bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The past, present, and future of urban cable propelled people movers
Authors: Neumann Edward S.
Published: January 2010

The evolution of urban cable propelled people mover technology from the early 1800′s through the 1990′s is reviewed, with emphasis on systems developed since 1980. Technologies can be classified by the means of vehicle support and the type of service provided. The simplest systems serve as shuttles moving back‐and‐forth between a pair of terminal stations; more complex systems feature vehicles which are launched continuously at short headways. Advances have occurred in the design and aesthetics of guideways, vehicle operating speed, the spectrum of capacities available, and automated features. The characteristics of the individual systems in urban environments throughout the world are described.
Design of public transit network in urban area with elastic demand
Authors: Soehodo Sutanto , Koshi Masaki
Published: January 2010

This research focuses on an efficient design of transit network in urban areas. The system developed is used to create, analyze and optimize routes and frequencies of transit system in the network level. The analysis is based on elastic demand, so the shift of demand between modes in network due to different service level is of prime consideration. The developed system creates all feasible routes connecting all pairs of terminals in the network. Out of this vast pool of routes, a set of optimal routes is generated for a certain predetermined number that maintains connectivity of significant demand. Based on these generated routes, the system fulfils transportation demand by assigning demand that considers path and route choices for non‐transit users and transit users. Together with the assignment of demand, transit frequencies are optimized and the related fleet‐size is calculated. Having an optimal setting of solution, the system is continued by reconnecting the routes to find some other better solutions in the periphery of the optimal setting. A set of mathematical programming modules is developed. Real data from Sioux Falls city network is used to evaluate the performance of the model and compare with other heuristic methods.
Optimal feeder bus routes on irregular street networks
Authors: Chien Steven , Yang Zhaowei
Published: January 2010

The methodology presented here seeks to optimize bus routes feeding a major intermodal transit transfer station while considering intersection delays and realistic street networks. A model is developed for finding the optimal bus route location and its operating headway in a heterogeneous service area. The criterion for optimality is the minimum total cost, including supplier and user costs. Irregular and discrete demand distributions, which realistically represent geographic variations in demand, are considered in the proposed model. The optimal headway is derived analytically for an irregularly shaped service area without demand elasticity, with non‐uniformly distributed demand density, and with a many‐to‐one travel pattern. Computer programs are designed to analyze numerical examples, which show that the combinatory type routing problem can be globally optimized. The improved computational efficiency of the near‐optimal algorithm is demonstrated through numerical comparisons to an optimal solution obtained by the exhaustive search (ES) algorithm. The CPU time spent by each algorithm is also compared to demonstrate that the near‐optimal algorithm converges to an acceptable solution significantly faster than the ES algorithm.
Influence of peak spreading and departure time choice on evaluation of its measures
Authors: Heydecker B. G.
Published: January 2010

Intelligent transport systems provide various means to improve capacity and travel time in road networks. Evaluation of the benefits of these improvements requires consideration of travellers' response to them. We consider a continuous‐time equilibrium model of departure time choice and identify a formula for the dynamic equilibrium departure rate profile. We develop the analysis to consider the effect on the cost incurred by travellers of ITS measures through their effects on each of the travel time in the absence of congestion, and the capacity for travel. This shows the importance in choice of departure time of travellers' values of time at each of the origin and destination of their journeys. We show the importance of these values of time in evaluation, and that if travellers value their time at both the origin and destination of their journeys, their responses will lead them to achieve a greater reduction in costs than would be achieved under free‐flow conditions.
A systemic overview of non‐motorized transportation for developing countries: An agenda for action
Authors: Khisty C. Jotin
Published: January 2010

All through the twentieth century transportation planning and the implementation of transportation facilities in the developing world was heavily weighted toward motorized transportation (MT), despite the fact that non‐motorized transportation (NMT) constitutes a significant proportion of all trips. However, in the last two decades many researchers and practitioners all across the world have recognized the importance and advantages of NMT, and their investigations and findings have contributed toward identifying, if not mitigating, some of the more glaring problems in these countries. Unfortunately, most of these investigations have been performed in a piece‐meal and disjointed fashion. This paper explores the complex and sometimes poorly understood set of relationships between transportation and its links to a myriad of other factors, such as landuse, sustainability, safety, energy, ethical issues, value of time, telecommunication, environmental justice, and equity. The main objective of this paper is to provide a systemic overview of NMT by describing its multi‐dimensional aspects and to assist developing countries in formulating an “Agenda for Action”.
Modeling schedule recovery processes in transit operations for bus arrival time prediction
Authors: Lin Wei‐Hua , Bertini Robert L.
Published: January 2010

Many existing algorithms for bus arrival time prediction assume that buses travel at free‐flow speed in the absence of congestion. As a result, delay incurred at one stop would propagate to downstream stops at the same magnitude. In reality, skilled bus operators often constantly adjust their speeds to keep their bus on schedule. This paper formulates a Markov chain model for bus arrival time prediction that explicitly captures the behavior of bus operators in actively pursuing schedule recovery. The model exhibits some desirable properties in capturing the schedule recovery process. It guarantees provision of the schedule information if the probability of recovering from the current schedule deviation is sufficiently high. The proposed model can be embedded into a transit arrival time estimation model for transit information systems that use both real‐time and schedule information. It also has the potential to be used as a decision support tool to determine when dynamic or static information should be used.
Sperm‐egg interaction: is there a link between tetraspanin(s) and GPI‐anchored protein(s)?
Authors: Lefèvre Brigitte , Wolf Jean‐Philippe , Ziyyat Ahmed
Published: January 2010

Both female mice deficient in CD9 tetraspanin‐ and oocyte‐specific glycosyl‐phosphatidylinositol‐anchored family proteins showed severely reduced fertility due to the failure of sperm‐egg fusion. This raises the question of a link between these two groups of proteins at the oocyte membrane. We propose two hypotheses to explain why the absence of one of these proteins from the oocyte membrane results in the same phenotype. The first hypothesis envisages different levels of control by these molecules of the common induced signaling cascade. The second relies on the known involvement of these molecules in the overall organization of the plasma membrane. Their disappearance could thus prevent sperm‐egg fusion either by disruption of the signaling cascade and/or by an important disorganization of the oocyte membrane. In this review, describing their structural and functional characteristics, and using published results on the oocyte, we try to analyze how these two protein families could interact.
Resveratrol and rapamycin: are they anti‐aging drugs?
Authors: Kaeberlein Matt
Published: January 2010

Studies of the basic biology of aging have advanced to the point where anti‐aging interventions, identified from experiments in model organisms, are beginning to be tested in people. Resveratrol and rapamycin, two compounds that target conserved longevity pathways and may mimic some aspects of dietary restriction, represent the first such interventions. Both compounds have been reported to slow aging in yeast and invertebrate species, and rapamycin has also recently been found to increase life span in rodents. In addition, both compounds also show impressive effects in rodent models of age‐associated diseases. Clinical trials are underway to assess whether resveratrol is useful as an anti‐cancer treatment, and rapamycin is already approved for use in human patients. Compounds such as these, identified from longevity studies in model organisms, hold great promise as therapies to target multiple age‐related diseases by modulating the molecular causes of aging.
Muscle unloading potentiates the effects of acetyl‐L‐carnitine on the slow oxidative muscle phenotype
Authors: Cassano Pierluigi , Flück Martin , Giovanna Sciancalepore Anna , Pesce Vito , Calvani Menotti , Hoppeler Hans , Cantatore Palmiro , Gadaleta Maria Nicola
Published: January 2010

The effect of acetyl‐L‐carnitine (ALCAR) supplementation to 3‐month‐old rats in normal‐loading and unloading conditions has been here investigated by a combined morphological, biochemical and transcriptional approach to test whether ALCAR might cause a remodeling of the metabolic/contractile phenotype of soleus muscle. Morphological assessment demonstrated an increase of type I oxidative fiber content and cross‐sectional area in ALCAR‐treated animals both in normal‐loading and in unloading conditions. ALCAR prevented loss of mitochondrial mass in unloaded animals whereas no ALCAR‐dependent increase of mitochondrial mass occurred in normal‐loaded muscle. Validated microarray analysis delineated an ALCAR‐induced maintenance of a slow‐oxidative expression program only in unloaded soleus muscle. Indeed, the muscle adjustment of the expression profile of factors underlying mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, protein turnover, fiber type differentiation and an adaptation of voltage‐gated ion channel expression was distinguishable with respect to the loading status. This selectivity may suggest a key role of muscle loading status in the manifestation of ALCAR effects. The results extend to a broader level of biological informations the previous notion on ALCAR positive effect in rat soleus muscle during unloading and point to a role of ALCAR for the maintenance of its slow‐oxidative fiber character.
Solvation effects in calculated electrostatic association free energies for the C3d‐CR2 complex and comparison with experimental data
Authors: Cheung Alexander S. , Kieslich Chris A. , Yang Jianfeng , Morikis Dimitrios
Published: January 2010

The complement system is an integral part of the innate immune system that participates in the clearance of pathogens from the body. The association between complement protein fragment C3d and B or T cell‐receptor complement receptor (CR) 2 represents a crucial link between innate and adaptive immunities. The goal of this study is to predict association abilities of C3d and CR2 mutants by theoretically calculating electrostatic free energies of association and to assess the importance of solvation effects in the calculations. We demonstrate that calculated solvation free energy differences and Coulombic free energies of association are more sensitive than electrostatic free energies of association in solution and, thus, more accurate in predicting previously published experimental data for the association abilities (relative to the parent proteins) of specific C3d and CR2 mutants. We show that a proportional relationship exists between the predicted solvation free energy differences and the experimental data, while an inversely proportional relationship exists between the predicted Coulombic free energies of association and the experimental data. Our results yield new insights into the physicochemical properties underlying C3d‐CR2 association. We discuss the predictive validity of Coulombic, solvation, and solution electrostatic free energies of association and the generalization of our method for theoretical mutagenesis studies of other systems. This is a basic study, aimed toward improving our understanding of the theoretical basis of immune system regulation at the molecular level. Such insight can serve as the groundwork for the design of regulators with tailored properties, vaccines, and other biotechnology products. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93:509–519, 2010.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Enhancement of farnesyl diphosphate pool as direct precursor of sesquiterpenes through metabolic engineering of the mevalonate pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Asadollahi Mohammad A. , Maury Jérôme , Schalk Michel , Clark Anthony , Nielsen Jens
Published: January 2010

The mevalonate pathway in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was deregulated in order to enhance the intracellular pool of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), the direct precursor for the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes. Over‐expression of the catalytic domain of HMG1, both from the genome and plasmid, resulted in higher production of cubebol, a plant originating sesquiterpene, and increased squalene accumulation. Down‐regulation of ERG9 by replacing its native promoter with the regulatable MET3 promoter, enhanced cubebol titers but simultaneous over‐expression of tHMG1 and repression of ERG9 did not further improve cubebol production. Furtheremore, the concentrations of squalene and ergosterol were measured in the engineered strains. Unexpectedly, significant accumulation of squalene and restoring the ergosterol biosynthesis were observed in the ERG9 repressed strains transformed with the plasmids harboring cubebol synthase gene. This could be explained by a toxicity effect of cubebol, possibly resulting in higher transcription levels for the genes under control of MET3 promoter, which could lead to accumulation of squalene and ergosterol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 106: 86–96. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microarray and proteomics expression profiling identifies several candidates, including the valosin‐containing protein (VCP), involved in regulating high cellular growth rate in production CHO cell lines
Authors: Doolan Padraig , Meleady Paula , Barron Niall , Henry Michael , Gallagher Ross , Gammell Patrick , Melville Mark , Sinacore Martin , McCarthy Kevin , Leonard Mark , Charlebois Timothy , Clynes Martin
Published: January 2010

A high rate of cell growth (µ) leading to rapid accumulation of viable biomass is a desirable phenotype during scale up operations and the early stages of production cultures. In order to identify genes and proteins that contribute to higher growth rates in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, a combined approach using microarray and proteomic expression profiling analysis was carried out on two matched pairs of CHO production cell lines that displayed either fast or slow growth rates. Statistical analysis of the microarray and proteomic data separately resulted in the identification of 118 gene transcripts and 58 proteins that were differentially expressed between the fast‐ and slow‐growing cells. Overlap comparison of both datasets identified a priority list of 21 candidates associated with a high growth rate phenotype in CHO. Functional analysis (by siRNA) of five of these candidates identified the valosin‐containing protein (VCP) as having a substantial impact on CHO cell growth and viability. Knockdown of HSPB1 and ENO1 also had an effect on cell growth (negative and positive, respectively). Further functional validation in CHO using both gene knockdown (siRNA) and overexpression (cDNA) confirmed that altered VCP expression impacted CHO cell proliferation, indicating that VCP and other genes and proteins identified here may play an important role in the regulation of CHO cell growth during log phase culture and are potential candidates for CHO cell line engineering strategies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 106: 42–56. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structure and Antibacterial Activity of Brominated Diterpenes from the Red Alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius
Authors: Smyrniotopoulos Vangelis , Vagias Constantinos , Rahman Mukhlesur M. , Gibbons Simon , Roussis Vassilios
Published: January 2010

Four new tetracyclic brominated diterpenes, 1–4, were isolated from the organic extract of Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, collected from the rocky coasts of Corfu Island. The structures of the new natural products, as well as their relative configurations, were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral analyses, including 2D‐NMR experiments. The isolated metabolites were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against a panel of bacteria including multidrug‐resistant (MDR) and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with MIC values in the range of 16–128 μg/ml.
Terpene Conjugates of the Nigella sativa Seed‐Oil Constituent Thymoquinone with Enhanced Efficacy in Cancer Cells
Authors: Effenberger Katharina , Breyer Sandra , Schobert Rainer
Published: January 2010

Thymoquinone (TQ; 1) is a weak anticancer constituent of black seed oil. Derivatives bearing terpene‐terminated 6‐alkyl residues were tested in cells of human HL‐60 leukemia, 518A2 melanoma, multidrug‐resistant KB‐V1/Vbl cervix, and MCF‐7/Topo breast carcinomas, as well as in non‐malignant human foreskin fibroblasts. Derivatives with a short four‐atom spacer between quinone and cyclic monoterpene moieties were more antiproliferative than analogues with longer spacers. 6‐(Menthoxybutyryl)thymoquinone (3a) exhibited single‐digit micromolar IC50 (72 h) values in all four cell lines. It was seven times more active than TQ (1) in 518A2 melanoma cells and four times in KB‐V1/Vbl cervix carcinoma cells, while only half as toxic in the fibroblasts. Compound 3a was also not a substrate for the P‐gp and BCRP drug transporters of the resistant cancer cells. The caryophyllyl and germacryl conjugates 3e and 3f specifically inhibited the growth of the resistant MCF‐7 breast carcinoma cells. Conjugation of TQ with the triterpene betulinic acid via the OH group as in 3g led to a loss in activity, while conjugation via the carboxylic acid afforded compound 4 with nanomolar IC50 (72 h) activity against HL‐60 cells. All anticancer‐active derivatives of TQ (1) induced apoptosis associated with DNA laddering, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and a slight increase in reactive oxygen species.
Diagnostic accuracy and limitations of fine‐needle aspiration cytology of bone and soft tissue lesions
Authors: Khalbuss Walid E. , Teot Lisa A. , Monaco Sara E.
Published: January 2010

BACKGROUND:

Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is increasingly being used as a diagnostic modality for soft tissue and bone lesions. These diagnoses can be challenging because of a variety of factors, including interpretation and sampling issues. This study investigates the diagnostic utility of FNA biopsy, in addition to the diagnostic pitfalls, in soft tissue and bone cytopathology.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed the soft tissue and bone FNAs over a 4‐year period (2004‐2008), along with available ancillary studies, pathological follow‐up, and clinical data. The cases with a cytologic‐histologic discrepancy were then reviewed.

RESULTS:

A total of 1114 soft tissue and bone FNAs were identified. Of the 1114 aspirates, 525 (47%) were positive for malignant cells, 505 (45.5%) were benign aspirates (including 189 benign lesions/neoplasms), 37 (3.5%) were inadequate, 34 (3%) had atypical cells, and 13 (1%) were suspicious for malignancy. Of the 586 cases (53%) with follow‐up, including 445 cases with histological follow‐up and 141 with ancillary studies, the overall sensitivity was 96%, the specificity was 98%, the positive predictive value was 99%, and the negative predictive value was 92%. A total of 15 false negatives and 3 false positives were identified with errors because of sampling (9 cases), interpretation (7 cases), and screening (2 cases).

CONCLUSIONS:

This large series demonstrates that there can be a high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing bone and soft tissue lesions by FNA. Our data supports prior studies in the literature in showing that FNA cytology can be a valuable method for diagnosing these lesions. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Receptive‐field properties of V1 and V2 neurons in mice and macaque monkeys
Authors: Van den Bergh Gert , Zhang Bin , Arckens Lutgarde , Chino Yuzo M.
Published: January 2010

We report the results of extracellular single‐unit recording experiments where we quantitatively analyzed the receptive‐field (RF) properties of neurons in V1 and an adjacent extrastriate visual area (V2L) of anesthetized mice with emphasis on the RF center‐surround organization. We compared the results with the RF center‐surround organization of V1 and V2 neurons in macaque monkeys. If species differences in spatial scale are taken into consideration, mouse V1 and V2L neurons had remarkably fine stimulus selectivity, and the majority of response properties in V2L were not different from those in V1. The RF center‐surround organization of mouse V1 neurons was qualitatively similar to that for macaque monkeys (i.e., the RF center is surrounded by extended suppressive regions). However, unlike in monkey V2, a significant proportion of cortical neurons, largely complex cells in V2L, did not exhibit quantifiable RF surround suppression. Simple cells had smaller RF centers than complex cells, and the prevalence and strength of surround suppression were greater in simple cells than in complex cells. These findings, particularly on the RF center‐surround organization of visual cortical neurons, give new insights into the principles governing cortical circuits in the mouse visual cortex and should provide further impetus for the use of mice in studies on the genetic and molecular basis of RF development and synaptic plasticity. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:2051–2070, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Topography of ganglion cells and photoreceptors in the sheep retina
Authors: Shinozaki Aya , Hosaka Yoshinao , Imagawa Tomohiro , Uehara Masato
Published: January 2010

Retinal topographies of some cell types and distribution of the tapetum lucidum in the sheep's eye were investigated in this study. The tapetum was observed macroscopically in the fundus. The topographical distributions of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), cones, and rods were simultaneously analyzed in retinal whole mounts stained with cresyl violet. Short‐wavelength‐sensitive (S) cones were immunocytochemically identified in retinal whole mounts. The tapetum was located dorsal to the optic disc, with the nasal part elongated horizontally and the temporal part expanded dorsally. RGCs were distributed densely in the area centralis, horizontal visual streak, and anakatabatic area. The highest density in the area centralis was approximately 18,000 RGCs/mm2. Cones showed high density in the horizontal area crossing the optic disc and dorsotemporal area, whereas rods showed high density in the horizontal area, which was greater in height than the horizontal area of high cone density. S cones showed high density in the dorsotemporal retina. The rod/cone ratios were high horizontally in the dorsal retina to the optic disc, with a mean value of 11:1. The cone/RGC and rod/RGC ratios were lower in the horizontal and dorsotemporal retina, and the rod/cone/RGC ratio was lowest in the area centralis (9:1:1). The retinal topographies and distribution of the tapetum were specialized in the horizontal and dorsotemporal fundus. This suggests that sheep have better visual acuity in horizontal and anteroinferior visual fields and that this specialization is related to the visual ecology of sheep. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:2305–2315, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative study of Pax2 expression in glial cells in the retina and optic nerve of birds and mammals
Authors: Stanke Jennifer , Moose Holly E. , El‐Hodiri Heithem M. , Fischer Andy J.
Published: January 2010

Little is known about the expression of Pax2 in mature retina or optic nerve. Here we probed for the expression of Pax2 in late stages of embryonic development and in mature chick retina. We find two distinct Pax2 isoforms expressed by cells within the retina and optic nerve. Surprisingly, Müller glia in central regions of the retina express Pax2, and levels of expression are decreased with increasing distance from the nerve head. In Müller glia, the expression levels of Pax2 are increased by acute retinal damage or treatment with growth factors. At the optic nerve, Pax2 is expressed by peripapillary glia, at the junction of the neural retina and optic nerve head and by glia within the optic nerve. In addition, we assayed for Pax2 expression in glial cells in mammalian retinas. In mammalian retinas, unlike the case in chick retina, the Müller glia do not express Pax2. Pax2‐expressing cells are found in the optic nerve and astrocytes within the mouse retina. By comparison, Pax2‐positive cells are not found within the guinea pig retina; Pax2‐expressing glia are confined to the optic nerve. In dog and monkey (Macaca fascicularis), Pax2 is expressed by astrocytes that are scattered across inner retinal layers and by numerous glia within the optic nerve. Interestingly, Pax2‐positive glial cells are found at the peripheral edge of the dog retina, but only in older animals. We conclude that the expression of Pax2 in the vertebrate eye is restricted to retinal astrocytes, peripapillary glia, and glia within the optic nerve. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:2316–2333, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electronic volume, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and stem cell marker expression in cells from human peripheral blood apheresis samples
Authors: Sharma Siddharth , Shariatmadar Sherry , Krishan Awtar
Published: January 2010

Background:

Over‐expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase and other stem cell markers is characteristic of cells with tumorigenic potential in NOD/SCID mice. Most of these studies have focused on metastatic cells in bone marrow and on solid tumors. There are no studies on correlation of marker expression with ALDH1 expression in cells from human peripheral blood apheresis (HPC‐A) samples.

Methods:

HPC‐A samples from 44 patients were incubated with Aldefluor® with or without the presence of aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor DEAB. Cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase expression (ALDH1bright) were analyzed for stem/progenitor markers CD34, CD90, CD117, and CD133. Electronic volume measured by Coulter principal in a Quanta flow analyzer was correlated with ALDH1 and marker expression.

Results:

In ALDH1bright/SSClow cells, 0.13% of the cells had CD34+ expression and three distinct populations were seen. Expression of CD90 was dim and the frequency of ALDH1bright/SSClow/CD90dim cells amongst the nonlineage depleted samples was 0.04%. CD117dim‐bright expression was seen in 0.17% of the samples. Three distinct populations of cells with CD133 expression were seen in ALDH1bright/SSClow nonlineage depleted cells with a frequency of 0.28%. The ALDH1bright/CD90dim cells had the smallest mean electronic volume of 264.9 μm3 when compared with cells with CD34bright expression (270.2 μm3) and ALDH1dim/CD90dim cells (223 μm3).

Conclusions:

ALDH1bright/SSClow cells show heterogeneity in expression of the four stem cell markers studied. The CD90 cells in both the ALDH1bright and ALDH1dim populations had the smallest mean electronic volume when compared with similar cells with CD117 expression. © 2010 Clinical Cytometry Society
Diagnosis of sternomastoid tumor of infancy by fine‐needle aspiration cytology
Authors: Kumar Bipin , Pradhan Anju
Published: January 2010

Sternomastoid tumor of infancy, also known as fibromatosis colli or muscular torticollis, is a benign fibroblastic lesion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle presenting as a firm, fusiform, nontender neck mass of 1–3 cm in greatest dimension in the perinatal period. Various modalities are used for the diagnosis including radiographic studies, fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and open biopsy. We report eight cases of sternomastoid tumor of infancy diagnosed by FNAC. The objective of the study is to present the role of FNAC in the diagnosis of sternomastoid tumor with its cytomorphological features. FNA was done by using 23‐guage needle and 10 ml disposable plastic syringe. The wet smears were fixed in 95% ethanol and processed for Papanicolaou stain. The dried smears were stained with May–Grünwald–Giemsa stain. The smears were studied for cytomorphologic features. The age of the patients ranged between 2 and 10 weeks. Male: Female ratio was 1.6:1. Six of eight had history of prolonged labor, two had history of breech presentation, and three had history of forceps assisted vaginal delivery. Cytologic findings included singly scattered and loose clusters of benign fibroblasts with moderate amount of unipolar to bipolar cytoplasm and plumped, ovoid nuclei. Many multinucleated giant cells consistent with atrophic muscle fibers were also seen. FNAC is a reliable, safe, and cost‐effective method and can provide a rapid and reliable diagnosis of sternomastoid tumor of infancy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:13–17. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid follicular neoplasms: Cytological features in fine‐needle aspiration cytology
Authors: Maruta Junko , Hashimoto Hironobu , Suehisa Yuri , Yamashita Hiroto , Noguchi Shiro , Aratake Yatsuki , Ohno Eiji , Kobayashi Tadao K.
Published: January 2010

Cytological diagnosis in follicular neoplasms of the thyroid has to surmount some difficulties. Capsular/vascular invasions or metastasis are the histological criteria for follicular carcinoma (FC), and, on fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples, marked cytological atypias are only observed in moderately to poorly differentiated FC, while they may be completely lacking in well differentiated angio‐ or capsulo‐invasive FC. To clarify the cytological features and to improve the accuracy and reliability of aspiration cytology, 892 follicular adenomas and 82 FCs were reviewed. A macrofollicular pattern or large sheet pattern of follicular cells with thin colloid in the background were found to be indicators of follicular adenoma. Crowding or irregular arrangement of follicular cells were found to indicate microfollicular lesions but could not discriminate between benign and malignant conditions. High nucleo‐cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear atypia, and coarse granular or dense chromatin were more important criteria for malignancy than nuclear grooves or intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions. The cytomorphologic features of the follicular neoplasms of the thyroid are described, and the difficulties encountered in the cytodiagnosis of follicular lesions are discussed at length. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:28–34. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The impact of using defined criteria for adequacy of fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid in routine practice
Authors: Haider Asma S. , Rakha Emad A. , Dunkley Christine , Zaitoun Abed M.
Published: January 2010

The fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid is the predominant method of preoperative tissue diagnosis of thyroid lesions. The routine use of FNAC has reduced the rate of unnecessary surgery for thyroid nodules. However, there are overlaps in the existing criteria for defining adequacy in thyroid aspirates. In this study, we aimed to explore the reasons for high percentage of inadequate thyroid FNAC samples and to reevaluate those samples by applying clearly defined criteria suggested in the literature to reduce the proportion of inadequate aspirates.

The results of 550 smears reported as inadequate FNAC samples are presented over a period of 15 years extending from 1986 to 2000 (18.8%). For the purpose of the study, only those patients with subsequent histological or cytological analysis were included (279). The original FNA samples were reviewed by two cytopathologists, unaware of the subsequent repeat cytology or histology results. Specific criteria for adequacy of specimens were used which include the presence of six or more groups of follicular cells, each having more than 10 discernable viable cells or 60 isolated viable follicular cells.

Out of 279, 82 (29%) FNAC samples originally reported as inadequate met our criteria and were considered adequate on review. Of these 82 cases, subsequent surgical excision showed malignancy in 5 cases (6%), adenoma in 7 (9%), and benign hyperplasia and thyroiditis in 70 cases (85%). In addition, 16 (5%) cases were classified as cysts. The slide preparation error was noticed in 26 (14%) and the sampling error was observed in 160 (86%) cases.

The use of well‐defined criteria for adequacy is helpful because it improves the diagnostic efficiency of thyroid FNA and avoids unnecessary surgery for benign nonneoplastic thyroid lesions. However, since application of these criteria has also resulted in an increase in the false‐negative diagnoses, they should be applied in the multidisciplinary context. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:81–86. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytopathologic features of orbital intraosseous chordoid meningioma: Report of a case and distinction from other myxoid/mucoid tumors
Authors: Hayashi Toshitetsu , Haba Reiji , Kushida Yoshio , Kadota Kyuichi , Katsuki Naomi , Bando Kenji , Miyai Yumi , Shibuya Shinsuke , Funamoto Yasunobu , Shindo Atsushi , Miyake Keisuke , Tamiya Takashi
Published: January 2010

Chordoid meningioma (CM) is characterized by a striking histologic resemblance to chordoma and propensity for aggressive behavior or recurrence (WHO grade II designation). Orbital intraosseous CM is extremely uncommon and only one case report has been documented. A case is presented here in which squash smears of a left orbital tumor in a 53‐year‐old male revealed small clusters or cord‐like structures of bland tumor cells embedded in a myxoid or mucinous background. Whorl‐like structures were also identified. The tumor cells possessed uniformly round nuclei with a smooth nuclear outline, fine granular chromatin, and small nucleoli. Occasional intranuclear inclusions, coarse collageneous cytoplasmic filaments were observed. Many spindle‐shaped cells with similar nuclear findings were also seen. A cytologic diagnosis of a chordoid meningioma was suggested and histochemical and immunohistochemical studies were conducted on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded material. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed diffuse and strong membranous and cytoplasmic staining for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and faintly reactive with S‐100 protein but negative for pan‐neuroendocrine markers (i.e., NSE, chromogranin A, synaptophysin), cytokeratin AE1/AE3, smooth muscle actin, D2‐40, brachyury or class III beta‐tubulin. The proliferative index with MIB‐1 was less than 1%. The diagnosis of orbital intraosseous CM was confirmed based on cytopathologic, histopathological, immunohistochemical results, location of the tumor, and the lack connection to the duramater. We demonstrated here for the first time the cytopathological features of intraosseous CM with emphasis on differential diagnostic considerations. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010; 38:818–821. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical parameters associated with unsatisfactory specimens of conventional cervical smears
Authors: Lu Chien‐Hsing , Chang Chia‐Che , Chang Ming‐Chen , Chen Su‐Ju , Jan Yee‐Jee , Fu Tsai‐Feng , Ho Esther Shih‐Chu
Published: January 2010

Although The Bethesda System 2001 attempted to standardize the criteria for specimen adequacy, much confusion still exists, which includes the significance of unsatisfactory smears, the causes and clinical conditions related to unsatisfactory smears, and the appropriate management of unsatisfactory smears. The aim of this study is to find out the clinical factors associated with unsatisfactory cervical smears. We reviewed the medical charts of patients who received conventional Pap smears between March 2006 and August 2006 in a tertiary care center. After excluding 378 cases with incomplete demographic data, the clinical data of 7,059 cases were processed for analysis. Clinical parameters retrieved included: history of pelvic malignancy, pelvic irradiation, conization, hysterectomy, pregnancy status, within 3‐months postpartum. Vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, intrauterine device, and cervical polyps found during pelvic examinations were also documented. The 1,397 cases with history of pelvic irradiation, pelvic malignancy, and hysterectomy were excluded. Finally, 5,662 cases were enrolled for data analysis. The relationship between clinical parameters and unsatisfactory smears were analyzed by Pearson's chi‐square test with Yates' continuity correction and multivariate binary logistic regression test. The incidence of unsatisfactory smears was 4.5% (252/5,662). Clinical parameters correlated with unsatisfactory smears were postpartum status (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.23–3.01, P = 0.004), vaginal bleeding (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.30–3.16, P = 0.002), and endocervical polyps (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.39–4.947, P = 0.003). In conclusion, if any of these parameters are noted prior to obtaining a Pap smear, optimal collecting devices, better sampling techniques, and liquid‐based cytology should be considered to decrease the incidence of unsatisfactory smears. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:87–91. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cross‐sectional analysis of the association between age and corpus callosum size in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Authors: Hopkins William D. , Phillips Kimberley A.
Published: January 2010

The CC is the major white matter tract connecting the cerebral hemispheres and provides for interhemispheric integration of sensory, motor and higher‐order cognitive information. The midsagittal area of the CC has been frequently used as a marker of brain development in humans. We report the first investigation into the development of the corpus callosum and its regional subdivisions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Magnetic resonance images were collected from 104 chimpanzees (female n = 63, male n = 41) ranging in age from 6 years (pre‐pubescent period) to 54 years (old age). Sustained linear growth was observed in the area of the CC subdivision of the genu; areas of the posterior midbody and anterior midbody displayed nonlinear growth during development. After adjusting for total brain size, we observed linear growth trajectories of the total CC and CC subdivisions of the genu, posterior midbody, isthmus and splenium, and nonlinear growth trajectories of the rostral body and anterior midbody. These developmental patterns are similar to the development of the CC in humans. As the growth curves of the CC mirrors growth seen in the percentage of white matter in humans, our results suggest chimpanzees show continued white matter development in regions related to cognitive development. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52:133–141, 2010
Dissimilar and similar functional properties of complement receptor‐3 in microglia and macrophages in combating yeast pathogens by phagocytosis
Authors: Hadas Smadar , Reichert Fanny , Rotshenker Shlomo
Published: January 2010

Central nervous system (CNS) microglia (MG) and peripheral tissue macrophages (MO) remove pathogens by phagocytosis. Zymosan, a model yeast pathogen, is a β‐glucan rich particle that readily activates the complement system and then becomes C3bi‐opsonized (op). Complement receptor‐3 (CR3) has initially been implicated in mediating the phagocytosis of both C3bi‐op and non‐opsonized (nop) zymosan by MO through C3bi and β‐glucan binding sites, respectively. Later, the role of CR3 as a phagocytic β‐glucan receptor has been questioned and the supremacy of β‐glucan receptor Dectin‐1 advocated. We compare here between primary mouse CNS MG and peripheral tissue MO with respect to CR3 and Dectin‐1 mediated phagocytosis of C3bi‐op and nop zymosan. We report that MG and MO display similar as well as dissimilar functional properties in this respect. Although CR3 and Dectin‐1 function both as β‐glucan/non‐opsonic receptors in MG during nop zymosan phagocytosis, Dectin‐1, but not CR3, does so in MO. CR3 functions also as a C3bi/opsonic receptor in MG and MO during C3bi‐op zymosan phagocytosis, leading to phagocytosis which is more efficient than that of nop zymosan. Dectin‐1 contributes, albeit less than CR3, to phagocytosis of C3bi‐op zymosan in MG and further less in MO, suggesting that C3bi‐opsonization does not block all β‐glucan sites on zymosan from binding Dectin‐1 on phagocytes. Thus, altogether CR3 and Dectin‐1 contribute both to phagocytosis of nop and C3bi‐op zymosan in MG, whereas MO switch from CR3‐independent/Dectin‐1‐dependent phagocytosis of nop zymosan to phagocytosis of C3bi‐op zymosan where CR3 dominates over Dectin‐1. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
BDNF+/− mice exhibit deficits in oligodendrocyte lineage cells of the basal forebrain
Authors: Vondran Melissa W. , Clinton‐Luke Patricia , Honeywell Jean Z. , Dreyfus Cheryl F.
Published: January 2010

Previous work indicated that brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), through the trkB receptor, increases DNA synthesis in oligodendrocyte (OLG) progenitor cells (OPCs) and differentiation of postmitotic OLGs of the basal forebrain (BF). In the present studies, BDNF knockout animals were used to investigate BDNF's effects on OLG lineage cells (OLCs) in vivo. OLCs of the BF were found to express the trkB receptor, suggesting they are responsive to BDNF. Immunohistochemistry using NG2 and CC1 antibodies was utilized to examine the numbers of NG2+ OPCs and CC1+ postmitotic BF OLGs. At embryonic day 17 (E17), BDNF−/− animals display reduced NG2+ cells. This reduction was also observed in BDNF+/− mice at E17 and at postnatal day 1 (P1), P14, and adult stage, suggesting that BDNF plays a role in OPC development. BDNF+/− mice do not exhibit deficits in numbers of CC1+ OLGs. However, myelin basic protein, myelin associated glycoprotein, and proteolipid protein are reduced in BDNF+/− mice, suggesting that BDNF plays a role in differentiation. These data indicate that progenitor cells and myelin proteins may be affected in vivo by a decrease in BDNF. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A general method to prepare monodentate phosphane ligands with mixed substituents
Authors: Phelps Jennifer E. , Frawley Sara B. , Peters R. Gregory
Published: January 2010

Treatment of (2,2′‐biphenylylene)‐ phosphorchloridite ester [(C12H8O2)PCl] (1) with C2F5Li yields (C12H8O2)PC2F5 2; treatment of 1 with Grignard reagents yields compounds of the type (C12H8O2)PR (R = iPr, 5; Et 6). In both cases, the 1,3‐dioxepine ring formed when 2,2′‐biphenol reacts with PCl3 to form 1 serves as a protecting group at the phosphorus atom; the ring allows the stepwise introduction of one substituent and prevents undesirable product mixtures associated with multiple substitutions at the phosphorus. Additional treatment of compounds 2, 5, and 6 with Grignard, alkyl‐, or aryllithium reagents results in the formation of unsymmetrically substituted phosphanes. The use of (2,2′‐biphenylylene)phosphorchloridite ester as a starting material for the preparation of electroneutral phosphanes of the type (Rf)PR2 and electron‐poor phosphanes of the type (Rf)2PR is described. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:393–397, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20563
Noninfectious painful neck mass mimicking malignancy in a child
Authors: Lin Tse‐Yi , Wu Chun‐Chieh , Chiang Feng‐Yu , Kuo Wen‐Rei , Ho Kuen‐Yao , Lee Ka‐Wo
Published: January 2010

Background

A large painful mass on the posterior neck of a child of a relatively short duration is uncommon. Barring infectious origin, differential diagnosis can be difficult without a definitive biopsy.

Methods and Results

A 12‐year‐old girl had a markedly painful posterior neck mass and limitation of neck motion without fever for 1 month. The rapid clinical course and poorly defined marginal zone of the CT images led to suspicion of malignancy. Although the initial frozen section suggested low‐grade fibrosarcoma, a successful wide excision and paraffin pathology confirmed the diagnosis of myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) from the semispinalis capitis muscle.

Conclusion

The occurrence of MOC in children is rare and may easily be misdiagnosed as soft tissue sarcoma. Both knowledge of the disease and guidelines for taking an aggressive biopsy sample are essential for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011
Higher incidence of head and neck cancers among Vietnamese American men in California
Authors: Filion Edith J. , McClure Laura A. , Huang Derek , Seng Kosal , Kaplan Michael J. , Colevas Alexander Dimitrios , Gomez Scarlett Lin , Chang Ellen T. , Le Quynh‐Thu
Published: January 2010

Background

Our aim was to determine the incidence rates of head and neck cancer in Vietnamese Californians compared with other Asian and non‐Asian Californians.

Methods

Age‐adjusted incidence rates of head and neck cancer between 1988 and 2004 were computed for Vietnamese Californians compared with other racial/ethnic groups by time period, ethnicity, neighborhood‐level socioeconomic status (SES), and sex using data from the population‐based California Cancer Registry (CCR). Data by smoking and alcohol status were tabulated from the California Health Interview Survey.

Results

Vietnamese men had a higher incidence rate of head and neck cancer than other Asian men. Specifically, the laryngeal cancer rate was significantly higher for Vietnamese men (6.5/100,000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0–8.2) than all other Asian men (range, 2.6–3.8/100,000), except Korean men (5.1/100,000; 95% CI, 3.9–6.4). Both Vietnamese and Korean men had the highest percentage of current smokers. Neighborhood SES was inversely related to head and neck cancer rates among Vietnamese men and women.

Conclusion

The higher incidence rate of head and neck cancer in Vietnamese men may correspond to the higher smoking prevalence in this group. Individual‐level data are needed to establish the link of tobacco, alcohol, and other risk factors with head and neck cancer in these patients. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010