bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water and urea permeation pathways of the human excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT1
Authors: Vandenberg Robert J. , Handford Cheryl A. , Campbell Ewan M. , Ryan Renae M. , Yool Andrea J.
Published: July 2011

Glutamate transport is coupled to the co-transport of 3 Na+ and 1 H+ followed by the counter-transport of 1 K+. In addition, glutamate and Na+ binding to glutamate transporters generates an uncoupled anion conductance. The human glial glutamate transporter EAAT1 (excitatory amino acid transporter 1) also allows significant passive and active water transport, which suggests that water permeation through glutamate transporters may play an important role in glial cell homoeostasis. Urea also permeates EAAT1 and has been used to characterize the permeation properties of the transporter. We have previously identified a series of mutations that differentially affect either the glutamate transport process or the substrate-activated channel function of EAAT1. The water and urea permeation properties of wild-type EAAT1 and two mutant transporters were measured to identify which permeation pathway facilitates the movement of these molecules. We demonstrate that there is a significant rate of L-glutamate-stimulated passive and active water transport. Both the passive and active L-glutamate-stimulated water transport is most closely associated with the glutamate transport process. In contrast, L-glutamate-stimulated [14C]urea permeation is associated with the anion channel of the transporter. However, there is also likely to be a transporter-specific, but glutamate independent, flux of water via the anion channel.
Turbulence- and buoyancy-driven secondary flow in a horizontal square duct heated from below
Authors: Sekimoto A. , Kawahara G. , Sekiyama K. , Uhlmann M. , Pinelli A.
Published: July 2011

Direct numerical simulations of fully developed turbulent flows in a horizontal square duct heated from below are performed at bulk Reynolds numbers Reb = 3000 and 4400 (based on duct width H) and bulk Richardson numbers 0≤Ri≤1.03. The primary objective of the numerical simulations concerns the characterization of the mean secondary flow that develops in this class of flows. On one hand, it is known that turbulent isothermal flow in a square duct presents secondary mean motions of Prandtl’s second kind that finds its origin in the behavior of turbulence structures. On the other hand, thermal convection drives a mean secondary motion of Prandtl’s first kind directly induced by buoyancy. As far as the mean structure of the cross-stream motion is concerned, it is found that different types of secondary flow regimes take place when increasing the value of the Richardson number. The mean secondary flow in the range 0.025≲Ri≲0.25 is characterized by a single large-scale thermal convection roll and four turbulence-driven corner vortices of the opposite sense of rotation to the roll, as contrasted with the classical scenario of the eight-vortex secondary flow pattern typical of isothermal turbulent square-duct flow. This remarkable structural difference in the corner regions can be interpreted in terms of combined effects, on instantaneous streamwise vortices, of the large-scale circulation and of the geometrical constraint by the duct corner. When further increasing the Richardson number, i.e., Ri ≳ 0.25, the structure of the mean secondary flow is solely determined by the large-scale circulation induced by the buoyancy force. In this regime, the additional mean cross-stream motion is characterized by the presence of two distinct buoyancy-driven vortices of opposite sense of rotation to the circulation only in two of the four corner regions. With increasing Ri, the large-scale circulation is found to enhance the wall skin friction and heat transfer. In the significant-buoyancy regime Ri ≳ 0.25, the mean cross-stream motion and its rms fluctuations are found to scale, respectively, with the buoyancy-induced velocity ug=gβΔTH (g, β, and ΔT being the gravity acceleration, the volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion, and the temperature difference across the duct, respectively) and with the mixed velocity scale (ν/H)ug (ν being the kinematic viscosity). It is suggested that the probable scalings for the rms of streamwise velocity component and of temperature fluctuation are related with the friction velocity uτ and friction temperature Tτ according to the magnitudes uτ2/(ν/H)ug and Tτuτ/(ν/H)ug, respectively.
Batch equilibrium study on sorption, desorption, and immobilisation of cadmium in some semi-arid zone soils as affected by soil properties
Authors: Khodaverdiloo H. , Samadi A.
Published: July 2011

Little information is available for cadmium (Cd) sorption/desorption behaviour in soils with relatively variable CaCO3 content. The objectives of this study were to: (i) parameterise the sorption and desorption of Cd and the hysteretic behaviour of Cd sorbed to soils with varying CaCO3 content; and (ii) correlate sorption, desorption, and retention parameters with physicochemical characteristics of the soils. Twenty soil samples of different physico-chemical properties were taken from agricultural regions of Western Azerbijan province, Iran. A batch equilibrium experiment was conducted to construct sorption/desorption curves of Cd. The linear, Langmuir, and Freundlich isotherm equations were fitted to the experimental data of Cd sorption and retention, using either linear regression procedure or nonlinear least square optimisation (LSO). Both the Freundlich and Langmuir approaches described the Cd sorption and retention data well. A strong and irreversible binding of Cd in the soils was recorded, using a desorption approach. In the case of Cd sorption, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.38, P ≤ 0.05) was found between the Freundlich constant (Kf) and active CaCO3 equivalent (ACCE). The Freundlich n was positively correlated with cation exchange capacity (r = 0.49, P ≤ 0.05) and clay (r = 0.61, P ≤ 0.01) and negatively with ACCE (r = –0.60, P ≤ 0.01). The soil partition coefficient (KSD) showed a positive correlation with ACCE. The sorption maxima (b) were much less than the cation exchange capacity of soils. However, the relatively high pH (7.0–8.0) of the experimental soils and presence of relatively high values of free and active carbonate in the soils, along with the large sorption capacity of the soils, suggest the possibility of solid-phase precipitation as octavite (CdCO3). Parameter b, when fitted through LSO, showed a negative correlation with clay (r = –0.51, P ≤ 0.05) and a positive correlation with ACCE (r = 0.63, P ≤ 0.01). Langmuir K (Kl) showed a positive correlation with clay (r = 0.52, P ≤ 0.05) and a negative relationship with pH (r = –0.58, P ≤ 0.05) and ACCE (r = –0.65, P ≤ 0.01). Sorption of Cd showed a positive correlation (r ≥ 0.54, P ≤ 0.05) and its desorption a high negative correlation (r ≤ –0.61, P ≤ 0.05), with ACCE. It can be concluded that the ACCE is the important soil property controlling the sorption and retention of Cd in the studied soils.
Epsin N-terminal homology domains bind on opposite sides of two SNAREs
Authors: Wang Jing , Gossing Michael , Fang Pengfei , Zimmermann Jana , Li Xu , von Mollard Gabriele Fischer , Niu Liwen , Teng Maikun
Published: July 2011

SNARE proteins are crucial for membrane fusion in vesicular transport. To ensure efficient and accurate fusion, SNAREs need to be sorted into different budding vesicles. This process is usually regulated by specific recognition between SNAREs and their adaptor proteins. How different pairs of SNAREs and adaptors achieve their recognition is unclear. Here, we report the recognition between yeast SNARE Vti1p and its adaptor Ent3p derived from three crystal structures. Surprisingly, this yeast pair Vti1p/Ent3p interacts through a distinct binding site compared to their homologues vti1b/epsinR in mammals. An opposite surface on Vti1p_Habc domain binds to a conserved area on the epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain of Ent3p. Two-hybrid, in vitro pull-down and in vivo experiments indicate this binding interface is important for correct localization of Vti1p in the cell. This previously undescribed discovery that a cargo and adaptor pair uses different binding sites across species suggests the diversity of SNARE-adaptor recognition in vesicular transport.
Tumor suppressor p53 regulates bile acid homeostasis via small heterodimer partner
Authors: Kim Dae-Hwan , Lee Jae W.
Published: July 2011

Metabolic changes in cancer have been observed for almost a century. The mechanisms underlying these changes have begun to emerge from the recent studies implicating the tumor suppressor p53 in multiple metabolic pathways. The ability of p53 to regulate metabolism may also play important roles in the physiology of normal cells and organs. Here we demonstrate that p53 lowers bile acid (BA) levels under both normal and stressed conditions primarily through up-regulating expression of small heterodimer partner, a critical inhibitor of BA synthesis. Our results uncover a unique metabolic regulatory axis that unexpectedly couples p53 to BA homeostasis. Our results also warrant future studies to investigate a possible role of this axis in the tumor suppression by p53, because excessive quantities of BAs are cytotoxic and can cause liver damage and promote gastrointestinal cancers.
Evasion of immunity to
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria by IgM masking of protective IgG epitopes in infected erythrocyte surface-exposed PfEMP1
Authors: Barfod Lea , Dalgaard Michael B. , Pleman Suzan T. , Ofori Michael F. , Pleass Richard J. , Hviid Lars
Published: July 2011

Plasmodium falciparum
malaria is a major cause of mortality and severe morbidity. Its virulence is related to the parasite's ability to evade host immunity through clonal antigenic variation and tissue-specific adhesion of infected erythrocytes (IEs). The
P. falciparum
erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family is central to both. Here, we present evidence of a
P. falciparum
evasion mechanism not previously documented: the masking of PfEMP1-specific IgG epitopes by nonspecific IgM. Nonspecific IgM binding to erythrocytes infected by parasites expressing the PfEMP1 protein VAR2CSA (involved in placental malaria pathogenesis and protective immunity) blocked subsequent specific binding of human monoclonal IgG to the Duffy binding-like (DBL) domains DBL3X and DBL5ε of this PfEMP1 variant. Strikingly, a VAR2CSA-specific monoclonal antibody that binds outside these domains and can inhibit IE adhesion to the specific VAR2CSA receptor chondroitin sulfate A was unaffected. Nonspecific IgM binding protected the parasites from FcγR-dependent phagocytosis of VAR2CSA
+
IEs, but it did not affect IE adhesion to chondroitin sulfate A or lead to C1q deposition on IEs. Taken together, our results indicate that the VAR2CSA affinity for nonspecific IgM has evolved to allow placenta-sequestering
P. falciparum
to evade acquired protective immunity without compromising VAR2CSA function or increasing IE susceptibility to complement-mediated lysis. Furthermore, functionally important PfEMP1 epitopes not prone to IgM masking are likely to be particularly important targets of acquired protective immunity to
P. falciparum
malaria.
Royalist Reclamation of Psalmic Song in 1650s England
Authors: Loscocco Paula
Published: July 2011

This article brings into focus the royalist experience of political defeat and cultural recovery in mid-seventeenth-century England. It shows how royalist writers developed a polemically charged psalmic poetics that allowed them to appropriate the discursive authority of their Puritan enemies, reestablish their own cultural standing, and prepare the way for religious and political return. Several writers who found common cause in 1650s royalist poetics appear in these pages, including Izaak Walton, Thomas Stanley, Jeremy Taylor, Henry King, and the author(s) of the 1649 Eikon Basilike. Royalist writers with more divided responses to psalmic polemics appear here as well, including the episcopal divine, Henry Hammond, and the Davidic poet, Abraham Cowley. The poet, psalmist, and polemicist John Milton is an important presence throughout: his Eikonoklastes seems aware of his opponents’ polemical project, as do his 1653 psalms, and Paradise Lost itself may respond to what he once derided as royalist “Psalmistry.”
A skeleton model for the network of cyclin-dependent kinases driving the mammalian cell cycle
Authors: Gérard Claude , Goldbeter Albert
Published: July 2011

We previously proposed a detailed, 39-variable model for the network of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) that controls progression along the successive phases of the mammalian cell cycle. Here, we propose a skeleton, 5-variable model for the Cdk network that can be seen as the backbone of the more detailed model for the mammalian cell cycle. In the presence of sufficient amounts of growth factor, the skeleton model also passes from a stable steady state to sustained oscillations of the various cyclin/Cdk complexes. This transition corresponds to the switch from quiescence to cell proliferation. Sequential activation of the cyclin/Cdk complexes allows the ordered progression along the G1, S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle. The 5-variable model can also account for the existence of a restriction point in G1, and for endoreplication. Like the detailed model, it contains multiple oscillatory circuits and can display complex oscillatory behaviour such as quasi-periodic oscillations and chaos. We compare the dynamical properties of the skeleton model with those of the more detailed model for the mammalian cell cycle.
Multi-frequency activation of neuronal networks by coordinated reset stimulation
Authors: Lysyansky Borys , Popovych Oleksandr V. , Tass Peter A.
Published: July 2011

We computationally study whether it is possible to stimulate a neuronal population in such a way that its mean firing rate increases without an increase of the population's net synchronization. For this, we use coordinated reset (CR) stimulation, which has previously been developed to desynchronize populations of oscillatory neurons. Intriguingly, delivered to a population of predominantly silent FitzHugh–Nagumo or Hindmarsh–Rose neurons at sufficient stimulation amplitudes, CR robustly causes a multi-frequency activation: different Arnold tongues such as 1 : 1 or
n
 : 
m
entrained neuronal clusters emerge, which consist of phase-shifted sub clusters. Owing to the clustering pattern the neurons' timing is well balanced, so that in total there is no synchronization. Our findings may contribute to the development of novel and safe stimulation treatments that specifically counteract cerebral hypo-activity without promoting pathological synchronization or inducing epileptic seizures.
An assessment of the potential of drylands in eight sub-Saharan African countries to produce bioenergy feedstocks
Authors: Watson H. K. , Diaz-Chavez R. A.
Published: July 2011

This paper synthesizes lessons learnt from research that aimed to identify land in the dryland regions of eight sub-Saharan African study countries where bioenergy feedstocks production has a low risk of detrimental environmental and socio-economic effects. The methodology involved using geographical information systems (GISs) to interrogate a wide range of datasets, aerial photograph and field verification, an extensive literature review, and obtaining information from a wide range of stakeholders. The GIS work revealed that Africa's drylands potentially have substantial areas available and agriculturally suitable for bioenergy feedstocks production. The other work showed that land-use and biomass dynamics in Africa's drylands are greatly influenced by the inherent ‘disequilibrium’ behaviour of these environments. This behaviour challenges the sustainability concept and perceptions regarding the drivers, nature and consequences of deforestation, land degradation and other factors. An assessment of the implications of this behaviour formed the basis for the practical guidance suggested for bioenergy feedstock producers and bioenergy policy makers.
Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging: a review of sources of variability
Authors: Tang M.-X. , Mulvana H. , Gauthier T. , Lim A. K. P. , Cosgrove D. O. , Eckersley R. J. , Stride E.
Published: July 2011

Ultrasound provides a valuable tool for medical diagnosis offering real-time imaging with excellent spatial resolution and low cost. The advent of microbubble contrast agents has provided the additional ability to obtain essential quantitative information relating to tissue vascularity, tissue perfusion and even endothelial wall function. This technique has shown great promise for diagnosis and monitoring in a wide range of clinical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, with considerable potential benefits in terms of patient care. A key challenge of this technique, however, is the existence of significant variations in the imaging results, and the lack of understanding regarding their origin. The aim of this paper is to review the potential sources of variability in the quantification of tissue perfusion based on microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound images. These are divided into the following three categories: (i) factors relating to the scanner setting, which include transmission power, transmission focal depth, dynamic range, signal gain and transmission frequency, (ii) factors relating to the patient, which include body physical differences, physiological interaction of body with bubbles, propagation and attenuation through tissue, and tissue motion, and (iii) factors relating to the microbubbles, which include the type of bubbles and their stability, preparation and injection and dosage. It has been shown that the factors in all the three categories can significantly affect the imaging results and contribute to the variations observed. How these factors influence quantitative imaging is explained and possible methods for reducing such variations are discussed.
Medical ultrasound systems
Authors: Powers Jeff , Kremkau Frederick
Published: July 2011

Medical ultrasound imaging has advanced dramatically since its introduction only a few decades ago. This paper provides a short historical background, and then briefly describes many of the system features and concepts required in a modern commercial ultrasound system. The topics addressed include array beam formation, steering and focusing; array and matrix transducers; echo image formation; tissue harmonic imaging; speckle reduction through frequency and spatial compounding, and image processing; tissue aberration; Doppler flow detection; and system architectures. It then describes some of the more practical aspects of ultrasound system design necessary to be taken into account for today's marketplace. It finally discusses the recent explosion of portable and handheld devices and their potential to expand the clinical footprint of ultrasound into regions of the world where medical care is practically non-existent. Throughout the article reference is made to ways in which ultrasound imaging has benefited from advances in the commercial electronics industry. It is meant to be an overview of the field as an introduction to other more detailed papers in this special issue.
Full local elastic strain tensor from Laue microdiffraction: simultaneous Laue pattern and spot energy measurement
Authors: Robach Odile , Micha Jean-Sébastien , Ulrich Olivier , Gergaud Patrice
Published: July 2011

In sample-scanning Laue microdiffraction, the local crystal orientation and local deviatoric strain tensor are obtained by illuminating the polycrystalline sample with a broadband `white' (5–30 keV) X-ray microbeam and analyzing the spot positions in the resulting local Laue pattern. Mapping local hydrostatic strain is usually slower, owing to the need to alternate between white and tunable-energy monochromatic microbeams. A technique has been developed to measure hydrostatic strain while keeping the white beam. The energy of one of the Laue spots of the grain of interest is measured using an energy-dispersive point detector, while simultaneously recording the Laue pattern on the two-dimensional detector. The experimental spot energy,Eexp, is therefore measured at the same time asEtheor, the theoretical spot energy for zero hydrostatic strain, which is derived from the analysis of the Laue pattern. The performance of the technique was compared with that of the monochromatic beam technique in two test cases: a Ge single crystal and a micrometre-sized UO2grain in a polycrystal. Accuracies on the hydrostatic strain Δa/aof ±0.4 × 10−4and ±1.3 × 10−4were obtained for Ge and UO2, respectively. Measurement strategies to limit the remaining uncertainties onEtheorare discussed.
Cannabis use and cognitive function: 8‐year trajectory in a young adult cohort
Authors: Tait Robert J. , Mackinnon Andrew , Christensen Helen
Published: July 2011

Aim  To evaluate the relationship between change in cannabis use and changed cognitive performance over 8 years.

Design  We used survey methodology with a cohort design.

Setting and participants  An Australian community sample aged 20–24 years at baseline.

Measures  We assessed cognitive performance with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) (immediate and delayed), Spot‐the‐Word test (STW), Symbol Digit Modality test (SDMT) and Digit Backwards (DB). Groups of cannabis users were defined from self‐reports across three waves as: ‘never’ (n= 420) ‘remain light’ (n= 71), ‘former light’ (n= 231), ‘remain heavy’ (n= 60), ‘former heavy’ (n= 60) and ‘always former’ (since start of study) (n= 657). Planned contrasts within mixed model repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used for longitudinal analysis with an adjusted alpha of 0.01.

Findings  Data were obtained from 2404 participants with 1978 (82.3%) completing wave 3. At baseline there were significant differences between cannabis groups on CVLT (immediate and delayed) and SDMT. However, after controlling for education, gender, gender × group and gender × wave, there were no significant between‐group differences and only CVLT immediate recall reached adjusted statistically significant longitudinal change associated with changed cannabis use (group × wave P= 0.007). Specifically, former heavy users improved their performance relative to remaining heavy users (estimated marginal means: former heavy 6.1–7.5: remain heavy 6.4–6.6).

Conclusions  Cessation of cannabis use appears to be associated with an improvement in capacity for recall of information that has just been learned. No other measures of cognitive performance were related to cannabis after controlling for confounds.
Wall architecture with high porosity is established at the tip and maintained in growing pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: Derksen Jan , Janssen Geert‐Jan , Wolters‐Arts Mieke , Lichtscheidl Irene , Adlassnig Wolfram , Ovecka Miroslav , Doris Fiona , Steer Martin
Published: July 2011

A major question in pollen tube growth in planta remains: do the pollen tube walls form a barrier to interaction with the environment? Using cryo‐FESEM, we directly assessed the 3D construction and porosity of tobacco pollen tube walls. Fractured mature primary walls showed a 40–50 nm spaced lattice of continuous fibers interconnected by short rods in the primary wall. These observations agree with TEM observations of sectioned walls. In the secondary callose wall, for which no structure is visible using TEM, cryo‐FESEM also revealed a 50 nm lattice consisting of longer fibers, approximately 10–15 nm wide, with rod‐like, thinner interconnections at angles of approximately 90° with the longer fibers. Such architecture may reflect functional needs with respect to porosity and mechanical strength. The wall does not form a mechanical barrier to interaction with the environment and is gained at low cost. Cryo‐FESEM additionally revealed another special feature of the wall: the tubes were tiled with scales or rings that were highly conspicuous after pectin extraction with EDTA. These rings cause the typical banding patterns of pectin that are commonly seen in pollen tubes during oscillatory growth, as confirmed by staining with toluidine blue as well as by DIC microscopy. Growth analysis by VEC‐LM showed that the ring‐ or scale‐like structures of the primary wall consist of material deposited prior to the growth pulses. The alternating band pattern seen in the callose wall is probably imposed by constrictions resulting from the rings of the primary wall.
Low incidence of invasive aspergillosis in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients receiving amphotericin B inhalation prophylaxis
Authors: Nihtinen A. , Anttila V.‐J. , Ruutu T. , Juvonen E. , Volin L.
Published: July 2011

A. Nihtinen, V.‐J. Anttila, T. Ruutu, E. Juvonen, L. Volin. Low incidence of invasive aspergillosis in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients receiving amphotericin B inhalation prophylaxis. Transpl Infect Dis 2011. All rights reserved

Abstract: In this retrospective study we evaluated the impact of amphotericin B (AmB) deoxycholate inhalation prophylaxis on invasive aspergillosis (IA) in 611 allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) recipients and their tolerance of the inhalations. The inhalations were not used in 1996–2000 (Period I). In 2001–2005 (Period II) all patients with acute graft‐versus‐host disease treated with high‐dose methylprednisolone used the inhalation prophylaxis with a dose of 25 mg daily. No systemic antifungal prophylaxis was routinely used during the study period. IA was detected in 17 (13 proven, 4 probable) out of 257 (6.6%) patients transplanted in Period I and in 9 (6 proven, 3 probable) out of 354 (2.5%) patients transplanted in Period II (P=0.007). The median time to the diagnosis of IA was 95 days and 155 days post transplant in the 2 periods (P=0.225). The mortality of the patients with IA was 94.1% and 66.6% in Period I and Period II. The median duration of AmB inhalation prophylaxis was 84 days. Breakthrough IA was detected in 1 of the 111 (1%) patients during the prophylaxis. No discontinuation of prophylaxis due to side effects was recorded. Overall, with a median follow‐up of 3.5 and 4.6 years, 42.4% and 59% of the patients were alive in Period I and Period II, respectively (P=0.001). In conclusion, the incidence of IA fell during the AmB inhalation prophylaxis, and the inhalations were well tolerated. Mortality of patients with IA was high. The overall survival of patients was significantly higher in Period II, indicating the advances made in SCT therapy over the 10‐year period.
Navigating the AIDS Industry: Being Poor and Positive in Tanzania
Authors: Boesten Jelke
Published: July 2011

This article shows how poor people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania navigate a myriad of actors, agencies and organizations to obtain the aid they need to survive. It focuses on community‐based organizations which establish networks of care through which people obtain care, treatment and financial support. A case study of a roadside town in Tanzania illustrates that these community‐based networks of care — essential to the survival of many — are partly the product of the AIDS industry, which encourages the establishment of community‐based organizations and voluntary service delivery rather than more formalized systems of care. Community‐based organizations, however, are so poorly supported that they often deploy self‐destructive strategies. The need to strategically navigate the AIDS industry creates tension and even conflict among HIV‐positive activists, the people they represent and the wider community, which undermines rather than strengthens community‐based interventions. Whilst the AIDS industry promises inclusion of HIV‐positive people in the response to HIV/AIDS, it succeeds only partially, with the result that it may potentially do more harm than good.
NMDA receptor modulation by the neuropeptide apelin: implications for excitotoxic injury
Authors: Cook Denise R. , Gleichman Amy J. , Cross Stephanie A. , Doshi Shachee , Ho Wenzhe , Jordan‐Sciutto Kelly L. , Lynch David R. , Kolson Dennis L.
Published: July 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 118, 1113–1123.

Excitotoxic neuronal damage via over‐activation of the NMDA receptor has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. In vitro modeling of excitotoxic injury has shown that activation of G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) counteracts such injury through modulation of neuronal pro‐survival pathways and/or NMDA receptor signaling. We have previously demonstrated that the GPCR APJ and its endogenous neuropeptide ligand apelin can protect neurons against excitotoxicity, but the mechanism(s) of this neuroprotection remain incompletely understood. We hypothesized that apelin can promote neuronal survival by activating pro‐survival signaling as well as inhibiting NMDA receptor‐mediated excitotoxic signaling cascades. Our results demonstrate that (i) apelin activates pro‐survival signaling via inositol trisphosphate (IP3), protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase‐1/2 (ERK1/2) to protect against excitotoxicity, and (ii) apelin inhibits excitotoxic signaling by attenuating NMDA receptor and calpain activity, and by modulating NMDA receptor subunit NR2B phosphorylation at serine 1480. These studies delineate a novel apelinergic signaling pathway that concurrently promotes survival and limits NMDA receptor‐mediated injury to protect neurons against excitotoxicity. Defining apelin‐mediated neuroprotection advances our understanding of neuroprotective pathways and will potentially improve our ability to develop therapeutics for excitotoxicity‐associated neurodegenerative disorders.
Anisotropic Dielectric Properties ofLiNb0.6Ti0.5O3Microwave Ceramics by Screen‐Printing Templated Grain Growth
Authors: Lu Zhiyuan , Li Yali , Wang Yilin , Wu Wenjun , Li Yongxiang
Published: July 2011

In this work, anisotropicLiNb0.6Ti0.5O3(LNT) template particles are prepared by molten salt synthesis inLiClflux. Plate‐like particles with diameters of 5–20 μm and thicknesses of 0.5–2.0 μm synthesized at 1000°C are chosen as templates. Highly textured microwave ceramics of M‐phaseLNTwith tunable dielectric properties are fabricated by a novel screen‐printing templated grain growth technique (sp‐TGG), and their characteristics and dielectric properties are studied systematically. Dielectric anisotropy is observed in dielectric constant (εr) and the temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (τε) at 1 MHz.LNT(//) samples exhibit lowerεr(=55.3) than randomly oriented ceramics and a positive temperature coefficientτε(75 ppm/°C), whereas,LNT(⊥) samples exhibit higherεr(=83.6) and a negative temperature coefficientτε(= −120 ppm/°C). The textured ceramics also exhibit anisotropic and excellent properties at microwave frequency, withLNT‐M(//) showingεr = 57.9,Q × f = 6325 GHz,τf = −14 ppm/°C andLNT‐M(⊥) showingεr = 81.8,Q × f = 5751 GHz,τf = 43 ppm/°C. By tailoring along different directions, continuously tunable dielectric constant ranging from 55 to 83 could be obtained, andτfcould be changed from −14 to 43 ppm/°C. These findings can be technologically beneficial for wireless communication devices.
The gene carD encodes the aldehyde dehydrogenase responsible for neurosporaxanthin biosynthesis in Fusarium fujikuroi
Authors: Díaz‐Sánchez Violeta , Estrada Alejandro F. , Trautmann Danika , Al‐Babili Salim , Avalos Javier
Published: July 2011

Neurosporaxanthin (β‐apo‐4′‐carotenoic acid) biosynthesis has been studied in detail in the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi. The genes and enzymes for this biosynthetic pathway are known until the last enzymatic step, the oxidation of the aldehyde group of its precursor, β‐apo‐4′‐carotenal. On the basis of sequence homology to Neurospora crassa YLO‐1, which mediates the formation of apo‐4′‐lycopenoic acid from the corresponding aldehyde substrate, we cloned the carD gene of F. fujikuroi and investigated the activity of the encoded enzyme. In vitro assays performed with heterologously expressed protein showed the formation of neurosporaxanthin and other apocarotenoid acids from the corresponding apocarotenals. To confirm this function in vivo, we generated an Escherichia coli strain producing β‐apo‐4′‐carotenal, which was converted into neurosporaxanthin upon expression of carD. Moreover, the carD function was substantiated by its targeted disruption in a F. fujikuroi carotenoid‐overproducing strain, which resulted in the loss of neurosporaxanthin and the accumulation of β‐apo‐4′‐carotenal, its derivative β‐apo‐4′‐carotenol, and minor amounts of other carotenoids. Intermediates accumulated in the ΔcarD mutant suggest that the reactions leading to neurosporaxanthin in Neurospora and Fusarium are different in their order. In contrast to ylo‐1 in N. crassa, carD mRNA content is enhanced by light, but to a lesser extent than other enzymatic genes of the F. fujikuroi carotenoid pathway. Furthermore, carD mRNA levels were higher in carotenoid‐overproducing mutants, supporting a functional role for CarD in F. fujikuroi carotenogenesis. With the genetic and biochemical characterization of CarD, the whole neurosporaxanthin biosynthetic pathway of F. fujikuroi has been established.

Database
 The carD gene sequence has been deposited in the EMBL Data Bank under accession number FR850689
Shewasin A, an active pepsin homolog from the bacterium Shewanella amazonensis
Authors: Simões Isaura , Faro Rosário , Bur Daniel , Kay John , Faro Carlos
Published: July 2011

The view has been widely held that pepsin‐like aspartic proteinases are found only in eukaryotes, and not in bacteria. However, a recent bioinformatics search [Rawlings ND & Bateman A (2009) BMC Genomics10, 437] revealed that, in seven of ∼ 1000 completely sequenced bacterial genomes, genes were present encoding polypeptides that displayed the requisite hallmark sequence motifs of pepsin‐like aspartic proteinases. The implications of this theoretical observation prompted us to generate biochemical data to validate this finding experimentally. The aspartic proteinase gene from one of the seven identified bacterial species, Shewanella amazonensis, was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein, termed shewasin A, was produced in soluble form, purified to homogeneity, and shown to display properties remarkably similar to those of pepsin‐like aspartic proteinases. Shewasin A was maximally active at acidic pH values, cleaving a substrate that has been widely used for assessment of the proteolytic activity of other aspartic proteinases, and displayed a clear preference for cleaving peptide bonds between hydrophobic residues in the P1*P1′ positions of the substrate. It was completely inhibited by the general inhibitor of aspartic proteinases, pepstatin, and mutation of one of the catalytic Asp residues (in the Asp‐Thr‐Gly motif of the N‐terminal domain) resulted in complete loss of enzymatic activity. It can thus be concluded unequivocally that this Shewanella gene encodes an active pepsin‐like aspartic proteinase. It is now beyond doubt that pepsin‐like aspartic proteinases are not confined to eukaryotes, but are encoded within some species of bacteria. The distinctions between the bacterial and eukaryotic polypeptides are discussed and their evolutionary relationships are outlined.

Structured digital abstract

 Shewasin A cleaves Oxidized Insulin B chain by protease assay (View Interaction 1, 2)
INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL PRACTICES AND PACKAGING MATERIALS ON TABLE GRAPE QUALITY
Authors: CONTE A. , MASTROMATTEO M. , ANTONACCI D. , DEL NOBILE M.A.
Published: July 2011

The quality loss of table grape (cv. Crimson seedless) packaged in different films was studied in order to appraise the effects induced by girdling technique combined with a gibberellins treatment on product storability. The cultural practices successfully enhanced the quality of the berries. From a packaging point of view, all the investigated films successfully preserved the quality of the packed fruit, with some relevant differences for the highest gas barrier films. A better score in the overall acceptability was for grape packaged in multi‐layer laminated nylon/polyolefin and biodegradable starch/polyester‐based films.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The results obtained in this work can give a new contribution to the field by providing information on combined strategies to prolong the shelf life of ready‐to‐use table grape. The bio‐based packaging system exerted a very attractive performance, thus allowing proposing it as a potential alternative to petroleum source packaging.
The Consequences of UV‐Induced Immunosuppression for Human Health
Authors: Norval Mary , Halliday Gary M.
Published: July 2011

Exposure to UV radiation can cause suppression of specific immune responses. The pathways leading to the down‐regulation are complex, starting from the absorption of UV photons by chromophores in the skin and ending with local and systemic changes in immune mediators, the generation of T and B regulatory cells and inhibition of effector and memory T cell activation. The consequences for human health are thought to be both beneficial and adverse. The former are illustrated by protection against polymorphic light eruption, and possible protection against T cell‐mediated autoimmune diseases and asthma. The latter are illustrated by skin cancer, cutaneous lupus erythematosus and infectious diseases including vaccination. Many outstanding questions remain in this rapidly developing and controversial area, not least what advice to give the general public regarding their sun exposure. While considerable advances have been made in the development of strategies that preserve the health benefits of sunlight exposure and decrease its detrimental effects, further research is required before optimal levels of protection are achieved.
A Therapeutic Experiment on Phobic and Affective Symptoms in an Individual Psychiatric Patient
Authors: SHAPIRO M. B. , MARKS I. M. , FOX B.
Published: July 2011

An experiment was carried out on the symptoms of a 38‐year‐old female patient with phobias and depressive symptoms of long standing. Two forms of treatment, one ‘rational‐training’ and the other ‘non‐directive’, were applied to the patient. Eight sessions of each type of treatment were completed over a period of four weeks, in balanced order, with measures of both immediate and delayed effects of each type of treatment session upon the symptoms. The main findings were: (i) each form of treatment produced beneficial immediate effects; (ii) the delayed effect of the ‘rational‐training’ sessions appeared to be that of relapse, and that of the ‘non‐directive’ to be variable though with an average effect of improvement; (iii) previous findings of the relatively independent fluctuations of phobic and depressive symptoms were confirmed.
Measures of Distance and Motility in Psychotic Children and Severely Subnormal Controls
Authors: O'CONNOR N. , HERMELIN BEATE
Published: July 2011

In a group of severely subnormal children diagnosed as psychotic, and controls, the approach response and the amount of movement were measured in the presence of various stimuli. An attempt was made to isolate relevant aspects of ‘a person’ in preparing the stimuli.

The distance measure did not differentiate the groups in those conditions which resembled most closely a social stimulus situation. They did differ in their approach score to objects, the psychotics approaching less. Psychotic children also moved more than controls, and the amount of movement did not vary over different stimulus situations.
A Study of 500 Oxford Student Psychiatric Patients
Authors: DAVIDSON M. A. , HUTT CORINNE
Published: July 2011

The case records and psychometric results of 500 Oxford student patients were retrospectively analysed. Some academic, social and clinical characteristics of the patient sample are described. The sample is also compared with a control group and with the student population at risk.

The sample was found not to differ significantly from other psychiatric groups. It is pointed out that a high referral rate need not be indicative of a serious problem of student 'breakdown'. There is no evidence to show that there are factors in the University environment which generate psychiatric illness.
Acquiescence—Measurement and Theory*
Authors: MARTIN JOHN
Published: July 2011

A review of the methods of measuring acquiescence suggests that there is insufficient justification for regarding acquiescence as a single trait. As this assumption is the basis for the construction of independent general measures of acquiescence, such scales call for investigation. Seven measures of acquiescence were administered to 85 male householders of heterogeneous social background. Included were three scales presumed to be independent general measures of the tendency to acquiesce, two sets of acquiescence scores derived from different social desirability scales, and two derived from different authoritarian scales. Two factors were found, the first being defined by acquiescence from scales employing plausible generalities (particularly 'Rational Authoritarianism') and the second by Welsh's R‐Scale. Both factors were shown to be independent of social desirability, but all other 'independent' measures of acquiescence were shown to be confounded with social desirability or authoritarianism or both.

It is suggested that the first factor is generated by the subjects' tendency to acquiesce in what he perceives to be generally accepted as rational or authentic, this explanation being a parallel to that advanced for the origin of social desirability. A three‐factor theory of response style is put forward to account for the relationships found.
Cultural Influences in the Perception of People: The Case of Chinese in America
Authors: FONG STANLEY L. M.
Published: July 2011

The social perception of 336 Chinese college students in America was studied. The results indicate that as the Chinese are becoming progressively removed from their ethnic culture and in greater contact with the host culture, they show an increase in their internalization of the affective‐cognitive norms of western culture. However, the Chinese from urban Hong Kong showed a greater degree of internalization than Chinese from other areas of China and even some of the Chinese generations in America.
Pain Tolerance and Narcotic Addiction
Authors: MARTIN JUDITH E. , INGLIS JAMES
Published: July 2011

The present study was designed to examine the relation between pain tolerance, as measured by the cold‐pressor test, narcotic addiction and some aspects of personality. The subjects used were two groups each of twenty‐four female prisoners; one group comprised former addicts, the other non‐addicts.

The two groups were very significantly different on the cold‐pressor test, with the addicts showing much less pain tolerance than the controls. Only a very slight relation was found between pain tolerance and neuroticism and no relation was found between tolerance for pain and extraversion.
The Extremity Rating Revisited Within the Context of Personal Construct Theory*
Authors: LANDFIELD A. W.
Published: July 2011

This review supports the meaningfulness hypothesis of rating extremity and, most importantly, supports the profitability of pursuing the implications of the extremity rating within Personal Construct theory, focusing upon extremity ratings as done within the individual's own language dimensions. As for the construct of meaningfulness versus pathology, this contrast can be accepted as heuristically valuable, although of questionable validity. A new series of studies could be designed to clarify whether, under certain conditions, pathology and meaningfulness are related. To design such a series of studies, it would be helpful to have a theory of personality and behaviour which might suggest possible conditions of relationship. Personal Construct theory can provide a context within which to consider this paradox of meaning and pathology.
A New Measure of Conservatism*
Authors: WILSON GLENN D. , PATTERSON JOHN R.
Published: July 2011

A variable of personality which has been shown to have considerable predictive value in both social and clinical psychology is that which is variously labelled authoritarianism, dogmatism, fascism, and anti‐scientific attitude. The term ‘conservatism’ is preferred because it is less value‐toned than other alternatives. Previous tests of this dimension are criticized on a number of grounds and the development of a new test which circumvents these deficiencies is described. The ‘Conservatism Scale’ is found to be a remarkably reliable, valid, and economical instrument.
Matched Groups and the Risky Shift Phenomenon: a Defence of the Extreme Member Hypothesis
Authors: ELLIS HADYN D. , SPENCER CHRISTOPHER P. , OLDFIELD‐BOX HILARY
Published: July 2011

A classification of hypotheses concerning the ‘risky‐shift’ phenomenon was suggested, which was based on three broad approaches. In order to determine which of the three main explanations of the phenomenon is most likely, an experiment was designed to counteract the effects of individual persuasion within the group situation. This was achieved by matching the members of the experimental groups so that all had accepted the same probability levels in the initial, alone, condition of the Choice Dilemmas task. This led to a small, non‐significant risky shift following group discussion which was of comparable size to the small shift found in controls who repeated the alone condition. It is suggested that individual persuasion in addition to familiarization with the problems leads groups to make riskier decisions.
Persuasiveness of Confidence Expressed via Language and Body Language
Authors: MASLOW CATHA , YOSELSON KATHRYN , LONDON HARVEY
Published: July 2011

In previous studies (Johnson & London, 1968; London et al., 1970a) expressed confidence has been identified as a new ‘message’ variable causing persuasion. However, the variable has been extracted from naturalistic discussion in a dyad. In order to determine further its efficacy, we manipulated expressed confidence in two studies. In Study 1 expressed confidence was manipulated via language. In Study 2 expressed confidence was manipulated via body language. The results confirm earlier findings and indicate that a ‘channel’ notion is required to understand the expression of confidence.
Patterns of Evaluation to R.P., South Welsh and Somerset Accented Speech
Authors: GILES HOWARD
Published: July 2011

Lambert (1967) has shown in many cultures that regional dialect is a significant cue in assessing personality from voices. Similar research in Britain, however, has been limited to two studies. Strongman & Woosley (1967) studied the reactions of northern and southern English listeners to the male ‘matched‐guises’ of Yorkshire and London accents. Although no group differences emerged, judges agreed that the London speakers were more self‐confident, while the Yorkshire voices seemed more honest and reliable. The northern judges themselves perceived their own group as significantly more generous, goodnatured and kindhearted. Cheyne (1970), studying evaluations to Scottish and English voices, found that both Scottish and English listeners rated male English speakers as possessing more leadership, intelligence, ambition and self‐confidence. The Scottish listeners, like the northern judges, were also accent loyal, evaluating their own group as more generous, good‐hearted, friendly, humorous and likeable, with the English judges also conceding friendliness to the Scottish voices.