bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Water in the LCROSS Ejecta Plume
Authors: Colaprete Anthony , Schultz Peter , Heldmann Jennifer , Wooden Diane , Shirley Mark , Ennico Kimberly , Hermalyn Brendan , Marshall William , Ricco Antonio , Elphic Richard C. , Goldstein David , Summy Dustin , Bart Gwendolyn D. , Asphaug Erik , Korycansky Don , Landis David , Sollitt Luke
Published: October 2010

Watering the Moon

About a year ago, a spent upper stage of an Atlas rocket was deliberately crashed into a crater at the south pole of the Moon, ejecting a plume of debris, dust, and vapor. The goal of this event, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) experiment, was to search for water and other volatiles in the soil of one of the coldest places on the Moon: the permanently shadowed region within the Cabeus crater. Using ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectroscopy data from accompanying craft,

Colaprete
et al.

(p.
463
; see the news story by

Kerr

; see the cover) found evidence for the presence of water and other volatiles within the ejecta cloud.

Schultz
et al.

(p.
468
) monitored the different stages of the impact and the resulting plume.

Gladstone
et al.

(p.
472
), using an ultraviolet spectrograph onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), detected H
2
, CO, Ca, Hg, and Mg in the impact plume, and

Hayne
et al.

(p.
477
) measured the thermal signature of the impact and discovered that it had heated a 30 to 200 square-meter region from ∼40 kelvin to at least 950 kelvin.

Paige
et al.

(p. 479) mapped cryogenic zones predictive of volatile entrapment, and

Mitrofanov
et al.

(p.
483
) used LRO instruments to confirm that surface temperatures in the south polar region persist even in sunlight. In all, about 155 kilograms of water vapor was emitted during the impact; meanwhile, the LRO continues to orbit the Moon, sending back a stream of data to help us understand the evolution of its complex surface structures.
Environment and Disease Risks
Authors: Rappaport Stephen M. , Smith Martyn T.
Published: October 2010

A new paradigm is needed to assess how a lifetime of exposure to environmental factors affects the risk of developing chronic diseases.
The Ligase PIAS1 Restricts Natural Regulatory T Cell Differentiation by Epigenetic Repression
Authors: Liu Bin , Tahk Samuel , Yee Kathleen M. , Fan Guoping , Shuai Ke
Published: October 2010

PIAS1 Repression

Regulatory T cells (T
regs
) promote immune tolerance and protect against autoimmunity. T
regs
develop in the thymus, and their differentiation and acquisition of suppressive function requires expression of the transcription factor Foxp3. Although several transcription factors have been identified that turn on
Foxp3
gene expression, how Foxp3 remains turned off in non-T
regs
is not well understood.

Liu
et al.

(p.
521
) have demonstrated that a regulator of cytokine signaling, PIAS1, represses Foxp3 expression by chromatin modification. PIAS1 promoted the methylation of the
Foxp3
promoter by recruiting methyltransferases to inhibit expression. PIAS-deficient mice have more T
reg
cells than controls, and they appear to be protected against the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a mouse model for multiple sclerosis.
Two Pairs of Neurons in the Central Brain Control
Drosophila
Innate Light Preference
Authors: Gong Zhefeng , Liu Jiangqu , Guo Chao , Zhou Yanqiong , Teng Yan , Liu Li
Published: October 2010

Light-Hating Target

Young larvae of the fruit fly
Drosophila
like to hide in the dark. Older larvae nearing pupation are less timorous.

Gong
et al.

(p.
499
; see the Perspective by

Vogt and Desplan

) have identified part of the neural circuit that links perception of light to behavior. The authors used targeted expression of the tetanus toxin to disable neurons selectively in the larval central nervous system. The results identified a neural circuit responsible for regulating the preference—or disinclination—for light. The circuit, which is composed of a bilateral pair of neurons, receives input from the larval visual circuit, and its activation strengthens photoavoidance behavior. The results give a glimmer into how the brain interprets perceptual inputs.
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Observations of the LCROSS Impact
Authors: Hayne Paul O. , Greenhagen Benjamin T. , Foote Marc C. , Siegler Matthew A. , Vasavada Ashwin R. , Paige David A.
Published: October 2010

Watering the Moon

About a year ago, a spent upper stage of an Atlas rocket was deliberately crashed into a crater at the south pole of the Moon, ejecting a plume of debris, dust, and vapor. The goal of this event, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) experiment, was to search for water and other volatiles in the soil of one of the coldest places on the Moon: the permanently shadowed region within the Cabeus crater. Using ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectroscopy data from accompanying craft,

Colaprete
et al.

(p.
463
; see the news story by

Kerr

; see the cover) found evidence for the presence of water and other volatiles within the ejecta cloud.

Schultz
et al.

(p.
468
) monitored the different stages of the impact and the resulting plume.

Gladstone
et al.

(p.
472
), using an ultraviolet spectrograph onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), detected H
2
, CO, Ca, Hg, and Mg in the impact plume, and

Hayne
et al.

(p.
477
) measured the thermal signature of the impact and discovered that it had heated a 30 to 200 square-meter region from ∼40 kelvin to at least 950 kelvin.

Paige
et al.

(p. 479) mapped cryogenic zones predictive of volatile entrapment, and

Mitrofanov
et al.

(p.
483
) used LRO instruments to confirm that surface temperatures in the south polar region persist even in sunlight. In all, about 155 kilograms of water vapor was emitted during the impact; meanwhile, the LRO continues to orbit the Moon, sending back a stream of data to help us understand the evolution of its complex surface structures.
Chaos in the Gulf
Authors: Thiffeault Jean-Luc
Published: October 2010

Sophisticated mathematical analysis is providing insights into how the oil released in the Deepwater Horizon disaster is dispersing.
Contamination of Commercial PCR Master Mix with DNA from
Coxiella burnetii
Authors: Tilburg Jeroen J. H. C. , Nabuurs-Franssen Marrigje H. , van Hannen Erik J. , Horrevorts Alphons M. , Melchers Willem J. G. , Klaassen Corné H. W.
Published: October 2010

Contamination of an in-house diagnostic real-time PCR for Q fever was traced back to a commercially obtained PCR Master Mix. It was established that this Master Mix contained DNA from
Coxiella burnetii
, probably as a result of the use of compounds of animal origin such as bovine serum albumin.
Modifications in the Polymerase Genes of a Swine-Like Triple-Reassortant Influenza Virus To Generate Live Attenuated Vaccines against 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Viruses
Authors: Pena Lindomar , Vincent Amy L. , Ye Jianqiang , Ciacci-Zanella Janice R. , Angel Matthew , Lorusso Alessio , Gauger Philip C. , Janke Bruce H. , Loving Crystal L. , Perez Daniel R.
Published: October 2010

On 11 June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreaks caused by novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus had reached pandemic proportions. The pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm) virus is the predominant influenza virus strain in the human population. It has also crossed the species barriers and infected turkeys and swine in several countries. Thus, the development of a vaccine that is effective in multiple animal species is urgently needed. We have previously demonstrated that the introduction of temperature-sensitive mutations into the PB2 and PB1 genes of an avian H9N2 virus, combined with the insertion of a hemagglutinin (HA) tag in PB1, resulted in an attenuated (att) vaccine backbone for both chickens and mice. Because the new pandemic strain is a triple-reassortant (TR) virus, we chose to introduce the double attenuating modifications into a swine-like TR virus isolate, A/turkey/OH/313053/04 (H3N2) (ty/04), with the goal of producing live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV). This genetically modified backbone had impaired polymerase activity and restricted virus growth at elevated temperatures.In vivocharacterization of two H1N1 vaccine candidates generated using the ty/04attbackbone demonstrated that this vaccine is highly attenuated in mice, as indicated by the absence of signs of disease, limited replication, and minimum histopathological alterations in the respiratory tract. A single immunization with the ty/04att-based vaccines conferred complete protection against a lethal H1N1pdm virus infection in mice. More importantly, vaccination of pigs with a ty/04att-H1N1 vaccine candidate resulted in sterilizing immunity upon an aggressive intratracheal challenge with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus. Our studies highlight the safety of the ty/04attvaccine platform and its potential as a master donor strain for the generation of live attenuated vaccines for humans and livestock.
Antiviral Effects of a Transgenic RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
Authors: Kerkvliet Jason , Papke Louisa , Rodriguez Moses
Published: October 2010

Transgenic expression of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 3Dpolinhibited infection of Theiler's murine encephalitis virus (TMEV), a picornavirus from which it was derived. Here, we infected 3Dpoltransgenic mice with another picornavirus, as well as an alphaherpesvirus and a rhabdovirus. 3Dpoltransgenic FVB mice had significantly lower viral loads and survived longer after infection with all three types of viruses than nontransgenic FVB mice. Viral inhibition among three different types of virus by transgenic 3Dpolsuggests that the mechanism of action is not the direct interference with picornaviral 3Dpolbut instead may be the changing of host cells to an antiviral state before or after viral infection occurs, as basal interferon levels were higher in 3Dpoltransgenic mice before infection. Further study of this mechanism may open new possibilities for future antiviral therapy.
Field-based fitness assessment in young people: the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents
Authors: Ruiz Jonatan R , Castro-Piñero José , España-Romero Vanesa , Artero Enrique G , Ortega Francisco B , Cuenca Magdalena M , Jimenez-Pavón David , Chillón Palma , Girela-Rejón María J , Mora Jesús , Gutiérrez Ángel , Suni Jaana , Sjöström Michael , Castillo Manuel J
Published: October 2010

The present study summarises the work developed by the ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity) study and describes the procedures followed to select the tests included in the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents. The authors reviewed physical fitness and health in youth findings from cross-sectional studies. The authors also performed three systematic reviews dealing with (1) the predictive validity of health-related fitness, (2) the criterion validity of field-based fitness tests and (3) the reliability of field-based fitness tests in youth. The authors also carried out 11-methodological studies to determine the criterion validity and the reliability of several field-based fitness tests for youth. Finally, the authors performed a study in the school setting to examine the reliability, feasibility and safety of the selected tests. The selected fitness tests were (1) the 20 m shuttle run test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness; (2) the handgrip strength and (3) standing broad jump to assess musculoskeletal fitness, and (4) body mass index, (5) skinfold thickness and (5) waist circumference to assess body composition. When there are time limits, the authors propose the high-priority ALPHA health-related fitness test battery, which comprises all the evidence-based fitness tests except the measurement of the skinfold thickness. The time required to administer this battery to a group of 20 youth by one physical education teacher is less than 2 h. In conclusion, the ALPHA fitness tests battery is valid, reliable, feasible and safe for the assessment of health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents to be used for health monitoring purposes at population level.
P2Y1 and P2Y13 purinergic receptors mediate Ca2+signaling and proliferative responses in pulmonary artery vasa vasorum endothelial cells
Authors: Lyubchenko Taras , Woodward Heather , Veo Kristopher D. , Burns Nana , Nijmeh Hala , Liubchenko Ganna A. , Stenmark Kurt R. , Gerasimovskaya Evgenia V.
Published: October 2010

Extracellular ATP and ADP have been shown to exhibit potent angiogenic effects on pulmonary artery adventitial vasa vasorum endothelial cells (VVEC). However, the molecular signaling mechanisms of extracellular nucleotide-mediated angiogenesis remain not fully elucidated. Since elevation of intracellular Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) is required for cell proliferation and occurs in response to extracellular nucleotides, this study was undertaken to delineate the purinergic receptor subtypes involved in Ca2+signaling and extracellular nucleotide-mediated mitogenic responses in VVEC. Our data indicate that stimulation of VVEC with extracellular ATP resulted in the elevation of [Ca2+]ivia Ca2+influx through plasma membrane channels as well as Ca2+mobilization from intracellular stores. Moreover, extracellular ATP induced simultaneous Ca2+responses in both cytosolic and nuclear compartments. An increase in [Ca2+]iwas observed in response to a wide range of purinergic receptor agonists, including ATP, ADP, ATPγS, ADPβS, UTP, UDP, 2-methylthio-ATP (MeSATP), 2-methylthio-ADP (MeSADP), and BzATP, but not adenosine, AMP, diadenosine tetraphosphate, αβMeATP, and βγMeATP. Using RT-PCR, we identified mRNA for the P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y13, P2Y14, P2X2, P2X5, P2X7, A1, A2b, and A3 purinergic receptors in VVEC. Preincubation of VVEC with the P2Y1 selective antagonist MRS2179 and the P2Y13 selective antagonist MRS2211, as well as with pertussis toxin, attenuated at varying degrees agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+responses and activation of ERK1/2, Akt, and S6 ribosomal protein, indicating that P2Y1 and P2Y13 receptors play a major role in VVEC growth responses. Considering the broad physiological implications of purinergic signaling in the regulation of angiogenesis and vascular homeostasis, our findings suggest that P2Y1 and P2Y13 receptors may represent novel and specific targets for treatment of pathological vascular remodeling involving vasa vasorum expansion.
Proinflammatory gene expression and renal lipogenesis are modulated by dietary protein content in obese Zuckerfa/farats
Authors: Tovar-Palacio Claudia , Tovar Armando R. , Torres Nimbe , Cruz Cristino , Hernández-Pando Rogelio , Salas-Garrido Gerardo , Pedraza-Chaverri José , Correa-Rotter Ricardo
Published: October 2010

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease. It is not clear whether the adoption of a high-protein diet in obese patients affects renal lipid metabolism or kidney function. Thus the aims of this study were to assess in obese Zuckerfa/ farats the effects of different types and amounts of dietary protein on the expression of lipogenic and inflammatory genes, as well as renal lipid concentration and biochemical parameters of kidney function. Rats were fed different concentrations of soy protein or casein (20, 30, 45%) for 2 mo. Independent of the type of protein ingested, higher dietary protein intake led to higher serum triglycerides (TG) than rats fed adequate concentrations of protein. Additionally, the soy protein diet significantly increased serum TG compared with the casein diet. However, rats fed soy protein had significantly decreased serum cholesterol concentrations compared with those fed a casein diet. No significant differences in renal TG and cholesterol concentrations were observed between rats fed with either protein diets. Renal expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) and its target gene HMG-CoA reductase was significantly increased as the concentration of dietary protein increased. The highest protein diets were associated with greater expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the kidney, independent of the type of dietary protein. These results indicate that high soy or casein protein diets upregulate the expression of lipogenic and proinflammatory genes in the kidney.
Galectin-3 preserves renal tubules and modulates extracellular matrix remodeling in progressive fibrosis
Authors: Okamura Daryl M. , Pasichnyk Katie , Lopez-Guisa Jesus M. , Collins Sarah , Hsu Daniel K. , Liu Fu-Tong , Eddy Allison A.
Published: October 2010

Renal tubular cell apoptosis is a critical detrimental event that leads to chronic kidney injury in association with renal fibrosis. The present study was designed to investigate the role of galectin-3 (Gal-3), an important regulator of multiple apoptotic pathways, in chronic kidney disease induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After UUO, Gal-3 expression significantly increased compared with basal levels reaching a peak increase of 95-fold by day 7. Upregulated Gal-3 is predominantly tubular at early time points after UUO but shifts to interstitial cells as the injury progresses. On day 14, there was a significant increase in TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells (129%) and cytochrome c release (29%), and a decrease in BrdU-positive cells (62%) in Gal-3-deficient compared with wild-type mice. The degree of renal damage was more extensive in Gal-3-deficient mice at days 14 and 21, 35 and 21% increase in total collagen, respectively. Despite more severe fibrosis, myofibroblasts were significantly decreased by 58% on day 14 in the Gal-3-deficient compared with wild-type mice. There was also a corresponding 80% decrease in extracellular matrix synthesis in Gal-3-deficient compared with wild-type mice. Endo180 is a recently recognized receptor for intracellular collagen degradation that is expressed by interstitial cells during renal fibrogenesis. Endo180 expression was significantly decreased by greater than 50% in Gal-3-deficient compared with wild-type mice. Taken together, these results suggested that Gal-3 not only protects renal tubules from chronic injury by limiting apoptosis but that it may lead to enhanced matrix remodeling and fibrosis attenuation.
High glucose promotes nascent nephron apoptosis via NF-κB and p53 pathways
Authors: Chen Yun-Wen , Chenier Isabelle , Chang Shiao-Ying , Tran Stella , Ingelfinger Julie R. , Zhang Shao-Ling
Published: October 2010

A hyperglycemic environment in utero reduces kidney size and nephron number due to nascent nephron apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. The present study investigated whether the nascent nephron apoptosis promoted by high glucose is mediated via the transcription factor NF-κB and p53 signaling pathways. Neonatal mouse kidneys from the offspring of nondiabetic, diabetic, and insulin-treated diabetic dams were used for in vivo studies, and MK4 cells, an embryonic metanephric mesenchymal (MM) cell line, were used for in vitro studies. Neonatal kidneys of the offspring of diabetic mothers exhibited an increased number of apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, enhanced NF-κB activation, and nuclear translocation of its subunits (p50 and p65 subunits) as well as phosphorylation (Ser 15) of p53 compared with kidneys of offspring of nondiabetic mothers. Insulin treatment of diabetic dams normalized these parameters in the offspring. In vitro, high-glucose (25 mM) induced ROS generation and significantly increased MK4 cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity via activation of NF-κB pathway, with p53 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation compared with normal glucose (5 mM). These changes in a high-glucose milieu were prevented by transient transfection of small interfering RNAs for dominant negative IκBα or IKK or p53. Our data demonstrate that high glucose-induced nascent nephron apoptosis is mediated, at least in part, via ROS generation and the activation of NF-κB and p53 pathways.
Oscillatory Entrainment of Thalamic Neurons by Theta Rhythm in Freely Moving Rats
Authors: Tsanov Marian , Chah Ehsan , Wright Nick , Vann Seralynne D. , Reilly Richard , Erichsen Jonathan T. , Aggleton John P. , O'Mara Shane M.
Published: October 2010

The anterior thalamic nuclei are assumed to support episodic memory with anterior thalamic dysfunction a core feature of diencephalic amnesia. To date, the electrophysiological characterization of this region in behaving rodents has been restricted to the anterodorsal nucleus. Here we compared single-unit spikes with population activity in the anteroventral nucleus (AV) of freely moving rats during foraging and during naturally occurring sleep. We identified AV units that synchronize their bursting activity in the 6–11 Hz range. We show for the first time in freely moving rats that a subgroup of AV neurons is strongly entrained by theta oscillations. This feature together with their firing properties and spike shape suggests they be classified as “theta” units. To prove the selectivity of AV theta cells for theta rhythm, we compared the relation of spiking rhythmicity to local field potentials during theta and non-theta periods. The most distinguishable non-theta oscillations in rodent anterior thalamus are sleep spindles. We therefore compared the firing properties of AV units during theta and spindle periods. We found that theta and spindle oscillations differ in their spatial distribution within AV, suggesting separate cellular sources for these oscillations. While theta-bursting neurons were related to the distribution of local field theta power, spindle amplitude was independent of the theta units' position. Slow- and fast-spiking bursting units that are selectively entrained to theta rhythm comprise 23.7% of AV neurons. Our results provide a framework for electrophysiological classification of AV neurons as part of theta limbic circuitry.
Contributions of Altered Stretch Reflex Coordination to Arm Impairments Following Stroke
Authors: Trumbower Randy D. , Ravichandran Vengateswaran J. , Krutky Matthew A. , Perreault Eric J.
Published: October 2010

Patterns of stereotyped muscle coactivation, clinically referred to as synergies, emerge following stroke and impair arm function. Although researchers have focused on cortical contributions, there is growing evidence that altered stretch reflex pathways may also contribute to impairment. However, most previous reflex studies have focused on passive, single-joint movements without regard to their coordination during volitional actions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of stroke on coordinated activity of stretch reflexes elicited in multiple arm muscles following multijoint perturbations. We hypothesized that cortical injury results in increased stretch reflexes of muscles characteristic of the abnormal flexor synergy during active arm conditions. To test this hypothesis, we used a robot to apply position perturbations to impaired arms of 10 stroke survivors and dominant arms of 8 healthy age-matched controls. Corresponding reflexes were assessed during volitional contractions simulating different levels of gravitational support, as well as during voluntary flexion and extension of the elbow and shoulder. Reflexes were quantified by average rectified surface electromyogram, recorded from eight muscles spanning the elbow and shoulder. Reflex coordination was quantified using an independent components analysis. We found stretch reflexes elicited in the stroke group were significantly less sensitive to changes in background muscle activation compared with those in the control group ( P < 0.05). We also observed significantly increased reflex coupling between elbow flexor and shoulder abductor–extensor muscles in stroke subjects relative to that in control subjects. This increased coupling was present only during volitional tasks that required elbow flexion ( P < 0.001), shoulder extension ( P < 0.01), and gravity opposition ( P < 0.01), but not during the “no load” condition. During volitional contractions, reflex amplitudes scaled with the level of impairment, as assessed by Fugl-Meyer scores ( r2= 0.63; P < 0.05). We conclude that altered reflex coordination is indicative of motor impairment level and may contribute to impaired arm function following stroke.
Electrophysiological Analysis of the Inhibitory Effects of FMRFamide-Like Peptides on the Pacemaker Activity of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons
Authors: Saito Takeshi H. , Nakane Ryo , Akazome Yasuhisa , Abe Hideki , Oka Yoshitaka
Published: October 2010

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the terminal nerve (TN) show endogenous pacemaker activity, which is suggested to be dependent on the physiological conditions of the animal. The TN-GnRH neurons have been suggested to function as a neuromodulatory neuron that regulates long-lasting changes in the animal behavior. It has been reported that the TN-GnRH neurons are immunoreactive to FMRFamide. Here, we find that the pacemaker activity of TN-GnRH neuron is inhibited by FMRFamide: bath application of FMRFamide decreased the frequency of pacemaker activity of TN-GnRH neurons in a dose-dependent manner. This decrease was suppressed by a blockage of G protein–coupled receptor pathway by GDP-β-S. In addition, FMRFamide induced an increase in the membrane conductance, and the reversal potential for the FMRFamide-induced current changed according to the changes in [K+]outas predicted from the Nernst equation for K+. We performed cloning and sequence analysis of the PQRFamide (NPFF/NPAF) gene in the dwarf gourami and found evidence to suggest that FMRFamide-like peptide in TN-GnRH neurons of the dwarf gourami is NPFF. NPFF actually inhibited the pacemaker activity of TN-GnRH neurons, and this inhibition was blocked by RF9, a potent and selective antagonist for mammalian NPFF receptors. These results suggest that the activation of K+conductance by FMRFamide-like peptide (≈NPFF) released from TN-GnRH neurons themselves causes the hyperpolarization and then inhibition of pacemaker activity in TN-GnRH neurons. Because TN-GnRH neurons make tight cell clusters in the brain, it is possible that FMRFamide-like peptides released from TN-GnRH neurons negatively regulates the activities of their own (autocrine) and/or neighboring neurons (paracrine).
Quasinormality and Numerical Ranges of Certain Classes of Dual Toeplitz Operators
Authors: Guediri Hocine
Published: October 2010

The study of dual Toeplitz operators was elaborated by Stroethoff and Zheng (2002), where various corresponding algebraic and spectral properties were established. In this paper, we characterize numerical ranges of certain classes of dual Toeplitz operators. Moreover, we
introduce the analog of Halmos′ fifth classification problem for quasinormal dual Toeplitz operators. In particular, we show that there are no quasinormal dual Toeplitz operators with bounded analytic or coanalytic symbols which are not normal.
Xanthogranulomatous Salpingitis Associated with a Large Uterine Leiomyoma
Authors: Howey Joanne Margaret , Mahe Etienne , Radhi Jasim
Published: October 2010

A case of xanthogranulomatous salpingitis (XGS) associated with a large uterine leiomyoma in a 50-year-old woman is presented. Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon form of chronic inflammation that is destructive to affected organs. It is characterized by the presence of lipid-filled macrophages with admixed lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. A review of the literature revealed that most patients with XGS have a clinical history of long-standing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or, less often, endometriosis. We report a case lacking a history of either PID or endometriosis but with a concurrent large uterine leiomyoma. Although the exact etiology in this case was not clear, the leiomyoma may have played a contributory role in pathogenesis.
The Occurrence of Coral Species Reported as Threatened in Federally Protected Waters of the US Pacific
Authors: Kenyon Jean , Maragos James , Fenner Douglas
Published: October 2010

A recent study reported that seventy-five species of reef-building corals, considered to be at elevated extinction risk when assessed by the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, occur in Pacific waters under United States jurisdiction. Closer examination substantiates records of occurrence for 66 species, while records for the other 9 species were based on misinterpretations or are otherwise uncertain. Of these, at least 55 have been reported from reef habitat under federal protection within National Parks, Marine National Monuments, National Marine Sanctuaries, and National Wildlife Refuges. The highest number of species (31) is found within the Ofu Island unit of the National Park of American Samoa, followed by Kingman Reef (24) and Palmyra Atoll (21), both within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Federally protected areas already in place serve as important habitats for resources whose stewardship needs and priorities may vary over time.
Advent of a Link between Ayurveda and Modern Health Science: The Proceedings of the First International Congress on Ayurveda, “Ayurveda: The Meaning of Life—Awareness, Environment, and Health” March 21‐22, 2009, Milan, Italy
Authors: Morandi Antonio , Tosto Carmen , Sartori Guido , Roberti di Sarsina Paolo
Published: October 2010

The First International Congress on Ayurveda was held in Milan, Italy in March 2009 and it has been the first scientific event of this kind in western world. This groundbreaking international congress was devoted to human being as the product of interactions between Awareness, Environment and Health, subjects that the West tends to consider separate and independent, but that are believed deeply connected in Ayurveda, whose interdependence defines “The Meaning of Life”. The Congress established a bridge between indian and western philosophy, scientific and biomedical thinking in order to expand knowledge and healthcare. Main attention and address of the invited speakers was on the concept of “relationships” that, connecting living beings with environment, shape Nature itself. This concept is central in Ayurveda but is also common to other western scientific disciplines such as quantum physics and epigenetics that, in the four Sessions of the Congress, were represented by eminent experts. The importance of this event was underlined by the attendance of more than 400 participants and by noteworthy institutional endorsements, that added a significative political dimension of high social impact due to the topical period for CAM acceptance and integration in Europe.
Transcriptional Control of the ERBB2 Amplicon by ERRα and PGC-1β Promotes Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis
Authors: Deblois Geneviève , Chahrour Ghada , Perry Marie-Claude , Sylvain-Drolet Guillaume , Muller William J , Giguère Vincent
Published: October 2010

Overexpression of ERBB2 and its neighboring genes on chromosome 17 occurs in approximately 25% of breast tumors and is associated with poor prognosis. While amplification of the 17q12-21 chromosomal region often correlates with an increase in the transcriptional rates of the locus, the molecular mechanisms and the factors involved in the coordinated expression of genes residing within the ERBB2 amplicon remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα, NR3B1) and its coregulator PGC-1β are key effectors in this process. Using a mouse model of ERBB2-initiated mammary tumorigenesis, we first show that ablation of ERRα significantly delays ERBB2-induced tumor development and lowers the levels of amplicon transcripts. Chromosome 17q-wide binding site location analyses in human breast cancer cells show preferential recruitment of ERRα to DNA segments associated with the ERBB2 amplicon. Furthermore, ERRα directs the co-recruitment of the coactivator PGC-1β to segments in the 17q12 region and the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the promoters of the ERBB2 and coamplified genes. ERRα and PGC-1β also participate in the de-repression of ERBB2 expression through competitive genomic cross-talk with estrogen receptor α (ERα) and, as a consequence, influence tamoxifen sensitivity in breast cancer cells. Taken together, our results suggest that ERRα and PGC-1β are key players in the etiology of malignant breast cancer by coordinating the transcriptional regulation of genes located in the 17q12 region, a process that also involves interference with the repressive function of ERα on ERBB2 expression. Cancer Res; 70(24); 10277–87. ©2010 AACR.
Microvascular Determinants of Cognitive Decline and Brain Volume Change in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: de Bresser Jeroen , Reijmer Yael D. , van den Berg Esther , Breedijk Marja A. , Kappelle L. Jaap , Viergever Max A. , Biessels Geert Jan ,   on behalf of the Utrecht Diabetic Encephalopathy Study Group
Published: October 2010

Background/Aims: The present study examined the relationship between microvascular complications and cognitive decline and the development of structural brain abnormalities over a period of 4 years in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Sixty-eight elderly patients with T2DM had 2 cognitive assessments with a 4-year interval. Two MRI scans, performed at the same time as the cognitive assessments, were available from 55 patients. Changes in cognitive performance over time were expressed as a regression-based index (RBI). Automated volumetric measurements of total brain, lateral ventricles and white matter hyperintensities were performed. The relationship between baseline microvascular complications [diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy or albuminuria (micro- or macroalbuminuria)] and cognition and brain volumes was examined with linear regression analyses adjusted for age and sex (for cognition also for IQ). Results: At baseline, diabetic retinopathy was present in 18% of patients, peripheral neuropathy in 36%, albuminuria in 15%. Retinopathy or neuropathy were not significantly associated with baseline cognition or brain volumes, or changes in these measures over time. Albuminuria was associated with a lower composite RBI score, indicating accelerated cognitive decline (adjusted mean difference between patients with or without albuminuria: –0.58, 95% CI –0.85 to –0.31, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Albuminuria predicted accelerated cognitive decline in patients with T2DM, but other microvascular complications were unrelated to accelerated cognitive decline or brain MRI abnormalities.
Treatments for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: A network meta-analysis and indirect comparisons versus dabigatran etexilate
Authors: Lip Gregory Y. H. , Noack Herbert , Clemens Andreas , Plumb Jonathan M. , Roskell Neil S.
Published: October 2010

Patients with atrial fibrillation at moderate to high risk of stroke are not always anticoagulated despite a lack of contraindications to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) like warfarin. These patients are treated with aspirin, aspirin-clopidogrel combination therapy or even receive no thromboprophylaxis. The oral direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran etexilate 150 mg BID and 110 mg BID, might represent an alternative for these patients; however, no head-to-head clinical trial data exist versus these alternative treatments. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to indirectly compare dabigatran etexilate with antiplatelets and placebo. Compared with placebo, dabigatran etexilate 150 mg BID was estimated to significantly reduce the risk of any stroke (ischaemic and haemorrhagic) by 75% (relative risk [RR] 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12–0.51), ischaemic stroke by 77% (RR 0.23; 95% CI 0.14–0.38), systemic embolism by 83% (RR 0.17; 95% CI 0.05–0.50) and mortality by 36% (RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.45–0.91). Dabigatran etexilate 150 mg BID was estimated to significantly reduce the risk of any stroke compared with aspirin monotherapy by 63% (RR 0.37; 95% CI 0.20–0.69) and aspirin plus clopidogrel by 61% (RR 0.39; 95% CI 0.21–0.72). Trends toward reduced risk with both dabigatran etexilate regimens were found for most clinical outcomes. Relative risk estimates of dabigatran etexilate versus adjusted-dose VKAs within the NMA were consistent with results from the head-to-head randomised trial of these two strategies. Indirect evidence suggests treatment with dabigatran etexilate offers benefit for the prevention of stroke, systemic embolism and mortality over antiplatelets and placebo. There was no indication of increased intracranial or extracranial haemorrhage with dabigatran etexilate compared to antiplatelet agents.
Africa's National Human Rights Institutions and the Responsibility to Protect
Authors: Zambara Webster
Published: October 2010

The essay argues that one of the greatest shifts in the international humanitarian order heralded by the end of the Cold War has been the concept of holding state sovereignty accountable to an international human rights standard. It argues that while the concept of R2P has generally focused on humanitarian intervention at a macro level, the period since the 1990s has also witnessed an increase of micro-level institutions, in the form of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) that can advance R2P, including 31 such institutions in Africa. NHRIs can potentially bolster R2P and foster peace in countries in which they operate. The general popularity of R2P as an international standard is contrasted with the great suspicion with which it is regarded by a number of governments—particularly in Africa, where sovereignty is guarded with passion as a result of the anticolonial struggles that gave birth to national independence on the continent. The author further argues that NHRIs—when properly institutionalised and functioning optimally—can play an important role in protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, and have the potential to help countries attain international human rights norms and standards without unduly threatening their sovereign independence. The essay examines the role of NHRIs in the four cases of Sierra Leone, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, and assesses the establishment and operation of African NHRIs using measures formulated by the internationally agreed Paris Principles of 1993.
Fechner's Elusive Parallel Law
Authors: Ross Helen , Wade Nicholas
Published: October 2010

Weber's Law states that the differential threshold or just-noticeable-difference (jnd) is proportional to the physical intensity of the stimulus. Fechner built up his logarithmic law of sensation intensity from Weber's Law and the assumption that all jnds are subjectively equal. He thought it important that the Parallel Law should also hold. The Parallel Law states that, when perceived stimulus intensity is changed by something other than physical intensity (such as adaptation), Weber's Law continues to hold: discrimination should be unchanged provided the perceived values of the two stimuli change in the same ratio. Fechner claimed that weight discrimination was unaffected by weight adaptation; he was unsure about light adaptation; and he claimed that tactile length discrimination was unaffected by perceived changes caused by the bodily location of the stimulus. Modern research on adaptation for weights and other sensory stimuli shows that changes occur both in perceived intensity and in discrimination. Discrimination between stimuli is usually finest when the adaptation level is appropriate to the test level. There is insufficient evidence concerning the discrimination of tactile length and visual length when perceived length is changed. However, the Parallel Law may be untestable because of the difficulty of obtaining measures in the same experiment both for changes in discrimination and for the ratios of the perceived changes of the stimuli.
Pluralist Theologies
Authors: Schmidt-Leukel Perry
Published: October 2010

Pluralist theologies point out ways of combining religious diversity with genuine theological parity, thereby developing an alternative to the exclusivist and inclusivist approaches dominating in the tradition. The article sketches some key features of different pluralist models (Schuon, Hick, Smith, Knitter, Haight), focussing on their interpretation of different religious truth claims and their understanding of Jesus Christ in a pluralist context. Towards the end, some of the most recent developments within the debate about religious pluralism are addressed.
Water, gas and electric power monitoring system for residential developments: A technological approach
Authors: Toledano-Ayala M. , Rivas-Araiza EA , Herrera-Ruiz G. , Soto-Zarazúa GM , Montoya-Soto JA , Castaneda S. , Contreras T.
Published: October 2010

Savings in energy and water consumption represents one of the most important challenges for governments around the world today. Residential developments in Mexico offer a feasible way for low-income families in populated cities to acquire a house. This paper presents a novel technological approach to achieve substantial savings in energy and water in residential developments; as well it can be used as a tool for billing, and consumption planning. The system was tested in the municipality of Tecamac during the warmest months of the year in Mexico. The following results were recorded: 13.43% of savings in power consumption, 10.18% related to the conservation of water and 9.13% less gas was used.

Practical applications: Significant savings related to energy used and water conserved, are possible when networked technological systems such as the one proposed herein are installed either when the house is being built or can also be implemented in existing houses. Indirect benefits are present as well as tax reductions for constructors who build using eco-friendly and best housing practices. These savings and benefits can further be extended to services suppliers, reduce internal traffic in residential developments, among others.
Designing a Measure of Complexity Compression in Registered Nurses
Authors: Krichbaum Kathleen E. , Peden-McAlpine Cynthia , Diemert Carol , Koenig Patty , Mueller Christine , Savik Kay
Published: October 2010

Researchers in Minnesota have described and validated the phenomenon of Complexity Compression in qualitative studies of registered nurses. Analysis of themes from this research led to the design of a survey to assess nurses’ agreement with variables that contribute to their experience of Complexity Compression. The survey was administered to a random sample of 199 registered nurses in Minnesota. Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the attributes of Complexity Compression and its underlying structure. Three factors emerged that explained 51.4% of the variance in responses: work of nursing, systems, and personal factors. Internal consistency of the factors ranged from .79 to .89. Validity of the survey for assessment of Complexity Compression in hospital-based nurses was supported. The construct of Complexity Compression and its contributing factors will be tested in future studies with nurses in a variety of health care settings.
Differences in Patellar Cartilage Thickness, Transverse Relaxation Time, and Deformational Behavior
Authors: Farrokhi Shawn , Colletti Patrick M. , Powers Christopher M.
Published: October 2010

Background: The origin of patellofemoral pain (PFP) may be associated with the inability of the patellofemoral joint cartilage to absorb and distribute patellofemoral joint forces.

Hypothesis: When compared with a pain-free control group, young active women with PFP will demonstrate differences in their baseline patellar cartilage thickness and transverse (T2) relaxation time, as well as a less adaptive response to an acute bout of joint loading.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Ten women between the ages of 23 to 37 years with PFP and 10 sex-, age-, and activity-matched pain-free controls participated. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the patellofemoral joint was performed at baseline and after participants performed 50 deep knee bends. Differences in baseline cartilage thickness and T2 relaxation time, as well as the postexercise change in patellar cartilage thickness and T2 relaxation time, were compared between groups.

Results: Individuals with PFP demonstrated reductions in baseline cartilage thickness of 14.0% and 14.1% for the lateral patellar facet and total patellar cartilage, respectively. Similarly, individuals with PFP exhibited significantly lower postexercise cartilage thickness change for the lateral patellar facet (2.1% vs 8.9%) and the total patellar cartilage (4.4% vs 10.0%) when compared with the control group. No group differences in baseline or postexercise change in T2 relaxation time were found.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that a baseline reduction in patellar cartilage thickness and a reduced deformational behavior of patellar cartilage following an acute bout of loading are associated with presence of PFP symptoms.
Narrative Possibilities
Authors: Bradbury Jill , Miller Ronald
Published: October 2010

The paper explores the ways in which narrative theories of identity may serve to interpret particular contextualized practices, working developmentally with South African youth. By locating narrative theories of identity in relation to two other theoretical frameworks, Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development and Ricoeur’s hermeneutics of textuality, we create a new theoretical approach for thinking about the possibilities and constraints for understanding sociohistorical questions of identity. As opposed to postmodern discursive deconstructions of the self or identity, we argue that the contextual imperatives of the developing world necessitate and demand the active interpretation and articulation of our-selves in stories and texts. It is suggested that this theoretical nexus offers a productive framework for practice.
Some Theories are Unfalsifiable
Authors: Wallach Lise , Wallach Michael A.
Published: October 2010

Trafimow (2009) claims that there are no unfalsifiable theories: To test any theory, one must make auxiliary assumptions, and with sufficient creativity about auxiliary assumptions one could always arrive at reasonably risky predictions. We argue that a prediction from a theory plus a given set of auxiliary assumptions will not be risky for the theory when the initial level of confidence in the theory is greater than the initial level of confidence in one or more of the auxiliary assumptions. Some theories, we claim, are so basic that initial confidence in these theories will be greater than initial confidence in any set of auxiliary assumptions with which they could be tested, and such theories are unfalsifiable. We illustrate this with a principle that forms part of the theory of reasoned action.
On the balancing of flexible rotating machines by using an inverse problem approach
Authors: Villafane Saldarriaga M. , Steffen V. , Der Hagopian J. , Mahfoud J.
Published: October 2010

The aim of this work is to propose a methodology for the experimental determination of the matrix relating unbalance forces to measured displacements for a rotating machine. The goal is to obtain an alternative solution to special situations found in the industrial context, especially for highly flexible rotors that may lead to a nonlinear behavior of the system. The trial-weights-based techniques, such as the influence coefficients method or the modal method, cannot be applied in such configurations. The proposed balancing method is based on the use of an identified model for the system. A pseudo-random optimization technique using genetic algorithms was applied for the identification process. The basic idea is to obtain the flexible rotor unbalance response, which is then mimicked by using a finite element method model in which the unbalance masses and their corresponding angular positions are the design variables from the optimization viewpoint. This way, an inverse problem is solved and the corrective masses are obtained. The model characteristics of the system are adjusted experimentally. Experimental investigations were carried out and the results show the efficiency of the method developed; the limitations and improvements are finally discussed.