bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
W55a Encodes a Novel Protein Kinase That Is Involved in Multiple Stress Responses
Authors: Xu Zhao‐Shi , Liu Li , Ni Zhi‐Yong , Liu Pei , Chen Ming , Li Lian‐Cheng , Chen Yao‐Feng , Ma You‐Zhi
Published: November 2008

Protein kinases play crucial roles in response to external environment stress signals. A putative protein kinase, W55a, belonging to SNF1‐related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) subfamily, was isolated from a cDNA library of drought‐treated wheat seedlings. The entire length of W55a was obtained using rapid amplification of 5′ cDNA ends (5′‐RACE) and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction(RT‐PCR). It contains a 1 029 ‐bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 342 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of W55a had eleven conserved catalytic subdomains and one Ser/Thr protein kinase active‐site that characterize Ser/Thr protein kinases. Phylogenetic analysis showed that W55a was 90.38% homologous with rice SAPK1, a member of the SnRK2 family. Using nullisomic‐tetrasomic and ditelocentric lines of Chinese Spring, W55a was located on chromosome 2BS. Expression pattern analysis revealed that W55a was upregulated by drought and salt, exogenous abscisic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate, but was not responsive to cold stress. In addition, W55a transcripts were abundant in leaves, but not in roots or stems, under environmental stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing W55a exhibited higher tolerance to drought. Based on these findings, W55a encodes a novel dehydration‐responsive protein kinase that is involved in multiple stress signal transductions.
Vasopressin‐dependent upregulation of aquaporin‐2 gene expression in aged rats with glucocorticoid deficiency
Authors: Saito T. , Saito T. , Kasono K. , Otani T. , Tamemoto H. , Kawakami M. , Sasaki S. , Ishikawa S.
Published: November 2008

Aim:  The study was undertaken to determine whether ageing affects kidney expression of the aquaporin‐2 (AQP2) water channel in glucocorticoid‐deficient rats.

Methods:  After adrenalectomy, 6‐ and 52‐week‐old Sprague–Dawley rats received aldosterone via osmotic minipumps (glucocorticoid‐deficient rats). Aldosterone and dexamethasone were administered to control rats of the same age.

Results:  An acute water load test verified impairment of water excretion in both young and aged rats with glucocorticoid deficiency, with a more serious impairment in the older rats. Despite the presence of hypoosmolality, non‐suppressible release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) was particularly evident in the aged rats with glucocorticoid deficiency in comparison with the young rats. The expression levels of AQP2 mRNA and protein were lower in the aged rats, with a particularly large reduction in AQP2 protein expression. AQP2 expression levels were significantly augmented in the glucocorticoid‐deficient rats compared with the controls under both basal and water‐loaded conditions. Acute water loading did not suppress expression of AQP2 mRNA and protein, and the percentage increases in AQP2 mRNA and protein expression vs. the respective controls were more pronounced in the 52‐week‐old glucocorticoid‐deficient rats compared with the 6‐week‐old rats.

Conclusion:  The findings indicate that upregulation of AQP2 expression is maintained dependent upon non‐suppressible release of AVP in rats with glucocorticoid deficiency, and that AQP2 plays a crucial role in persistent impairment of water excretion in aged rats with glucocorticoid deficiency.
The Role of Prominence Information in the Real‐Time Comprehension of Transitive Constructions: A Cross‐Linguistic Approach
Authors: Bornkessel‐Schlesewsky Ina , Schlesewsky Matthias
Published: November 2008

Approaches to language processing have traditionally been formulated with reference to general cognitive concepts (e.g. working memory limitations) or have based their representational assumptions on concepts from generative linguistic theory (e.g. structure determines interpretation). Thus, many well‐established generalisations about language that have emerged from cross‐linguistic/typological research have not as yet had a major influence in shaping ideas about online processing. Here, we examine the viability of using typologically motivated concepts to account for phenomena in online language comprehension. In particular, we focus on the comprehension of simple transitive sentences (i.e. sentences involving two arguments/event participants) and cross‐linguistic similarities and differences in how they are processed. We argue that incremental argument interpretation in these structures is best explained with reference to a range of cross‐linguistically motivated, hierarchically ordered information types termed ‘prominence scales’ (e.g. animacy, definiteness/specificity, case marking and linear order). We show that the assumption of prominence‐based argument processing can capture a wide range of recent neurocognitive findings, as well as deriving well‐known behavioural results.
Social Support, Anxiety, and Support Group Participation in Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Authors: Myers Gina M. , James Gary D.
Published: November 2008

Although the use of support groups for patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is recommended, little information concerning support and anxiety exists in relation to group attendance. Using a comparative descriptive design, this study sought to examine differences in demographics, ICD indicators, anxiety, and social support between the ICD recipients who attended a support group and those who did not. Characteristics of 150 ICD patients (77 nonattendees, 73 attendees) were evaluated using Sarason's 6‐item Social Support Questionnaire and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results show that those who attended a support group had higher trait anxiety (P=.05) and were less satisfied with their social support (P=.03) compared with nonattendees. Among all participants, trait anxiety was higher in those diagnosed with tachycardia (P=.046). Finally, higher satisfaction with support was associated with less anxiety (P=.000) and a larger social network (P=.02). Thus, support group attendees were not less anxious, nor did they experience more support than nonattendees, indicating that support groups may serve a vital role for ICD recipients who are characteristically anxious and lack supportive resources. This study recommends evaluating patient support and anxiety to improve support group efficacy.
Update on skin repigmentation therapies in vitiligo
Authors: Falabella Rafael , Barona Maria I.
Published: November 2008

Treatment for vitiligo is difficult and prolonged. Nevertheless, at present considerable knowledge accumulated during several decades on the pathogenic mechanisms, revealed important clues for designing new strategies to improve vitiligo depigmentation. With available medical therapies, high repigmentation percentages mostly on facial and neck lesions are achieved, although they are less effective on trunk and limbs and poor on the acral parts of the extremities. Narrow band UVB and psoralens and UVA are the two most important treatments for generalized vitiligo affecting more than 10–20% of the cutaneous surface, and topical corticosteroids, or calcineurin inhibitors are the most valuable treatments for localized vitiligo. Persistence of achieved regimentation is variable and an undefined percentage of patients may have variable recurrence. When vitiligo becomes refractory, surgical methods may improve depigmentation as effectively as with medical therapy; in segmental (unilateral) or long standing, non‐segmental (bilateral) stable vitiligo, repigmentation with surgical methods is usually permanent.
The role of alcohol in oral carcinogenesis with particular reference to alcohol‐containing mouthwashes
Authors: McCullough MJ , Farah CS
Published: November 2008

Worldwide, oral cancer represents approximately 5 per cent of all malignant lesions, with over 800 new intra‐oral squamous cell carcinomas registered in Australia each year. Despite recent advances in therapy, the five‐year survival rate remains around 50 per cent and the sequelae of treatment can be seriously debilitating. It has been long established that smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors linked to the development of oral cancer. This review assesses the epidemiological evidence, supportive in vitro studies and mechanism by which alcohol is involved in the development of oral cancer. Further, we review the literature that associates alcohol‐containing mouthwashes and oral cancer. On the basis of this review, we believe that there is now sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that alcohol‐containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer and further feel that it is inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long‐term use of alcohol‐containing mouthwashes.
The incidence of mandibular third molar impactions in different skeletal face types
Authors: Breik O , Grubor D
Published: November 2008

Background:  The cause of mandibular third molar impaction is said to be due to inadequate space between the distal of the second mandibular molar and the anterior border of the ascending ramus of the mandible. The amount of space is determined primarily by facial growth. This study aimed to assess whether different patterns of facial growth lead to a different incidence of mandibular third molar impaction. It was hypothesized that those with predominantly horizontal (brachyfacial) would have lower incidence of mandibular third molar impaction compared with those with a predominantly vertical growth pattern (dolichofacial).

Methods:  Ninety‐eight dental records were sourced from the records of orthodontic patients in the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and all lateral cephalometric radiographs and orthopantomograms were assessed. The degree of impaction was determined by the Pell and Gregory system, and the facial type categorized by the facial axis angle.

Results:  The overall rate of mandibular third molar impaction was 58.76 per cent. Those with a facial axis angle >93 (brachyfacials) demonstrated an almost two times lower incidence of mandibular third molar impaction as compared to subjects with a facial axis angle <87 (dolichofacials).

Conclusions:  Within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that the greater horizontal facial growth pattern of brachyfacial subjects over dolichofacial subjects provides increased space for full eruption of the mandibular third molars.
Dentine bond strength and microleakage of flowable composite, compomer and glass ionomer cement
Authors: Xie H , Zhang F , Wu Y , Chen C , Liu W
Published: November 2008

Background:  To assess in vitro the dentine bond strength and microleakage of three Class V restorations viz. flowable composite, compomer and glass ionomer cement.

Methods:  Eighteen dentine specimens were prepared and randomly distributed among three groups. Three kinds of restoration materials were each bonded on prepared dentine surfaces in three groups as per the manufacturers’ instructions. Group Aelite: Tyrian SPE (a no‐rinse, self‐priming etchant) + One Step Plus (an universal dental adhesive) + Aeliteflo (a flowable composite); Group Dyract: Prime & Bond NT (a no‐rinse, self‐priming dental adhesive) + Dyract AP (a compomer); Group GlasIonomer: GlasIonomer Type II (a self‐cured restorative glass ionomer). Fifteen dentine/restoration microtensile bond test specimens were prepared from each group and were subjected to microtensile bond strength testing. The bond interfaces were observed morphologically using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Twenty‐four cervical cavities of 4.0 mm mesiodistal length, 2.0 mm occlusogingival height and 1.5 mm depth were prepared at the cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ) on both buccal and lingual surfaces of each tooth. The cavities were each filled with flowable composite (Group Aelite), compomer (Group Dyract) and glass ionomer cement (Group GlasIonomer) using the same material and methods as for the microtensile bond tests. Microleakage of each restoration was evaluated by the ratio of the length of methylene blue penetration along the tooth‐restoration interface and the total length of the dentine cavity wall on the cut surface.

Results:  One‐way ANOVA and least significant difference (LSD) tests revealed statistically significant differences among the dentine bond strength for Group Aelite (28.4 MPa), Group Dyract (15.1 MPa) and Group GlasIonomer (2.5 MPa). SEM images showed intimate adaptation in the restoration/dentine interfaces of Group Aelite and Group Dyract. All of the systems tested in this study presented microleakage. However, both Group Aelite (0.808) and Group Dyract (0.863) had significantly less microleakage than Group GlasIonomer (0.964). There were no statistically significant microleakage differences between Group Aelite and Group Dyract, and no statistically significant microleakage differences between the occlusal margin and gingival margin.

Conclusions:  None of the systems tested in this study completely eliminated microleakage. However, both the flowable composite and compomer provided stronger dentine bond strengths and better margin sealing than the conventional glass ionomer cement. Occlusal forces exerted the same effects on microleakage of the occlusal margin and gingival margin in cervical cavities.
Caries risk reduction in patients attending a caries management clinic
Authors: Sbaraini A , Evans RW
Published: November 2008

Background:  A Caries Management Clinic was established for patients at high risk of caries aiming to reduce caries incidence to close to zero. That is, to prevent new lesions on existing sound surfaces, along the susceptible restoration margins, and to remineralize existing cavitated and non‐cavitated lesions. Twenty patients attended the clinic every two weeks from April to December 2005.

Methods:  The Caries Management System is a ten‐step non‐invasive strategy to arrest and remineralize early lesions and includes consideration of the patient at risk, the status of each individual lesion, patient management, clinical management, and monitoring.

Results:  After six months, there was a 42 per cent increase in gingival sites having Gingival Index scores of zero, and a 21 per cent decrease in sites having Gingival Index scores of 2 compared to baseline (χ2 = 137.67, 4 df, p = 0.00001). Ready to change (RTC) patients had significantly fewer sites scored GI ≤ 2 compared to not‐RTC patients (p = 0.01). Compared with the not‐RTC patients, RTC patients were more than twice as likely to have fewer sites scored GI ≤ 2 (RR = 2.43, 95% CI (1.24, 4.71), p = 0.01). A total of 100 out of 146 smooth non‐cavitated carious surfaces at baseline have remineralized after six months, 99 per cent of sound surfaces remained sound, and 23 new lesions were observed in six of the 20 patients (α2 = 292, 7 df, p = 0.00001). About half of proximal surfaces showing bitewing scores of grade 1 or 2 had regressed (α2 = 86.66, 56 df, p = 0.0001) and 95 per cent of proximal sound surfaces at baseline, as diagnosed via bitewing radiographs, remained sound.

Conclusions:  This audit revealed that the implementation of the non‐invasive approach to caries management which combined intensive coaching in oral hygiene maintenance, special home care and intensive monitoring in a clinic for high‐risk patients was able to reduce gingival inflammation and maintain low plaque levels, at least within the scope of this short‐term review.
Carbonatite Melts and Electrical Conductivity in the Asthenosphere
Authors: Gaillard Fabrice , Malki Mohammed , Iacono-Marziano Giada , Pichavant Michel , Scaillet Bruno
Published: November 2008

Electrically conductive regions in Earth's mantle have been interpreted to reflect the presence of either silicate melt or water dissolved in olivine. On the basis of laboratory measurements, we show that molten carbonates have electrical conductivities that are three orders of magnitude higher than those of molten silicate and five orders of magnitude higher than those of hydrated olivine. High conductivities in the asthenosphere probably indicate the presence of small amounts of carbonate melt in peridotite and can therefore be interpreted in terms of carbon concentration in the upper mantle. We show that the conductivity of the oceanic asthenosphere can be explained by 0.1 volume percent of carbonatite melts on average, which agrees with the carbon dioxide content of mid-ocean ridge basalts.
Resolving Vacuum Fluctuations in an Electrical Circuit by Measuring the Lamb Shift
Authors: Fragner A. , Göppl M. , Fink J. M. , Baur M. , Bianchetti R. , Leek P. J. , Blais A. , Wallraff A.
Published: November 2008

Quantum theory predicts that empty space is not truly empty. Even in the absence of any particles or radiation, in pure vacuum, virtual particles are constantly created and annihilated. In an electromagnetic field, the presence of virtual photons manifests itself as a small renormalization of the energy of a quantum system, known as the Lamb shift. We present an experimental observation of the Lamb shift in a solid-state system. The strong dispersive coupling of a superconducting electronic circuit acting as a quantum bit (qubit) to the vacuum field in a transmission-line resonator leads to measurable Lamb shifts of up to 1.4% of the qubit transition frequency. The qubit is also observed to couple more strongly to the vacuum field than to a single photon inside the cavity, an effect that is explained by taking into account the limited anharmonicity of the higher excited qubit states.
All for One and One for All
Authors: Hunt James H.
Published: November 2008

The Superorganism
. The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies.
By Bert Hölldobler and Edward O. Wilson
. Norton, New York, 2008. 544 pp. $55, C$60.50, £30. ISBN 9780393067040.

Summarizing the past couple of decades of research on the ecology and evolution of social insects-with their tightly knit colonies, altruistic cooperation, complex communication, and division of labor-Hölldobler and Wilson argue that these "superorganisms" represent a basic stage of biological organization, between the organism and the species.
Production of a Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine Containing Inactivated Autologous Virus for Therapy of Patients with Chronic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection
Authors: Whiteside Theresa L. , Piazza Paolo , Reiter Amanda , Stanson Joanna , Connolly Nancy C. , Rinaldo Charles R. , Riddler Sharon A.
Published: November 2008

In preparation for a pilot clinical trial in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, a novel dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine is being manufactured. The trial will test the hypothesis that isolated endogenous virus presented by DCs serves as a potent immunogen for activation of CD8+and CD4+T cells specific for a broad range of autologous HIV-1 antigens. Production of the vaccine under good manufacture practice conditions involves (i) autologous virus isolation; (ii) superinfection of CD4+T cells with the virus; (iii) inactivation of the virus in CD4+T cells, T-cell apoptosis, and coincubation of T cells with autologous DCs; and (iv) product testing and release. Endogenous virus was isolated from peripheral blood-derived CD4+T cells of three HIV-1-positive subjects by coincubation with autologous OKT-3-stimulated CD4+T cells. CD4+T-cell supernatants were tested for p24 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (>25 ng/ml) and for the 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID50; which ranged from 4,642 to 46,416/ml on day 19 of culture). Autologous CD4+T cells that were separated on immunobeads (>95% purity) and superinfected with virus-expressed p24 (28 to 54%) had TCID50of >400/ml on days 5 to 10. Virus inactivation with psoralen (20 μg/ml) and UVB irradiation (312 nm) reduced the TCID50of the supernatants from 199,986 to 11/ml (>99%). 7-Amino-actinomycin D-positive, annexin V-positive CD4+T cells were fed to autologous DCs generated by using the Elutra cell separation system and the Aastrom system. Flow analysis showed that DC loading was complete in 24 h. On the basis of these translational results and experience with the generation of DCs from HIV-1-infected patients in a previous clinical trial, the Investigational New Drug application for clinical vaccination was submitted and approved by the FDA (application no. BB-IND-13137).
Evolutionary Dynamics of Variant Genomes of Human Papillomavirus Types 18, 45, and 97
Authors: Chen Zigui , DeSalle Rob , Schiffman Mark , Herrero Rolando , Burk Robert D.
Published: November 2008

Human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) and HPV45 account for approximately 20% of all cervix cancers. We show that HPV18, HPV45, and the recently discovered HPV97 comprise a clade sharing a most recent common ancestor within HPV α7 species. Variant lineages of these HPV types were classified by sequence analysis of the upstream regulatory region/E6 region among cervical samples from a population-based study in Costa Rica, and 27 representative genomes from each major variant lineage were sequenced. Nucleotide variation within HPV18 and HPV45 was 3.82% and 2.39%, respectively, and amino acid variation was 4.73% and 2.87%, respectively. Only 18 nucleotide variations, of which 10 were nonsynonymous, were identified among three HPV97 genomes. Full-genome comparisons revealed maximal diversity between HPV18 African and non-African variants (2.6% dissimilarity), whereas HPV18 Asian-American [E1 (AA)] and European (E2) variants were closely related (less than 0.5% dissimilarity); HPV45 genomes had a maximal difference of 1.6% nucleotides. Using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, the divergence times of HPV18, -45, and -97 from their most recent common ancestors indicated that HPV18 diverged approximately 7.7 million years (Myr) ago, whereas HPV45 and HPV97 split off around 5.7 Myr ago, in a period encompassing the divergence of the great ape species. Variants within the HPV18/45/97 lineages were estimated to have diverged from their common ancestors in the genusHomowithin the last 1 Myr (<0.7 Myr). To investigate the molecular basis of HPV18, HPV45, and HPV97 evolution, regression models of codon substitution were used to identify lineages and amino acid sites under selective pressure. The E5 open reading frame (ORF) of HPV18 and the E4 ORFs of HPV18, HPV45, and HPV18/45/97 had nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution rate ratios (dN/dS) over 1 indicative of positive Darwinian selection. The L1 ORF of HPV18 genomes had an increased proportion of nonsynonymous substitutions (4.93%; averagedN/dSratio [M3] = 0.3356) compared to HPV45 (1.86%; M3 = 0.1268) and HPV16 (2.26%; M3 = 0.1330) L1 ORFs. In contrast, HPV18 and HPV16 genomes had similar amino acid substitution rates within the E1 ORF (2.89% and 3.24%, respectively), while HPV45 E1 was highly conserved (amino acid substitution rate was 0.77%). These data provide an evolutionary history of this medically important clade of HPVs and identify an unexpected divergence of the L1 gene of HPV18 that may have clinical implications for the long-term use of an L1-virus-like particle-based prophylactic vaccine.
Genetic Variability and Glacial Origins of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) in North America
Authors: Todd Thomas N. , Hatcher Charles O.
Published: November 2008

Starch–gel electrophoresis was used to analyze muscle and liver tissue for variation in 13 enzymes representing 31 presumptive loci in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from 13 localities scattered throughout the natural geographic range of the species in North America. Ten loci were polymorphic, but only three, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH-1*), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI-1*), and phosphoglucomutase (PGM-2*), exhibited polymorphisms at relatively high frequencies across localities. Western populations were fixed for one allele at ADH-1*, eastern populations were fixed for another allele, and populations from intermediate locations in Lake Ontario and Pennsylvania had both alleles. The distributions of alleles at GPI-1* and PGM-2*were similar to that of ADH-1*, exhibiting strong differences between eastern and western populations, although the delineation was not as clear. Western populations were much less variable than eastern populations, and the distribution of alleles indicated that the two groups were derived from Mississippi and Atlantic glacial refugia. Populations near the physiographic discontinuity between the Mississippi and Atlantic drainages in western New York and Pennsylvania exhibited an admixture of typically western and eastern alleles. Such observations are consistent with the mixed faunal history of the region and limited postglacial dispersal of western and eastern populations across the boundary.
Influence of Density and Depth on the Growth of Juvenile Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) in Suspended Culture
Authors: Côté Jean , Himmelman John H. , Claereboudt Michel , Bonardelli John C.
Published: November 2008

We examined the influence of depth and stocking density on the growth and survival of juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) in suspended culture at Gascons, Baie des Chaleurs. An increase in density greatly reduced the growth of the shell, adductor muscle, and other tissues, possibly because of lower food availability and diminished space. Growth was also influenced by depth and was greater at 9 m than at 21 m. However, the effect of depth was largely masked by the effect of stocking density and fouling of pearl nets. The pattern of seasonal variations in growth varied with the parameter used to quantify growth, and the changes were correlated with temperature and with chlorophyll a in one size fraction (0.7–5 μm). Survival was high at all depths and densities studied. Maximum growth was obtained at a density of 50 scallops∙net−1. However, the growth was only slightly reduced at 100 scallops∙net−1 and thus, this would be an ideal stocking density for growing scallops commercially if the objective is ear-hanging or bottom-seeding after 1 yr of suspended culture.
Influence of Residual Circulation and Vertical Distribution on the Abundance and Horizontal Transport of Larval Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) in a Maine Estuary
Authors: Lazzari Mark A. , Stevenson David K. , Shaw Richard F.
Published: November 2008

Horizontal movement of fall-spawned Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae in the upper Sheepscot River estuary, Maine (October–April) during three consecutive years), was a function of residual tidal flow at depth, vertical distribution of larvae during flood and ebb tides, and amount of river runoff. Larvae were vertically stratified 57% of the time and made significant shifts in position between tides in fall. They were distributed deeper than expected on both flood and ebb tides in October, either deeper or shallower than expected on flood tides during the remainder of the larval season, shallower on ebb tides during November–February, and either deeper or shallower on ebb tides in March and April. Larvae appeared to move either landward or seaward during fall and winter at the deepest station and seaward during spring. Seaward transport was associated with high river runoff and landward transport with low runoff. Results suggest that larvae are more likely to enter the estuary during fall and winter in years of low runoff and to be flushed out of the estuary when runoff is high. Severe mortality of larvae that remain in estuaries during winter may adversely affect recruitment to the juvenile stage in spring.
Influence of Food Type on the Growth of a Riverine Amphipod,Gammarus fasciatus
Authors: Delong Michael D. , Summers R. Brent , Thorp James H.
Published: November 2008

A laboratory experiment and natural-diet study were conducted to examine the feeding ecology and importance of food type for growth of Gammarus fasciatus from the Ohio River. To determine effects on growth, amphipods were fed four diets: (1) filamentous algae (Cladophora) and diatoms, (2) dead animal matter (chironomids), (3) coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), and (4) fine particulate organic matter (FPOM). Organic matter was obtained by shredding preconditioned sycamore leaves (Platanus occidentalis). Growth was evaluated from weekly measurements of head length. There were no significant differences in growth among food types before week 3 of the experiment, but from week 4 to week 6, amphipods fed algae and dead animal matter were significantly larger than those maintained on CPOM and FPOM. Gut analysis of natural populations showed that G. fasciatus consumed all food types used in the laboratory study. The weighted proportions of filamentous algae and animal matter in riverine populations increased consistently from smallest to largest size-class. The availability of, and ability to use, algae and animal matter by G. fasciatus benefits natural populations in large rivers by enabling them to exploit seasonal changes in the relative abundance of different food sources.
Water Level Regulations and Fisheries in Rainy Lake and the Namakan Reservoir
Authors: Cohen Yosef , Radomski Paul
Published: November 2008

The difference between the yearly maximum and minimum water levels (YMXR) is an index of lake dynamics: shoals are exposed and inundated, nutrients are oxidized and reduced, and the diversity and density of the aquatic plant community are affected. Shoals and emergent macrophytes provide spawning habitat for fish. The 5-yr moving variance of YMXR fluctuates regularly with periods of about 11.2 yr (periodicity of sunspot cycles). This reflects the effects of within-year consecutive periods of storms and dry spells. Water level regulations resulted in changes in both amplitudes and frequencies of YMXR compared with natural fluctuations. We established links between fluctuations in YMXR and fluctuations in fish populations. Water level regulations, through their effects on YMXR, corresponded to changes in interspecific interactions on Rainy Lake and the Namakan Reservoir. In both, walleye's (Stizostedion vitreum) fluctuations were synchronized with both those of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and northern pike (Esox lucius) more than those of either species with the other two. On the Namakan Reservoir, YMXR fluctuations were accentuated by water level regulation; on Rainy Lake, they were dampened. Regulations should consider frequencies and amplitudes of changes in water level and their effect on fish populations.
Transformations of Sulfur in Sediment Microcosms
Authors: Urban N. R. , Brezonik P. L.
Published: November 2008

Laboratory microcosms were used to investigate rates of S movement into and out of sediments and factors affecting its net retention and speciation. Rates of sulfate reduction, calculated from movement of 35S into and out of the sediments, were much higher than net rates of sulfate movement into the sediments. Results suggested that high rates of sulfide oxidation accompanied high rates of sulfate reduction; net flux across the interface depended on the balance between these two processes. Both pyrite and acid-volatile sulfides were dynamic pools undergoing rapid formation and oxidation. Measurement of S in fulvic acid, humic acid, and humin fractions revealed differences between organic S formed by algae and that resulting from sulfate reduction and subsequent reactions in sediments; sulfate esters formed by algae were hydrolyzed in hot acid to a greater extent than sulfate esters formed within the sediments. The organic S species also reflected the extent of oxygenation of the overlying water; low oxygen in overlying water resulted in a high sulfate ester content in the humic acid fraction. Addition of Fe to sediments did not cause increased S retention, but did lead to greater formation of pyrite relative to iron monosulfides.
NEUTRINO CP VIOLATING PARAMETERS FROM NONTRIVIAL QUARK–LEPTON CORRELATION: A S3 × GUT MODEL
Authors: PICARIELLO MARCO
Published: November 2008

We investigate the prediction on the lepton phases in theories with a nontrivial correlation between quark (CKM) and lepton (PMNS) mixing matrices. We show that the actual evidence, under the only assumption that the correlation matrix VM product of CKM and PMNS has a zero in the entry (1, 3), gives us a prediction for the three CP-violating invariants J, S1 and S2. A better determination of the lepton mixing angles will give stronger prediction for the CP-violating invariants in the lepton sector. These will be tested in the next generation experiments. To clarify how our prediction works, we show how a model based on a Grand Unified Theory and the permutation flavor symmetry S3 predicts [Formula: see text].
DENSITY FLUCTUATIONS IN THE OSCILLATORY PHASE OF A NONCLASSICAL INFLATON IN THE FRW UNIVERSE
Authors: VENKATARATNAM K. K. , SURESH P. K.
Published: November 2008

The use of the coherent and squeezed state formalisms of quantum optics for a minimally coupled nonclassical inflaton in the FRW metric is studied, in the semiclassical theory of gravity. The leading order solutions to the semiclassical Einstein equations in the coherent, squeezed and squeezed vacuum states are obtained perturbatively and exhibit power law expansion behavior. The validity of the semiclassical theory is examined in the squeezed vacuum state in the oscillatory phase of the inflaton. The semiclassical theory in the oscillatory phase of the nonclassical inflaton holds only if the associated squeezing parameter is much smaller than unity. Quantum fluctuations of the inflaton are also examined in the coherent and squeezed state formalisms.
COSMIC ACCELERATION IN A MODEL OF SCALAR–TENSOR GRAVITATION
Authors: UNNIKRISHNAN SANIL , SESHADRI T. R.
Published: November 2008

In this paper we consider a model of the scalar–tensor theory of gravitation, in which the scalar field ϕ determines the gravitational coupling G and has a Lagrangian of the form [Formula: see text]. We study the cosmological consequence of this theory in the matter-dominated era and show that it leads to a transition from an initial decelerated expansion to an accelerated expansion phase at the present epoch. Using observational constraints, we see that the effective equation of state today for the scalar field turns out to be pϕ = wϕρϕ, with wϕ = -0.88, and that the transition to an accelerated phase happened at a redshift of about 0.3.
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE OF A MASSLESS SCALAR FIELD AND A PERFECT FLUID WITH SELF-SIMILARITY OF THE FIRST KIND IN 2+1 DIMENSIONS
Authors: PEREIRA F. I. M. , CHAN R.
Published: November 2008

Self-similar solutions of a collapsing perfect fluid and a massless scalar field with kinematic self-similarity of the first kind in 2+1 dimensions are obtained. The local and global properties of the solutions are studied. It is found that some of them represent gravitational collapse, in which black holes are always formed, and some may be interpreted as representing cosmological models.
ADAPTIVE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR PERIODIC ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: NAVARRO-BARRIENTOS J.-EMETERIO
Published: November 2008

In this paper, an adaptive investment strategy for environments with periodic returns on investment is presented. In this approach, an investment model is considered where the agent decides at every time step the proportion of wealth to invest in a risky asset, keeping the rest of the budget in a risk-free asset. Every investment is evaluated in the market via stylized return on investment function (RoI), which is modeled by a stochastic process with unknown periodicities and levels of noise. For comparison, two reference strategies are presented which represent the case of agents with zero knowledge and complete knowledge of the dynamics of the returns. An investment strategy based on technical analysis to forecast the next return is also considered. To account for the performance of the different strategies, some computer experiments are performed to calculate the average budget that can be obtained with them over a certain number of time steps. To assure fair comparisons, the parameters of each strategy are first tuned for budget maximization. Afterward, the performance of these strategies is compared for RoI's with different periodicities and levels of noise.
DISCRIMINATION OF MENTAL WORKLOAD LEVELS IN HUMAN SUBJECTS WITH FUNCTIONAL NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY
Authors: SASSAROLI ANGELO , ZHENG FENG , HIRSHFIELD LEANNE M. , GIROUARD AUDREY , SOLOVEY ERIN TREACY , JACOB ROBERT J. K. , FANTINI SERGIO
Published: November 2008

We have applied functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to the human forehead to distinguish different levels of mental workload on the basis of hemodynamic changes occurring in the prefrontal cortex. We report data on 3 subjects from a protocol involving 3 mental workload levels based on to working memory tasks. To quantify the potential of fNIRS for mental workload discrimination, we have applied a 3-nearest neighbor classification algorithm based on the amplitude of oxyhemoglobin ( HbO 2) and deoxyhemoglobin ( HbR ) concentration changes associated with the working memory tasks. We have found classification success rates in the range of 44–72%, which are significantly higher than the corresponding chance level (for random data) of 19.1%. This work shows the potential of fNIRS for mental workload classification, especially when more parameters (rather than just the amplitude of concentration changes used here) and more sophisticated classification algorithms (rather than the simple 3-nearest neighbor algorithm used here) are considered and optimized for this application.
NOX4 mediates hypoxia-induced proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells: the role of autocrine production of transforming growth factor-β1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3
Authors: Ismail Saleh , Sturrock Anne , Wu Ping , Cahill Barbara , Norman Kimberly , Huecksteadt Thomas , Sanders Karl , Kennedy Thomas , Hoidal John
Published: November 2008

Persistent hypoxia can cause pulmonary arterial hypertension that may be associated with significant remodeling of the pulmonary arteries, including smooth muscle cell proliferation and hypertrophy. We previously demonstrated that the NADPH oxidase homolog NOX4 mediates human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (HPASMC) proliferation by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). We now show that hypoxia increases HPASMC proliferation in vitro, accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species generation and NOX4 gene expression, and is inhibited by antioxidants, the flavoenzyme inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), and NOX4 gene silencing. HPASMC proliferation and NOX4 expression are also observed when media from hypoxic HPASMC are added to HPASMC grown in normoxic conditions, suggesting autocrine stimulation. TGF-β1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) are both increased in the media of hypoxic HPASMC, and increased IGFBP-3 gene expression is noted in hypoxic HPASMC. Treatment with anti-TGF-β1 antibody attenuates NOX4 and IGFBP-3 gene expression, accumulation of IGFBP-3 protein in media, and proliferation. Inhibition of IGFBP-3 expression with small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreases NOX4 gene expression and hypoxic proliferation. Conversely, NOX4 silencing does not decrease hypoxic IGFBP-3 gene expression or secreted protein. Smad inhibition does not but the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway inhibitor LY-294002 does inhibit NOX4 and IGFBP-3 gene expression, IGFBP-3 secretion, and cellular proliferation resulting from hypoxia. Immunoblots from hypoxic HPASMC reveal increased TGF-β1-mediated phosphorylation of the serine/threonine kinase (Akt), consistent with hypoxia-induced activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways to promote proliferation. We conclude that hypoxic HPASMC produce TGF-β1 that acts in an autocrine fashion to induce IGFBP-3 through PI3K/Akt. IGFBP-3 increases NOX4 gene expression, resulting in HPASMC proliferation. These observations add to our understanding hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling.
PPARα attenuates the proinflammatory response in activated mesangial cells
Authors: Kono Keiichi , Kamijo Yuji , Hora Kazuhiko , Takahashi Kyoko , Higuchi Makoto , Kiyosawa Kendo , Shigematsu Hidekazu , Gonzalez Frank J. , Aoyama Toshifumi
Published: November 2008

The activated mesangial cell is an important therapeutic target for the control of glomerulonephritis. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) has attracted considerable attention for its anti-inflammatory effects; however, its roles in the mesangial cells remain unknown. To determine the anti-inflammatory function of PPARα in mesangial cells, wild-type and Ppara-null cultured mesangial cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS treatment caused enhanced proinflammatory responses in the Ppara-null cells compared with wild-type cells, as revealed by the induction of interleukin-6, enhanced cell proliferation, and the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway. In wild-type cells resistant to inflammation, constitutive expression of PPARα was undetectable. However, LPS treatment induced the significant appearance and substantial activation of PPARα, which would attenuate the proinflammatory responses through its antagonizing effects on the NF-κB signaling pathway. The induction of PPARα was coincident with the appearance of α-smooth muscle actin, which might be associated with the phenotypic changes of mesangial cells. Moreover, another examination using LPS-injected wild-type mice demonstrated the appearance of PPARα-positive cells in glomeruli, suggesting in vivo correlation with PPARα induction. These results suggest that PPARα plays crucial roles in the attenuation of inflammatory response in activated mesangial cells. PPARα might be a novel therapeutic target against glomerular diseases.
Effect of weight and age on respiratory complexity in premature neonates
Authors: Engoren Milo , Courtney Sherry E. , Habib Robert H.
Published: November 2008

Very low-birth-weight premature infants often suffer from a variety of respiratory problems, including respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), hypopnea and periodic breathing, and apnea. These conditions are likely related to immaturity of the respiratory centers; yet how respiratory rhythms originating from these centers, including their complexity, relate to demographic measures of prematurity remains largely unknown. In 39 neonates with mild RDS (22 males, 28 ± 2 wk gestational age, 1,036 ± 234 g body wt), we derived the univariate association between complexity of two respiratory rhythms [respiratory rate (RR) and tidal volume (Vt)] and postmenstrual age, gestational age, postnatal age, and weight at time of study. RR and Vt rhythm complexities were assessed using approximate entropy, sample entropy, base scale entropy, and forbidden words entropy estimated for 300 consecutive breaths determined from respiratory inductance plethysmography, irrespective of breathing effort rate or amplitude, collected during sleep while the neonates were exposed to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (4–6 cmH2O). RR and Vt exhibited increased complexity with increased maturity, but only in terms of base scale entropy and forbidden words entropy, which are based on pattern matching, rather than approximate entropy and sample entropy, which are based on conditional probabilities. Specifically, RR complexity as measured by forbidden word entropy increased with increasing weight ( r = 0.502), postconceptional age ( r = 0.423), and gestational age ( r = 0.493). As measured by base scale entropy, RR complexity increased with increasing weight ( r = 0.488) and postconceptional age ( r = 0.390). Vt complexity, measured by base scale entropy, was greater with increased postnatal age ( r = 0.428). Our results indicate that respiratory rhythms become more complex with increasing levels of maturity, as indicated by increased weight and several age parameters. This emphasizes the importance of the later weeks of gestation in the maturation of respiratory centers in the brain and suggests a promising use of entropy measures in exploring respiratory maturation in infants.
Interlimb Coordination in Human Crawling Reveals Similarities in Development and Neural Control With Quadrupeds
Authors: Patrick Susan K. , Noah J. Adam , Yang Jaynie F.
Published: November 2008

The study of quadrupeds has furnished most of our understanding of mammalian locomotion. To allow a more direct comparison of coordination between the four limbs in humans and quadrupeds, we studied crawling in the human, a behavior that is part of normal human development and mechanically more similar to quadrupedal locomotion than is bipedal walking. Interlimb coordination during hands-and-knees crawling is compared between humans and quadrupeds and between human infants and adults. Mechanical factors were manipulated during crawling to understand the relative contributions of mechanics and neural control. Twenty-six infants and seven adults were studied. Video, force plate, and electrogoniometer data were collected. Belt speed of the treadmill, width of base, and limb length were manipulated in adults. Influences of unweighting and limb length were explored in infants. Infants tended to move diagonal limbs together (trot-like). Adults additionally moved ipsilateral limbs together (pace-like). At lower speeds, movements of the four limbs were more equally spaced in time, with no clear pairing of limbs. At higher speeds, running symmetrical gaits were never observed, although one adult galloped. Widening stance prevented adults from using the pace-like gait, whereas lengthening the hind limbs (hands-and-feet crawling) largely prevented the trot-like gait. Limb length and unweighting had no effect on coordination in infants. We conclude that human crawling shares features both with other primates and with nonprimate quadrupeds, suggesting similar underlying mechanisms. The greater restriction in coordination patterns used by infants suggests their nervous system has less flexibility.
Area Optimisation for Field-Programmable Gate Arrays in SystemC Hardware Compilation
Authors: Ditmar Johan , McKeever Steve , Wilson Alex
Published: November 2008

This paper discusses a pair of synthesis algorithms that optimise a SystemC design to minimise area when targeting FPGAs. Each can significantly improve the synthesis of a high-level language construct, thus allowing a designer to concentrate more on an algorithm description and less on hardware-specific implementation details. The first algorithm is a source-level transformation implementing function exlining—where a separate block of hardware implements a function and is shared between multiple calls to the function. The second is a novel algorithm for mapping arrays to memories which involves assigning array accesses to memory ports such that no port is ever accessed more than once in a clock cycle. This algorithm assigns accesses to read/write only ports and read-write ports concurrently, solving the assignment problem more efficiently for a wider range of memories compared to existing methods. Both optimisations operate on a high-level program representation and have been implemented in a commercial SystemC compiler. Experiments show that in suitable circumstances these techniques result in significant reductions in logic utilisation for FPGAs.