bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma is a Problem We Need to Tackle
Authors: Perkins James D.
Published: June 2007

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only curative therapy of HCC with underlying cirrhosis, but due to HCC metastasis and recurrence, its benefit is limited to a small population who meet the strict selection criteria. We previously reported that Licartin ([131I]mAb HAb18G/CD147) was safe and effective in treating HCC patients, and its antigen, HAb18G/CD147, was closely related to HCC invasion and metastasis. Here, we reported a randomized controlled trial to assess the post-OLT antirecurrence efficacy of Licartin in advanced HCC patients. We randomized 60 post-OLT patients with HCC, who were at tumor stage 3/4 and outside the Milan criteria before OLT, into 2 groups. Three weeks after OLT, the treatment group received 15.4 MBq/kg of Licartin, while the control group received placebo intravenously for 3 times with an interval of 28 days. At 1-year follow-up, the recurrence rate significantly decreased by 30.4% (

P

= 0.0174) and the survival rate increased by 20.6% (

P

= 0.0289) in the treatment group, compared with those in the control group. For the control group versus the treatment group, the hazard ratio for recurrence was 3.60 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–8.60) and that for death was 3.87 (95% CI, 1.23–12.21). Licartin treatment also resulted in an earlier decreased AFP level and a longer time of normal AFP level than placebo (

P

= 0.0016). No Licartin-related toxic effects were observed.

Conclusion:

Licartin is a promising drug for preventing post-OLT tumor recurrence in advanced HCC patients excluded by the currently strict criteria for OLT. HAb18G/CD147 can be a good drug target.
World's Longest Surviving Liver-Pancreas Recipient
Authors: Harary Albert M. , Abu-Elmagd Kareem , Thai Ngoc , Shapiro Ron , Todo Satoru , Fung John J. , Starzl Thomas E.
Published: June 2007

In July 1988, the liver and pancreas of a cadaveric donor were transplanted separately into a man with type 1 diabetes with end-stage chronic hepatitis B virus. Two features of the operation may help explain the patient's current status as the longest-lived liver-pancreas recipient. One was enteric drainage of pancreatic exocrine secretions. The other was delivery of the pancreas venous effluent to the host portal system and then directly to the hepatic allograft. Liver Transpl 13:957–960, 2007. © 2007 AASLD.
β3‐Adrenoceptors in urinary bladder
Authors: Yamaguchi Osamu , Chapple Christopher R.
Published: June 2007

The β‐adrenoceptor (AR) is currently classified into β1, β2, and β3subtypes. A third subtype, β3‐AR, was first identified in adipose tissue, but has also been identified in smooth muscle tissue, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder smooth muscle. There is a predominant expression of β3‐AR messenger RNA (mRNA) in human bladder, with 97% of total β‐AR mRNA being represented by the β3‐AR subtype and only 1.5 and 1.4% by the β1‐AR and β2‐AR subtypes, respectively. Moreover, the presence of β1‐, β2‐, and β3‐AR mRNAs in the urothelium of human bladder has been identified. The distribution of β‐AR subtypes mediating detrusor muscle relaxation is species dependent, the predominant subtype being the β3‐AR in humans. Recent studies have suggested that cAMP‐dependent routes are not exclusive mechanisms triggering the β‐AR‐mediated relaxation of smooth muscle. It has been demonstrated in rats detrusor muscle that cAMP plays a greater role in β‐adrenergic relaxation against basal tone than against KCl‐induced tone and that conversely calcium‐activated K+channels (BKca channels) play a greater role under the latter circumstances. In rat models, β3‐AR agonists increase bladder capacity without influencing bladder contraction and have only weak cardiovascular side effects. Although this evidence points toward the clinical utility of β3‐AR agonists as therapy for overactive bladder (OAB), pharmacological differences exist between rat and human β3‐ARs. Development of compounds with high selectivity for the human β3‐AR, identified by screening techniques using cell lines transfected with the human β1‐, β2‐, and β3‐AR genes, may mitigate against such problems. The association between the tryptophan 64 arginine polymorphism in the β3‐AR gene and idiopathic OAB is discussed. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:752–756, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Women who experience detrusor overactive at lower bladder volumes report greater bother
Authors: Lowenstein Lior , Kenton Kimberly , Dooley Yashika , R. Mueller Elizabeth , Brubaker Linda
Published: June 2007

Aims

To explore the relationship of cystometric volume at the time of first detection of detrusor overactive incontinence (DOI) to condition‐specific quality of life (QOL).

Methods

We reviewed consecutive charts of women diagnosed with pure DOI during urodynamic testing. DOI volume was defined as the cystometric volume at the first detection of DOI. Responses to the Urine Distress Inventory (UDI6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ7) were recorded. Spearman correlations were used to compare independent groups with respect to continuous variables.

Results

Eighty‐nine women were included in this analysis. DOI volume was inversely correlated with UDI6 and IIQ7 scores (Spearman's ρ = −0.514, P < 0.001 and Spearman's ρ = −0.611, P < 0.001). Maximal cystometric capacity was also inversely correlated with UDI6 and IIQ7 scores (ρ = −0.458, P < 0.0001 and Spearman's ρ = −0.43, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Women who experience DOI at lower volumes during urodynamics report greater bother and QOL impact from incontinence than women who leak at higher volumes. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Chicago primaries of 1926
Authors: Wooddy Carroll Hill
Published: June 2007

The story of a primary election celebrated for lavish use of money, mud‐slinging, irrational appeals to voters and absence of civic interest.
Should giant power be under private or public ownership?. I. Private ownership under public regulation
Authors: Wells Philip P.
Published: June 2007

A plan for private ownership under reasonable and attainable regulation.
Poor law reform in New York state
Authors: Bond Elsie M.
Published: June 2007

After one hundred years' experience with a Poor Law little advanced beyond the famous law of Queen Elizabeth, New York adopts a new measure more in accord with the modern trend.
Regional variation in municipal borrowing rates
Authors: Moser Earl L.
Published: June 2007

Every one knows that westem municipalities pay higher interest rates on borrowed money than eastern cities. The purpose of this article is to show how great is the difference and why it occurs.
Simplification of government in metropolitan Chicago
Authors: Jacobs J. L.
Published: June 2007

Whd could be accomplished by consolidation of the 415 local governments in the Chicago area. In Cook County alone there are 650 elective ofices.
Municipal government in Soviet Russia I. Before and during the revolution
Authors: Maxwell Bertram W.
Published: June 2007

A first‐hand report on municipal developments in Soviet Russia. This month the author describes the changes bought by the revolution. Next month he Will discuss the structure of the new city governments established by the soviets.
Motives for voting as shown by the Cincinnati P. R. election of 1929
Authors: Gosnell Harold F.
Published: June 2007

When information regarding the candidates is available, an analysis of the transfers made under the Hare system of proportional representation throws light upon motives for voting. A study of the returns for the 1929 Cincinnati councilmanic elections shows that the rivalry between the charter committee and the organization Republican party outweighed all other factors. The factor of color came next in importance. Nationalistic, religious and class influences were relatively insignificant.
The cleveland foundation‐ the first community trust
Authors: Chrter Lepton E.
Published: June 2007

The community trust idea, first applied in Cleveland, has been adopted in 75 cities.
An appraisal of cincinnati's efforts to meet unemployment
Authors: Dykstra C. A. , Hoehler F. K.
Published: June 2007

According to government reports Cincinnati's unemployment rate is lower than other large cities. This is a sequel to an article in the REVIEW for last May and decribes the results of efforts to mitigate the hardships of business depression.
MUSTA‐type upwind fluxes for non‐linear elasticity
Authors: Titarev V. A. , Romenski E. , Toro E. F.
Published: June 2007

The present paper is devoted to the construction and comparative study of upwind methods as applied to the system of one‐dimensional non‐linear elasticity equations with particular attention to robustness and accurate resolution of delicate features such as linearly degenerate fields. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards unlimited transparency? Morals and facts concerning leaking to the press by public officials in the Netherlands
Authors: de Jong Jurgen , de Vries Michiel S.
Published: June 2007

Transparency is increasingly a general norm for government conduct, but it is not considered desirable in all situations. Leaking confidential information is a salient example of this. Leaking namely has a very negative connotation: it is associated with egotism, harmfulness and prosecution. Despite its impact, hardly any empirical research has been conducted to test these assumptions. We seek to redress the negative bias by discussing three sources of empirical material. Our discussion leads us to conclude that some officials leak for unvirtuous reasons but that many are actually driven by public interest. Leaking appears to occur quite often and within more or less stable networks of journalists and public officials. Leakers mainly prove to be higher ranked officials and politicians, rather than frustrated lower ranked officials. This indicates that generally too much is held secret. Increasing transparency may be a good measure to reduce leaking, because it removes the breeding ground for leaks. This would imply the need for a new definition of leaking that offers a clearer pretext for moral judgement of leaks. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A coarse‐grained protein force field for folding and structure prediction
Authors: Maupetit Julien , Tuffery P. , Derreumaux Philippe
Published: June 2007

We have revisited the protein coarse‐grained optimized potential for efficient structure prediction (OPEP). The training and validation sets consist of 13 and 16 protein targets. Because optimization depends on details of how the ensemble of decoys is sampled, trial conformations are generated by molecular dynamics, threading, greedy, and Monte Carlo simulations, or taken from publicly available databases. The OPEP parameters are varied by a genetic algorithm using a scoring function which requires that the native structure has the lowest energy, and the native‐like structures have energy higher than the native structure but lower than the remote conformations. Overall, we find that OPEP correctly identifies 24 native or native‐like states for 29 targets and has very similar capability to the all‐atom discrete optimized protein energy model (DOPE), found recently to outperform five currently used energy models. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Monte carlo folding of trans‐membrane helical peptides in an implicit generalized Born membrane
Authors: Ulmschneider Jakob P. , Ulmschneider Martin B. , Di Nola Alfredo
Published: June 2007

An efficient Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm using concerted backbone rotations is combined with a recently developed implicit membrane model to simulate the folding of the hydrophobic transmembrane domain M2TM of the M2 protein from influenza A virus and Sarcolipin at atomic resolution. The implicit membrane environment is based on generalized Born theory and has been calibrated against experimental data. The MC sampling has previously been used to fold several small polypeptides and been shown to be equivalent to molecular dynamics (MD). In combination with a replica exchange algorithm, M2TM is found to form continuous membrane spanning helical conformations for low temperature replicas. Sarcolipin is only partially helical, in agreement with the experimental NMR structures in lipid bilayers and detergent micelles. Higher temperature replicas exhibit a rapidly decreasing helicity, in agreement with expected thermodynamic behavior. To exclude the possibility of an erroneous helical bias in the simulations, the model is tested by sampling a synthetic Alanine‐rich polypeptide of known helicity. The results demonstrate there is no overstabilization of helical conformations, indicating that the implicit model captures the essential components of the native membrane environment for M2TM and Sarcolipin. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hallmarks of mycolic acid biosynthesis: A comparative genomics study
Authors: Raman Karthik , Rajagopalan Preethi , Chandra Nagasuma
Published: June 2007

Mycolic acids, which render unique qualities to mycobacteria, are known to be important for mycobacterial growth, survival, and pathogenicity. It is of interest to understand the evolutionary origins of the mycolic acid pathway (MAP), as well as the common minimum principles critical for generating the capability of mycolic acid biosynthesis. The recent curation of a comprehensive model of the MAP in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the availability of a large number of genome sequences make it feasible to carry out detailed sequence and phylogenetic analyses, to address these questions. A comprehensive phylogenetic pathway profile analysis was carried out for 318 fully sequenced bacterial genomes, for each of the proteins present in the MAP. The organisms were clustered on the basis of co‐occurrence of the MAP proteins in their proteome, while the proteins were clustered on the basis of their phylogenetic profiles. The MAP proteins were also searched against the nonredundant sequence database, to identify similar proteins from other phyla. The pathway profiles indicate that four proteins and certain protein domains stand out as more characteristic to mycolate producing organisms. Further analysis leads to the identification of the desaturases DesA1 and DesA2 and certain domains of Fas and Pks13 as hallmarks of the pathway. The roles of these proteins in some other organisms, as well as the distribution of these proteins across all known genome sequences are also briefly discussed. The clustering of organisms, carried out to group organisms with similar profiles, provides a means of obtaining finer classification as compared to the standard taxonomic method. The results indicate that the MAP and hence the capacity of mycolic acid production in mycobacteria is an example of an emergent property that has come about by recruiting enzymes from unrelated pathways in plants, presumably through lateral gene transfer. The understanding of the hallmarks of mycolic acid biosynthesis will also find application in evaluating drug targets. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrogen blistering of silicon: Progress in fundamental understanding
Authors: Terreault Bernard
Published: June 2007

When silicon is implanted with a sufficient concentration of H ions, at low to moderate temperature, and subsequently annealed at high temperature, dome‐shaped gas‐filled blisters and/or craters of exploded blisters appear on the surface. Under particular conditions, blistering can be produced by plasma hydrogenation as well. The phenomenon is another facet of hydrogen behaviour in silicon, a question with both fundamental and applied implications. Blistering is at the origin of the “ion‐cutting” process for the fabrication of silicon‐on‐insulator and other heterostructures; this process is particularly useful whenever atomically sharp interfaces between layers are required. The novelty and vast potential of this process has spurred since the mid‐1990's a burst of experimental activity on blistering. The purposes of those works were either to improve or extend the ion‐cut process, or to clarify its underlying mechanisms. In “mechanisms”, the plural is used to convey the fact that it is a multi‐step phenomenon. Because of this complexity, the theoretical work, in comparison, is far less abundant. Hydrogen blistering of silicon is qualitatively understood in broad terms: H being insoluble in Si, it tends to segregate into cavities which grow and coalesce at high temperature, and the H2pressure in the cavities finally deforms the surface. In fact, our understanding of the microscopic mechanisms has progressed much beyond that level thanks to the sophisticated work that has been carried out using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering in the channelling mode, infrared spectroscopy of local vibrational modes, stress and strain measurements, and others. The effects of n‐ or p‐doping, He ion coimplantation, and isotope substitution have also greatly helped in discriminating between different hypotheses. After a review of the most relevant experimental facts, the blistering mechanisms that have been proposed in the literature will be discussed and their conformity with the data assessed. Finally an attempt will be made to identify the key questions and suggest a few avenues for future work. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The ensemble‐transform scheme adapted for the generation of stochastic forecast perturbations
Authors: McLay Justin G. , Bishop Craig H. , Reynolds Carolyn A.
Published: June 2007

A method for generating stochastic perturbations is derived from the ensemble‐transform analysis‐error sampling scheme. The method produces stochastic perturbations that not only have multivariate spatial correlation, balance, and prescribed mean and variance statistics, but also conditioning for growth. The perturbations can serve as modification for numerical weather prediction (NWP) ensemble forecasts either during integration or post‐processing. A practical demonstration of the method is given, in which operational global NWP ensemble forecasts are modified with the stochastic perturbations as a post‐processing exercise. The results suggest that the method can produce stochastic perturbations whose spatially‐integrated statistics match target mean and variance statistics reasonably well, if a moderate number of archived NWP forecast perturbations are provided as input. They also suggest that the stochastic perturbations' correlation, balance, and conditioning for growth are functional, in the sense that the perturbations are not predisposed to marked decay at the outset of integration by an NWP model. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Baroclinic development within zonally‐varying flows
Authors: Schultz David M. , Zhang Fuqing
Published: June 2007

Previous idealized‐modelling studies have shown the importance of across‐jet barotropic shear to the resulting evolution of cyclones, anticyclones, surface‐based fronts, and upper‐level fronts. Meanwhile, many observational studies of cyclones have shown the importance of along‐jet variations in the horizontal wind speed (i.e. confluence and diffluence). This study investigates the importance of these along‐jet (zonal, for zonally‐oriented jets) variations in the horizontal wind speed to the resulting structures and evolutions of baroclinic waves, using idealized models of growing baroclinic waves. An idealized primitive‐equation channel model is configured with growing baroclinic perturbations embedded within confluent and diffluent background flows. When the baroclinic perturbations are placed in background confluence, the lower‐tropospheric frontal structure and evolution initially resemble the Shapiro–Keyser cyclone model, with a zonally‐oriented cyclone, strong warm front, and bent‐back warm front. Later, as the baroclinic wave is amplified in the stronger downstream baroclinicity, the warm sector of the cyclone narrows, becoming more reminiscent of the Norwegian cyclone model. The upper‐level frontal structure develops with a southwest–northeast orientation, and becomes strongest at the base of the trough, where geostrophic cold advection is occurring. In contrast, when the baroclinic perturbations are placed in background diffluence, the lower‐tropospheric frontal structure and evolution resemble the Norwegian cyclone model, with a meridionally‐oriented cyclone, strong cold front, and occluded front. The upper‐level frontal structure is initially oriented northwest–southeast on the western side of the trough, before becoming zonally oriented. Weak geostrophic temperature advection occurs along its length. These results are compared to those from previous observational and idealized‐modelling studies. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Effect of Electron Beam‐Induced Deposition and Etching Under Bias
Authors: Choi Young R. , Rack Philip D. , Frost Bernhard , Joy David C.
Published: June 2007

Electron‐beam‐induced deposition (EBID) and etching (EBIE) provides a simple way to fabricate or etch submicron or nanoscale structures of various materials in a direct‐write (i.e.nonlithographic) fashion. The growth rate or the etch rate are influenced by many factors such as beam energy, beam current, temperature of the substrate material, pressure of the chamber, and geometry of the gas injector etc.

The mechanism of EBID and EBIE involves the interaction of the incident electron beam or emitted electron from the target material. The role of these electrons is still not completely understood although the contribution of low energy secondary electrons (SE) has been assumed to be the dominant contributor of EBID and EBIE based on its overlap with the dissociation cross section. We have studied the growth and etching phenomenon under various biasing conditions to investigate how low voltage biasing of the substrate affects secondary electron trajectories and subsequently modifies electron‐beam‐induced deposition and etching.SCANNING 29: 000–000, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
FIB/SEM Characterization of Carbon‐based Fibers
Authors: Magni S. , Milani M. , Riccardi C. , Tatti F.
Published: June 2007

The aim of this paper is to show how a focused ion beam combined with a scanning electron microscope (FIB/SEM machine) can be adopted to characterize composite fibers with different electrical behavior and to gain information about their production and modification. This comparative morphology investigation is carried out on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fibers and their chemical precursor (the oxidized PAN or oxypan) which has different electrical properties. Fibers are imaged by electron and ion beams and sectioned by the focused ion beam (FIB). A sample of oxypan fibers processed by a radio frequency (RF) plasma is also investigated and the role of the conductive carbon layer around their unmodified, insulating bulk is discussed. A suitable developed edge detection technique (EDT) on electron, ion images, and after the FIB sectioning, provides quantitative information about the thickness of the created layer. SCANNING 29: 000–000, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An analytical approach to sustainable development in Turkey
Authors: Kizilaslan Nuray , Gürler A. Zafer , Kizilaslan Halil
Published: June 2007

Sustainable development is meeting the expectations and necessities of the current era and future generations without making any sacrifices. The focus of the sustainable development concept is humankind. Humankind has the responsibility of protecting the environment it lives in, as much as it has the right to continue living a healthy productive life in harmony with nature. These responsibilities will be the main elements in determining continuity. With these aspects in mind, the research deals with the basic criteria predicted by Meadows on sustainable development. These criteria are divided into three: ‘sustainable’, ‘critical’ and ‘destructive’. The first element evaluated in these predicted criteria is the increase in population. From the pace of the population increase observed in Turkey, it can be said that Turkey affects the sustainable development in a ‘destructive’ way. Other criteria, such as economic development, deforestation rate, the area of the forests and the density of the population show an inclination towards the ‘critical area’. Turkey, in terms of its agricultural development, self‐sufficiency rate and urban population, is to be found in the sustainable development range. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Detection of Unlabeled Oligonucleotide Targets Using Whispering Gallery Modes in Single, Fluorescent Microspheres
Authors: Nuhiji Edin , Mulvaney Paul
Published: June 2007

The development of an inexpensive, highly sensitive, whispering gallery mode (WGM) based biosensing system is demonstrated. The system comprises a silica microsphere functionalized with a fluorophore and a dense monolayer of single‐strand oligonucleotides. The adsorption of the complementary strand causes spectral shifts in the emission spectrum of the microsphere that can be registered using a conventional optical microscope and CCD detector. The system is capable of detecting low‐abundance, unlabeled‐oligonucleotide targets. The spectral shifts can be used to monitor both the hybridization kinetics and the denaturation of the double‐strand DNA at elevated temperatures. The hybridization appears to be completely reversible. Complementary oligonucleotide probes more than 30 bases in length are most readily detected while a complete assay takes only a few minutes.
Results of an Intervention for Individuals and Families with BRCA Mutations: A Model for Providing Medical Updates and Psychosocial Support Following Genetic Testing
Authors: McKinnon Wendy , Naud Shelly , Ashikaga Taka , Colletti Rose , Wood Marie
Published: June 2007

Providing medical management updates and long‐term support to families with hereditary cancer syndromes in rural areas is a challenge. To address this, we designed a one‐day retreat for BRCA1/2 carriers in our region. The retreat included educational updates about medical management, genetic privacy and discrimination, and addressed psychological and family issues. Evaluations completed at the conclusion of the retreat were overwhelmingly positive with requests for a similar event in the future. The impact of this retreat on a variety of health behaviors was assessed. Eligible participants completed questionnaires before and 6 months after the retreat. Questionnaires focused on lifestyle, cancer screening and prevention practices, psychological history and distress, decision‐making regarding genetic testing, and family communication issues. For individuals who completed both the pre and post retreat questionnaires, one‐half made lifestyle changes and nearly two‐thirds increased cancer screening, initiated chemoprevention, completed or planned to complete preventative surgery in the future. We conclude that this type of forum provides a valuable opportunity for BRCA carriers and their families to receive updated medical information, share personal experiences, provide and receive support, as well as change health behaviors.
Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Lipids Present in Human Meibomian Gland Secretions
Authors: Butovich Igor A. , Uchiyama Eduardo , di Pascuale Mario A. , McCulley James P.
Published: June 2007

The purpose of the study was to qualitatively characterize the major lipid species present in human meibomian gland secretions (MGS) by means of high‐performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometric detection of the analytes (NP HPLC‐MS). Two different NP HPLC‐MS methods have been developed to analyze lipid species that were expected to be present in MGS. The first method was optimized for the analysis of relatively nonpolar lipids [wax esters (WE), di‐ and triacyl glycerols (DAG and TAG), cholesterol (Chl) and its esters (Chl‐E), and ceramides (Cer)], while the second method was designed to separate and detect phospholipids. The major lipid species in MGS were found to be WE, Chl‐E, and TAG. A minor amount of free Chl (less then 0.5% of the Chl‐E fraction) was detected in MGS. No appreciable amounts of DAG and Cer were found in MGS. The second NP HPLC‐MS method, capable of analyzing model mixtures of authentic phospholipids (e.g. phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin) in submicrogram/mL concentrations, showed little or no presence of these species in the MGS samples. These observations suggest that MGS are a major source of the nonpolar lipids of the WE and Chl‐E families for the tear film lipid layer (TFLL), but not of the previously reported phospholipid components of the TFLL.
First use of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) in a patient failing CRT therapy: Clinical and technical aspects of combined therapies
Authors: Butter Christian , Meyhöfer Jürgen , Seifert Martin , Neuss Michael , Minden Hans‐Heinrich
Published: June 2007

Cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) signals delivered by the OPTIMIZER System are being investigated as a treatment for medically refractory heart failure. Previous chronic studies of CCM have excluded patients with prolonged QRS and a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device. However, symptoms persist in more than 25% of these CRT patients. CCM may offer a therapeutic option for these non‐responders. Here we report the first use of CCM signals in a patient who did not respond to treatment with a CRT‐D device. We show that the implantation is technically feasible, that the OPTIMIZER and CRT‐D devices can coexist without interference and that acute haemodynamic and clinical improvements can be observed. The results suggest that systematic investigation of CCM treatment in CRT non‐responders is warranted.
Thymidine and deoxyuridine accumulate in tissues of patients with mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE)
Authors: Valentino Maria Lucia , Martí Ramon , Tadesse Saba , López Luis Carlos , Manes Jose L. , Lyzak Judy , Hahn Angelika , Carelli Valerio , Hirano Michio
Published: June 2007

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an autosomal recessive disease due to ECGF1 gene mutations causing thymidine phosphorylase (TP) deficiency. Analysis of post‐mortem samples of five MNGIE patients and two controls, revealed TP activity in all control tissues, but not in MNGIE samples. Converse to TP activity, thymidine and deoxyuridine were absent in control samples, but present in all tissues of MNGIE patients. Concentrations of both nucleosides in the tissues were generally higher than those observed in plasma of MNGIE patients. Our observations indicate that in the absence of TP activity, tissues accumulate nucleosides, which are excreted into plasma.
Sequential changes in superoxide production, anion carriers and substrate oxidation in skeletal muscle mitochondria of heat‐stressed chickens
Authors: Mujahid Ahmad , Akiba Yukio , Warden Craig H. , Toyomizu Masaaki
Published: June 2007

We have shown that heat‐stressed birds exhibit increased superoxide production in skeletal muscle mitochondria. To determine the precise mechanism for this effect, here we studied not only progressive, but also sequential changes in superoxide production, anion carriers and substrate oxidation in mitochondria of heat‐stressed chickens. Exposure to acute heat stress (34 °C for 6, 12 and 18 h) stimulated pectoralis muscle mitochondrial superoxide production. Heat stress‐induced downregulations of avUCP gene transcripts and mitochondrial avUCP protein content were time‐dependent: avUCP gene transcript was decreased after 6 h, while avUCP protein content was only downregulated after 12 h of heat stress. Avian adenine nucleotide translocator (avANT) gene transcripts were not changed on exposure to heat stress, suggesting that avANT may not be involved in the regulation of superoxide production in the muscle mitochondria of heat‐stressed chickens. During the initial stage of acute heat stress β‐oxidation enzymes gene transcripts and activity were upregulated, with elevated plasma non‐esterified fatty acid levels and increased expression of mitochondrial fatty acid transport genes. This sudden surge in mitochondrial substrate oxidation resulted in higher superoxide production: the avUCP expression at 6 h after heat stress might have not been large enough to alleviate the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) even though a small amount of endogenous FFA, a potential uncoupler, might have been present in the mitochondria. Thereafter, avUCP content was downregulated while substrate oxidation returned to control levels. This downregulation of avUCP may have caused increased mitochondrial superoxide production, keeping the superoxide production high in the later stages of heat stress. These results suggest that overproduction of mitochondrial ROS in chicken skeletal muscle under the heat stress might result from enhanced substrate oxidation and downregulation of avUCP in a time‐dependent manner.
RNA‐binding protein Csx1 is phosphorylated by LAMMER kinase, Lkh1, in response to oxidative stress in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Kang Won-Hwa , Park Yoon-Dong , Hwang Ji-Sook , Park Hee-Moon
Published: June 2007

Recent studies have shown that global gene expression during oxidative stress in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is regulated by stress‐induced activation and binding of Csx1 to atf1
+ mRNA. However, the kinase responsible for the activation of Csx1 has not been identified. Here, we describe, for the first time, that Csx1 is phosphorylated by S. pombe LAMMER kinase, Lkh1, under oxidative conditions and that the stress‐activated binding of the Csx1 to the atf1
+ mRNA was also affected by Lkh1 and Spc1. These data indicate that concerted actions of Spc1 and Lkh1 are required for the activation of Csx1 during oxidative condition in the fission yeast S. pombe.
Time‐dependent changes in distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactive cells in hippocampus after kainic acid injection in rat pups
Authors: Erkanli Gozde , Ercan Feriha , Sirvanci Serap , Salik Emsal , Yananli Hasan Raci , Onat Filiz , San Tangul
Published: June 2007

Five‐day‐old Wistar albino rats were injected with kainic acid (KA) or saline i.p. to investigate time‐dependent alterations in morphology and number of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) immunoreactive (‐ir) astrocytes and neurons in hippocampus at 15, 30, and 90 days after the injections. Sections were stained with cresyl violet for morphological evaluation and bFGF immunohistochemistry was used for quantitative evaluation of bFGF‐ir cell density. Fifteen days after KA injection, there was gliosis but no neuronal loss although disorganization in CA1, CA3, CA4 pyramidal layers and neuronal loss were evident 30 and 90 days after the injection. KA injected rats demonstrated significantly increased number of bFGF‐ir astrocytes throughout the hippocampus and pyramidal neurons in CA2 after 15 days and decreased number of bFGF‐ir cells after 30 and 90 days. The decrease in the number of bFGF‐ir astroglia and neurons in long term after KA injection may indicate a decrease in the production of bFGF and/or number of bFGF‐ir cells suggesting that protective effects of bFGF may be altered during epileptogenesis in hippocampus.
Emergency obstetric care: Impact on emerging issues
Authors: Moyo N.T. , Liljestrand J.
Published: June 2007

Access to Emergency obstetric care (EmOC) remains a challenge for women. This paper presents a summary of issues and suggestions from one of the working groups at the FIGO precongress workshop on access of sexual and reproductive health care in November, 2006, in Kuala Lumpur.
New evidence for high discharge to the Chukchi shelf since the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Hill Jenna C. , Driscoll Neal W. , Brigham-Grette Julie , Donnelly Jeffrey P. , Gayes Paul T. , Keigwin Lloyd
Published: June 2007

Using CHIRP subbottom profiling across the Chukchi shelf, offshore NW Alaska, we observed a large incised valley that measures tens of kilometers in width. The valley appears to have been repeatedly excavated during sea level lowering; however, the two most recent incisions appear to have been downcut during the last sea level rise, suggesting an increase in the volume of discharge. Modern drainage from the northwestern Alaskan margin is dominated by small, low-discharge rivers that do not appear to be large enough to have carved the offshore drainage. The renewed downcutting and incision during the deglaciation and consequent base level rise implies there must have been an additional source of discharge. Paleoprecipitation during deglaciation is predicted to be at least 10% less than modern precipitation and thus cannot account for the higher discharge to the shelf. Glacial meltwater is the most likely source for the increased discharge.
Exhumed mantle‐forming transitional crust in the Newfoundland‐Iberia rift and associated magnetic anomalies
Authors: Sibuet Jean‐Claude , Srivastava Shiri , Manatschal Gianreto
Published: June 2007

Transitional zones located between Iberia and North America formed during continental rifting and mostly consist of exhumed mantle. In this study we show that ages of exhumed mantle at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) sites 1068 and 1070 in the Iberia Abyssal Plain and site 1277 in the Newfoundland Basin are similar to ages determined from magnetic lineations created by serpentinization during mantle exhumation. On the basis of paleomagnetic and geological data and a comparison with a fossil ocean‐continent transition in the Alps, we envisage a first episode of mantle serpentinization during which a strong component of magnetization was acquired followed by a second episode occurring at the contact with cold seawater, and which only affects the upper tens of meters of the exhumed mantle. The inversion of magnetic data (Euler deconvolution) shows that magnetic sources are N‐S trending horizontal cylindrical bodies located within the highly serpentinized upper crust. Therefore the serpentinization process is able to produce magnetic lineations formed in a similar way to those formed by seafloor spreading. Within transition zones, sequences of magnetic anomalies can provide information concerning the timing of the emplacement of crust, but not on its nature (oceanic versus exhumed mantle). This discovery enables us to date the exhumation of mantle rocks in transition zones and allows kinematic reconstructions of the final stages of continental rifting. During rifting the deep distal continental margins and the adjacent transitional zones in the Newfoundland‐Iberia rift system were formed by ultraslow extension from early Berriasian to late Valanginian–early Hauterivian and by slow extension from early Hauterivian to the late Aptian–early Albian boundary. Therefore transitional zones share many similarities with slow and ultraslow spreading midoceanic ridges.
Dual structure of auroral acceleration regions at substorm onsets as derived from auroral kilometric radiation spectra
Authors: Morioka A. , Miyoshi Y. , Tsuchiya F. , Misawa H. , Sakanoi T. , Yumoto K. , Anderson R. R. , Menietti J. D. , Donovan E. F.
Published: June 2007

Two sources of auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) and their development prior to and during substorms were identified from high‐time‐resolution spectrograms provided by Polar/PWI ac electric field observations and were investigated in connection with the auroral acceleration process. One source is a low‐altitude source region corresponding to middle‐frequency AKR (MF‐AKR), and the other is a high‐altitude source region corresponding to low‐frequency AKR (LF‐AKR). The former appears during the substorm growth phase in the altitude range of 4000–5000 km and is active both before and after substorm onset. A few minutes before the onset, the intensity of this source gradually increases, showing precursor‐like behavior. It does not change drastically at the onset and is mostly insensitive to it. At Pi 2 onset, in contrast, high‐altitude AKR appears abruptly with intense power in a higher and wider altitude range of 6000 to 12,000 km. The increase in its power is explosive (increasing 1000 times within 20 s), suggesting the abrupt growth of the parallel electric fields that cause bursty auroral electron beams. The statistically derived probability of both sources existing at substorm onset is ∼70%, indicating that this duality of AKR sources is a common feature of substorms. The high‐altitude source and related transient acceleration at substorm onset are apparently due to (1) intrinsically local instabilities such as current‐driven instabilities or (2) transient short wavelength Alfvén waves coming from the magnetosphere. The low‐altitude source, which is fairly stable and insensitive to substorm onset, may belong to the global quasi‐static potential distribution over the auroral oval, which involves a large‐scale inverted‐V structure and a quasi‐steady field‐aligned current.
Coseismic source model of the 2003Mw6.8 Chengkung earthquake, Taiwan, determined from GPS measurements
Authors: Ching Kuo‐En , Rau Ruey‐Juin , Zeng Yuehua
Published: June 2007

A coseismic source model of the 2003Mw6.8 Chengkung, Taiwan, earthquake was well determined with 213 GPS stations, providing a unique opportunity to study the characteristics of coseismic displacements of a high‐angle buried reverse fault. Horizontal coseismic displacements show fault‐normal shortening across the fault trace. Displacements on the hanging wall reveal fault‐parallel and fault‐normal lengthening. The largest horizontal and vertical GPS displacements reached 153 and 302 mm, respectively, in the middle part of the network. Fault geometry and slip distribution were determined by inverting GPS data using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) layered‐elastic dislocation model. The slip is mainly concentrated within a 44 × 14 km slip patch centered at 15 km depth with peak amplitude of 126.6 cm. Results from 3‐D forward‐elastic model tests indicate that the dome‐shaped folding on the hanging wall is reproduced with fault dips greater than 40°. Compared with the rupture area and average slip from slow slip earthquakes and a compilation of finite source models of 18 earthquakes, the Chengkung earthquake generated a larger rupture area and a lower stress drop, suggesting lower than average friction. Hence the Chengkung earthquake seems to be a transitional example between regular and slow slip earthquakes. The coseismic source model of this event indicates that the Chihshang fault is divided into a creeping segment in the north and the locked segment in the south. An average recurrence interval of 50 years for a magnitude 6.8 earthquake was estimated for the southern fault segment.
Cluster analysis of tropical clouds using CloudSat data
Authors: Zhang Yuying , Klein Steve , Mace Gerald G. , Boyle Jim
Published: June 2007

The mesoscale patterns of cloud/precipitation radar reflectivity from early CloudSat data are used to identify distinct tropical cloud regimes via a cluster analysis. Five basic cloud regimes are identified, and the geographical distribution of their occurrence frequency is quantified. Although the contemporary MODIS observations show some limitations to CloudSat observations, comparison with traditional passive satellite observations shows that CloudSat describes the major features of the vertical structure of the tropical cloud regimes. Using the monthly mean vertical velocity at 500 hPa as an indicator, the elements of each cloud regime are sorted into different dynamical regimes, and the results demonstrate the links between clouds and the atmospheric circulation.
Ultralow frequency modulation of energetic particles in the dayside magnetosphere
Authors: Zong Q.‐G. , Zhou X.‐Z. , Li X. , Song P. , Fu S. Y. , Baker D. N. , Pu Z. Y. , Fritz T. A. , Daly P. , Balogh A. , Réme H.
Published: June 2007

Energetic electron and ion (electrons: 30 keV to 500 keV, protons: 30 keV to 1.5 MeV) flux variations associated with ultralow frequency (ULF) waves in the dayside magnetosphere were observed during the CLUSTER's perigee pass near 0900 MLT on Oct. 31, 2003. The ULF modulation terminated where higher frequency fluctuations appeared, as the CLUSTER spacecraft entered the plasmasphere boundary layer (PBL) where the plasma ion density was elevated. In the region from L ∼ 5.0 to 10, the periods of the ion flux modulation and the electron flux modulation are same but out‐of‐phase. The observed magnetic ULF pulsations are dominated by the toroidal mode, along with a relatively weaker poloidal wave. A 90° phase shift between the radial electric field and the azimuthal magnetic field indicates that dominating toroidal standing waves observed at the southern hemisphere are a fundamental harmonic. This study shows that the modulation of the electron flux is dominated by the toroidal mode in the region of L > 7.5. The observations made in this analysis suggest the excitation of the energetic electron drift resonance at around 127 keV.
Source analysis of the February 12th 2007, Mw 6.0 Horseshoe earthquake: Implications for the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
Authors: Stich Daniel , Mancilla Flor de Lis , Pondrelli Silvia , Morales Jose
Published: June 2007

While very large earthquakes are generally confined to subduction zones, the SW Iberian margin –setting of the famous Mw 8.5–8.7, 1755 Lisbon tsunami earthquake‐ may be an exception to this rule. Evidence for active subduction is not conclusive here, but instead plate convergence in old oceanic lithosphere with large brittle layer thickness can account for the occurrence of great earthquakes along moderate‐length faults. We estimate the source parameters of the February 12th 2007, Horseshoe earthquake. Regional moment tensor inversion yields an Mw 6.0, reverse to strike‐slip faulting source in the upper mantle. Modelling teleseismic, surface‐reflected body waves (pP, pwP, sP) indicates a source depth of 40 km beneath the seafloor. Analysing apparent source time functions allows identifying the preferred fault plane (strike N245°E/ dip 55°/ rake 50°), and estimating rupture area (53 km2) and average slip (0.27 m). Scaling the source characteristics to the size of the 1755 earthquake suggests a fault length of 230–315 km, being compatible with the length of mapped faults in the area.
A magnetically actuated ball valve applicable for small-scale fluid flows
Authors: Smistrup Kristian , Stone Howard A.
Published: June 2007

We present three possible designs for magnetically actuated ball valves that can be scaled down to nanometer length scales. Analytical expressions are presented for the hydraulic resistance of the ball valve as a function of geometric parameters and the state of the valve, and we also present analytical expressions for the hydrodynamic force on the magnetic bead that functions as the ball in the valve. We verify these expressions numerically and calculate the magnetic forces that can be exerted on the magnetic bead using the proposed structures. Finally, for typical parameters we show that these structures will be able to withstand a back pressure between 3 and 30kPa regardless of the size of the bead/ball.