bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microfluidics-assisted photo nanoimprint lithography for the formation of cellular bioimprints
Authors: Nock V. , Murray L. , Samsuri F. , Alkaisi M. M. , Evans J. J.
Published: November 2010

Morphology and surface features provide important markers for cell development and reaction to external stimuli. Bioimprint offers a technique for the permanent capture of these features into an UV-curing, biocompatible, methacrylate biopolymer. This material shows excellent replication fidelity and fast setting times. However, the minimum reproducible feature size depends on the skillful application of the liquid prepolymer. To enable the repeatable formation of high-resolution, structurally bioactive cellular bioimprints, a modified process based on the use of microfluidics for integrated cell culture and polymer delivery has been developed. In this article, the authors introduce the process and demonstrate its use for the culture and imaging of Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells. Transfer of a 100 nm thick Cr test pattern with micrometer-scale features into the biopolymer is demonstrated. Replication and atomic force microscopy imaging of imprinted cellular surface features with sub-50 nm resolution is shown. The process has applications in disease diagnostics, in drug discovery, and for the creation of biomimetic cell culture scaffolds.
Contact Network Structure Explains the Changing Epidemiology of Pertussis
Authors: Rohani Pejman , Zhong Xue , King Aaron A.
Published: November 2010

Coughing Back

Resurgence of whooping cough (or pertussis) is problematic because of the risk of infant fatality, but it has been occurring despite the availability of a vaccine. Data from Sweden, where national vaccination for whooping cough was discontinued for 17 years, before resumption in 1996, was used by

Rohani
et al.

(p.
982
) to build a model that showed that age-specific social contacts were an important influence on the spread of infection. The model helped to explain why resumption of vaccination was so successful in curbing infant whooping cough but had no effect on pertussis in adolescents. The model thus demonstrated how potentially important it is to take account of age-stratification in a population when considering public health policy.
Earth System Science for Global Sustainability: Grand Challenges
Authors: Reid W. V. , Chen D. , Goldfarb L. , Hackmann H. , Lee Y. T. , Mokhele K. , Ostrom E. , Raivio K. , Rockström J. , Schellnhuber H. J. , Whyte A.
Published: November 2010

Progress in understanding and addressing both global environmental change and sustainable development requires better integration of social science research.
Researchers Anxious and on the Defensive After Republican Gains
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: November 2010

Many researchers fear the worst after a Republican resurgence at the polls produced a 25-plus-seat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and loosened the Democrats' grip on the Senate.
Neandertal Brain Growth Shows A Head Start for Moderns
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: November 2010

In the crucial first year of life, Neandertal brains developed dramatically differently from the way ours do, according to a report published this week.
Non-Beijing Strains of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in China
Authors: Li Xia , Xu Peng , Shen Xin , Qi Lihong , DeRiemer Kathryn , Mei Jian , Gao Qian
Published: November 2010

In a 2-year prospective study of tuberculosis (TB) patients in China, the prevalences of non-Beijing strains of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
varied between Shandong Province (20.6%), Shanghai (27.6%), and Sichuan Province (45.9%) (
P
< 0.005). These differences may be due to factors such as human migration, transmission, or diversification and adaptation of the mycobacteria to different hosts.
Pelvic Actinomycosis-Like Disease Due to
Propionibacterium propionicum
after Hysteroscopic Removal of an Intrauterine Device
Authors: Wunderink Herman F. , Lashley Eileen E. L. O. , van Poelgeest Mariëtte I. E. , Gaarenstroom Katja N. , Claas Eric C. J. , Kuijper Ed J.
Published: November 2010

A female patient presented with episodes of fever and pain in the lower right abdomen after hysteroscopic removal of an intrauterine device 2 months earlier. Pelvic actinomycosis originating from a tubo-ovarian abscess was diagnosed with
Propionibacterium propionicum
, formerly known as
Arachnia propionica
, as causative agent.
Molecular Epidemiology of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive
Staphylococcus aureus
in Spain: Emergence of the USA300 Clone in an Autochthonous Population
Authors: Blanco Raquel , Tristan Anne , Ezpeleta Guillermo , Larsen Anders Rhod , Bes Michèle , Etienne Jérôme , Cisterna Ramon , Laurent Frédéric
Published: November 2010

We characterized all of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates collected between 2005 and 2008 in the Bilbao, Spain, area. For the first time, the USA300 clone is reported as predominant among PVL-positive clones in a European autochthonous population, requiring active monitoring of the incidence of USA300 in Spain and throughout Europe.
Emergence of Erythromycin- and Clindamycin-Resistant
Streptococcus pyogenes emm
90 Strains in Hawaii
Authors: Chen Iris , Kaufisi Pakieli , Erdem Guliz
Published: November 2010

We identified 12 erythromycin- and clindamycin-resistant
emm
90 group A streptococcus (GAS) isolates during a retrospective invasive disease survey in Hawaii. A comparison with 20 type-matched isolates showed all resistant isolates to be e
mm
90.4b with the constitutive or inducible macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotype (cMLS
B
or iMLS
B
). All isolates had the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern, suggesting clonal spread.
Role for ADP Ribosylation Factor 1 in the Regulation of Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Authors: Matto Meirav , Sklan Ella H. , David Naama , Melamed-Book Naomi , Casanova James E. , Glenn Jeffrey S. , Aroeti Benjamin
Published: November 2010

We hypothesized that ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1) plays an important role in the biogenesis and maintenance of infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV). Huh7.5 cells, in which HCV replicates and produces infectious viral particles, were exposed to brefeldin A or golgicide A, pharmacological inhibitors of Arf1 activation. Treatment with these agents caused a reduction in viral RNA levels, the accumulation of infectious particles within the cells, and a reduction in the levels of these particles in the extracellular medium. Fluorescence analyses showed that the viral nonstructural (NS) proteins NS5A and NS3, but not the viral structural protein core, shifted their localization from speckle-like structures in untreated cells to the rims of lipid droplets (LDs) in treated cells. Using pulldown assays, we showed that ectopic overexpression of NS5A in Huh7 cells reduces the levels of GTP-Arf1. Downregulation of Arf1 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased both the levels of HCV RNA and the production of infectious viral particles and altered the localization of NS5A to the peripheries of LDs. Together, our data provide novel insights into the role of Arf1 in the regulation of viral RNA replication and the production of infectious HCV.
Quantitative Studies of Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded MicroRNAs Provide Novel Insights into Their Regulation
Authors: Amoroso Richard , Fitzsimmons Leah , Thomas Wendy A. , Kelly Gemma L. , Rowe Martin , Bell Andrew I.
Published: November 2010

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been shown to encode at least 40 microRNAs (miRNAs), an important class of molecules that negatively regulate the expression of many genes through posttranscriptional mechanisms. Here, we have used real-time PCR assays to quantify the levels of EBV-encoded BHRF1 and BART miRNAs in latently infected cells and in cells induced into the lytic cycle. During latency, BHRF1 miRNAs were seen only in cells with detectable Cp- and/or Wp-initiated EBNA transcripts, while the BART miRNAs were expressed in all forms of latent infection. Surprisingly, levels of different BART miRNAs were found to vary up to 50-fold within a cell line. However, this variation could not be explained by differential miRNA turnover, as all EBV miRNAs appeared to be remarkably stable. Following entry into the virus lytic cycle, miR-BHRF1-2 and -1-3 were rapidly induced, coincident with the onset of lytic BHRF1 transcripts, while miR-BHRF1-1 expression was delayed until 48 h and correlated with the appearance of Cp/Wp-initiated EBNA transcripts. In contrast, levels of BART miRNAs were relatively unchanged during virus replication, despite dramatic increases in BART transcription. Finally, we show that BHRF1 and BART miRNAs were delayed relative to the induction of BHRF1 and BART transcripts in freshly infected primary B cell cultures. In summary, our data show that changes in BHRF1 and BART transcription are not necessarily reflected in altered miRNA levels, suggesting that miRNA maturation is a key step in regulating steady-state levels of EBV miRNAs.
Dengue Virus Infection of Mast Cells Triggers Endothelial Cell Activation
Authors: Brown Michael G. , Hermann Laura L. , Issekutz Andrew C. , Marshall Jean S. , Rowter Derek , Al-Afif Ayham , Anderson Robert
Published: November 2010

Vascular perturbation is a hallmark of severe forms of dengue disease. We show here that antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection of primary human cord blood-derived mast cells (CBMCs) and the human mast cell-like line HMC-1 results in the release of factor(s) which activate human endothelial cells, as evidenced by increased expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Endothelial cell activation was prevented by pretreatment of mast cell-derived supernatants with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-specific blocking antibody, thus identifying TNF as the endothelial cell-activating factor. Our findings suggest that mast cells may represent an important source of TNF, promoting vascular endothelial perturbation following antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection.
Identification of Amino Acids in the Human Tetherin Transmembrane Domain Responsible for HIV-1 Vpu Interaction and Susceptibility
Authors: Kobayashi Tomoko , Ode Hirotaka , Yoshida Takeshi , Sato Kei , Gee Peter , Yamamoto Seiji P. , Ebina Hirotaka , Strebel Klaus , Sato Hironori , Koyanagi Yoshio
Published: November 2010

Tetherin, also known as BST-2/CD317/HM1.24, is an antiviral cellular protein that inhibits the release of HIV-1 particles from infected cells. HIV-1 viral protein U (Vpu) is a specific antagonist of human tetherin that might contribute to the high virulence of HIV-1. In this study, we show that three amino acid residues (I34, L37, and L41) in the transmembrane (TM) domain of human tetherin are critical for the interaction with Vpu by using a live cell-based assay. We also found that the conservation of an additional amino acid at position 45 and two residues downstream of position 22, which are absent from monkey tetherins, are required for the antagonism by Vpu. Moreover, computer-assisted structural modeling and mutagenesis studies suggest that an alignment of these four amino acid residues (I34, L37, L41, and T45) on the same helical face in the TM domain is crucial for the Vpu-mediated antagonism of human tetherin. These results contribute to the molecular understanding of human tetherin-specific antagonism by HIV-1 Vpu.
Structural Studies of Hantaan Virus
Authors: Battisti Anthony J. , Chu Yong-Kyu , Chipman Paul R. , Kaufmann Bärbel , Jonsson Colleen B. , Rossmann Michael G.
Published: November 2010

Hantaan virus
is the prototypic member of the
Hantavirus
genus within the family
Bunyaviridae
and is a causative agent of the potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The
Bunyaviridae
are a family of negative-sense RNA viruses with three-part segmented genomes. Virions are enveloped and decorated with spikes derived from a pair of glycoproteins (Gn and Gc). Here, we present cryo-electron tomography and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy studies of Hantaan virus virions. We have determined the structure of the tetrameric Gn-Gc spike complex to a resolution of 2.5 nm and show that spikes are ordered in lattices on the virion surface. Large cytoplasmic extensions associated with each Gn-Gc spike also form a lattice on the inner surface of the viral membrane. Rod-shaped ribonucleoprotein complexes are arranged into nearly parallel pairs and triplets within virions. Our results differ from the T=12 icosahedral organization found for some bunyaviruses. However, a comparison of our results with the previous tomographic studies of the nonpathogenic Tula hantavirus indicates a common structural organization for hantaviruses.
Synthesis and electroreduction of 2-[(8-hydroxyquinoline-5-yl)azo]benzo[c]cinnoline in DMSO–H2O (1:1) medium
Authors: Öztürk Funda , Durmuş Zehra , Uçkan Öznur Ölmez , Kiliç Emine , Kiliç Esma
Published: November 2010

2-[(8-Hydroxyquinoline-5-yl)azo]benzo[c]cinnoline (HQAB) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, MS, FTIR and 1H NMR techniques. The electrochemical reduction of HQAB has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and controlled potential electrolysis at mercury pool electrode in the pH range 3.5–9.4. The number of electrons transferred in the electrode reaction, diffusion coefficients and standart rate constants were calculated. In acidic medium, cyclic voltammograms display four cathodic peaks, with the total exchange of 6 e– and 6 H+. By contrast, the reverse scan displays two anodic peaks. Constant potential electrolysis at –1.0 V and TLC analysis of the product reveals that the reduction of azo group (in the bridge) in HQAB does not stop at the hydrazo stage but goes further through the cleavage of –NH–NH– linkage to give amino compounds as the final products. The voltammograms recorded in basic medium exhibit two cathodic peaks corresponding to 4 e–, 4 H+ and two reverse anodic peaks, and thus the reduction stopped at hydrazo stage. A tentative mechanism for the reduction has been suggested.
The effects of palm oil breakdown products on lipid turnover and morphology of fungi
Authors: Leeuw Ntsoaki J. , Swart Chantel W. , Joseph Manjusha , Pohl Carolina H. , van Wyk Pieter W.J. , Coetsee Elizabeth , Swart Hendrik C. , Hugo Arno , Kock Johan L.F.
Published: November 2010

The oleaginous fungi Cryptococcus curvatus and Mucor circinelloides were used to determine the effect of palm oil breakdown products, measured as polymerized triglycerides (PTGs), on lipid turnover and on fungal growth and morphology. In M. circinelloides, we found after 7 days of growth, a decrease in biomass and in lipid utilization and accumulation at increased PTG levels, both at low and neutral pH. In C. curvatus, there was also a decrease in lipid utilization and biomass production at increased PTG levels, at both low and neutral pH. However, an increase in oil accumulation was observed at low pH while it remained similar at neutral pH for all PTG levels tested. Hairy and warty protuberances on the cell surface were observed when C. curvatus was grown on oils with 15% and 45% PTGs, respectively. Using nano scanning Auger microscopy, we found no evidence to suggest a difference in elemental composition of the surfaces of the warty protuberances compared with the rest of the cell wall surface. We conclude that the warty protuberances are outgrowths of cell walls and that the changes observed in lipid turnover in both fungi are due to the presence of palm oil breakdown products.
Differential constrictor responses of cephalic and caudal vasculature to α-adrenoceptor agonist after hind limb unloading
Authors: Hutchings Simon R. , Kim Jong Moo , Song Dongzhe , Pang Catherine C.Y.
Published: November 2010

We examined the effects of hind limb unloading (HLU, 14 days) on constriction of carotid and iliac arterial beds in vivo in thiobutabarbital-anaesthetized rats and isolated carotid and iliac arteries in vitro. Both control and HLU rats had similar arterial pressure and carotid and iliac arterial flows. The HLU rats had increased carotid arterial but reduced iliac arterial constriction in response to methoxamine (α1-adrenoceptor agonist) in vivo. In contrast, constriction in response to methoxamine was reduced in the isolated carotid and unchanged in the iliac artery of HLU rats relative to control rats. Thus, HLU is associated with increased constriction of carotid arterial bed but reduced constriction of the isolated carotid artery, and reduced constriction of iliac arterial bed but unchanged constriction of the isolated iliac artery. These results show differential influence of HLU on constriction of cephalic and caudal arterial beds, and differential effect on constrictions of arterial beds relative to conduit arteries.
Effect of asymmetry of concentration–response curves on the results obtained by the receptorial responsiveness method (RRM): an in silico study
Authors: Grenczer Maria , Zsuga Judit , Majoros Laszlo , Pinter Akos , Kemeny-Beke Adam , Juhasz Bela , Tosaki Arpad , Gesztelyi Rudolf
Published: November 2010

The receptorial responsiveness method (RRM) was proposed to estimate changes in the concentration of an agonist in the microenvironment of its receptor. Usually, this is done by providing the equieffective concentration of another agonist for the same receptor or for a largely overlapping postreceptorial signaling (“test agonist”). The RRM is a special nonlinear regression algorithm to analyze a concentration–response (E/c) curve that represents the simultaneous actions of a single agonist concentration to be estimated and of increasing concentrations of the test agonist. The aim of this study was to explore whether asymmetry of the E/c curve to be analyzed influences the reliability of the RRM. For this purpose, computer simulation was performed by constructing symmetric and asymmetric E/c curves using the operational model of agonism, and then these curves were analyzed with the RRM. To perform the RRM, 2 types of equations were used: one involving the Hill equation, the simplest model of the E/c relationship, and one containing the Richards equation, an advanced model properly handling E/c curve asymmetry. Results of this study indicate that E/c curve asymmetry does not significantly influence the accuracy of the estimates provided by the RRM. Thus, when using the RRM, it is not necessary to replace the Hill equation with the Richards equation to obtain useful estimates. Furthermore, it was found that estimation of a high concentration of a high-efficacy agonist can fail when the RRM is performed with a low-efficacy test agonist in a system characterized by a small operational slope factor.
Variability in the growth patterns of the cornified claw sheath among vertebrates: implications for using biogeochemistry to study animal movement
Authors: Ethier Danielle M. , Kyle Christopher J. , Kyser T. Kurt , Nocera Joseph J.
Published: November 2010

We review the role of biogeochemical signatures, such as stable isotopes and trace elements, in the cornified claw tissue as a means of studying movement and foraging behaviour of vertebrates because this approach is noninvasive and can capture contemporary and historic signatures. Because biogeochemical techniques are still relatively new in studies of animal movement, we are only beginning to understand how the growth patterns of the cornified claw sheath may affect our ability to interpret the biogeochemical signals in these tissues. To move towards resolving this, we review the morphology of the epidermal cornified claw sheath in several taxa that illustrate substantial variation in growth patterns both between taxa and between individual distinct claw regions. For instance, in mammalian claws, deposition of keratinizing cells from the epidermis is nonlinear because the claw tip is composed of old and new cornified epidermal cells, whereas the cornified blade horn covering the claw’s lateral walls is deposited continuously and without assortment, providing unbroken time-series data. We also consider patterns of growth in mammalian hooves, as well as reptilian, avian, and amphibian cornified claw sheaths, and address the need for expanded research in this field. We conclude this synthesis by describing a noninvasive technique for monitoring growth rates in a model mammal, the American badger ( Taxidea taxus (Schreber, 1777)), and provide guidelines for future sampling of claw keratin, which will improve our ability to back-calculate the time of biogeochemical integration into this tissue.
Reproductive costs of migration for males in a partially migrating, pond-breeding amphibian
Authors: Bloch A. M. , Grayson K. L.
Published: November 2010

Migratory animals face costs and benefits related to traveling to another habitat and the timing of the journey. These trade-offs can be sex-specific, with male reproductive success expected to be influenced by arrival time at the breeding habitat. In this study, we examined mating success in a population of partially migrating Red-Spotted Newts ( Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (Rafinesque, 1820)). We tested the hypothesis that migrant males are at a disadvantage for spring mating opportunities compared with resident males owing to (i) later arrival time at the breeding pond and (ii) delay in developing the aquatic tail fin, which reduces their competitiveness. We measured the tail heights of successfully courting males compared with the general male population, as well as the time required for migrating males to develop tail fins. Temporally, migrant males arrived at the breeding pond before the majority of mating activity. However, we found that the time required for migrating males to acquire tail-fin heights necessary to be competitive for mating opportunities places them at a significant reproductive disadvantage compared with resident males. For partial migration to be maintained in the population, a reproductive cost for migrants could either trade off with another life-history trait or migration could be condition-dependent.
Artificial maturation, fertilization, and early development of the American eel (Anguilla rostrata)
Authors: Oliveira K. , Hable W. E.
Published: November 2010

Spawning for the American eel ( Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur, 1817)) takes place in secretive locations within the Sargasso Sea, which has thus far prevented investigations of gametogenesis and early development in this ecologically and commercially important species. Attempts to induce maturation and reproduction in this species have been few and have produced limited results, with a single report of the production of gastrula-stage embryos. Here we report the successful maturation of female American eels. Maturation occurred within 13 weeks and ovulation was induced with a single injection of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP). Following in vitro fertilization, embryogenesis through hatching was observed and larvae were maintained for up to 6 days. We show that a crucial factor for successful fertilization is the stage of the oocyte at the time of induced ovulation. Oocytes that had not reached the migratory nucleus stage, or had passed this stage, were not successfully fertilized. These findings demonstrate that American eel can reproduce in the laboratory and previously untestable hypotheses pertaining to the developmental biology of this elusive species can now be explored.
GROWTH OF AZO FILMS ON BUFFER LAYERS BY RF MAGNETRON SPUTTERING
Authors: CHEN C. W. , TSENG C. H. , HSU C. Y. , CHOU C. P. , HOU K. H.
Published: November 2010

Al 2 O 3-doped zinc oxide (in AZO, the Al 2 O 3 contents are approximately 2 wt.%) films have been grown by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at room temperature under varied sputtering pressures ranging from 3.5–15 mTorr. The electrical resistivity of AZO films is about 2.22×10-3 Ωcm (sheet resistance ~ 89 Ω/square for a thickness ~ 250 nm), and the visible range transmittance is about 80% at the argon sputtering pressure of 15 mTorr and a RF power of 100 W. This study analyzes the structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of AZO thin films grown on soda-lime glass substrate with 2, 5, and 10 nm thick Al buffer layers (and SiO 2 buffer). For the films deposited on the 2 nm thick Al buffer layer, we obtained a c-axis-oriented AZO/ Al thin film on glass with the XRD full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.31 and root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of about 3.22 nm. The lowest resistivity of 9.46×10-4 Ωcm (sheet resistance ~ 37.87 Ω/square for a thickness ~ 250 nm) and a high transmittance (80%) were obtained by applying a 2 nm thick Al buffer layer. In contrast, the resistivity was slightly increased by applying the SiO 2 buffer layer.
AB INITIO DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY INVESTIGATION OF STRUCTURAL AND ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF ZnO BUNDLES
Authors: FATHALIAN ALI , MORADIAN ROSTAM , SANI SHAHDOKHT SOHRABI
Published: November 2010

By using ab initio density functional theory we investigated the structural and electronic properties of semiconducting (9, 0), zinc oxide zigzag nanotube ( ZnOZNT ) bundle. The energetic and electronic evolutions of nanotubes in the bundling process are also studied. The effects of inter-tube coupling on the electronic dispersions of ZnONT bundle are demonstrated. Our results show that the inter-tube coupling leads to disappearance of the energy gap in semiconducting nanotube. We found that (9, 0) zigzag nanotube bundle has a metallic behavior.
CHAOS IN A TWIN-T CIRCUIT
Authors: IU HERBERT H. C. , FITCH ANDREW L. , YU DONGSHENG
Published: November 2010

This letter examines a driven nonlinear circuit that generates chaotic signals. The circuit is very simple, requiring just one op-amp stage. Only off-the-shelf components are required to construct the circuit. The circuit must be driven by a low frequency input-signal. The shape and frequency of the signal affect the behavior of the chaotic waveforms. A variety of unusually folded attractors have been observed from the computer simulation and practical circuit.
IN-OUT INTERMITTENT LOSS OF SYNCHRONIZATION IN TWO UNIDIRECTIONALLY COUPLED NONLINEAR FOURTH-ORDER AUTONOMOUS CIRCUITS
Authors: KYPRIANIDIS I. M. , PAPADOPOULOU M. , STAVRINIDES S. G. , STOUBOULOS I. N. , ANAGNOSTOPOULOS A. N.
Published: November 2010

The experimental study of in-out intermittency during the incomplete synchronization of two coupled, nonlinear, autonomous, fourth-order, chaotic, circuits is reported. The two circuits are unidirectionally coupled via a linear resistor. The dependence of laminar lengths, on the deviation of the control parameter from its critical value, and the mean laminar length distribution, are studied.
FERROMAGNETS WITH EDDY CURRENTS AND PINNING EFFECTS: THEIR THERMODYNAMICS AND ANALYSIS
Authors: ROUBÍČEK TOMÁŠ , TOMASSETTI GIUSEPPE
Published: November 2010

Existence of weak solutions is proved for a system of nonlinear parabolic equations/inequalities describing evolution of magnetization, temperature, magnetic field, and electric field in electrically-conductive unsaturated ferromagnets. The system is derived from a recently-proposed thermodynamically-consistent continuum theory for the ferro/paramagnetic transition. Besides the standard viscous-like damping, dissipation due to eddy currents and domain-wall pinning is considered.
GATHERING WITH MINIMUM COMPLETION TIME IN SENSOR TREE NETWORKS
Authors: BERMOND JEAN–CLAUDE , GARGANO LUISA , RESCIGNO ADELE A.
Published: November 2010

Data gathering is a fundamental operation in wireless sensor networks in which data packets generated at sensor nodes are to be collected at a base station. In this paper we suppose that each sensor is equipped with an half–duplex interface; hence, a node cannot receive and transmit at the same time. Moreover, each node is equipped with omnidirectional antennas allowing the transmission over distance R. The network is a multi-hop wireless network and the time is slotted so that one–hop transmission of one data item consumes one time slot. We model the network with a graph where the vertices represent the nodes and two nodes are connected if they are in the transmission range of each other. We suppose that the interference range is the same as the transmission range; therefore due to interferences a collision happens at a node if two or more of its neighbors try to transmit at the same time. Furthermore we suppose that an intermediate node should forward a message as soon as it receives it. We give an optimal collision free gathering schedule for tree networks whenever each node has exactly.
Ventrolateral medulla mechanisms involved in cardiorespiratory responses to central chemoreceptor activation in rats
Authors: Takakura Ana C. , Colombari Eduardo , Menani José V. , Moreira Thiago S.
Published: November 2010

A rise in arterial Pco2 stimulates breathing and sympathetic activity to the heart and blood vessels. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) and glutamatergic mechanisms in the Bötzinger/C1 region (Bötz/C1) in these responses. Splanchnic sympathetic nerve discharge (sSND) and phrenic nerve discharge (PND) were recorded in urethane-anesthetized, sino-aortic-denervated, vagotomized, and artificially ventilated rats subjected to hypercapnia (end-expiratory CO2 from 5% to 10%). Phrenic activity was absent at end-expiratory CO2 of 4%, and strongly increased when end-expiratory CO2 reached 10%. Hypercapnia also increased sSND by 103 ± 7%. Bilateral injections of the GABA-A agonist muscimol (2 mM) into the RTN eliminated the PND and blunted the sSND activation (Δ = +56 ± 8%) elicited by hypercapnia. Injections of NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 (100 mM), non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX; 100 mM) or metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (+/-)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG; 100 mM) bilaterally into the Bötz/C1 reduced PND (Δ = +43 ± 7%, +52 ± 6% or +56 ± 11%, respectively). MCPG also reduced sSND (Δ = +41 ± 7%), whereas AP-5 and DNQX had no effect. In conclusion, the increase in sSND caused by hypercapnia depends on increased activity of the RTN and on metabotropic receptors in the Bötz/C1, whereas PND depends on increased RTN activity and both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors in the Bötz/C1.
A mathematical model of the urine concentrating mechanism in the rat renal medulla. I. Formulation and base-case results
Authors: Layton Anita T.
Published: November 2010

A new, region-based mathematical model of the urine concentrating mechanism of the rat renal medulla was used to investigate the significance of transport and structural properties revealed in anatomic studies. The model simulates preferential interactions among tubules and vessels by representing concentric regions that are centered on a vascular bundle in the outer medulla (OM) and on a collecting duct cluster in the inner medulla (IM). Particularly noteworthy features of this model include highly urea-permeable and water-impermeable segments of the long descending limbs and highly urea-permeable ascending thin limbs. Indeed, this is the first detailed mathematical model of the rat urine concentrating mechanism that represents high long-loop urea permeabilities and that produces a substantial axial osmolality gradient in the IM. That axial osmolality gradient is attributable to the increasing urea concentration gradient. The model equations, which are based on conservation of solutes and water and on standard expressions for transmural transport, were solved to steady state. Model simulations predict that the interstitial NaCl and urea concentrations in adjoining regions differ substantially in the OM but not in the IM. In the OM, active NaCl transport from thick ascending limbs, at rates inferred from the physiological literature, resulted in a concentrating effect such that the intratubular fluid osmolality of the collecting duct increases ∼2.5 times along the OM. As a result of the separation of urea from NaCl and the subsequent mixing of that urea and NaCl in the interstitium and vasculature of the IM, collecting duct fluid osmolality further increases by a factor of ∼1.55 along the IM.
A mathematical model of the urine concentrating mechanism in the rat renal medulla. II. Functional implications of three-dimensional architecture
Authors: Layton Anita T.
Published: November 2010

In a companion study [Layton AT. A mathematical model of the urine concentrating mechanism in the rat renal medulla. I. Formulation and base-case results. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. (First published November 10, 2010). 10.1152/ajprenal.00203.2010] a region-based mathematical model was formulated for the urine concentrating mechanism in the renal medulla of the rat kidney. In the present study, we investigated model sensitivity to some of the fundamental structural assumptions. An unexpected finding is that the concentrating capability of this region-based model falls short of the capability of models that have radially homogeneous interstitial fluid at each level of only the inner medulla (IM) or of both the outer medulla and IM, but are otherwise analogous to the region-based model. Nonetheless, model results reveal the functional significance of several aspects of tubular segmentation and heterogeneity: 1) the exclusion of ascending thin limbs that reach into the deep IM from the collecting duct clusters in the upper IM promotes urea cycling within the IM; 2) the high urea permeability of the lower IM thin limb segments allows their tubular fluid urea content to equilibrate with the surrounding interstitium; 3) the aquaporin-1-null terminal descending limb segments prevent water entry and maintain the transepithelial NaCl concentration gradient; 4) a higher thick ascending limb Na+active transport rate in the inner stripe augments concentrating capability without a corresponding increase in energy expenditure for transport; 5) active Na+reabsorption from the collecting duct elevates its tubular fluid urea concentration. Model calculations predict that these aspects of tubular segmentation and heterogeneity promote effective urine concentrating functions.
Anisotropic Ferro- and Dielectric Properties of Textured Bi4Ti3O12Ceramics Prepared by the Solid-State Reaction Based on Multiple Calcination
Authors: Mao Xiangyu , Wang Wei , Sun Hui , Chen Xiaobing
Published: November 2010

The grain-oriented Bi4Ti3O12(BIT) samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method with a multicalcination process. The grain-oriented BIT samples exhibit anisotropic structural, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and dielectric properties. The remanent polarization (2Pr) and the piezoelectric constant (d33) ofa/b- andc-direction BIT ceramics are 49.5 μC cm−2, 22.2 pC N−1and 6.7 μC cm−26.9 pC N−1, respectively. The dielectric anomalies of samples are observed around 157 K and 232 K. The dielectric anomalies at around 157 K are related to oxygen vacancies. The activation energy of the dielectric relaxation of this anomaly is estimated to be 1.36 eV. Another dielectric anomaly at around 232 K is related to polarizable domains and the viscous motion of domain walls.
Pedicle Anterolateral Thigh Flap Reconstruction after Pelvic Tumor Resection: A Case Report
Authors: Whitfield Robert M. , King David , Rossi Peter , Loffredo Michael
Published: November 2010

A 47-year-old female with a locally advanced urologic malignancy previously managed with resection, diversion, and postoperative radiation therapy presented for management of her recurrent cancer that had eroded through the soft tissues of the left inner thigh and vulva. On all staging studies the tumor involved the left common femoral artery, and vein, both above and below the inguinal ligament. The difficulty with such tumors is the availability of tissue to reconstruct the defect. The patient had a history of deep venous thrombosis in the femoral venous system. A local flap was the most logical type of reconstruction. The patient had a right lower quadrant ureterostomy with a large parastomal hernia which further limited the local flap options. An anterolateral thigh flap from the opposite thigh was used to reconstruct the soft tissue deficit in this patient. This resurfaced the defect and provided coverage for the vascular reconstruction.
An Unusual Zoonosis: Liver Abscess Secondary to Asymptomatic Colonic Foreign Body
Authors: Gundara Justin S. , Harrison Richard
Published: November 2010

A liver abscess may arise following any insult to gut integrity allowing portal drainage of bacteria to hepatocytes. Foreign bodies such as bones, toothpicks and items of stationery have previously been implicated in compromising gut epithelium. Here we present the case of a 57 year old man suffering from a left liver abscess. This was defined on CT which incidentally also identified a chicken bone protruding through the wall of the distal sigmoid colon. Whilst unwell with upper abdominal pain and sepsis, the presumed source of portal sepsis within the colon remained asymptomatic throughout. Following percutaneous drainage, the liver abscess resolved but the chicken bone had not passed at two months, necessitating atraumatic removal at colonoscopy. A high rate of incidental diagnoses suggests that unidentified foreign bodies may be vastly under recognised in cases of hepatic sepsis. Thus, identification of the precise mechanism of the liver insult demands thorough consideration; foreign body should be considered in all cases.
Bioactive Food Components and Cancer‐Specific Metabonomic Profiles
Authors: Kim Young S. , Milner John A.
Published: November 2010

Cancer cells possess unique metabolic signatures compared to normal cells, including shifts in aerobic glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and de novo biosynthesis of macromolecules. Targeting these changes with agents (drugs and dietary components) has been employed as strategies to reduce the complications associated with tumorigenesis. This paper highlights the ability of several food components to suppress tumor‐specific metabolic pathways, including increased expression of glucose transporters, oncogenic tyrosine kinase, tumor‐specific M2‐type pyruvate kinase, and fatty acid synthase, and the detection of such effects using various metabonomic technologies, including liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and stable isotope‐labeled MS. Stable isotope‐mediated tracing technologies offer exciting opportunities for defining specific target(s) for food components. Exposures, especially during the early transition phase from normal to cancer, are critical for the translation of knowledge about food components into effective prevention strategies. Although appropriate dietary exposures needed to alter cellular metabolism remain inconsistent and/or ill‐defined, validated metabonomic biomarkers for dietary components hold promise for establishing effective strategies for cancer prevention.
Persistence of TwoCampylobacter jejuniStrains in Soil and on Spinach Plants
Authors: Jäderlund Lotta , Sessitsch Angela , Arthurson Veronica
Published: November 2010

There are indications that the more frequent use of untreated organic residues for fertilization results in increased risk of contamination with human pathogens. Here, we evaluate the ability of two different strains ofCampylobacter jejunito persist in manure and soil as well as spread to spinach plants. It was revealed that different strategies for inoculation ofC. jejunicontribute to the persistence of the bacterium in soil, roots, and shoots. Upon inoculation of the bacteria into manure prior to soil application, the amount ofC. jejunisubsequently recovered in soil was higher than that from treatments involving the addition ofC. jejunicells to the soil after plant emergence. Irrespective of the bacterial inoculation dose and strategy employed, theC. jejunicontent in soil remained relatively constant, whereas the majority ofC. jejunicells applied to spinach leaves could be recovered during the whole evaluation period of 21 days.
The Making of an African Missionary Hero in the English Biographies of Apolo Kivebulaya (1923-1936)
Authors: Wild-Wood Emma
Published: November 2010

Apolo Kivebulaya was a well-respected Ganda priest who, beginning in the 1890s, established Anglican churches in Toro, Uganda, and in the Boga area of what is now Congo. A CMS colleague, A.B. Lloyd, wrote three popular biographies of Apolo for a British readership that inspired the writing of others. This article examines the style and content of Lloyd’s biographies and explores the factors that influenced them, including Keswick spirituality and boys’ adventure stories. It demonstrates early twentieth-century expectations of missionary heroism, and suggests that the way in which Apolo has been read in the past has influenced his relative neglect in the present.
Genetic defects of GDF6 in the zebrafish out of sight mutant and in human eye developmental anomalies
Authors: den Hollander Anneke I , Biyanwila Janisha , Kovach Peter , Bardakjian Tanya , Traboulsi Elias I , Ragge Nicola K , Schneider Adele , Malicki Jarema
Published: November 2010

Background

The size of the vertebrate eye and the retina is likely to be controlled at several stages of embryogenesis by mechanisms that affect cell cycle length as well as cell survival. A mutation in the zebrafish out of sight (out) locus results in a particularly severe reduction of eye size. The goal of this study is to characterize the out

m233
mutant, and to determine whether mutations in the out gene cause microphthalmia in humans.

Results

In this study, we show that the severe reduction of eye size in the out

m233
mutant is caused by a mutation in the zebrafish gdf6a gene. Despite the small eye size, the overall retinal architecture appears largely intact, and immunohistochemical studies confirm that all major cell types are present in out

m233
retinae. Subtle cell fate and patterning changes are present predominantly in amacrine interneurons. Acridine orange and TUNEL staining reveal that the levels of apoptosis are abnormally high in out

m233
mutant eyes during early neurogenesis. Mutation analysis of the GDF6 gene in 200 patients with microphthalmia revealed amino acid substitutions in four of them. In two patients additional skeletal defects were observed.

Conclusions

This study confirms the essential role of GDF6 in the regulation of vertebrate eye size. The reduced eye size in the zebrafish out

m233
mutant is likely to be caused by a transient wave of apoptosis at the onset of neurogenesis. Amino acid substitutions in GDF6 were detected in 4 (2%) of 200 patients with microphthalmia. In two patients different skeletal defects were also observed, suggesting pleitrophic effects of GDF6 variants. Parents carrying these variants are asymptomatic, suggesting that GDF6 sequence alterations are likely to contribute to the phenotype, but are not the sole cause of the disease. Variable expressivity and penetrance suggest a complex non-Mendelian inheritance pattern where other genetic factors may influence the outcome of the phenotype.
Post-load hyperglycemia as an important predictor of long-term adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction: a scientific study
Authors: Kitada Shuichi , Otsuka Yoritaka , Kokubu Nobuaki , Kasahara Yoichiro , Kataoka Yu , Noguchi Teruo , Goto Yoichi , Kimura Genjirou , Nonogi Hiroshi
Published: November 2010

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it is unknown whether hyperglycemic state is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after AMI. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between glucometabolic status and MACE in patients after AMI, and determined the critical level of 2 h post-load plasma glucose that may be used to predict MACE.

Methods

AMI patients (n = 422) were divided into 4 groups as follows: normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group, IGT group, newly diagnosed DM (NDM) group, and previously known DM (PDM) group. MACE of the 4 groups were compared for 2 years from AMI onset.

Results

The NDM group had a significantly higher event rate than the IGT and NGT groups and had a similar event rate curve to PDM group. The logistic models analyses revealed that 2 h post-load plasma glucose values of ≥160 mg/dL was the only independent predictor of long-term MACE after AMI (p = 0.028, OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.07-3.21). The 2-year cardiac event rate of patients with a 2 h post-load hyperglycemia of ≥160 mg/dL was significantly higher than that of patients with 2 h post-load glucose of <160 mg/dL (32.2% vs. 19.8%, p < 0.05) and was similar to that of PDM group (37.4%, p = 0.513).

Conclusions

NDM increases the risk of MACE after AMI as does PDM. Particularly, post-AMI patients with a 2 h post-load hyperglycemia ≥160 mg/dL may need adjunctive therapy after AMI.
Malaria transmission and insecticide resistance of Anopheles gambiae in Libreville and Port-Gentil, Gabon
Authors: Mourou Jean-Romain , Coffinet Thierry , Jarjaval Fanny , Pradines Bruno , Amalvict Rémi , Rogier Christophe , Kombila Maryvonne , Pagès Frédéric
Published: November 2010

Background

Urban malaria is a major health priority for civilian and militaries populations. A preliminary entomologic study has been conducted in 2006-2007, in the French military camps of the two mains towns of Gabon: Libreville and Port-Gentil. The aim was to assess the malaria transmission risk for troops.

Methods

Mosquitoes sampled by human landing collection were identified morphologically and by molecular methods. The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoïte (CSP) indexes were measured by ELISA, and the entomological inoculation rates (EIR) were calculated for both areas. Molecular assessments of pyrethroid knock down (kdr) resistance and of insensitive acetylcholinesterase resistance were conducted.

Results

In Libreville, Anopheles gambiae s.s. S form was the only specie of the An. gambiae complex present and was responsible of 9.4 bites per person per night. The circumsporozoïte index was 0.15% and the entomological inoculation rate estimated to be 1.23 infective bites during the four months period. In Port-Gentil, Anopheles melas (75.5% of catches) and An. gambiae s.s. S form (24.5%) were responsible of 58.7 bites per person per night. The CSP indexes were of 1.67% for An. gambiae s.s and 0.28% for An. melas and the EIRs were respectively of 1.8 infective bites per week and of 0.8 infective bites per week. Both kdr-w and kdr-e mutations in An. gambiae S form were found in Libreville and in Port-Gentil. Insensitive acetylcholinesterase has been detected for the first time in Gabon in Libreville.

Conclusion

Malaria transmission exists in both town, but with high difference in the level of risk. The co-occurrence of molecular resistances to the main families of insecticide has implications for the effectiveness of the current vector control programmes that are based on pyrethroid-impregnated bed nets.