bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Were Larger Than Their Communities
Authors: Sahai Nandita Prasad
Published: March 2010

Focussing on a ritually low caste but materially affluent potter’s family of eighteenth century Rajasthan that got embroiled in a petty family dispute, this article traces how a domestic squabble spilt out and played itself out in the public sphere. Dispelling the notion of harmonious joint families characterizing pre-colonial India, this article demonstrates the tensions and often antagonistic interests and agendas of different members in Kumhar Paima’s household and examines the negotiations attempted by competing interests with the dispute-processing fora. These help highlight the overlapping yet intersecting networks of discipline and control. The locally influential position of this kumhar family points towards considerable differentiation within castes and communities, and complicates ideas about the homogeneity of caste groups. More importantly, its dispute with the community of potters points towards instances of dilution in caste bonds, while its protection by the Jodhpur rulers suggests vertical bonds that often superseded horizontal kin and community affiliations. Through a close reading of this court case, this article argues that power and authority were culturally constructed, not merely in terms of royal gift-giving and material support to retainers as often argued, but also in terms of extending patronage that included intangible non-material support, especially intercession on behalf of a client in the process of judicial dispensation
How do we go about investigating test fairness?
Authors: Xiaoming Xi
Published: March 2010

Previous test fairness frameworks have greatly expanded the scope of fairness, but do not provide a means to fully integrate fairness investigations and set priorities. This article proposes an approach to guide practitioners on fairness research and practices. This approach treats fairness as an aspect of validity and conceptualizes it as comparable validity for all relevant groups. Anything that weakens fairness compromises the validity of a test. This conceptualization expands the scope and enriches the interpretations of fairness by drawing on well-defined validity theories while enhancing the meaning of validity by integrating fairness in a principled way. TOEFL® iBTTM is then used to illustrate how a fairness argument may be established and supported in a validity argument. The fairness argument consists of a series of rebuttals to the validity argument that would compromise the comparability of score-based interpretations and uses for relevant groups, and it provides a logical mechanism for identifying critical research areas and setting research priorities. This approach will hopefully inspire more investigations motivated by and built on a central fairness argument. It may also foster a deeper understanding and expanded explorations of actions based on test results and social consequences, as impartiality and justice of actions and comparability of test consequences are at the core of fairness.
Comparison of intravaginal electrical stimulation and trospium hydrochloride in women with overactive bladder syndrome: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Ozdedeli Selcen , Karapolat Hale , Akkoc Yesim
Published: March 2010

Objective: To compare the effects of trospium hydrochloride and electrical stimulation on urodynamic parameters, bladder diary, quality of life and psychological symptoms in female patients with overactive bladder syndrome.

Design: Prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital.

Subjects: Thirty-five patients were divided into either trospium chloride (Group 1) or intravaginal electrical stimulation therapy (Group 2).

Main outcome measures: All patients were assessed at the beginning of the treatment, at weeks 6 (end of treatment), 10 and 18 according to urodynamic parameters, voiding diary parameters, severity of urgency (visual analogue scale, VAS), the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form (IIQ-7), and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in both groups according to some urodynamic parameters, voiding diary parameters, VAS urgency severity, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form and Beck Depression Inventory scores at the end of the treatment (P<0.05). During the 18-week follow-up period, deteriorations were observed in many parameters in both groups although improvements in the frequency of urgency, the frequency of incontinence episodes, VAS urgency severity, and Beck Depression Inventory score in Group 2 persisted (P<0.05). Significant differences were not detected between groups at the end of the treatment or during the posttreatment follow-up controls (P>0.05).

Conclusion: No difference was detected between trospium hydrochloride and intravaginal electrical stimulation in the treatment of female overactive bladder syndrome. Discontinuation of both treatments caused deterioration in most of the objective and subjective symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome.
Bosnia-Hercegovina and International Justice
Authors: Attila Hoare Marko
Published: March 2010

Three different international courts have determined that genocide took place in Bosnia-Hercegovina in 1992-1995: the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Yet paradoxically, there has been virtually no punishment of this genocide, while the punishment of lesser war crimes of the Bosnian war has been very limited. The ICTY has convicted only one individual, a lowly deputy corps commander, of a genocide-related offence. The ICJ acquitted Serbia, the state that planned and launched the assault upon Bosnia-Hercegovina in 1992, of genocide and related offences, finding it guilty only of failure to prevent and punish genocide. Although Serb forces were responsible for the overwhelming majority of war crimes, the ICTY prosecution has disproportionately targeted non-Serbs in its indictments and, among Serbs, has disproportionately targeted Bosnian Serbs, with no official of Serbia or Yugoslavia yet convicted of war crimes in Bosnia. This article argues that the meagre results of the international judicial processes vis-à-vis the crimes of the Bosnian war must be sought in the structural failings, poor decision making, and political influences that affected the international courts. It argues that the international courts have failed either to deliver justice to the victims of the war crimes or to promote reconciliation among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia and suggests measures that could be taken to rectify the situation.
“To America!”
Authors: Sułek Antoni
Published: March 2010

America was an attractive destination for European scholars and social scientists— their contacts, observations, experiences, and thoughts often became a subject of interest in itself to many other sociologists. Poles are no exception. Florian Znaniecki and William I. Thomas and their classic Polish Peasant in Europe and America, first published in 1918—20, is symbolic of contacts and influences between Polish and American sociology in the first half of the twentieth century. However, sociologists other than Znaniecki and their transatlantic journeys remain somehow in the shadows to this day. This article presents a more recent and yet less known chapter of Polish— American relations—Polish sociologists visiting American universities in the 1950s and 1960s.
China’s grey channels as access points for foreign food products to the Chinese domestic market
Authors: Collins Ray , Ximing Sun
Published: March 2010

Grey channels, which are neither clearly legal nor clearly illegal, are commonly relied on by international firms as a means of accessing Chinese markets. Firms report that they use grey channels to avoid China’s high import tariffs, difficult regulatory hurdles, and inefficient distribution networks. For food products, grey channels involve risks such as unreliability in delivery and inadequate cool chain management, and some authors anticipate that the use of grey channels for such products will diminish when China implements WTO standards. To explore opportunities that may exist in a free trade environment, this article analyzes what a grey channel is, why people use it, how it operates, and what advantages and disadvantages it has in comparison with other channels. This leads to a discussion on the future of grey channels. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with firms involved in the food trade in China and Hong Kong.
Assessment of Mindfulness With the French Version of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills in Community and Borderline Personality Disorder Samples
Authors: Nicastro Rosetta , Jermann Françoise , Bondolfi Guido , McQuillan Annabel
Published: March 2010

This article explores mindfulness skills in community and borderline personality disorder (BPD) samples. Study 1 includes 173 community volunteers and explores the psychometric properties of the French version of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS). Study 2 explores the KIMS factor structure in 130 BPD patients and compares KIMS scores of this sample with those of the community sample from Study 1. Study 3 investigates the changes in KIMS scores in a BPD sample ( n = 82) treated with Intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (I-DBT). Results suggest that the psychometric properties of the French KIMS are comparable with those of the original version in the community and the BPD samples. Moreover, fewer mindfulness skills were found in BPD patients than in control participants. It was also observed that the ability to describe and to act with awareness increased in BPD patients after I-DBT. The present work makes a French instrument measuring mindfulness in daily activities available for clinical practice and research.
Exacerbation of Hereditary Warfarin Resistance by Azathioprine
Authors: Pushpakom Sudeep P. , Gambhir Nikki , Latif Ayshe , Hadfield Kristen D. , Campbell Simon , Newman William G.
Published: March 2010

A 39-year-old Afro-Caribbean man with Crohn disease with recurrent deep vein thromboses and pulmonary emboli was commenced on lifelong warfarin treatment. The patient required high-dose warfarin (>140 mg/wk), which increased further during azathioprine treatment. Cessation of azathioprine resulted in an increase in the international normalized ratio (INR). Mutation analysis identified a Val66Met substitution in vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), consistent with severe warfarin resistance. This report is the first presentation where the patient had a defined hereditary resistance to warfarin, which was aggravated by concomitant azathioprine. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the interaction between warfarin and azathioprine, to monitor clinical response closely, and to manage the doses of both drugs accordingly.
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Saleh Tarek , Matta Fadi , Yaekoub Abdo Y. , Danescu Septimiu , Stein Paul D.
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with ulcerative colitis and patients with Crohn disease. The number of patients discharged from hospitals throughout the United States with a diagnostic code for ulcerative colitis and for Crohn disease from 1979 through 2005 was obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Survey. The incidence of VTE among medical patients with ulcerative colitis was 21 000 of 1 129 000 (1.85%) and among medical patients who had no inflammatory bowel disease, the incidence was 10 421 000 of 918 570 000 (1.13%; relative risk 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.62-1.66). The incidence of VTE among medical patients with Crohn disease was less than those with ulcerative colitis, 22 000 of 1 803 000 (1.22%). The risk, compared with patients who did not have inflammatory bowel disease, was only marginally increased (relative risk 1.08, 95% CI = 1.06-1.09).
The Cantonese double object construction with bei2 ‘give’ in bilingual children: The role of input
Authors: Chan Angel
Published: March 2010

This article examines the role of input in bilingual children’s acquisition of the Cantonese double object construction with bei2 ‘give’ from a usage-based perspective (Tomasello, 2003; Lieven & Tomasello, 2008). In this domain of grammar, bilingual Cantonese—English children use the non-target [ bei2-Recipient-Theme] order more frequently and for a more protracted duration than their monolingual counterparts (Yip & Matthews, 2007). We make use of corpus data to analyze the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the input that these bilingual children receive, and discuss three input factors to account for such vulnerability in bilingual children. First, the findings substantiate the idea that a bilingual child hearing fewer hours of Cantonese when compared to his or her monolingual age peers is likely to be exposed to fewer tokens of the target construction. Second, the findings indicate that the mapping between word order and thematic roles is not consistent in the Cantonese input, and as such is not conducive to learning for either bilingual or monolingual children. Third, simultaneous experience with the largely invariant [ give-Recipient-Theme] forms from the English input overlaps with and therefore entrenches the developmental errors in Cantonese. These three input factors conspire to make this grammatical domain in Cantonese particularly vulnerable in bilingual children.
Digital Fair
Authors: Collins Steve
Published: March 2010

The key element of Web 2.0 is what O’Reilly refers to as an ‘architecture of participation’. Taglines such as YouTube’s ‘broadcast yourself ’ and Lulu’s ‘publish your words, your art — for fun or profit’ point to the creative empowerment that has accompanied the mass adoption of digital technologies and the rise of Web 2.0 applications. Combined with the ‘rip, mix and burn’ nature of digital technologies, the Web has rapidly become a locus for user-created content, much of which copies, appropriates and mashes up copyrighted materials. The invitation to engage with the media-saturated environment has led to a proliferation of prosumerism through which many consumers have become producers of content. Appropriation and redeployment of copyrighted materials in the prosumption arena has drawn creators and right holders into conflict. Copyright owners seek to maintain control over information flows, whilst prosumers make (what they consider to be) fair uses of elements harvested from the media-saturated environment. This article is concerned with these tensions that — whilst not new — have been exacerbated by Web 2.0. Specifically, this article addresses the issue of fairness (in the context of the US fair use doctrine) in the digital age and questions whether powerful cultural forces require a reconfiguration of copyright law. Fairness is an elusive concept; in the realm of copyright, an act may simultaneously be decried as piracy and defended as a fair use. Web 2.0 has fostered a growing prosumer culture that freely appropriates from media sources to give effect to new works, and this article questions whether the customary practices of this emergent culture should impact upon the legal construction of fairness.
Students’ approaches to study, conceptions of learning and judgements about the value of networked technologies
Authors: Buckley Charles Alan , Pitt Edd , Norton Bill , Owens Tessa
Published: March 2010

This project examined the relationships between students’ approaches to study, conceptions of learning and judgements about the value of networked technologies. For the project 144 first-year students completed the 52-item Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST), and a series of focus group interviews was used to assess attitudes towards the use of networked technologies within a blended curriculum. Significant positive associations were found between both deep and strategic approaches to study and students’ perceptions of networked learning, and negative associations with a surface approach. Students were positive about the incorporation of technology but had some concerns about the time needed to become sufficiently competent. They demonstrated a reflective approach and exhibited a broad view of the ways in which knowledge might be interpreted. The online forum was viewed as a site where they could benefit from sharing of personal experiences. Recommendations are offered for designing a blended curriculum.
Enhancing metabolomic data analysis with Progressive Consensus Alignment of NMR Spectra (PCANS)
Authors: Staab Jennifer M , O'Connell Thomas M , Gomez Shawn M
Published: March 2010

Background

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is one of the primary tools in metabolomics analyses, where it is used to track and quantify changes in metabolite concentrations or profiles in response to perturbation through disease, toxicants or drugs. The spectra generated through such analyses are typically confounded by noise of various types, obscuring the signals and hindering downstream statistical analysis. Such issues are becoming increasingly significant as greater numbers of large-scale systems or longitudinal studies are being performed, in which many spectra from different conditions need to be compared simultaneously.

Results

We describe a novel approach, termed Progressive Consensus Alignment of Nmr Spectra (PCANS), for the alignment of NMR spectra. Through the progressive integration of many pairwise comparisons, this approach generates a single consensus spectrum as an output that is then used to adjust the chemical shift positions of the peaks from the original input spectra to their final aligned positions. We characterize the performance of PCANS by aligning simulated NMR spectra, which have been provided with user-defined amounts of chemical shift variation as well as inter-group differences as would be observed in control-treatment applications. Moreover, we demonstrate how our method provides better performance than either template-based alignment or binning. Finally, we further evaluate this approach in the alignment of real mouse urine spectra and demonstrate its ability to improve downstream PCA and PLS analyses.

Conclusions

By avoiding the use of a template or reference spectrum, PCANS allows for the creation of a consensus spectrum that enhances the signals within the spectra while maintaining sample-specific features. This approach is of greatest benefit when complex samples are being analyzed and where it is expected that there will be spectral features unique and/or strongly different between subgroups within the samples. Furthermore, this approach can be potentially applied to the alignment of any data having spectra-like properties.
DNA methylation patterns in tissues from mid-gestation bovine foetuses produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer show subtle abnormalities in nuclear reprogramming
Authors: Couldrey Christine , Lee Rita SF
Published: March 2010

Background

Cloning of cattle by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is associated with a high incidence of pregnancy failure characterized by abnormal placental and foetal development. These abnormalities are thought to be due, in part, to incomplete re-setting of the epigenetic state of DNA in the donor somatic cell nucleus to a state that is capable of driving embryonic and foetal development to completion. Here, we tested the hypothesis that DNA methylation patterns were not appropriately established during nuclear reprogramming following SCNT. A panel of imprinted, non-imprinted genes and satellite repeat sequences was examined in tissues collected from viable and failing mid-gestation SCNT foetuses and compared with similar tissues from gestation-matched normal foetuses generated by artificial insemination (AI).

Results

Most of the genomic regions examined in tissues from viable and failing SCNT foetuses had DNA methylation patterns similar to those in comparable tissues from AI controls. However, statistically significant differences were found between SCNT and AI at specific CpG sites in some regions of the genome, particularly those associated with SNRPN and KCNQ1OT1, which tended to be hypomethylated in SCNT tissues. There was a high degree of variation between individuals in methylation levels at almost every CpG site in these two regions, even in AI controls. In other genomic regions, methylation levels at specific CpG sites were tightly controlled with little variation between individuals. Only one site (HAND1) showed a tissue-specific pattern of DNA methylation. Overall, DNA methylation patterns in tissues of failing foetuses were similar to apparently viable SCNT foetuses, although there were individuals showing extreme deviant patterns.

Conclusion

These results show that SCNT foetuses that had developed to mid-gestation had largely undergone nuclear reprogramming and that the epigenetic signature at this stage was not a good predictor of whether the foetus would develop to term or not.
Cell cycle arrest by a gradient of Dpp signaling during Drosophila eye development
Authors: Firth Lucy C , Bhattacharya Abhishek , Baker Nicholas E
Published: March 2010

Background

The secreted morphogen Dpp plays important roles in spatial regulation of gene expression and cell cycle progression in the developingDrosophilaeye. Dpp signaling is required for timely cell cycle arrest ahead of the morphogenetic furrow as a prelude to differentiation, and is also important for eye disc growth. Thedppgene is expressed at multiple locations in the eye imaginal disc, including the morphogenetic furrow that sweeps across the eye disc as differentiation initiates.

Results

Studies of Brinker and Dad expression, and of Mad phosphorylation, establish that there is a gradient of Dpp signaling in the eye imaginal disc anterior to the morphogenetic furrow, predominantly in the anterior-posterior axis, and also Dpp signaling at the margins of the disc epithelium and in the dorsal peripodial membrane. Almost all signaling activity seems to spread through the plane of the epithelia, although peripodial epithelium cells can also respond to underlying disc cells. There is a graded requirement for Dpp signaling components for G1 arrest in the eye disc, with more stringent requirements further anteriorly where signaling is lower. The signaling level defines the cell cycle response, because elevated signaling through expression of an activated Thickveins receptor molecule arrested cells at more anterior locations. Very anterior regions of the eye disc were not arrested in response to activated receptor, however, and evidence is presented that expression of the Homothorax protein may contribute to this protection. By contrast to activated Thickveins, ectopic expression of processed Dpp leads to very high levels of Mad phosphorylation which appear to have non-physiological consequences.

Conclusions

G1 arrest occurs at a threshold level of Dpp signaling within a morphogen gradient in the anterior eye. G1 arrest is specific for one competent domain in the eye disc, allowing Dpp signaling to promote growth at earlier developmental stages.
Functional annotation of novel lineage-specific genes using co-expression and promoter analysis
Authors: Kumar Charu G , Everts Robin E , Loor Juan J , Lewin Harris A
Published: March 2010

Background

The diversity of placental architectures within and among mammalian orders is believed to be the result of adaptive evolution. Although, the genetic basis for these differences is unknown, some may arise from rapidly diverging and lineage-specific genes. Previously, we identified 91 novel lineage-specific transcripts (LSTs) from a cow term-placenta cDNA library, which are excellent candidates for adaptive placental functions acquired by the ruminant lineage. The aim of the present study was to infer functions of previously uncharacterized lineage-specific genes (LSGs) using co-expression, promoter, pathway and network analysis.

Results

Clusters of co-expressed genes preferentially expressed in liver, placenta and thymus were found using 49 previously uncharacterized LSTs as seeds. Over-represented composite transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) in promoters of clustered LSGs and known genes were then identified computationally. Functions were inferred for nine previously uncharacterized LSGs using co-expression analysis and pathway analysis tools. Our results predict that these LSGs may function in cell signaling, glycerophospholipid/fatty acid metabolism, protein trafficking, regulatory processes in the nucleus, and processes that initiate parturition and immune system development.

Conclusions

The placenta is a rich source of lineage-specific genes that function in the adaptive evolution of placental architecture and functions. We have shown that co-expression, promoter, and gene network analyses are useful methods to infer functions of LSGs with heretofore unknown functions. Our results indicate that many LSGs are involved in cellular recognition and developmental processes. Furthermore, they provide guidance for experimental approaches to validate the functions of LSGs and to study their evolution.
Effects of manganese-excess on CO2 assimilation, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, carbohydrates and photosynthetic electron transport of leaves, and antioxidant systems of leaves and roots in Citrus grandisseedlings
Authors: Li Qing , Chen Li-Song , Jiang Huan-Xin , Tang Ning , Yang Lin-Tong , Lin Zheng-He , Li Yan , Yang Gang-Hua
Published: March 2010

Background

Very little is known about the effects of manganese (Mn)-excess on citrus photosynthesis and antioxidant systems. Seedlings of sour pummelo (Citrus grandis) were irrigated for 17 weeks with nutrient solution containing 2 μM (control) or 500 μM (excess) MnSO4. The objective of this study were to understand the mechanisms by which Mn-excess leads to a decrease in CO2assimilation and to test the hypothesis that Mn-induced changes in antioxidant systems differ between roots and leaves.

Results

Mn-excess decreased CO2assimilation and stomatal conductance, increased intercellular CO2concentration, but did not affect chlorophyll (Chl) level. Both initial and total ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity in Mn-excess leaves decreased to a lesser extent than CO2assimilation. Contents of glucose, fructose, starch and total nonstructural carbohydrates did not differ between Mn-excess leaves and controls, while sucrose content was higher in the former. Chl a fluorescence (OJIP) transients from Mn-excess leaves showed increased O-step and decreased P-step, accompanied by positive L- and K-bands. Mn-excess decreased maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and total performance index (PItot,abs), but increased relative variable fluorescence at I-steps (VI) and energy dissipation. On a protein basis, Mn-excess leaves displayed higher activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and contents of antioxidants, similar ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and lower dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activities; while Mn-excess roots had similar or lower activities of antioxidant enzymes and contents of antioxidants. Mn-excess did not affect malondialdehyde (MDA) content of roots and leaves.

Conclusions

Mn-excess impaired the whole photosynthetic electron transport chain from the donor side of photosystem II (PSII) up to the reduction of end acceptors of photosystem I (PSI), thus limiting the production of reducing equivalents, and hence the rate of CO2assimilation. Both the energy dissipation and the antioxidant systems were enhanced in Mn-excess leaves, while the antioxidant systems in Mn-excess roots were not up-regulated, but still remained high activity. The antioxidant systems in Mn-excess roots and leaves provided sufficient protection to them against oxidative damage.
Maternal consumption of canola oil suppressed mammary gland tumorigenesis in C3(1) TAg mice offspring
Authors: Ion Gabriela , Akinsete Juliana A , Hardman W Elaine
Published: March 2010

Background

Maternal consumption of a diet high in omega 6 polyunsaturated fats (n-6 PUFA) has been shown to increase risk whereas a diet high in omega 3 polyunsaturated fats (n-3 PUFA) from fish oil has been shown to decrease risk for mammary gland cancer in female offspring of rats. The aim of this study was to determine whether increasing n-3 PUFA and reducing n-6 PUFA by using canola oil instead of corn oil in the maternal diet might reduce the risk for breast cancer in female offspring.

Methods

Female SV 129 mice were divided into two groups and placed on diets containing either 10% w/w corn oil (which is 50% n-6 PUFA, control diet) or 10% w/w canola oil (which is 20% n-6 PUFA, 10% n-3 PUFA, test diet). After two weeks on the diets the females were bred with homozygous C3(1) TAg transgenic mice. Mother mice consumed the assigned diet throughout gestation and nursing of the offspring. After weaning, all female offspring were maintained on the control diet.

Results

Compared to offspring of mothers fed the corn oil diet (CO/CO group), offspring of mothers fed the canola oil diet (CA/CO group) had significantly fewer mammary glands with tumors throughout the experiment. At 130 days of age, the CA/CO group had significantly fewer tumors per mouse (multiplicity); the tumor incidence (fraction of mice with any tumor) and the total tumor weight (per mouse that developed tumor) was less than one half that of the CO/CO group. At 170 days of age, the total tumor weight per mouse was significantly less in the CA/CO group and if a tumor developed the rate of tumor growth rate was half that of CO/CO group. These results indicate that maternal consumption of canola oil was associated with delayed appearance of mammary gland tumors and slowed growth of the tumors that developed.

Conclusions

Substituting canola oil for corn oil is an easy dietary change for people to make; such a change to the maternal diet may decrease risk for breast cancer in the daughter.
Relationship between peripheral airway function and patient-reported outcomes in COPD: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Haruna Akane , Oga Toru , Muro Shigeo , Ohara Tadashi , Sato Susumu , Marumo Satoshi , Kinose Daisuke , Terada Kunihiko , Nishioka Michiyoshi , Ogawa Emiko , Hoshino Yuma , Hirai Toyohiro , Chin Kazuo , Mishima Michiaki
Published: March 2010

Background

Health status, dyspnea and psychological status are important clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measured by spirometry, the standard measurement of airflow limitation, has only a weak relationship with these outcomes in COPD. Recently, in addition to spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS) measuring lung resistance (R) and reactance (X) is increasingly being used to assess pulmonary functional impairment.

Methods

We aimed to identify relationships between IOS measurements and patient-reported outcomes in 65 outpatients with stable COPD. We performed pulmonary function testing, IOS, high-resolution computed tomography (CT), and assessment of health status using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), dyspnea using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and psychological status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We then investigated the relationships between these parameters. For the IOS measurements, we used lung resistance at 5 and 20 Hz (R5 and R20, respectively) and reactance at 5 Hz (X5). Because R5 and R20 are regarded as reflecting total and proximal airway resistance, respectively, the fall in resistance from R5 to R20 (R5-R20) was used as a surrogate for the resistance of peripheral airways. X5 was also considered to represent peripheral airway abnormalities.

Results

R5-R20 and X5 were significantly correlated with the SGRQ and the MRC. These correlation coefficients were greater than when using other objective measurements of pulmonary function, R20 on the IOS and CT instead of R5-R20 and X5. Multiple regression analyses showed that R5-R20 or X5 most significantly accounted for the SGRQ and MRC scores.

Conclusions

IOS measurements, especially indices of peripheral airway function, are significantly correlated with health status and dyspnea in patients with COPD. Therefore, in addition to its simplicity and non-invasiveness, IOS may be a useful clinical tool not only for detecting pulmonary functional impairment, but also to some extent at least estimating the patient's quality of daily life and well-being.
Fatty acid extracts from Lucilia sericata larvae promote murine cutaneous wound healing by angiogenic activity
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Wang Shouyu , Diao Yunpeng , Zhang Jianing , Lv Decheng
Published: March 2010

Background

fatty acids are considered to be effective components to promote wound healing andLucilia sericatalarvae are applied clinically to treat intractable wounds. We aimed to investigat the effect of fatty acid extracts from driedLucilia sericatalarvae on murine cutaneuous wound healing as well as angiogenesis.

Results

On day 7 and 10 after murine acute excision wounds creation, the percent wound contraction of fatty acid extracts group was higher than that of vaseline group. On day 3, 7 and 10 after wounds creation, the wound healing quality of fatty acid extracts group was better than that of vaseline group on terms of granulation formation and collagen organization. On day 3 after wounds creation, the micro vessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor expression of fatty acid extracts group were higher than that of vaseline group. Component analysis of the fatty acid extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed there were 10 kinds of fatty acids in total and the ratio of saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was: 20.57%:60.32%:19.11%.

Conclusions

Fatty acid extracts from dried Lucilia sericata larvae, four fifths of which are unsaturated fatty acids, can promote murine cutaneous wound healing probably resulting from the powerful angiogenic activity of the extracts.
High systemic levels of interleukin-10, interleukin-22 and C-reactive protein in Indian patients are associated with low in vitroreplication of HIV-1 subtype C viruses
Authors: Arias Juan F , Nishihara Reiko , Bala Manju , Ikuta Kazuyoshi
Published: March 2010

Background

HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) accounts for almost 50% of all HIV-1 infections worldwide and predominates in countries with the highest case-loads globally. Functional studies suggest that HIV-1C is unique in its biological properties, and there are contradicting reports about its replicative characteristics. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether the host cytokine environment modulates thein vitroreplication capacity of HIV-1C viruses.

Methods

A small subset of HIV-1C isolates showing efficient replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is described, and the association ofin vitroreplication capacity with disease progression markers and the host cytokine response was evaluated. Viruses were isolated from patient samples, and the correspondingin vitrogrowth kinetics were determined by monitoring for p24 production. Genotype, phenotype and co-receptor usage were determined for all isolates, while clinical category, CD4 cell counts and viral loads were recorded for all patients. Plasmatic concentrations of cytokines and, acute-phase response, and microbial translocation markers were determined; and the effect of cytokine treatment onin vitroreplication rates was also measured.

Results

We identified a small number of viral isolates showing highin vitroreplication capacity in healthy-donor PBMC. HIV-1C usage of CXCR4 co-receptor was rare; therefore, it did not account for the differences in replication potential observed. There was also no correlation between thein vitroreplication capacity of HIV-1C isolates and patients' disease status. Efficient virus growth was significantly associated with low interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-22 (IL-22), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in plasma (p < .0001).In vitro, pretreatment of virus cultures with IL-10 and CRP resulted in a significant reduction of virus production, whereas IL-22, which lacks action on immune cells appears to mediate its anti-HIV effect through interaction with both IL-10 and CRP, and its own protective effect on mucosal membranes.

Conclusions

These results indicate that high systemic levels of IL-10, CRP and IL-22 in HIV-1C-infected Indian patients are associated with low viral replicationin vitro, and that the former two have direct inhibitory effects whereas the latter acts through downstream mechanisms that remain uncertain.
MNF, an ankyrin repeat protein of myxoma virus, is part of a native cellular SCF complex during viral infection
Authors: Blanié Sophie , Gelfi Jacqueline , Bertagnoli Stéphane , Camus-Bouclainville Christelle
Published: March 2010

Myxoma virus (MYXV), a member of the Poxviridae family, is the agent responsible for myxomatosis, a fatal disease in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Like all poxviruses, MYXV is known for encoding multiple proteins that regulate cellular signaling pathways. Among them, four proteins share the same ANK/PRANC structure: M148R, M149R, MNF (Myxoma Nuclear factor) and M-T5, all of them described as virulence factors. This family of poxvirus proteins, recently identified, has drawn considerable attention for its potential role in modulating the host ubiquitin-proteasome system during viral infection. To date, many members of this novel protein family have been shown to interact with SCF components, in vitro. Here, we focus on MNF gene, which has been shown to express a nuclear protein presenting nine ANK repeats, one of which has been identified as a nuclear localization signal. In transfection, MNF has been shown to colocalise with the transcription factor NF-κB in the nucleus of TNFα-stimulated cells. Functionally, MNF is a critical virulence factor since its deletion generates an almost apathogenic virus. In this study, to pursue the investigation of proteins interacting with MNF and of its mechanism of action, we engineered a recombinant MYXV expressing a GFP-linked MNF under the control of MNF native promoter. Infection of rabbits with MYXV-GFPMNF recombinant virus provided the evidence that the GFP fusion does not disturb the main function of MNF. Hence, cells were infected with MYXV-GFPMNF and immunoprecipitation of the GFPMNF fusion protein was performed to identify MNF's partners. For the first time, endogenous components of SCF (Cullin-1 and Skp1) were co-precipitated with an ANK myxoma virus protein, expressed in an infectious context, and without over-expression of any protein.
Kinin B1 Receptors Contributes to Acute Pain following Minor Surgery in Humans
Authors: Hamza May , Wang Xiao-Min , Adam Albert , Brahim Jaime S , Rowan Janet S , Carmona Gilberto N , Dionne Raymond A
Published: March 2010

Background:

Kinins play an important role in regulation of pain and hyperalgesia after tissue injury and inflammation by activating two types of G-protein-coupled receptors, the kinin B1 and B2 receptors. It is generally accepted that the B2 receptor is constitutively expressed, whereas the B1 receptor is induced in response to inflammation. However, little is known about the regulatory effects of kinin receptors on the onset of acute inflammation and inflammatory pain in humans. The present study investigated the changes in gene expression of kinin receptors and the levels of their endogenous ligands at an early time point following tissue injury and their relation to clinical pain, as well as the effect of COX-inhibition on their expression levels.

Results:

Tissue injury resulted in a significant up-regulation in the gene expression of B1 and B2 receptors at 3 hours post-surgery, the onset of acute inflammatory pain. Interestingly, the up-regulation in the gene expression of B1 and B2 receptors was positively correlated to pain intensity only after ketorolac treatment, signifying an interaction between prostaglandins and kinins in the inflammatory pain process. Further, the gene expression of both B1 and B2 receptors were correlated. Following tissue injury, B1 ligands des-Arg9-BK and des-Arg10-KD were significantly lower at the third hour compared to the first 2 hours in both the placebo and the ketorolac treatment groups but did not differ significantly between groups. Tissue injury also resulted in the down-regulation of TRPV1 gene expression at 3 hours post-surgery with no significant effect by ketorolac treatment. Interestingly, the change in gene expression of TRPV1 was correlated to the change in gene expression of B1 receptor but not B2 receptor.

Conclusions:

These results provide evidence at the transcriptional level in a clinical model of tissue injury that up-regulation of kinin receptors are involved in the development of the early phase of inflammation and inflammatory pain. The up-regulation of B1 receptors may contribute to acute inflammatory pain through TRPV1 activation.
Dallas-Fort Worth earthquakes coincident with activity associated with natural gas production
Authors: Frohlich Cliff , Potter Eric , Hayward Chris , Stump Brian
Published: March 2010

On 31 October 2008 and the following day, numerous Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) residents called 911 to report experiencing several small earthquakes, accompanied by loud booming noises and the shaking of walls and furniture. Using data recorded by regional seismic stations, the USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) located nine earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.5 and 3.0. On 16 May 2009, this scenario repeated itself, as local residents felt three earthquakes and the NEIC located four (largest = magnitude 3.3). A third sequence of felt events began on 2 June 2009, approximately 65 km southwest near the city of Cleburne, Texas, but has not yet been studied in detail (Figure 1).
An introduction to this special section: Microseismic
Authors: Maxwell Shawn , Deere Jeff
Published: March 2010

Over the last several years, microseismic monitoring has quickly grown as a technology to map various reservoir processes. In particular, imaging hydraulic fracture stimulations is the most common application-thousands of fracs are imaged each year in various basins throughout North America. Associated with the growth of the technology, several technical workshops have recently been held (EAGE 2007 and 2009, SEG 2008, CSEG 2009) along with forums focused on the technology, as well as dedicated sessions at recent meetings sponsored by SEG, AAPG, SPE, and EAGE. Clearly the technology is topical and has cross-disciplinary interest in the petroleum industry.
Data-acquisition design for microseismic monitoring
Authors: Grechka Vladimir
Published: March 2010

Microseismic monitoring of hydraulic well treatments is one of the most useful seismic techniques that can aid the development of tight-gas and shale-gas fields. The main challenge in these fields is an extremely low formation permeability, which lies in the microdarcy or even nanodarcy range and requires thousands of closely spaced wells to drain the reservoir. For example, the Barnett Field in Texas, USA, has more than 12,000 producing wells. Depending on the specifics of a given reservoir, it might be developed via vertical, or slanted, or horizontal wells, or any combination thereof. Such varied well geometries and relatively small well spacing provide ample opportunities for microseismic surveys.
Impact of distance-dependent location dispersion error on interpretation of microseismic event distributions
Authors: Kidney Robert L. , Zimmer Ulrich , Boroumand Neda
Published: March 2010

Along with horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology, monitoring-induced microseismic activity during hydraulic fracturing has played a significant role in the economic development of today's prolific tight-gas and shale resource plays. Many microseismic fracture monitoring papers in the current literature discuss the equipment, how to acquire and process microseismic data, and how to determine an appropriate velocity model. Unfortunately, for an operating company's completion engineers and geophysicists charged with interpreting these data and integrating them with other data sets, only a few papers discuss the impact of artifacts and location uncertainties on the interpretation. While microseismic data have been very useful in the economic development of resource plays, there are a number of significant pitfalls and interpretational issues that, if not understood, will potentially lead to erroneous interpretations. This is especially important for any real-time decisions during a hydraulic fracture treatment.
Investigation of induced microseismicity at Valhall using the Life of Field Seismic array
Authors: Chambers K. , Kendall J-M. , Barkved O.
Published: March 2010

Here we use data from the Life of Field Seismic (LoFS) surface array in conjunction with a migration-style approach to locate microseismic events in Valhall Field during 6.5 hours of hydraulic fracturing. We identify an event distribution that extends roughly 300 m vertically and 200 m horizontally with sources both within the chalk layer, containing the reservoir, and the overburden. However, the temporal distribution of the events is not consistent with the induced fracturing extending into the overburden. Instead, the synchronous increase in event activity with downhole pressure could be interpreted as evidence that elastic wavefronts originating from well activity trigger movement on faults where the in-situ stress is very close to that required for failure.
Microseismic moment tensors: A path to understanding frac growth
Authors: Baig Adam , Urbancic Ted
Published: March 2010

Microseismic monitoring is a valuable tool in understanding the efficacy of hydraulic fracture treatments. Determination of event locations and magnitudes leads to estimations of the geometry of the fracture zone and certain dynamics of the fracturing process. With sufficient resolution, the hypocenters may even reveal failure planes or other underlying structures controlling the distribution of events and of interest to petroleum engineers to test various hypotheses on fracture growth.
Beyond the dots in the box: Microseismicity-constrained fracture models for reservoir simulation
Authors: Eisner Leo , Williams-Stroud Sherilyn , Hill Andrew , Duncan Peter , Thornton Mike
Published: March 2010

Monitoring induced microseismic events usually results in locations for these events and a geometrical interpretation of these “dots in the box.” In this study, we show how additional information obtained from observed microseismic events, namely the source mechanisms, were used to generate a discrete fracture network. Using the wide aperture of a surface star-like array allows inversion for both shear- and nonshear-source mechanisms. Both volumetric and shear-only source mechanism inversion was done on microseismic events from the treatment of a shale gas reservoir in the continental United States. During the same hydraulic fracture stimulation treatment, both dip-slip and reverse faulting sources were active in this reservoir. The source mechanisms revealed fracture orientations more accurately than could be inferred from microseismic event locations alone. The activity of different mechanisms is interpreted as indicating reactivation of existing fractures in the rock, as well as suggesting generation of new fractures.
Erratum
Authors: Zhou Rongmao
Published: March 2010

Equation 3 of the article, “Microseismic event location for monitoring [Formula: see text] injection using double-difference tomography” (TLE, January 2010) was incorrect.