bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two nucleus‐localized CDK‐like kinases with crucial roles for malaria parasite erythrocytic replication are involved in phosphorylation of splicing factor
Authors: Agarwal Shruti , Kern Selina , Halbert Jean , Przyborski Jude M. , Baumeister Stefan , Dandekar Thomas , Doerig Christian , Pradel Gabriele
Published: February 2011

The kinome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum comprises representatives of most eukaryotic protein kinase groups, including kinases which regulate proliferation and differentiation processes. Despite extensive research on most plasmodial enzymes, little information is available regarding the four identified members of the cyclin‐dependent kinase‐like kinase (CLK) family. In other eukaryotes, CLKs regulate mRNA splicing through phosphorylation of Serine/Arginine‐rich proteins. Here, we investigate two of the PfCLKs, the Lammer kinase homolog PfCLK‐1, and PfCLK‐2. Both PfCLKs show homology with the yeast Serine/Arginine protein kinase Sky1p and are transcribed throughout the asexual blood stages and in gametocytes. PfCLK‐1/Lammer possesses two nuclear localization signal sites and PfCLK‐2 possesses one of these signal sites upstream of the C‐terminal catalytic domains. Indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot, and electron microscopy data confirm that the kinases are primarily localized in the parasite nucleus, and PfCLK‐2 is further present in the cytoplasm. The two kinases are important for completion of the asexual replication cycle of P. falciparum, as demonstrated by reverse genetics approaches. In vitro kinase assays show substrate phosphorylation by the PfCLKs, including the Sky1p substrate, splicing factor Npl3p, and the plasmodial alternative splicing factor PfASF‐1. Mass spectrometric analysis of co‐immunoprecipitated proteins indicates assembly of the two PfCLKs with proteins with predicted nuclease, phosphatase, or helicase functions. Our data indicate a crucial role of PfCLKs for malaria blood stage parasites, presumably by participating in gene regulation through the post‐transcriptional modification of mRNA. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 1295–1310, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Passive and active exercise improve regeneration and muscle reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury in the rat
Authors: Udina Esther , Puigdemasa Antoni , Navarro Xavier
Published: February 2011

Introduction:

Lesions of peripheral nerves cause loss of motor and sensory function and also lead to hyperreflexia and hyperalgesia. Activity‐dependent therapies promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery and may improve sensory–motor coordination and restoration of adequate circuitry at the spinal level.

Methods:

We compared the effects of passive (bicycle) and active (treadmill) exercise on nerve regeneration and modulation of the spinal H reflex after transection and repair of the rat sciatic nerve. Animals were evaluated during 2 months using electrophysiological, functional, and histological methods.

Results:

Moderate exercise for 1 hour/day, either active treadmill walking or passive cycling, improved muscle reinnervation, increased the number of regenerated axons in the distal nerve, and reduced the increased excitability of spinal reflexes after nerve lesion.

Discussion:

Maintenance of denervated muscle activity and afferent input, by active or passive exercise, may increase trophic factor release to act on regenerating axons and to modulate central neuronal plasticity. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Risk factors and management of deep venous thrombosis in children following post‐surgical hypopituitarism in craniopharyngioma
Authors: Chandrakasan Shanmuganathan , Sood Sandeep , Ham Steven , Moltz Kathleen , Frey Mary Jane , Rajpurkar Madhvi
Published: February 2011

Post‐operative hypopituitarism following craniopharyngioma (CP) surgery is treated by replacement of various hormones. The risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following CP surgery and initiation of hormones has not been well studied and recognized. We present three patients with DVT who had family history of DVT and procoagulant risk factors such as inherited thrombophilia and elevated Von Willebrand factor levels due to treatment with desmopressin. We discuss the individualized management of anticoagulation and the dilemma of starting estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy in them. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;57:175–177. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimizing the nanofibrous morphology of electrospun poly[(butylene succinate)‐ co‐(butylene adipate)]/clay nanocomposites and revealing the effect of the fibre nano‐dimension on the attained material properties
Authors: Tsimpliaraki Athanasia , Zuburtikudis Ioannis , Marras Sotirios I , Panayiotou Costas
Published: February 2011

Electrospun mats of biodegradable polymer/clay nanocomposites were prepared in order to investigate the qualitative and quantitative correlations between electrospinning‐related parameters and the fibrous morphology of the mats. A full factorial design of experiments was used for that purpose and scanning electron microscopy was employed for dimensional characterization and determination of the chosen responses. Statistical analysis revealed that solution concentration and clay loading of nanocomposite were the most important parameters affecting the morphology of the fibrous webs. This, subsequently, allowed prediction of the domain of these two parameter settings where purely fibrous morphology can be achieved and further allowed optimization of the process in the framework of response surface methodology (RSM). The structure and thermal behaviour of the nanocomposites were also characterized before and after electrospinning using X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. A multi‐analyte platform is provided by the combination of RSM results for improving the nanofibrous quality and post‐spinning characterization for predicting the overall performance of the electrospun web. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) cross‐resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides
Authors: Kaloumenos Nikolaos S , Adamouli Vasiliki N , Dordas Christos A , Eleftherohorinos Ilias G
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: Papaver rhoeas (L.) has evolved resistance to tribenuron in winter wheat fields in northern Greece owing to multiple Pro197 substitutions. Therefore, the cross‐resistance pattern to other sulfonylurea and non‐sulfonylurea ALS‐inhibiting herbicides of the tribenuron resistant (R) and susceptible (S) corn poppy populations was studied by using whole‐plant trials and in vitro ALS catalytic activity assays.

RESULTS: The whole‐plant trials revealed that tribenuron R populations were also cross‐resistant to sulfonylureas mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron, chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron. The whole‐plant resistance factors (RFs) calculated for pyrithiobac, imazamox and florasulam ranged from 12.4 to > 88, from 1.5 to 28.3 and from 5.6 to 25.4, respectively, and were lower than the respective tribenuron RF values (137 to > 2400). The ALS activity assay showed higher resistance of the ALS enzyme to sulfonylurea herbicides (tribenuron > chlorsulfuron) and lower resistance to non‐sulfonylurea ALS‐inhibiting herbicides (pyrithiobac > florasulam ≈ imazamox).

CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Pro197 substitution by Ala, Ser, Arg or Thr in corn poppy results in a less sensitive ALS enzyme to sulfonylurea herbicides than to other ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. The continued use of sulfonylurea herbicides led to cross‐resistance to all ALS‐inhibiting herbicides, making their use impossible in corn poppy resistance management programmes. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Field evaluation of synthetic sex pheromone traps for the cocoa mirid Sahlbergella singularis (Hemiptera: Miridae)
Authors: Mahob Raymond J , Babin Régis , ten Hoopen Gerben M , Dibog Luc , Yede  , Hall David R , Bilong Bilong Charles F
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: Field trapping experiments were conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of five different pheromone blends as well as the impact of trap design on attractiveness towards cocoa mirids, Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. and Distantiella theobroma (Dist.), in Cameroon.

RESULTS: A total of 361 adults of S. singularis (359 males and two females) were caught. The highest numbers of mirids were found in traps with pheromone blends that combined a monoester and a diester, compared with traps with the diester or the monoester individually and control traps with no pheromone. Rectangular traps caught significantly more mirids compared with delta traps. The mean number of 5.1 mirids trap−1 year−1 caught in rectangular traps was significantly higher compared with the 1.8 mirids trap−1 year−1 for the delta traps.

CONCLUSION: The data revealed that rectangular traps containing pheromone blends combining both the monoester and the diester have a good potential to lure and trap adult males of S. singularis on cocoa farms. The pheromone blends used were specific for S. singularis, and the use of pheromone traps appears to be a promising strategy for incorporation into integrated pest management strategies for the monitoring or even the control of S. singularis in cocoa plantations. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Photoinduced C70 radical anions in polymer:fullerene blends
Authors: Sperlich Andreas , Liedtke Moritz , Kern Julia , Kraus Hannes , Deibel Carsten , Filippone Salvatore , Delgado Juan Luis , Martín Nazario , Dyakonov Vladimir
Published: February 2011

Photoinduced polarons in solid films of polymer:fullerene blends were studied by photoluminescence (PL), photoinduced absorption (PIA) and electron spin resonance (ESR). The donor materials used were P3HT and MEH‐PPV. As acceptors we employed PC60BM as reference and various soluble C70‐derivates: PC70BM, two different diphenylmethano‐[70]fullerene oligoether (C70‐DPM‐OE) and two dimers, C70–C70 and C60–C70. Blend films containing C70 revealed characteristic spectroscopic signatures not seen with C60. Light‐induced ESR showed signals at g ≥ 2.005, assigned to an electron localized on the C70 cage. The formation of C70 radical anions also leads to a subgap PIA band at 0.92 eV, hidden in the spectra of C70‐based P3HT and MEH‐PPV blends, which allows for more exact studies of charge separated states in conjugated polymer:C70 blends. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Additional results for ‘Sequential design approaches for bioequivalence studies with crossover designs’
Authors: Montague Timothy H , Potvin Diane , DiLiberti Charles E. , Hauck Walter W. , Parr Alan F. , Schuirmann Donald J.
Published: February 2011

In 2008, this group published a paper on approaches for two‐stage crossover bioequivalence (BE) studies that allowed for the reestimation of the second‐stage sample size based on the variance estimated from the first‐stage results. The sequential methods considered used an assumed GMR of 0.95 as part of the method for determining power and sample size. This note adds results for an assumed GMR = 0.90. Two of the methods recommended for GMR = 0.95 in the earlier paper have some unacceptable increases in Type I error rate when the GMR is changed to 0.90. If a sponsor wants to assume 0.90 for the GMR, Method D is recommended. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using latent class analysis to analyze children's responses to the question, “What is a day?”
Authors: Harlow Danielle B. , Swanson Lauren H. , Nylund‐Gibson Karen , Truxler Adam
Published: February 2011

Understanding what children know is paramount to planning effective science instruction; however, in any classroom, the students hold a variety of ideas. Representing these differences in ways that also acknowledge the common trends among students might facilitate the process of differentiation. To exemplify one such possible process of representing students' ideas, we used to the statistical method of latent class analysis to understand 480 students' (Grades 1–8) responses to the question, “What is a day?” The initial coding of students' drawn and written responses allowed us to identify a variety of ideas drawn on by the students. For example, younger children provided very personal responses and older students provided more scientific or mathematical responses. The subsequent quantitative analysis revealed ways that ideas were connected in groups of students, ultimately providing descriptions of progressively sophisticated responses typical at each grade level. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 95: 477–496, 2011
Characterization of silicone coating for archeological stone conservation
Authors: El‐Midany A. A. , Khallaf M. K. , El‐Mofty S. E.
Published: February 2011

Testing of polymeric materials for protection of archeological stones is a subject of continuous research. The selection criteria of a suitable polymer need intensive investigation. In the current study, silicone emulsion was used for stone conservation. The effectiveness of silicone in protecting either sandstone or limestone, as main archeological stones, was investigated in terms of its interaction with the studied stone. In addition, the durability of the coating under different environmental conditions was tested and simulated by artificial aging. Additionally, the mechanism of the interaction was investigated using interfacial measurements.

The results showed the physical nature of adsorption on either stones as indicated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Electrokinetic results. Moreover, the polymer shows a significant effect on the physical and mechanical properties, e.g. increase in bulk density from 1.9 to 2.2 g/cm3 and decrease in porosity from 15.8 to 2.5% as well as the noticeable increase in compressive strength. All these measures indicated the suitability of the polymer in conservation of either sandstone or limestone. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of oxidized silicon (SiOx) surfaces functionalization on real‐time PCR by Lab‐on‐a‐chip microdevices
Authors: Suriano Raffaella , Hume Jasmin , Cereda Marco , De Fazio Marco , Bianchessi Marco , Levi Marinella , Turri Stefano
Published: February 2011

There is a great need to improve the biocompatibility of silicon‐based lab‐on‐chip substrate materials for reliable quantitative analysis of biological solutions. These advanced microdevice surfaces need not only be biocompatible but also have surfaces of defined wettability characteristics. The inhibition of biomolecular activity due to microdevice surface interaction is common and can result in inaccurate results or decreased reaction yields. In this work we investigate different techniques for the chemical functionalization of oxidized silicon (SiOx) surfaces in order to: (i) obtain defined hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces; and (ii) increase the efficiency of performing Real‐Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on a silicon‐based lab‐on‐chip. Silicon oxide surfaces are functionalized by grafting alkylic chain silanes and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains to the surfaces, rendering them hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Functionalized surfaces are characterized through contact angle and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements, showing stable hydrophobic surfaces with contact angles of 69–78° and layer thicknesses of 11–15 Å and hydrophilic surfaces displaying contact angles of 5–6° and thicknesses of 22–52 Å. PCR experiments carried out directly on bare silicon oxide lab‐on‐chip surfaces show low yields of DNA amplification. Hydrophobic surfaces decrease the inhibition of PCR. Hydrophilic surfaces are a major improvement on the bare silicon oxide exhibiting the same maximum reaction yield as obtained with a standard thermocycler. We have found that the best results are associated with PEG modified surfaces, which prove very suitable for the fabrication of reliable PCR silicon lab‐on‐chips. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CEOs from Orthopaedic Centers Worldwide Meet to Discuss Common Challenges: 2010 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Orthopaedic Centers
Authors: Robbins Laura , Shapiro Louis A. , Spielmann Matthias P. , Baldi Giovanni
Published: February 2011

The International Society of Orthopaedic Centers was formed in 2006 as a think tank that would bring together thought leaders in orthopaedic surgery from major orthopaedic academic centers around the world. The Society's mission is to share knowledge and strategies, improve patient care, and foster clinical, educational, and scientific collaboration. As the Society's agendas developed, the members recognized that many of their aims intersected with those of hospital leadership. Thus, CEOs from member centers were invited to join their physician colleagues at the 2010 meeting in Bologna, Italy in order to explore solutions to administrative challenges related to patient care, volume growth, and costs. This paper describes the dialogue that took place at the meeting.
Influence of Polydimethylsiloxane on the Oxygen Concentration of Oils at Various Temperatures
Authors: Gerde Jose A. , Hammond Earl G. , White Pamela J.
Published: February 2011

The effect of temperature on the oil oxygen concentration, tested in both soybean and olive oils with no added polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), showed that the oxygen concentration increased with temperature to approximately 100 °C. Above 100 °C, the oxygen concentration abruptly decreased. This change was attributed to the balance between the rates of oxygen uptake and consumption by oil oxidation, which favored oxygen consumption over uptake at temperatures above 100 °C. The addition of 100 ppb PDMS to soybean oil, enough to form a continuous layer over the surface of the oil, reduced the oxygen concentration when compared to a soybean oil control containing no added PDMS at temperatures ranging from 93 to 180 °C; thus suggesting an oxygen barrier effect of PDMS. The accumulation of PDMS at the air–oil interface in soybean oil held at 180 °C was determined by comparing the oil's internal temperature and the apparent surface temperature. A decrease in the apparent surface temperature while the oil was held at a constant internal temperature was attributed to a change in the emissivity of the surface as a consequence of the accumulation of PDMS in the air–oil interface. The presence of PDMS at the air–oil interface was confirmed for 100 ppm of PDMS, a concentration greater than the concentration necessary to form a monolayer of PDMS on the oil surface.
Analyse du statut spermatique, érectile et hormonal chez des patients hémodialysés
Authors: Ajina M. , Zaouali M. , Loussaief W. , Benjamaa N. , Boughizane S. , Frih A. , El May M. , Saad A.
Published: February 2011

But

Le but de notre travail était d’établir le profil hormonal, érectile et spermatique chez les patients hémodialysés et de rechercher l’impact des perturbations hormonales sur la fonction érectile (FE) et les paramètres spermatiques.

Patients et méthodes

Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale chez 30 sujets hémodialysés chez qui un spermogramme a été réalisé parallèlement à un bilan hormonal qui incluait le dosage sérique de FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) et la testostérone totale. La FE a été évaluée par l’étude de l’indice international de la FE dans sa version française (IIEF-5). Le dosage des hormones sexuelles a été fait par la technique radio-immunologique, et la pratique du spermogramme a été faite selon les recommandations de l’OMS.

Résultats

Deux patients seulement avaient un spermogramme et un bilan hormonal normaux, l’IIEF était normal chez un seul patient.

Les patients azoospermiques (16 %) présentaient un eugonadisme hypergonadotrophique. Quarante pour cent des patients avaient une hypospermie. Un tiers des patients présentait une oligozoospermie sévère associée à un taux élevé de FSH dans 77 % des cas.

La mobilité et la morphologie spermatique étaient altérées dans respectivement 96 et 50 % des cas. Le bilan hormonal montrait une élévation de la FSH (> 8,5 mUI/ml) chez 40 % des patients, et la testostéronémie était diminuée (< 3,2 ng/ml) chez 25 % des patients. Deux patients présentaient un hypogonadisme franc (testostérone < 2 ng /ml).

Discussion

Le volume de sperme était diminué de façon significative chez les patients de plus de 30 ans. La FE était perturbée dans 73 % des cas avec un IIEF moyen de 15 (IIEF normal > 20). Plusieurs auteurs ont mis en évidence une corrélation entre le dysfonctionnement gonadique et les taux élevés de gonadotrophines chez l’homme présentant une insuffisance rénale chronique, avec ou sans atrophie testiculaire. Dans notre série, la testostéronémie était normale chez nos patients malgré l’absence de prise d’androgène. Les séances d’hémodialyses permettent-elles de préserver la fonction endocrine des testicules ?

Conclusion

Les patients au stade d’hémodialyse chronique d’une durée supérieure à un an présentaient un eugonadisme hypergonadotrophique ainsi qu’une insuffisance érectile. L’ancienneté de l’hémodialyse n’altère pas de manière significative les paramètres spermatiques ni la FE. Les patients d’un âge supérieur à 30 ans présentaient une diminution significative du volume spermatique qui pourrait être un marqueur déterminant de l’atteinte de la FE et de la fonction reproductive.
Dynamic temporal and spatial regulation of mu opioid receptor expression in primary afferent neurons following spinal nerve injury
Authors: Leel Chun‐Yi , Perezl Federico M. , Wangl Wei , Guanl Xiaowei , Zhaol Xiuli , Fisherl Janet L. , Guanl Yun , Sweitzerl Sarah M. , Rajal Srinivasa N. , Taol Yuan‐Xiang
Published: February 2011

Despite using prescribed pain medications, patients with neuropathic pain continue to experience moderate to severe pain. There is a growing recognition of a potent peripheral opioid analgesia in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The goal of this study was to characterize the temporal and spatial expression of mu opioid receptor (mOR) mRNA and protein in primary afferent neurons in a rat L5 spinal nerve ligation model of persistent neuropathic pain. Bilateral L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), L4 and L5 spinal cord segments, and hind paw plantar skins were collected on days 0 (naïve), 3, 7, 14, and 35 post‐spinal nerve ligation or post‐sham surgery. We found that expression of mOR mRNA and protein in primary afferent neurons changed dynamically and site‐specifically following L5 spinal nerve ligation. Real‐time RT—PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis demonstrated a down‐regulation of mOR mRNA and protein in the injured L5 DRG. In contrast, in the uninjured L4 DRG, mOR mRNA transiently decreased on day 7 and then increased significantly on day 14. Western blot analysis revealed a persistent increase in mOR protein expression, although immunohistochemistry showed no change in number of mOR‐positive neurons in the uninjured L4 DRG. Interestingly, mOR protein expression was reduced in the skin on days 14 and 35 post‐nerve injury and in the L4 and L5 spinal cord on day 35 post‐nerve injury. These temporal and anatomically specific changes in mOR expression following nerve injury are likely to have functional consequences on pain‐associated behaviors and opioid analgesia.
Biological challenges of BRAF inhibitor therapy
Authors: Puzanov Igor , Burnett Patrick , Flaherty Keith T.
Published: February 2011

Activating mutations in BRAF, a constituent of the map kinase pathway, were first discovered as being most prevalent in melanoma in 2002. Only recently have potent and selective, orally available inhibitors of BRAF emerged for clinical testing and demonstrated clear evidence of tumor regression in the majority of patients whose tumors harbor a BRAF mutation. While these early observations suggest that the BRAF targeted therapy will become part of the standard treatment paradigm for patients with advanced melanoma, it is also clear that a majority of these responses are incomplete and temporary. Therefore, the focus of the melanoma field has shifted to understanding the limits of the first generation of selective BRAF inhibitors with regard to safety and efficacy, the context of somatic genetic changes that accompany BRAF, and the combination regimens that target distinct elements of melanoma pathophysiology.
Bedarfsorientierte Patienteninformation: Was interessiert Patienten bei der Arztsuche?
Authors: Schmidt-Kaehler Sebastian , Hennig Stefanie , Thranberend Timo
Published: February 2011

Einleitung

Das Informationsangebot für Patienten ist in den vergangenen Jahren deutlich gewachsen. Dennoch fühlen sich viele Patienten besonders bei der Wahl eines Leistungsanbieters nicht adäquat informiert. Das Projekt „Weisse Liste“ (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Patienten- und Verbraucherorganisationen) möchte bei Auswahlentscheidungen unterstützen. In einem Projekt mit der AOK entwickelt es eine Online-Arztsuche. Der Artikel beschreibt den Informationsbedarf von Patienten – und wie dieser berücksichtigt wird.
Pain sensitivity and experimentally induced sensitisation in red haired females
Authors: Andresen Trine , Lunden Dagmar , Drewes Asbjørn M. , Arendt-Nielsen Lars
Published: February 2011

Introduction and aim

Pain sensitivity has been linked to the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene. A mutation in MC1R can result in pale skin and red hair in humans and may modulate pain responses in general. Human studies have shown that women with non-functional MC1R’s were sensitive to experimental induced cold and heat pain. A study demonstrated that females with red hair required higher dose of anesthesia than females with dark hair to experience analgesia to electrical stimulation. Moreover, women expressing non-functional MC1Rs display greater analgesia from opioid analgesia. If redheads in general respond differently to pain and analgesics, this is of clinical importance. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate pain sensitivity and experimentally induced sensitisation in red haired females.

Method

Twenty healthy females with pale skin and red hair (mean age 32 years, range 20–55) and 20 healthy females with blond/dark hair (mean age 31 years, range 20–51) participated in this study. The pain tolerance thresholds to heat and pressure stimulation were determined. Hyperalgesia was induced experimentally by applying 0.075% topical capsaicin cream for 30 min. The secondary pin-prick hyperalgesic area was estimated with a calibrated filament (von Frey hair, 15 g) and the area of allodynia by a soft brush. This was done 0, 30, 60, and 90 min after cream removal.

Results

Neither heat nor pressure pain tolerance thresholds were changed in the two groups. The secondary pin-prick hyperalgesic areas were significantly smaller for red haired females than blond/dark haired females (P = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the allodynic areas.

Discussion

As the secondary hyperalgesic response evoked by topical capsaicin is a central phenomenon, the observed smaller pin-prick hyperalgesic area in the red haired females could indicate a central role of MCRs in development or maintenance of hyperalgesia. Central involvement of MC1Rs or dysfunction of peripheral MC1Rs activating central MC4Rs has been suggested to influence pain sensitivity. The difference observed between red haired and non-red haired females may have implications for pain management regimens as compounds interacting with sensitisation such as NMDA-antagonists or alpha-2-delta-ligands may exert different types of action in people with MC1R mutation.

Conclusion

The present study showed that red haired females were less sensitive to topical capsaicin induced pin-prick hyperalgesia compared with blond/dark haired females.

Implications

The smaller hyperalgesic area in redheads could be a manifestation of central anti-hyperalgesic involvement of MCRs and could have an influence on the treatment of pain as well as in studies investigating anti-hyperalgesic drugs.
BOUNDING THE MINIMUM ORDER OF Aπ-BASE
Authors: MUÑOZ MARÍA
Published: February 2011

LetXbe a topological space. A family ℬ of nonempty open sets inXis called aπ-base ofXif for each open setUinXthere existsB∈ℬ such thatB⊂U. The order of aπ-base ℬ at a pointxis the cardinality of the family ℬx={B∈ℬ:x∈B} and the order of theπ-base ℬ is the supremum of the orders of ℬ at each pointx∈X. A classical theorem of Shapirovskiĭ [‘Special types of embeddings in Tychonoff cubes’, in:Subspaces of Σ-Products and Cardinal Invariants, Topology, Coll. Math. Soc. J. Bolyai, 23 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1980), pp. 1055–1086; ‘Cardinal invariants in compact Hausdorff spaces’,Amer. Math. Soc. Transl.134(1987), 93–118] establishes that the minimum order of aπ-base is bounded by the tightness of the space when the space is compact. Since then, there have been many attempts at improving the result. Finally, in [‘The projectiveπ-character bounds the order of aπ-base’,Proc. Amer. Math. Soc.136(2008), 2979–2984], Juhász and Szentmiklóssy proved that the minimum order of aπ-base is bounded by the ‘projectiveπ-character’ of the space for any topological space (not only for compact spaces), improving Shapirovskiĭ’s theorem. The projectiveπ-character is in some sense an ‘external’ cardinal function. Our purpose in this paper is, on the one hand, to give bounds of the projectiveπ-character using ‘internal’ topological properties of the subspaces on compact spaces. On the other hand, we give a bound on the minimum order of aπ-base using other cardinal functions in the frame of general topological spaces. Open questions are posed.
Regional variation in preference for gastropod shell species in the hermit crab Pagurus filholi
Authors: Hasegawa Hiromi , Wada Satoshi , Aoki Masakazu , Wada Keiji
Published: February 2011

The preference for two shell species, Monodonta labio form confusa and Thais clavigera, was compared between two populations of the hermit crab Pagurus filholi from Oura Bay, Shimoda, central Japan and from Hakodate Bay, Hakodate, northern Japan. Hermit crabs from Oura Bay preferred T. clavigera to M. labio form confusa, whereas crabs from Hakodate Bay preferred M. labio form confusa. The shell of T. clavigera was more effective against desiccation and high temperature stress but heavier than M. labio form confusa. The preference of P. filholi from Oura Bay for T. clavigera may be attributable to the greater requirement for protection against higher physical stresses, even though a higher energetic cost related to the shell weight is incurred.
The Spirit of a Heroine: Ya Mo—Spirit Reverence, Patriotism and Thai Buddhism
Authors: NILSEN MARTE
Published: February 2011

The story of Ya Mo is that of a great Thai heroine honoured with a grand monument (the Suranari memorial) in the centre of Khorat, a city in the north-east of Thailand. The monument is a sacred shrine embedding Ya Mo's guardian spirit which protects the people of the city. She is a grantor of protection, auspiciousness and good luck, and can fulfil wishes, needs and requests. Her spirit can be benevolent as well as ferocious and revengeful. She is a warrior and a guardian, but also a grandmother and a symbol of patriotism, kinship and loving kindness. Ya Mo and her shrine must be perceived in relation to Thai religion and the position of deities, spirits, ghosts and otherworldly beings in Theravāda Buddhism. Ya Mo represents a wide range of meanings and functions, but when viewed exclusively as a historical figure, most of these do not surface. In order to understand the Ya Mo phenomenon, the field between religion and magic in Thai Theravāda Buddhism must therefore be explored, as well as how people create and uphold distinctions between religion and magic, and how they communicate and negotiate between these two spheres or dimensions. This paper attempts to analyse how non-Buddhist monuments and shrines, in this case a historical memorial to Ya Mo, erected as part of Thai nation-building, represent a vivid part of Thai religious and spiritual life, deeply rooted in a Buddhist worldview.
Theoretical and experimental studies of material radiative properties and their applications to laser and heavy ion inertial fusion
Authors: Orlov N. Yu. , Denisov O.B. , Rosmej O.N. , Schäfer D. , Nisius Th. , Wilhein Th. , Zhidkov N. , Kunin A. , Suslov N. , Pinegin A. , Vatulin V. , Zhao Y.
Published: February 2011

Theoretical and experimental studies of radiative properties of substances heated by pulsed current devises or lasers and used as X-ray sources have been carried out depending on plasma conditions, and specific spectra of X-ray absorption and radiation for different materials have been calculated. Important features of the theoretical model, known as the ion model of plasma, are discussed. This model can be applied for calculations of the radiative properties of complex materials over a wide range of plasma parameters. For purposes of indirect-driven inertial fusion based on the hohlraum concept, an optimization method is used for the selection of an effective complex hohlraum wall material, which provides high radiation efficiency at laser interaction with the wall. The radiation efficiency of the resulting material is compared with the efficiency of other composite materials that have previously been evaluated theoretically. A similar theoretical study is performed for the optically thin X-pinch plasma produced by exploding wires. Theoretical estimations of radiative efficiency are compared with experimental data that have been obtained from measurements of X-pinch radiation energy yield using two exploding wire materials, NiCr and Alloy 188. It is shown that the theoretical results agree well with the experimental data. A symmetric multilayer X-pinch, where W and Mo wires are used, is as well considered. The theoretical explanation of experimental phenomena is discussed based on the W and Mo radiative spectra. The ion model was as well applied for interpretation of experimental results on opacities of CHO-plasma obtained via indirect heating of low density polymer layers by means of soft X-rays. The new diagnostics method based on the deformation of the of the Carbon absorption K-edge when foam layer is heated to plasma is discussed. The spectral coefficients for X-ray absorption in CHO-plasma are calculated in the photon energy region around the Carbon K-edge for different plasma temperatures and mean foam density. In this case, the Carbon K-edge position on the energy scale can be used for plasma temperature diagnostic.
A one-dimensional model for the interaction between cell-to-cell adhesion and chemotactic signalling
Authors: ANGUIGE K.
Published: February 2011

We develop and analyse a discrete, one-dimensional model of cell motility which incorporates the effects of volume filling, cell-to-cell adhesion and chemotaxis. The formal continuum limit of the model is a non-linear generalisation of the parabolic-elliptic Keller–Segel equations, with a diffusivity which can become negative if the adhesion coefficient is large. The consequent ill-posedness results in the appearance of spatial oscillations and the development of plateaus in numerical solutions of the underlying discrete model. A global-existence result is obtained for the continuum equations in the case of favourable parameter values and data, and a steady-state analysis, which, amongst other things, accounts for high-adhesion plateaus, is carried out. For ill-posed cases, a singular Stefan-problem formulation of the continuum limit is written down and solved numerically, and the numerical solutions are compared with those of the original discrete model.
The shadow of economic history: the architecture of boom, slump and crisis
Authors: Charley Jonathan
Published: February 2011

We gazed with earnest hope for signs of recovery and longed for the airwaves to tell us that ‘the worst is past, economic Armageddon has been averted, and house prices are rising again’. What follows engages with debates on economic development and places the recent crisis in the architectural and building industry in historical context. It argues that it was irrational for architects and contractors to behave as if the boom would go on forever. Capitalist development has always been marked by periodic crises, and building production has always exhibited cycles of expansion and contraction.
Beethoven's new order
Authors: Bradley-Fulgoni Peter
Published: February 2011

The facts of thematic life are that every manifestation of a theme tends to divide into two parts. This is irrespective of whatever tonality is employed. In the West, even the simplest diatonic melody (that is one which we perceive to be in a tonality derived from major and minor scales) does this. For example there is a ‘natural’ tendency to gravitate between one note (the tonic) and another note a fifth higher or a fourth lower (the dominant); but such a modulation is not necessary to qualify part of a theme as a different phrase in the musical sentence; there may simply be a moment where the music pauses, reaching a recognisable point before moving to another independent fragment. Moreover, in sophisticated examples of bipartite form, such as the sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti, the duality is engendered not so much by a single theme as by an ensemble of aspects to the initial material, which in their turn form a group by themselves - a section - and where the borders between such sections are not always clearly definable.
Lack of dietary diversity and dyslipidaemia among stunted overweight children: the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey
Authors: Li Yanping , Wedick Nicole M , Lai Jianqiang , He Yuna , Hu Xiaoqi , Liu Ailing , Du Songming , Zhang Jian , Yang Xiaoguang , Chen Chunming , Hu Frank B , Ma Guansheng
Published: February 2011

Objective

Both stunting and overweight are present in children across China. Seemingly paradoxical, these two conditions can also coexist in the same child. The aim was to examine the associations between dietary food/nutrient intake and plasma lipid profiles related to stunting and overweight status.

Design

The 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey was a family-based nationally representative cross-sectional study.

Setting

Thirty-one provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

Subjects

The study included 13 770 children aged 2–17 years. The sample size for the four exposure groups was 10 814 for children of normal height and weight, 2128 for stunted, 729 for overweight and 99 for stunted overweight.

Results

Compared with children of normal height and weight, stunted and stunted overweight children consumed more high-energy-dense foods with a lower dietary diversity score, less protein, polyunsaturated fat and Fe, and a higher molar ratio of phytate to Ca. On the contrary, overweight children tended to consume significantly less carbohydrates and more protein and fat. Overall, stunted overweight children consumed lower amounts of vegetables, fruit, white meat (poultry and fish) and more milk. The OR for prevalent dyslipidaemia were 1·32 (95 % CI 1·13, 1·53), 1·76 (95 % CI 1·48, 2·09) and 2·59 (95 % CI 1·65, 4·07) among stunted, overweight and stunted overweight children, respectively, compared with children of normal height and weight. In addition, being overweight was significantly associated with high glucose concentrations, whereas stunting was significantly associated with having anaemia.

Conclusions

Limited dietary diversity and intake of high-energy-dense foods were notably observed among stunted overweight children. Furthermore, being stunted and/or overweight was associated with an increased likelihood of unhealthy lipid profiles.
Parent's responses to nutrient claims and sports celebrity endorsements on energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods: an experimental study
Authors: Dixon Helen , Scully Maree , Wakefield Melanie , Kelly Bridget , Chapman Kathy , Donovan Robert
Published: February 2011

Objective

To assess parents’ responses to common, potentially misleading strategies for marketing energy-dense and nutrient-poor (EDNP) child-oriented foods.

Design

Between-subjects online experiment to test whether nutrient claims and sports celebrity endorsements on the front of packs of EDNP products lead parents to prefer and rate these foods more favourably.

Setting

Australia.

Subjects

A total of 1551 parents of children aged 5–12 years, who were the main household grocery buyers.

Results

Inclusion of nutrient claims or sports celebrity endorsements on EDNP products led parents to perceive these products to be more nutritious than if they did not include such promotions. When asked to choose between a pair of different products (EDNP v. healthier), 56 % of parents did not read a nutrition information panel (NIP) before making their choice and this did not differ by promotion condition. These parents were more likely to choose an EDNP product if it included a nutrient claim (OR = 1·83, 95 % CI 1·31, 2·56; P < 0·001) or sports celebrity endorsement (OR = 2·37, 95 % CI 1·70, 3·32; P < 0·001). Sports celebrity endorsements also enhanced parent's perceptions of typical consumers of the product, perceptions of product healthiness and quality, as well as purchase intentions.

Conclusions

Nutrient claims and sports celebrity endorsements tip consumer preferences towards EDNP products bearing such promotions, especially among the majority who do not read the NIP. As parents largely determine what foods are available to children at home, it is critical that initiatives aimed at reducing the persuasive impact of food marketing include this target group.
A NOTE ON APPROXIMATE BENCHMARK SOLUTIONS FOR VISCOUS TWO-LAYER FLOWS
Authors: SELLIER M. , LENZ R. D.
Published: February 2011

An important test of the quality of numerical methods developed to track the interface between two fluids is their ability to reproduce test cases or benchmarks. However, benchmark solutions are scarce and virtually nonexistent for complex geometries. We propose a simple method to generate benchmark solutions in the context of the two-layer flow problem, a classical multiphase flow problem. The solutions are obtained by considering the inverse problem of finding the required channel geometry to obtain a prescribed interface profile. This viewpoint shift transforms the problem from that of having to solve a complex differential equation to the much easier one of finding the roots of a quartic polynomial.
Potassium Ion Homeostasis and Mitochondrial Redox Activity in Brain: Relative Changes as Indicators of Hypoxia
Authors: Milito Stephen J. , Raffin Cesar N. , Rosenthal Myron , Sick Thomas J.
Published: February 2011

This study was directed at relating ion transport and mitochondrial redox activity during hypoxia, as a step toward definition of brain oxygen sufficiency. To accomplish this, extracellular potassium ion activity (K+o) was recorded by ion-selective microelectrodes while reduction/oxidation (redox) ratios of cytochrome oxidase (cytochrome a,a3) were monitored by reflection spectrophotometry in cerebral cortex of rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. In normoxia, neuronal activation by direct cortical stimulation produced transient oxidation of cytochrome a,a3 and elevation of K+o. Moderate hypoxia (Pao2 above 50 mm Hg) resulted in reduction of cytochrome a,a3 but only slight elevation of K+o. At this level of hypoxia, cytochrome a,a3 continued to respond to neuronal activation with transient shifts toward oxidation and rates of K+o reaccumulation were unchanged from control. When Pao2 was further decreased below a critical threshold, stimulus-provoked oxidative responses of mitochondrial reactants were replaced by shifts toward reduction, but rates of reaccumulation of K+, spilled into the extracellular space by neuronal activation, remained unchanged. Only during severe hypoxia (Pao2 less than 20 mm Hg) was it possible in some animals to record a slowing in the reaccumulation of K+o without provocation of spreading cortical depression. These data indicate that ion transport activity in cerebral cortex is more refractory to hypoxia than is mitochondrial redox functioning. They suggest an in vivo parallel to the “cushioning” effect of mitochondria in vitro, in which oxygen consumption remains constant despite fluctuations in oxygenation and redox ratios, and also that there may be a greater anaerobic capacity to provide energy for ion transport in mammalian brain than has previously been appreciated.
Effects of Leukocytic Pyrogen (Interleukin-1) on Local Cerebral Glucose Utilization in Rats with and without Premedication with Indomethacin or Dexamethasone
Authors: Domer Floyd R. , Mori Kentaro , Dinarello Charles A. , Sokoloff Louis
Published: February 2011

Changes in body temperature were recorded in freely moving rats given phosphate-buffered saline or leukocytic pyrogen (interleukin-1) while the animals were in an infant incubator maintained at 25.5 ± 0.5°C. The leukocytic pyrogen increased body temperature by at least 1°C within 1 h. This rise in temperature was prevented by premedication with indomethacin (10 mg/kg) but not dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) given 15 min before the leukocytic pyrogen. Local rates of glucose utilization were measured in 47 regions of the central nervous system. In none of the regions previously reported to have an increased rate of glucose utilization associated with an ambient temperature of 32.5°C (McCulloch et al., 1982b) was an increase found in the present experiments. It was concluded that the intensity of the changes in local cerebral glucose utilization in response to the fever caused by the leukocytic pyrogen was insufficient to be measured. Neither indomethacin nor dexamethasone caused remarkable changes in rates of local glucose utilization.
Hyperglycemia Increases Infarct Size in Collaterally Perfused but Not End-Arterial Vascular Territories
Authors: Prado Ricardo , Ginsberg Myron D. , Dietrich W. Dalton , Watson Brant D. , Busto Raul
Published: February 2011

Hyperglycemia exacerbates neuronal injury in the setting of reversible brain ischemia, but its effect on focal thrombotic infarction has been less extensively characterized. We investigated this problem in two rat models of focal vascular occlusion. In Model I, the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was exposed via a subtemporal craniotomy in halothane- and nitrous oxide-anesthetized Wistar rats and was occluded photochemically by irradiation with an argon ion laser the intravenous administration of the photosensitizing dye rose bengal. Permanent MCA occlusion was combined with temporary bilateral common carotid artery ligation. In Model II, similarly anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanent photochemical occlusion of the right MCA without common carotid occlusion. In both models, rats were food deprived for 24 h and were administered varying amounts of 50% dextrose (or saline) 15 min prior to vascular occlusion to produce a spectrum of plasma glucose values, ranging from 5 to 44 μmol/ml. Brains were examined histologically 7 days following vascular occlusion, and computer-assisted planimetry was used to compute infarct volumes. In Model I, the volume of neocortical infarction ranged from 30.3 to 108.4 mm3 and exhibited a strong linear correlation with increasing preischemic plasma glucose values ( r = 0.70). In contrast, the size of the smaller striatal infarct in this model was not correlated with plasma glucose level. In Model II, there was a prominent striatal infarct, ranging in volume from 14.4 to 96.4 mm3, while neocortical infarction occurred inconstantly. As in Model I, striatal infarct volume in Model II showed no correlation with plasma glucose level. These results are consistent with the view that infarcted regions having collateral circulation [neocortex in MCA occlusion (Model I)] are vulnerable to the deleterious effects of hyperglycemia, whereas regions of nonanastomosing (end-arterial) vascular supply are not [striatum in Models I and II, and neocortex in previously reported model of photochemically induced primary microvascular thrombosis (Ginsberg et al., 1987)]. Thus, the harmful effects of elevated plasma glucose in stroke appear to be complex and may depend critically upon the degree to which collateral perfusion is available to the specific brain regions affected, as well as the extent to which local blood flow is reduced and the timing of glucose administration.