bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local Budgeting and Public Participation
Authors: Herian Mitchel N.
Published: July 2011

This paper examines the political, economic, and institutional variables associated with the presence of state laws that mandate the use of public input in local budgeting. The results show that political and institutional variables can help explain the presence of such laws, but the relationships between variables of interest shift depending on whether laws aimed at cities or counties are the focal point and on which types of public input methods are under consideration. The implications for both theories of public participation in budgeting and intergovernmental relations are discussed within.
Resettlement of residents from approved premises: Results of a London Probation-NHS collaborative pilot project
Authors: Stevens Peter , Bali Kiran , Chatfield Jon
Published: July 2011

Offenders tend to experience high rates of psychosocial problems and these can interfere with their community resettlement. This article describes a 12-month probation-funded pilot service that assessed and supported offenders to move into integrated community placements from two Approved Premises in South London. The service was provided by forensic mental health practitioners and its philosophy was goals-oriented. It was well received by clients and probation service colleagues and appeared effective in helping clients overcome social and psychological difficulties that may otherwise have interfered with their post-hostel resettlement. The service represented a good example of health and criminal justice agency collaborative working.
Perspectives on depression, gender and crime: Depression sometimes masked, missed and misunderstood?
Authors: Hodgkinson Sarah , Prins Herschel
Published: July 2011

This article offers both a literature review, and perspectives on the definition and nature of depressive illness, its various modes of presentation, and its significance in male, female and adolescent populations. It provides a brief review of some of the ideas about the aetiology of depression, outlines how to recognize it and discusses its relevance to forensic populations. Finally it suggests how early detection of depression and, consequently, more adequate access to treatment intervention, can be facilitated. Unfortunately, the presence of depression is sometimes overlooked and therefore missed (particularly in males) sometimes with tragic consequences for the sufferer and for society.
Adolescent exposure to cannabis as a risk factor for psychiatric disorders
Authors: Rubino Tiziana , Zamberletti Erica , Parolaro Daniela
Published: July 2011

Adolescence represents a critical period for brain development and the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in the regulation of neuronal refinement during this period. Cannabis is the most consumed drug among adolescent people and its heavy use may affect maturational refinement by disrupting the regulatory role of the endocannabinoid system. In animals, adolescent cannabinoid exposure has been reported to cause long-term impairment in specific components of learning and memory and to differentially affect emotional reactivity with milder effects on anxiety behaviour and more pronounced effects on depression-like behaviour. Moreover, adolescent exposure to cannabinoids might represent a risk factor for developing psychotic-like symptoms at adulthood. Also epidemiological studies suggest that heavy adolescent cannabis use may increase the risk of cognitive abnormalities, psychotic illness, mood disorders and other illicit substance use later in life. In conclusion, the available data point to the hypothesis that heavy cannabis use in adolescence could increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, especially in people who already have a vulnerability to develop a psychiatric syndrome. Only few papers have investigated the neurobiological substrates of this vulnerability, thus further studies are needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of cannabis on the adolescent brain.
Is Australia a tectonically stable continent? Analysis of a myth and suggested morphological evidence of tectonism
Authors: Twidale C.R.
Published: July 2011

Occasional references to the relative tectonic instability of the Australian continent have been published over the last hundred years or so. Youthful tectonic forms were described from various parts of the continent throughout that period. Despite this, it was repeatedly claimed that the shield lands in particular were tectonically stable, and as recently as this century reference has been made to a concept embracing a tectonically inert continent. However, some 60 years ago, the accumulated evidence convinced E.S. Hills that in Australia all land surfaces, including the shield lands, and even recent alluvial plains, were tectonically disturbed. This conclusion was reinforced by analyses of seismicity and faulting; by regional geological mapping that revealed widely distributed tectonic forms and especially fault-related features, many of them of neotectonic age; by technological advances that allow faulting episodes to be closely dated; by the recognition of underprinting; and by the realization that many minor forms, previously unrecognized or attributed to other mechanisms or processes, are associated with crustal stress and are of tectonic origin. Thus, while Australia is a relatively stable continent, it is subject to widespread small-magnitude earth movements. Ironically, in view of earlier thinking, neotectonic forms may be better developed and preserved on the shields than elsewhere.
Serum Bicarbonate as a Marker to Predict Mortality in Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Authors: Yeong Eng-Kean , Lee Chao-Hsiang , Hu Fu-Chang , Wu MZ
Published: July 2011

Background: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare life-threatening disorder characterized by extensive epidermal necrolysis. Its mortality which varies from 20% to 60% is related to risk factors such as age, extent of epidermal detachment, and base deficit. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors of mortality in our patients with TEN. Patients and methods: From the year 2000 to 2006, the patients with TEN admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital Burn Center were studied retrospectively using chart review. Eleven potential risk factors including age, gender, underlying disease, malignancy, extent of epidermal detachment, tachycardia, serum urea, glucose, base deficit, leucopenia, and intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin (IVIG) were analyzed. Patients were grouped into survivors (n = 11) and nonsurvivors (n = 5) after intensive care treatment. Logistic regression was used in multivariate analysis for identifying important predictors of mortality. Results: The mean age of the patients with TEN was 58 years, while the mean total body surface area of epidermal necrolysis was 66.3%. The overall mortality rate was 31.3%. Among the potential risk factors, only serum bicarbonate <20 mmol/L was found to have significant association with mortality (P = .0128) in our patients with TEN. The odds of mortality in the patients with TEN having serum bicarbonate <20 mmol/L was 40 times higher than those without. Conclusion: This study has shown that serum bicarbonate <20 mmol/L is the most important risk factor of mortality in our patients with TEN and it may be used as a marker to predict hospital mortality.
After Subversion: Intimate Encounters, the Agency in and of Representation, and the Unfinished Project of Gender without Sexuality in India
Authors: Ciotti Manuela
Published: July 2011

This article analyses the sexual innuendos, the ‘irreverent’ postures and the sex talk which marked a number of ethnographic encounters with women in north India. While these encounters discursively harassed the anthropologist’s interpretive categories, Indian women’s ‘excess of agency’ established a joking intimacy with her. Where encounters radically subverted aspects of the representational history of women across colonial and postcolonial India, their novel representational possibilities opened up new ones for those women writing on them. Finally, encounters signalled the urgent need for research in the largely unknown terrain of heterosexuality in India, and this research’s potential to rethink the semantics of gender.
Sensor fault detection and isolation algorithm for a continuous damping control system
Authors: Kim Jihwan , Lee Hyeongcheol
Published: July 2011

This paper presents an analytical sensor fault-detection and isolation algorithm for the vertical accelerometers of a continuous damping control (CDC) system, which are essential but vulnerable components in the CDC system. Because the sensor configuration of the target CDC system does not provide sufficient redundancy for fault diagnosis, two different vehicle suspension models, a modified full car model and a roll-and-pitch plane model, are derived and combined to establish analytical redundancy. Parity equations for the vertical motion of a sprung mass are derived using the combined model and applied in order to detect faults of the vertical accelerometers. In order to isolate the faults properly in practical situations, this paper proposes a fault isolation algorithm which calculates estimates of the vertical acceleration at the centre of gravity of the sprung mass using vertical acceleration signals and compares the residuals of these estimates. This paper also provides a detailed analysis regarding the detectability and isolability of vertical accelerometer faults. An adaptive threshold method is proposed to improve the performance of the suggested fault-detection and isolation algorithm. Simulation and test results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Design, kinematics, simulation, and experiment for a lower-limb rehabilitation robot
Authors: Wang H , Shi X , Liu H , Li L , Hou Z , Yu H
Published: July 2011

This paper investigates and proposes a lower-limb rehabilitation robot that is used to help patients with lower-limb paralysis to improve and resume physical functions. The proposed rehabilitation robot has the feature that three rotary joints consist of three crank rocker mechanisms with an identical module. The paper covers mechanism design and optimization, kinematics analysis and trajectory planning, motion simulation, the control system design, and experiments. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed rehabilitation robot is safe and reliable with the effective design and better kinematic performance.
Connecting the Atlantic-sector and the north Pacific (Mt Logan) ice core stable isotope records during the Holocene: The role of El Niño
Authors: Fisher David A.
Published: July 2011

The δ(18O) Holocene of the Mt Logan ice core is very different from those of eastern Arctic Canada and Greenland. The large changes seen in Logan dwarf even the largest change (the cooling event 8200 years ago) in the Atlantic-sector cores. Large changes in Logan’s δ(18O) and d are related to the state of El Niño as reflected by the Quelccaya δ(18O) series. It is found that the lagged auto-difference series of the ice core records from the Agassiz ice cap, Greenland and the 23-site stack of paleotemperature records of Kaufman et al. (Kaufman DS, Schneider DP, McKay NP, Ammann CM, Bradley RS, Briffa KR et al. (2009) Recent warming reverses long-term Arctic cooling. Science 325: 1236) produce highly significant matches to the Mt Logan δ(18O) series. These correspondences suggest a lag of 1200 years. This lag time is what some models of the Diffusive-Great Ocean Conveyor (D-GOC) predict for the average travel time from the North Atlantic to the tropical eastern Pacific. Monte Carlo testing of the correlations show that they are very significant. The implications of ENSO being affected by the difference between temperatures today and those of 1200 years ago are touched on.
Internet-Based Self-Help Career Assessments and Interventions: Challenges and Implications for Evidence-Based Career Counseling
Authors: Gati Itamar , Asulin-Peretz Lisa
Published: July 2011

A major characteristic of the 21st century with significant implications on career decision making is the growing prevalence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Challenges involving ICT-based self-assessment and self-help interventions aimed at facilitating career decision making are discussed. Specifically, this article focuses on the importance of using career counselors’ expert knowledge to develop more advanced online career self-assessments and self-help interventions and ways of incorporating them into the process of career counseling. The first section of this article focuses on online career assessment. To help individuals, online self-assessments should include not only scoring but also an interpretation of the scores (e.g., indicating what the client’s main difficulties are) as well as recommendations for future actions (e.g., how to cope with these difficulties). The second section focuses on developing online evidence-based career interventions that are tailored to the individual’s needs and characteristics, designed to both advance clients’ career decision-making process, and deal with specific difficulties that impede decision making. The third section discusses the challenges of incorporating self-assessments and self-help interventions into face-to-face career counseling. Career clients can use online assessments and interventions before approaching a career counselor or as part of the career counseling process. Consequently, career counselors should broaden their expertise by becoming familiar with various Internet self-assessments and interventions, and capable of evaluating their quality, so that they can make the best use of them for the benefit of their clients.
Rightsizing the Workforce: Changing Roles of Vocational Psychology
Authors: Bingham Rosie Phillips
Published: July 2011

This article briefly defines rightsizing the workforce and discusses the rightsizing dilemma in relation to the current economic downturn in the United States, its disparate effects on citizens, and implications for potential shifting roles for vocational psychologists. Next, the discussion will highlight disenfranchised or marginalized groups that have been affected by unemployment and then identify potentially relevant questions that can be drawn from ongoing work in vocational psychology. Finally, there is a discussion of predicted changes in the U.S. demographics over the next 40 years that might influence the size of the working population. The article will conclude with some compelling questions about potential changes in the role of vocational psychologists in rightsizing the workforce.
Infrastructure Megaproject Leadership, Management, Innovation, and Accountability
Authors: Haynes Wendy
Published: July 2011

Peeling back the layers of a transportation megaproject requires a prodigious level of dedication and perseverance. Relatively few undertake the journey and four of that small band of scholarly entrepreneurs appeared on a panel at the April 2010 Conference of the American Society for Public Administration in San Jose, California. The moderator of the panel summarizes the panel discussion and introduces the three papers that resulted. Three themes emerge: leadership matters, governance structures make a difference, and risk allocation counts.
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil and Related Ingredients
Authors: Burnett Christina L. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Andersen F. Alan
Published: July 2011

Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, oil from the dried coconut fruit, is composed of 90% saturated triglycerides. It may function as a fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, or skin-conditioning agent and is reported in 626 cosmetics at concentrations from 0.0001% to 70%. The related ingredients covered in this assessment are fatty acids, and their hydrogenated forms, corresponding fatty alcohols, simple esters, and inorganic and sulfated salts of coconut oil. The salts and esters are expected to have similar toxicological profiles as the oil, its hydrogenated forms, and its constituent fatty acids. Coconut oil and related ingredients are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.
Final Report of the Safety Assessment of Cosmetic Ingredients Derived From Zea Mays (Corn)
Authors: Andersen F. Alan , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W.
Published: July 2011

Many cosmetic ingredients are derived from Zea mays (corn). While safety test data were not available for most ingredients, similarities in preparation and the resulting similar composition allowed extrapolation of safety data to all listed ingredients. Animal studies included acute toxicity, ocular and dermal irritation studies, and dermal sensitization studies. Clinical studies included dermal irritation and sensitization. Case reports were available for the starch as used as a donning agent in medical gloves. Studies of many other endpoints, including reproductive and developmental toxicity, use corn oil as a vehicle control with no reported adverse effects at levels used in cosmetics. While industry should continue limiting ingredient impurities such as pesticide residues before blending into a cosmetic formulation, the CIR Expert Panel determined that corn-derived ingredients are safe for use in cosmetics in the practices of use and concentration described in the assessment.
Final Report of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Safety Assessment of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, and Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Authors: Becker Lillian C. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Hill Ronald A. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel C. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Andersen F. Alan
Published: July 2011

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and related cosmetic ingredients methyl methacrylate crosspolymer and methyl methacrylate/glycol dimethacrylate crosspolymer are polymers that function as film formers and viscosity-increasing agents in cosmetics. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determination of safety of PMMA use in several medical devices, which included human and animal safety data, was used as the basis of safety of PMMA and related polymers in cosmetics by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel.  The PMMA used in cosmetics is substantially the same as in medical devices.  The Panel concluded that these ingredients are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentrations as described in this safety assessment.
The Physical and the Possible
Authors: Giardina Michael D. , Newman Joshua I.
Published: July 2011

This article examines ‘the physical’ and ‘the possible’ as bound together in recent political engagements of and with professional athletes – for example, Rashard Mendenhall, Luke Scott, and members of the Phoenix Suns organization–who have recently become entangled with/in mainstream debates concerning the “war on terror” and Tea Party discourses. In so doing, it critically interrogates politics as consumer culture within the domain of sport. It concludes by outlining one potential ‘way forward’ for scholars of the active, moving, and mobile body to conceive of a politics of possibility in paroxysmal political times.
Social Ecology and Worksite Training and Development: Introducing the Social in Instructional System Design
Authors: Weinstein Marc G. , Shuck Brad
Published: July 2011

Human resource development (HRD) is recognized as an interdisciplinary field covering the breadth of behavioral and social sciences. However, since its inception, instructional systems design (ISD), a methodology widely used in the HRD field, has been based on a narrow range of behavioral science. Grounded in general system’s theory, the ISD framework has primarily been presented as asocial in orientation and application, drawing primarily on individual theories of learning. This manuscript considers the emergence and history of current ISD technologies, and presents a social ecological framework to facilitate the integration of behavioral and social science theory into the ISD process. Research and training initiatives using the social ecological framework are discussed as are implication for HRD research and practice.
Midterm Results of Autologous Saphenous Vein and ePTFE Pre-Cuffed Bypass Surgery in Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease
Authors: Donker J. M. W. , Ho G. H. , te Slaa A. , de Groot H. G. W. , van der Waal J. C. H. , Veen E. J. , Laan L. van der
Published: July 2011

Introduction: The graft of choice in lower limb bypass surgery is the autologous saphenous vein (ASV). However, a prosthetic graft is needed in the absence of an ASV. In such situations, we used an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) pre-cuffed Dynaflo graft as supragenicular bypass or Distaflo graft as infragenicular or femorocrural bypass. In respect to the expanding possibilities of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), the indication for bypass surgery moved toward patients with advanced stages of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. For this reason, this study analyzed the current performances of these ePTFE grafts and ASV grafts with special attention to limb salvage. Methods: In a retrospective study all patients who underwent peripheral bypass surgery between 2004 and 2008 were included. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to express primary patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage rates at 1 and 3 years. Log-rank tests were performed to compare graft types. Results: A total of 272 grafts (ePTFE/ASV: 110/162) were performed in lower limb bypass surgery. The mean follow-up was 20.3 months. The secondary 3-year patency rates were for (n=78) supragenicular grafts (ePTFE/ASV: 45%/94%)*, for (n=124) infragenicular grafts (24%/74%)*, and 70 for femorocrural grafts (26%/52%). Limb salvage after 3 years was 59% in the ePTFE group versus 78% in the ASV group* (* P < .05). Conclusion. In the current population of vascular patients where no PTA is possible and a peripheral bypass is necessary, the ASV remains the graft of first choice. However, the pre-cuffed ePTFE graft is a good alternative, especially in cases of critical limb ischemia, in respect to an acceptable limb salvage rate.
‘Port of call’: Towards a criminology of port security
Authors: Eski Yarin
Published: July 2011

While public and criminological interest in ports is remarkably scarce, they form an intersection of (images of) crime and crime control. Port security organizations and personnel are confronted with that intersection in their everyday work life. In this article I will highlight the possibilities for researching port security from a criminological starting point. By describing port insecurities and their regulation, I will conceptualize the late modern condition of security. After this, the theoretical promises of a criminological analysis of port security shall be discussed, for example, how recent developed thoughts on security consumption filter through at the specific geographical sites of the port. In moving towards a criminology of port security, I aim to set the focus on security in transnational spaces and transport, and to contribute to a critical engagement within the prioritized criminological theorization of the globalized security society.
A study of the anatomy and repair strengths of porcine flexor and extensor tendons: are they appropriate experimental models?
Authors: Mao W. F. , Wu Y. F. , Zhou Y. L. , Tang J. B.
Published: July 2011

Although both porcine flexor and extensor tendons have been used in tendon repair research, no studies have specifically studied the anatomical differences and repair strengths in both types of tendons. We used 12 pig trotters to observe the anatomy of these tendons and compared the 2 mm gap and ultimate strengths of flexor and extensor tendons. There were four annular (A1, A2, A3, and A4) pulleys and one oblique pulley, which form a fibro-osseous tunnel for the flexor tendons, but the anatomy of the porcine extensor tendons was markedly different from the human flexor or extensor tendons. The diameter of flexor tendons was significantly greater than that of the extensors. The 2 mm gap and ultimate strengths of the flexor tendon with either two-strand or four-strand repairs were significantly greater than those of the extensor tendon. We conclude that the porcine flexor tendon systems are similar to those in the human, but the extensor tendons are not similar to either the flexor or extensor tendons in humans. Flexor and extensor tendons have different repair strengths which should be taken into account when interpreting findings from investigations using these tendons.
Practical advantages of inverted decoupling
Authors: Garrido J , Vázquez F , Morilla F , Hägglund T
Published: July 2011

This paper presents a study of the main advantages of inverted decoupling in 2×2 processes. Two simulation examples and an experimental process are used to show these advantages in comparison with simplified decoupling. The study focuses on the following practical advantages: the apparent process is the same as that obtained if one loop changes to manual; bumpless transfer and anti-windup are achieved easily using a feed-forward input in the controllers; and abnormalities of secondary loops do not affect the opposite loop. Because of this, inverted decoupling may be a good and easy way to improve the performance of industrial TITO (two inputs and two outputs) processes with interaction problems (when it can be applied).
Loss of AML1/Runx1 accelerates the development of MLL-ENL leukemia through down-regulation of p19ARF
Authors: Nishimoto Nahoko , Arai Shunya , Ichikawa Motoshi , Nakagawa Masahiro , Goyama Susumu , Kumano Keiki , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Kamikubo Yasuhiko , Imai Yoichi , Kurokawa Mineo
Published: July 2011

Dysfunction of AML1/Runx1, a transcription factor, plays a crucial role in the development of many types of leukemia. Additional events are often required for AML1 dysfunction to induce full-blown leukemia; however, a mechanistic basis of their cooperation is still elusive. Here, we investigated the effect of AML1 deficiency on the development of MLL-ENL leukemia in mice. Aml1 excised bone marrow cells lead to MLL-ENL leukemia with shorter duration than Aml1 intact cells in vivo. Although the number of MLL-ENL leukemia-initiating cells is not affected by loss of AML1, the proliferation of leukemic cells is enhanced in Aml1-excised MLL-ENL leukemic mice. We found that the enhanced proliferation is the result of repression of p19ARF that is directly regulated by AML1 in MLL-ENL leukemic cells. We also found that down-regulation of p19ARF induces the accelerated onset of MLL-ENL leukemia, suggesting that p19ARF is a major target of AML1 in MLL-ENL leukemia. These results provide a new insight into a role for AML1 in the progression of leukemia.
β2-glycoprotein I, the major target in antiphospholipid syndrome, is a special human complement regulator
Authors: Gropp Katharina , Weber Nadia , Reuter Michael , Micklisch Sven , Kopka Isabell , Hallström Teresia , Skerka Christine
Published: July 2011

The human plasma protein β2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI) is the major target of autoantibodies associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. However, the biologic function of this abundant protein is still unclear. Here we identify β2-GPI as a complement regulator. β2-GPI circulates in the plasma in an inactive circular form. On surface binding, such as to apoptotic cells, β2-GPI changes conformation to an elongated form that acquires C3/C3b binding activities. β2-GPI apparently changes conformation of C3, so that the regulator factor H attaches and induces subsequent degradation by the protease factor I. β2-GPI also mediates further cleavage of C3/C3b compared with factor H alone. Our data provide important insights into innate immune regulation by plasma protein β2-GPI, which may be exploited in the prevention and therapy of autoimmune disease antiphospholipid syndrome.
Acceptable HLA-mismatching in unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation for patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia
Authors: Yagasaki Hiroshi , Kojima Seiji , Yabe Hiromasa , Kato Koji , Kigasawa Hisato , Sakamaki Hisashi , Tsuchida Masahiro , Kato Shunichi , Kawase Takakazu , Morishima Yasuo , Kodera Yoshihisa ,   for The Japan Marrow Donor Program
Published: July 2011

We retrospectively analyzed the effect of HLA mismatching (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1) with molecular typing on transplantation outcome for 301 patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA) who received an unrelated BM transplant through the Japan Marrow Donor Program. Additional effect of HLA-DPB1 mismatching was analyzed for 10 of 10 or 9 of 10 HLA allele-matched pairs (n = 169). Of the 301 recipient/donor pairs, 101 (33.6%) were completely matched at 10 of 10 alleles, 69 (23%) were mismatched at 1 allele, and 131 (43.5%) were mismatched at ≥ 2 alleles. Subjects were classified into 5 subgroups: complete match group (group I); single-allele mismatch group (groups II and III); multiple alleles restricted to HLA-C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 mismatch group (group IV); and others (group V). Multivariate analysis indicated that only HLA disparity of group V was a significant risk factor for poor survival and grade II-IV acute GVHD. HLA-DPB1 mismatching was not associated with any clinical outcome. We recommend the use of an HLA 10 of 10 allele-matched unrelated donor. However, if such a donor is not available, any single-allele or multiple-allele (HLA-C, -DRB1, -DQB1) mismatched donor is acceptable as an unrelated donor for patients with severe aplastic anemia.
Histone variant innovation in a rapidly evolving chordate lineage
Authors: Moosmann Alexandra , Campsteijn Coen , Jansen Pascal WTC , Nasrallah Carole , Raasholm Martina , Stunnenberg Henk G , Thompson Eric M
Published: July 2011

Background

Histone variants alter the composition of nucleosomes and play crucial roles in transcription, chromosome segregation, DNA repair, and sperm compaction. Modification of metazoan histone variant lineages occurs on a background of genome architecture that shows global similarities from sponges to vertebrates, but the urochordate, Oikopleura dioica, a member of the sister group to vertebrates, exhibits profound modification of this ancestral architecture.

Results

We show that a histone complement of 47 gene loci encodes 31 histone variants, grouped in distinct sets of developmental expression profiles throughout the life cycle. A particularly diverse array of 15 male-specific histone variants was uncovered, including a testes-specific H4t, the first metazoan H4 sequence variant reported. Universal histone variants H3.3, CenH3, and H2A.Z are present but O. dioica lacks homologs of macroH2A and H2AX. The genome encodes many H2A and H2B variants and the repertoire of H2A.Z isoforms is expanded through alternative splicing, incrementally regulating the number of acetylatable lysine residues in the functionally important N-terminal "charge patch". Mass spectrometry identified 40 acetylation, methylation and ubiquitylation posttranslational modifications (PTMs) and showed that hallmark PTMs of "active" and "repressive" chromatin were present in O. dioica. No obvious reduction in silent heterochromatic marks was observed despite high gene density in this extraordinarily compacted chordate genome.

Conclusions

These results show that histone gene complements and their organization differ considerably even over modest phylogenetic distances. Substantial innovation among all core and linker histone variants has evolved in concert with adaptation of specific life history traits in this rapidly evolving chordate lineage.
The MEK-ERK pathway negatively regulates bim expression through the 3' UTR in sympathetic neurons
Authors: Hughes Rosie , Gilley Jonathan , Kristiansen Mark , Ham Jonathan
Published: July 2011

Background

Apoptosis plays a critical role during neuronal development and disease. Developing sympathetic neurons depend on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival during the late embryonic and early postnatal period and die by apoptosis in its absence. The proapoptotic BH3-only protein Bim increases in level after NGF withdrawal and is required for NGF withdrawal-induced death. The regulation of Bim expression in neurons is complex and this study describes a new mechanism by which an NGF-activated signalling pathway regulates bim gene expression in sympathetic neurons.

Results

We report that U0126, an inhibitor of the prosurvival MEK-ERK pathway, increases bim mRNA levels in sympathetic neurons in the presence of NGF. We find that this effect is independent of PI3-K-Akt and JNK-c-Jun signalling and is not mediated by the promoter, first exon or first intron of the bim gene. By performing 3' RACE and microinjection experiments with a new bim-LUC+3'UTR reporter construct, we show that U0126 increases bim expression via the bim 3' UTR. We demonstrate that this effect does not involve a change in bim mRNA stability and by using PD184352, a specific MEK1/2-ERK1/2 inhibitor, we show that this mechanism involves the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway. Finally, we demonstrate that inhibition of MEK/ERK signalling independently reduces cell survival in NGF-treated sympathetic neurons.

Conclusions

These results suggest that in sympathetic neurons, MEK-ERK signalling negatively regulates bim expression via the 3' UTR and that this regulation is likely to be at the level of transcription. This data provides further insight into the different mechanisms by which survival signalling pathways regulate bim expression in neurons.
Adenylyl Cyclase type 3, a marker of primary cilia, is reduced in primary cell culture and in lumbar spinal cord in situ in G93A SOD1 mice
Authors: Ma Xiaoxing , Peterson Randy , Turnbull John
Published: July 2011

Background

The primary cilium is a solitary organelle important in cellular signaling, that projects from the cell surface of most growth-arrested or post-mitotic cells including neurons in the central nervous system. We hypothesized that primary cilial dysfunction might play a role in the pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and as a first step, report on the prevalence of primary cilial markers on cultured motor neurons from the lumbar spinal cord of embryonic wildtype (WT) and transgenic G93A SOD1 mice, and on motor neurons in situ in the lumbar spinal cord.

Results

At 7 days in culture there is no difference in the proportion of G93A SOD1 and WT motor neurons staining for the cilial marker ACIII. However, at 21 days there is a large relative drop in the proportion of ciliated G93A SOD1 motor neurons. In situ, at 40 days there was a slight relative drop in the proportion of ciliated motor neurons in G93A SOD1 mice. At 98 days of age there was no change in motor neuron ciliation in WT mice, but there was motor neuron loss and a large reduction in the proportion of surviving motor neurons bearing a primary cilium in G93A SOD1 mice.

Conclusions

In primary culture and in situ in G93A SOD1 mice there is a large reduction in the proportion of motor neurons bearing a primary cilium.
Paracetamol in therapeutic dosages and acute liver injury: causality assessment in a prospective case series
Authors: Sabaté Mònica , Ibáñez Luisa , Pérez Eulàlia , Vidal Xavier , Buti Maria , Xiol Xavier , Mas Antoni , Guarner Carlos , Forné Montserrat , Solà Ricard , Castellote José , Rigau Joaquim , Laporte Joan-Ramon
Published: July 2011

Background

Acute liver injury (ALI) induced by paracetamol overdose is a well known cause of emergency hospital admission and death. However, there is debate regarding the risk of ALI after therapeutic dosages of the drug.

The aim is to describe the characteristics of patients admitted to hospital with jaundice who had previous exposure to therapeutic doses of paracetamol. An assessment of the causality role of paracetamol was performed in each case.

Methods

Based on the evaluation of prospectively gathered cases of ALI with detailed clinical information, thirty-two cases of ALI in non-alcoholic patients exposed to therapeutic doses of paracetamol were identified. Two authors assessed all drug exposures by using the CIOMS/RUCAM scale. Each case was classified into one of five categories based on the causality score for paracetamol.

Results

In four cases the role of paracetamol was judged to be unrelated, in two unlikely, and these were excluded from evaluation. In seven of the remaining 26 cases, the RUCAM score associated with paracetamol was higher than that associated with other concomitant medications. The estimated incidence of ALI related to the use of paracetamol in therapeutic dosages was 0.4 per million inhabitants older than 15 years of age and per year (99%CI, 0.2-0.8) and of 10 per million paracetamol users-year (95% CI 4.3-19.4).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that paracetamol in therapeutic dosages may be considered in the causality assessment in non-alcoholic patients with liver injury, even if the estimated incidence of ALI related to paracetamol appears to be low.
Tenascin-C induces inflammatory mediators and matrix degradation in osteoarthritic cartilage
Authors: Patel Lisha , Sun Weiyong , Glasson Sonya S , Morris Elisabeth A , Flannery Carl R , Chockalingam Priya S
Published: July 2011

Background

Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is involved in tissue injury and repair processes. We analyzed TN-C expression in normal and osteoarthritic (OA) human cartilage, and evaluated its capacity to induce inflammatory and catabolic mediators in chondrocytes in vitro. The effect of TN-C on proteoglycan loss from articular cartilage in culture was also assessed.

Methods

TN-C in culture media, cartilage extracts, and synovial fluid of human and animal joints was quantified using a sandwich ELISA and/or analyzed by Western immunoblotting. mRNA expression of TN-C and aggrecanases were analyzed by Taqman assays. Human and bovine primary chondrocytes and/or explant culture systems were utilized to study TN-C induced inflammatory or catabolic mediators and proteoglycan loss. Total proteoglycan and aggrecanase -generated ARG-aggrecan fragments were quantified in human and rat synovial fluids by ELISA.

Results

TN-C protein and mRNA expression were significantly upregulated in OA cartilage with a concomitant elevation of TN-C levels in the synovial fluid of OA patients. IL-1 enhanced TN-C expression in articular cartilage. Addition of TN-C induced IL-6, PGE2, and nitrate release and upregulated ADAMTS4 mRNA in cultured primary human and bovine chondrocytes. TN-C treatment resulted in an increased loss of proteoglycan from cartilage explants in culture. A correlation was observed between TN-C and aggrecanase generated ARG-aggrecan fragment levels in the synovial fluid of human OA joints and in the lavage of rat joints that underwent surgical induction of OA.

Conclusions

TN-C expression in the knee cartilage and TN-C levels measured in the synovial fluid are significantly enhanced in OA patients. Our findings suggest that the elevated levels of TN-C could induce inflammatory mediators and promote matrix degradation in OA joints.
Identification and characterization of a new true lipase isolated through metagenomic approach
Authors: Glogauer Arnaldo , Martini Viviane P , Faoro Helisson , Couto Gustavo H , Müller-Santos Marcelo , Monteiro Rose A , Mitchell David A , de Souza Emanuel M , Pedrosa Fabio O , Krieger Nadia
Published: July 2011

Background

Metagenomics, the application of molecular genomics to consortia of non-cultivated microbes, has the potential to have a substantial impact on the search for novel industrial enzymes such as esterases (carboxyl ester hydrolases, EC 3.1.1.1) and lipases (triacylglycerol lipases, EC 3.1.1.3). In the current work, a novel lipase gene was identified from a fosmid metagenomic library constructed with the "prokaryotic-enriched" DNA from a fat-contaminated soil collected from a wastewater treatment plant.

Results

In preliminary screening on agar containing 1% tributyrin, 2661 of the approximately 500,000 clones in the metagenomic library showed activity. Of these, 127 showed activity on agar containing 1% tricaprylin, while 32 were shown to be true lipase producers through screening on agar containing 1% triolein. The clone with the largest halo was further characterized. Its lipase gene showed 72% identity to a putative lipase of Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Y11. The lipase, named LipC12, belongs to family I.1 of bacterial lipases, has a chaperone-independent folding, does not possess disulfide bridges and is calcium ion dependent. It is stable from pH 6 to 11 and has activity from pH 4.5 to 10, with higher activities at alkaline pH values. LipC12 is stable up to 3.7 M NaCl and from 20 to 50°C, with maximum activity at 30°C over a 1 h incubation. The pure enzyme has specific activities of 1722 U/mg and 1767 U/mg against olive oil and pig fat, respectively. Moreover, it is highly stable in organic solvents at 15% and 30% (v/v).

Conclusions

The combination of the use of a fat-contaminated soil, enrichment of prokaryotic DNA and a three-step screening strategy led to a high number of lipase-producing clones in the metagenomic library. The most notable properties of the new lipase that was isolated and characterized were a high specific activity against long chain triacylglycerols, activity and stability over a wide range of pH values, good thermal stability and stability in water-miscible organic solvents and at high salt concentrations. These characteristics suggest that this lipase has potential to perform well in biocatalytic processes, such as for hydrolysis and synthesis reactions involving long-chain triacylglycerols and fatty acid esters.
Human-Phosphate-Binding-Protein inhibits HIV-1 gene transcription and replication
Authors: Cherrier Thomas , Elias Mikael , Jeudy Alicia , Gotthard Guillaume , Le Douce Valentin , Hallay Houda , Masson Patrick , Janossy Andrea , Candolfi Ermanno , Rohr Olivier , Chabrière Eric , Schwartz Christian
Published: July 2011

The Human Phosphate-Binding protein (HPBP) is a serendipitously discovered lipoprotein that binds phosphate with high affinity. HPBP belongs to the DING protein family, involved in various biological processes like cell cycle regulation. We report that HPBP inhibits HIV-1 gene transcription and replication in T cell line, primary peripherical blood lymphocytes and primary macrophages. We show that HPBP is efficient in naïve and HIV-1 AZT-resistant strains. Our results revealed HPBP as a new and potent anti HIV molecule that inhibits transcription of the virus, which has not yet been targeted by HAART and therefore opens new strategies in the treatment of HIV infection.
A rapid chemical method for lysing Arabidopsis cells for protein analysis
Authors: Tsugama Daisuke , Liu Shenkui , Takano Tetsuo
Published: July 2011

Background

Protein extraction is a frequent procedure in biological research. For preparation of plant cell extracts, plant materials usually have to be ground and homogenized to physically break the robust cell wall, but this step is laborious and time-consuming when a large number of samples are handled at once.

Results

We developed a chemical method for lysing Arabidopsis cells without grinding. In this method, plants are boiled for just 10 minutes in a solution containing a Ca2+ chelator and detergent. Cell extracts prepared by this method were suitable for SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis. This method was also applicable to genomic DNA extraction for PCR analysis. Our method was applied to many other plant species, and worked well for some of them.

Conclusions

Our method is rapid and economical, and allows many samples to be prepared simultaneously for protein analysis. Our method is useful not only for Arabidopsis research but also research on certain other species.
Reconstruction of extended Petri nets from time series data and its application to signal transduction and to gene regulatory networks
Authors: Durzinsky Markus , Wagler Annegret , Marwan Wolfgang
Published: July 2011

Background

Network inference methods reconstruct mathematical models of molecular or genetic networks directly from experimental data sets. We have previously reported a mathematical method which is exclusively data-driven, does not involve any heuristic decisions within the reconstruction process, and deliveres all possible alternative minimal networks in terms of simple place/transition Petri nets that are consistent with a given discrete time series data set.

Results

We fundamentally extended the previously published algorithm to consider catalysis and inhibition of the reactions that occur in the underlying network. The results of the reconstruction algorithm are encoded in the form of an extended Petri net involving control arcs. This allows the consideration of processes involving mass flow and/or regulatory interactions. As a non-trivial test case, the phosphate regulatory network of enterobacteria was reconstructed using in silico-generated time-series data sets on wild-type and in silico mutants.

Conclusions

The new exact algorithm reconstructs extended Petri nets from time series data sets by finding all alternative minimal networks that are consistent with the data. It suggested alternative molecular mechanisms for certain reactions in the network. The algorithm is useful to combine data from wild-type and mutant cells and may potentially integrate physiological, biochemical, pharmacological, and genetic data in the form of a single model.
Sleep habits and sleep problems among Palestinian students
Authors: Sweileh Waleed M , Ali Iyad A , Sawalha Ansam F , Abu-Taha Adham S , Zyoud Sa'ed H , Al-Jabi Samah W
Published: July 2011

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe sleep habits and sleep problems in a population of undergraduates in Palestine. Association between self-reported sleep quality and self-reported academic achievement was also investigated.

Methods

Sleep habits and problems were investigated using a convenience sample of students from An-Najah National University, Palestine. The study was carried out during spring semester, 2009. A self-administered questionnaire developed based on The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV criteria and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used.

Results

400 students with a mean age of 20.2 ± 1.3 were studied. Reported mean duration of night sleep in the study sample was 6.4 ± 1.1 hours. The majority (58.3%) of students went to bed before midnight and 18% of the total sample woke up before 6 am. Sleep latency of more than one hour was present in 19.3% of the students. Two thirds (64.8%) of the students reported having at least one nocturnal awakening per night. Nightmares were the most common parasomnia reported by students. Daytime naps were common and reported in 74.5% of the study sample. Sleep quality was reported as "poor" in only 9.8% and was significantly associated with sleep latency, frequency of nocturnal awakenings, time of going to bed, nightmares but not with academic achievement.

Conclusion

Sleep habits among Palestinian undergraduates were comparable to those reported in European studies. Sleep problems were common and there was no significant association between sleep quality and academic achievement.