bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copernicus's Mereological Vision of the Universe
Authors: Goddu André
Published: April 2009

Mereology is the philosophical study of part/whole relations. Copernicus, Mästlin, and Kepler addressed explicitly some of the logical issues in their support of heliocentrism. Their emphasis on harmony and commensurability to evaluate theories as more or less likely fits with their use of part/whole relations to argue for the greater reasonability or probability of heliocentrism. The essay summarizes the logical and metaphysical issues that earlier traditions discussed, and it uses those discussions to illuminate features of heliocentric theories that remain otherwise obscure even in Newton.
From "Dragonology" to Meteorology: Aristotelian Natural Philosophy and the Beginning of the Decline of the Dragon in China
Authors: Zhang Qiong
Published: April 2009

The cult of the dragon in China, which expressed itself not only in the ritual sacrifices to the dragon kings during drought and floods but also in the rationalization of the dragon's power to make rain by many serious thinkers from diverse intellectual persuasions, was first subjected to sustained criticism during the early modern era as part of an "enlightenment" drive against popular cults and "superstitions" led by some of the Jesuit-inspired Chinese scholars. This paper examines how these critics drew on Aristotelian conceptions of nature and meteorological theories introduced by the Jesuit missionaries to attack the core ideas of the traditional dragon lore and their underlying cosmology. It argues that the de-animated and rigidly stratified view of nature articulated by this small but clearly discernable group of Chinese critics can be seen as marking the beginning of the decline of the dragon, the allegedly semi-divine aquatic animal which swims, walks, flies, and makes rain.
Baroque Fire (A Note on Early-Modern Angelology)
Authors: Davenport Anne
Published: April 2009

Between Galileo's discovery of the moons of Jupiter (1610) and the publication of Newton's Principia (1687), uncertainty regarding the structure of the heavens combined with a lyrical fascination for extraterrestrial life inspired a distinctly Baroque outpouring of speculation in which angels played a key part. English Catholic "recusants," haunted by a feeling of lost unity, vividly illustrate the imaginative character of Baroque speculation.
Words, Lines, Diagrams, Images: Towards a History of Scientific Imagery
Authors: Smets Alexis , Lüthy Christoph
Published: April 2009

This essay examines the problems encountered in contemporary attempts to establish a typology of medieval and early modern scientific images, and to associate apparent types with certain standard meanings. Five particular issues are addressed here: (i) the unclear boundary between words and images; (ii) the problem of morphologically similar images possessing incompatible meanings; (iii) the converse problem of comparable objects or processes being expressed by extremely dissimilar visual means; (iv) the impossibility of matching modern with historical iconographical terminologies; and (v) the fact that the meaning of a given image can only be grasped in the context of the epistemological, metaphysical and social assumptions within which it is embedded. The essay ends by concluding that no scientific image can ever be understood apart from its philosophical preconditions, and that these preconditions are often explained during disputes between the protagonists of different iconographical types.
Low-Cloud Fraction, Lower-Tropospheric Stability, and Large-Scale Divergence
Authors: Zhang Yunyan , Stevens Bjorn , Medeiros Brian , Ghil Michael
Published: April 2009

This paper explores the capability of the mixed-layer model (MLM) to represent the observed relationship between low-cloud fraction and lower-tropospheric stability; it also investigates the influence of large-scale meteorological fields and their variability on this relationship. The MLM’s local equilibrium solutions are examined subject to realistic boundary forcings that are derived from data of the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA-40). The MLM is successful in reproducing the positive correlation between low-cloud fraction and lower-tropospheric stability. The most accurate relationship emerges when the forcings capture synoptic variability, in particular, the daily varying large-scale divergence is a leading factor in improving the regression slope.

The feature of the results is mainly attributed to the model cloud fraction’s intrinsic nonlinear response to the divergence field. Given this nonlinearity, the full range of divergence must be accounted for since a broad distribution of divergences will give a better cloud fraction overall, although model biases might still affect individual MLM results. The model cloud fraction responds rather linearly to lower-tropospheric stability, and the distribution of the latter is less sensitive to sampling at different time scales than divergence. The strongest relationship between cloud fraction and stability emerges in the range of intermediate stability values. This conditional dependence is evident in both model results and observations. The observed correlation between cloud fraction and stability may thus depend on the underlying distribution of weather noise, and hence may not be appropriate in situations where such statistics can be expected to change.
Working Memory in Children With Developmental Disorders
Authors: Alloway Tracy Packiam , Rajendran Gnanathusharan , Archibald Lisa M. D.
Published: April 2009

The aim of the present study was to directly compare working memory skills across students with different developmental disorders to investigate whether the uniqueness of their diagnosis would impact memory skills. The authors report findings confirming differential memory profiles on the basis of the following developmental disorders: Specific Language Impairment, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Asperger syndrome (AS). Specifically, language impairments were associated with selective deficits in verbal short-term and working memory, whereas motor impairments (DCD) were associated with selective deficits in visuospatial short-term and working memory. Children with attention problems were impaired in working memory in both verbal and visuospatial domains, whereas the children with AS had deficits in verbal short-term memory but not in any other memory component. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of support for learning.
Rationale and Design of the Pediatric Critical Illness Stress‐Induced Immune Suppression (CRISIS) Prevention Trial
Authors: Carcillo Joseph , Holubkov Richard , Dean J. Michael , Berger John , Meert Kathleen L. , Anand K. J. S. , Zimmerman Jerry , Newth Christopher J. L. , Harrison Rick , Willson Douglas F. , Nicholson Carol ,   the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network
Published: April 2009

Despite implementation of CDC recommendations and bundled interventions for preventing catheter‐associated blood stream infection, ventilator‐associated pneumonia, or urinary catheter–associated infections, nosocomial infections and sepsis remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill children. Recent studies suggest that acquired critical illness stress‐induced immune suppression (CRISIS) plays a role in the development of nosocomial infection and sepsis. This condition can be related to inadequate zinc, selenium, and glutamine levels, as well as hypoprolactinemia, leading to stress‐induced lymphopenia, a predominant TH2 monocyte/macrophage state, and subsequent immune suppression. Prolonged immune dysfunction increases the likelihood of nosocomial infections associated with invasive devices. Although strategies to prevent common complications of critical illness are routinely employed (eg, prophylaxis for gastrointestinal bleeding, thrombophlebitis), no prophylactic strategy is used to prevent stress‐induced immune suppression. This is the authors' rationale for the pediatric CRISIS prevention trial (NCT00395161), designed as a randomized, double‐blind, controlled clinical investigation to determine if daily enteral supplementation with zinc, selenium, and glutamine as well as parenteral metoclopramide (a dopamine 2 receptor antagonist that reverses hypoprolactinemia) prolongs the time until onset of nosocomial infection or sepsis in critically ill children compared to enteral supplementation with whey protein. If effective, this combined nutritional and pharmacologic approach may lessen the excess morbidity and mortality as well as resource utilization associated with nosocomial infections and sepsis in this population. The authors present the design and analytic plan for the CRISIS prevention trial.
Reducing Content Variance and Improving Student Learning Outcomes
Authors: Meuter Matthew L. , Chapman Kenneth J. , Toy Daniel , Wright Lauren K. , McGowan William
Published: April 2009

This article describes a standardization process for an introductory marketing course with multiple sections. The authors first outline the process used to develop a standardized set of marketing concepts to be used in all introductory marketing classes. They then discuss the benefits to both students and faculty that occur as a result of standardizing a required course that has multiple sections. Finally, they present results from a survey designed to assess student attitudes about the use of standardized marketing concepts within a course and across the curriculum. The results indicate that students value a standardized curriculum and appreciate more repetition of concepts within and between marketing classes. In addition, the survey results show that students who are introduced to the standardized set of concepts in their introductory marketing classes score higher on a knowledge test than students who are not exposed to the standardized set of concepts.
Codification of Intratest Scatter on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales
Authors: Juni Samuel , Trobliger Robert
Published: April 2009

The analysis of response inconsistency is a crucial aspect of intellectual and clinical psychological assessment. Erratic patterns of failures and successes across and within particular domains qualify the measurement of intellectual potential and functioning. Although the interpretation of intertest scatter (inconsistencies between subtest scores) on intellectual tests has been elaborated on in the literature, intratest scatter (inconsistencies within specific subtests) is an underresearched area. Some approaches towards establishing a quantitative measure of intrasubtest scatter (ISS) have been developed, but most have proved clinically impractical or have produced inconsistent results. This article proposes a methodology of codifying ISS on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales to provide a measurement of inefficiency within subtests for individual subjects. In addition to systematizing and standardizing scatter measurement in clinical assessment, such codification will be useful in future research directed at discriminating groups based on inefficient performance across particular subtests. Applications and limitations in ISS interpretation for the various Wechsler instruments are annotated and discussed.
Holistic Nurses’ Examinations
Authors: Erickson Helen L.
Published: April 2009

Social and professional paradigm shifts of the 1990s moved holistic nursing into the mainstream of health care, resulting in the need for national certification of Holistic Nurses. Given the assumptions that certification examinations are based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities prerequisite for competent practice in a given specialty, and that the certification credential tells the public and peers that the certificant has such knowledge, The American Holistic Nurses Association’s Leadership Council (AHNA-LC) initiated certification processes in 1994. On the request of AHNA-LC, the American Holistic Nurses’ Certification Corporation (AHNCC) assumed these responsibilities in April, 1997. Since then, AHNCC has overseen the revision of the first certification process for holistic nursing prepared at the baccalaureate level and development of a second one designed for holistic nurses prepared in graduate nursing programs. This article describe these developmental processes.
Police Use of Deadly Force
Authors: Belur Jyoti
Published: April 2009

This article examines police officers' perceptions of their colleagues, the police organization, other criminal justice agencies, the media, the politicians, and the public toward the use of deadly force against criminals in situations known as encounters , portrayed as spontaneous shootouts between the police and hardened criminals. Interviews with 38 police officers of various ranks in Mumbai, India, reveal that they perceive an overall sense of approval or complicity for shootouts, sometimes of dubious legality, which made accountability mechanisms more a paper exercise than in actually ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards. Though the abuse of deadly force is not unique or limited to the police force reported in this study, the perception of police officers that there is general support for, or even apathy toward, shortcut methods to deal with alleged criminals is noteworthy and has implications for policing elsewhere.
The Power of Musical Play: The Value of Play-Based, Child-Centered Curriculum in Early Childhood Music Education
Authors: Niland Amanda
Published: April 2009

Young children learn through play.This has long been acknowledged in the writings of educational theorists dating back as far as Rousseau, Pestalozzi, and Froebel and is strongly supported by current early childhood research. Play is at the heart of contemporary early childhood pedagogy, and this has led to a strong belief in the importance of an emergent, child-centered approach to curriculum. Although music educators commonly recognize the importance of making music enjoyable, music education pedagogy for young children is often teacher led and structured toward specific behavioral outcomes. Research has shown, however, that child-centered musical play can be a powerful medium for young children’s exploration of many musical elements and concepts.
Mothers of Children with Special Health Care Needs: Documenting the Experience of Their Children’s Care in the School Setting
Authors: Anderson Lori S.
Published: April 2009

The numbers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) have increased in schools. This study was conducted to document mothers’ experiences of the care their CSHCN receive across health care and educational settings. Data were collected during standardized, open-ended, one-on-one interviews with 10 mothers of CSHCN in urban, suburban, and rural areas in a Midwestern state. Interviews were transcribed and content analysis revealed five themes: (a) communication, (b) educational system issues, (c) mother as a caregiver and expert, (d) navigating the system, and (e) strategies and coping. Describing and understanding experiences of mothers of CSHCN is important to developing appropriate supportive interventions.
Emotional Intelligence Abilities and Traits in Different Career Paths
Authors: Kafetsios Konstantinos , Maridaki-Kassotaki Aikaterini , Zammuner Vanda L. , Zampetakis Leonidas A. , Vouzas Fotios
Published: April 2009

Two studies tested hypotheses about differences in emotional intelligence (EI) abilities and traits between followers of different career paths. Compared to their social science peers, science students had higher scores in adaptability and general mood traits measured with the Emotion Quotient Inventory, but lower scores in strategic EI abilities using the emotional intelligence test MSCEIT, as well as neuroticism, and openness. Neuroticism mediated relationships between career path and EI traits but not EI strategic abilities. In the second study participants in science and business career paths had higher scores in positive affect and in several work-related EI traits and lower scores in work-related EI abilities than their science counterparts. The results raise questions about the mechanisms that may sustain the observed differences in self-perceptions and about the validity of some EI measures. They also have implications for EI skills assessment and training in Higher Education graduates and career starters.
What We Tell Our Daughters and Ourselves About  Hysterectomy
Authors: Davis Amira M.
Published: April 2009

On December 18, 2006, I became one of hundreds of thousands of women who undergo hysterectomies annually in the United States—the highest number of any industrialized nation—second only to C-sections as the most commonly performed surgery. Studies have found that at least 90% of these costly procedures are deemed unnecessary, performed for other than lifesaving purposes, i.e. sterilization. As a form of gender violence, all women have been victimized by hysterectomy. Not surprisingly however, African-American women have historically, disproportionately been targets of sterilization by hysterectomy, oftentimes state sponsored and funded, despite still unknown longterm physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual consequences beyond the permanent elimination of the means for propagating the species, leading some to charge racial genocide. This autoethnographic text, produced during my recovery, represents an attempt to rupture silences that hide the historic and contemporary abuse of Black women’s reproductive autonomy. Simultaneously, this intervention seeks restore to Black women the sanctity of their bodies.
Shifting Focus
Authors: Koyanagi Chris , Stine Laurel
Published: April 2009

Over the past 20 years, state mental health agencies have shifted the bulk of funding for community mental health services to the federal-state Medicaid program. Over this same period, states adapted their Medicaid programs to more comprehensively address the service needs of people with mental illness. Adopting the financing mechanism that primarily funds other health care for low-income people moves mental health more toward the mainstream. But it is a policy with risks. Changes to Medicaid are now outside the purview of those most concerned with mental health issues. In 2006, Congress radically altered Medicaid, making fundamental changes to the law. These were soon followed by further proposed shifts in federal administrative policy. This article describes these federal policy changes and assesses their impact on individuals and on state mental health policy. (It should be noted that most administrative changes have since been halted by the Obama Administration).
A National Study on the Development of Visual Attention Using the Cognitive Assessment System
Authors: Brauch Lehman Elyse , Naglieri Jack A. , Aquilino Sally A.
Published: April 2009

Objective: Developmental changes in the performance of children and adolescents are studied using the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS) which is an individually administered test of 4 basic cognitive processes. Method: The test measures the Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) processes as a theory of intelligence that can provide the framework for an alternative to traditional IQ tests. The CAS, which includes a scale of attention comprising 3 subtests, each of which is presented visually, provides an opportunity to study the development of visual attention for 2,200 children and adolescents aged 5- to 17-years-old who participated in the national standardization sample. A subsample ( n = 1,395) is also administered the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement — Revised ( WJ-R). Results: On all 3 CAS attention subtests, the mean scores improve with age, and the rate of change between adjacent age groups is moderate-to-large up to 15-years-old. At all ages the CAS Attention standard score is moderately related to WJ-R Achievement Cluster scores. Conclusion: The results are discussed in light of conclusions about the development of attention based on the standardization sample of the NEPSY—A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment. (J. of Att. Dis. 2010; 14(1) 15-24)
Vitamin D status and effect of low-dose cholecalciferol and high-dose ergocalciferol supplementation in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hiremath GS , Cettomai D , Baynes M , Ratchford JN , Newsome S , Harrison D , Kerr D , Greenberg BM , Calabresi PA
Published: April 2009

Background

Vitamin D is important for bone health and immune regulation, and has been shown to be low in multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to determine the effect of over the counter low dose cholecalciferol (LDC) and high dose ergocalciferol (HDE) on the vitamin D levels in MS patients.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of 199 patients (CIS, n = 32; RRMS, n = 115; PPMS, n = 10; SPMS, n = 16; Transverse Myelitis (TM), n = 9; other neurological diseases, n = 16) attending our clinic between 2004 and 2008. We examined the change in 25(OH)D levels in 40 MS patients who took either LDC (≤800 IU/day) or HDE (50,000 IU/day for 7-10 days, followed by 50,000 IU weekly or biweekly).

Results

The average 25(OH)D level was 71 ± 39 nmol/L (Mean ± SD), and 167(84%) patients had insufficient levels (≤100 nmol/L) of 25(OH)D. The patients supplemented with LDC did not have a significant increase in their 25(OH)D levels. However, 25(OH)D levels increased by 42 nmol/L ( P = 0.01) in the patients originally taking LDC and then prescribed HDE. Optimal levels (≥100 nmol/L) were only achieved in less than 40% of patients.

Conclusions

We conclude that large numbers of patients with MS and TM in our cohort are deficient in vitamin D. HDE significantly elevated 25(OH)D levels in MS patients and was more effective at increasing 25(OH)D levels than LDC. Prospective studies are required to determine appropriate dosing regimen to achieve optimal levels in the majority of MS patients and to ascertain the safety, immunological response, and ultimately the clinical efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy.
Editorial
Authors: Marks David F.
Published: April 2009

Psychology requires new heuristics for intervention research and reporting. There are problems with evidence-based practice (EBP) and with publications reporting intervention studies in Psychology. These issues are connected. EBP is associated with unsustainable levels of Waste, Inertia, Invalidity, Simplisticity and Opacity. Eleven domains of behaviour change are defined which encompass a vast array of programmes, interventions and techniques. These procedures are delivered in a multitude of combinations enabling millions of different interventions in Psychology. Reporting an intervention study in Psychology is a complex operation. A taxonomy for intervention reports is described.
A Review of Music-based Intervention Reporting in Pediatrics
Authors: Robb Sheri L. , Carpenter Janet S.
Published: April 2009

Determining how music-based interventions have been described in published literature is an important first step in evaluating whether guidelines for reporting music-based interventions need to be developed. Twenty-two pediatric intervention studies that met specified inclusion criteria were reviewed for content in 11 areas. This review revealed significant gaps in intervention reporting. Problems were particularly pronounced in eight areas: music qualities, intervention materials, intervention components, intervention delivery schedule, interventionist, treatment fidelity, setting and music delivery method. Development of reporting guidelines for music-based interventions is needed to improve reporting and advance evidence-based practice.
Visual evaluation in film trailers
Authors: Maier Carmen Daniela
Published: April 2009

This article explores how the persuasive purpose of film trailers is attained through specific visual features. The multimodal analysis of 12 comedy film trailers also reveals how these visual features enter into multilayered relationships with verbal and aural ones when creating evaluative meanings. The author proposes an interdisciplinary model of analysis in which several means of interpretation are combined. Based on Labov's understanding of narrative evaluation, this article attempts to show through Kress and Van Leeuwen's multimodal framework how Labov's model of narrative analysis can be extended to a wider analytical context, namely to multimodal promotional texts.
Multiliteracies: how readers interpret political cartoons
Authors: El Refaie Elisabeth
Published: April 2009

Using a small-scale pilot study of readers' responses to three British newspaper cartoons as an example, this article explores the ways in which readers make sense of these multimodal texts. The findings of the study, which also included interviews with the three creators of the cartoons, suggest that interpreting cartoons is a complex process that requires people to draw on a whole range of different literacies. These include a broad knowledge of past and current events, a familiarity with the cartoon genre, a vast repertoire of cultural symbols, and experience of thinking analytically about real-world events and circumstances.
How well do family caregivers know their relatives' care values and preferences?
Authors: Whitlatch Carol J. , Piiparinen Rich , Friss Feinberg Lynn
Published: April 2009

Purpose: This study examines the psychometric properties of the Values and Preferences Scale (VPS) and compares the responses of 267 persons with cognitive impairment with the responses of their family caregivers to determine the accuracy of the caregivers' perceptions of their relatives' care values and preferences.

Design and Methods: Exploratory factor analyses examined whether a consistent factor structure could be found for the VPS for both persons with cognitive impairment (PWCIs) and family caregivers. Analyses also determined whether family caregivers were accurate in their perceptions of their relative's care preferences.

Results: Results indicated that the VPS was best divided into four factors or subscales (i.e., Burden, Safety/Quality of Care, Autonomy, and Social Interactions) all of which were found to have adequate internal consistency for persons with cognitive impairment and family caregivers. Caregivers generally had a good sense of what preferences were most important to their relatives (i.e., issues of safety and quality of care), but often underestimated the importance of certain values and preferences.

Implications: These findings support previous work suggesting that practitioners consider incorporating an assessment of values and preferences for everyday care when working with persons with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers. Further application and testing of the Values and Preferences Scale should prove useful to practitioners who assist cognitively impaired persons and their caregivers with health care decision making and planning.
Feasibility of using standardized patient methodology to develop and assess research assistant competence in dementia research
Authors: Steele Avila B. , Kunik Mark E. , Cully Jeffrey , Davila Jessica A. , Morgan Robert O. , Snow A. Lynn
Published: April 2009

Use of standardized patients in training research staff has been limited. This study evaluated its feasibility. An expert panel created six scenarios using standardized patients to portray dyads of dementia patients/caregivers, plus instructions for actors. Three research assistants trained in administering the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale portion of the Structured Interview for the Clinical Assessment of Depression in Dementia administered it to each dyad. An expert panel member telemonitored each session and scored pairs using the same instrument. Sessions were videotaped, watched and scored by research assistants. Their scores were compared with expert ratings, and deviation scores were calculated, with mean item deviation scores compared using analysis of variance. Interclass correlations and analysis of variance revealed no differences between research-assistant ratings and their ratings compared with a standard, supporting the feasibility of using standardized patients to train research assistants to perform complex clinical assessments.
Malignancy after gastrointestinal augmentation in childhood
Authors: Husmann Douglas A.
Published: April 2009

Introduction: To review the incidence and risks of bladder cancer following gastrointestinal augmentations done for congenial anomalies in childhood.

Materials and Methods: A literature search using PubMed and Ovid Medline search engines was performed. MeSH terms evaluated were; bladder augmentations, enterocystoplasty, gastrocystoplasty, spina bifida, spinal dysraphism, myelodysplasia, neural tube defects, posterior urethral valves and bladder exstrophy were cross referenced with the terms, bladder cancer and urinary bladder neoplasm. All patients who developed a bladder cancer following a bladder augmentation for a congenital anomaly were reviewed

Results: A total of 20 cases of bladder cancer following augmentations for congential anomalies, were identified, 9 arose following ileal cystoplasty, 3 following colocystolasty and 8 following gastrocystoplasty. The incidence of cancer developing per decade following surgery was 1.5% for ileal/colonic and 2.8% for gastric bladder augmentations. The majority of cancers developing within the augmented bladder are at advanced stages at the time of diagnosis (60%; 12/20 cases were ≥T3 at diagnosis). Several of the cases that developed occurred in patients exposed to known carcinogenic stimuli and/or arose in bladders with a known predisposition to carcinoma.

Conclusion: Patients augmented with ileal or colonic segment for a congenital bladder anomaly have a 7—8 fold and gastric augments a 14—15 fold increased risk for the development of bladder cancer over standard norms. Published data is however unable to determine if gastrointestinal bladder augmentation is an independent risk factor for cancer over the inherent risk of cancer arising from a congenitally abnormal bladder.
Mechanical compression attenuates normal human bronchial epithelial wound healing
Authors: Arold Stephen P , Malavia Nikita , George Steven C
Published: April 2009

Background

Airway narrowing associated with chronic asthma results in the transmission of injurious compressive forces to the bronchial epithelium and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and the denudation of the bronchial epithelium. While the individual effects of compression or denudation are well characterized, there is no data to elucidate how these cells respond to the application of mechanical compression in the presence of a compromised epithelial layer.

Methods

Accordingly, differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to one of four conditions: 1) unperturbed control cells, 2) single scrape wound only, 3) static compression (6 hours of 30 cmH2O), and 4) 6 hours of static compression after a scrape wound. Following treatment, wound closure rate was recorded, media was assayed for mediator content and the cytoskeletal network was fluorescently labeled.

Results

We found that mechanical compression and scrape injury increase TGF-β2 and endothelin-1 secretion, while EGF content in the media is attenuated with both injury modes. The application of compression after a pre-existing scrape wound augmented these observations, and also decreased PGE2 media content. Compression stimulated depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton and significantly attenuated wound healing. Closure rate was partially restored with the addition of exogenous PGE2, but not EGF.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that mechanical compression reduces the capacity of the bronchial epithelium to close wounds, and is, in part, mediated by PGE2 and a compromised cytoskeleton.
Amphioxus encodes the largest known family of green fluorescent proteins, which have diversified into distinct functional classes
Authors: Bomati Erin K , Manning Gerard , Deheyn Dimitri D
Published: April 2009

Background

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been found in a wide range of Cnidaria, a basal group of metazoans in which it is associated with pigmentation, fluorescence, and light absorbance. A GFP has been recently discovered in the pigmentless chordate Branchiostoma floridae (amphioxus) that shows intense fluorescence mainly in the head region.

Results

The amphioxus genome encodes 16 closely-related GFP-like proteins, all of which appear to be under purifying selection. We divide them into 6 clades based on protein sequence identity and show that representatives of each clade have significant differences in fluorescence intensity, extinction coefficients, and absorption profiles. Furthermore, GFPs from two clades exhibit antioxidant capacity. We therefore propose that amphioxus GFPs have diversified their functions into fluorescence, redox, and perhaps just light absorption in relation to pigmentation and/or photoprotection.

Conclusion

The rapid radiation of amphioxus GFP into clades with distinct functions and spectral properties reveals functional plasticity of the GFP core. The high sequence similarities between different clades provide a model system to map sequence variation to functional changes, to better understand and engineer GFP.
Uncovering new signaling proteins and potential drug targets through the interactome analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Cui Tao , Zhang Lei , Wang Xizhou , He Zheng-Guo
Published: April 2009

Background

Analysis of the pathogen interactome is a powerful approach for dissecting potential signal transduction and virulence pathways. It also offers opportunities for exploring new drug targets.

Results

In this study, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was constructed using a homogenous protein mapping method, which has shown molecular chaperones, ribosomal proteins and ABC transporters to be highly interconnected proteins. A further analysis of this network unraveled the function of hypothetical proteins as well as a potential signaling pathway. A hypothetical protein, Rv2752c, which was linked to a metal cation-transporting ATPase, was characterized as a metal-beta-lactamase, through domain analysis in combination with an in vitro activity experiment. A second hypothetical protein, Rv1354c, and an unknown protein kinase, PknK, interacted with a similar group of inner membrane-associated ABC transporters in the PPI network. The interactions of Rv1354 with these proteins were also confirmed by a further bacterial two-hybrid analysis. According to protein domain structures, the unique M. tuberculosis Rv1354c gene was proposed, for the first time, to be responsible for the turnover of cyclic-di-GMP, a second messenger molecule in this bacterium. A further structure-based inhibitors screening for Rv1354c was also performed in silicon.

Conclusion

We constructed a comprehensive protein-protein interaction network for M. tuberculosis consisting of 738 proteins and 5639 interaction pairs. Our analysis unraveled the function of hypothetical proteins as well as a potential signaling pathway. The group of ABC transporters, PknK, and Rv1354c were proposed to constitute a potential membrane-associated signaling pathway that cooperatively responds to environmental stresses in M. tuberculosis. The study therefore provides valuable clues in exploring new signaling proteins, virulence pathways, and drug targets.
Analysis of the Rickettsia africae genome reveals that virulence acquisition in Rickettsia species may be explained by genome reduction
Authors: Fournier Pierre-Edouard , El Karkouri Khalid , Leroy Quentin , Robert Catherine , Giumelli Bernadette , Renesto Patricia , Socolovschi Cristina , Parola Philippe , Audic Stéphane , Raoult Didier
Published: April 2009

Background

The Rickettsia genus includes 25 validated species, 17 of which are proven human pathogens. Among these, the pathogenicity varies greatly, from the highly virulent R. prowazekii, which causes epidemic typhus and kills its arthropod host, to the mild pathogen R. africae, the agent of African tick-bite fever, which does not affect the fitness of its tick vector.

Results

We evaluated the clonality of R. africae in 70 patients and 155 ticks, and determined its genome sequence, which comprises a circular chromosome of 1,278,540 bp including a tra operon and an unstable 12,377-bp plasmid. To study the genetic characteristics associated with virulence, we compared this species to R. prowazekii, R. rickettsii and R. conorii. R. africae and R. prowazekii have, respectively, the less and most decayed genomes. Eighteen genes are present only in R. africae including one with a putative protease domain upregulated at 37°C.

Conclusion

Based on these data, we speculate that a loss of regulatory genes causes an increase of virulence of rickettsial species in ticks and mammals. We also speculate that in Rickettsia species virulence is mostly associated with gene loss.

The genome sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession number [GenBank: NZ_AAUY01000001].
CO2assimilation, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, carbohydrates and photosynthetic electron transport probed by the JIP-test, of tea leaves in response to phosphorus supply
Authors: Lin Zheng-He , Chen Li-Song , Chen Rong-Bing , Zhang Fang-Zhou , Jiang Huan-Xin , Tang Ning
Published: April 2009

Background

Although the effects of P deficiency on tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) growth, P uptake and utilization as well as leaf gas exchange and Chl a fluorescence have been investigated, very little is known about the effects of P deficiency on photosynthetic electron transport, photosynthetic enzymes and carbohydrates of tea leaves. In this study, own-rooted 10-month-old tea trees were supplied three times weekly for 17 weeks with 500 mL of nutrient solution at a P concentration of 0, 40, 80, 160, 400 or 1000 μM. This objective of this study was to determine how P deficiency affects CO2 assimilation, Rubisco, carbohydrates and photosynthetic electron transport in tea leaves to understand the mechanism by which P deficiency leads to a decrease in CO2 assimilation.

Results

Both root and shoot dry weight increased as P supply increased from 0 to 160 μM, then remained unchanged. P-deficient leaves from 0 to 80 μM P-treated trees showed decreased CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance, but increased intercellular CO2 concentration. Both initial and total Rubisco activity, contents of Chl and total soluble protein in P-deficient leaves decreased to a lesser extent than CO2 assimilation. Contents of sucrose and starch were decreased in P-deficient leaves, whereas contents of glucose and fructose did not change significantly except for a significant increase in the lowest P leaves. OJIP transients from P-deficient leaves displayed a rise at the O-step and a depression at the P-step, accompanied by two new steps at about 150 μs (L-step) and at about 300 μs (K-step). RC/CSo, TRo/ABS (or Fv/Fm), ETo/ABS, REo/ABS, maximum amplitude of IP phase, PIabs and PItot, abs were decreased in P-deficient leaves, while VJ, VI and dissipated energy were increased.

Conclusion

P deficiency decreased photosynthetic electron transport capacity by impairing the whole electron transport chain from the PSII donor side up to the PSI, thus decreasing ATP content which limits RuBP regeneration, and hence, the rate of CO2 assimilation. Energy dissipation is enhanced to protect P-deficient leaves from photo-oxidative damage in high light.
Bone sialoprotein does not interact with pro-gelatinase A (MMP-2) or mediate MMP-2 activation
Authors: Hwang Queena , Cheifetz Sela , Overall Christopher M , McCulloch Christopher A , Sodek Jaro
Published: April 2009

Background

A recent model for activation of the zymogen form of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2, also known as gelatinase A) has suggested that interactions between the SIBLING protein bone sialoprotein (BSP) and MMP-2 leads to conformational change in MMP-2 that initiates the conversion of the pro-enzyme into a catalytically active form. This model is particularly relevant to cancer cell metastasis to bone since BSP, bound to the αvβ3 integrin through its arginine-glycine-aspartic acid motif, could recruit MMP-2 to the cell surface.

Methods

We critically assessed the relationship between BSP and proMMP-2 and its activation using various forms of recombinant and purified BSP and MMP-2. Gelatinase and collagenase assays, fluorescence binding assays, real-time PCR, cell culture and pull-down assays were employed to test the model.

Results

Studies with a fluorogenic substrate for MMP-2 showed no activation of proMMP-2 by BSP. Binding and pull-down assays demonstrated no interaction between MMP-2 and BSP. While BSP-mediated invasiveness has been shown to depend on its integrin-binding RGD sequence, analysis of proMMP-2 activation and the level of membrane type 1 (MT1)-MMP in cells grown on a BSP substratum showed that the BSP-αvβ3 integrin interaction does not induce the expression of MT1-MMP.

Conclusion

These studies do not support a role for BSP in promoting metastasis through interactions with pro-MMP-2.
Homolactic fermentation from glucose and cellobiose using Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Romero-Garcia Susana , Hernández-Bustos Claudia , Merino Enrique , Gosset Guillermo , Martinez Alfredo
Published: April 2009

Backgroung

Biodegradable plastics can be made from polylactate, which is a polymer made from lactic acid. This compound can be produced from renewable resources as substrates using microorganisms. Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium recognized as a GRAS microorganism (g enerally r egarded a s s afe) by the FDA. B. subtilis produces and secretes different kind of enzymes, such as proteases, cellulases, xylanases and amylases to utilize carbon sources more complex than the monosaccharides present in the environment. Thus, B. subtilis could be potentially used to hydrolyze carbohydrate polymers contained in lignocellulosic biomass to produce chemical commodities. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulosic fraction of agroindustrial wastes produces cellobiose and a lower amount of glucose. Under aerobic conditions, B. subtilis grows using cellobiose as substrate.

Results

In this study, we proved that under non-aerated conditions, B. subtilis ferments cellobiose to produce L-lactate with 82% of the theoretical yield, and with a specific rate of L-lactate production similar to that one obtained fermenting glucose. Under fermentative conditions in a complex media supplemented with glucose, B. subtilis produces L-lactate and a low amount of 2,3-butanediol. To increase the L-lactate production of this organism, we generated the B subtilis CH1 alsS
- strain that lacks the ability to synthesize 2,3-butanediol. Inactivation of this pathway, that competed for pyruvate availability, let a 15% increase in L-lactate yield from glucose compared with the parental strain. CH1 alsS
- fermented 5 and 10% of glucose to completion in mineral medium supplemented with yeast extract in four and nine days, respectively. CH1 alsS
- produced 105 g/L of L-lactate in this last medium supplemented with 10% of glucose. The L-lactate yield was up to 95% using mineral media, and the optical purity of L-lactate was of 99.5% since B. subtilis has only one gene (lctE) that exclusively encodes a L-lactate deshydrogenase.

Conclusion

This study shows that by taking advantage of the cellobiose utilization capability and osmotic stress high resistance of B. subtilis, a robust process for L-lactate production can be developed.
Malaria transmission in non-endemic areas: case report, review of the literature and implications for public health management
Authors: Zoller Thomas , Naucke Torsten J , May Jürgen , Hoffmeister Bodo , Flick Holger , Williams Christopher J , Frank Christina , Bergmann Frank , Suttorp Norbert , Mockenhaupt Frank P
Published: April 2009

In non-endemic areas, malaria is rare and locally acquired infections, particularly with Plasmodium falciparum, are exceptional events. The diagnosis is, therefore, likely to be delayed or missed in patients without a relevant travel history. This report describes a case of falciparum malaria in Berlin, Germany, in a patient who had not been to an endemic area for more than a decade. Potential routes of vector-related and direct transmission were evaluated, particularly with regard to a possible danger to the public. A review of the literature was conducted regarding possible routes of transmission and their probability assessed. Genotyping of parasite isolates of this and another patient with malaria admitted 16 days before revealed homology between the two strains. In a local entomological survey, anopheline vectors on the hospital grounds as well as in the residential area of both patients were found. Despite intensive investigations, the mode of transmission remained obscure. In this context, possible routes of vector-borne and direct occupational/accidental transmission in a major European city are reviewed and discussed, providing information and guidance in case other similar events occur elsewhere. Examples for investigations and measures to be taken in such a situation are provided. When local malaria transmission within a large non-immune population cannot be ruled out, genotyping of parasite isolates, local entomological surveys, preparedness for secondary cases, expert consultations in a multidisciplinary team and careful information management are essential. Malaria acquired in non-endemic areas remains an unlikely, but possible event for which awareness needs to be maintained.
High retention and appropriate use of insecticide-treated nets distributed to HIV-affected households in Rakai, Uganda: results from interviews and home visits
Authors: Cohee Lauren , Mills Lisa A , Kagaayi Joseph , Jacobs Ilana , Galiwango Ronald , Ludigo James , Ssekasanvu Joseph , Reynolds Steven J
Published: April 2009

Background

Distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) has recently been incorporated into comprehensive care strategies for HIV-positive people in malaria-endemic areas. WHO now recommends free or low-cost distribution of ITNs to all persons in malaria-endemic areas, regardless of age, pregnancy and HIV status. Knowledge about and appropriate use of ITNs among HIV-positive ITN recipients and their household members has not been well characterized.

Methods

142 randomly selected adults were interviewed in July–August 2006 to assess knowledge, retention, and appropriate use of ITNs they had received through a PEPFAR-funded comprehensive HIV care programme in rural Uganda.

Results

Among all participants, 102 (72%, CI: 65%–79%) reported they had no ITNs except those provided by the programme. Of 131 participants who stated they were given ≥ 1 ITN, 128 (98%, CI: 96%–100%) stated they still possessed at least one programme-provided ITN. Reported programme-ITN (pITN) use by participants was high: 119 participants (91%, CI: 86%–96%) reported having slept under pITN the night prior to the survey and 115 (88%, CI: 82%–94%) reported sleeping under pITN seven days per week. Being away from home and heat were the most common reasons given for not sleeping under an ITN. A sub-study of thirteen random home visits demonstrated concordance between participants' survey reports and actual use of ITNs in homes.

Conclusion

There was excellent self-reported retention and appropriate use of ITNs distributed as a part of a community-based outpatient HIV care programme. Participants perceived ITNs as useful and were unlikely to have received ITNs from other sources.