decisions and portfolio choices are influenced by both tax and diversification motives. Our discussion includes consideration of nonfinancial income, tax-deferred investment opportunities, and multiple risky assets.
Border Crossings: Colicins and Transporters
Authors: Jakes Karen S. , Cramer William A.
Published: August 2012

Colicins are protein toxins produced by Escherichia coli to kill related bacteria. They must cross the target cell outer membrane (OM), and some must also cross the inner membrane (IM). To accomplish cellular import, colicins have parasitized E. coli nutrient transporters as well as IM and periplasmic proteins normally used to maintain cell wall integrity or provide energy for nutrient uptake through transporters. Colicins have evolved to use both transporters and other membrane proteins through mechanisms different from those employed in physiological substrate uptake. Extended receptor-binding domains allow some colicins to search by lateral diffusion for binding sites on their OM translocators while bound to their primary OM receptor. Transport across the OM is initiated by entry of the unstructured N-terminal translocation domain into the translocator. Periplasmic and IM networks subsequently accomplish insertion of the colicin cytotoxic domain into or across the IM.
Gravity Flows Associated with Flood Events and Carbon Burial: Taiwan as Instructional Source Area
Authors: Liu James T. , Kao Shuh-Ji , Huh Chih-An , Hung Chin-Chang
Published: August 2012

Taiwan's unique setting allows it to release disproportionately large quantities of fluvial sediment into diverse dispersal systems around the island. Earthquakes, lithology, topography, cyclone-induced rainfall, and human disturbance play major roles in the catchment dynamics. Deep landslides dominate the sediment-removal process on land, giving fluvial sediment distinct geochemical signals. Extreme conditions in river runoff, sediment load, nearshore waves and currents, and the formation of gravity flows during typhoon events can be observed within short distances. Segregation of fresh biomass and clastic sediment occurs during the marine transport process, yet turbidity currents in the Gaoping Submarine Canyon carry woody debris. Strong currents in the slope and back-arc basin of the Okinawa Trough disperse fine-grained sediments rapidly and widely. Temporal deposition and remobilization may occur when the shallow Taiwan Strait acts as a receptacle. Taiwan can therefore serve as a demonstration of the episodic aspect of the source-to-sink pathway to both the coastal and deep-ocean environments.