bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered visual function in monocarboxylate transporter 3 (Slc16a8) knockout mice
Authors: Daniele Lauren L. , Sauer Brian , Gallagher Shannon M. , Pugh Edward N. , Philp Nancy J.
Published: June 2008

To meet the high-energy demands of photoreceptor cells, the outer retina metabolizes glucose through glycolytic and oxidative pathways, resulting in large-scale production of lactate and CO2. Mct3, a proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporter, is critically positioned to facilitate transport of lactate and H+ out of the retina and could therefore play a role in pH and ion homeostasis of the outer retina. Mct3 is preferentially expressed in the basolateral membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium and forms a heteromeric complex with the accessory protein CD147. To examine the physiological role of Mct3 in the retina, we generated mice with a targeted deletion in Mct3 ( slc16A8). The overall retinal histology of 4- to 36-wk-old Mct3−/− mice appeared normal. In the absence of Mct3, expression of CD147 was lost from the basolateral but not apical RPE. The saturated a-wave amplitude ( amax) of the scotopic electroretinogram (ERG) was reduced by approximately twofold in Mct3−/− mice relative to wild-type mice. A fourfold increase in lactate in the retina suggested a decrease in outer-retinal pH. In single-cell recordings from superfused retinal slices, saturating amplitudes of single rod photocurrents ( Jmax) were comparable indicating that Mct3−/− mouse photoreceptor cells were inherently healthy. Based on these data, we hypothesize that disruption of Mct3 leads to a potentially reversible decrease in subretinal space pH, thereby reducing the magnitude of the light suppressible photoreceptor current.
Myosin light chain kinase activation and calcium sensitization in smooth muscle in vivo
Authors: Mizuno Yusuke , Isotani Eiji , Huang Jian , Ding Hailei , Stull James T. , Kamm Kristine E.
Published: June 2008

Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) in smooth muscle by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and dephosphorylation by myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) are subject to modulatory cascades that influence the sensitivity of RLC phosphorylation and hence contraction to intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). We designed a CaM-sensor MLCK containing smooth muscle MLCK fused to two fluorescent proteins linked by the MLCK CaM-binding sequence to measure kinase activation in vivo and expressed it specifically in mouse smooth muscle. In phasic bladder muscle, there was greater RLC phosphorylation and force relative to MLCK activation and [Ca2+]i with carbachol (CCh) compared with KCl treatment, consistent with agonist-dependent inhibition of MLCP. The dependence of force on MLCK activity was nonlinear such that at higher concentrations of CCh, force increased with no change in the net 20% activation of MLCK. A significant but smaller amount of MLCK activation was found during the sustained contractile phase. MLCP inhibition may occur through RhoA/Rho-kinase and/or PKC with phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit-1 (MYPT1) and PKC-potentiated phosphatase inhibitor (CPI-17), respectively. CCh treatment, but not KCl, resulted in MYPT1 and CPI-17 phosphorylation. Both Y27632 (Rho-kinase inhibitor) and calphostin C (PKC inhibitor) reduced CCh-dependent force, RLC phosphorylation, and phosphorylation of MYPT1 (Thr694) without changing MLCK activation. Calphostin C, but not Y27632, also reduced CCh-induced phosphorylation of CPI-17. CCh concentration responses showed that phosphorylation of CPI-17 was more sensitive than MYPT1. Thus the onset of agonist-induced contraction in phasic smooth muscle results from the rapid and coordinated activation of MLCK with hierarchical inhibition of MLCP by CPI-17 and MYPT1 phosphorylation.
Fiber-specific responses of muscle glycogen repletion in fasted rats physically active during recovery from high-intensity physical exertion
Authors: Raja G. , Bräu L. , Palmer T. N. , Fournier P. A.
Published: June 2008

Mild physical activity performed immediately after a bout of intense exercise in fasting humans results in net glycogen breakdown in their slow oxidative (SO) muscle fibers and glycogen repletion in their fast twitch (FT) fibers. Because several animal species carry a low proportion of SO fibers, it is unclear whether they can also replenish glycogen in their FT fibers under these conditions. Given that most skeletal muscles in rats are poor in SO fibers (<5%), this issue was examined using groups of 24-h fasted Wistar rats ( n = 10) that swam for 3 min at high intensity with a 10% weight followed by either a 60-min rest (passive recovery, PR) or a 30-min swim with a 0.5% weight (active recovery, AR) preceding a 30-min rest. The 3-min sprint caused 61–79% glycogen fall across the muscles examined, but not in the soleus (SOL). Glycogen repletion during AR without food was similar to PR in the white gastrocnemius (WG), where glycogen increased by 71%, and less than PR in both the red and mixed gastrocnemius (RG, MG). Glycogen fell by 26% during AR in the SOL. Following AR, glycogen increased by 36%, 87%, and 37% in the SOL, RG, and MG, respectively, and this was accompanied by the sustained activation of glycogen synthase and inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase in the RG and MG. These results suggest that mammals with a low proportion of SO fibers can also replenish the glycogen stores of their FT fibers under extreme conditions combining physical activity and fasting.
High multivitamin intake by Wistar rats during pregnancy results in increased food intake and components of the metabolic syndrome in male offspring
Authors: Szeto Ignatius M. Y. , Aziz Alfred , Das Paul J. , Taha Ameer Y. , Okubo Nobuhiko , Reza-Lopez Sandra , Giacca Adria , Anderson G. Harvey
Published: June 2008

The effect of high multivitamin intake during pregnancy on the metabolic phenotype of rat offspring was investigated. Pregnant Wistar rats ( n = 10 per group) were fed the AIN-93G diet with the recommended vitamin (RV) content or a 10-fold increase [high vitamin (HV) content]. In experiment 1, male and female offspring were followed for 12 wk after weaning; in experiment 2, only males were followed for 28 wk. Body weight (BW) was measured weekly. Every 4 wk, after an overnight fast, food intake over 1 h was measured 30 min after a gavage of glucose or water. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed every 3–5 wk. Postweaning fasting glucose, insulin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, and systolic blood pressure were measured. No difference in BW at birth or litter size was observed. Food intake was greater in males born to HV dams ( P < 0.05), and at 28 wk after weaning, BW was 8% higher ( P < 0.05) and fat pad mass was 27% higher ( P < 0.05). Food intake reduction after the glucose preload was nearly twofold less in males born to HV dams at 12 wk after weaning ( P < 0.05). Fasting glucose, insulin, and ghrelin were 11%, 62%, and 41% higher in males from HV dams at 14 wk after weaning ( P < 0.05). Blood glucose response was 46% higher at 23 wk after weaning ( P < 0.01), and systolic blood pressure was 16% higher at 28 wk after weaning ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, high multivitamin intake during pregnancy programmed the male offspring for the development of the components of metabolic syndrome in adulthood, possibly by its effects on central mechanisms of food intake control.
MCP‐1 −2518 A/G Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Slovak Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Navratilova Zdenka , Lukac Jozef , Mrazek Frantisek , Kriegova Eva , Bucova Maria , Bosak Vladimir , Petrek Martin
Published: June 2008

Recent study in a group of German patients with SSc has implicated the SNP in the MCP‐1 gene (−2518 A to G) as a factor of susceptibility to SSc. Reflecting the need for replication of genetic association studies, we investigated if this SNP is associated with SSc in another Caucasian population. MCP‐1 −2518 A/G genotypes were determined using PCR‐SSP in 46 SSc patients and in 449 healthy subjects, all unrelated and of Slovak (Slavonic) origin. The distribution of MCP‐1 −2518 A/G genotypes complied with the Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium both in patient and healthy control groups. There was no difference in MCP‐1 −2518∗G allele frequency between SSc patients and healthy subjects (patients: 0.23; controls: 0.24; P > .05). Furthermore, MCP‐1 −2518 GG homozygotes were similarly represented among SSc patients and healthy subjects (P > .05). The association of MCP‐1 −2518 A/G SNP with SSc observed originally in German population was not replicated in the Slovak population.
Effect of Loop Diameter on the Steady State and Stability Behaviour of Single-Phase and Two-Phase Natural Circulation Loops
Authors: Vijayan P. K. , Nayak A. K. , Saha D. , Gartia M. R.
Published: June 2008

In natural circulation loops, the driving force is usually low as it depends on the riser height which is generally of the order of a few meters. The heat transport capability of natural circulation loops (NCLs) is directly proportional to the flow rate it can generate. With low driving force, the straightforward way to enhance the flow is to reduce the frictional losses. A simple way to do this is to increase the loop diameter which can be easily adopted in pressure tube designs such as the AHWR and the natural circulation boilers employed in fossil-fuelled power plants. Further, the loop diameter also plays an important role on the stability behavior. An extensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the effect of loop diameter on the steady state and stability behavior of single- and two-phase natural circulation loops have been carried out and the results of this study are presented in this paper.
Improved Switching Characteristics of Fast Power MOSFETs Applying Solder Bump Technology
Authors: Dieckerhoff Sibylle , Wernicke Thies , Kallmayer Christine , Guttowski Stephan , Reichl Herbert
Published: June 2008

The impact of a reduced package stray inductance on the switching performance of fast power MOSFETs is discussed applying advanced 3D packaging technologies. Starting from an overview over new packaging approaches, a solder bump technology using a flexible PI substrate is exemplarily chosen for the evaluation. Measurement techniques to determine the stray inductance are discussed and compared with a numerical solution based on the PEEC method. Experimental results show the improvement of the voltage utilization while there is only a slight impact on total switching losses.
In vitro differential sensitivity of melanomas to phenothiazines is based on the presence of codon 600 BRAF mutation
Authors: Ikediobi Ogechi N. , Reimers Mark , Durinck Steffen , Blower Paul E. , Futreal Andrew P. , Stratton Michael R. , Weinstein John N.
Published: June 2008

The panel of 60 human cancer cell lines (the NCI-60) assembled by the National Cancer Institute for anticancer drug discovery is a widely used resource. We previously sequenced 24 cancer genes in those cell lines. Eleven of the genes were found to be mutated in three or more of the lines. Using a pharmacogenomic approach, we analyzed the relationship between drug activity and mutations in those 11 genes (APC, RB1, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, PTEN, STK11, MADH4, TP53, and CDKN2A). That analysis identified an association between mutation in BRAF and the antiproliferative potential of phenothiazine compounds. Phenothiazines have been used as antipsychotics and as adjunct antiemetics during cancer chemotherapy and more recently have been reported to have anticancer properties. However, to date, the anticancer mechanism of action of phenothiazines has not been elucidated. To follow up on the initial pharmacologic observations in the NCI-60 screen, we did pharmacologic experiments on 11 of the NCI-60 cell lines and, prospectively, on an additional 24 lines. The studies provide evidence that BRAF mutation (codon 600) in melanoma as opposed to RAS mutation is predictive of an increase in sensitivity to phenothiazines as determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt assay (Wilcoxon P = 0.007). That pattern of increased sensitivity to phenothiazines based on the presence of codon 600 BRAF mutation may be unique to melanomas, as we do not observe it in a panel of colorectal cancers. The findings reported here have potential implications for the use of phenothiazines in the treatment of V600E BRAF mutant melanoma. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(6):1337–46]
Surfactant Collectins and Innate Immunity
Authors: Haagsman Henk P. , Hogenkamp Astrid , van Eijk Martin , Veldhuizen Edwin J.A.
Published: June 2008

Respiratory pathogens encounter various lines of defenses before infection of the host is established. The innate immune response represents an important first-line protection mechanism against potentially pathogenic microorganisms during early stages of infection of the naive host. Important players in this host defense system are ‘collectins’, a class of soluble innate immune proteins. Well-characterized members of the collectin family are the surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D). These collectins are expressed in the lung and also in extrapulmonary mucosal tissues. Collectins are secreted as multimers resulting in trimeric clustering of the lectin domains which enables recognition of evolutionary conserved sugar patterns present on the surface of a large variety of pathogens. Binding to collectins may lead to direct agglutination and neutralization of pathogens, to opsonization in order to present bound microbes directly to phagocytes, to modulation of the inflammatory response and to regulation of dendritic cell and T cell functions. In pulmonary tissue, this early acute-phase-like response can be regarded as a crucial layer of protection against a vast array of pathogens that escape the physical barriers and threaten to infect the delicate respiratory epithelium. An important clinical application may be the inhalation, or instillation of collectin-based drugs as part of surfactant therapy, to prevent and treat infectious and inflammatory diseases of newborn infants.
‘Resuscitation’ of Extremely Preterm and/or Low-Birth-Weight Infants – Time to ‘Call It’?
Authors: O’Donnell Colm P.F.
Published: June 2008

Since ancient times, various methods have been used to revive apparently stillborn infants; many were of dubious efficacy and had the potential to cause harm. Based largely on studies of acutely asphyxiated term animal models, clinical assessment and positive pressure ventilation have become the cornerstones of neonatal resuscitation over the last 40 years. Over the last 25 years, care of extremely preterm infants in the delivery room has evolved from a policy of indifference to one of increasingly aggressive support. The survival of these infants has improved considerably in recent years; this has not, however, necessarily been due to more aggressive resuscitation. Urban myths have evolved that all extremely preterm infants died before they were intubated, and that all such infants need to immediately intubated or they will quickly die. This has never been true. Clinical assessment of infants at birth is subjective. Also, many techniques used to support preterm infants at birth have not been well studied and there is evidence that they may be harmful. It may thus be argued that many of our well-intentioned resuscitation interventions are of dubious efficacy and have the potential to cause harm. ‘Resuscitation’ is an emotive term which means ‘restoration of life’. Death, thankfully, is a rare presentation in the delivery room. Therefore, concerning neonatal ‘resuscitation’, it is time to ‘call it’ something else. This will allow us to dispassionately distinguish preterm infants who are dead, or nearly dead, from those who are merely at high risk of parenchymal lung disease. We may then be able to refine our interventions and determine what methods of support benefit these infants most.
Long-Term Pulmonary Outcome in the Preterm Infant
Authors: Greenough Anne
Published: June 2008

Chronic respiratory morbidity is common following premature birth, particularly if complicated by the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Affected infants can remain oxygen dependent for many months and frequently require hospital readmission in the first 2 years after birth. Troublesome, recurrent respiratory symptoms requiring treatment are common in prematurely born children, especially those who had BPD. The most severely affected may remain symptomatic and have evidence of airway obstruction even as adults. The studies examining adolescents and adults usually report patients who had ‘classical’ BPD, that is they often had had severe respiratory failure in the neonatal period with chronic pulmonary fibrosis and airway smooth muscle hypertrophy. Nowadays, infants are described as having ‘new’ BPD, developing chronic oxygen dependence despite initially minimal or even no respiratory distress. Affected patients, however, have reduced alveolarisation and experience deterioration in lung function over the 1st year after birth. It is essential to determine if they have ‘catch up’ and identify which strategies impair and most importantly promote lung growth in this very-high-risk population.
Psychiatric Disorders in Tsunami-Affected Children in Ranong Province, Thailand
Authors: Piyavhatkul Nawanant , Pairojkul Srivieng , Suphakunpinyo Chanyut
Published: June 2008

Objective: To study the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children affected by the Asian tsunami in Ranong province, Southern Thailand 10 months after the disaster. Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 47 boys and 47 girls, age 1–18 years, who were affected by the tsunami. They were participants in the Psychosocial Care and Protection System for Tsunami-Affected Children in Ranong Province project. The subjects were interviewed by a psychiatrist and diagnoses were made according to DSM IV criteria. Results: Of the 94 children, 47 (50%) had at least one psychiatric diagnosis: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): n = 31 (33%); major depression: n = 9 (9.6%); adjustment disorder: n = 9 (9.6%), and separation anxiety disorder: n = 3 (3.2%). The psychiatric diagnoses, specifically PTSD, were significantly associated with the child’s age and exposure to the traumatic events. Conclusion: Ten months after the tsunami disaster, there is a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children, suggesting the importance of early identification, intervention and follow-up.
Oral Health and Treatment Needs among 18-Year-Old Iranians
Authors: Hessari Hossein , Vehkalahti Miira M. , Eghbal Mohammad J. , Samadzadeh Hamid , Murtomaa Heikki T.
Published: June 2008

Objective: To investigate the oral health status of 18-year-old Iranians in relation to their gender, place of residence and level of education. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-three calibrated examiners in 2002 collected data as part of a national survey, according to World Health Organization criteria for sampling and clinical diagnoses, across 28 provinces. The study sample was 4,448; male: 2,021 and female: 2,427 made up of urban: 2,564 and rural: 1,884. Oral health status was assessed in terms of number of teeth, decayed teeth (DT), filled teeth (FT), decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT), community periodontal index and plaque index. Results: The mean number of teeth was 27.4, with DMFT: 4.3, DT: 3.0 and FT: 0.7. The mean number of sound teeth was higher (p < 0.01) in men (24.1 vs. 23.3 in women), FT in urban residents (1.0 vs. 0.2 in rural residents) and DT in women (3.3 vs. 2.8 in men). Three of 4 subjects were in need of restorative treatments. All subjects had dental plaque; 387 (8%) healthy gingiva; 1,016 (23%) exhibited bleeding; 2,025 (48%) calculus and 1,020 (21%) deepened pockets. Men’s periodontal status was worse than women’s (p < 0.002). Low level of education was associated with having 27 or fewer teeth (OR = 1.7), calculus (OR = 1.5) or deep periodontal pockets (OR = 2.7). Conclusion: A majority of 18-year-old Iranians seem to enjoy a full dentition. High prevalence of dental plaque, calculus, periodontal pockets and untreated dental cariesespecially among underprivileged groups may put them at risk for tooth loss in adulthood.
A Rare Complication of Central Catheter in an Infant with Intestinal Failure
Authors: Cakir Murat , Levent Erturk , Yuksekkaya Hasan Ali , Ergun Orkan , Ozgenc Funda , Yagci Rasit Vural
Published: June 2008

Objective: To report the successful percutaneous transcatheter removal of a snapped intracardiac fragment of the central vein catheter in an infant. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 3-month-old infant with short bowel syndrome who required long-term parenteral nutrition via portacath central catheter was hospitalized. Two months after the insertion of the second catheter, the distal tip of the catheter snapped and became tangled in the heart. The catheter fragment was removed by a percutaneous femoral vein approach using a 10-mm diameter snare-loop catheter (Amplatz®). The procedure was performed under fluoroscopy; the fragment was removed after being released into the right ventricle by pulling the proximal tip with a pigtail catheter. No complications were observed and the patient was transported back to the intensive unit in stable condition. Conclusion: Central catheter-related complications may cause difficulties in patients with short bowel syndrome prior to intestinal transplantation. The percutaneous retrieval of the fragmented catheter using a snare-loop catheter is a safe and reliable technique and may be used instead of surgery especially in small infants.
The Effect of an Experimental 4% TiF4Varnish Compared to NaF Varnishes and 4% TiF4Solution on Dental Erosion in vitro
Authors: Magalhães A.C. , Kato M.T. , Rios D. , Wiegand A. , Attin T. , Buzalaf M.A.R.
Published: June 2008

This in vitro study assessed the effect of an experimental 4% TiF4 varnish compared to commercial NaF and NaF/CaF2 varnishes and 4% TiF4 solution on enamel erosion. For this, 72 bovine enamel specimens were randomly allocated to the following treatments: NaF varnish(2.26% F), NaF/CaF2 varnish (5.63% F), 4% TiF4 varnish (2.45% F), F-free placebo varnish, 4% TiF4 solution (2.45% F) and control (not treated). The varnishes were applied in a thin layer and removed after 6 h. The solution was applied to the enamel surface for 1 min. Then, the specimens were alternately de- and remineralized (6 times/day) in an artificial mouth for 5 days at 37°C. Demineralization was performed with the beverage Sprite (1 min, 3 ml/min) and remineralization with artificial saliva (day: 59 min, 0.5 ml/min; during the night: 0.1 ml/min). The mean daily increment of erosion and the cumulative erosion data were tested using ANOVA and ANCOVA, respectively, followed by Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). The mean daily erosion increments and cumulative erosion (micrometers) were significantly less for the TiF4 varnish (0.30 ± 0.11/0.65 ± 0.75) than for the NaF varnish (0.58 ± 0.11/1.47 ± 1.07) or the NaF/CaF2 varnish (0.62 ± 0.10/1.68 ± 1.17), which in turn showed significantly less erosion than the placebo varnish (0.78 ± 0.12/2.05 ± 1.43), TiF4 solution (0.86 ± 0.11/ 2.05 ± 1.49) and control (0.77 ± 0.16/2.06 ± 1.49). In conclusion, the TiF4 varnish seems to be a promising treatment to reduce enamel loss under mild erosive conditions.
Progression of Selective IgA Deficiency to Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Authors: Aghamohammadi Asghar , Mohammadi Javad , Parvaneh Nima , Rezaei Nima , Moin Mostafa , Espanol Teresa , Hammarstrom Lennart
Published: June 2008

Selective IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most common primary immunodeficiency in Caucasians. Although it is often asymptomatic, selected patients show an increased frequency of infections, allergies and autoimmune manifestations. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary antibody deficiency disease that shares many clinical features with IgAD. A common genetic basis for IgAD and CVID has been suggested based on their occurrence in members of the same family and the similarity of the underlying B cell defects. Progression from IgAD to CVID has also been reported in several cases. Here we present 4 patients with IgAD and autoimmune features who subsequently developed CVID. All symptomatic IgAD patients, especially those with associated IgG subclass deficiency or autoimmune features, should be monitored for evolution to CVID. Early diagnosis of this conversion and institution of immunoglobulin therapy is effective in preventing severe bacterial infections and pulmonary insufficiency.
HLA Class I and Class II Genotyping in Patients with Chronic Urticaria
Authors: Çoban Müge , Erdem Teoman , Özdemir Şevki , Pirim İbrahim , Atasoy Mustafa , İkbal Mevlit
Published: June 2008

Objectives: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common disease in which pathogenesis is unclear and which is resistant to therapy. Recent investigations have indicated that autoimmunity plays a role in nearly one third of CU patients. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II antigens and immune pathogenesis of CU. Methods: HLA class I and class II antigens were investigated in 40 patients diagnosed with CU, utilizing serologic techniques and polymerase chain reactions. The study was performed between October 2005 and May 2006. Further HLA typing in patient subsets was done depending on the response of patients to intradermal injection of autologous serum. About 30 healthy and genetically unrelated individuals formed the control group for evaluation. Results: The results revealed that HLA-B44 frequency was significantly higher (25%) in the patient group as compared with the matched control group (3.33%) (p = 0.033, OR = 9.667). There was no significant difference in HLA-A allelic distribution between the patient and control groups. In the genotyping of class II HLA alleles, HLA-DRB1*01 (25%) (p = 0.033, OR = 9.667) and HLA-DRB*15 (25%) (p = 0.033, OR = 9.667) were predominant alleles in the patient group. Conclusion: The association ofHLA-B44, HLA-DRB1*01 and HLA-DRB*15 alleles with idiopathic CU suggests that there is a genetic component in the pathogenesis of CU.
IgE-Independent Mast Cell Activation Augments Contractility of Nonpregnant and Pregnant Guinea Pig Myometrium
Authors: Bytautiene Egle , Vedernikov Yuri P. , Saade George R. , Romero Roberto , Garfield Robert E.
Published: June 2008

Background: We have previously shown that in sensitized guinea pigs premature labor can be induced by a type I hypersensitivity reaction. We further hypothesize that premature labor occurs due to increased uterine contractility caused by activation of mast cells and possibly eosinophils, and collective release of their mediators. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that IgE-independent mast cell degranulation could increase uterine contractility. Methods: Longitudinal uterine strips from nonpregnant and pregnant guinea pigs were incubated in organ chambers with vehicle, histamine H1, serotonin 5-HT2/5-HT1C, thromboxane A2, leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists, mast cell stabilizer, and cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors. Then, supernatant, obtained after activation of a mast cell line (MC/9) with compound 48/80, culture medium, or compound 48/80 alone were added. Cumulative concentration-response curves to histamine and serotonin were also obtained. Results: The supernatant and compound 48/80 significantly increased contractility of uterine strips. A mast cell stabilizer considerably reduced the effect of compound 48/80. Other substances attenuated uterine contractile responses to supernatant and compound 48/80, and responses varied depending on the pregnancy period. Histamine and serotonin increased contractility of uterine strips, and uterine sensitivity to these agents were dependent on gestational age. Conclusions: In summary, mast cells increase uterine contractility through multiple mediators, and uterine responses to these mediators are dependent on gestational age. We postulate that the simultaneous release of these mast cell/eosinophil mediators in the uterus could be a stimulus to trigger and/or maintain myometrial contractions during preterm and term labor.
Validity of Subject Self-Report for Acne
Authors: Menon Chandrakala , Gipson Katrina , Bowe Whitney P. , Hoffstad Ole J. , Margolis David J.
Published: June 2008

Background/Objective: Acne prevalence studies often use subject self-report as data source. Our aim was to evaluate the validity of acne self-report. Methods: Responses of university students to an acne questionnaire were compared to the trained observer’s concurrent examination of acne. The validity of self-report was measured by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Agreement was measured by Cohen’s kappa and correct classification percentage. Results: The sensitivity of self-report was 0.55 (95% CI 0.47–0.63), the specificity was 0.72 (95% CI 0.63–0.80), the positive predictive value was 0.70 (95% CI 0.61–0.78), and the negative predictive value was 0.57 (95% CI 0.49–0.65). Cohen’s kappa was 0.26 (95% CI 0.15–0.38) and correct classification percentage was 63. Conclusions: Validity of self-report was moderate at best and agreement was fair, indicating that college students could not accurately report that they have acne. This is likely not sufficient for clinical or research activities or to assure that individuals who self-guide their acne therapy actually have acne.
GM3 Signals Regulating TNF-Alpha Expression Are Mediated by Rictor and Arhgdib in Mouse Melanoma B16 Cells
Authors: Wang Pu , Yang Xiaoyan , Wu Peixing , Zhang Jinghai , Sato Toshinori , Yamagata Sadako , Yamagata Tatsuya
Published: June 2008

Objective: We have previously shown GM3 to positively regulate TNF-α expression via a PI3K/Akt pathway in mouse melanoma B16 cells [Wang et al.: Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007;356:438–443]. The GM3 signal was shown to be located upstream of Akt, but whether it is located upstream of PI3K and which molecule is the effector of PI3K remain to be clarified. Methods: We used inhibitors of PI3K and mTOR, and siRNA directed to Rictor, Raptor and Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor β (Arhgdib). Results: PI3K inhibitors LY294002 and LY303511 were shown to suppress TNF-α expression that is stimulated by GM3 in B16 cells, suggesting that the GM3 signal is located upstream of the PI3K-Akt pathway. Rapamycin suppressed TNF-α expression, indicating mTOR to be involved in the pathway. Either siRNA Raptor or siRNA Rictor suppressed TNF-α expression, but the latter suppressed the effects of GM3 on TNF-α expression and Akt phosphorylation at Ser473, indicating the GM3 signal to be transduced via Rictor/mTOR and Akt (Ser473), leading to TNF-α stimulation. Finally, Arhgdib, the tumor suppressor gene whose expression is associated with GM3, was shown to be upstream of TNF-α. Conclusions: The GM3 signal is thus transduced in B16 cells through a PI3K, Rictor/mTOR, Akt, Arhgdib pathway, leading to stimulated expression ofTNF-α.
Faithful Representation of Stimuli with a Population of Integrate-and-Fire Neurons
Authors: Lazar Aurel A. , Pnevmatikakis Eftychios A.
Published: June 2008

We consider a formal model of stimulus encoding with a circuit consisting of a bank of filters and an ensemble of integrate-and-fire neurons. Such models arise in olfactory systems, vision, and hearing. We demonstrate that bandlimited stimuli can be faithfully represented with spike trains generated by the ensemble of neurons. We provide a stimulus reconstruction scheme based on the spike times of the ensemble of neurons and derive conditions for perfect recovery. The key result calls for the spike density of the neural population to be above the Nyquist rate. We also show that recovery is perfect if the number of neurons in the population is larger than a threshold value. Increasing the number of neurons to achieve a faithful representation of the sensory world is consistent with basic neurobiological thought. Finally we demonstrate that in general, the problem of faithful recovery of stimuli from the spike train of single neurons is ill posed. The stimulus can be recovered, however, from the information contained in the spike train of a population of neurons.
An Ongoing Subthreshold Neuronal State Established Through Dynamic Coassembling of Cortical Cells
Authors: Hoshino Osamu
Published: June 2008

Ensemble activation of neurons, triggered or spontaneous, sometimes involves a common (overlapping) neuronal population known as core cells. It is speculated that the core cells functioning as a core nucleus have a role in dictating noncore cells' behavior and thus overall local network dynamics. However, the truth and its significance in neuronal information processing still remain to be seen. To address this issue, a neural network model of an early sensory cortical area was simulated. In the network model, noncore cells that have selective responsiveness to sensory features constituted noncore cell assemblies. Core cells, having unselective responsiveness, constituted a single core cell assembly. Sensory stimulation activated neuronal ensembles that were indistinguishable from those activated spontaneously. The core cells were active in every ensemble activation and recruited a changing complement of noncore cells, which varied from spontaneous event to spontaneous event or from triggered event to triggered event. Ensemble activation of neurons was established through what we call dynamic coassembling, in which the core cell assembly and one of the noncore cell assemblies were dynamically linked together. Transient dynamic coassembling frequently and randomly took place during the ongoing (spontaneous) neuronal activity period, and persistent dynamic coassembling did during the stimulus-triggered neuronal activity period. The frequent ongoing activation of core cells mediated through transient dynamic coassembling depolarized noncore cells just below firing threshold, whereby the noncore cells could respond rapidly to sensory stimulation. The persistent dynamic coassembling enhanced the responsiveness of noncore cells. We suggest that the core cells, functioning as a core nucleus, dictate how the noncore cells oscillate at a subthreshold level during the ongoing period and how to respond when stimulated. The transient and persistent dynamic coassembling may be an essential neuronal mechanism for the cortex to prepare and respond effectively to sensory input.
Mutual Information Expansion for Studying the Role of Correlations in Population Codes: How Important Are Autocorrelations?
Authors: Scaglione A. , Foffani G. , Scannella G. , Cerutti S. , Moxon K. A.
Published: June 2008

The role of correlations in the activity of neural populations responding to a set of stimuli can be studied within an information theory framework. Regardless of whether one approaches the problem from an encoding or decoding perspective, the main measures used to study the role of correlations can be derived from a common source: the expansion of the mutual information. Two main formalisms of mutual information expansion have been proposed: the series expansion and the exact breakdown. Here we clarify that these two formalisms have a different representation of autocorrelations, so that even when the total information estimated differs by less than 1%, individual terms can diverge. More precisely, the series expansion explicitly evaluates the informational contribution of autocorrelations in the count of spikes, that is, count autocorrelations, whereas the exact breakdown does not. We propose a new formalism of mutual information expansion, the Poisson exact breakdown, which introduces Poisson equivalents in order to explicitly evaluate the informational contribution of count autocorrelations with no approximation involved. Because several widely employed manipulations of spike trains, most notably binning and pooling, alter the structure of count autocorrelations, the new formalism can provide a useful general framework for studying the role of correlations in population codes.
Ceilometer Retrieval of the Boundary Layer Vertical Aerosol Extinction Structure
Authors: Markowicz K. M. , Flatau P. J. , Kardas A. E. , Remiszewska J. , Stelmaszczyk K. , Woeste L.
Published: June 2008

The CT25K ceilometer is a general-purpose cloud height sensor employing lidar technology for detection of clouds. In this paper it is shown that it can also be used to retrieve aerosol optical properties in the boundary layer. The authors present a comparison of the CT25K instrument with the aerosol lidar system and discuss its good overall agreement for both the range-corrected signals and the retrieved extinction coefficient profiles. The CT25K aerosol profiling is mostly limited to the boundary layer, but it is capable of detecting events in the lower atmosphere such as mineral dust events between 1 and 3 km. Assumptions needed for the estimation of the aerosol extinction profiles are discussed. It is shown that, when a significant part of the aerosol layer is in the boundary layer, knowledge of the aerosol optical depth from a sun photometer allows inversion of the lidar signal. In other cases, surface observations of the aerosol optical properties are used. It is demonstrated that additional information from a nephelometer and aethalometer allows definition of the lidar ratio. Extinction retrievals based on spherical and randomly oriented spheroid assumptions are performed. It is shown, by comparison with the field measurements during the United Arab Emirates Unified Aerosol Experiment, that an assumption about specific particle shape is important for the extinction profile inversions. The authors indicate that this limitation of detection is a result of the relatively small sensitivity of this instrument in comparison to more sophisticated aerosol lidars. However, in many cases this does not play a significant role because globally only about 20% of the aerosol optical depth is above the boundary layer.
Intersatellite Temperature Bias: Elimination through Statistical Calibration
Authors: Salby Murry L. , McBride Patrick J. , Callaghan Patrick F.
Published: June 2008

Global cloud imagery (GCI) is constructed from multiple satellite platforms that simultaneously monitor the earth. The GCI overcomes sampling limitations that are inherent to measurements from an individual platform, and provides a continuous and high-resolution description of the global convective pattern. However, it must reconcile inconsistencies in the measurements from different platforms. Escaping operational stages of error detection is a spurious brightening (cooling of brightness temperature), which appears sporadically in the composited imagery and must be removed a posteriori. The spurious brightening is shown to follow from a bias between measurements from polar-orbiting platforms and those from geostationary platforms. The bias is related to the zenith angle dependence of geostationary measurements, which enables its efficient removal. GCI is then composited from satellites in which the zenith angle–dependent bias has been removed a priori. The corrected imagery is shown to be virtually free of the systematic error, leaving a more accurate representation of the global convective pattern.
GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager Color Product Development
Authors: Hillger Donald W.
Published: June 2008

The current Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series was inaugurated in 1994 with the launch of GOES-8 and will continue with two more satellites (GOES-O and -P) after the most recent GOES-13 launched in 2006. The next-generation GOES (beginning with GOES-R) will be launched in the 2015 time frame. This new series of satellites will include improved spatial, temporal, spectral, and radiometric resolution. The last two characteristics are manifest by an increased number of spectral bands and increased precision for measurements from those bands. To take advantage of the lead time needed to design, build, and test this new and complex satellite system, work is going into developing image products to be implemented as soon as GOES-R becomes operational.

Preparations for GOES-R image products for applications to various weather events, especially mesoscale events, are well underway. The approach used for these “risk reduction” activities is to apply data from existing operational and experimental satellites (both polar orbiting and geostationary) to create image products that will emulate those to be available from GOES-R as closely as possible. Those image products can either be new products or improvements leveraged on existing operational products. In this article, the new GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager is briefly reviewed, and the evolutionary development of two qualitative products—one for the detection of fog and stratus, and the other for blowing dust—is presented. Emphasis is on the evolutionary development of these mesoscale products and possible quantitative discrimination among the various image features that are seen.
On Turbulence and Mixing in the Free Atmosphere Inferred from High-Resolution Soundings
Authors: Clayson Carol Anne , Kantha Lakshmi
Published: June 2008

Mixing in the free atmosphere above the planetary boundary layer is of great importance to the fate of trace gases and pollutants. However, direct measurements of the turbulent dissipation rate by in situ probes are very scarce and radar measurements are fraught with uncertainties. In this paper, turbulence scaling concepts, developed over the past decades for application to oceanic mixing, are used to suggest an alternative technique for retrieving turbulence properties in the free atmosphere from high-resolution soundings. This technique enables high-resolution radiosondes, which have become quite standard in the past few years, to be used not only to monitor turbulence in the free atmosphere in near–real time, but also to study its spatiotemporal characteristics from the abundant archives of high-resolution soundings from around the world. Examples from several locations are shown, as well as comparisons with radar-based estimations and a typical Richardson number–based parameterization.
The “BOUSSOLE” Buoy—A New Transparent-to-Swell Taut Mooring Dedicated to Marine Optics: Design, Tests, and Performance at Sea
Authors: Antoine David , Guevel Pierre , Desté Jean-François , Bécu Guislain , Louis Francis , Scott Alec J. , Bardey Philippe
Published: June 2008

A new concept of oceanographic data buoy is described, which couples a taut mooring and a “transparent-to-swell” superstructure, and is specifically designed for the collection of radiometric quantities in offshore environments. The design of the thin superstructure addresses two major requirements: stabilizing the instruments in the water column and avoiding shading them. The development of the buoy is described, starting with the theoretical assessment and then describing the various stages of development leading to the latest version of the mooring and buoy. Its performance at sea is also analyzed. This new platform has been deployed in the deep waters (>2400 m) of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea for about 4 yr (since September 2003) and provides a quasi-continuous record of optical properties at this site. The data are used for bio-optics research and for calibration and validation operations of several European and U.S. ocean color satellite missions. The plan is to continue the deployment to build a decadal time series of optical properties. The instrument suite that is installed on this buoy is also briefly described, and sample results are shown to demonstrate the ability of this new system to collect the data at the desired frequency and quality.
Sensitivity of Tropical Rainfall to Banda Sea Diffusivity in the Community Climate System Model
Authors: Jochum Markus , Potemra James
Published: June 2008

Several observational studies suggest that the vertical diffusivity in the Indonesian marginal seas is an order of magnitude larger than in the open ocean and what is used in most ocean general circulation models. The experiments described in this paper show that increasing the background diffusivity in the Banda Sea from the commonly used value of 0.1 cm2 s−1 to the observed value of 1 cm2 s−1 improves the watermass properties there by reproducing the observed thick layer of Banda Sea Water. The resulting reduced sea surface temperatures lead to weaker convection and a redistribution of precipitation, away from the Indonesian seas toward the equatorial Indian and Pacific Oceans. In particular, the boreal summer precipitation maximum of the Indonesian seas shifts northward from the Banda Sea toward Borneo, which reduces a longstanding bias in the simulation of the Austral–Asian Monsoon in the Community Climate System Model. Because of the positive feedback mechanisms inherent in tropical atmosphere dynamics, a reduction in Banda Sea heat loss of only 5% leads locally to a reduction in convection of 20%.
In Situ Calibration of Optode-Based Oxygen Sensors
Authors: Uchida Hiroshi , Kawano Takeshi , Kaneko Ikuo , Fukasawa Masao
Published: June 2008

Eleven optode-based oxygen sensors were used for shipboard hydrographic casts in the North Pacific. Oxygen data from the optode sensors were compared with high-quality oxygen data obtained with discrete water samples, and the performance of the sensors was evaluated. The response of the sensing foil of the optode decreases with increasing ambient pressure, and this pressure effect was found to decrease the response by 3.2% (1000 dbar)−1. A new calibration equation for the optode sensors was proposed. On the basis of oxygen data from water samples, the optode sensors were calibrated so that the reproducibility was less than 1%. High-quality oxygen profiles from the optode were obtained for fast-profiling conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) observations, by compensating for the temperature-dependent delay in the optode data due to the slow response time of the optode.
Stray Light Correction of the Marine Optical System
Authors: Feinholz Michael E. , Flora Stephanie J. , Yarbrough Mark A. , Lykke Keith R. , Brown Steven W. , Johnson B. Carol , Clark Dennis K.
Published: June 2008

The Marine Optical System is a spectrograph-based sensor used on the Marine Optical Buoy for the vicarious calibration of ocean color satellite sensors. It is also deployed from ships in instruments used to develop bio-optical algorithms that relate the optical properties of the ocean to its biological content. In this work, an algorithm is applied to correct the response of the Marine Optical System for scattered, or improperly imaged, light in the system. The algorithm, based on the measured response of the system to a series of monochromatic excitation sources, reduces the effects of scattered light on the measured source by one to two orders of magnitude. Implications for the vicarious calibration of satellite ocean color sensors and the development of bio-optical algorithms are described. The algorithm is a one-dimensional point spread correction algorithm, generally applicable to nonimaging sensors, but can in principle be extended to higher dimensions for imaging systems.
Domestic-Level Diversionary Theory of War
Authors: Tir Jaroslav , Jasinski Michael
Published: June 2008

According to the diversionary war theory, problematic domestic circumstances motivate a country's leader to divert popular discontent by launching a militarized international crisis. Yet, empirical support for this argument has proved to be ambiguous at best. Relying on extant ethnic conflict research, we argue that the embattled leader can elicit public support by using armed force against ethnic minorities within his/her country. We call this option domestic diversion and argue that it is not only available to a larger number of leaders, but that it also often presents a less risky course of action than external diversion. Empirical tests of the domestic diversionary hypothesis show a connection between domestic problems facing the leader and the use of force against minorities. This finding provides a potentially new interpretation for the causes of some domestic conflicts, and suggests that the diversionary theory may operate on the domestic level of analysis.