bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase changes of ultrasonic bulk waves through focusing measured using a noncontact ultrasonic method
Authors: Dixon S. , Harrison T. J. , Petcher P. A.
Published: August 2010

Focusing an ultrasonic surface or bulk wave to a point can maximize the amount of ultrasonic energy at a point and increase the sensitivity of a measurement. Using a noncontact, ultrasonic method we focus an ultrasonic bulk wave pulse in a sample, using the surface profile of the sample itself to focus the wave. Experiments and modeling confirm that the wave pulse undergoes a phase shift on passing through the focal point.
Carbon's Calculatory Spaces: The Emergence of Carbon Offsets in Costa Rica
Authors: Lansing David M
Published: August 2010

This paper analyzes the practices of calculation needed to create carbon forestry offsets in Costa Rica, paying special attention to the spaces that are produced through such practices. I argue that the calculations needed to bring a carbon offset into being as a commodity is a process that results in the coconstitution of relational space, absolute Cartesian spaces, and the bounded territory of the nation-state. I develop my argument by drawing on Martin Heidegger's writings on calculation, technology, and the question of being and examine the spaces that result from carbon offset calculations performed by the Costa Rican state. Central to my argument is the idea that the practices of calculation are productive of a technological metaphysics, where the world becomes disclosed to us as an object of orderability. This ontological orientation allows for the objects and subjects of the world, in this case carbon commodities as well as producers and consumers of carbon offsets, to become relationally embedded in the world through the production of bounded Cartesian space. The production of such ‘graspable’ spaces simultaneously reinforces and undermines the territoriality of the Costa Rican state.
Locative Media and Cultures of Mediated Proximity: The Case of the Mogi Game Location-Aware Community
Authors: Licoppe Christian , Inada Yoriko
Published: August 2010

This paper provides an analysis of the interaction order in a unique nonexperimental and enduring location-aware community (ie the players of the Mogi game) and of the ways it is particularly oriented towards location and proximity concerns. It shows how one of its features is the public character of positional data, so that players routinely orient towards the fact that their location might be remarked and commented on at all times. Location awareness also provides users with resources to recognize their coproximity when they happen to be close but not copresent. We will discuss how such a situation generally projects an encounter as a relevant future course of action in this environment as well as in other mediated settings. The management of mediated proximities appears to be a crucial feature of the organization of encounters between players in the Mogi community, and as we argue, this must also be the case in any kind of location-aware community that supports occasions for recognizing coproximity ‘at-a-distance’. We describe various practices that have evolved in the Mogi location-aware community to recognize and acknowledge coproximity at a distance, manage its consequences, and even play at fabricating situations that have the appearance of mediated proximity events. This set of practices has gradually evolved to form a rich and peculiar ‘culture of proximity’. Beyond its apparent singularity the kinds of concerns with location and proximity that such a culture addresses are very general and could play a central part in our understanding of future uses of locative media.
Attentional control constrains visual short-term memory: Insights from developmental and individual differences
Authors: Astle Duncan E. , Nobre Anna C. , Scerif Gaia
Published: August 2010

The mechanisms by which attentional control biases mnemonic representations have attracted much interest but remain poorly understood. As attention and memory develop gradually over childhood and variably across individuals, assessing how participants of different ages and ability attend to mnemonic contents can elucidate their interplay. In Experiment 1, 7-year-olds, 10-year-olds, and adults were asked to report whether a probe item had been part of a previously presented four-item array. The initial array could either be uncued, be preceded (“precued”), or followed (“retrocued”) by a spatial cue orienting attention to one of the potential item locations. Performance across groups was significantly improved by both cue types, and individual differences in children's retrospective attentional control predicted their visual short-term and working memory span, whereas their basic ability to remember in the absence of cues did not. Experiment 2 imposed a variable delay between the array and the subsequent orienting cue. Cueing benefits were greater in adults than in 10-year-olds, but they persisted even when cues followed the array by nearly 3 seconds, suggesting that orienting operated on durable short-term representations for both age groups. The findings indicate that there are substantial developmental and individual differences in the ability to control attention to memory and that in turn these differences constrain visual short-term memory capacity.
An innately dangerous balancing act: intestinal homeostasis, inflammation, and colitis-associated cancer
Authors: Asquith Mark , Powrie Fiona
Published: August 2010

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by dysregulated immune responses to the intestinal microbiota, and by chronic intestinal inflammation. Several recent studies demonstrate the importance of innate microbial recognition by immune and nonimmune cells in the gut. Paradoxically, either diminished or exacerbated innate immune signaling may trigger the breakdown of intestinal homeostasis, leading to IBD and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). This dichotomy may reflect divergent functional roles for immune sensing in intestinal epithelial cells and leukocytes, which may vary with distinct disease mechanisms.
Epidemiological Patterns and Hospital Characteristics Associated with Increased Incidence ofClostridium difficileInfection in Quebec, Canada, 1998–2006
Authors: Gilca Rodica , Hubert Bruno , Fortin Elise , Gaulin Colette , Dionne Marc
Published: August 2010

Objective.

To explore epidemiological patterns of the incidence ofClostridium difficileinfection (CDI) and hospital characteristics associated with increased incidence during nonepidemic and epidemic years.

Design.

Retrospective and prospective ecological study.

Setting.

Eighty-three acute care hospitals participating in CDI surveillance in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Methods.

A Serfling-type regression model applied to data obtained from an administrative database (1998-2006) and prospective Quebec CDI surveillance (2004-2006) was used to calculate expected CDI baseline incidence and to detect incidence exceeding the defined epidemic threshold at the provincial and hospital level. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to determine hospital characteristics associated with increased incidence during nonepidemic (1998-2001) and epidemic (2003-2005) periods.

Results.

During the study period (1998-2006), 4,525,847 discharges, including 45,508 with a CDI in any diagnosis field, were reported by 83 hospitals. During 1998-2001, the average Quebec incidence of CDI was 10,304 cases in 1,775,822 discharges (5.8 cases per 1,000 discharges) and presented a pattern of seasonality, with similar patterns at the hospital level for some hospitals. The Quebec epidemic started in October-November 2002 and peaked in March 2004 at 845 cases in 40,852 discharges (20.7 cases per 1,000 discharges). In multivariable analysis, higher incidence was associated with location in Montreal and surrounding regions, greater hospital size, larger proportion of hospitalized elderly patients, longer length of stay, and greater proportion of comorbidities in patients, whereas teaching profile was associated with decreased incidence during both nonepidemic and epidemic periods. The effect of geographical location on incidence was greater during the epidemic.

Conclusion.

Baseline incidence from nonepidemic years and hospital characteristics associated with CDI incidence should be taken into account when estimating the efficacy of interventions.
Bounded outdegree and extremal length on discrete Riemann surfaces
Authors: Wood William
Published: August 2010

Let

T
T

be a triangulation of a Riemann surface. We show that the

1
1

-skeleton of

T
T

may be oriented so that there is a global bound on the outdegree of the vertices. Our application is to construct extremal metrics on triangulations formed from

T
T

by attaching new edges and vertices and subdividing its faces. Such refinements provide a mechanism of convergence of the discrete triangulation to the classical surface. We will prove a bound on the distortion of the discrete extremal lengths of path families on

T
T

under the refinement process. Our bound will depend only on the refinement and not on

T
T

. In particular, the result does not require bounded degree.
Reconfiguring practice: the interdependence of experimental procedure and computing infrastructure in distributed earthquake engineering
Authors: De La Flor Grace , Ojaghi Mobin , Martínez Ignacio Lamata , Jirotka Marina , Williams Martin S. , Blakeborough Anthony
Published: August 2010

When transitioning local laboratory practices into distributed environments, the interdependent relationship between experimental procedure and the technologies used to execute experiments becomes highly visible and a focal point for system requirements. We present an analysis of ways in which this reciprocal relationship is reconfiguring laboratory practices in earthquake engineering as a new computing infrastructure is embedded within three laboratories in order to facilitate the execution of shared experiments across geographically distributed sites. The system has been developed as part of the UK Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation e-Research project, which links together three earthquake engineering laboratories at the universities of Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford. We consider the ways in which researchers have successfully adapted their local laboratory practices through the modification of experimental procedure so that they may meet the challenges of coordinating distributed earthquake experiments.
User engagement by user-centred design in e-Health
Authors: Sutcliffe Alistair , Thew Sarah , De Bruijn Oscar , Buchan Ian , Jarvis Paul , McNaught Jock , Procter Rob
Published: August 2010

This paper describes the application of user-centred design (UCD) methods and a user engagement (UE) approach to a case study development of a visualization tool (ADVISES) to support epidemiological research. The combined UCD/UE approach consisted of scenario-based design, and analysis of the users’ tasks and mental model of the domain. Prototyping and storyboarding techniques were used to explore design options with users as well as specifying functionality for two versions of the software to meet the needs of novice and expert users. An evaluation of the prototype was carried out to assess the extent to which the expert model would support public health professionals in their analysis activities. The results of the design exploration requirements analysis study are reported. The implications of scenario-based design exploration, participatory design and user engagement are discussed.
Understanding performance of distributed data-intensive applications
Authors: Miceli Christopher , Miceli Michael , Rodriguez-Milla Bety , Jha Shantenu
Published: August 2010

Grids, clouds and cloud-like infrastructures are capable of supporting a broad range of data-intensive applications. There are interesting and unique performance issues that appear as the volume of data and degree of distribution increases. New scalable data-placement and management techniques, as well as novel approaches to determine the relative placement of data and computational workload, are required. We develop and study a genome sequence matching application that is simple to control and deploy, yet serves as a prototype of a data-intensive application. The application uses a SAGA-based implementation of the All-Pairs pattern. This paper aims to understand some of the factors that influence the performance of this application and the interplay of those factors. We also demonstrate how the SAGA approach can enable data-intensive applications to be extensible and interoperable over a range of infrastructure. This capability enables us to compare and contrast two different approaches for executing distributed data-intensive applications—simple application-level data-placement heuristics versus distributed file systems.
Evolutionary causes and consequences of consistent individual variation in cooperative behaviour
Authors: Bergmüller Ralph , Schürch Roger , Hamilton Ian M.
Published: August 2010

Behaviour is typically regarded as among the most flexible of animal phenotypic traits. In particular, expression of cooperative behaviour is often assumed to be conditional upon the behaviours of others. This flexibility is a key component of many hypothesized mechanisms favouring the evolution of cooperative behaviour. However, evidence shows that cooperative behaviours are often less flexible than expected and that, in many species, individuals show consistent differences in the amount and type of cooperative and non-cooperative behaviours displayed. This phenomenon is known as ‘animal personality’ or a ‘behavioural syndrome’. Animal personality is evolutionarily relevant, as it typically shows heritable variation and can entail fitness consequences, and hence, is subject to evolutionary change. Here, we review the empirical evidence for individual variation in cooperative behaviour across taxa, we examine the evolutionary processes that have been invoked to explain the existence of individual variation in cooperative behaviour and we discuss the consequences of consistent individual differences on the evolutionary stability of cooperation. We highlight that consistent individual variation in cooperativeness can both stabilize or disrupt cooperation in populations. We conclude that recognizing the existence of consistent individual differences in cooperativeness is essential for an understanding of the evolution and prevalence of cooperation.
Culture and cooperation
Authors: Gächter Simon , Herrmann Benedikt , Thöni Christian
Published: August 2010

Does the cultural background influence the success with which genetically unrelated individuals cooperate in social dilemma situations? In this paper, we provide an answer by analysing the data ofHerrmannet al. (2008a), who studied cooperation and punishment in 16 subject pools from six different world cultures (as classified byInglehart & Baker (2000)). We use analysis of variance to disentangle the importance of cultural background relative to individual heterogeneity and group-level differences in cooperation. We find that culture has a substantial influence on the extent of cooperation, in addition to individual heterogeneity and group-level differences identified by previous research. The significance of this result is that cultural background has a substantial influence on cooperation in otherwise identical environments. This is particularly true in the presence of punishment opportunities.
Social eavesdropping and the evolution of conditional cooperation and cheating strategies
Authors: Earley Ryan L.
Published: August 2010

The response of bystanders to information available in their social environment can have a potent influence on the evolution of cooperation and signalling systems. In the presence of bystanders, individuals might be able to increase their payoff by exaggerating signals beyond their means (cheating) or investing to help others despite considerable costs. In doing so, animals can accrue immediate benefits by manipulating (or helping) individuals with whom they are currently interacting and delayed benefits by convincing bystanders that they are more fit or cooperative than perhaps is warranted. In this paper, I provide some illustrative examples of how bystanders could apply added positive selection pressure on both cooperative behaviour and dishonest signalling during courtship or conflict. I also discuss how the presence of bystanders might select for greater flexibility in behavioural strategies (e.g. conditional or condition dependence), which could maintain dishonesty at evolutionarily stable frequencies under some ecological conditions. By recognizing bystanders as a significant selection pressure, we might gain a more realistic approximation of what drives signalling and/or interaction dynamics in social animals.
How is human cooperation different?
Authors: Melis Alicia P. , Semmann Dirk
Published: August 2010

Although cooperation is a widespread phenomenon in nature, human cooperation exceeds that of all other species with regard to the scale and range of cooperative activities. Here we review and discuss differences between humans and non-humans in the strategies employed to maintain cooperation and control free-riders. We distinguish forms of cooperative behaviour based on their influence on the immediate payoffs of actor and recipient. If the actor has immediate costs and only the recipient obtains immediate benefits, we term this investment. If the behaviour has immediate positive effects for both actor and recipient, we call this a self-serving mutually beneficial behaviour or mutual cooperation. We argue that humans, in contrast to all other species, employ a wider range of enforcement mechanisms, which allow higher levels of cooperation to evolve and stabilize among unrelated individuals and in large groups. We also discuss proximate mechanisms underlying cooperative behaviour and focus on our experimental work with humans and our closest primate relatives. Differences in the proximate mechanisms also seem to contribute to explaining humans' greater ability to cooperate and enforce cooperation.
Developmental stage-specific interplay of GATA1 and IGF signaling in fetal megakaryopoiesis and leukemogenesis
Authors: Klusmann Jan-Henning , Godinho Frank J. , Heitmann Kirsten , Maroz Aliaksandra , Lee Koch Mia , Reinhardt Dirk , Orkin Stuart H. , Li Zhe
Published: August 2010

Oncogene-mediated transformation of hematopoietic cells has been studied extensively, but little is known about the molecular basis for restriction of oncogenes to certain target cells and differential cellular context-specific requirements for oncogenic transformation between infant and adult leukemias. Understanding cell type-specific interplay of signaling pathways and oncogenes is essential for developing targeted cancer therapies. Here, we address the vexing issue of how developmental restriction is achieved in Down syndrome acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (DS-AMKL), characterized by the triad of fetal origin, mutated GATA1 (GATA1s), and trisomy 21. We demonstrate overactivity of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in authentic human DS-AMKL and in a DS-AMKL mouse model generated through retroviral insertional mutagenesis. Fetal but not adult megakaryocytic progenitors are dependent on this pathway. GATA1 restricts IGF-mediated activation of the E2F transcription network to coordinate proliferation and differentiation. Failure of a direct GATA1–E2F interaction in mutated GATA1s converges with overactive IGF signaling to promote cellular transformation of DS fetal progenitors, revealing a complex, fetal stage-specific regulatory network. Our study underscores context-dependent requirements during oncogenesis, and explains resistance to transformation of ostensibly similar adult progenitors.
Verrocchio, a Drosophila OB fold-containing protein, is a component of the terminin telomere-capping complex
Authors: Raffa Grazia D. , Raimondo Domenico , Sorino Cristina , Cugusi Simona , Cenci Giovanni , Cacchione Stefano , Gatti Maurizio , Ciapponi Laura
Published: August 2010

Drosophila telomeres are elongated by transposition of specialized retroelements rather than telomerase activity, and are assembled independently of the terminal DNA sequence. Drosophila telomeres are protected by terminin, a complex that includes the HOAP (Heterochromatin Protein 1/origin recognition complex-associated protein) and Moi (Modigliani) proteins and shares the properties of human shelterin. Here we show that Verrocchio (Ver), an oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB) fold-containing protein related to Rpa2/Stn1, interacts physically with HOAP and Moi, is enriched only at telomeres, and prevents telomere fusion. These results indicate that Ver is a new terminin component; we speculate that, concomitant with telomerase loss, Drosophila evolved terminin to bind chromosome ends independently of the DNA sequence.
Staining for Acetylcholinesterase in Brain Sections
Authors: Paul Carol Ann , Beltz Barbara , Berger-Sweeney Joanne
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

The stain described here is a relatively simple method to determine the distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in brain sections. In addition, the intensity of the stain is an indication of the quantity of the enzyme present. It has been suggested that the distribution of AChE should correspond to the distribution of acetylcholine; however, it has been shown that this not always true. In this protocol, free-floating sections are incubated in an acetylthiocholine and copper-buffered solution at 40ºC until the hippocampus shows signs of staining (turning white). The stain is then developed with a silver solution so that the stained areas appear brown.
Choline Acetyltransferase Staining in Brain Sections
Authors: Paul Carol Ann , Beltz Barbara , Berger-Sweeney Joanne
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes the use of immunocytochemical methods to stain for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). The avidin-biotin horseradish peroxidase complex (ABC) triple-labeling method used here takes advantage of the extraordinary affinity between avidin and biotin. Horseradish peroxidase attached to biotin in the complex is developed using diaminobenzidine (DAB).
Lysis of Cultured Cells for Immunoprecipitation
Authors: Ji Hong
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

Cell lysis with mild detergent is commonly used with cultured animal cells. If low detergent concentrations are sufficient to cause cell lysis (e.g., 1% Nonidet P-40 [NP-40] or 1% Triton X-100), this method can be gentler to the protein of interest than mechanical homogenization methods. The choice of detergent must be tailored to the nature of the epitope recognized by the immunoprecipitating antibody. If the antibody recognizes a linear peptide epitope (e.g., a synthetic peptide), then use a harsh denaturing lysis buffer (e.g., RIPA buffer). On the other hand, if the antibody is directed toward a conformational epitope, use NP-40 lysis buffer (or 1% Triton X-100). This protocol presents separate methods for lysing cells grown as monolayer cultures and for cells grown in suspension.
Lysis of Cultured Animal Cells, Yeast, and Bacteria for Immunoblotting
Authors: Ji Hong
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes cell lysis for immunoblotting. Cell lysis with detergents is commonly used with cultured animal cells. Typically, a 2% solution of the ionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is sufficient for lysing cells for the purpose of immunoblotting studies. Both cultured animal cells and bacteria such as Escherichia coli can be lysed in this manner. If the antigenic determinant recognized by the antibody being studied is dependent on the native spatial conformation and sensitive to reducing conditions, then dithiothreitol (DTT) should be omitted from the lysis buffer and non-reducing/non-urea gels might need to be used.
Preparation of Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA) and Poly(Ethylene Oxide) (PEO) Nanoparticles as Carriers for Gene Delivery
Authors: Csaba Noémi S. , Sánchez Alejandro , Alonso Maria Jose
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

New nanoparticulate blend compositions based on poly(D,L lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) derivatives have been designed as transmucosal gene carriers. These nanosystems benefit from the inherent biodegradability and low toxicity of their components and the mild conditions required for their preparation. In addition, specific advantages of these nanoparticles for in vivo gene delivery are (1) their adequate DNA loading capacity, (2) their ability to control the release of the encapsulated DNA for extended periods of time while preserving its delicate conformational structure as well as its biological activity, and (3) their capacity to overcome the nasal mucosa barrier and transport the associated model DNA vaccine, leading to a significant systemic immune response against the encoded protein. This protocol describes the preparation and characterization of DNA-loaded nanoparticles composed of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and PEO and the use of these particles as transmucosal gene delivery carriers.
Immunocytochemical Staining of Drosophila Larval Body-Wall Muscles
Authors: Ramachandran Preethi , Budnik Vivian
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

Over the last two decades, the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has gained immense popularity as a model system for the study of synaptic development, function, and plasticity. With this model, it is easy to visualize synapses and manipulate the system genetically with a high degree of temporal and spatial control, which makes it ideal for resolving problems in synaptic physiology and development. This article describes a procedure for labeling various proteins with antibodies in dissected larval body-wall muscles and visualizing their localization and distribution in the brain, NMJ, and muscle.
FM1-43 Labeling of Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junctions
Authors: Ramachandran Preethi , Budnik Vivian
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

Over the last two decades, the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has gained immense popularity as a model system for the study of synaptic development, function, and plasticity. With this model, it is easy to visualize synapses and manipulate the system genetically with a high degree of temporal and spatial control, which makes it ideal for resolving problems in synaptic physiology and development. Here, we describe a simple method for looking at vesicle recycling at the NMJ by labeling with FM1-43 dye.
Multi-Layer In Vivo Imaging of Neocortex Using a Microprism
Authors: Chia Thomas H. , Levene Michael J.
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

Two-photon fluorescence microscopy is an integral tool in the field of neuroscience research. Applications of two-photon microscopy to in vivo deep-brain imaging are limited due to substantial light scattering by dense neural tissue. Conventional in vivo imaging can only access the superficial 300-400 μm of neocortex and suffers from nonuniform intensity and poor signal-to-noise as the depth increases. This protocol presents a technique to produce high-quality images deep into the mouse neocortex by inserting a 1-mm right-angle glass microprism into the neocortex. The microprism serves to reflect the laser excitation light and the fluorescence emission off a high-reflective coating on the prism’s hypotenuse to provide a side-on imaging perspective of multiple neocortical layers simultaneously. This “inverted periscope” technique allows for wide field-of-view imaging of layer V green fluorescent protein (GFP) cell bodies with their apical dendrites extending through the superficial layers. Microprisms maintain spatial resolutions capable of resolving dendritic spines. Furthermore, microprisms can image the network of blood vessels in the neocortex and blood flow through microcapillaries to obtain information such as red blood cell (RBC) flux and velocity.
Analysis of Targeted Chromosomal Deletions Induced by Zinc Finger Nucleases
Authors: Kim Seokjoong , Lee Hyung Joo , Kim Eunji , Kim Jin-Soo
Published: August 2010

INTRODUCTION

Targeted genomic deletions of large DNA segments in higher eukaryotic cells and organisms have been difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Current approaches for targeted genomic deletions utilizing recombination systems (such as Flp/FRT and Cre/loxP) or bacterial artificial chromosomes are mostly limited to mouse embryonic stem cells, which support genetic manipulation by homologous recombination. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are artificial restriction enzymes, made by fusing an engineered zinc finger DNA-binding domain (which targets a desired sequence) to the DNA cleavage domain of the FokI type IIS restriction enzyme. In the cell, ZFNs can generate targeted DNA double-strand breaks on a chromosome and thus have been used to introduce site-specific, local mutations to a gene of interest. In addition, ZFNs have been recently reported to induce large genomic deletions in cultured human cells. In this protocol, we describe methods to detect and analyze large genomic deletions in cultured cells introduced by expression of ZFNs that target two separate sites on a chromosome.
Overexpression of ΔNp63α induces a stem cell phenotype in MCF7 breast carcinoma cell line through the Notch pathway
Authors: Du Zhijian , Li Jing , Wang Liang , Bian Chunjing , Wang Qingliang , Liao Lianming , Dou Xiaowei , Bian Xiuwu , Zhao Robert Chunhua
Published: August 2010

To elucidate a role of ΔNp63α in breast cancer, the expression levels of p63, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, p53, CK5, cerBb‐2, and Notch1 were assayed in 50 clinical breast cancer specimens using immunochemistry. P63 was highly expressed in a subset of breast cancer with basal‐like features. We then transfected MCF7 cells with ΔNp63α plasmid, and assayed its cancer stem cell‐like features after transfection. Overexpression of ΔNp63α in MCF7 cells increased the percentage of CD24−CD44+ subpopulation from 2.2 ± 0.2% to 25.1 ± 1.5% (P < 0.05) and led to increased cancer cell proliferation, clonogenicity, anchorage‐independent growth, and the incidence of xenograft grown in vivo. In addition, ΔNp63α overexpressing cancer cells were more drug resistant. Further studies suggested ΔNp63α‐induced activation of the Notch pathway may play a role in these effects. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that ΔNp63α could directly bind to Notch1. In clinical breast cancer specimens, the expression level of p63 was also found to positively correlate with the expression level of Notch1. Our results suggest that ΔNp63α might serve as a tumor initiating transcription factor in breast cancer. (Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 2417–2424)
Wheezing, asthma, hayfever, and atopic eczema in childhood following exposure to tobacco smoke in fetal life
Authors: Magnusson L. L. , Olesen A. B. , Wennborg H. , Olsen J.
Published: August 2010

Background
Prenatal maternal smoking has been associated with adverse respiratory effects in childhood such as lung deficits and wheezing, but results concerning asthma, hayfever, and atopic eczema are inconsistent.

Objective
In the present study, we investigate the effects of maternal smoking in pregnancy on asthma, hayfever, atopic eczema, and wheezing in the offspring up to the age of 14–18.

Methods
The study was based on a cohort of mothers enrolled during midwife visits around the 36th week of gestation in Odense and Aalborg, Denmark, 1984–1987. Singleton, live born children (n=11 144) were followed‐up in 2002 to obtain a childhood history of atopic diseases, by means of questionnaires to the parents. Multivariate logistic regression analyses for medical diagnoses of asthma, hayfever, atopic eczema, and symptoms of wheezing before the age of 3, were carried out on 7844 children.

Results
After adjustment for confounders, late prenatal smoke exposure was associated with wheezing, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.2, and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.1–1.5. Furthermore, slightly reduced estimates for hayfever (OR 0.8, CI 0.7–1.0) and atopic eczema (OR 0.8, CI 0.7–0.9) were obtained for children exposed in late pregnancy compared with non‐exposed.

Conclusion
Late gestational smoke exposure was associated with wheezing but not with asthma, while null or even protective estimates were indicated for hayfever and atopic eczema. However, lack of control options for hereditary factors may have affected the results.
Molecular characterization of a human immunoglobulin G4 antibody specific for the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1
Authors: Flicker S. , Steinberger P. , Eibensteiner P. B. , Lebecque S. , Kraft D. , Valenta R.
Published: August 2010

Background
Allergen‐specific IgG4 antibodies induced by specific immunotherapy are thought to represent a protective immune response.

Objective
Our aim was the molecular characterization of a human IgG4 antibody (BAB5) specific for the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 that was derived from an immunotherapy‐treated patient.

Methods
The cDNA coding for BAB5 was obtained by reverse transcriptase‐PCR from the BAB5‐producing cell line, compared with the germ line sequences and was expressed as a soluble antibody fragment in Escherichia coli. The epitope specificity and cross‐reactivity of BAB5 were investigated with recombinant and synthetic Bet v 1 fragments and Bet v 1 homologous allergens from pollen. The ability of BAB5 to block allergic patients IgE was determined by competition experiments and sandwich ELISA.

Results
BAB5 is an affinity‐matured Bet v 1‐specific IgG4 antibody that reacts exclusively with Bet v 1 but not with Bet v 1‐related allergens. Unlike an earlier‐described monoclonal IgG1‐blocking antibody, BAB1, which had been isolated from the same patient, BAB5 did not block allergic patients' IgE reactivity to Bet v 1.

Conclusion
Our study demonstrates that not all allergen‐specific IgG antibodies inhibit IgE recognition of allergens and can contribute to the success of immunotherapy. The epitope specificity and affinity of IgG antibodies but not their isotype are decisive for their protective activity.
Animal‐derived lipocalin allergens exhibit immunoglobulin E cross‐reactivity
Authors: Saarelainen S. , Rytkönen‐Nissinen M. , Rouvinen J. , Taivainen A. , Auriola S. , Kauppinen A. , Kinnunen T. , Virtanen T.
Published: August 2010

Background
Although knowledge of the IgE cross‐reactivity between allergens is important for understanding the mechanisms of allergy, the regulation of the allergic immune response and the development of efficient modes of allergen immunotherapy, the cross‐reactivity of animal allergens is poorly known.

Objective
The aim of this study was to characterize IgE cross‐reactivities between lipocalin proteins, including five animal‐derived lipocalin allergens and one human endogenous lipocalin, tear lipocalin (TL).

Methods
The recombinant proteins were validated by chromatography and mass spectrometry. The IgE‐binding capacity of the allergens was confirmed by IgE. immunoblotting and IgE immunoblot inhibition. IgE ELISA was performed with sera from 42 atopic patients and 21 control subjects. The IgE cross‐reactivities between the lipocalin proteins were determined by ELISA inhibition.

Results
ELISA inhibition revealed IgE cross‐reactivities between Can f 1 and human TL, between Can f 1 and Can f 2, and between Equ c 1 and Mus m 1. Low levels of IgE to human TL were found in the sera of seven dog‐allergic patients of whom six were IgE‐positive for Can f 1.

Conclusion
Several lipocalins exhibited IgE cross‐reactivity, probably due to the sequential identity of the proteins and also due to similarities in their three‐dimensional structures. The clinical significance of the findings needs to be elucidated. Low‐level IgE cross‐reactivity can play a role in regulating immune response to lipocalin allergens.
Clinical value of negative skin tests to iodinated contrast media
Authors: Caimmi S. , Benyahia B. , Suau D. , Bousquet‐Rouanet L. , Caimmi D. , Bousquet P.‐J. , Demoly P.
Published: August 2010

Background
Several studies have shown that skin tests are useful tools for the diagnosis of iodinated contrast medium (ICM) allergy, but the real number of false negative results is not known.

Objective
To evaluate the negative predictive value of ICM skin tests.

Material and Methods
One hundred and fifty‐nine patients tested in our department because of a previous ICM reaction over the last 9 years were called and asked standardized questions about ICM re‐exposure.

Results
Twenty‐nine patients had been re‐exposed to ICM. There were 20 (69.0%) females and the median age was 55 (34–60) years. The median time interval between the reaction and skin testing was 11.9 (1.6–21.5) years. Twenty‐four patients (82%) had an immediate reaction, four a non‐immediate (13.8%) reaction and no data were available for one patient. Two patients had positive ICM skin tests previously and were re‐exposed to a negatively skin‐tested ICM and did not react. Only two patients presented a mild reaction during ICM re‐injection: one immediate (generalized urticaria lasting for 3 days) and one non‐immediate maculopapular reaction. The patient with urticaria was re‐tested and re‐challenged (negative). The other patient was unable to return for re‐testing.

Conclusion
Skin testing for ICM hypersensitivity has a negative predictive value of 96.6% (95% CI: 89.9–103.2) and none of the reactions in skin‐test‐negative patients were severe. Multi‐centric large surveys are still needed for confirmation.

Cite this as: S. Caimmi, B. Benyahia, D. Suau, L. Bousquet‐Rouanet, D. Caimmi, P.‐J. Bousquet and P. Demoly, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 805–810.
Analysis of a moisture characteristic curve employing a crystalline lattice of capillary pores
Authors: COX M. A. A.
Published: August 2010

The conventional method used to investigate the pore structure of a core of wet sand is to construct a moisture characteristic curve. The plot summarizes the dimensionless volume obtained from the sample at a given suction pressure. We assume here that pore diameters are selected from an arbitrary normal distribution. The problem of estimating the parameters of this distribution reduces to the solution of a quadratic equation and substitution of the resulting value into a polynomial. There is no necessity to plot the characteristic curve, the only values being needed are the first two moments of the raw distribution.
The use of horizontal piezometers for in situ measurements of hydraulic conductivity below the water table
Authors: GOSS M. J. , YOUNGS E. G.
Published: August 2010

To interpret experimental results from installations of horizontal piezometers for the purpose of obtaining in situ estimates of hydraulic conductivity of saturated soils below the water table, shape factors for a range of cylindrical cavities at the ends of piezometers were obtained using an electric analogue. Those for the particular piezometers used in a field experiment in a clay soil were obtained in the same way and found to be smaller because of the limited number of perforations in the tip forming the cavity. Hydraulic conductivity values obtained with the piezometers were similar to those obtained in laboratory measurements on undisturbed cores of the same soil.
The diffusion of two interacting solutes in soil
Authors: NYE P. H.
Published: August 2010

Equations are developed to describe the diffusion of two solutes that react with each other in the soil. Examples of such systems are nutrient uptake by a root simultaneously releasing a solubilizing agent, and dissolution of a fertilizer having an acid‐base reaction with the soil. Illustrative analytical solutions of the equations are given for planar, cylindrical and spherical systems. The effect of increasing strength of a solubilizing agent on nutrient uptake by a root is examined.
On the reversibility of phosphate sorption by soils
Authors: BARROW N. J.
Published: August 2010

Sorption of phosphate was induced by incubating phosphate with samples of two soils. Both desorption and further sorption of phosphate were then measured on separate subsamples of the incubated soils. The effects of varying the amount of phosphate incubated with the soil and of period of desorption, or of further sorption, were measured on one soil; the effect of period of incubation was measured on the other.

Plots of desorbed phosphate versus concentration were continuous with plots of newly sorbed phosphate versus concentration. Neither of these coincided with the plots of the original additions of phosphate. These results were compatible with a model for the reaction between soil and phosphate in which phosphate is initially adsorbed and subsequently diffuses beneath the adsorbing surfaces.

Sorption is reversible in the sense that a continuous curve of sorbed and desorbed phosphate is obtained when these are measured in opposite directions by increasing, or decreasing, the solution concentration of phosphate. However, because dynamic processes are involved, an earlier position of a plot of sorbed phosphate against concentration is not retraced when the concentration is changed.
Nitrogen interactions and crop uptake from fresh and composted15N‐labelled poultry manure
Authors: KIRCHMANN H.
Published: August 2010

15N‐labelled poultry excrement was obtained by feeding chickens with15N‐labelled barley grain. The excrement produced was tested for uniformity of15N‐labelling; only small variations in the15N content were found, indicating uniform labelling. The excrement was mixed with straw to produce manures which were used in a pot experiment measuring uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by ryegrass from the mixture in both a fresh form and after a period of composting. Interactions of N pools differed between the two materials. Addition of composted manure to soil caused a larger uptake of unlabelled N by ryegrass, whereas fresh manure caused a smaller plant uptake of unlabelled N. The proportion of plant N coming from labelled N from fresh manure was 25.7% and from composted manure 3.8%. However, the contributions of the two manures to plant uptake of total N were 15.5% and 13.8%, respectively. The fresh manure, being a mixture of excrement and straw, is considered as a two‐component material, whereas composted manure is considered as a single component. It was concluded that the increase or decrease in the quantity of unlabelled, soil‐derived N in plants after manure addition was related to the amount of energy available in the different manures.
Ammonia volatilization from five nitrogen compounds used as fertilizers following surface application to soils
Authors: WHITEHEAD D. C. , RAISTRICK N.
Published: August 2010

Measurements were made of the volatilization of ammonia from mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP), di‐ammonium phosphate (DAP), ammonium sulphate (AS), ammonium nitrate (AN) and urea, applied to the surface of five contrasting soils. The compounds were applied as solids, at a rate equivalent to 100 kg N ha−1, to samples of moist soil packed into columns (48 mm diameter) and placed individually in jars through which a stream of air was passed for a period of 8 d. Volatilization ranged from nil to 53% of the N applied, with both the nature of the compound and soil type having large effects. Taking all combinations into account, there was a close relationship between the extent of volatilization, expressed as a percentage of the ammonium or urea N, and the pH attained after 24 h by the corresponding mixtures of soil and compound. Using the results of these and other experiments, the proportion of fertilizer N volatilized as ammonia is estimated to be about 3.4% over the UK as a whole.
Influence of organic matter on phosphate adsorption by aluminium and iron oxides in sandy soils
Authors: BORGGAARD O. K. , JDRGENSEN S. S. , MOBERG J. P. , RABEN‐LANGE B.
Published: August 2010

The phosphate adsorption capacity (Pmax) of samples from various horizons of five Danish podzolized soils were investigated before and after organic matter removal. Removal of organic matter had no direct influence on Pmax suggesting that organic matter did not compete with phosphate for adsorption sites. In the soils investigated aluminium and iron oxides were the main phosphate adsorbents. Thus, more than 96% of the variation in Pmax could be accounted for by poorly crystalline aluminium and iron oxides (extractable by oxalate) and by well‐crystallized iron oxides (taken as the difference between dithionite‐citrate‐bicarbonate‐extractable iron and oxalate‐extractable iron).

Organic matter affected phosphate adsorption indirectly by inhibiting aluminium oxide crystallization. The resulting poorly crystalline oxides had high Pmax. In contrast, the influence of organic matter on the crystallinity of the iron oxides, and therefore on their capacity to adsorb phosphate, seemed limited.
One equation to analyse the pH of soil systems
Authors: BOSATTA E.
Published: August 2010

Starting from the basic equations of chemical equilibrium, an analytical mathematical expression is derived that relates pH to base saturation, concentration of acid anions (SO42−, NO3−, etc.) and other properties of the soil and soil solution. The equation is particularly valid in acid soils (low base saturation and relatively large, >100 μmolc dm−3, concentration of acid anions) in the range in which cation exchange is the buffering mechanism. Values of pH, alkalinity and degassed pH calculated with the aid of this equation compared well to values measured in three forest‐floor horizons; calculated pH values also compared well to values measured on a number of acid soils. The equation is also used to derive analytical mathematical expressions for alkalinity, soil leaching sensitivity (a measure of the sensitivity of a soil solution to become dominated by A13+), and other variables of interest in the context of acidification.
Use of scaling to quantify variability of heavy metal sorption isotherms
Authors: BÖTTCHER J.
Published: August 2010

Sorption isotherms of heavy metals in soil often vary strongly from place to place in the field. Scaling might be useful to quantify the variability of such functional relations. Application of scaling to sorption isotherms requires a rule. In this paper the derivation of a scaling rule for sorption isotherms, based on a hypothesis of 'sorption similarity’, and its application to cadmium sorption isotherms measured in 25 fields on sandy soils are reported. Scale factors are calculated by least squares procedures. Scaling reduced the variation of the Cd isotherms, expressed as sum of squares about an average, by about 86%, preserving the variation through the calculated scale factors. Scaling of sorption isotherms requires no specific equation to fit the sorption data. The aforementioned average should be calculated as scale mean because of the theoretical stringency of this approach.
Incorporation studies of NH+4 during incubation of organic residues by l5N‐CPMAS‐NMR‐spectroscopy
Authors: KNICKER H. , LÜDEMANN H.‐D. , HAIDER K.
Published: August 2010

This study focuses on the processes occurring during incorporation of inorganic nitrogen into humic substances. Therefore rye grass, wheat straw, beech saw dust, sulphonated lignin and organosolve lignin were incubated together with highly 15N‐enriched ammonium sulphate in the laboratory for 600 days. Samples from the incubates were periodically analysed for weight loss, and carbon and nitrogen contents. The samples were also analysed by solid‐state 13C‐ and 15N‐CPMAS‐NMR‐spectroscopy to follow the turnover of the materials during incubation. Most of the detectable N‐signals was assigned to amide ‐ peptide structures. The remaining intensities could be ascribed to free and alkylated amino groups, and those on the low field side of the broad amide‐peptide signal to indole, pyrrole and nucleotide derivatives. Abiotic reactions of ammonia with suitable precursors and the formation of pyridine, pyrazine or phenyloxazone derivatives were not observed. Signals from ammonia and nitrate occurred only at the end of the incubation.