bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemoprotective Effects of Zataria multiflora Against Genotoxicity Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Mice Bone Marrow Cells
Authors: Hosseinimehr Seyed Jalal , Ahmadashrafi Saeb , Naghshvar Farshad , Ahmadi Amirhossein , Ehasnalavi Soheil , Tanha Mohammad
Published: April 2010

The preventive effective of Zataria multiflora (ZM) extract was investigated in mouse bone marrow cells against genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide (CP). Mice were orally (gavaged) pretreated with solutions of ZM extract prepared at 3 different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight) for 7 consecutive days. They were injected with CP (50 mg/kg body weight) on the seventh day of treatment and killed after 24 hours for the evaluation of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) and the ratio of PCE/(PCE + NCE), where PCE refers to polychromatic erythrocyte, and NCE refers to normochromatic erythrocyte. All 3 doses of extract significantly reduced MnPCEs induced by CP ( P < .0001). Zataria extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight reduced MnPCEs 7.8 fold and also completely normalized the PCE/ (PCE + NCE) ratio. Administration of ZM inhibited bone marrow suppression induced by CP. Zataria extract exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity on 1, 1-diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazyl free radical and lipid peroxidation. It appeared that ZM with antioxidative activity reduced the oxidative stress and genotoxicity induced by CP in mouse bone marrow cells.
Early Postoperative Detection of Tissue Necrosis in Amputation Stumps With Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography
Authors: Zimmermann Alexander , Roenneberg Casper , Wendorff Heiko , Holzbach Thomas , Giunta Riccardo E. , Eckstein Hans-Henning
Published: April 2010

Objective: Amputations of the lower extremity due to irreversible ischemic tissue loss are performed as distally as possible. Therefore, oftentimes wound-healing disorders develop, requiring additional surgical treatment. Methods: The amputations stumps of 10 patients with irreversible ischemic tissue loss due to arteriosclerosis were investigated within 72 hours postoperatively with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence. Results: For 6 of the investigated stumps, no perfusion deficit could be seen through fluorescence angiography. All stumps displayed primary healing. In the fluorescence angiography of 3 amputations, stump perfusions deficits predicted later tissue necrosis and had to be amputated again in a second operation. One amputation wound showed a small ICG perfusion deficit that represented a blood clot. Conclusion: Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography allows a perfusion analysis of amputation stumps and therefore a prediction of the expected tissue necrosis. This tool may allow reliable prediction of amputation level.
Implementation of radon barriers, model development and calculation of radon concentration in indoor air
Authors: Jelle Bjørn Petter , Noreng Knut , Erichsen Tore Henrik , Strand Terje
Published: April 2010

Norway has some of the highest concentrations of radon in indoor air in the world. Based on large-scale surveys by direct measurements of radon in indoor air it has been estimated that nearly 9% of the housing stock has an annual mean indoor radon concentration which is higher than the current action level of 200 Bq/m3. Preventive measures that focuses on saving energy and avoiding moisture problems in a cold climate, and by not introducing any specific measures to reduce the infiltration of radon and/or balanced ventilation of the indoor air, can lead to high indoor radon concentrations. It is of vital importance that the ground floor structure is as airtight as possible; both to reduce the infiltration of soil gas radon by using, for example, airtight and resistant membranes, and as a premise for other preventive measures to function, for example, sub-slab depressurization systems. Sufficient airtightness may be achieved by using a radon barrier towards the ground, for example, by avoiding perforations and ensuring sufficient airtightness in joints and feed-throughs. Various factors influencing the radon concentration in indoor air are discussed. Based on these factors a simplified but yet versatile and powerful model for calculating the radon concentration in indoor air is presented. Furthermore, the examples are depicted in selected 2 and 3D graphical plots for visualization. By incorporating various and realistic values in a spreadsheet version of the indoor radon concentration model, valuable information about the different parameters influencing the indoor radon level is gained. Hence, the presented model may be utilized as a tool for examining which preventive or remedial measures should be carried out in order to achieve an indoor level of radon below the reference level as set by the authorities. The radon transport into buildings might be dominated by diffusion, pressure driven flow or something in between depending on the actual values of the various parameters. The results of our work indicate that with realistic or typical values of the parameters, most of the transport of radon from the building ground to the indoor air is due to air leakage driven by pressure differences through the construction.
Improvement of thermal properties of fired clays by introduction of vegetable matter
Authors: Saiah R. , Perrin B. , Rigal L.
Published: April 2010

Porous bricks produced by extrusion were obtained by adding vegetable matter of various compositions and shapes. The main objective of this article is precisely to investigate the possibilities offered by vegetable matter. During firing, the burning of the vegetable matter created pores and an increase in open porosity ranging from 11% to 18% was obtained. The linear shrinkage and mass loss of bricks were acceptable. The mechanical properties were studied by the three-point bending method and sound wave propagation. The results obtained showed that the rigidity of the material and its thermal conductivity decreased by up to 32%, as the porosity increased. An improvement of up to 18—48% in the thermal resistance of industrial perforated bricks could be expected, depending on their nature. Porosity obtained by adding wheat straw provided the best compromise between thermal and mechanical properties.
An empirical theoretical investigation into phase and structural behaviour in Ti–Al alloys
Authors: Cai J. Y. , Peng J. Z. , Gray M. F.
Published: April 2010

According to the average lattice and atom models of the empirical electron theory of solids and molecules (EET), effects of interstitial impurities on valence electron structures and phase transformation of Ti–Al alloys are analysed. Furthermore, the descendant degree of bond energy, melting point, and liquidus temperatures affected by interstitial impurities are calculated based on the bond energy formula of the EET. Moreover, the main controversial experimental results on the phase transformation in Ti–Al alloys are explained well. It is demonstrated that because of the effects of interstitial impurities, atom states increase, bond structures are seriously anisotropic, which results in very complex phase transformations in intermediate Al content. It is also shown that the melting point and liquidus temperatures decrease due to interstitial impurities, and the average decreased degree can be estimated very well using the EET.
Treatment with intravenous melphalan and dexamethasone is not able to overcome the poor prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed systemic light chain amyloidosis and severe cardiac involvement
Authors: Dietrich Sascha , Schönland Stefan O. , Benner Axel , Bochtler Tilmann , Kristen Arnt V. , Beimler Jörg , Hund Ernst , Zorn Markus , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Ho Antony D. , Hegenbart Ute
Published: April 2010

Treatment with oral melphalan and dexamethasone (M-Dex) was reported to be effective and feasible in patients with systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL) not eligible for high-dose melphalan. We report on 61 patients with advanced AL who were treated with intravenous M-Dex as first-line therapy. Estimated median overall survival (OS) was 17.5 months. Seventeen patients (28%) died within 3 months, mostly of disease-related complications. In addition, nonhematologic toxicity of Common Terminology Criteria grade 3 or 4 was observed in 20 patients, whereas hematologic toxicity was low. Twenty-seven patients (44%) had hematologic response, including complete in 7 patients (11%) and partial remission in 20 patients (33%). Organ response was observed in 15 patients (25%). The amount of the involved free light chains in serum and Karnofsky Index at diagnosis significantly influenced OS. Plasma levels of the cardiac biomarkers before start of treatment and their increase after the third M-Dex cycle also were strong negative predictors of OS. These parameters might help to identify patients who will not benefit from M-Dex chemotherapy.
YKL-40 in asthmatic patients, and its correlations with exacerbation, eosinophils and immunoglobulin E
Authors: Tang H. , Fang Z. , Sun Y. , Li B. , Shi Z. , Chen J. , Zhang T. , Xiu Q.
Published: April 2010

The chitinase-like protein YKL-40, which binds chitin but lacks chitinase activity, has been found to be either the cause or a biomarker for asthma. The aim of our study was to investigate whether serum YKL-40 levels are increased in Chinese patients with asthma and identify its correlation to acute exacerbation, total serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E, the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils and lung function. We quantified serum YKL-40 levels, total IgE levels and peripheral blood eosinophil percentages in patients with asthma, as well as in controls from the communities surrounding our hospital. The lung function of asthma subjects was also measured. Our data showed that the serum YKL-40 levels were significantly elevated in patients with asthma compared with controls and, when the asthma subjects were stratified, serum YKL-40 levels in the exacerbation group were higher than those in the stable and control groups. In addition, serum YKL-40 levels correlated positively with total serum IgE levels and the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils, but correlated inversely with lung functions. Thus, we conclude that YKL-40 is found in increased quantities in the serum of Chinese patients with asthma, and its level correlates with exacerbation attacks, indicating that high levels of serum YKL-40 may be a biological characteristic of the exacerbation of asthma.
Cognitive function in COPD
Authors: Dodd J. W. , Getov S. V. , Jones P. W.
Published: April 2010

In order to characterise the overall clinical picture of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a better understanding of all relevant comorbidities is required. It is increasingly recognised that COPD is a multi-component disease, but little attention has been paid to its effects on cognitive function.

Cognitive dysfunction is associated with increased mortality and disability; however, it remains poorly understood in COPD. This review examines mechanisms of injury and dysfunction to the brain and considers the methods used to evaluate cognition, and assembles evidence concerning the nature and level of cognitive impairment in COPD.

Our main findings are: 1) there may be a pattern of cognitive dysfunction specific to COPD; 2) cognitive function is only mildly impaired in patients without hypoxaemia; 3) the incidence of cognitive dysfunction is higher in hypoxaemia; 4) hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, smoking and comorbidities (such as vascular disease) are unlikely to account for all of the cognitive dysfunction seen in COPD; 5) there is weak or no association between cognitive function and mood, fatigue or health status; 6) cognitive dysfunction may be associated with increased mortality and disability; and 7) there is limited evidence for a significant effect of treatment on cognitive function.
Differential effects of Paclitaxel on dendritic cell function
Authors: John Justin , Ismail Mohammed , Riley Catherine , Askham Jonathan , Morgan Richard , Melcher Alan , Pandha Hardev
Published: April 2010

Background

The potential utility of dendritic cells (DC) as cancer vaccines has been established in early trials in human cancers. The concomitant administration of cytotoxic agents and DC vaccines has been previously avoided due to potential immune suppression by chemotherapeutics. Recent studies show that common chemotherapy agents positively influence adaptive and innate anti-tumour immune responses.

Results

We investigated the effects of paclitaxel on human DC biologyin vitro. DCs appear to sustain a significant level of resistance to paclitaxel and maintain normal viability at concentrations of up to 100 μmol. In some cases this resistance against paclitaxel is significantly better than the level seen in tumour cell lines. Paclitaxel exposure led to a dose dependent increase in HLA class II expression equivalent to exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and a corresponding increase in proliferation of allogeneic T cells at the clinically relevant doses of paclitaxel. Increase in HLA-Class II expression induced by paclitaxel was not blocked by anti TLR-4 antibody. However, paclitaxel exposure reduced the endocytic capacity of DC but reduced the expression of key pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12 and TNFα. Key morphological changes occurred when immature DC were cultured with 100 μmol paclitaxel. They became small rounded cells with stable microtubules, whereas there were little effects on LPS-matured DC.

Conclusions

The effect of paclitaxel on human monocyte derived DC is complex, but in the clinical context of patients receiving preloaded and matured DC vaccines, its immunostimulatory potential and resistance to direct cytotoxicity by paclitaxel would indicate potential advantages to co-administration with vaccines.
Virulence-related Mycobacterium avium subsp hominissuis MAV_2928 gene is associated with vacuole remodeling in macrophages
Authors: Jha Samradhni S , Danelishvili Lia , Wagner Dirk , Maser Jörg , Li Yong-jun , Moric Ivana , Vogt Steven , Yamazaki Yoshitaka , Lai Barry , Bermudez Luiz E
Published: April 2010

Background

Mycobacterium aviumsubsphominissuis(previouslyMycobacterium aviumsubspavium) is an environmental organism associated with opportunistic infections in humans.Mycobacterium hominissuisinfects and replicates within mononuclear phagocytes. Previous study characterized an attenuated mutant in which the PPE gene (MAV_2928) homologous to Rv1787 was inactivated. This mutant, in contrast to the wild-type bacterium, was shown both to have impaired the ability to replicate within macrophages and to have prevented phagosome/lysosome fusion.

Results

MAV_2928 gene is primarily upregulated upon phagocytosis. The transcriptional profile of macrophages infected with the wild-type bacterium and the mutant were examined using DNA microarray, which showed that the two bacteria interact uniquely with mononuclear phagocytes. Based on the results, it was hypothesized that the phagosome environment and vacuole membrane of the wild-type bacterium might differ from the mutant. Wild-type bacterium phagosomes expressed a number of proteins different from those infected with the mutant. Proteins on the phagosomes were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and Western blot. The environment in the phagosome of macrophages infected with the mutant differed from the environment of vacuoles withM. hominissuiswild-type in the concentration of zinc, manganese, calcium and potassium.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the MAV_2928 gene/operon might participate in the establishment of bacterial intracellular environment in macrophages.
Salt tolerance in Solanum pennellii: antioxidant response and related QTL
Authors: Frary Anne , Göl Deniz , Keleş Davut , Ökmen Bilal , Pınar Hasan , Şığva Hasan Ö , Yemenicioğlu Ahmet , Doğanlar Sami
Published: April 2010

Background

Excessive soil salinity is an important problem for agriculture, however, salt tolerance is a complex trait that is not easily bred into plants. Exposure of cultivated tomato to salt stress has been reported to result in increased antioxidant content and activity. Salt tolerance of the related wild species,Solanum pennellii, has also been associated with similar changes in antioxidants. In this work,S. lycopersicumM82,S. pennelliiLA716 and aS. pennelliiintrogression line (IL) population were evaluated for growth and their levels of antioxidant activity (total water-soluble antioxidant activity), major antioxidant compounds (phenolic and flavonoid contents) and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase) under both control and salt stress (150 mM NaCl) conditions. These data were then used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) responsible for controlling the antioxidant parameters under both stress and nonstress conditions.

Results

Under control conditions, cultivated tomato had higher levels of all antioxidants (except superoxide dismutase) thanS. pennellii. However, under salt stress, the wild species showed greater induction of all antioxidants except peroxidase. The ILs showed diverse responses to salinity and proved very useful for the identification of QTL. Thus, 125 loci for antioxidant content under control and salt conditions were detected. Eleven of the total antioxidant activity and phenolic content QTL matched loci identified in an independent study using the same population, thereby reinforcing the validity of the loci. In addition, the growth responses of the ILs were evaluated to identify lines with favorable growth and antioxidant profiles.

Conclusions

Plants have a complex antioxidant response when placed under salt stress. Some loci control antioxidant content under all conditions while others are responsible for antioxidant content only under saline or nonsaline conditions. The localization of QTL for these traits and the identification of lines with specific antioxidant and growth responses may be useful for breeding potentially salt tolerant tomato cultivars having higher antioxidant levels under nonstress and salt stress conditions.
Specificity and functionality of microRNA inhibitors
Authors: Robertson Barbara , Dalby Andrew B , Karpilow Jon , Khvorova Anastasia , Leake Devin , Vermeulen Annaleen
Published: April 2010

Background

Micro(mi)RNAs regulate gene expression through translational attenuation and messenger (m)RNA degradation, and are associated with differentiation, homeostasis and disease. Natural miRNA target recognition is determined primarily by perfect complementarity in a seed region (nucleotide positions 2 to 7) with additional interactions contributing in a sequence- and target-specific manner. Synthetic miRNA target analogs, which are fully complementary, chemically modified oligonucleotides, have been used successfully to inhibit miRNA function.

Results

In this paper, we present a first systematic study to evaluate the effect of mismatches in the target site on synthetic inhibitor activity. Panels of miRNA inhibitors containing two-nucleotide mismatches across the target site were tested against three miRNAs (miR-21, miR-22 and miR-122). The results showed that the function of inhibitors vary as mismatch positions in the inhibitors change.

Conclusions

The data indicate that features important for natural miRNA target recognition (such as seed region complementarity) are also important for inhibitor functionality. In addition, base pairing at a second, more 3' region appears to be equally important in determining the efficacy of synthetic inhibitors. Considering the importance of these inhibitor regions and the expression of closely related miRNA sequences will enable researchers to interpret results more accurately in future experiments.
The association between subchondral bone cysts and tibial cartilage volume and risk of joint replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study
Authors: Tanamas Stephanie K , Wluka Anita E , Pelletier Jean-Pierre , Martel-Pelletier Johanne , Abram François , Wang Yuanyuan , Cicuttini Flavia M
Published: April 2010

Introduction

To examine the natural history of subchondral bone cysts and to determine whether knee cartilage loss and risk of joint replacement is higher in knees with cysts, compared with those with bone marrow lesions (BMLs) only or those with neither BMLs nor cysts.

Methods

The symptomatic knee in 132 subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) was imaged by using magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 2 years later. Tibial cartilage volume, subchondral bone cysts, and BMLs were measured by using validated methods. Knee arthroplasty over a 4-year period was ascertained.

Results

Bone cysts were present in 47.7% of subjects, 98.1% of whom also had BMLs. Over a 2-year period, 23.9% of subjects had cysts progress, 13.0% developed new cysts, and 11.4% had cysts regress. Bone cysts at baseline were associated with lower medial and lateral tibial cartilage volume compared with those with BMLs only or those with neither (P for trend 0.004 and <0.001, respectively). Annual medial cartilage volume loss was greatest in those with bone cysts compared with those with BMLs only or those with neither (9.3%, 6.3%, and 2.6%, respectively; P for trend, <0.001). As the severity of bone abnormality in the medial compartment increased from no BMLs or cysts present, to BMLs only, to subchondral bone cysts present, the risk of knee replacement was increased (odds ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 3.90; P = 0.05).

Conclusions

When cysts are present, cartilage loss and risk of knee replacement are higher than if only BMLs are present, suggesting that cysts identify those most likely to benefit from prevention of disease progression. As cysts can regress, they may also provide therapeutic targets in knee OA.
Conserved developmental transcriptomes in evolutionarily divergent species
Authors: Parikh Anup , Miranda Edward Roshan , Katoh-Kurasawa Mariko , Fuller Danny , Rot Gregor , Zagar Lan , Curk Tomaz , Sucgang Richard , Chen Rui , Zupan Blaz , Loomis William F , Kuspa Adam , Shaulsky Gad
Published: April 2010

Background

Evolutionarily divergent organisms often share developmental anatomies despite vast differences between their genome sequences. The social amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum and Dictyostelium purpureum have similar developmental morphologies although their genomes are as divergent as those of man and jawed fish.

Results

Here we show that the anatomical similarities are accompanied by extensive transcriptome conservation. Using RNA sequencing we compared the abundance and developmental regulation of all the transcripts in the two species. In both species, most genes are developmentally regulated and the greatest expression changes occur during the transition from unicellularity to multicellularity. The developmental regulation of transcription is highly conserved between orthologs in the two species. In addition to timing of expression, the level of mRNA production is also conserved between orthologs and is consistent with the intuitive notion that transcript abundance correlates with the amount of protein required. Furthermore, the conservation of transcriptomes extends to cell-type specific expression.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that developmental programs are remarkably conserved at the transcriptome level, considering the great evolutionary distance between the genomes. Moreover, this transcriptional conservation may be responsible for the similar developmental anatomies of Dictyostelium discoideum and Dictyostelium purpureum.
A role for STAT3 and cathepsin S in IL-10 down-regulation of IFN-γ-induced MHC class II molecule on primary human blood macrophages
Authors: Chan Lally L Y , Cheung Benny K W , Li James C B , Lau Allan S Y
Published: April 2010

IL-10-STAT3 down-regulation of IFN-γ-induced MHC-II antigen presentation is due to inhibition of cathepsin S and independent of JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways.

IL-10, a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, activates its primary mediator STAT3 to exert inhibitory effects on activated immune response. It has been reported that IFN-γ signaling can be suppressed by IL-10, which deactivates macrophages and suppresses cell-mediated antigen presentation. Cathepsin S, a cysteine protease, plays a significant role in the antigen processing. We hypothesize that the IL-10-induced and STAT3-mediated signaling pathway interferes with IFN-γ-induced immune responses in primary human blood macrophages. Here, we investigated whether IL-10 perturbs MHC-II levels via its effect on cathepsin S expression in antigen processing. We showed that the expression of cathepsin S and MHC-II, inducible by IFN-γ, was down-regulated in the presence of IL-10. Additionally, we revealed that the inhibitory effect of IL-10 was demonstrated to be independent of the classical IFN-γ-induced JAK2/STAT1 signaling cascade or the NF-κB pathway. Following STAT3 suppression with specific siRNA, the expression of IFN-γ-induced surface MHC-II antigens and cathepsin S levels was restored, even in the presence of IL-10. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the immunosuppressive effects of IL-10-STAT3 on MHC-II antigen presentation may occur via the inhibition of cathepsin S expression.
Public Remembering, Private Reminiscing: French Military Memoirs and the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Authors: Dwyer Philip G.
Published: April 2010

The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars resulted in an explosion of personal recollections on a scale never before witnessed, some published in the author's lifetime, many not. These memoirs, and the stories and anecdotes told in them, shaped the images surrounding the wars for generations to come. Given the distance that often separated the writing from the event, the memoirs almost always contained projections, evasions, myths, and outright fantasies. But that is exactly where their value lies. It allows the historian to establish the extent to which those who took part in the wars began to romanticize or indeed contest them and the man most responsible for them—Napoléon—and the degree to which they engaged in the political and cultural debates of the day.

Les guerres révolutionnaires et napoléoniennes déclenchèrent une explosion de remémorations personnelles. Certains textes furent publiés du vivant des auteurs, d'autres après ou jamais. Ces mémoires, et les histoires et anecdotes qu'ils racontent, ont formé et informé l'image des guerres pendant des générations. Etant donné le nombre d'années souvent intervenues entre leur écriture et les événements qu'ils décrivaient, ces mémoires contiennent souvent des projections, des subterfuges, des mythes et mêmes des récits imaginaires. C'est précisément là que réside la valeur de ces textes. Cela nous permet, en tant qu'historiens, d'établir la manière dont ces anciens combattants ont commencé à romancer ou contester les guerres et l'homme qui en était responsable—Napoléon—et jusqu'à quel point ils ont participé aux débats politiques et culturels de leur époque.
French Liberal Governance and the Emancipation of Algeria's Jews
Authors: Shurkin Michael
Published: April 2010

French officials' treatment of Algeria's Jews under three different political regimes (1830–70) demonstrates the extent to which basic liberal practices and values had become part of French governance. French officials consistently treated Jews differently from Muslims and showed the former a solicitude that can best be explained in terms of their identification with liberal governance and arguably even a desire to draw a line in the sand in the altogether illiberal context of a colonial war of conquest. France's treatment of Jews also demonstrates the ambiguities of mid-nineteenth-century liberalism and its capacity to accommodate itself to empire.

Le traitement des juifs d'Algérie par les fonctionnaires de trois régimes politiques différents (la Monarchie de juillet, la Seconde République, le Second Empire) illustre à quel point les pratiques et valeurs libérales s'étaient enracinées dans la manière française de gouverner. Les fonctionnaires privilégiaient les juifs aux musulmans, faisant preuve d'une sollicitude envers les premiers qui ne peut être expliquée que par une internalisation des pratiques et valeurs libérales et même un souci de les défendre dans le contexte non libéral de guerre coloniale et de conquête. Le traitement des juifs par la France relève aussi les ambiguïtés du libéralisme du dix-neuvième siècle et sa capacité de s'accommoder au colonialisme.
JACKDAW controls epidermal patterning in the Arabidopsis root meristem through a non-cell-autonomous mechanism
Authors: Hassan Hala , Scheres Ben , Blilou Ikram
Published: April 2010

In Arabidopsis, specification of the hair and non-hair epidermal cell types is position dependent, in that hair cells arise over clefts in the underlying cortical cell layer. Epidermal patterning is determined by a network of transcriptional regulators that respond to an as yet unknown cue from underlying tissues. Previously, we showed that JACKDAW (JKD), a zinc finger protein, localizes in the quiescent centre and the ground tissue, and regulates tissue boundaries and asymmetric cell division by delimiting SHORT-ROOT movement. Here, we provide evidence that JKD controls position-dependent signals that regulate epidermal-cell-type patterning. JKD is required for appropriately patterned expression of the epidermal cell fate regulators GLABRA2, CAPRICE and WEREWOLF. Genetic interaction studies indicate that JKD operates upstream of the epidermal patterning network in a SCRAMBLED (SCM)-dependent fashion after embryogenesis, but acts independent of SCM in embryogenesis. Tissue-specific induction experiments indicate non-cell-autonomous action of JKD from the underlying cortex cell layer to specify epidermal cell fate. Our findings are consistent with a model where JKD induces a signal in every cortex cell that is more abundant in the hair cell position owing to the larger surface contact of cells located over a cleft.
Evidence that the tumor-suppressor protein BRCA2 does not regulate cytokinesis in human cells
Authors: Lekomtsev Sergey , Guizetti Julien , Pozniakovsky Andrei , Gerlich Daniel W. , Petronczki Mark
Published: April 2010

Germline mutations in the tumor-suppressor gene BRCA2 predispose to breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA2 plays a well-established role in maintaining genome stability by regulating homologous recombination. BRCA2 has more recently been implicated in cytokinesis, the final step of cell division, but the molecular basis for this remains unknown. We have used time-lapse microscopy, recently developed cytokinesis assays and BAC recombineering (bacterial artificial chromosome recombinogenic engineering) to investigate the function and localization of BRCA2 during cell division. Our analysis suggests that BRCA2 does not regulate cytokinesis in human cells. Thus, cytokinesis defects are unlikely to contribute to chromosomal instability and tumorigenesis in BRCA2-related cancers.
Solar Energy Potential in Turkey
Authors: Balat Havva
Published: April 2010

In this study, the solar energy potential of Turkey was investigated. Among the alternative clean energy resources in Turkey, the most important one is solar energy. Turkey's solar energy potential has been estimated to be 26.4 million toe as thermal and 8.8 million toe as electricity. Generally, solar energy is used for heating and the consumption of solar energy has increased from 5 ktoe in 1986 to 335 ktoe in 2003. Turkey's geographical location is highly favourable for utilization of solar energy. The yearly average solar radiation is 3.6 kWh/(m2 day) and the total yearly insulation period is approximately 2460 hours, which is sufficient to provide adequate energy for solar thermal applications.
Dissociation and Subsidence of Hydrated Sediment: Coupled Models
Authors: Pallipurath Mohamed Iqbal
Published: April 2010

Thermal dissociation of hydrated sediment by a pumped hot fluid is modeled. A radial heat flow from the hot pipe is assumed. The coordinate system is cylindrical. Three components (hydrate, methane and water) and three phases (hydrate, gas, and aqueous-phase) are considered in the simulator. The intrinsic kinetics of hydrate formation or dissociation is considered using the Kim-Bishnoi model. Mass transport, including two-phase flow, molecular diffusions and heat transfer involved in formation or dissociation of hydrates are included in the governing equations, which are discretized with finite volume difference method and are solved in an explicit manner. The strength deterioration of the hydrate bed as a result of dissociation is investigated with a geo-mechanical model. The way in which dissociation affects the bed strength is determined by plugging in the porosity and saturation change as a result of dissociation into the sediment collapse equations. A mechanism to measure the pore pressure changes occurring due to dissociation is developed. The rate of collapse as dissociation proceeds is determined and the model thus enables the definition of a safety envelope for gas hydrate drilling.
Automatic Initialization of Adaptive Control Using Previously Measured Input and Output Data
Authors: Kosaka Manabu , Shibata Hiroshi
Published: April 2010

It is useful for the system engineer to initialize the tuning parameters of an adaptive control automatically because less experienced engineers often cause excessive noise and vibration from mechanical plants in the parameter initializing experiment. The adaptation gain and the width of the dead zone are the tuning parameters of the estimation law using the dead zone, and the control law also has additional tuning parameters. In this paper, we propose a new automatic initialization method for an adaptive control with a few tuning parameters that are determined by previously measured input and output data. The width of the dead zone in the estimation law is changed at each iteration depending on the input signal by the function determined by previously measured input and output signals. The control law used here is an H∞ control one [3] that stabilizes the control system and minimizes a kind of H∞ norm of the sensitivity function and the complementary sensitivity function if the upper bound of the unstructured uncertainty of the control object is known. Furthermore, we apply the proposed method to an electro-hydraulic servo system and verify the effects by an experiment.
Equilibrium of Trichloroethylene Adsorption from Aqueous Solution onto Activated Carbons
Authors: Pełech Robert
Published: April 2010

The adsorption of trichloroethylene from aqueous solutions onto three activated carbons (DTO, AG5, WD-ekstra) was studied. Adsorption isotherms within the temperature range 298–343 K could be described by the Freundlich and Dubinin–Astakhov equations. The characteristic curves for the adsorption processes were determined. It was found out that the temperature dependence of the adsorption equilibrium was well described by the Dubinin–Astakhov model. The isosteric enthalpy of the adsorption was determined. The Do model and combinations of the van't Hoff and Dubinin–Astakhov equations in the form of a logarithmic equation were used to describe the dependence of the adsorption isosteric enthalpy on the degree of filling.
Adsorption Characteristics of Oxycellulose in a Competitive Environment with other Substances
Authors: Filipi Michaela , Milichovský Miloslav
Published: April 2010

A comparison was undertaken of the sorption response of oxycellulose and initial linters, i.e. the short fibres that adhere to cotton seed after ginning, towards Fe2+, Ca2+ and Cd2+ ions in fibrous slurries. The exceptional adsorption capability of oxycellulose towards metal ions (particularly Cd2+ ions) was confirmed. However, such adsorption processes are quite complicated and are influenced by the solubility of oxycellulose, its composition and the character of the components released into the supernatant, as well as by the presence of other competitive substances and ions in the aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of oxycellulose increases with increasing –COOH group content and is distinctly increased by the presence of other competitive ions in the aqueous solution. Most probably, this enhanced adsorption capacity of the support bears some analogy to the superficial aggregation (flocculation) induced by the presence of foreign substances.
Performance Comparison of Grid Connected Small Wind Energy Conversion Systems
Authors: Arifujjaman Md , Iqbal M.T. , Quaicoe J.E.
Published: April 2010

A small scale Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) has tremendous diversity of use and operating conditions, and consequently is evolving rapidly along with the large scale WECS for generation of electricity in either on grid or off grid applications. In recent years, the grid connected Small Wind Turbine (SWT) industry is primarily dominated by the Permanent Magnet Generators (PMGs) based topology. The Power Conditioning Systems (PCS) for grid connection of the PMG based topology requires a rectifier, boost converter and a grid-tie inverter. However, a small wind turbine may be based on Wound Rotor Induction Generators (WRIGs). The WRIG based topology can employ a rectifier, a chopper and an external resistor in the rotor side while the stator is directly connected to the grid. These two topologies have diverse losses that fluctuate with the wind speed. This paper presents a comparative study of a PMG and WRIG based topologies for SWT systems. The study employs numerical simulation to investigate the conversion losses for both topologies. It is demonstrated that a WRIG based topology offers less losses than a PMG based topology. The comparison is further enhanced by investigating the annual energy capture, annual energy loss and efficiency for the wind speed data and Weibull distribution of three different locations of Newfoundland, Canada. The study shows that a WRIG based topology is an optimum alternative in terms of performance characteristics within a slip variation of 15%.
Historical Evaluation of the Yamada-Type Wind Turbine
Authors: Nemoto Yasuyuki , Nishizawa Yoshifumi , Ushiyama Izumi
Published: April 2010

The Yamada-type wind turbine was the sole mass produced small scale wind turbine produced during the mid Showa period of Japan. The Yamada-type wind turbines were used all over Japan, particularly in the north Hokkaido and Tohoku area, in the era of post World War II. Although it is thought that the experience and knowledge derived from them is very useful for further development of small scale wind turbines, there are few reports on them. In this paper, the authors investigate the Yamada-type wind turbine and Mr. Yamada himself-from the aspect of history of technology.
Visual Impact Evaluation Methods of Wind Parks: Application for a Greek Island
Authors: Tsoutsos Theocharis , Tsouchlaraki Androniki , Tsiropoulos Manolis , Kaldellis John
Published: April 2010

One of the main factors affecting public acceptance of wind parks is their visual impact. Very often this problem can be solved by taking into account certain methods and techniques. This paper reviews the most common methods (such as Quechee analysis, the Spanish method, the method of visual limits); as example is presented the evaluation of the visual impact of a wind park in Chania, Crete. Besides, the outcomes are combined with the psychometric testing of the residents by the use of questionnaires and with the values of the Spanish method. The results of the study prove that the quantification of the potential visual impact could minimize this, apparently, main reason that affects public acceptance.
Household Energy Studies: The Gap between Theory and Method
Authors: Crosbie Tracey
Published: April 2010

At the level of theory it is now widely accepted that energy consumption patterns are a complex technical and socio-cultural phenomenon and to understand this phenomenon, it must be viewed from both engineering and social science perspectives. However, the methodological approaches taken in household energy studies lag behind the theoretical advances made in the last ten or fifteen years. The quantitative research methods traditionally used within the fields of building science, economics, and psychology continue to dominate household energy studies, while the qualitative ethnographic approaches to examining social and cultural phenomena traditionally used within anthropology and sociology are most frequently overlooked. This paper offers a critical review of the research methods used in household energy studies which illustrates the scope and limitations of both qualitative and quantitative research methods in this area of study. In doing so it demonstrates that qualitative research methods are essential to designing effective energy efficiency interventions.
Economic Theory and Some Oil Market Realities
Authors: Banks Ferdinand E.
Published: April 2010

The world oil problem will not disappear, even if from time to time the oil price appears to have stabilized. Several key issues of crucial importance for the global oil supply are examined. It is pointed out that several prominent forecasts for later in this century are based on false premises, in particular the part that will be played by OPEC countries. These countries will not come up to expectations because geology may not provide. Even if it did, economics would lead them to choose another strategy.
Hot Planet, Cold Wars
Authors: Kane Thomas M.
Published: April 2010

Shared challenges can bring out the best in people, but they can also do the opposite. Global climate change is an archetypal shared challenge for humanity, and although the threat has inspired a substantial amount of international co-operation, efforts to moderate it have already proven divisive. These divisions go beyond economically-driven haggling over who must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by what amount. Attempts to mitigate human civilisation's effects on the climate raise questions of political principle. Moreover, these questions have the specific potential to mobilise certain states and quasi-states against certain other ones, and this has implications for the field of security studies.

Thus, climate change threatens to revive ideological dispute among armed, organised economically-developed societies. Although the idea of a world war over carbon remains far-fetched, the parallels with the international politics of the mid–20th century are disturbing. Policymakers would be wise to take the political questions of climate change more seriously than they appear to have done in the past. Scholars may note that disputes over global warming challenge influential models of contemporary global politics.

This paper explores the reasons why controversies over climate policy are likely to prove particularly divisive in international politics. The first section discusses the relative ideological consensus that has prevailed among developed societies since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even pessimistic theorists initially took this consensus for granted. As of 2005, however, this consensus is stretched thin on numerous issues.

One of these issues is climate policy. A second section of this paper discusses the stakes in the climate debate, suggesting that this dispute is likely to be a particularly important one. The third section notes that attempts to limit global carbon dioxide emissions raise questions about citizens' relationships to each other and to the state. Historically, such questions have raised issues of principle. These issues have had moral and emotional implications that run far beyond the material issues involved.

Many nations, notably the US, have resolved these issues by adopting the political system known as republicanism. A fourth section discusses the concept of a republic and the problems it presents for those who wish to develop an international policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The fifth section notes that a broad, if informal, movement in early 21st century politics directly challenges republicanism. Debates over climate policy have already served to deepen this division. A conclusion sums up the paper's findings and reflects on their implications. Future work in the field of security studies will need to address the potential friction between republican and anti-republican political entities, and this paper highlights one of the forms this friction may take.
Climate Outlook to 2030
Authors: Archibald David C.
Published: April 2010

Our forecast for global average temperature to 2030 has been updated for the progression of Solar Cycle 23 and the contribution that will be made by increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The increased length of Solar Cycle 23 supports the view that Solar Cycle 24 will be weak, with the consequence of increased certainty that that there will be a global average temperature decline in the range of 1° to 2°C for the forecast period. The projected increase of 40 ppm in atmospheric carbon dioxide to 2030 is calculated to contribute a global atmospheric temperature increase of 0.04°C. The anthropogenic contribution to climate change over the forecast period will be insignificant relative to natural cyclic variation.
Design and Testing of Low Noise Landing Gears
Authors: Dobrzynski Werner M. , Schöning Britta , Chow Leung Choi , Wood Chris , Smith Malcolm , Seror Christelle
Published: April 2010

In the approach phase of large commercial aircraft, airframe noise – and in particular that from landing gears – is one of the dominant aircraft noise components. Within a European co-financed research project entitled “Significantly Lower Community Exposure to Aircraft Noise” (codenamed SILENCER) a study in “advanced low noise landing gear design” was performed to develop operational landing gears which take into account aeroacoustic constraints early in the design stage. Airbus aircraft typical configurations of low wing with underslung engines and A340 type gears were selected as reference. RANS flow field calculations were performed and used to identify and thus avoid the impingement of high speed flow onto critical gear structure elements. The evaluation of CFD results with respect to the effects on aerodynamic noise was performed on the basis of related experimental experience and a semi-empirical landing gear noise model. Both low noise advanced nose and main landing gears were designed and manufactured at full scale for noise testing in the 8 m by 6 m open test section of the German-Dutch Wind Tunnel (DNW-LLF).
Nonlinear Distortion of Traveling Waves in Non-Uniform Gasdynamic Flows
Authors: Tyagi Manav , Sujith R. I. , Vasu Subith
Published: April 2010

A theory of nonlinear wave propagation in quasi-one-dimensional non-uniform gasdynamic flows is developed in order to explain the effect of flow non-uniformity on nonlinear processes such as shock formation and wave quenching. The methodology used is the tracking of the propagating wave front in a hyperbolic system whose evolution is governed by a first order nonlinear ordinary differential equation (Riccati's equation). The present work is an extension of Whitham's wave front expansion method for uniform flow. The equation can be exactly solved for the first derivative of a flow variable at the wave front as a function of the location of wave front in the base flow. This solution is used to develop the criteria for shock formation of a compressive disturbance and quenching of an expansion wave. The solution shows that shock formation depends upon the history of wave propagation. However, quenching of a wave front is independent of the initial slope.

The analysis is applied to two important gasdynamic flows: Rayleigh line flow and Fanno line flow. The analysis is a generalization of the authors' previous work in which shock formation in convergent-divergent nozzles was studied (Tyagi and Sujith 2005).