bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Narrative Magic and the Construction of Selfhood in Antidepressant Advertising
Authors: Stepnisky Jeffrey N.
Published: January 2007

This article examines the way in which selfhood is constructed in direct-to-consumer advertisements for antidepressant medications. The sample consists of advertisements that appeared in nine popular magazines between 1997 and 2005, television commercials that ran between 2003 and 2005, and online promotional Web sites. The analysis is divided into three sections. First, it is argued that the ads rely on metaphors of communication, information exchange, and plenitude to construct a relationship between biology and selfhood. Second, in offering the choice for antidepressant treatment, the ads grant individuals a new capacity for the exercise of personal agency. Third, the author describes antidepressants as pills that perform a narrative “magic.” In contrast to religious and psychoanalytic narratives that required individuals to incorporate disavowed elements of their selves into an ongoing life narrative, antidepressants are medications that allow individuals to put aside, or jump over, inexplicable and painful moments in their life.
The lowest surviving birth weight reported in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient: a review of the literature
Authors: Spiegel J , Ishimori M L , Wallace D J , Weisman M H
Published: January 2007

The success rates for pregnancies in women with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) have improved over the years: however, pregnancy for women with active, serious, organ-threatening lupus continues to be a challenge. Preeclampsia and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets) syndrome may complicate pregnancy especially in the setting of advanced maternal age, underlying SLE and chronic renal disease.

We report the pregnancy course and outcome for a 35-year old woman with active lupus nephritis at the time of conception who developed severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. The infant was delivered at 26-5/7 weeks gestation, which, associated with intrauterine growth retardation, led to a birth weight of only 470 g. We have reviewed the relevant literature for similar cases of prematurity, very low birth weight, and preeclampsia in the setting of underlying lupus in Medline between 1986 and 2006. This report represents the lowest birth weight pregnancy survival in a lupus patient and the first case of a survival in the second trimester with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
Spontaneous splenorenal shunt in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome: the first case reported
Authors: Cacciapaglia F , Vadacca M , Coppolino G , Buzzulini F , Rigon A , Zennaro D , Zardi E , Afeltra A
Published: January 2007

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder, characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Thromboembolic events, with a greater involvement of extremities veins, are the most common features, and obstruction of abdominal vessels are sporadically reported. We present a singular case of a patient with primary APS (PAPS) that developed a spontaneous splenorenal shunt, secondary to a total portal, mesenteric and splenic vein thrombosis. Spontaneous splenorenal shunt, an uncommon circumstance reported in cirrhotic disease, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously described in PAPS.
Fine specificity of the Ro/SSA autoantibody response in relation to serological and clinical findings in 96 patients with self-reported cutaneous symptoms induced by the sun
Authors: Popovic K , Brauner S , Ek M , Wahren-Herlenius M , Nyberg F
Published: January 2007

Anti-Ro/SSA assays assist the clinician in distinguishing autoimmune diseases such as Sjögrenś syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE). The objective of the study was to investigate the fine specificity of the autoantibodies in relation to clinical presentation as well as environmental and endogenous factors such as photosensitivity, smoking and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in patients with Ro/SSA autoantibodies. Serum samples from 96 anti-Ro/SSA positive photosensitive patients were tested for autoantibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using purified recombinant Ro52 kd, Ro60 kd and La proteins as antigens. The highest levels of anti-Ro52 and anti-La were observed in patients with primary SS, and the lowest levels of anti-Ro52 in chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE). SCLE patients with systemic disease (SLE and/or SS) showed higher levels of anti-Ro52 than SCLE limited to the skin. A correlation between high serum levels of IgG and anti-Ro52 ( P < 0.01) and between IgA and anti-Ro52 ( P < 0.05) and anti-Ro60 ( P < 0.05) was found. Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) was common in all diagnostic groups but did not correlate with autoantibody levels. Smoking was more common in lupus patients than in SS patients. Our findings thus propose different mechanisms for different clinical presentations of Ro/SSA positive patients. The testing of anti-Ro52 antibodies might serve as a prognostic tool in photosensitive cutaneous diseases.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome associated with malignancies (case report and review of the literature)
Authors: Ideguchi H , Ohno S , Ueda A , Ishigatsubo Y
Published: January 2007

We describe a 58-year old female patient with rapid development of arterial and venous thromboembolisms, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limbs, recurrent cerebral infarctions and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Her laboratory data on admission showed positive anticardiolipin antibody of IgG isotype (IgG aCL) and positive anti-β2 glycoprotein-I antibody of IgG isotype (IgG aβ2-GPI), and decreased protein C activity and protein S antigen. Systemic examinations revealed the presence of an ovarian cancer. Surgical resection was attempted, but her cancer infiltrated the pelvic wall and could not be resected. Despite treatment with unfractionated heparin followed by warfarin, she died due to recurrent episodes of cerebral infarction.

This case was considered as probable catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), which might be associated with ovarian cancer. Known as Trousseau's syndrome, arterial and, more commonly, venous thrombosis is a frequent complication of cancer and sometimes a harbinger of occult cancer. Our case indicates that there is an overlap between antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and Trousseau's syndrome. It is important to bear in mind that a thrombotic event associated with cancer can be the first manifestation of CAPS.
Renal damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative analysis of different age groups
Authors: Mak A , Mok C C , Chu W P , To C H , Wong S N , Au T C
Published: January 2007

Renal damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative analysis of different age groups A Mak, CC Mok, WP Chu, CH To, SN Wong and TC Au Please note that the following pdf is a corrected version of the article which appears in the printed version of Lupus 16/1. An Erratum will also appear in print in Lupus; 16(2). The corrected line can be found in the abstract. It was changed from: Patients were categorized into childhood (age ≥6 years), adult (between 16 and 50 years) or late onset (≥50 years) SLE. To: Patients were categorized into childhood (age 16 years), adult (between 16 and 50 years) or late onset (50 years) SLE.The objective of this study was to compare the frequency and severity of renal damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with regard to the age of disease onset. Among 287 patients with new onset SLE diagnosed between 1991 and 2003 in our hospital, we identified those who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for renal involvement. Patients were categorized into childhood (age <6 years), adult (between 16 and 50 years) or late onset (≥50 years) SLE. Clinical presentation of renal disease and cumulative renal damage as assessed by the renal domain of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR damage index (SDI) were compared. A linear regression model was constructed to study the effect of age on renal damage. One-hundred and forty-nine patients were studied (134 women and 15 men), including 28 childhood, 107 adult and 14 late onset SLE patients. The mean age of SLE onset was 29.7 ± 14 years. The prevalence of renal disease was 53% in childhood onset, 50% in adult onset and 58% in late onset SLE patients (P = 0.66). At renal disease presentation, late onset SLE patients had significantly lower creatinine clearance and were more likely to be hypertensive. Histological classes of nephritis and initial treatment response, however, did not differ significantly among the patients. After a mean observation of 80.3 months, 32 (21%) patients developed renal damage (renal SDI ≥ 1). Late onset SLE patients had accrued more renal damage than the others. In a multiple regression model, age was not a significant determinant of renal damage after adjustment for baseline renal parameters, duration of renal disease, use of cyclophosphamide and initial treatment response. We concluded that the prevalence of renal disease was similar among SLE patients of different ages of onset. Late onset SLE patients had accrued more renal damage but age did not correlate with renal damage after adjustment for various clinical parameters.
Analysis of risk factors for the development of thrombotic complications in antiphospholipid antibody positive lupus patients
Authors: Tarr T , Lakos G , Bhattoa H P , Shoenfeld Y , Szegedi G , Kiss E
Published: January 2007

The objective of this study was to characterize risk factors for thrombotic events in lupus patients. A total of 272 lupus patients were followed up for five years during which the presence of aPL antibodies [anticardiolipin (aCL), anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) and lupus anticoagulant (LAC)] were determined, and all thrombotic incidents and antithrombotic therapy-related data were collected. At baseline, three groups were constituted, an aPL–group with 107 aPL negative patients, an aPL+ group with 81 aPL positive patients without clinical thrombosis and a secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) group with 84 aPL+ patients who met the Sapporo criteria. LAC was more common in the APS than the aPL+ group (32.1% versus 9.9%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of clinical thrombotic events was significantly higher when all three types of aPL were present compared to only aCL positive cases. During follow up, aPL appeared in 7.5% of the aPL - group, and 2.8% of this group had thrombotic complications. In the aPL + group, thrombotic events reoccurred in 1.9% of those receiving antithrombotic prophylaxis and 6.9% of those without primary prophylaxis. Despite anticoagulant therapy, thrombotic events reoccurred in 8.3% of the APS group. These findings indicate that LAC, constant and cumulative presence of aPL and previous thrombosis are positive predictors for the development of thrombotic complication in lupus patients.
Optical coherence tomography of cutaneous lupus erythematosus correlates with histopathology
Authors: Gambichler T , Hyun J , Moussa G , Tomi N S , Boms S , Altmeyer P , Hoffmann K , Kreuter A
Published: January 2007

Diagnosis of cutaneous forms of lupus erythematosus (LE), including chronic discoid LE (CDLE) and subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE), is usually based on characteristic clinical and histopathological findings. We aimed to visualize morphological changes in lesions of cutaneous LE using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to correlate the OCT findings with histopathology. Six patients with CDLE and five patients with SCLE were investigated. Prior to skin biopsy, OCT assessment was performed on previously marked lesions. The images of OCT and corresponding histology were evaluated side-by-side on the PC screen. The thickening and disruption of the entrance signal in OCT images correlated with the hyperkeratosis which was observed in the histological sections. Atrophy of the epidermis, which was demonstrated by histology, could also be detected in the OCT pictures showing a thinned layer below the entrance signals. On OCT, a patchy reduction of reflectivity was observed in the upper dermis corresponding to dense patchy, partly lichenoid, lymphocytic infiltrates and oedema of the upper dermis. Furthermore, OCT images displayed increased signal-free cavities which histopathologically corresponded to dilated vessels in the upper dermis. All OCT parameters studied significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with histopathological features as indicated by coefficients of correlation ranging from 0.55 to 0.94. OCT enables to demonstrate micromorphological changes in cutaneous LE which correlate with histopathological findings. Nevertheless, the current technique does not allow one to visualize definite diagnostic features of cutaneous LE. However, OCT may be a promising method for objective monitoring of LE activity and treatment effects over time in vivo
Agate and chalcedony from igneous and sedimentary hosts aged from 13 to 3480 Ma: a cathodoluminescence study
Authors: Moxon T. , Reed S. J. B.
Published: January 2007

Chalcedony and agates from a variety of world-wide hosts have been examined using cathodoluminescence (CL). Gaussian fitting of the experimental data shows that there are two dominant spectral emissions at ∼400 and ∼660 nm. A third subordinate peak is also found at ∼470, ∼560 or ∼620 nm. An age-related link is shown between the respective decreasing and increasing relative intensities of the 660 and 620 nm emissions. It is proposed that this change is due to a condensation reaction between neighbouring Si–OH groups eliminating water and forming a strained Si-O-Si bond.

Agates from a variety of hosts and regions produced no clear demonstrable CL distinctions. However, a set of Western Australian agates was examined from host rocks that had been subjected to burial metamorphism. Cathodoluminescence produced different spectral emissions in the petrographic fibrous and granular regions of these agates. One agate shows a partial transformation of the petrographic fibrosity into granularity. This conversion is characterized by emission bands at 570 nm and 460 nm. Similar emission-band changes were produced by heating Brazilian agates for 35 days at 300°C. The identification of these changes in agate could serve as an indicator of palaeoheating within the parent rock.
Tracking magmatic processes through Zr/Hf ratios in rocks and Hf and Ti zoning in zircons: An example from the Spirit Mountain batholith, Nevada
Authors: Lowery Claiborne L. , Miller C. F. , Walker B. A. , Wooden J. L. , Mazdab F. K. , Bea F.
Published: January 2007

Zirconium and Hf are nearly identical geochemically, and therefore most of the crust maintains near-chondritic Zr/Hf ratios of ∼35–40. By contrast, many high-silica rhyolites and granites have anomalously low Zr/Hf (15–30). As zircon is the primary reservoir for both Zr and Hf and preferentially incorporates Zr, crystallization of zircon controls Zr/Hf, imprinting low Zr/Hf on coexisting melt. Thus, low Zr/Hf is a unique fingerprint of effective magmatic fractionation in the crust. Age and compositional zonation in zircons themselves provide a record of the thermal and compositional histories of magmatic systems. High Hf (low Zr/Hf) in zircon zones demonstrates growth from fractionated melt, and Ti provides an estimate of temperature of crystallization (TTiZ) (Watson and Harrison, 2005). Whole-rock Zr/Hf and zircon zonation in the Spirit Mountain batholith, Nevada, document repeated fractionation and thermal fluctuations. Ratios of Zr/Hf are ∼307–40 for cumulates and 18–30 for high-SiO2 granites. In zircons, Hf (and U) are inversely correlated with Ti, and concentrations indicate large fluctuations in melt composition and TTiZ (>100°C) for individual zircons. Such variations are consistent with field relations and ion-probe zircon geochronology that indicate a >1 million year history of repeated replenishment, fractionation, and extraction of melt from crystal mush to form the low Zr/Hf high-SiO2 zone.
Petrology and geodynamic significance of deerite-bearing metaquartzites from the Escambray Massif, Cuba
Authors: Grevel C. , Maresch W. V. , Stanek K.-P. , Grafe F. , Hoernes S.
Published: January 2007

Deerite, a typical mineral of Fe-rich metacherts metamorphosed under blueschist conditions, is not rare, but known occurrences have up to now been restricted mainly to the Tethyan collisional zone and the Western Cordillera of North America. We describe a first occurrence in the high-pressure nappes of the Escambray Massif, Cuba, in the assemblage deerite + Mg-Al-poor riebeckite + magnetite + quartz ± garnet ± phengite ± aegirine. This assemblage typically forms during exhumation and accompanies late, stress-free annealing of the quartz matrix. Mg-Al-poor riebeckite overgrows older, large, oriented crystals of glaucophane, ferroglaucophane and Mg-Al-rich riebeckite (‘crossite’) during deerite formation. Early-formed hematite was largely replaced by magnetite. Deerite is very close to ideal composition, attaining >99% Si12O40(OH)5, allowing direct application of the experimentally determined P-T-fO2 stability field (Lattard and Le Breton, 1994). In combination with oxygen-isotope thermometry on magnetite-quartz, the crystallization conditions of the deerite-bearing assemblage can be constrained to ∼470°C, >15 kbar, and an oxygen fugacity restricted closely to the quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer (fO2 ≈ 10−23 bar). Thus, the late-stage P-T path ofthe metacherts mirrors a steep P-T gradient of 10°C/km or less, requiring subduction ofthis part ofthe Antillean Island Arc to be still active during exhumation of the Escambray nappes.
Crystal-structure refinement of a Zn-rich kupletskite from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, with contributions to the geochemistry of zinc in peralkaline environments
Authors: Piilonen P. C. , Pekov I. V. , Back M. , Steede T. , Gault R. A.
Published: January 2007

The chemistry and crystal structure of a unique Zn-rich kupletskite: (K1.55Na0 .21Rb0.09Sr0.01)Σ1.86(Na0.82Ca0.18)Σ1.00(Mn4.72Zn1.66Na0.41Mg0.12)Σ7.00(Ti1.85Nb0.11Hf0.03)Σ1.99(Si7.99Al0.12)Σ8.11O26(OH)4(F0.77OH0.23)Σ1.00, from analkalin e pegmatite at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada has been determined. Zn-rich kupletskite is triclinic,,a= 5.3765(4),b= 11.8893(11),c= 11.6997(10), α = 113.070(3), β = 94.775(2), γ = 103.089(3),R1 = 0.0570 for 3757 observed reflections withFo> 4σ(Fo). From the single-crystal X-ray diffraction refinement, it is clear that Zn2+shows a preference for the smaller,trans M(4) site (69%), yet is distributed amongst all three octahedral sites coordinated by 4 O2−and 2 OH−[M(2) 58% andM(3) 60%]. Of note is the lack of Zn inM(1), the larger and least-distorted of the four crystallographic sites, with an asymmetric anionic arrangement of 5 O2−and 1 OH−. The preference of Zn for octahedral sites coordinated by mixed ligands (O and OH) is characteristic of its behaviour in alkaline systems, in contrast to granitic systems where Zn tends to favour [4]-coordinated, OH− and H2O-free sites with only one ligand species (O, S, Cl, B, I). In alkaline systems,[4]Zn is only present in early sphalerite or in late-stage zeolite-like minerals. The bulk of Zn in alkaline systems is present as discrete[6]Zn phases such as members of the astrophyllite, labuntsovite, milarite and nordite groups, a result of the formation of network-formingcomplexes inthe low-temperature, low-fS2, high-alkalinity and highly oxidizing systems.
Low-T formation of high-Cr spinel with apparently primary chemical characteristics within podiform chromitite from Rayat, northeastern Iraq
Authors: Arai S. , Shimizu Y. , Ismail S. A. , Ahmed A. H.
Published: January 2007

Chemical modification of chromian spinel at low-T alteration was examined in detail for a podiform chromitite from a Tethyan ophiolitic mélange belt at Rayat, northeastern Iraq. The chromitite is highly brecciated and the matrix has been completely altered, producing chlorite and carbonate (dolomite and calcite). High-Cr, low-Fe3+ spinel has formed along the margins and cracks of chromian spinel grains throughout the alteration, associated with unaltered primary spinel and magnetite without ferritchromite. In associated harzburgites, only ferritchromite is found instead of the high-Cr, low-Fe3+ spinel. The high-Cr, low-Fe3+ secondary spinel apparently has chemical properties of mantle origin, plotted at the extension of ordinary mantle spinels on compositional spaces. The character is due to subtraction of Al as chlorite with the addition of an amount of magnetite component from the silicate matrix, which is small in volume relative to peridotite and composed of highly magnesian olivine (up to Fo97). We should treat high-Cr chromian spinels with caution in highly altered mantle-derived rocks, especially chromitite and other rocks with highly magnesian olivine, as well as in detrital particles for provenance study.
High glucose upregulates connective tissue growth factor expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Liu Xiaojing , Luo Fengming , Pan Kejian , Wu Wenchao , Chen Huaiqing
Published: January 2007

Background

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a potent profibrotic factor, which is implicated in fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. It is a downstream mediator of some of the effects of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and is potentially induced by hyperglycemia in human renal mesangial cells. However, whether high glucose could induce the CTGF expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remains unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to test whether high glucose could regulate CTGF expression in human VSMC. The effect of modulating CTGF expression on VSMC proliferation and migration was further investigated.

Results

Expression of CTGF mRNA was up-regulated as early as 6 hours in cultured human VSMCs after exposed to high glucose condition, followed by ECM components (collagen type I and fibronectin) accumulation. The upregulation of CTGF mRNA appears to be TGFβ-dependent since anti-TGFβ antibody blocks the effect of high glucose on CTGF gene expression. A small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting CTGF mRNA (CTGF-siRNA) effectively suppressed CTGF up-regulation stimulated by high glucose up to 79% inhibition. As a consequence of decreased expression of CTGF gene, the deposition of ECM proteins in the VSMC was also declined. Moreover, CTGF-siRNA expressing vector partially inhibited the high glucose-induced VSMC proliferation and migration.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that in the development of macrovascular complications in diabetes, CTGF might be an important factor involved in the patho-physiological responses to high glucose in human VSMCs. In addition, the modulatory effects of CTGF-siRNA during this process suggest that specific targeting CTGF by RNA interference could be useful in preventing intimal hyperplasia in diabetic macrovascular complications.
A strong constitutive ethylene-response phenotype conferred on Arabidopsis plants containing null mutations in the ethylene receptors ETR1 and ERS1
Authors: Qu Xiang , Hall Brenda P , Gao Zhiyong , Schaller G Eric
Published: January 2007

Background

The ethylene receptor family of Arabidopsis consists of five members, falling into two subfamilies. Subfamily 1 is composed of ETR1 and ERS1, and subfamily 2 is composed of ETR2, ERS2, and EIN4. Although mutations have been isolated in the genes encoding all five family members, the only previous insertion allele of ERS1 (ers1-2) is a partial loss-of-function mutation based on our analysis. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of signaling mediated by subfamily-1 ethylene receptors through isolation and characterization of null mutations.

Results

We isolated new T-DNA insertion alleles of subfamily 1 members ERS1 and ETR1 (ers1-3 and etr1-9, respectively), both of which are null mutations based on molecular, biochemical, and genetic analyses. Single mutants show an ethylene response similar to wild type, although both mutants are slightly hypersensitive to ethylene. Double mutants of ers1-3 with etr1-9, as well as with the previously isolated etr1-7, display a constitutive ethylene-response phenotype more pronounced than that observed with any previously characterized combination of ethylene receptor mutations. Dark-grown etr1-9;ers1-3 and etr1-7;ers1-3 seedlings display a constitutive triple-response phenotype. Light-grown etr1-9;ers1-3 and etr1-7;ers1-3 plants are dwarfed, largely sterile, exhibit premature leaf senescence, and develop novel filamentous structures at the base of the flower. A reduced level of ethylene response was still uncovered in the double mutants, indicating that subfamily 2 receptors can independently contribute to signaling, with evidence suggesting that this is due to their interaction with the Raf-like kinase CTR1.

Conclusion

Our results are consistent with the ethylene receptors acting as redundant negative regulators of ethylene signaling, but with subfamily 1 receptors playing the predominant role. Loss of a single member of subfamily 1 is largely compensated for by the activity of the other member, but loss of both subfamily members results in a strong constitutive ethylene-response phenotype. The role of subfamily 1 members is greater than previously suspected and analysis of the double mutant null for both ETR1 and ERS1 uncovers novel roles for the receptors not previously characterized.
Production of recombinant antibody fragments in Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Jordan Eva , Hust Michael , Roth Andreas , Biedendieck Rebekka , Schirrmann Thomas , Jahn Dieter , Dübel Stefan
Published: January 2007

Background

Recombinant antibodies are essential reagents for research, diagnostics and therapy. The well established production host Escherichia coli relies on the secretion into the periplasmic space for antibody synthesis. Due to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, only a fraction of this material reaches the medium. Recently, the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium was shown to efficiently secrete recombinant proteins into the growth medium. Here we evaluated B. megaterium for the recombinant production of antibody fragments.

Results

The lysozyme specific single chain Fv (scFv) fragment D1.3 was succesfully produced using B. megaterium. The impact of culture medium composition, gene expression time and culture temperatures on the production of functional scFv protein was systematically analyzed. A production and secretion at 41°C for 24 h using TB medium was optimal for this individual scFv. Interestingly, these parameters were very different to the optimal conditions for the expression of other proteins in B. megaterium. Per L culture supernatant, more than 400 μg of recombinant His6-tagged antibody fragment were purified by one step affinity chromatography. The material produced by B. megaterium showed an increased specific activity compared to material produced in E. coli.

Conclusion

High yields of functional scFv antibody fragments can be produced and secreted into the culture medium by B. megaterium, making this production system a reasonable alternative to E. coli.
SCF Fbx4/alphaB-crystallin cyclin D1 ubiquitin ligase: a license to destroy
Authors: Barbash Olena , Lin Douglas I , Diehl J Alan
Published: January 2007

Cyclin D1 is an allosteric regulator for cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6). The cyclin D/CDK4 kinase promotes G1/S transition through the posttranslational modification and the subsequent inactivation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and related family members (p107 and p130). Accumulation of cyclin D1 is tightly regulated through various mechanisms including transcription, protein localization and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. While regulators of cyclin D1 gene expression have been under considerable scrutiny, the identity of the protein complex that targets cyclin D1 protein for degradation, the putative E3 ubiquitin ligase, has remained obscure. In a recent report, Lin et al [1] describe the identification and characterization of a novel SCF, wherein FBX4 and αB-crystallin serve as specificity factors that direct ubiquitination of phosphorylated cyclin D1. As cyclin D1 overexpression in human cancer has been postulated to occur through the loss of degradation machinery, the identification of the SCFFbx4/αB-crystallin ligase will allow new experimental approaches that address mechanisms of cyclin D1 overexpression in human cancer.
An annotated cDNA library and microarray for large-scale gene-expression studies in the ant Solenopsis invicta
Authors: Wang John , Jemielity Stephanie , Uva Paolo , Wurm Yannick , Gräff Johannes , Keller Laurent
Published: January 2007

Ants display a range of fascinating behaviors, a remarkable level of intra-species phenotypic plasticity and many other interesting characteristics. Here we present a new tool to study the molecular mechanisms underlying these traits: a tentatively annotated expressed sequence tag (EST) resource for the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. From a normalized cDNA library we obtained 21,715 ESTs, which represent 11,864 putatively different transcripts with very diverse molecular functions. All ESTs were used to construct a cDNA microarray.
Weibull and Rayleigh Distribution Functions of Wind Speeds in Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Jowder Fawzi A. L.
Published: January 2007

This paper compares between two commonly used functions, the Weibull and Rayleigh distribution functions, for fitting a measured wind speed probability distribution at a given location over a certain period. Hourly measured wind speed data at 10 m height for the years 2003 to 2005 have been statistically analyzed for the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Weibull and Rayleigh probability distribution functions have been determined and their parameters have been identified. The average wind speed and the wind power density have been estimated using both distribution functions and compared those estimated from the measured probability distribution function. The Weibull distribution function fits the wind speed variation better than Rayleigh distribution function. The average wind speed was found to be 4.5 m/s and the average wind power density was 114.54 W/m2
Class Generation for Numerical Wind Atlases
Authors: Cutler N. J. , Jørgensen B. H. , Ersbøll B. K. , Badger J.
Published: January 2007

A new optimised clustering method is presented for generating wind classes for mesoscale modelling to produce numerical wind atlases. It is compared with the existing method of dividing the data in 12 to 16 sectors, 3 to 7 wind-speed bins and dividing again according to the stability of the atmosphere.

Wind atlases are typically produced using many years of on-site wind observations at many locations. Numerical wind atlases are the result of mesoscale model integrations based on synoptic scale wind climates and can be produced in a number of hours of computation. 40 years of twice daily NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis geostrophic wind data (approximately 200 km resolution) are represented in typically around 150 classes, each with a frequency of occurrence. The mean wind-speed and direction in each class is used as input data to force the mesoscale model, which downscales the wind to a 5 km resolution while adapting to the local topography. The purpose of forming classes is to minimise the computational time for the mesoscale model while still representing the synoptic climate features. Only tried briefly in the past, clustering has traits that can be used to improve the existing class generation method by optimising the representation of the data and by automating the procedure more. The Karlsruhe Atmospheric Mesoscale Model (KAMM) is combined with the WAsP analysis to produce numerical wind atlases for two sites, Ireland and Egypt. The model results are compared with wind atlases made from measurements at specific sites. The sources are The New Irish Wind Resource Atlas and the Wind Atlas for the Gulf of Suez. The new clustering method has the ability to include wind-speed, direction and thermal stability from different heights for the classification. It is shown that the clustering method is able to produce results at least as accurate as the existing method for both sites. A refined, general clustering procedure is devised which could improve the results for both sites, where the existing method requires two different configurations.
Warm-Air Intermittent De-Icing System for Wind Turbines
Authors: Battisti L. , Baggio P. , Fedrizzi R.
Published: January 2007

This paper is concerned with the one-dimensional transient heat transfer in a wind turbine blade leading edge that is covered by ice. Intermittent heating of the surfaces, obtained by means of warm air channeled within the blade shell, was modeled to investigate the applicability of cyclical ice removal from wind turbine blades. Finite differencing was used to solve the heat diffusion differential equations. A conservative approach was employed to get the solution in terms of internal energy. A predictor-corrector method was used to tackle the problem of the water phase change. The de-icing capability of the warm air system was investigated for a typical rotor blade tip section, and its operational limits were illustrated. The comparison with usually employed continuous anti-icing systems showed the de-icing system to offer remarkable reduction of the energy consumption required for the ice prevention system's operation.
Equilibrium, Growth and Reform
Authors: Kornai János
Published: January 2007

In 2001 the Hungarian
economy departed from the path of balanced growth. During the past six years
the state budget deficit has grown to an unsustainable level, and also the
deficit in the current accounts has become too high. Real wages have increased
considerably faster than labour productivity. These difficulties and other
macroeconomic troubles led the Hungarian Government to the introduction of an
adjustment program in July 2006. The first part of the article analyses the
current macroeconomic situation and the expected economic and social effects of
the adjustment program. The commitment and determination of the government is
shown by the fact that they are ready to accept the political “price” of the
program, i.e. that the unavoidable measures will probably reduce the popularity
of the election winning political powers. 
The second part of the article discusses the
relationships concerning measures requiring immediate execution and reforms aimed
at long-lasting effects and in-depth institutional changes. These are
indispensable to the sustainability of the effects of the adjustment. In
connection with this, the paper reflects on the relationship between the budget
deficit and the size of the state, on the proportions of state- and
self-support, as well as on the speed and the gradual implementation of the
reforms.
Conference Report
Authors: Németh Adél
Published: January 2007

Report on the
conference, organised by the Center for Social and Economic Research (CEPR),
held in 19-20 October 2005 in Paris, France.
Book Reviews
Authors: Ádám Zoltán , Csaba László , Bakács András , Pogátsa Zoltán
Published: January 2007

István Csillag - Péter
Mihályi: Kettős kötés: A stabilizáció és a reformok 18 hónapja [Double
Bandage: The 18 Months of Stabilisation and Reforms] (Budapest: Globális Tudás
Alapítvány, 2006, 144 pp.) Reviewed by Zoltán Ádám; Marco
Buti - Daniele Franco: Fiscal Policy in Economic and Monetary Union. Theory,
Evidence and Institutions (Cheltenham/UK - Northampton/MA/USA: Edward Elgar
Publishing Co., 2005, 320 pp.) Reviewed by László Csaba; Piotr Jaworski -
Tomasz Mickiewicz (eds): Polish EU Accession in Comparative Perspective:
Macroeconomics, Finance and the Government (School of Slavonic and East
European Studies, University College of London, 2006, 171 pp.) Reviewed by
András Bakács; Is FDI Based R&D Really Growing in Developing Countries? The
World Investment Report 2005. Reviewed by Zoltán Pogátsa
Modeling Management Scenarios and the Effects of an Introduced Apex Predator on a Coastal Riverine Fish Community
Authors: Pine William E. , Kwak Thomas J. , Rice James A.
Published: January 2007

The flathead catfishPylodictis olivaris, a carnivorous fish species native to most of the central interior basin of North America, has been introduced into at least 13 U.S. states and 1 Canadian province. Concurrent declines in abundance of native fishes have been reported in aquatic systems where flathead catfish have been introduced. To evaluate the potential impact of this invasive species on the native fish community we developed an ecosystem simulation model (including flathead catfish) based on empirical data collected from a North Carolina coastal river. The model results suggest that flathead catfish suppress native fish community biomass by 5–50% through both predatory and competitive interactions. However, our model suggests these reductions could be mitigated through sustained exploitation of flathead catfish by recreational or commercial fishers at rates equivalent to those for native flathead catfish populations (annual exploitation = 6–25%). These findings demonstrate the potential for using directed harvest of an invasive species to assist in restoring native communities.
Genetic and Ecological Divergence Defines Population Structure of Sockeye Salmon Populations Returning to Bristol Bay, Alaska, and Provides a Tool for Admixture Analysis
Authors: Habicht Christopher , Seeb Lisa W. , Seeb James E.
Published: January 2007

We examined the population genetic diversity and structure of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka spawning in tributaries of Bristol Bay, Alaska, a region that supports the largest commercial fisheries for sockeye salmon in the world. Genetic variation among the sockeye salmon populations, as revealed by microsatellite data, was shallower than that found in other areas of comparable size around the Pacific Rim. This finding was driven by similarity among populations rearing in the four largest lake systems located on the southeastern side of the bay (upper and lower Ugashik, Becharof, Naknek–Grosvenor–Coville, and Iliamna lakes). Sockeye salmon in lakes located above known obstacles to migration on the southeastern side and in tributaries on the northwestern side showed variation and structure that were more typical of the species. Management of these important fisheries assumes knowledge of the composition of stock mixtures captured in each fishery. We investigated the potential of microsatellite data to provide stock composition estimates. We examined 58 collections and identified eight genetically discrete reporting groups. These reporting groups give fishery managers the opportunity to quantify stock components within fishing districts and thereby improve management precision.
Year‐Class Strength and Recovery of Endangered Shortnose Sturgeon in the Hudson River, New York
Authors: Woodland Ryan J. , Secor David H.
Published: January 2007

Shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum, a U.S. endangered species, has experienced a fourfold increase in abundance in the Hudson River in the past three decades. The age structure and trends in year‐class strength of yearlings were investigated to evaluate the underlying pattern of annual recruitment that accompanied population recovery. Annuli in pectoral spine sections were used to estimate ages of specimens captured with gill nets bimonthly from November 2003 to November 2004. Age estimates (range = 5–30 years) were generated for 554 shortnose sturgeon ranging from 49 to 105 cm total length. Hindcast year‐class strengths corrected for gear selectivity and cumulative mortality indicated high recruitments (31,000–52,000 yearlings) during 1986–1992. This interval was preceded and succeeded by approximately 5‐year periods of lower recruitment (6,000–17,500 yearlings), suggesting 10‐fold recruitment variability over the 20‐year period. The pattern and relative magnitude of hindcast recruitment patterns were corroborated by shortnose sturgeon catch‐per‐unit‐effort trends in an independent beam trawl survey. An analysis of hindcast year‐class abundance and coincident environmental conditions indicated that flow volume and water temperature in the fall months preceding spawning were significantly correlated with subsequent year‐class strength. Our results suggest that shortnose sturgeon of the Hudson River have experienced several strong year‐classes concomitant with the observed population recovery during the 1980s and 1990s. The data indicate that population growth slowed during the late 1990s, as evidenced by a nearly constant recruitment pattern at depressed levels relative to the 1986–1992 year‐classes.
Behavior of Nine Species of Pacific Rockfish after Hook‐and‐Line Capture, Recompression, and Release
Authors: Hannah Robert W. , Matteson Keith M.
Published: January 2007

We evaluated the effect of barotrauma on the behavior of nine species of Pacific rockfish Sebastes spp. after hook‐and‐line capture and release using a video‐equipped underwater release cage. Sampling was conducted across a range of bottom depths (12–194 m), mostly where barotrauma resulting from an expanded swim bladder and gaseous release of dissolved blood gases would be expected. Behavioral impairment from barotrauma was depth related but highly species specific. Increased depth of capture was associated with lower behavioral scores for black rockfish S. melanops, blue rockfish S. mystinus, and yelloweye rockfish S. ruberrimus, but not for canary rockfish S. pinniger. Behaviorally impaired fish showed a decreased ability to maintain vertical orientation and were slower in exiting the release cage. Species differed in the degree of behavioral impairment resulting from barotrauma and in how rapidly behavioral impairment increased with depth of capture. When captured at depths between 40 and 99 m, blue rockfish showed the most serious behavioral impairment, 8 of 18 (44%) failing to swim away at the time of release and simply drifting off in a sideways or upside‐down posture. In the same depth range all of the other species sampled showed only moderate behavioral impairment, which is indicative of some potential for survival after discard by the fishery. Surface observations of the external signs of barotrauma were variable among species and were poor indicators of which species would show behavioral impairment upon release at depth. Within individual species, however, the external signs of barotrauma were associated with an increased probability of behavioral impairment at time of release.
Survival and Growth Responses of Juvenile Salmonines Stocked in Eastern Lake Ontario Tributaries
Authors: Coghlan Stephen M. , Connerton Michael J. , Ringler Neil H. , Stewart Donald J. , Mead Jerry V.
Published: January 2007

To evaluate the species‐specific and stream‐specific suitability of juvenile salmonine habitat in the southern Lake Ontario watershed, we studied the effects of multiple environmental gradients on the first‐summer apparent survival and growth of various combinations of Atlantic salmonSalmo salar, rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss, and coho salmonO. kisutchstocked in tributaries. Costocking of eitherOncorhynchusspecies had no detectable effect on the apparent survival or change in cohort biomass of Atlantic salmon, but their growth rates were reduced slightly when they were stocked with rainbow trout. Generally, Atlantic salmon outperformed their putative competitors. Summer temperatures were near the physiological optimum for Atlantic salmon but may have limited the success of rainbow trout and especially coho salmon. Total salmonine biomass was maximized at sites in which only Atlantic salmon were planted. Apparent survival and biomass elaboration of Atlantic salmon varied inversely with stream size, temperature, and the abundance of wild salmonines and piscivores, whereas growth rate responded positively to moderate increases in summer temperature, agricultural development, and nutrient enrichment. These regional and species‐specific differences in stocked salmonine success may, in part, be explained by variations in temperature, geomorphology, and anthropogenic influences. We recommend that the feasibility of restoring Atlantic salmon continues to be evaluated, especially in those tributaries considered to be of marginal quality for other salmonines.
Relationship between mutagenicity and reactivity or biodegradability for nitroaromatic compounds
Authors: Maeda Toshinari , Nakamura Ryosuke , Kadokami Kiwao , Ogawa Hiroaki I.
Published: January 2007

—Although many studies have reported that nitroaromatics such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) have strong mutagenicity, the mechanism of mutagenic activity in these compounds has not yet been reported. We examined the mutagenicity versus reactivity and biodegradation by bacteria using TNT and its analogs (1,3,5-trinitrobenzene [TNB], 2,4,6-trinitroaniline [TNA], 2,4,6-trinitrophenol [TNP], N,2,4,6-tetranitro-N-methyl-aniline [tetryl], 2,4-dinitrotoluene [24DNT], and 2,6-dinitrotoluene [26DNT]). Aromatic compounds harboring three nitro groups (except TNP) have high mutagenicity, judging from the results of the umu test using luminescent bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1535/pTL210). Single-electron reduction potentials for these chemicals were −530, −555, −565, −575, −640, −674, and −764 mV for TNA, tetyl, TNT, TNB, 24DNT, 26DNT, and TNP, respectively, indicating that trinitro-aromatics (except TNP) were more reducible than other compounds. Pseudomonas sp. strain TM15, which was isolated from TNT-contaminated soils in the Yamada Green Zone, Kitakyushu City, Japan, could efficiently biotransform TNT, TNB, TNA, and tetryl; 24DNT, 26DNT, and TNP were less biodegradable. This strain converted all TNT analogs into reduction products; nitro groups were reduced to amino groups. We revealed that the mutagenicity of nitroaromatics correlate with reactivity and biodegradability. This finding may contribute to the elucidation of mutagenic expression of nitroaromatic compounds in organisms.
Effects of acid-volatile sulfide on metal bioavailability and toxicity to midge (Chironomus tentans) larvae in black shale sediments
Authors: Ogendi George M. , Brumbaugh William G. , Hannigan Robyn E. , Farris Jerry L.
Published: January 2007

—Metal bioavailability and toxicity to aquatic organisms are greatly affected by variables such as pH, hardness, organic matter, and sediment acid-volatile sulfide (AVS). Sediment AVS, which reduces metal bioavailability and toxicity by binding and immobilizing metals as insoluble sulfides, has been studied intensely in recent years. Few studies, however, have determined the spatial variability of AVS and its interaction with simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in sediments containing elevated concentrations of metals resulting from natural geochemical processes, such as weathering of black shales. We collected four sediment samples from each of four headwater bedrock streams in northcentral Arkansa (USA; three black shale-draining streams and one limestone-draining stream). We conducted 10-d acute whole-sediment toxicity tests using the midge Chironomus tentans and performed analyses for AVS, total metals, SEMs, and organic carbon. Most of the sediments from shale-draining streams had similar total metal and SEM concentrations but considerable differences in organic carbon and AVS. Zinc was the leading contributor to the SEM molar sum, averaging between 68 and 74%, whereas lead and cadmium contributed less than 3%. The AVS concentration was very low in all but two samples from one of the shale streams, and the sum of the SEM concentrations was in molar excess of AVS for all shale stream sediments. No significant differences in mean AVS concentrations between sediments collected from shale-draining or limestone-draining sites were noted (p > 0.05). Midge survival and growth in black shale-derived sediments were significantly less (p < 0.001) than that of limestone-derived sediments. On the whole, either SEM alone or SEM-AVS explained the total variation in midge survival and growth about equally well. However, survival and growth were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the two sediment samples that contained measurable AVS compared with the two sediments from the same stream that contained negligible AVS.