bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Cell Culture Microdevice Integrated with Piezoelectric Thin Film Actuator for On-Chip Regulation of Cell Functions
Authors: Kawashima Takahiro , Yamada Yuhei , Matsuzawa Yuuta , Nagai Moeto , Shibata Takayuki , Masuzawa Toru , Kimura Tsuyoshi , Kishida Akio
Published: October 2012

To develop a cell culture microdevice integrated with piezoelectric thin film actuators for on-chip cell function regulation, we investigated various fabrication processes including the formation of a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin film using a sol–gel method as a piezoelectric thin film actuator and PZT thin film patterning. According to our proposed batch fabrication process, a prototype cell culture microdevice with 16 microchambers and PZT actuators was successfully fabricated on a 20 ×20 mm2 Si substrate. Moreover, we used the fabricated prototype device to investigate the effects of applied voltage and frequency on diaphragm displacement. The device sufficiently delivered mechanical vibratory stimuli to cells in culture solution. Moreover, in a feasibility study using living cells, we observed that mechanical vibratory stimulation affected cell adhesion.
Generation of Radio Frequency Plasma in High-Conductivity NaCl Solution
Authors: Amano Tatsuya , Mukasa Shinobu , Honjoya Naoki , Okumura Hidehiko , Maehara Tsunehiro
Published: October 2012

Experimental investigations were carried out on RF plasma within a ceramic tube placed on an insulating plate in dense NaCl solution (1.7–24.5 S m-1). RF power was applied between two electrodes, and the insulating plate was placed between them. Upon performing spectroscopic measurements, we observed H and OH lines as well as strong Na lines in the emission spectra of RF plasma. Colored solution containing methylene blue was exposed to the plasma. The absorbance spectra of the colored solution before and after exposure to RF plasma clearly show that obvious degradation of methylene blue was realized.
ISO open systems interconnection standardization status report
Authors: desJardins Richard
Published: October 2012

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) is a standardization program by which two heterogeneous computer systems located anywhere in the world will be able to exchange information easily by executing mutually agreed standardized protocols. The term "open" refers to the use of publicly standardized protocols by all manufacturers and networks rather than the private protocols used within each of their closed communities.

The OSI approach has been adopted by all the major information systems standardization bodies in the world, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Consultative Committee for International Telephone and Telegraph (CCITT), the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (NBS).

The necessary standardized protocols are currently under intensive development throughout the world, principally in Europe, the United States and Japan. This activity will lead to the universal interconnection of the information systems of the world by the end of the 1980s.
Path assignment for virtual circuit routing
Authors: Gafni E. M. , Bertsekas D. P.
Published: October 2012

We consider a network which routes on a virtual-circuit. Each virtual-circuit is associated with a session. Virtual-circuit is assigned to a session at the time the session is initiated. We address the dynamic case where new sessions arrive and old sessions terminate. We formulate an optimal control problem to deduce which virtual-circuit an incoming session will be assigned to. We then discuss various approximations to the problem and show that the heuristic rule, "route on the shortest marginal delay path", is close to optimal in an asympotic sense.
Proving safety properties for a general communication protocol
Authors: Ossefort Marty
Published: October 2012

As the practice of networking has become more widespread, the study of communications protocols has grown accordingly. At the same time, techniques for verification of message-passing networks have been developed to the point where they can now be used to prove safety properties about such protocols.

In this paper, we discuss the problem of two processes which must communicate through some semi-reliable medium. In order for communication to take place, there must be some set of rules for acknowledging correctly received messages, called frames, and for retransmitting lost or damaged frames. Such a set of rules is called a communication protocol.

We present a generalized communication data link layer protocol and give a proof using a technique recently proposed by Misra and Chandy [Misra81]. We also show that this protocol and proof include two very important special cases:

1) the well-known Alternating Bit protocol, and

2) the portion of the HDLC protocol dedicated to ensuring that packets are received, and that they are received in the correct order.

The problem of verifying communication protocols, has been addressed by Stenning [Stenning76], and more recently by Hailpern [Hailpern8l]. Each of these protocols can be considered to be a special case of the one presented here. Hailpern also proves liveness of his algorithm, but uses temporal logic and explicit induction (on the number of messages) for proving both safety and liveness.

We do not cover the proof of liveness in this paper. However, the proof technique can be extended for liveness proofs. For a discussion of this, the reader is referred to [Misra82].
Architecture of the CSNET name server
Authors: Landweber L. , Litzkow M. , Neuhengen D. , Soloman M.
Published: October 2012

An important function of CSNET is to simplify communication by electronic mail. To this end, a Name Server facility is being implemented, which will free users from having to understand the complexities of inter-network mail addressing. The Name Server includes a database and accessing software on a central Service Host machine, as well as programs and data structures on CSNET member hosts. We describe the architecture of the Name Server and discuss considerations that lead to its design.
CSNET protocol software
Authors: Comer Douglas , Korb John T.
Published: October 2012

CSNET is built on the Department of Defense network (ARPANET), public packet-switched physical networks (Telenet), and a telephone-based relay network (Phonenet). Some CSNET sites have direct connections to ARPANET, some have direct connections to Telenet, and some have connections only to telephone-based relay machines. The chief objective of CSNET is to provide a network interconnection for all groups engaged in Computer Science Research.

CSNET has adopted TCP/IP as its standard transport level protocols. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) [POST81] is an end-to-end protocol. It establishes communications between two processes that are running on different machines, detects and corrects errors, controls data flow, and provides reliable communications. Application programs call TCP to transfer data across the network. TCP, in turn, uses the Internet Protocol (IP) [POST81] to send data to the appropriate network. CSNET communications such as file transfer, remote login, and process-to-process communication over the network assume that a TCP interface is available at CSNET sites.

Since ARPANET sites are required to support the TCP/IP protocols, CSNET sites connected directly to the ARPANET automatically have access to TCP/IP. Phonenet relays connect directly to the ARPANET; they too have access to TCP to relay mail onto the ARPANET. Telenet does not use the TCP/IP protocols. Consequently, CSNET sites that are connected only to Telenet need additional software before they can communicate on CSNET. That software is described in this paper -- it provides an interface between the public packet - switched protocol X.25 [CCITT78] and TCP/IP. Although the design outlined here is applicable to any vendor's system, our implemention is for a Digital Equipment Corporation VAX running the Western Electric UNIX [UNIX78] operating system as modified by the University of California at Berkeley.

This report focuses on the technical issues involved in building software to interface TCP/IP and X.25. The tariff structure for public networks is discussed only to the extent that it influences our design. Other issues such as access control, and protocol selection are beyond the scope of this report.
Interprocess communication system of the MT35 digital exchange
Authors: Battarel G. J. , Savary H. F.
Published: October 2012

The MT35 is a digital exchange. It handles subscribers lines and transit traffic. It features a modular structure based on interconnected terminal sites (TS). Each TS has full call handling capability, and can support up to 1500 subscribers; the overall control is handled by two microsynchronized Motorola M68000 microprocessors. Up to 15 TSs may be point to point connected to form a MT35 exchange.

There is no shared memory between TSs: communication is over TDM links (Time Division Multiplex, 2 Mb/s) carrying both data (messages between sites) and digitalized voice. It is a loosely coupled architecture (JEN), as compared to an architecture as CM* (SWA).

The overall system operational data, including subscriber tables, equipment configuration, supervision and maintenance data, is handled by the exchange as a distributed data base (BOC, COR). Each TS holds a part of this data base in its private memory: it includes local objects (e.g. equipment or subscriber descriptors) and an image of non-local objects (e.g. routing tables or configuration data).

A single special TS, in which telephony equipment is replaced by I/O peripherals, called Management and Maintenance Site (MMS) maintains an up-to-date copy of the data base on secondary storage. It supports operator interface, coordinates update operations on non-local objects, TS programs and data base loading.

The execution of a function (e.g. call establishment, operator request, etc.) results in the creation of a transaction, which generally spans over several sites, according to the location of the resources involved (e.g. caller and called party).
Semiring-annotated data
Authors: Karvounarakis Grigoris , Green Todd J.
Published: October 2012

We present an overview of the literature on
querying semiring-annotated data
, a notion we introduced five years ago in a paper with Val Tannen. First, we show that positive relational algebra calculations for various forms of annotated relations, as well as provenance models for such queries, are particular cases of the same general algorithm involving commutative semirings. For this reason, we present a formal framework for answering queries on data with annotations from commutative semirings, and propose a comprehensive provenance representation based on semirings of
polynomials
. We extend these considerations to XQuery views over annotated, unordered XML data, and show that the semiring framework suffices for a large positive fragment of XQuery applied to such data. Finally, we conclude with a brief overview of the large body of work that builds upon these results, including both extensions to the theoretical foundations and uses in practical applications.
Report of the international workshop on business intelligence and the web
Authors: Mazón Jose-Norberto , Garrigós Irene , Daniel Florian , Castellanos Malu
Published: October 2012

The 2nd International Workshop on Business intelligencE and the WEB (BEWEB) was co-located with the EDBT/ICDT 2011 Joint Conference in Uppsala (Sweden) on March 25, 2011. BEWEB intends to be an international forum for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas on how to leverage the huge amount of data that is available on the Web in BI applications and on how to apply Web engineering methods and techniques to the design of BI applications. This report summarizes the 2011 edition of BEWEB.
Exercise training improves cardiac function and attenuates arrhythmia in CPVT mice
Authors: Kurtzwald-Josefson Efrat , Hochhauser Edith , Katz Guy , Porat Eyal , Seidman Jonathan G. , Seidman Christine E. , Chepurko Yelena , Shainberg Asher , Eldar Michael , Arad Michael
Published: October 2012

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a lethal ventricular arrhythmia evoked by physical or emotional stress. Recessively inherited CPVT is caused by either missense or null-allele mutations in the cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2) gene. It was suggested that defects in CASQ2 cause protein deficiency and impair Ca2+ uptake to the sarcoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+-dependent inhibition of ryanodine channels, leading to diastolic Ca2+ leak, after-depolarizations, and arrhythmia. To examine the effect of exercise training on left ventricular remodeling and arrhythmia, CASQ2 knockout (KO) mice and wild-type controls underwent echocardiography and heart rhythm telemetry before and after 6 wk of training by treadmill exercise. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to measure gene and protein expression. Left ventricular fractional shortening was impaired in KO (33 ± 5 vs. 51 ± 7% in controls, P < 0.05) and improved after training (43 ± 12 and 51 ± 9% in KO and control mice, respectively, P = nonsignificant). The exercise tolerance was low in KO mice (16 ± 1 vs. 29 ± 2 min in controls, P < 0.01), but improved in trained animals (26 ± 2 vs. 30 ± 3 min, P = nonsignificant). The hearts of KO mice had a higher basal expression of the brain natriuretic peptide gene. After training, the expression of natriuretic peptide genes markedly decreased, with no difference between KO and controls. Exercise training was not associated with a change in ventricular tachycardia prevalence, but appeared to reduce arrhythmia load, as manifested by a decrease in ventricular beats during stress. We conclude that, in KO mice, which recapitulate the phenotype of human CPVT2, exercise training is well tolerated and could offer a strategy for heart conditioning against stress-induced arrhythmia.
Cocaine-Related Health Emergencies in Europe: A Review of Sources of Information, Trends and Implications for Service Development
Authors: Mena Guillermo , Giraudon Isabelle , Álvarez Elena , Corkery John M. , Matias João , Grasaasen Kari , Llorens Noelia , Griffiths Paul , Vicente Julian
Published: October 2012

Background: Cocaine-related health consequences are difficult to observe. Data on drug users in health-emergency settings may be a useful source of information on consequences that are not visible via other information sources. Methods: Thirty European countries submit an annual national report on the drug situation to the EMCDDA. All reports for the period 2007–2010 were analyzed, with particular attention given to auditing cocaine-related mentions. Analysis was also performed in order to identify sources and case definitions, assess coverage, audit cases and, where possible, to identify long-term trends. Results: Considerable heterogeneity existed between countries in their approach to recording drug-related emergencies, with only Spain and the Netherlands having established formal indicators. The highest annual numbers of cocaine-related episodes were reported by the UK (3,502), Spain (2,845) and the Netherlands (1,211). A considerable (2- to 3-fold) increase in the numbers of cocaine-related episodes has been reported since the end of the 1990s in these countries; these increases peaked in Spain and England around 2007/08. Conclusions: The analysis reported here suggests the need to develop more standardized approaches to monitoring drug-related emergencies. It points to the potential value of developing effective referral links between the emergency and specialized drug services working with cocaine users.
The Complex Picture Test in Dementia
Authors: Gustaw Rothenberg K. , Piądło R. , Nagaraj U.D. , Friedland R.P.
Published: October 2012

The newly developed Complex Picture Test (CPT) examines main cognitive domains, especially perceptual and visual-spatial abilities. The potential usefulness of the CPT in the assessment of dementia was evaluated. Patients with different forms of dementia [14 vascular dementia (VaD), 30 Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 6 Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD)], 12 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 30 matched controls were examined by the CPT, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the WAIS-R Digit Span subtest, and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT). The CPT consists of 10 complex pictures, each presenting characteristics paradoxically in opposition to each other. The subjects scored points for naming the object and noticing the paradox. One point was added for commenting on the paradox without prompting (3 points each picture/maximum of 30). CPT scores were significantly higher in the control group (mean ± SD, 29.46 ± 1.43) than in the AD, VaD, MCI, and PDD groups (13.1 ± 2.3, 16.9 ± 3.5, 23.2 ± 1.4, and 23.6 ± 3.4, respectively; p < 0.05). Significant positive correlations between MMSE, Digit Span, CDT, and CPT scores were observed (rho 0.76, 0.35, and 0.56, respectively). These data show perception of complex pictures being compromised in dementia. The correlation between CPT scores and MMSE scores suggests that tests may be used as a brief screening tool for dementia.
Mechanisms for the Advanced Asian Summer Monsoon Onset since the Mid-to-Late 1990s
Authors: Xiang Baoqiang , Wang Bin
Published: October 2012

Understanding the variability and change of monsoon onset is of utmost importance for agriculture planning and water management. In the last three decades, the Asian summer monsoon onset (ASMO) has remarkably advanced, but the physical mechanisms underlying the change remain elusive. Since the overall ASMO occurs in May, this paper focuses on the change of mean fields in May and considers enhanced mean precipitation and monsoon westerly winds as signs of advanced ASMO. The results reveal that the advanced ASMO mainly represents a robust decadal shift in the mid-to-late 1990s, which is attributed to the mean state change in the Pacific basin characterized by a grand La Niña–like pattern. The La Niña–like mean state change controls the ASMO through the westward propagation of Rossby waves and its interaction with the asymmetric background mean states in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, which intensifies the Northern Hemispheric perturbations and westerly winds. Intriguingly, the abrupt decadal shifts of monsoon onset in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal occur in 1999, in contrast to the South China Sea with a decadal shift in 1994. Numerical experiments with a coupled climate model demonstrate that the advanced monsoon onset in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal is governed by the enhanced zonal sea surface temperature (SST) gradients in the equatorial Pacific, while that in the South China Sea is primarily determined by the abrupt SST warming near the Philippine Sea.
Thermodynamic Bias in the Multimodel Mean Boreal Summer Monsoon
Authors: Boos William R. , Hurley John V.
Published: October 2012

Here it is shown that almost all models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) exhibit a common bias in the thermodynamic structure of boreal summer monsoons. The strongest bias lies over South Asia, where the upper-tropospheric temperature maximum is too weak, is shifted southeast of its observed location, and does not extend as far west over Africa as it does in observations. Simulated Asian maxima of surface air moist static energy are also too weak and are located over coastal oceans rather than in their observed continental position. The spatial structure of this bias suggests that it is caused by an overly smoothed representation of topography west of the Tibetan Plateau, which allows dry air from the deserts of western Asia to penetrate the monsoon thermal maximum, suppressing moist convection and cooling the upper troposphere. In a climate model with a decent representation of the thermodynamic state of the Asian monsoon, the qualitative characteristics of this bias can be recreated by truncating topography just west of the Tibetan Plateau. This relatively minor topographic modification also produces a negative anomaly of Indian precipitation of similar sign and amplitude to the CMIP continental Indian monsoon precipitation bias. Furthermore, in simulations of next-century climate warming, this topographic modification reduces the amplitude of the increase in Indian monsoon precipitation. These results confirm the importance of topography west of the Tibetan Plateau for South Asian climate and illustrate the need for careful assessments of the thermodynamic state of model monsoons.
Range-Correcting Azimuthal Shear in Doppler Radar Data
Authors: Newman Jennifer F. , Lakshmanan Valliappa , Heinselman Pamela L. , Richman Michael B. , Smith Travis M.
Published: October 2012

The current tornado detection algorithm (TDA) used by the National Weather Service produces a large number of false detections, primarily because it calculates azimuthal shear in a manner that is adversely impacted by noisy velocity data and range-degraded velocity signatures. Coincident with the advent of new radar-derived products and ongoing research involving new weather radar systems, the National Severe Storms Laboratory is developing an improved TDA. A primary component of this algorithm is the local, linear least squares derivatives (LLSD) azimuthal shear field. The LLSD method incorporates rotational derivatives of the velocity field and is affected less strongly by noisy velocity data in comparison with traditional “peak to peak” azimuthal shear calculations. LLSD shear is generally less range dependent than peak-to-peak shear, although some range dependency is unavoidable. The relationship between range and the LLSD shear values of simulated circulations was examined to develop a range correction for LLSD shear. A linear regression and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were investigated as range-correction models. Both methods were used to produce fits for the simulated shear data, although the ANN excelled as it could capture the nonlinear nature of the data. The range-correction methods were applied to real radar data from tornadic and nontornadic events to measure the capacity of the corrected shear to discriminate between tornadic and nontornadic circulations. The findings presented herein suggest that both methods increased shear values during tornadic periods by nearly an order of magnitude, facilitating differentiation between tornadic and nontornadic scans in tornadic events.
Differential effects of γc cytokines on postselection differentiation of CD8 thymocytes
Authors: Rafei Moutih , Rouette Alexandre , Brochu Sylvie , Vanegas Juan Ruiz , Perreault Claude
Published: October 2012

The primary consequence of positive selection is to render thymocytes responsive to cytokines and chemokines expressed in the thymic medulla. In the present study, our main objective was to discover which cytokines could support the differentiation of positively selected thymocytes. To this end, we have developed an in vitro model suitable for high-throughput analyses of positive selection and CD8 T-cell differentiation. The model involves coculture of TCRhiCD5intCD69− double-positive (DP) thymocytes with peptide-pulsed OP9 cells and γc-cytokines. We report that IL-4, IL-7, and IL-21 have nonredundant effects on positively selected DP thymocytes. IL-7 signaling phosphorylates STAT5 and ERK; induces Foxo1, Klf2, and S1pr1; and supports the differentiation of classic CD8 T cells. IL-4 activates STAT6 and ERK and supports the differentiation of CD8intPD-L1hiCD44hiEOMES+ innate CD8 T cells. IL-21 is produced by thymic epithelial cells and the IL-21 receptor-α is strongly induced on DP thymocytes undergoing positive selection. IL-21 signaling phosphorylates STAT3 and STAT5, but not ERK, and does not support CD8 T-cell differentiation. However, IL-21 has a unique ability to up-regulate BCL-6, expand DP thymocytes undergoing positive selection, and increase the production of mature T cells. Our data suggest that injection of recombinant IL-21 might enhance thymic output in subjects with age- or disease-related thymic atrophy.
Evolutionary dynamics of rRNA gene clusters in cichlid fish
Authors: Nakajima Rafael T , Cabral-de-Mello Diogo C , Valente Guilherme T , Venere Paulo C , Martins Cesar
Published: October 2012

Background

Among multigene families, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes are the most frequently studied and have been explored as cytogenetic markers to study the evolutionary history of karyotypes among animals and plants. In this report, we applied cytogenetic and genomic methods to investigate the organization of rRNA genes among cichlid fishes. Cichlids are a group of fishes that are of increasing scientific interest due to their rapid and convergent adaptive radiation, which has led to extensive ecological diversity.

Results

The present paper reports the cytogenetic mapping of the 5S rRNA genes from 18 South American, 22 African and one Asian species and the 18S rRNA genes from 3 African species. The data obtained were comparatively analyzed with previously published information related to the mapping of rRNA genes in cichlids. The number of 5S rRNA clusters per diploid genome ranged from 2 to 15, with the most common pattern being the presence of 2 chromosomes bearing a 5S rDNA cluster. Regarding 18S rDNA mapping, the number of sites ranged from 2 to 6, with the most common pattern being the presence of 2 sites per diploid genome. Furthermore, searching theOreochromis niloticusgenome database led to the identification of a total of 59 copies of 5S rRNA and 38 copies of 18S rRNA genes that were distributed in several genomic scaffolds. The rRNA genes were frequently flanked by transposable elements (TEs) and spread throughout the genome, complementing the FISH analysis that detect only clustered copies of rRNA genes.

Conclusions

The organization of rRNA gene clusters seems to reflect their intense and particular evolutionary pathway and not the evolutionary history of the associated taxa. The possible role of TEs as one source of rRNA gene movement, that could generates the spreading of ribosomal clusters/copies, is discussed. The present paper reinforces the notion that the integration of cytogenetic data and genomic analysis provides a more complete picture for understanding the organization of repeated sequences in the genome.
Molecular adaptation and resilience of the insect’s nuclear receptor USP
Authors: Chaumot Arnaud , Da Lage Jean-Luc , Maestro Oscar , Martin David , Iwema Thomas , Brunet Frederic , Belles Xavier , Laudet Vincent , Bonneton François
Published: October 2012

Background

The maintenance of biological systems requires plasticity and robustness. The function of the ecdysone receptor, a heterodimer composed of the nuclear receptors ECR (NR1H1) and USP (NR2B4), was maintained in insects despite a dramatic divergence that occurred during the emergence of Mecopterida. This receptor is therefore a good model to study the evolution of plasticity. We tested the hypothesis that selection has shaped the Ligand-Binding Domain (LBD) of USP during evolution of Mecopterida.

Results

We isolated usp and cox1 in several species of Drosophilidae, Tenebrionidae and Blattaria and estimated non-synonymous/synonymous rate ratios using maximum-likelihood methods and codon-based substitution models. Although the usp sequences were mainly under negative selection, we detected relaxation at residues located on the surface of the LBD within Mecopterida families. Using branch-site models, we also detected changes in selective constraints along three successive branches of the Mecopterida evolution. Residues located at the bottom of the ligand-binding pocket (LBP) underwent strong positive selection during the emergence of Mecopterida. This change is correlated with the acquisition of a large LBP filled by phospholipids that probably allowed the stabilisation of the new Mecopterida structure. Later, when the two subgroups of Mecopterida (Amphiesmenoptera: Lepidoptera, Trichoptera; Antliophora: Diptera, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera) diverged, the same positions became under purifying selection. Similarly, several positions of the heterodimerisation interface experienced positive selection during the emergence of Mecopterida, rapidly followed by a phase of constrained evolution. An enlargement of the heterodimerisation surface is specific for Mecopterida and was associated with a reinforcement of the obligatory partnership between ECR and USP, at the expense of homodimerisation.

Conclusions

In order to explain the episodic mode of evolution of USP, we propose a model in which the molecular adaptation of this protein is seen as a process of resilience for the maintenance of the ecdysone receptor functionality.
Drought yield index to select high yielding rice lines under different drought stress severities
Authors: Raman Anitha , Verulkar Satish , Mandal Nimai , Variar Mukund , Shukla V , Dwivedi J , Singh B , Singh O , Swain Padmini , Mall Ashutosh , Robin S , Chandrababu R , Jain Abhinav , Ram Tilatoo , Hittalmani Shailaja , Haefele Stephan , Piepho Hans-Peter , Kumar Arvind
Published: October 2012

Background

Drought is the most severe abiotic stress reducing rice yield in rainfed drought prone ecosystems. Variation in intensity and severity of drought from season to season and place to place requires cultivation of rice varieties with different level of drought tolerance in different areas. Multi environment evaluation of breeding lines helps breeder to identify appropriate genotypes for areas prone to similar level of drought stress. From a set of 129 advanced rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding lines evaluated under rainfed drought-prone situations at three locations in eastern India from 2005 to 2007, a subset of 39 genotypes that were tested for two or more years was selected to develop a drought yield index (DYI) and mean yield index (MYI) based on yield under irrigated, moderate and severe reproductive-stage drought stress to help breeders select appropriate genotypes for different environments.

Results

ARB 8 and IR55419-04 recorded the highest drought yield index (DYI) and are identified as the best drought-tolerant lines. The proposed DYI provides a more effective assessment as it is calculated after accounting for a significant genotype x stress-level interaction across environments. For rainfed areas with variable frequency of drought occurrence, Mean yield index (MYI) along with deviation in performance of genotypes from currently cultivated popular varieties in all situations helps to select genotypes with a superior performance across irrigated, moderate and severe reproductive-stage drought situations. IR74371-70-1-1 and DGI 75 are the two genotypes identified to have shown a superior performance over IR64 and MTU1010 under all situations.

Conclusion

For highly drought-prone areas, a combination of DYI with deviation in performance of genotypes under irrigated situations can enable breeders to select genotypes with no reduction in yield under favorable environments compared with currently cultivated varieties. For rainfed areas with variable frequency of drought stress, use of MYI together with deviation in performance of genotypes under different situations as compared to presently cultivated varieties will help breeders to select genotypes with superior performance under all situations.
Biomechanical factors and physical examination findings in osteoarthritis of the knee: associations with tissue abnormalities assessed by conventional radiography and high-resolution 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Knoop Jesper , Dekker Joost , Klein Jan-Paul , van der Leeden Marike , van der Esch Martin , Reiding Dick , Voorneman Ramon E , Gerritsen Martijn , Roorda Leo D , Steultjens Martijn PM , Lems Willem F
Published: October 2012

Introduction

We aimed to explore the associations between knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related tissue abnormalities assessed by conventional radiography (CR) and by high-resolution 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as biomechanical factors and findings from physical examination in patients with knee OA.

Methods

This was an explorative cross-sectional study of 105 patients with knee OA. Index knees were imaged using CR and MRI. Multiple features from CR and MRI (cartilage, osteophytes, bone marrow lesions, effusion and synovitis) were related to biomechanical factors (quadriceps and hamstrings muscle strength, proprioceptive accuracy and varus-valgus laxity) and physical examination findings (bony tenderness, crepitus, bony enlargement and palpable warmth), using multivariable regression analyses.

Results

Quadriceps weakness was associated with cartilage integrity, effusion, synovitis (all detected by MRI) and CR-detected joint space narrowing. Knee joint laxity was associated with MRI-detected cartilage integrity, CR-detected joint space narrowing and osteophyte formation. Multiple tissue abnormalities including cartilage integrity, osteophytes and effusion, but only those detected by MRI, were found to be associated with physical examination findings such as crepitus.

Conclusion

We observed clinically relevant findings, including a significant association between quadriceps weakness and both effusion and synovitis, detected by MRI. Inflammation was detected in over one-third of the participants, emphasizing the inflammatory component of OA and a possible important role for anti-inflammatory therapies in knee OA. In general, OA-related tissue abnormalities of the knee, even those detected by MRI, were found to be discordant with biomechanical and physical examination features.
Course Theme and Ideology in the Freshman Writing Classroom
Authors: Sponenberg Ashlie K.
Published: October 2012

This article examines the applicability of controversial course themes in the first-year writing classroom. It narrates examples of student resistance to readings and discussions that led to intellectual and personal discomfort, and then assesses the benefits (improved critical thinking skills, opportunities for lessons in rhetoric and audience awareness) and drawbacks (self-imposed silence, fear of writing beyond clichéd responses to difficult questions) that controversial material can bring to the writing seminar. After comparing the results of student writing in two course themes built on varied degrees of explicitly ideological content, Sponenberg concludes that a less politicized theme allows students more room to explore controversial subjects on their own terms because they feel less anxiety about “saying the wrong thing” than they experienced when responding to overt political arguments.
A transgenic zebrafish liver tumor model with inducible Myc expression reveals conserved Myc signatures with mammalian liver tumors
Authors: Li Zhen , Zheng Weiling , Wang Zhengyuan , Zeng Zhiqiang , Zhan Huiqing , Li Caixia , Zhou Li , Yan Cuan , Spitsbergen Jan M. , Gong Zhiyuan
Published: October 2012

Myc is a pleiotropic transcription factor that is involved in many cellular activities relevant to carcinogenesis, including hepatocarcinogenesis. The zebrafish has been increasingly used to model human diseases and it is particularly valuable in helping to identify common and conserved molecular mechanisms in vertebrates. Here we generated a liver tumor model in transgenic zebrafish by liver-specific expression of mouse Myc using a Tet-On system. Dosage-dependent induction of Myc expression specifically in the liver was observed in our Myc transgenic zebrafish, TO(Myc), and the elevated Myc expression caused liver hyperplasia, which progressed to hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma with prolonged induction. Next generation sequencing-based transcriptomic analyses indicated that ribosome proteins were overwhelmingly upregulated in the Myc-induced liver tumors. Cross-species analyses showed that the zebrafish Myc model correlated well with Myc transgenic mouse models for liver cancers. The Myc-induced zebrafish liver tumors also possessed molecular signatures highly similar to human those of hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, we found that a small Myc target gene set of 16 genes could be used to identify liver tumors due to Myc upregulation. Thus, our zebrafish model demonstrated the conserved role of Myc in promoting hepatocarcinogenesis in all vertebrate species.
Regulation of synapse composition by protein acetylation: the role of acetylated cortactin
Authors: Catarino Tatiana , Ribeiro Luís , Santos Sandra D. , Carvalho Ana Luísa
Published: October 2012

Protein acetylation affects synaptic plasticity and memory, but its effects on synapse composition have not been addressed. We found that protein acetylation promotes the dendritic clustering of the excitatory postsynaptic scaffold protein PSD95 in hippocampal neurons, without affecting the total levels of this protein. Cortactin, an F-actin-binding protein enriched in dendritic spines, is a substrate for acetylation and has a role in spine morphogenesis. Recent studies showed that cortactin acetylation changes its ability to bind F-actin and regulates cellular motility, but the function of cortactin acetylation in neuronal cells is so far unknown. We tested whether acetylation of cortactin influences its morphogenic function by overexpressing wild-type cortactin, or the mimetic mutants for acetylated or deacetylated cortactin, in hippocampal neurons, and found that cortactin acetylation has an impact on PSD95 clustering, independent from its function as actin dynamics regulator. Moreover, acetylated cortactin can rescue the reduction in PSD95 clustering mediated by knockdown of cortactin. We also found that acetylation of cortactin is correlated with decreased cortactin interaction with p140Cap and Shank1, and with lower cortactin phosphorylation at tyrosine 421. The neurotrophin BDNF promoted the acetylation of cortactin in hippocampal neurons, suggesting that BDNF may regulate excitatory synapses and PSD95 dendritic clustering at least in part by changing the acetylation level of cortactin. Our findings unravel an unsuspected role for cortactin acetylation in the regulation of PSD95 dendritic clustering, which may work in concert with cortactin's role in spine development.
MDC1 and RNF8 function in a pathway that directs BRCA1-dependent localization of PALB2 required for homologous recombination
Authors: Zhang Fan , Bick Gregory , Park Jung-Young , Andreassen Paul R.
Published: October 2012

The PALB2 protein is associated with breast cancer susceptibility and Fanconi anemia. Notably, PALB2 is also required for DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR). However, the mechanisms that regulate PALB2, and the functional significance of its interaction with the BRCA1 breast cancer susceptibility protein, are poorly understood. Here, to better understand these processes, we fused PALB2, or the PALB2(L21P) mutant which cannot bind to BRCA1, with the BRCT repeats that are present in, and which localize, BRCA1. Our results yield important insights into the regulation of PALB2 function. Both fusion proteins can bypass BRCA1 to localize to sites of DNA damage. Further, the localized fusion proteins are functional, as determined by their ability to support the assembly of RAD51 foci, even in the absence of the capacity of PALB2 to bind BRCA1. Strikingly, the localized fusion proteins mediate DNA double-strand break (DSB)-initiated HR and resistance to mitomycin C in PALB2-deficient cells. Additionally, we show that the BRCA1–PALB2 heterodimer, rather than the PALB2–PALB2 homodimer, mediates these responses. Importantly, we offer the first insight into how BRCA1-dependent recruitment of PALB2 is integrated with other DNA damage signaling pathways. We find that PALB2 localization depends on the presence of MDC1, RNF8, RAP80 and Abraxas upstream of BRCA1. Thus, PALB2 may link HR to a key ubiquitin-related signaling pathway that responds to DSBs.
Involvement of the mRNA binding protein CRD-BP in the regulation of metastatic melanoma cell proliferation and invasion by hypoxia
Authors: Craig Evisabel A. , Weber Jonathan D. , Spiegelman Vladimir S.
Published: October 2012

We have previously shown that the mRNA binding protein CRD-BP is overexpressed in human melanomas, where it promotes cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. The present study investigates the role of hypoxia, a common characteristic of the tumor microenvironment, in the regulation of CRD-BP expression and melanoma cell responses. We found that hypoxia increases CRD-BP levels in metastatic melanoma cell lines but not in melanocytes or primary melanoma cells. Hypoxic stimulation transcriptionally regulates CRD-BP by facilitating the acetylation of histones within the CRD-BP gene and by modulating the extent of HIF1α binding to the CRD-BP promoter. Hypoxia significantly enhances the proliferative and invasive potential of metastatic melanoma cells but not that of normal or primary melanoma cells. Furthermore, inhibition of CRD-BP impairs the ability of metastatic cells to proliferate and invade in response to hypoxia. These findings identify CRD-BP as a novel effector of hypoxic responses that is relevant for the selection of metastatic cells. This work also describes a previously unknown role for CRD-BP in the regulation of melanoma cell invasion and highlights the importance of the hypoxic microenvironment in determining cell fate.
Pharmacological assays reveal age-related changes in synaptic transmission at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction that are modified by reduced insulin signalling
Authors: Mulcahy Ben , Holden-Dye Lindy , O'Connor Vincent
Published: October 2012

Frailty is a feature of neuromuscular ageing. Here we provide insight into the relative contribution of pre and postsynaptic dysfunction to neuromuscular ageing using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Assays of C. elegans motility highlight a precipitous decline during ageing. We describe a novel deployment of pharmacological assays of C. elegans neuromuscular function to resolve pre and postsynaptic dysfunction that underpin this decreased motility during ageing. The cholinergic agonist levamisole and the cholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb elicited whole worm contraction and allowed a direct comparison of neuromuscular integrity, from 1 to 16 days old: Measurements could be made from aged worms that were otherwise almost completely immobile. The rapidity and magnitude of the drug-induced contraction provides a measure of neuromuscular signalling whilst the difference between levamisole and aldicarb highlights presynaptic effects. Presynaptic neuromuscular transmission increased between one and five days old in wild-type but not in the insulin/IGF1 receptor mutant daf-2 (e1370). Intriguingly, there was no evidence of a role for insulin-dependent effects in older worms. Notably in 16 day old worms, which were virtually devoid of spontaneous movement, the maximal contraction produced by both drugs was unchanged. Taken together the data support a maturation of presynaptic function and/or upstream elements during early ageing that is lost after genetic reduction of insulin signalling. Furthermore, this experimental approach has demonstrated a counterintuitive phenomenon: In aged worms neuromuscular strength is maintained despite the absence of motility.
Glucose uptake and metabolism by RBCs from fish with different extracellular glucose levels
Authors: Driedzic William R. , Clow Kathy A. , Short Connie E.
Published: October 2012

The aim of the study was to assess if mechanisms of glucose trafficking by red blood cells (RBCs) relates to species specific extracellular glucose levels. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), and short-horned sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) had plasma glucose levels of 4 mmol l-1, 4.1 mmol l-1, 1.95 mmol l-1, and 0.73 mmol l-1, respectively. Glucose uptake by isolated RBCs was measured by the initial incorporation of [6-14C]-glucose and steady state glucose metabolism was determined by the production of 3H2O from [2-3H]-glucose. Saturation kinetics of glucose uptake and inhibition of both glucose uptake and metabolism by cytochalasin B and phloretin revealed that Atlantic cod, cunner, and sculpin RBCs all had a facilitated transport component to glucose trafficking. RBCs from Atlantic salmon showed a linear relationship between glucose uptake and extracellular glucose level but exhibited clear inhibition of glucose metabolism by cytochalasin B and phloretin suggesting a component of facilitated glucose transport that is more elusive to detect. The production of 3H2O was linear for at least 6 hr and as such presents a rigorous approach to measuring glycolytic rate. Steady state rates of glucose metabolism were achieved at extracellular levels of approximately 1 mmol l-1 glucose for RBCs from all species showing that within species normal extracellular glucose level is not a primary determinant of basal level of glycolysis. At physiological levels of extracellular glucose the ratio of initial glucose uptake to glucose metabolism was 1.5 to 4 for all RBCs suggesting that there is scope to increase metabolic rate without alteration of the basal glucose uptake capacity.
Metal Nanoparticle Catalysts for Oxidation of Propene with Molecular Oxygen
Authors: Toshima Naoki , Kawashima Keisuke
Published: October 2012

AgPd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by the reduction of the salts of Ag+ and Pd2+ ions with NaBH4 in the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) in an aqueous solution placed in an ice bath and were characterized with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS). The prepared AgPd bimetallic nanoparticles had higher catalytic activity and selectivity for aerobic oxidation of propene to propene oxide than did conventional Pd salts and Pd and Ag monometallic nanoparticles.
Fatigue Crack Assessment of Asphalt Concrete Pavement on a Single Span Highway Bridge Subjected to a Moving Truck
Authors: Seo Youngguk , Baek Cheolmin , Kim Y. Richard
Published: October 2012

Characterization of fatigue crack in asphalt concrete (AC) pavement placed on the bridge is quite complex because it involves not only viscoelastic behavior of AC mixture but also dynamic interaction between bridge and traffic. In this study, a new approach that accounts for these material and structural aspects of the problem has been proposed to evaluate the fatigue crack potential of AC pavement on the bridge. A highway bridge surfaced with the 13-mm stone mastic asphalt (SMA) pavement that was subjected to a moving two-axle dump truck was selected as a simulation target and its equation of motion was derived using the Lagrange’s formulation. Given the range of testing variables, the maximum center deflections of the bridge were calculated and converted into the peak strains at the bottom of the SMA pavement. A simplified linear viscoelastic continuum damage model (S-VECD) was then implemented for the strains ranging from the largest peak strain to the specified allowable strain to predict the fatigue life of the SMA. The outputs showed that the fatigue life of the SMA got shorter as strain increases, and that hard SMA failed earlier than soft SMA. It was also found that SMA’s temperature was more influential than vehicle’s speed in causing fatigue cracks.