bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pro12Ala polymorphism in human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma is associated with hyperlipidaemia in obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome
Authors: Guan J , Yi H , Wu X , Su K , Tao M , Yin S
Published: June 2011

Objective:

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma is a ligand-dependent transcription factor with an important role in insulin resistance and obesity. We investigated the associations between the Pro12Ala polymorphism of this receptor, obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome and hyperlipidaemia risk factors, in a Chinese cohort.

Subjects and methods:

We recruited 420 obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome patients and 190 healthy controls. Genetic analysis was conducted by restriction fragment length polymorphism. The hyperlipidaemia risk in both the study and control groups was analysed.

Results:

Comparison of genotype and allele frequencies revealed no significant differences between patients and controls (p > 0.05). In patients, there was no correlation between genotype and clinical parameters (p > 0.05), apart from a significant association between the Ala12 allele and hyperlipidaemia (odds ratio = 2.181;p = 0.017; 95 per cent confidence interval = 1.133–4.198).

Conclusion:

In this Chinese cohort, the Pro12Ala polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma was not associated with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome, but was associated with increased hyperlipidaemia risk.
Coblation resection of paediatric laryngeal papilloma
Authors: Rachmanidou A , Modayil P C
Published: June 2011

Objective:

To demonstrate the successful treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis in a 32-month-old girl, using coblation (radio-frequency ablation) resection.

Case report:

A 32-month-old girl was referred to the ENT out-patients clinic due to a hoarse cry and a very croaky voice since birth. Under general anaesthesia, fibre-optic airway endoscopy revealed a large papillomatous lesion involving the anterior glottis, which was reported as a laryngeal papilloma on histological analysis. This was later excised using an Evac 70Xtra wand. The patient made an uneventful post-operative recovery, and there were no signs of recurrence on repeated airway endoscopies at three and 18 months.

Conclusion:

Coblation (radio-frequency ablation) is a promising surgical technique for the treatment of paediatric laryngeal papillomatosis. The main advantages of this technique include limited damage to underlying tissues and a bloodless field.
Surgical anatomy of the anterior supralabyrinthine air cell tract
Authors: Gluth M B , Cohen M A , Friedland P L , Atlas M D
Published: June 2011

Introduction:

In order to safely explore the medial wall of the attic, a working knowledge of the anatomy of the anterior supralabyrinthine air cell tract is required.

Aim:

To clarify the surgically relevant anatomical relationships that comprise the anterior supralabyrinthine air cell tract.

Materials and methods:

Surgical dissection of 10 fresh cadaveric temporal bones was undertaken, including measurement of distances between the key anterior supralabyrinthine anatomical landmarks.

Results:

The following mean distances were calculated: the labyrinthine segment between the geniculate ganglion and the ampullated end of the superior semicircular canal, 2.33 mm (range 1.75–2.75); the tympanic segment between the anterior margin of the oval window niche and the geniculate ganglion, 3.58 mm (range 3.25–4); and from the tympanic segment adjacent to the anterior margin of the oval window niche to the labyrinthine segment adjacent to the superior semicircular canal, 3.48 mm (range 3–4.25).

Conclusion:

The key anatomical landmarks of the anterior supralabyrinthine air cell tract define a distinct triangular segment of bone, knowledge of which is helpful in surgical dissection.
Congenital vallecular cyst in an infant: case report and review of 52 recent cases
Authors: Suzuki J , Hashimoto S , Watanabe K , Takahashi K
Published: June 2011

Objectives:

Vallecular cyst is uncommon in infants. We treated a female infant with vallecular cyst, and curious magnetic resonance imaging findings. We also review 51 other cases of vallecular cyst in infants reported over the past 23 years.

Case report:

A three-month-old female infant presented with congenital inspiratory stridor and failure to thrive. Flexible laryngoscopy and ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass in the vallecula. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were initially curious because of artefacts from breathing and swallowing. Marsupialisation of the cyst was performed. Post-operatively, the patient was immediately free of symptoms.

Conclusion:

Magnetic resonance imaging presents various difficulties in infants, but has the best diagnostic effectiveness. We recommend the use of magnetic resonance imaging, flexible fibroscopy and ultrasonography to enable extensive examination of suspected vallecular cysts in infants. Marsupialisation has a recurrence rate of only one in 39 cases, and its safety and effectiveness are well balanced. Thus, prompt marsupialisation of vallecular cyst is the recommended surgical procedure.
Genetic and environmental risk factors for sexual distress and its association with female sexual dysfunction
Authors: Burri A. , Rahman Q. , Spector T.
Published: June 2011

Background

The DSM-V Working Group is currently re-evaluating distress as a primary diagnostic criterion for female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Here, for the first time, we explored the epidemiology of sexual distress and its putative aetiological relationship to FSD by estimating the influence of genetic and environmental risk factors.

Method

Questionnaire data on a representative sample of 930 British female twins using validated scales of FSD and sexual distress were subject to variance components analyses to quantify latent genetic and environmental factors influencing phenotypic variation and covariation. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify other potential risk factors of sexual distress.

Results

Of 319 women with any sexual problems, only 36.5% reported distress. Of women classified as functional, 16.5% felt sexual distress. Sexual distress had a heritability of 44% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33–0.54]. Bivariate analysis suggested that the majority (91% CI 86–99%) of the covariance between sexual distress and FSD was due to unique environmental effects common to both traits. Associations were found between sexual distress and other risk variables, including relationship dissatisfaction [odds ratio (OR) 1.6, p<0.001], anxiety sensitivity and obsessive–compulsive symptomatology (OR 1.2, p<0.01, for both).

Conclusions

There seems to be a weak phenotypic and genetic basis for including sexual distress as a diagnostic indicator of FSD. Instead, the data indicate that unrelated psychological factors play an important role in sexual distress and tentatively suggest that sexual distress is less a consequence of FSD and more related to general anxiety among women.
Psychological well-being (PWB): a natural life outlook? An Italian twin study on heritability of PWB in young adults
Authors: Gigantesco A. , Stazi M. A. , Alessandri G. , Medda E. , Tarolla E. , Fagnani C.
Published: June 2011

Background

To date, the genetic and environmental architecture of the dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB) remains unexplored.

Method

PWB of 742 twins aged 23–24 years and enrolled in the Italian Twin Registry was assessed with the three-item version of Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB). These scales include items for evaluating the PWB dimensions of self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. A twin design was used to obtain correlations in the PWB dimensions for monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins and to estimate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variation and covariation in the dimensions.

Results

Genetic factors explained moderate to substantial proportions of variance in the six SPWB dimensions, with heritability estimates between 37% and 64%. The estimates of genetic correlations were very high (range 0.77–0.99), indicating that genetic factors that influence the expression of the different dimensions of PWB may be shared to a large extent. Non-shared environmental correlations ranged from substantial to high, with the exception of the correlation between autonomy and the dimensions of purpose in life, self-acceptance and personal growth.

Conclusions

This study presents a twin analysis of PWB measured by the SPWB dimensions; it was found that both genes and non-shared environment play a role in individual differences. The genetic and non-shared environmental correlations between SPWB dimensions suggest that common underlying genetic and non-shared environmental factors influence the expression of the different facets of PWB.
Dynamical approximation and kernels of non-escaping hyperbolic components
Authors: MIHALJEVIĆ-BRANDT HELENA
Published: June 2011

Let ℱnbe families of entire functions, holomorphically parameterized by a complex manifoldM. We consider those parameters inMthat correspond tonon-escaping hyperbolicfunctions, i.e. those mapsf∈ℱnfor which the postsingular setP(f) is a compact subset of the Fatou set ℱ(f) off. We prove that if ℱn→ℱ∞in the sense of a certain dynamically sensible metric, then every non-escaping hyperbolic component in the parameter space of ℱ∞is akernelof a sequence of non-escaping hyperbolic components in the parameter spaces of ℱn. Parameters belonging to such a kernel do not always correspond to hyperbolic functions in ℱ∞. Nevertheless, we show that these functions must beJ-stable. Using quasiconformal equivalences, we are able to construct many examples of families to which our results can be applied.
Tail pressure and the tail entropy function
Authors: LI YUAN , CHEN ERCAI , CHENG WEN-CHIAO
Published: June 2011

Burguet [A direct proof of the tail variational principle and its extension to maps. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.29 (2009), 357–369] presented a direct proof of the variational principle of tail entropy and extended Downarowicz’s results to a non-invertible case. This paper defines and discusses tail pressure, which is an extension of tail entropy for continuous transformations. This study reveals analogs of many known results of topological pressure. Specifically, a variational principle is provided and some applications of tail pressure, such as the investigation of invariant measures and equilibrium states, are also obtained.
A short proof of the Ornstein theorem
Authors: DOWNAROWICZ T. , SERAFIN J.
Published: June 2011

We give a short (and fairly elementary) proof of the ‘residual Sinai theorem’ of which the Ornstein theorem is an immediate consequence. In principle, we follow the lines of [BKS] but our proof avoids any substantial quotations, in particular, invoking any characterizations of systems isomorphic to Bernoulli shifts. The core of the proof is five pages long and it relies only on standard facts in ergodic theory.
A responsibility to reality: a reply to Louise Arbour
Authors: CARVIN STEPHANIE
Published: June 2011

Louise Arbour presents a pleasant picture of international society in her article on ‘Responsibility to protect’ (R2P) as a ‘duty of care’ – one where states not only have a moral responsibility but also a legal responsibility to intervene in some of the worst situations on the planet. However, this argument is misleading and based on faulty legal assumptions which pose significant problems for Arbour's case. This response will argue that upon examination, Arbour's legal case is not very strong or persuasive. Even more importantly, even if we accepted Arbour's legal arguments, it would not make much of a difference to how states respond to international crises. Arbour seems to misunderstand that the problems facing R2P have always been those of ‘will’ and not law – and this must be understood as a political rather than legal problem.
Responsibility and obligation in the ‘Responsibility to Protect’
Authors: BAIN WILLIAM
Published: June 2011

This article takes up Louise Arbour's claim that the doctrine of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ is grounded in existing obligations of international law, specifically those pertaining to the prevention and punishment of genocide. In doing so, it argues that the aspirations of the R2P project cannot be sustained by the idea of ‘responsibility’ alone. The article proceeds in arguing that the coherence of R2P depends on an unacknowledged and unarticulated theory of obligation that connects notions of culpability, blame, and accountability with the kind of preventive, punitive, and restorative action that Arbour and others advocate. Two theories of obligation are then offered, one natural the other conventional, which make this connection explicit. But the ensuing clarity comes at a cost: the naturalist account escapes the ‘real’ world to redeem the intrinsic dignity of all men and women, while the conventionalist account remains firmly tethered to the ‘real’ world in redeeming whatever dignity can be had by way of an agreement. The article concludes by arguing that the advocate of the responsibility to protect can have one or the other, but not both.
A two-tier map representation for compact-stereo-vision-based SLAM
Authors: Herath D. C. , Kodagoda S. , Dissanayake G.
Published: June 2011

Vision sensors are increasingly being used in the implementation of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). Even though the mathematical framework of SLAM is well understood, considerable issues remain to be resolved when a particular sensing modality is considered. For instance, the observation model of a small baseline stereo camera is known to be highly nonlinear. As a consequence, state estimations obtained from standard recursive estimators, such as the Extended Kalman Filter, tend to be inconsistent. Further, vision-based approaches are plagued with high feature densities, and the consequent requisite of maintaining large feature databases for loop closure and data association. This paper proposes a two-tier solution for resolving these issues, inspired by the mechanics of human navigation. The proposed two-tier solution addresses the consistency issue by formulating the SLAM problem as a nonlinear batch optimization and presents a novel method for feature management through a two-tier map representation. Simulations and experiments are carried out in an office-like environment to validate the performance of the algorithm.
Self-adaptive Monte Carlo localization for mobile robots using range finders
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zapata René , Lépinay Pascal
Published: June 2011

In order to achieve the autonomy of mobile robots, effective localization is a necessary prerequisite. In this paper, we propose an improved Monte Carlo localization algorithm using self-adaptive samples (abbreviated as SAMCL). By employing a pre-caching technique to reduce the online computational burden, SAMCL is more efficient than the regular MCL. Further, we define the concept of similar energy region (SER), which is a set of poses (grid cells) having similar energy with the robot in the robot space. By distributing global samples in SER instead of distributing randomly in the map, SAMCL obtains a better performance in localization. Position tracking, global localization and the kidnapped robot problem are the three sub-problems of the localization problem. Most localization approaches focus on solving one of these sub-problems. However, SAMCL solves all the three sub-problems together, thanks to self-adaptive samples that can automatically separate themselves into a global sample set and a local sample set according to needs. The validity and the efficiency of the SAMCL algorithm are demonstrated by both simulations and experiments carried out with different intentions. Extensive experimental results and comparisons are also given in this paper.
Sustainability science: a review, an analysis and some empirical lessons
Authors: SPANGENBERG JOACHIM H.
Published: June 2011

Sustainability science has developed from a new research field into a vibrant discipline in its own right, with scientific conferences, journals and scientific societies dedicated to its pursuit. Characterized more by its research purpose than by a common set of methods or objects, sustainability science can be subdivided into the more traditional disciplinary-based science for sustainability and the transdisciplinary science of sustainability. Whereas the former consists of more descriptive, analytical and basic science, the latter is characterized by reflexivity and applicability; on a meta level, the emergence of the latter can be understood as a new step in the evolution of science. This review provides an overview of the state of sustainability science, identifying action orientation, integrated assessments and interdisciplinarity as overall characteristics. The review also focuses on methodological issues, highlighting differences in project organization and management, and the ways in which stakeholder participation can be organized in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects. Sustainability science is recognized as essential for progress towards sustainability, and as an opportunity to bring science closer to the people, requiring significant changes in the way science is organized and conducted.
Multilocus sequence types of invasive Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated in the Rio de Janeiro urban area, Brazil
Authors: VIGUETTI S. Z. , PACHECO L. G. C. , SANTOS L. S. , SOARES S. C. , BOLT F. , BALDWIN A. , DOWSON C. G. , ROSSO M. L. , GUISO N. , MIYOSHI A. , HIRATA R. , MATTOS-GUARALDI A. L. , AZEVEDO V.
Published: June 2011

Invasive infections caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae in vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals have been reported increasingly. In this study we used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to study genetic relationships between six invasive strains of this bacterium isolated solely in the urban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during a 10-year period. Of note, all the strains rendered negative results in PCR reactions for the tox gene, and four strains presented an atypical sucrose-fermenting ability. Five strains represented new sequence types. MLST results did not support the hypothesis that invasive (sucrose-positive) strains of C. diphtheriae are part of a single clonal complex. Instead, one of the main findings of the study was that such strains can be normally found in clonal complexes with strains related to non-invasive disease. Comparative analyses with C. diphtheriae isolated in different countries provided further information on the geographical circulation of some sequence types.
IMPORTANT PLANT AREAS IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA: 4. JABAL AJA’
Authors: Llewellyn O. A. , Hall M. , Miller A. G. , Al-Abbasi T. M. , Al-Wetaid A. H. , Al-Harbi R. J. , Al-Shammari K. F.
Published: June 2011

Jabal Aja’ in Saudi Arabia is an Important Plant Area (IPA) in the Arabian Peninsula. This paper describes the flora of the Jabal Aja’ area and provides an up-to-date botanical checklist. It designates the site as an IPA due to the presence of endemic and biogeographically relict species and the function of the site as a bioclimatic refuge. In addition to these conservation assessments, this study discusses socio-economic issues, threats to biodiversity conservation on Jabal Aja’, and the future research required to build upon these preliminary studies.
STUBENDORFFIA AND WINKLERA BELONG TO THE EXPANDED LEPIDIUM (BRASSICACEAE)
Authors: Al-Shehbaz I. A. , Mummenhoff K.
Published: June 2011

The genus Stubendorffia (Brassicaceae) is distinguished from Lepidium solely by the dehiscent vs. indehiscent angustiseptate fruits. By contrast, Winklera is separated from Lepidium by a combination of perennial habit, pinnatisect leaves, yellow flowers, and wingless fruits, characters all of which occur individually and in various combinations within Lepidium. Extensive molecular studies strongly show that Winklera and polyphyletic Stubendorffia are nested within the earlier-published Lepidium and, therefore, the three genera are herein formally united. The new name Lepidium pavlovii and 10 new combinations, L. afghanicum, L. apterum, L. botschantzevii, L. curvinervium, L. lipskyi, L. olgae, L. orientalis, L. patrinoides, L. pterocarpum, and L. silaifolium, are proposed. Lepidium apterum is lectotypified. A complete generic synonymy of Lepidium and an expanded generic description are presented.
Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, Series I: Ferns and Lycophytes, Volume 1 (Malayan Forest Records No. 48) . B. S. Parris, R. Kiew, R. C. K. Chung, L. G. Saw & E. Soepadmo (eds). / Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, Series II: Seed Plants, Volume
Authors: Gibby Mary , Middleton David J.
Published: June 2011

..
The current surgical perspective to repair of atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction
Authors: Karl Tom R. , Provenzano Sylvio C. J. , Nunn Graham R. , Anderson Robert H.
Published: June 2011

Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction is a relatively common congenital cardiac malformation. It sometimes presents challenging surgical problems, especially when seen in combination with tetralogy of Fallot. We describe herein our current concepts regarding surgical repair of atrioventricular septal defect with and without tetralogy, discussing indications for surgery, timing, technical aspects, and outcomes.
Keeping the dream alive: the European Court of Justice and the transnational fabric of integrationist jurisprudence
Authors: Vauchez Antoine
Published: June 2011

How does the European Court of Justice (ECJ) firmly maintain a now 45-year-old consistent integrationist jurisprudence when exerting virtually no control over the recruitment of its members (a selection left to national governments)? Rather than considering such judicial consistency over time as a ‘given’, the paper questions the social fabric of judicial preferences. On the basis of a variety of commemorative materials produced within the Court (Festschriften, tributes, eulogies, and jubilees) and never studied so far, the paper stresses the manner in which these rituals are home to social processes of aggregation (into one unique judicial family), demarcation (from the political realm), and self-identification (to roles of so-called ‘founding father’, ‘current spokesmen’, or ‘would-be judges’), thereby enabling transnational role transmission within international courts such as the ECJ.
Why a right-wing populist party emerged in France but not in Germany: cleavages and actors in the formation of a new cultural divide
Authors: Bornschier Simon
Published: June 2011

This article analyzes why, despite similar transformations in the dimensions structuring political space since the late 1980s, extreme right-wing populist parties have emerged in some West European countries, but not in others. Two factors may affect the fortunes of these parties. First, if electorates remain firmly entrenched in older cleavages, new parties will find it difficult to establish themselves. Second, the positions of the established actors with respect to the new cultural divide that the extreme populist right mobilizes may be crucial. This article systematizes the various explanations regarding the impact of mainstream party positions on the electoral fortunes of the extreme right, and develops two new hypotheses that differentiate between the conditions that favor the entry of the extreme right, and its subsequent success. The various hypotheses are then tested in an empirical analysis of election campaigns in France and Germany, combining data on party positions as reflected in the news media with mass-level surveys. The results show that the diverging behavior of the established parties, rather than the strength of the traditional state-market cleavage, explains the differences between these two countries. More specifically, the differing strategy of the mainstream left in the two contexts has allowed the Front National to anchor itself in the French party system, whereas similar parties have not achieved a breakthrough in Germany.
Hillslope‐glacier coupling: The interplay of topography and glacial dynamics in High Asia
Authors: Scherler Dirk , Bookhagen Bodo , Strecker Manfred R.
Published: June 2011

High Asian glacial landscapes have large variations in topographic relief and the size and steepness of snow accumulation areas. Associated differences in glacial cover and dynamics allow a first‐order determination of the dominant processes shaping these landscapes. Here we provide a regional synthesis of the topography and flow characteristics of 287 glaciers across High Asia using digital elevation analysis and remotely sensed glacier surface velocities. Glaciers situated in low‐relief areas on the Tibetan Plateau are mainly nourished by direct snowfall, have little or no debris cover, and have a relatively symmetrical distribution of velocities along their length. In contrast, avalanche‐fed glaciers with steep accumulation areas, which occur at the deeply incised edges of the Tibetan Plateau, are heavily covered with supraglacial debris, and flow velocities are highest along short segments near their headwalls but greatly reduced along their debris‐mantled lower parts. The downstream distribution of flow velocities suggests that the glacial erosion potential is progressively shifted upstream as accumulation areas get steeper and hillslope debris fluxes increase. Our data suggest that the coupling of hillslopes and glacial dynamics increases with topographic steepness and debris cover. The melt‐lowering effect of thick debris cover allows the existence of glaciers even when they are located entirely below the snow line. However, slow velocities limit the erosion potential of such glaciers, and their main landscape‐shaping contribution may simply be the evacuation of debris from the base of glacial headwalls, which inhibits the formation of scree slopes and thereby allows ongoing headwall retreat by periglacial hillslope processes. We propose a conceptual model in which glacially influenced plateau margins evolve from low‐relief to high‐relief landscapes with distinctive contributions of hillslope processes and glaciers to relief production and decay.
The influence of ambient light intensity on in situ laser diffractometers
Authors: Andrews S. W. , Nover D. M. , Reardon K. E. , Reuter J. E. , Schladow S. G.
Published: June 2011

In situ laser diffractometers characterize the suspended particle size distribution (PSD) by measuring laser‐generated light scattered off small particles over a range of small forward angles. In environments with low particulate concentrations or high ambient light conditions the ratio of natural downwelling sunlight to scattered laser light sensed by the photodetectors is high and measurements are influenced. Here, we evaluate the effect of the ambient light field intensity on measurements made with a Laser In Situ Scattering and Transmissometry (LISST) 100X type B instrument. Paired light‐dark scattering distributions are recorded over a range of underwater light intensities in high‐turbidity and low‐turbidity water. Light measurements displayed large erroneous concentrations of particles in the smallest size bin (1.25–1.48 μm) and showed effects over the full range of the PSD. Ambient light was found to exhibit the same constant distribution over the instrument photodetectors in both water samples, although the magnitude of the response, in laser counts per unit ambient light intensity, was PSD dependent. A technique for postprocessing data to remove the influence of light is presented for moored deployment and vertical profile data collected at Lake Tahoe, California‐Nevada, United States. While measurements removed of the light effect were successfully reconstructed, the technique may not be applicable to data where the PSD or the LISST orientation relative to the sun direction change rapidly or when light intensities are high enough to quench the instrument photodetectors. Ambient light was found to have negligible effects on PSD measurements in Lake Tahoe was below intensities of ∼30 W m−2.
Comparing structurally different climate models in a paleoenvironmental context
Authors: Haywood Alan M. , Ramstein Gilles , Abe‐Ouchi Ayako
Published: June 2011

Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project Phase 3 Workshop; Kyoto, Japan, 5–10 December 2010; The Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP), endorsed by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) program, the Working Group on Coupled Modelling (WGCM), and the International Geosphere‐Biosphere Programme (IGBP) Past Global Changes (PAGES) project, represents a community of researchers who compare structurally different climate models in a paleoenvironmental context. At a workshop sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the University of Tokyo, and the Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 100 representatives gathered to review progress toward the finalization of the PMIP Phase 3 (PMIP3) experimental design and simulations and to identify barriers that could be overcome to ensure that results are published in time to contribute to the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. Participants included atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, and paleoclimatologists from the data and modeling communities.
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: June 2011

The following AGU members received Outstanding Student Paper Awards at the 2010 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. See also “Outstanding Student Paper Awards” published previously (Eos, 92(18), 155; 92(19), 165; 92(20), 173) and in future issues of Eos.
Research Spotlight: Coastal cooling and marine productivity increasing off Peru
Authors: Tretkoff Ernie
Published: June 2011

The upwelling system off Peru is of environmental and economic importance due to its high fish productivity. It has been suggested that global warming may be leading to increasing temperature differences between the coast and the ocean, causing increases in alongshore wind stress and coastal upwelling in this zone. Upwelling brings nutrients from deep waters toward the surface, increasing biological productivity. To confirm reported trends of increasing coastal cooling and rising biological productivity,Gutiérrez et al. analyzed sediment records spanning the past 150 years as well as instrumental records from the main upwelling zone off Peru. They found that sea surface temperatures have been declining since the 1950s in the main upwelling zone. The cooling trend is likely linked to increased upwelling in spring, during which there is enhanced biological productivity. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2010GL046324, 2011)
Research Spotlight: Mapping U.S. West Coast surface circulation
Authors: Tretkoff Ernie
Published: June 2011

A network of high‐frequency radar systems designed for mapping ocean surface currents now provides unprecedented detail of coastal ocean dynamics along the U.S. West Coast, according to Kim et al. The network has grown over the past decade from a few radars to what is now considered the largest network of its kind in the world, providing nearly complete coverage of currents along approximately 2500 kilometers of shoreline. With an ability to resolve kilometer‐scale currents out to approximately 150 kilometers offshore, the technology has been used for local oceanographic studies in addition to applied applications for supporting oil spill response, search and rescue, fisheries, and coastal discharge assessment. (Journal of Geophysical Research‐Oceans, doi:10.1029/2010JC006669, 2011)
Volcanic versus anthropogenic carbon dioxide
Authors: Gerlach Terry
Published: June 2011

Which emits more carbon dioxide (CO2): Earth's volcanoes or human activities? Research findings indicate unequivocally that the answer to this frequently asked question is human activities. However, most people, including some Earth scientists working in fields outside volcanology, are surprised by this answer. The climate change debate has revived and reinforced the belief, widespread among climate skeptics, that volcanoes emit more CO2 than human activities [Gerlach, 2010; Plimer, 2009]. In fact, present‐day volcanoes emit relatively modest amounts of CO2, about as much annually as states like Florida, Michigan, and Ohio.
Limiting invasive species in ballast water
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: June 2011

Ballast water is often intentionally loaded onto cargo ships and other vessels to provide weight necessary for safe maneuvering. However, this practice can unintentionally transport exotic organisms to parts of the world where populations of these organisms can establish themselves in new habitats as invasive and environmentally and economically disruptive species. Each year, an estimated 196 million metric tons of ballast water are discharged into U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes alone from an average of more than 90,000 visits of commercial ships greater than 300 metric tons, according to a 2 June report by the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies.
Communicating climate science
Authors: Betts Alan K.
Published: June 2011

I have worked as a researcher in weather and climate for 40 years. There is a long held view that science will lose its integrity, and scientists will lose their impartial reputation, if scientists stray into the domain of public policy. This doctrine can be quite comfortable for scientists because it limits their personal responsibility to their technical field of expertise. It can also be comfortable for those in the policy arena because science often presents evidence that can be perceived as a threat to vested interests.
Studying the relationship between past people and their environments
Authors: Clift Peter D. , Flad Rowan , Fuller Dorian Q. , Giosan Liviu
Published: June 2011

AGU Chapman Conference on Climates, Past Landscapes, and Civilizations; Santa Fe, New Mexico, 21–25 March 2011; The fortunes of human societies are intimately linked to the environments that sustain them. This has been true from the first emergence of human ancestors through to the present day. An AGU Chapman Conference was held to discuss the relationship between past people and their environments. Participants examined the state of the field, debated issues of contention, and formulated ways that such cross‐disciplinary research can progress. Scientists' increasing ability to generate high‐resolution climate records has proliferated studies that link the rise and fall of cultures to climate change. This meeting brought together scholars from across the divide between Earth sciences and archaeology to derive a deeper understanding of how humans have reacted to and shaped the changing environment.
Dietrich receives 2010 G. K. Gilbert Award: Citation
Authors: Howard Alan D.
Published: June 2011

William E. Dietrich received the 2010 G. K. Gilbert Award at the 2010 AGU Fall Meeting, held 13–17 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes “a scientist who has either made a single significant advance or sustained significant contributions to the field of Earth and planetary surface processes, and who has in addition promoted an environment of unselfish cooperation in research and the inclusion of young scientists into the field.”
Phytoplankton affect clouds and precipitation
Authors: Tretkoff Ernie
Published: June 2011

Phytoplankton in the ocean produce the gases dimethyl sulfide and isoprene, which can enter the atmosphere. To find out how this affects cloud properties and precipitation, Krüger and Graßl analyzed a variety of satellite observations over the Southern Ocean from 45°S to 65°S. They found that phytoplankton emission of these gases led to an increase in cloud albedo—the clouds reflected more incoming sunlight back upward—as well as to reduced cloud droplet radius and increased cloud optical thickness. Furthermore, they found that less precipitation occurred over the Antarctic Polar Front zone during strong plankton blooms. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL047116, 2011)
A new source of freshwater for Antarctica's coastal waters
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: June 2011

Research into submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), predominantly regarding its prevalence as a source of freshwater and nutrients to coastal ecosystems, has recently grown in prominence. Using a new groundwater discharge sensor specifically designed for use in the cold polar ocean, Uemura et al. measured the flows of freshwater streaming through the Antarctic subsurface and into the surrounding coastal waters. The researchers found that SGD rates measured in Lützow‐Holm Bay in eastern Antarctica showed important differences from SGD rates measured elsewhere on Earth. At midlatitudes, discharge rates drop with increasing ocean depth, while the Antarctic flows were relatively consistent despite differences in depth among the seven survey sites scattered throughout the bay. In addition, the measured average flow rates, ranging from 0.85 × 10‐7 to 9.5 × 10‐7 meters per second, were 10–100 times higher than flow rates at similar depths made at midlatitudes. The authors also found that SDG rates oscillated with a period of 12.8 hours, peaking at low tide. Further, the discharge rates roughly tracked the size of the tide, having higher peaks in spring, when tides were strongest. The researchers propose that the most likely source of the freshwater flow is meltwater formed beneath the massive glaciers surrounding the bay. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2010GL046394, 2011)
ESAT6 differentially inhibits IFN‐γ‐inducible class II transactivator isoforms in both a TLR2‐dependent and ‐independent manner
Authors: Kumar Pavanish , Agarwal Richa , Siddiqui Imran , Vora Hardeep , Das Gobardhan , Sharma Pawan
Published: June 2011

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) downregulates the surface expression of major histocompatibility class II (MHC II) molecules on macrophages via modulating class II transactivator (CIITA) protein of the host cell. This results in decreased effector function of CD4+ T cells. In macrophages, CIITA is transcribed by the promoters I (pI) and IV (pIV) and the corresponding gene products are referred to as type I and type IV CIITA, respectively. Earlier studies have mainly focused on CIITA transcribed by pIV; however, these studies also showed that type IV CIITA expression was transient and dispensable for MHC II expression. In the present study, we observed that the Mtb 6‐kDa, early secreted antigen (ESAT6) inhibited interferon (IFN)‐γ‐induced type I as well as type IV CIITA, but, interestingly, inhibition of type I CIITA was found to be independent of Toll‐like receptor‐2 (TLR2), whereas that of type IV was TLR2 dependent. Moreover, we also present evidence to show that ESAT6‐mediated inhibition was regulated via remodeling of the chromatin. We found that ESAT6 caused a decrease in the IFN‐γ‐stimulated methylation of the histone H3K4, as well as in the levels of histone acetylation at the CIITA pI locus in macrophages. We also found the involvement of mitogen‐activated protein kinases ERK1/2 and p38 in the regulation of CIITA by ESAT6. In conclusion, our studies suggest that ESAT6 could inhibit the expression of type I and type IV CIITA through different pathways. Furthermore, ESAT6 could signal through putative receptors other than TLR2, and that the inhibition of IFN‐γ‐stimulated CIITA by ESAT6 was regulated at the chromatin level.
Human cytomegalovirus UL7, a homologue of the SLAM‐family receptor CD229, impairs cytokine production
Authors: Engel Pablo , Pérez‐Carmona Natàlia , Albà M Mar , Robertson Kevin , Ghazal Peter , Angulo Ana
Published: June 2011

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the β‐herpesvirus prototype, has evolved a wide spectrum of mechanisms to counteract host immunity. Among them, HCMV uses cellular captured genes encoding molecules capable of interfering with the original host function or of fulfilling new immunomodulatory tasks. Here, we report on UL7, a novel HCMV heavily glycosylated transmembrane protein, containing an Ig‐like domain that exhibits remarkable amino acid similarity to CD229, a cell‐surface molecule of the signalling lymphocyte‐activation molecule (SLAM) family involved in leukocyte activation. The UL7 Ig‐like domain, which is well‐preserved in all HCMV strains, structurally resembles the SLAM‐family N‐terminal Ig‐variable domain responsible for the homophilic and heterophilic interactions that trigger signalling. UL7 is transcribed with early‐late kinetics during the lytic infectious cycle. Using a mAb generated against the viral protein, we show that it is constitutively shed, through its mucine‐like stalk, from the cell‐surface. Production of soluble UL7 is enhanced by PMA and reduced by a broad‐spectrum metalloproteinase inhibitor. Although UL7 does not hold the ability to interact with CD229 or other SLAM‐family members, it shares with them the capacity to mediate adhesion to leukocytes, specifically to monocyte‐derived DCs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that UL7 expression attenuates the production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL‐8 and IL‐6 in DCs and myeloid cell lines. Thus, the ability of UL7 to interfere with cellular proinflammatory responses may contribute to viral persistence. These results enhance our understanding of those HCMV‐encoded molecules involved in sustaining the balance between HCMV and the host immune system.
LPS hypersensitivity of gp130 mutant mice is independent of elevated haemopoietic TLR4 signaling
Authors: Greenhill Claire J , Gould Jodee , Ernst Matthias , Jarnicki Andrew , Hertzog Paul J , Mansell Ashley , Jenkins Brendan J
Published: June 2011

Among the many inflammatory mediators induced by the prototypical inflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which signals via Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐4, interleukin (IL)‐6 has recently been shown to feedback and augment TLR4 signaling when overproduced in LPS hypersensitive gp130F/F mice. This regulation by IL‐6 in gp130F/F mice requires hyperactivation of the latent transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 via the IL‐6 signaling receptor subunit gp130. However, the identity of LPS/TLR4‐responsive inflammatory signaling pathways and gene networks, which are modulated by IL‐6 (via gp130/STAT3), and the extent to which the tissue and cellular context of this regulation contributes to LPS‐induced endotoxic shock in gp130F/F mice, are unknown. We report here that in LPS‐treated macrophages from gp130F/F mice, gp130 hyperactivation upregulated the LPS‐induced expression of inflammatory mediators downstream of Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT, nuclear factor κ‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells, interferon regulatory factor and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase/p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways. Notably, however, LPS administration to bone marrow chimeras indicated that heightened LPS/TLR4 signaling in haemopoietic‐derived gp130F/F immune cells is dispensable for the hypersensitivity of gp130F/F mice to LPS‐induced endotoxemia. To understand the molecular consequences of gp130 hyperactivity in non‐haemopoietic tissue on LPS‐induced systemic inflammation, global gene expression profiling of livers from LPS‐treated gp130F/F mice was performed and identified 264 hepatic LPS‐responsive genes, which are differentially regulated by hyperactive gp130 signaling. Collectively, the substantial transcriptional reprogramming of LPS‐responsive genes in gp130F/F mice emphasizes non‐haemopoietic gp130 signaling as a key regulator of systemic inflammatory responses during LPS‐induced endotoxemia.
Quest for the descent of the Escherichia coli outbreak strain TY2482 – out of Germany?
Authors: Avasthi Tiruvayipati , Kumar Narender , Baddam Ramani , Devi Singamaneni , Wieler Lothar , Ahmed Niyaz
Published: June 2011

The recent outbreak of the Escherichia coli infection in north Germany reportedly has killed 35 people and sickened about 4000. Infections were reported in 2001 and 2002 in Germany and Central Africa respectively. In order to dissect all possible connections among the three infection/outbreak strains and to extract the most virulent genes responsible for the augmented pathogenicity of the present German strain (2011), whole genome sequence data of the two isolates (E. coli TY_2482 & LB226692) were analyzed. We report that the German outbreak strain isolated in 2011 is a seasoned clone of the 2002 isolate sequenced from Central Africa (55989) and perhaps a direct descendent of the German EAEC strain reported in 2001 infection cases.
Metal Ion Binding to RNA
Authors: Auffinger Pascal , Grover Neena , Westhof Eric
Published: June 2011

RNA crystal structures have provided a wealth of information on localized metal ions that are bound to specific sites, such as the RNA deep groove, the Hoogsteen face of guanine nucleotides and anionic phosphate oxygens. With a number of crystal structures being solved with heavy metal derivatives and other “reporter” ions, sufficient information is available to estimate global similarities and differences in ion binding properties and to begin determining the influence of RNA and ions on each other. Here we will discuss the ions that are observed bound to RNA, their coordination properties, and the roles they play in RNA structural studies. Analysis of the crystallographic data reinforces the fact that ion interactions with nucleic acids are not easily interchanged between similarly charged ions. The physiological relevance of RNA-ion interactions, mainly involving K+ and Mg2+ cations, needs to be analyzed with care as different structures are solved under very diverse ionic conditions. The analysis is complicated by the fact that the assignment is not always accurate, often done under sub-optimal conditions, which further limits the generalization about the types of interactions these ions can establish.
Methods to Detect and Characterize Metal Ion Binding Sites in RNA
Authors: Erat Michèle C. , Sigel Roland K. O.
Published: June 2011

Metal ions are inextricably associated with RNAs of any size and control their folding and activity to a large part. In order to understand RNA mechanisms, also the positioning, affinities and kinetics of metal ion binding must be known. Due to the spectroscopic silence and relatively fast exchange rates of the metal ions usually associated with RNAs, this task is extremely challenging and thus numerous methods have been developed and applied in the past. Here we provide an overview on the different metal ions and methods applied in RNA (bio)chemistry: The physical-chemical properties of important metal ions are presented and briefly discussed with respect to their application together with RNA. Each method ranging from spectroscopic over biochemical to computational approaches is briefly described also mentioning caveats that might occur during the experiment and/or interpretation of the results.
Importance of Diffuse Metal Ion Binding to RNA
Authors: Tan Zhi-Jie , Chen Shi-Jie
Published: June 2011

RNAs are highly charged polyanionic molecules. RNA structure and function are strongly correlated with the ionic condition of the solution. The primary focus of this article is on the role of diffusive ions in RNA folding. Due to the long-range nature of electrostatic interactions, the diffuse ions can contribute significantly to RNA structural stability and folding kinetics. We present an overview of the experimental findings as well as the theoretical developments on the diffuse ion effects in RNA folding. This review places heavy emphasis on the effect of magnesium ions. Magnesium ions play a highly efficient role in stabilizing RNA tertiary structures and promoting tertiary structural folding. The highly efficient role goes beyond the mean-field effect such as the ionic strength. In addition to the effects of specific ion binding and ion dehydration, ion-ion correlation for the diffuse ions can contribute to the efficient role of the multivalent ions such as the magnesium ions in RNA folding.