bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Signatures of Indian Ocean Dipole and El Niño–Southern Oscillation events in sea level variations in the Bay of Bengal
Authors: Aparna S. G. , McCreary J. P. , Shankar D. , Vinayachandran P. N.
Published: September 2012

We investigate the impact of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on sea level variations in the North Indian Ocean during 1957–2008. Using tide‐gauge and altimeter data, we show that IOD and ENSO leave characteristic signatures in the sea level anomalies (SLAs) in the Bay of Bengal. During a positive IOD event, negative SLAs are observed during April–December, with the SLAs decreasing continuously to a peak during September–November. During El Niño, negative SLAs are observed twice (April–December and November–July), with a relaxation between the two peaks. SLA signatures during negative IOD and La Niña events are much weaker. We use a linear, continuously stratified model of the Indian Ocean to simulate their sea level patterns of IOD and ENSO events. We then separate solutions into parts that correspond to specific processes: coastal alongshore winds, remote forcing from the equator via reflected Rossby waves, and direct forcing by interior winds within the bay. During pure IOD events, the SLAs are forced both from the equator and by direct wind forcing. During ENSO events, they are primarily equatorially forced, with only a minor contribution from direct wind forcing. Using a lead/lag covariance analysis between the Niño‐3.4 SST index and Indian Ocean wind stress, we derive a composite wind field for a typical El Niño event: the resulting solution has two negative SLA peaks. The IOD and ENSO signatures are not evident off the west coast of India.
Fine‐structure contamination by internal waves in the Canary Basin
Authors: Gostiaux Louis , van Haren Hans
Published: September 2012

Over a range of 132.5 m, 54 temperature sensors (1 mK relative accuracy) were moored yearlong while sampling at 1 Hz around 1455 m in the open Canary Basin. Coherence between individual records shows a weak but significant peak above the local buoyancy frequency N for all vertical separations Δz < 100 m, including at sensor interval Δz= 2.5 m. Instead of a dominant zero‐phase difference over the range of sensors, as observed for internal waves at frequenciesf < σ < N, with f denoting the inertial frequency, this superbuoyant coherence shows π‐phase difference. The transition from zero‐phase difference, for internal waves, toπ‐phase difference is abrupt and increases in frequency for decreasing Δz < 10 m. For Δz > 10 m, the transition is fixed at Nt ≃ 1.6N, which is also the maximum value of the small‐scale buoyancy frequency, and limits the internal wave band on its high‐frequency side. In the time domain it is observed that this high‐frequency coherence mainly occurs when nonlinearities in the temperature gradient, such as steps in the temperature profile, are advected past the sensors. A simple kinematic model of fine‐structure contamination is proposed to reproduce this observation. The canonical −2 slope of the temperature spectrum aboveN is not observed in the in situ data, which rather slope as −8/3. The −8/3 slope can, however, be reproduced in our model, provided the jumps in the temperature profile are not infinitely thin.
Climate variability and precipitation isotope relationships in the Mediterranean region
Authors: Fischer M. J. , Mattey D.
Published: September 2012

This study investigates the links between Mediterranean precipitation δ18O and Mediterranean sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies during the winter months and over the years 1960–present. Previous studies have considered only the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on rainfall δ18O at Mediterranean sites, but Mediterranean winter SLP variability evolves with at least three degrees of freedom, which means that other climate patterns may be equally important in influencing Mediterranean rainfall δ18O. In this study, Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR) is employed to identify the ‘coupled patterns’ in the Mediterranean winter SLP and δ18O fields. The multivariate linear model is estimated in two different ways, using Principal Components Regression (PCR) and regularized Canonical Correlation Analysis (regCCA), resulting in two different models which are compared. In both models two main patterns are identified, that explain 50% of the shared variance in the SLP and δ18O fields. Subspace projection of various regional and Northern Hemisphere climate indices shows that the two main patterns are more closely related to local Mediterranean climate indices than to other Northern Hemisphere climate indices. Analysis of the predicted and residual fields from the two models suggests that the regCCA model provides better predictability for rainfall δ18O at central Mediterranean sites, while both models explain relatively less of the rainfall δ18O variance at eastern Mediterranean sites. These results can potentially aid the interpretation of the climate‐isotope signal preserved in high‐resolution natural archives from different parts of the Mediterranean.
Bedload transport of a bimodal sediment bed
Authors: Houssais M. , Lajeunesse E.
Published: September 2012

Despite several decades of investigations, accounting for the effect of the wide range of grain sizes composing the bed of rivers on bedload transport remains a challenging problem. We investigate this problem by studying experimentally the influence of grain size distribution on bedload transport in the simple configuration of a bimodal sediment bed composed of a mixture of 2 populations of quartz grains of sizes D1 = 0.7 ± 0.1 mm and D2 = 2.2 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. The experiments are carried out in a tilted rectangular flume inside which the sediment bed is sheared by a steady and spatially uniform turbulent flow. Using a high‐speed video imaging system, we focus on the measurement of the average particle velocity and the surface density of moving particles, defined as the number of moving particles per unit surface of the bed. These two quantities are measured separately for each population of grains as a function of the dimensionless shear stress (or Shields number) and the fraction of the bed surface covered with small grains. We show that the average velocity and the surface density of moving particles obey the same equations as those reported by Lajeunesse et al. (2010) for a bed of homogeneous grain size. Once in motion, the grains follow therefore similar laws whether the bed is made of uniform sediment or of a bimodal mixture. This suggests that the erosion‐deposition model established by Lajeunesse et al. (2010) for a bed of uniform sediment can be generalized to the case of a bimodal one. The only difference evidenced by our experiments concerns the critical Shields number for incipient sediment motion. Above a uniform sediment bed, the latter depends on the particle Reynolds number through the Shields curve. In the case of a bimodal bed, our experiments show that the critical Shields numbers of both populations of grains decrease linearly with the fraction of the bed surface covered with small grains. We propose a simple model to account for this observation.
Linking runoff and erosion dynamics to nutrient fluxes in a degrading dryland landscape
Authors: Michaelides Katerina , Lister Debbie , Wainwright John , Parsons Anthony J.
Published: September 2012

Current theories of land degradation assume that shifts in vegetation communities result in changes to the rates and patterns of water and sediment movement, which are vectors of nutrient redistribution. This nutrient redistribution is hypothesized to reinforce, through positive feedbacks, progressive vegetation changes toward a more degraded ecosystem. A key component of this theory, which is currently poorly resolved, is the relative role of runoff and erosion in driving nutrient fluxes from different vegetation types. We address this gap through a series of field‐based, rainfall‐simulation experiments designed to explore plant‐level dynamics of runoff‐ and erosion‐driven nutrient fluxes of N, P and K species. Our results highlight important linkages between physical and biogeochemical processes that are controlled by plant structure. We found that: 1) the magnitude of sediment‐bound nutrient export is determined by the grain‐size distribution of the eroded sediment and the total sediment yield; 2) the partitioning of nutrients in dissolved and sediment‐bound form is determined by the availability and concentration of different nutrient species in the soil or rainfall; 3) these processes varied according to vegetation type and resulted in stark differences between degrading and invading plant communities. Specifically, we observed that grassland areas consistently exported the highest yields of sediment‐bound N, P and K despite producing similar erosion rates to shrub and intershrub areas. Our results have implications for better understanding how grassland areas are being replaced by shrubs and provide insights into the mechanisms of continuing land degradation in drylands.
The structure and kinematics of the central Taiwan mountain belt derived from geological and seismicity data
Authors: Brown D. , Alvarez‐Marron J. , Schimmel M. , Wu Y.‐M. , Camanni G.
Published: September 2012

The structure of the Taiwan mountain belt is thought to be that of an imbricate thrust and fold belt developed in a forward breaking sequence above a shallowly dipping basal detachment. In recent years, however, a growing amount of seismicity data from the internal part of the mountain belt indicates the existence of widespread fault activity in the middle and lower crust, suggesting that deeper levels of the crust must be involved in the deformation than predicted by the shallow detachment, imbricate thrust belt model. To address this issue, we present new geological mapping, together with earthquake focal mechanism and seismic energy release data from the central part of Taiwan. We concur with the interpretation that the foreland basin part of the Western Foothills comprises an imbricate thrust system that is developing as a forward breaking sequence that is structurally and kinematically linked to a basal detachment at between 7 and 10 km depth. To the east of the foreland basin, however, in the Hsuehshan and Central Ranges, our data show the presence of two fault systems. An earlier, inactive thrust system with a well‐developed cleavage is cut by a system of steeply dipping active faults that penetrate to a depth of 25 to 30 km or more. In the Hsuehshan Range, the second fault system is best represented by a structural and kinematic model in which this part of the mountain belt forms a zone of transpression with a structural architecture similar to that of a crustal‐scale positive flower structure. Eastward, in the Central Range, Mesozoic basement rocks are over thrusting strongly folded and cleaved deep water sediments of the first, now inactive, thrust system. The involvement of deep crustal levels and Mesozoic basement in the second fault system is suggestive of the reactivation of preexisting basin‐bounding faults that were located on the Eurasian continental margin.
Highly parameterized inverse estimation of hydraulic conductivity and porosity in a three‐dimensional, heterogeneous transport experiment
Authors: Yoon Hongkyu , McKenna Sean A.
Published: September 2012

Assessing the impact of parameter estimation accuracy in models of heterogeneous, three‐dimensional (3‐D) groundwater systems is critical for predictions of solute transport. A unique experimental data set provides concentration breakthrough curves (BTCs) measured at a 0.253cm3scale over the 13 × 8 × 8 cm3domain (∼53,000 measurement locations). Advective transport is used to match the first temporal moments of BTCs (or mean arrival times,m1) averaged at 0.253and 1.0 cm3scales through simultaneous inversion of highly parameterized heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity (K) and porosity (φ) fields. Pilot points parameterize the fields within eight layers of the 3‐D medium, and estimations are completed with six different models of theK–φ relationship. Parameter estimation through advective transport shows accurate estimation of the observedm1values. Results across the six differentK–φ relationships have statistically similar fits to the observedm1values and similar spatial estimates ofm1along the main flow direction. The resulting fields provide the basis for forward transport modeling of the advection‐dispersion equation (ADE). Using the estimatedKand φ fields demonstrates that advective transport coupled with inversion using dense spatial field parameterization provides an efficient surrogate for the ADE. These results indicate that there is not a single set of model parameters, or a singleK–φ relationship, that leads to a best representation of the actual experimental sand packing pattern (i.e., nonuniqueness). Additionally, knowledge of the individual sandKand φ values along with their arrangement in the 3‐D experiment does not reproduce the observed transport results at small scales. Small‐scale variation in the packing and mixing of the sands causes large deviations from the expected transport results as highlighted in forward ADE simulations. Highly parameterized inverse estimation is able to identify those regions where variations in mixing and packing alter the expected property values and significantly improve results relative to the naïve application of the experimentally derived property values. Impacts of the observation scale, the scale over which results are averaged and the number of observations and parameters on the final estimations are also examined. Results indicate existence of a representative element volume (REV) at 0.25 cm3, the existence of subgrid scale heterogeneity that impacts transport and the accuracy of highly parameterized models with even relatively small amounts of observations. Finally, this work suggests that local‐heterogeneity features below the REV scale are difficult to incorporate into parameterized models, highlighting the importance of addressing prediction uncertainty for small‐scale variability (i.e., uncaptured variability) in modeling practice.
Ferroportin expression in haem oxygenase 1-deficient mice
Authors: Starzyński Rafał R. , Canonne-Hergaux François , Lenartowicz Małgorzata , Krzeptowski Wojciech , Willemetz Alexandra , Styś Agnieszka , Bierła Joanna , Pietrzak Piotr , Dziaman Tomasz , Lipiński Paweł
Published: September 2012

HO1 (haem oxygenase 1) and Fpn (ferroportin) are key proteins for iron recycling from senescent red blood cells and therefore play a major role in controlling the bioavailability of iron for erythropoiesis. Although important aspects of iron metabolism in HO1-deficient (Hmox1−/−) mice have already been revealed, little is known about the regulation of Fpn expression and its role in HO1 deficiency. In the present study, we characterize the cellular and systemic factors influencing Fpn expression in Hmox1−/− bone marrow-derived macrophages and in the liver and kidney of Hmox1−/− mice. In Hmox1−/− macrophages, Fpn protein was relatively highly expressed under high levels of hepcidin in culture medium. Similarly, despite high hepatic hepcidin expression, Fpn is still detected in Kupffer cells and is also markedly enhanced at the basolateral membrane of the renal tubules of Hmox1−/− mice. Through the activity of highly expressed Fpn, epithelial cells of the renal tubules probably take over the function of impaired system of tissue macrophages in recycling iron accumulated in the kidney. Moreover, although we have found increased expression of FLVCR (feline leukaemia virus subgroup C receptor), a haem exporter, in the kidneys of Hmox1−/− mice, haem level was increased in these organs. Furthermore, we show that iron/haem-mediated toxicity are responsible for renal injury documented in the kidneys of Hmox1−/− mice.
Assessing the range of kinase autoinhibition mechanisms in the insulin receptor family
Authors: Artim Stephen C. , Mendrola Jeannine M. , Lemmon Mark A.
Published: September 2012

To investigate the range of autoinhibitory mechanisms used by TKDs (tyrosine kinase domains) from the insulin receptor family of RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases), we determined crystal structures of TKDs from TrkA (tropomyosin receptor kinase A, a nerve growth factor receptor) and Ror2 (receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2, an unconventional Wnt receptor). TrkA autoinhibition closely resembles that seen for the insulin receptor, relying on projection of an activation loop tyrosine residue into the substrate-binding site and occlusion of the ATP-binding site by the activation loop. Ror2 employs similar mechanisms, but the unusual replacement of the phenylalanine residue in its Asp-Phe-Gly motif with leucine necessitates occlusion of the ATP-binding site by other means. The unusual Asp-Leu-Gly motif in Ror2 is displaced compared with other inactive kinases, allowing the activation loop to interact directly with the TKD's αC helix, in another mode of autoinhibition that is characteristic of the other extreme of this receptor family: ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) and Met. These findings provide insight into the expected range of activating mutations in these TKDs in cancer. We also describe symmetrical dimers of the inactive TrkA TKD resembling those found in other RTKs, possibly reflecting an arrangement of kinase domains in a pre-formed TrkA dimer.
Characterization of in vitro cultured bone marrow and adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and their ability to express neurotrophic factors
Authors: Taghi Ghorbanian Mohammad , Maryam Ghasem Kashani , Taghi Lashkarbolouki , Leili Hosseinpour , Leyla Mirzaeiyan
Published: September 2012

MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) have attracted attention as a promising tool for regenerative medicine and transplantation therapy. MSCs exert neuroprotective effects by secreting a number of factors in vitro and in vivo. Similar characteristics are found in ADSCs (adipose‐derived stem cells) and BMSCs (bone marrow stromal cells). Multipotent capability, easy accessibility and rapid proliferation of ADSCs have been established. Our main objective was to compare cell viability, growth rate, expression of neurotrophic factors and nestin genes in ADSCs and BMSCs. Cell doubling time and proliferation rate indicate that ADSCs has a higher proliferation rate than BMSCs. ADSCs and BMSCs express a similar pattern of CD71 and CD90 markers. Nestin immunostaining showed that ADSCs and BMSCs are immunopositive. The expression of neurotrophic factors genes in ADSCs proved similar to that of BMSCs genes. Thus adipose tissue stem cells with a high proliferation rate can express nestin and neurotrophic factor genes. Therefore ADSCs may be useful in future cell replacement therapies and help improve neurodegenerative diseases.
The Power of Liking: Highly Sensitive Aesthetic Processing for Guiding Us through the World
Authors: Faerber Stella J. , Carbon Claus-Christian
Published: September 2012

Assessing liking is one of the most intriguing and influencing types of processing we experience day by day. We can decide almost instantaneously what we like and are highly consistent in our assessments, even across cultures. Still, the underlying mechanism is not well understood and often neglected by vision scientists. Several potential predictors for liking are discussed in the literature, among them very prominently typicality. Here, we analysed the impact of subtle changes of two perceptual dimensions (shape and colour saturation) of three-dimensional models of chairs on typicality and liking. To increase the validity of testing, we utilized a test-adaptation–retest design for extracting sensitivity data of both variables from a static (test only) as well as from a dynamic perspective (test–retest). We showed that typicality was only influenced by shape properties, whereas liking combined processing of shape plus saturation properties, indicating more complex and integrative processing. Processing the aesthetic value of objects, persons, or scenes is an essential and sophisticated mechanism, which seems to be highly sensitive to the slightest variations of perceptual input.
View-Based Matching Can Be More than Image Matching: The Importance of considering an Animal's Perspective
Authors: Wystrach Antoine , Graham Paul
Published: September 2012

Using vision for navigation is important for many animals and a common debate is the extent to which spatial performance can be explained by “simple” view-based matching strategies. We discuss, in the context of recent work, how confusion between image-matching algorithms and the broader class of view-based navigation strategies, is hindering the debate around the use of vision in spatial cognition. A proper consideration of view-based matching strategies requires an understanding of the visual information available to a given animal within a particular experiment.
Hearing Mouth Shapes: Sound Symbolism and the Reverse McGurk Effect
Authors: Spence Charles , Deroy Ophelia
Published: September 2012

In their recent article, Sweeny, Guzman-Martinez, Ortega, Grabowecky, and Suzuki (2012) demonstrate that heard speech sounds modulate the perceived shape of briefly presented visual stimuli. Ovals, whose aspect ratio (relating width to height) varied on a trial-by-trial basis, were rated as looking wider when a /woo/ sound was presented, and as taller when a /wee/ sound was presented instead. On the one hand, these findings add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that audiovisual correspondences can have perceptual (as well as decisional) effects. On the other hand, they prompt a question concerning their origin. Although the currently popular view is that crossmodal correspondences are based on the internalization of the natural multisensory statistics of the environment (see Spence, 2011), these new results suggest instead that certain correspondences may actually be based on the sensorimotor responses associated with human vocalizations. As such, the findings of Sweeny et al. help to breathe new life into Sapir's (1929) once-popular “embodied” explanation of sound symbolism. Furthermore, they pose a challenge for those psychologists wanting to determine which among a number of plausible accounts best explains the available data on crossmodal correspondences.
Anal sex and associated HIV-related sexual risk factors among female sex workers in Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Patra Rajesh Kumar , Mahapatra Bidhubhusan , Kovvali Dolly , Proddutoor Laxminarayana , Saggurti Niranjan
Published: September 2012

Background This study aims to understand the correlates of anal sex practices among female sex workers (FSWs) and examine the association of anal sex with HIV-related sexual risk factors in Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: A cross-sectional behavioural survey was conducted in 2011 among 795 FSWs aged 18 years or older. Probability-based cluster sampling was used to select respondents from sex work hotspots. Results: One-quarter (23%) of FSWs had practiced anal sex in the last year. The odds of practicing anal sex were higher among FSWs aged 35 years or more than in those aged less than 25 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.05, P < 0.05), in those formerly married compared to those currently married (AOR: 1.88, P < 0.01), in those having an income only from sex work compared to those having additional sources of income (AOR: 1.54, P < 0.05), those reporting heavy alcohol consumption compared to those who did not (AOR: 2.80, P < 0.01) and those who experienced violence compared to those who had not (AOR: 2.80, P < 0.01). FSWs practicing anal sex were more likely to experience sexually transmissible infection (STI) related symptoms than those practicing only vaginal sex. There was no association between anal sex practice and condom use. Conclusions: Anal sex is associated with STI symptoms, a factor for HIV risk. HIV intervention programmes need to educate FSWs about the risks associated with anal sex.
Response of Succulents to Fire: A review
Authors: Thomas P.A
Published: September 2012

Many succulents live in fire-prone habitats with fire frequencies ranging from 1-3 years (Canadian Prairies) to >250 years (Sonoran Desert). Mortality after a fire is often >50% but rarely total. A few plants are left unbumt in refugia but most cacti and leaf succulents persist by survival of the apical meristem, an adaptation to the normal climate of such habitats. Similarly, reproduction is governed by weather patterns, not fire. Apex survival is critical because growth from other meristems (above or below ground) is rare except in the leaf succ ulents Agave and Aloe. Survival is consequently dependent upon the frequency and intensity of fire.
Targeting Notch, a key pathway for ovarian cancer stem cells, sensitizes tumors to platinum therapy
Authors: McAuliffe Shannon M. , Morgan Stefanie L. , Wyant Gregory A. , Tran Lieu T. , Muto Katherine W. , Chen Yu Sarah , Chin Kenneth T. , Partridge Justin C. , Poole Barish B. , Cheng Kuang-Hung , Daggett John , Cullen Kristen , Kantoff Emily , Hasselbatt Kathleen , Berkowitz Julia , Muto Michael G. , Berkowitz Ross S. , Aster Jon C. , Matulonis Ursula A. , Dinulescu Daniela M.
Published: September 2012

Chemoresistance to platinum therapy is a major obstacle that needs to be overcome in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients. The high rates and patterns of therapeutic failure seen in patients are consistent with a steady accumulation of drug-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). This study demonstrates that the Notch signaling pathway and Notch3 in particular are critical for the regulation of CSCs and tumor resistance to platinum. We show that Notch3 overexpression in tumor cells results in expansion of CSCs and increased platinum chemoresistance. In contrast, γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), a Notch pathway inhibitor, depletes CSCs and increases tumor sensitivity to platinum. Similarly, a Notch3 siRNA knockdown increases the response to platinum therapy, further demonstrating that modulation of tumor chemosensitivity by GSI is Notch specific. Most importantly, the cisplatin/GSI combination is the only treatment that effectively eliminates both CSCs and the bulk of tumor cells, indicating that a dual combination targeting both populations is needed for tumor eradication. In addition, we found that the cisplatin/GSI combination therapy has a synergistic cytotoxic effect in Notch-dependent tumor cells by enhancing the DNA-damage response, G
2
/M cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Based on these results, we conclude that targeting the Notch pathway could significantly increase tumor sensitivity to platinum therapy. Our study suggests important clinical applications for targeting Notch as part of novel treatment strategies upon diagnosis of ovarian cancer and at recurrence. Both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive relapses may benefit from such an approach as clinical data suggest that all relapses after platinum therapy are increasingly platinum resistant.
Dispersion by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
requires an unusual posttranslational modification of BdlA
Authors: Petrova Olga E. , Sauer Karin
Published: September 2012

Dispersion enables biofilm bacteria to transit from the biofilm to the planktonic growth state and to spawn novel communities in new locales. Although the chemotaxis protein BdlA plays a role in the dispersion of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
biofilms in response to environmental cues, little is known about regulation of BdlA activity or how BdlA modulates the dispersion response. Here, we demonstrate that BdlA in its native form is inactive and is activated upon nonprocessive proteolysis at a ClpP-protease-like cleavage site located between the Per Arnt Sim (PAS) sensory domains PASa and PASb. Activation of BdlA to enable biofilm dispersion requires phosphorylation at tyrosine-238 as a signal, elevated c-di-GMP levels, the chaperone ClpD, and the protease ClpP. The resulting truncated BdlA polypeptide chains directly interact and are required for
P. aeruginosa
biofilms to disperse. Our results provide a basis for understanding the mechanism of biofilm dispersion that may be applicable to a large number of biofilm-forming pathogenic species. Insights into the mechanism of BdlA function have implications for the control of biofilm-related infections.
Static and dynamic friction in sliding colloidal monolayers
Authors: Vanossi Andrea , Manini Nicola , Tosatti Erio
Published: September 2012

In a pioneer experiment, Bohlein et al. realized the controlled sliding of two-dimensional colloidal crystals over laser-generated periodic or quasi-periodic potentials. Here we present realistic simulations and arguments that besides reproducing the main experimentally observed features give a first theoretical demonstration of the potential impact of colloid sliding in nanotribology. The free motion of solitons and antisolitons in the sliding of hard incommensurate crystals is contrasted with the soliton–antisoliton pair nucleation at the large static friction threshold
F

s

when the two lattices are commensurate and pinned. The frictional work directly extracted from particles’ velocities can be analyzed as a function of classic tribological parameters, including speed, spacing, and amplitude of the periodic potential (representing, respectively, the mismatch of the sliding interface and the corrugation, or “load”). These and other features suggestive of further experiments and insights promote colloid sliding to a unique friction study instrument.
Phages.
Authors: Abedon S. T.
Published: September 2012

To help orient readers towards understanding the role that phages can play as part of the human microbiome, in health as well as disease, this chapter begins with a brief review of the history of phage research, and then provides an overview of basic phage properties. These include, in particular, what phage virions 'look' like, the basic characteristics of phage infections and the potential for phages to move DNA between bacteria, a process known as transduction.
Bacteriophages as a part of the human microbiome.
Authors: Letarov A. V.
Published: September 2012

This chapter reviews available data on bacteriophages in human symbiotic microbiota, focusing on bacteriophages associated with the microbia flora of the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, pharynx, intestines, and vagina.
Diseases caused by phages.
Authors: Kuhl S. , Abedon S. T. , Hyman P.
Published: September 2012

Genomic sequencing of bacterial pathogens has demonstrated that many of the virulence factor molecules (also called pathogenicity factors) that allow bacteria to be more effective pathogens are encoded by prophages; in other words, these otherwise seemingly bacterial genes are found within the genomes of temperate phages. Temperate phage genomes can, in turn, reside semi-permanently within bacteria as prophages, forming what are commonly described as bacterial lysogens, or simply lysogens. This chapter provides an overview of various diseases that are associated with virulence factors that are prophage-encoded. These include diphtheria, botulism, Staphylococcus aureus infections (i.e. skin and pulmonary infections, food poisoning, and toxic shock syndrome), Streptococcus infections, Pasteurella infections, cholera, Shiga toxing-producing Shigella and Escherichia coli infections, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Prophage-induced changes in cellular cytochemistry and virulence.
Authors: Christie G. E. , Allison H. E. , Kuzio J. , McShan W. M. , Waldor M. K. , Kropinski A. M.
Published: September 2012

This chapter focuses on the impact of non-essential temperate phage genes on host expression that leads to a phenotypic change in virulence or in surface chemistry. Emphasis will be on the production of secreted toxins by Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Vibrio, the synthesis of membrane proteins, and alterations in lipopolysaccharide structure in Salmonella and Pseudomonas. The concept of phage-mediated transfer of bacterial genes, or transduction, is also briefly discussed.
The lion and the mouse: how bacteriophages create, liberate and decimate bacterial pathogens.
Authors: Hendrickson H.
Published: September 2012

This chapter discusses the influence of phages in the process of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and the impact that HGT has on bacterial evolution with a special interest in the evolution of pathogens. First, it provides a brief introduction about the day-to-day struggle between phages and bacteria before proceeding to a description of the mechanisms, quantities and impact of HGT in the microbial jungle.
Phages and bacterial epidemiology.
Authors: Williams M. L. , LeJeune J. T.
Published: September 2012

This chapter reviews the methodologies and application of phages and prophages in the tracking and subtyping of bacterial strains.
Clinical applications of phage display.
Authors: Siegel D. L.
Published: September 2012

Since its initial description over 20 years ago, phage display technology has been used to understand complex biological signalling pathways, to study protein-protein interactions, and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic agents important to human health. This chapter provides a description of the technology and then offers an overview of key clinical areas in which phage display has had its largest impact. It presents an overview of the ways in which phage display has been used to discover new diagnostic reagents and assays for their use, as well as reagents that have served as leads for the development of novel pharmaceuticals. The process begins with a source of immunoglobulin DNA, the construction of a phage-display library, the selection of binders through panning and the isolation of target-specific phage particles. Immunoglobulin DNA can then be extracted from individual phages and subcloned into other systems to produce full-length IgG in which antibody Fc constant region domains are appended, or to produce antibody fragments as soluble molecules for applications in which natural antibody effector function or long circulation half-life is not necessary. Alternatively, the phage particles can be used directly as highly sensitive and specific immunological detection reagents.
Phages and their hosts: a web of interactions - applications to drug design.
Authors: Wagemans J. , Lavigne R.
Published: September 2012

This chapter describes the interactions between phage-encoded and bacterial proteins within the phage-infected cell, hereafter referred to as bacteriophage-host interactions. From known bacteriophage-host interactions, crucial examples are described, with emphasis on those that could readily be exploited in drug design: phage-host interactions affecting the transcription machinery; phage-host interactions involved in host replication shutoff; and phages manipulating the translation machinery. A general phage genomics-based strategy for drug discovery is also discussed.
Bacteriophage-based methods of bacterial detection and identification.
Authors: Cox C. R.
Published: September 2012

This chapter reviews both traditional and newer approaches to phage-based bacterial detection and identification. Phages possess 2 key features that make them ideal 'reagents' for bacterial detection and identification: their specificity and their ability to amplify in number in the presence of target bacteria. These 2 properties are described within the context of a traditional approach to bacterial identification, the plaque assay. A third key feature, phage genetic malleability, is also described in subsequent sections, where the following newer approaches are considered: phage amplification-coupled matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, phage amplification-coupled lateral flow immunoassays, phage immobilization for bacterial detection, phage-encoded reporter genes for bacterial detection, phage-conjugated quantum dots, and fluorescent phage endolysin cell wall-binding domains.
Phage translocation, safety and immunomodulation.
Authors: Olszowska-Zaremba N. , Borysowski J. , Dąbrowska K. , Górski A.
Published: September 2012

This chapter reviews published scientific literature on the following topics: prevalence of bacteriophages in the environment and the safety of phage therapy for bacterial diseases; immune responses to exogenous bacteriophages, including anti-phage antibodies and anti-phage cellular immunity; effects of bacteriophage preparations on granulocytes, phagocytosis, T lymphocytes, platelets, and cytokines; and bacteriophage translocation from the intestinal lumen to mesenteric lymph nodes and subsequently to other extraintestinal organs and sites.
Phage therapy of wounds and related purulent infections.
Authors: Loc-Carrillo C. , Wu S. J. , Beck J. P.
Published: September 2012

This chapter provides a general definition of what wounds are and describes specific wound infections that have been investigated for their receptiveness to phage therapy. It highlights some of the early clinical work, from the pre-antibiotic era, when phage therapy was first used to prevent and treat wound infections, as well as other localized infections. It also provides insights into some of the reasons for failure of these approaches as judged by today's standards. Finally, this chapter discusses the strengths and weaknesses in experimental design of various animal models used to determine the efficacy of bacteriophages as antimicrobials.
Phage therapy of non-wound infections.
Authors: Burrowes B. , Harper D. R.
Published: September 2012

This chapter begins with an overview of the history of phage therapy as it pertains to non-wound infections, and then details more up-to-date experimental models (such as mice and dogs) and results. The following experimental infections are described: septicaemia, pulmonary infections, gastrointestinal infections, and canine otitis. A brief list of human uses of phage therapy is also provided.
Phage-based enzybiotics.
Authors: Shen Y. , Mitchell M. S. , Donovan D. M. , Nelson D. C.
Published: September 2012

The term 'enzybiotic' was coined by Vincent Fischetti's group in 2001 to describe both the enzymatic and antibiotic properties of bacteriophage-encoded endolysins. In recent years, the enzybiotic term has been extended by some authors to describe any enzyme that displays general antibacterial or antifungal properties, whether phage-derived or not. While the most comprehensive definition of enzybiotics would include all endolysins, autolysins, exolysins and perhaps other enzymes, this chapter focuses on the phage-encoded enzymes, primarily the endolysins. Current knowledge about the mechanisms of action for these enzymes, in vitro and in vivo (usually mouse models) activity, synergy with other enzymes or antibiotics, immune responses and resistance to these enzymes, are discussed. The final sections briefly review bacteriocins and depolymerases, 2 other classes of phage-encoded enzymes that may also be considered enzybiotics.
Phage-therapy best practices.
Authors: Abedon S. T.
Published: September 2012

In this chapter, the author provides a guide to phage therapy 'best practices', principles that have been formulated in the course of reviewing the modern phage therapy and phage-based bacterial biocontrol literature in combination with extensive consideration of related issues of phage ecology. These ideas are presented as answers to a series of 12 questions, which are believed should be generally considered over the course of phage therapy research and development. Four more issues are also presented at the end of the chapter - those of host range, unusual results, the dependence of phage-mediated bacterial killing on phage titres, and a discussion of the meaning or lack thereof of positive results.
Distinguishing youths at risk for anxiety disorders from self‐reported BIS sensitivity and its psychophysiological concomitants
Authors: Balle Maria , Tortella‐Feliu Miquel , Bornas Xavier
Published: September 2012

The aim of the study was to explore the psychophysiological concomitants of self‐reported behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivity in adolescents (12 to 17 years old) supposed to be at risk for anxiety disorders. Twenty participants with high scores in self‐reported BIS sensitivity (at‐risk group) were matched in age and sex to 20 participants scoring in the normal range in BIS sensitivity (control group). Negative affect, negative emotion regulation style, and anxiety symptomatology were assessed by means of self‐reported measures. Cardiac and electrodermal response signals were recorded during baseline, paced breathing, exposure to an attentional task with response cost and fear‐relevant slides conditions. The at‐risk group exhibited higher scores on measures of negative affect, negative emotion regulation style, and anxiety symptomatology than their control counterparts. After controlling for negative styles of emotion regulation, groups did not differ in skin conductance reactivity during the attentional task with response cost, but participants at risk exhibited more nonspecific skin conductance responses than the control group during baseline recording. Regarding the cardiac concomitants, participants at risk presented lower vagal tone at resting conditions as compared to participants in the control group. Additionally, at‐risk participants exhibited lower flexibility across experimental conditions in heart rate and cardiac sample entropy measures than participants in the control group. These findings add knowledge on psychophysiological concomitants of BIS sensitivity and are discussed in light of associations between temperament and development of anxiety disorders in youth. They show how psychophysiological patterns observed in resting conditions could be useful endophenotypes to reliably detect individuals at risk before the disorder onset.
Felt obligation and the family life cycle: A study on intergenerational relationships
Authors: Corso Annalisa Rossi Del , Lanz Margherita
Published: September 2012

Since the 1990s researchers have considered as the dominant view on family obligation a set of responsibilities, duties, and obligation of care and assistance, that adult children should assume when parents are old or infirm. This concept is limited, because it assumes that family obligation is salient only in one period of life: when parents reach old age and are infirm. In contrast, a relational approach to family obligation considers family relationships as central to understanding children's duties and responsibilities. Following Stein, family obligation can be defined as felt obligation: expectations for appropriate and negotiated behaviour, perceived within the context of specific personal relationships with kin across life course. Felt obligation is conceptualized in five dimensions: a duty to maintain contact, assistance, avoidance of conflict, personal sharing, and self‐sufficiency. The purpose of the present study was to analyze perceptions of felt obligation in intergenerational relationships (parent–child and family of origin) in different phases of the family life cycle in a specific cultural context (Italy). The sample was composed of 92 parents with children of different ages (infants, school‐aged children, and young adults). The measure addressed the five dimensions of felt obligation, all assessed in various phases of family life. Results indicated differences in dimensions of felt obligation between intergenerational relationships (both parent–child and with family of origin). Some of these differences, such as self‐sufficiency and personal sharing, assumed more importance and salience in some periods of the life cycle than in others.
Benchmarking key service quality indicators in UK Employee Assistance Programme Counselling: A CORE System data profile
Authors: Mellor-Clark John , Twigg Elspeth , Farrell Eugene , Kinder Andrew
Published: September 2012

Background: Levels of psychological distress appear to be increasing in the workplace, in parallel with the growth of employee assistance programme (EAP) provision offering a range of talking treatments. However, such growth takes place in the absence of a substantive body of supporting research evidence despite a quarter of a decade of research activity. Aims: To analyse a national sample of EAP data and profile relative service quality on a set of key service indicators. Method: CORE System data profiles of over 28,000 clients were voluntarily donated by six EAP service providers. An established benchmarking methodology was used to assess the relative quality of EAP service provision compared with published CORE System benchmarks for NHS primary care and UK higher education student counselling services. Results: High quality data profiled an EAP service clientele who were quantifiably distressed, accessed treatment quickly, with the majority completing treatment and demonstrating high rates of recovery and/or improvement relative to published benchmarks from the NHS and HE comparative sectors. Limitations of the study and implications for practice and further investigation are considered.
Imageability, age of acquisition, and frequency factors in acronym comprehension
Authors: Playfoot David , Izura Cristina
Published: September 2012

In spite of their unusual orthographic and phonological form, acronyms (e.g., BBC, HIV, NATO) can become familiar to the reader, and their meaning can be accessed well enough that they are understood. The factors in semantic access for acronym stimuli were assessed using a word association task. Two analyses examined the time taken to generate a word association response to acronym cues. Responses were recorded more quickly to cues that elicited a large proportion of semantic responses, and those that were high in associative strength. Participants were shown to be faster to respond to cues which were imageable or early acquired. Frequency was not a significant predictor of word association responses. Implications for theories of lexical organisation are discussed.
A smile biases the recognition of eye expressions: Configural projection from a salient mouth
Authors: Calvo Manuel G. , Fernández-Martín Andrés , Nummenmaa Lauri
Published: September 2012

A smile is visually highly salient and grabs attention automatically. We investigated how extrafoveally seen smiles influence the viewers' perception of non-happy eyes in a face. A smiling mouth appeared in composite faces with incongruent non-happy (fearful, neutral, etc.) eyes, thus producing blended expressions, or it appeared in intact faces with genuine expressions. Attention to the eye region was spatially cued while foveal vision of the mouth was blocked by gaze-contingent masking. Participants judged whether the eyes were happy or not. Results indicated that the smile biased the evaluation of the eye expression: The same non-happy eyes were more likely to be judged as happy and categorized more slowly as not happy in a face with a smiling mouth than in a face with a non-smiling mouth or with no mouth. This bias occurred when the mouth and the eyes appeared simultaneously and aligned, but also to some extent when they were misaligned and when the mouth appeared after the eyes. We conclude that the highly salient smile projects to other facial regions, thus influencing the perception of the eye expression. Projection serves spatial and temporal integration of face parts and changes.