bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Erection Hardness Score
Authors: Mulhall John P. , Goldstein Irwin , Bushmakin Andrew G. , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Hvidsten Kyle
Published: September 2007

Introduction

Erection hardness is a fundamental component of erectile function, and is a very specific and easily monitored outcome. The Erection Hardness Score (EHS) is a single-item, patient-reported outcome (PRO) for scoring erection hardness.

Aims

The aim of this article is to report the psychometric validation of the EHS.

Methods

The dataset (N=307) was from a multinational sildenafil trial (efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction [ED]) with a 2-week screening phase, a 6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment phase, and a 6-week open-label extension.

Main Outcome Measures

Test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient), quality and distribution of responses, known-groups validity (ability to differentiate between ED severity groups defined by the International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF] questionnaire), convergent validity (Pearson correlation coefficients with domain scores of the IIEF and the Quality of Erection Questionnaire [QEQ]), treatment responsiveness, and clinically important difference.

Results

The EHS demonstrated good test–retest reliability, acceptable quality and distribution of responses, known-groups validity against the IIEF (including clear differentiation between normal and impaired erectile function), moderate-to-strong convergent validity against the prespecified domains of the IIEF and QEQ, and high treatment responsiveness.

Conclusion

The EHS has desirable measurement properties, including being highly responsive to treatment. This one-item PRO is robust and easy to use for evaluating erection hardness. Psychometric analysis supports the use of the EHS as a simple, reliable, and valid tool for the assessment of erection hardness in clinical trials research.
Penile Strangulation: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ivanovski Ognen , Stankov Oliver , Kuzmanoski Marjan , Saidi Skender , Banev Saso , Filipovski Vanja , Lekovski Ljupco , Popov Zivko
Published: September 2007

Introduction

Entrapment or strangulation of the penis is a rare emergency situation that can lead to a wide range of vascular and mechanical injuries.

Aim

The aim of this article is to present our experience dealing with penile strangulation. A review of the literature is also summarized in this report. Current treatment options and outcomes are also evaluated.

Methods

We performed a computerized MEDLINE search followed by a manual bibliographic review of cross-references. These reports were analyzed and the important findings summarized.

Results

Penile strangulation has been first time reported in 1755. Since that time, sporadic reports have appeared in the literature describing a variety of foreign bodies on the penis that have in common only the property of circularity. We noted motives, types of objects, types of strangulation, symptomatology, trauma grades, diagnoses, including psychological involvement, as well as possible treatment options. Furthermore, two cases of penile strangulation from our clinical practice are presented involving different degrees of vascular insult leading to different pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and surgical approach.

Conclusion

Penile strangulation is an unusual clinical condition and the consequences can be severe. Penile strangulation could lead to different degrees of vascular obstruction. Consequently, several clinical syndromes can occur: from mild nonsignificant vascular obstruction that resolves after decompression to severe gangrene of the penis accompanied with impaired renal function. The most common motive associated with foreign bodies on the penis is sexual or erotic in nature. The choice of method for removal depends upon type, size, incarceration time, trauma grade, and availability of the equipment. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are essential to avoid the potential complications of ischemic necrosis and autoamputation.
Yoga in Premature Ejaculation: A Comparative Trial with Fluoxetine
Authors: Dhikav Vikas , Karmarkar Girish , Gupta Mallika , Anand Kuljeet Singh
Published: September 2007

Introduction

Yoga is a popular form of complementary and alternative treatment. It is practiced both in developing and developed countries. Use of yoga for various bodily ailments is recommended in ancient ayvurvedic (ayus =life, veda =knowledge) texts and is being increasingly investigated scientifically. Many patients and yoga protagonists claim that it is useful in sexual disorders. We are interested in knowing if it works for patients with premature ejaculation (PE) and in comparing its efficacy with fluoxetine, a known treatment option for PE.

Aim

To know if yoga could be tried as a treatment option in PE and to compare it with fluoxetine.

Methods

A total of 68 patients (38 yoga group; 30 fluoxetine group) attending the outpatient department of psychiatry of a tertiary care hospital were enrolled in the present study. Both subjective and objective assessment tools were administered to evaluate the efficacy of the yoga and fluoxetine in PE. Three patients dropped out of the study citing their inability to cope up with the yoga schedule as the reason.

Main Outcome Measure

Intravaginal ejaculatory latencies in yoga group and fluoxetine control groups.

Results

We found that all 38 patients (25–65.7%=good, 13–34.2%=fair) belonging to yoga and 25 out of 30 of the fluoxetine group (82.3%) had statistically significant improvement in PE.

Conclusions

Yoga appears to be a feasible, safe, effective and acceptable nonpharmacological option for PE. More studies involving larger patients could be carried out to establish its utility in this condition.
Validation of the Female Sexual Function Index in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Authors: Verit Fatma Ferda , Verit Ayhan
Published: September 2007

Introduction

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common gynecological problem that is also associated with sexual dysfunction.

Aim

The purpose of this research was to investigate the validity and reliability of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in women with CPP.

Method

One hundred women with CPP and 100 age-matched subjects without CPP were compared in the study.

Main Outcome Measures

Sexual function was assessed by FSFI.

Results

Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha values=0.91–0.97) was high for all scales. There were significant differences between women with and without CPP for each of the FSFI domain and total scores with very large effect sizes (1.29–2.56) (P <0.0001, for all). Interdomain correlations of FSFI in the CPP group corresponded well to each other (P <0.0001, for all). Moreover, test–retest reliability (r =0.79–0.90) was also within acceptable ranges for this population.

Conclusion

We concluded that the FSFI showed good ability to discriminate between women with and without sexual dysfunctions in the CPP population.
Regional Differences in Men Attending a Sexual Health Clinic in Sydney for Premature Ejaculation
Authors: Frewen Amie , Rapee Ronald M. , Bowden Pip , Lagios Katerina
Published: September 2007

Introduction

Previous investigation from UK sexual health clinics has suggested that men from Central Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds are more likely to present with premature ejaculation (PE) than men from Western backgrounds. This interesting finding requires replication, especially in populations from other countries.

Aim

The current study aimed to determine whether men who had sought treatment for PE from a community sexual health clinic were more likely to come from Central Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds than from Western backgrounds.

Main Outcome Measures

Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from patient files over a 3-year period. Patient-defined ethnicity for outpatients seeking psychological interventions for PE was compared to the ethnicity of those attending for other sexual dysfunctions and also to local population census data.

Method

Clinical files for 215 men seeking psychological interventions for sexual dysfunctions at an urban sexual health clinic in Sydney were examined. Men were included in the study if they reported being born in one of two regional groups: Western countries or Middle Eastern/Central Asian countries. The rates of men seeking help for PE vs. other sexual dysfunctions were compared between these two regional groups and were compared with the representation of each region in the broader sexual health service as well as the local population.

Results

Relative to men born in Western regions, men from Central Asian/Middle Eastern countries were more likely to present with PE than with other sexual dysfunctions. The proportion of men from Central Asian/Middle Eastern countries presenting with PE was considerably higher than expected for the population attending the sexual health clinic or the broader local community.

Conclusion

Consistent with previous research, Asian and Middle Eastern men living in a Western society appear to be more likely than Western men to report difficulties with PE.
Better age estimation using ultraviolet–optical colours: breaking the age–metallicity degeneracy
Authors: Kaviraj S. , Rey S.-C. , Rich R. M. , Yoon S.-J. , Yi S. K.
Published: September 2007

We demonstrate that the combination of GALEX ultraviolet (UV) photometry in the far-UV (FUV; ∼1530 Å) and near-UV (NUV; ∼2310 Å) passbands with optical photometry in the standard U, B, V, R, I filters can efficiently break the age–metallicity degeneracy. We estimate well-constrained ages, metallicities and their associated errors for 42 globular clusters (GCs) in M31, and show that the full set of FUV, NUV, U,B,V,R,I photometry produces age estimates that are ∼90 per cent more constrained and metallicity estimates that are ∼60 per cent more constrained than those produced by using optical filters alone. The quality of the age constraints is comparable or marginally better than those achieved using a large number of spectroscopic indices.
RHEOLOGICAL, TEXTURAL AND MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF THE HIGH‐METHOXY PECTIN/GELATIN MIXED SYSTEMS
Authors: LIU H. , ZHU D.Sh. , XU X.M. , GUO Sh.D. , JIN Zh.Y.
Published: September 2007

The aim of this research was to evaluate the interaction between high‐methoxy pectin and gelatin in solution and mixed gel utilizing rheological, texture profile and microstructure analysis. The results showed that the phase separation and association might both exist depending on the ratio of pectin to gelatin in the mixed system. After the pectin addition to the mixed system, the gelation properties of gelatin were improved at suitable conditions. The structure development rate, gel hardness and gel brittleness of the pectin/gelatin mixed system were positively affected by the addition of pectin and from there to expand the application of the mixed system in food industry.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Structure‐forming polysaccharides and protein provide desired functional properties to a wide range of foods such as gel confectionery products, milk products and fat replacers. As an academic paper, this article provided the information that high‐methoxy (HM) pectin could prove the gelation properties of gelatin to corporate audiences. We could find that the ratio of HM pectin to gelatin, and the concentration of these two polymers, dictate the texture properties of the mixed system. The pectin addition to the gelatin system affected the structure development rate, which might save time when the products are processed in practice. The melting temperature was increased with the pectin addition to the gelatin system, which is favorable if it is to be kept under higher temperature.
Through the Looking Blast: Geopolitics and Visual Culture
Authors: Hughes Rachel
Published: September 2007

It is often argued that the most commonly assumed visual mode in geopolitics is the objective and disembodied gaze of the master geopolitical tactician. This is a charge that has been levelled at both geopolitical figures such as national leaders, and at academics who write about historical and present‐day geopolitics. However, recent work has diversified the way in which formal, practical and popular geopolitical visions may be examined in critical geopolitical studies. Such work calls for greater attention to be paid to popular visual cultures and to geopolitical practice as a way of envisioning global space that is embodied and subjective.
Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Central America and the Caribbean: Review of Debates and Conceptual Reformulation
Authors: Klak Thomas
Published: September 2007

Tourism is one of the world's largest economic sectors. Ecotourism is its fastest growing component (United Nations World Tourism Organization 2007), and a promising strategy for sustainable development. Rural Central America and the Caribbean are in need of sustainable development and contain promising ecotourism sites. Despite their empirical importance and potential, tourism and ecotourism as research topics present several difficulties. This article surveys recent tourism and ecotourism scholarship and pays special attention to other recent literature reviews that contribute to that scholarship. It offers a three‐dimensional view of sustainable ecotourism development based on ecological integrity, economic viability, and social justice. Our common conception of ecotourism needs to broaden. It is typically presented as one of many distinct alternatives to mass tourism such as cultural, historical, and agro‐tourism. It is more fruitful to view alternative tourisms as synergistic components of a sustainable tourism ensemble. The article explores consequences of neglecting any of the three sustainability dimensions. It concludes by summarizing the article's contributions to the practice and analysis of sustainable ecotourism development.
From Citadels of Education to Cartier Latins (and Back?): The Changing Landscapes of Student Populations in European Cities
Authors: Russo Antonio Paolo , Tatjer Laura Capel
Published: September 2007

Student communities are among the most active agents in the transformation of European cities, due to the concurring circumstances of booming international student mobility, the restructuring of university residence patterns, and the acknowledgement of the importance of knowledge assets and creativity for sustainable urban development. This article presents a conceptualisation of emerging student landscapes, especially focusing on the spatial configuration of mobility and activity flows. It is argued that while student landscapes are determined in the first place by the structure of the city and university settlements, they undergo a peculiar dynamic which, in most cases, leads to a decoupling of education spaces and the habitats where students spend the rest of their time. This result may not be the optimal for a sustainable, competitive city. Using evidence from two cities, Barcelona and Lille, our article derives indications for the planning of new higher education facilities and student settlements that may produce more coherent student landscapes.
Revolting Geographies: Urban Unrest in France
Authors: Dikeç Mustafa
Published: September 2007

This article provides an account of urban unrest in France, with particular emphasis on the revolts of 2005 in the banlieues. It looks at some of the reasons behind the revolts, including social disadvantage, discrimination, repression, and the tensions arising from France's alleged universalism, colonial history and post‐colonial present. Then, by putting the 2005 revolts in context and comparing them to previous incidents, it points to their distinctive geographical dimension. This geographical focus shows that there is a constantly expanding geography of revolts, that this geography overlaps with geographies of inequalities, discrimination and repression, and suggests that there is a logic of resistance behind the revolts.
Urban Rivers: Hydrology, Geomorphology, Ecology and Opportunities for Change
Authors: Gurnell Angela , Lee May , Souch Catherine
Published: September 2007

This article describes how urban development impacts on the processes that control river geomorphology and influence ecology. At the catchment scale, urban development transforms the hydrological system through construction of impervious surfaces and stormwater drainage systems. River water and sediment quality also are affected by stormwater and waste water drainage and by point and diffuse inputs of pollutants. Within the river channel network, widespread river engineering improves floodwater conveyance but imposes major changes in river network and channel characteristics. The results of an analysis of Urban River Survey data from 143 channel reaches in three European rivers (the River Tame, UK; the River Emscher, Germany; and the River Botic, Czech Republic) are presented to demonstrate the strong influence of river channel engineering on channel structure, physical habitat features and vegetation patterns. This analysis also shows the surprisingly varied character of urban rivers and thus their differential potential to respond to rehabilitation efforts. Because the success of river rehabilitation efforts depend not only on a scientific understanding of form and process within urban river systems but also on the acceptance and support of urban communities and integration within urban design and planning, the article briefly explores the coupling of natural and social science approaches to drive a more sustainable future for rivers in cities.
Spectroscopic Whole‐Blood Indicators of End‐Stage Renal Disease and the Hemodialysis Treatment
Authors: Lagali Neil S. , Burns Kevin D. , Zimmerman Deborah L. , Munger Rejean
Published: September 2007

The diffuse reflection spectrum in the 500–1670 nm region for whole blood taken from healthy subjects and end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients was measured to test the feasibility of optically monitoring ESRD and its treatment by hemodialysis. Spectral regions where optical absorption significantly differed between healthy subjects and ESRD patients were used to form a multiple linear discriminant classification model. With this model a total of 41 whole‐blood samples were classified into healthy, pretreatment and posttreatment ESRD classes. 96.7% of original and cross‐validated cases and 100% of independent validation cases were correctly classified, indicating ESRD and its treatment exhibit characteristic spectral features in whole blood. Upon comparison of the discriminant model variables with a few key clinical blood parameters, model variables were found to significantly correlate with hematocrit and plasma levels of urea and potassium (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the optical signature of whole blood conveys basic clinical status information, and provides a path for investigating improved indices of hemodialysis toxicity, adequacy and patient outcome.
Experimental Study on Predicting Skin Flap Necrosis by Fluorescence in the FAD and NADH Bands During Surgery
Authors: Mokrý Michal , Gál Peter , Harakaľová Magdaléna , Hutňanová Žaneta , Kušnír Jaroslav , Mozeš Štefan , Sabo Ján
Published: September 2007

The objective of the present study was to assess the feasibility of using endogenous fluorescence in intraoperative prediction of skin flap necrosis. The investigation was carried out in 10 Sprague–Dawley rats in which proximally based over‐dimensioned random pattern skin flaps were dissected on the back and thereafter fixed into position. Immediately after surgery on each rat, synchronous fluorescence spectra (Δλ = 90 nm) from five parts of the skin flap surface were measured. The presence of necrosis was evaluated on postoperative day 7. In flap parts designated as necrotic (n = 18), a significantly lower (P < 0.001) fluorescent signal from the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) bands (360–380 and 440–460 nm, respectively) was detected in comparison with the vital parts (n = 32) (for FAD:1767 ± 39 versus 2579 ± 65 auxiliary units [A.U]. and for NADH:11724 ± 340 versus 16810 ± 473 A.U.). The results suggested a close relationship between the fluorescent signals from the FAD and NADH bands on one side and flap necrosis or survival on the other side. Thus, the use of fluorescence spectroscopy may be considered as a valuable noninvasive tool for the prediction of skin flap necrosis.
Critical Psychology: What It Is and What It Is Not
Authors: Parker Ian
Published: September 2007

Critical psychology alerts us to the limitations of mainstream research in the discipline, and it promises to put ‘social’ issues on the agenda in the whole of psychology. A starting point of the stance of critical psychological research is that the claims that psychologists make about human beings often seem to vanish almost as quickly as they are discovered. People, a group or culture do not behave or think like the model would predict, and, more importantly, we find that our awareness, our reflection on a process described by a psychologist changes that process. It is in the nature of human nature to change, to change as different linguistic resources, social practices, and representations of the self become available, and for human nature to change itself as people reflect on who they are and who they may become. That means that any attempt to fix us in place must fail. But it will only fail in such a way that something productive emerges from it if we do something different, and one place to do something different is in psychology. We need to step back and look at the images of the self, mind and behaviour that psychologists have produced, the types of practices they engage in, and the power those practices, those ‘technologies of the self’ have to set limits on change. When we appreciate this, we can start to look at what psychologists might do instead as part of a genuinely critical approach.
Personality and the Pursuit of Happiness
Authors: Lucas Richard E.
Published: September 2007

Although people pursue life outcomes because they believe that these outcomes will make them happy, research shows that external life circumstances have a surprisingly small effect on happiness and subjective well‐being. In contrast, personality traits and other stable factors appear to play a more important role in happiness. Happiness is heritable, stable over time, and moderately to strongly associated with personality characteristics. Empirical support for these conclusions is reviewed, and more recent evidence that challenges strong interpretations of personality effects is discussed. Although the effects of personality are robust, long‐term levels of happiness can and do change.
A Window on the ‘New’ Sociology of Childhood
Authors: Matthews Sarah H.
Published: September 2007

This article is intended as a window on the body of research that has come to be known as the ‘new sociology of childhood’. To elucidate its underlying tenets I identify three major weaknesses that scholars in the ‘new’ sociology find in the ‘old’ conceptualization – socialization – and discuss implications for doing research on children and childhood. I suggest that scholars in the United States are on a somewhat different path than their colleagues in other Western countries. Finally, I argue that the view that children are not yet members of their societies is one that is difficult to undermine.
Ethnography and News Production: New(s) Developments in the Field*
Authors: Cottle Simon
Published: September 2007

Ethnographic studies of news production provide invaluable insights into the nature and determinants of news production and a necessary corrective, therefore, to grand speculative claims and theories about the news media. These more grounded studies have variously examined the daily routines, bureaucratic nature, competitive ethos, professional ideologies, source dependencies and cultural practices of the news media. Today, however, the globalising field of news production and journalist practices is fast changing and ethnographies of news production remain as essential as ever for explaining and understanding the complexities involved. This article overviews the field of news production studies and makes the case for why ethnographic studies need to be conducted in the future. It describes past studies and their findings, reflects on the principal strengths and possible blind spots of ethnography as a research method, and finally considers new developments in the field and the challenges that these pose to academic researchers.
Youth (and) Violence
Authors: Hogeveen Bryan R.
Published: September 2007

Youth violence is a major concern. Everyday the news and entertainment media feeds the public a fresh supply of school shootings, stabbings at house parties and random gun violence involving young people. These narratives do not just entertain, they fundamentally alter our existence. But, should they? Are our fears warranted? This essay considers how youth violence shapes our ontology, that is, the way we view and interact with our world. Towards this end, I examine the prevalence of violence in North American society. However, before sliding into this discussion, I highlight the nuances involved in asking the question, ‘what is violence’? Next, I ask what is the aetiology or ‘causes’ of violence? This section surveys a variety of experts on the subject including: Freud, sociologists, criminologists and philosophers. I conclude by suggesting that violence is irreverent and to begin an exegesis requires that we, all of us, avow all life.
Transnational Crime and Transnational Policing
Authors: Sheptycki James William Edward
Published: September 2007

This paper reviews the scholarly literature that connects transnational crime and policing through a critical discussion of the terms used to describe them. It is argued that authorized discourses regarding transnational crime are selective and partial. Ultimately, this results in two sorts of failures in contemporary transnational policing. It is a positive failure insofar as the ramping up of policing power in response to a global crime panic has come at the expense of civil liberties and human rights. It is a negative failure insofar as the transnational policing capacity that has been developed is unable to respond to the very real criminological consequences that are part of the downside of globalization. The surveillant assemblage of the emerging global policing security complex is an awesome and unaccountable power legitimitated on the basis of specified folkdevils. However, and despite well‐publicized claims to success, due to its own internal organizational pathologies and institutional fragmentation, the policing security complex is capricious. The article concludes by arguing that critical the examination of the concepts that constitute transnational crime and policing is a crucial contribution to theories of global governance.
Insulin and contraction increase nutritive blood flow in rat muscle in vivo determined by microdialysis of l‐[14C]glucose
Authors: Newman John M. B. , Ross Renee M. , Richards Stephen M. , Clark Michael G. , Rattigan Stephen
Published: September 2007

In the present study, a mathematical model using the microdialysis outflow: inflow (O/I) ratio of the novel analogue l‐[14C]glucose has been developed which allows the calculation of the nutritive (and non‐nutritive) flow in muscle as a proportion of total blood flow. Anaesthetized rats had microdialysis probes carrying l‐[14C]glucose inserted through a calf muscle group (tibialis/plantaris/gastrocnemius). The nutritive fraction of total blood flow was determined under basal conditions and in response to contraction (electrical field stimulation), insulin (hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp with 10 mU min−1 kg−1 insulin) or saline control from limb blood flow and the microdialysis O/I ratio of l‐[14C]glucose. Both contraction and insulin infusion decreased the O/I ratio of l‐[14C]glucose and increased total limb blood flow. Calculations based on mathematical models using l‐[14C]glucose O/I and limb blood flow revealed that during basal conditions, the nutritive fraction of total flow was 0.38 ± 0.06, indicating that basal flow was predominantly non‐nutritive. Contraction and insulin increased the nutritive fraction to 0.82 ± 0.24 (P < 0.05) and 0.52 ± 0.12 (P < 0.05). Thus the increase in limb blood flow from insulin was fully accommodated by nutritive flow, while contraction increased nutritive flow at the expense of non‐nutritive flow. This novel method using microdialysis and the O/I ratio of l‐[14C]glucose allows the determination of the nutritive fraction of total flow in muscle as well as the proportion of total flow that may be redistributed in response to contraction and insulin.
No difference in the skeletal muscle angiogenic response to aerobic exercise training between young and aged men
Authors: Gavin Timothy P. , Ruster Rebecca S. , Carrithers John A. , Zwetsloot Kevin A. , Kraus Raymond M. , Evans Christopher A. , Knapp Deborah J. , Drew James L. , McCartney Jennifer S. , Garry Joseph P. , Hickner Robert C.
Published: September 2007

Ischaemia‐induced skeletal muscle angiogenesis is impaired in aged compared with young mice. In humans, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein following an acute exercise bout are lower in aged compared with young untrained men. We hypothesized that exercise‐induced skeletal muscle angiogenesis would be attenuated in aged compared with young men. In eight aged (mean age: 64 years) and six young (mean age: 25 years) sedentary men, muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis prior to (Pre), after 1 week and after 8 weeks of an aerobic exercise training program for the measurement of capillarization and VEGF mRNA. Dialysate VEGF protein collected from the muscle interstitial space was measured at rest and during submaximal exercise at Pre, 1 week and 8 weeks. Exercise training increased capillary contacts (CC) and capillary‐to‐fibre perimeter exchange index (CFPE) of type I and IIA fibres similarly in young and aged. The CC of type IIA and IIB fibres was lower in aged compared with young independent of training status. Exercise‐induced interstitial VEGF protein was lower in aged compared with young independent of training status. In untrained, greater exercise‐induced interstitial VEGF protein during exercise was associated with greater type I, IIA and IIB CC. Exercise training increased VEGF mRNA similarly in young and aged. These results demonstrate that the angiogenic response to aerobic exercise training is not altered during the ageing process in humans. In addition, muscular activity‐associated increases in interstitial VEGF protein may play an important role in the maintenance of skeletal muscle capillarization across the life span.
Synthesis of Path Generating Compliant Mechanisms Using Initially Curved Frame Elements
Authors: Rai Ashok Kumar , Saxena Anupam , Mankame Nilesh D.
Published: September 2007

Initially curved frame elements are used in this paper within an optimization-based framework for the systematic synthesis of compliant mechanisms (CMs) that can trace nonlinear paths. These elements exhibit a significantly wider range of mechanical responses to applied loads than the initially straight frame elements, which have been widely used in the past for the synthesis of CMs. As a consequence, fewer elements are required in the design discretization to obtain a CM with a desired mechanical response. The initial slopes at the two nodes of each element are treated as design variables that influence not only the shape of the members in a CM, but also the mechanical response of the latter. Building on our prior work, the proposed synthesis approach uses genetic algorithms with both binary (i.e., 0/1) and continuous design variables in conjunction with a co-rotational total Lagrangian finite element formulation and a Fourier shape descriptors-based objective function. This objective function is chosen for its ability to provide a robust comparison between the actual path traced by a candidate CM design and the desired path. Two synthesis examples are presented to demonstrate the synthesis procedure. The resulting designs are fabricated as is, without any postprocessing, and tested. The fabricated prototypes show good agreement with the design intent.
Amazon Forests Green-Up During 2005 Drought
Authors: Saleska Scott R. , Didan Kamel , Huete Alfredo R. , da Rocha Humberto R.
Published: September 2007

Coupled climate-carbon cycle models suggest that Amazon forests are vulnerable to both long- and short-term droughts, but satellite observations showed a large-scale photosynthetic green-up in intact evergreen forests of the Amazon in response to a short, intense drought in 2005. These findings suggest that Amazon forests, although threatened by human-caused deforestation and fire and possibly by more severe long-term droughts, may be more resilient to climate changes than ecosystem models assume.
Development of a Method for Detection of
Giardia duodenalis
Cysts on Lettuce and for Simultaneous Analysis of Salad Products for the Presence of
Giardia
Cysts and
Cryptosporidium
Oocysts
Authors: Cook N. , Nichols R. A. B. , Wilkinson N. , Paton C. A. , Barker K. , Smith H. V.
Published: September 2007

We report a method for detecting
Giardia duodenalis
cysts on lettuce, which we subsequently use to examine salad products for the presence of
Giardia
cysts and
Cryptosporidium
oocysts. The method is based on four basic steps: extraction of cysts from the foodstuffs, concentration of the extract and separation of the cysts from food materials, staining of the cysts to allow their visualization, and identification of cysts by microscopy. The concentration and separation steps are performed by centrifugation, followed by immunomagnetic separation using proprietary kits. Cyst staining is also performed using proprietary reagents. The method recovered 46.0% ± 19.0% (
n
= 30) of artificially contaminating cysts in 30 g of lettuce. We tested the method on a variety of commercially available natural foods, which we also seeded with a commercially available internal control, immediately prior to concentration of the extract. Recoveries of the Texas Red-stained
Giardia
cyst and
Cryptosporidium
oocyst internal controls were 36.5% ± 14.3% and 36.2% ± 19.7% (
n
= 20), respectively. One natural food sample of organic watercress, spinach, and rocket salad contained one
Giardia
cyst 50 g
−1
of sample as an indigenous surface contaminant.
Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Temperate Phages in
Clostridium difficile
Authors: Fortier Louis-Charles , Moineau Sylvain
Published: September 2007

Eight temperate phages were characterized after mitomycin C induction of six
Clostridium difficile
isolates corresponding to six distinct PCR ribotypes. The hypervirulent
C. difficile
strain responsible for a multi-institutional outbreak (NAP1/027 or QCD-32g58) was among these prophage-containing strains. Observation of the crude lysates by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of three phages with isometric capsids and long contractile tails (
Myoviridae
family), as well as five phages with long noncontractile tails (
Siphoviridae
family). TEM analyses also revealed the presence of a significant number of phage tail-like particles in all the lysates. Southern hybridization experiments with restricted prophage DNA showed that
C. difficile
phages belonging to the family
Myoviridae
are highly similar and most likely related to previously described prophages φC2, φC5, and φCD119. On the other hand, members of the
Siphoviridae
phage family are more genetically divergent, suggesting that they originated from distantly related ancestors. Our data thus suggest that there are at least three genetically distinct groups of temperate phages in
C. difficile
; one group is composed of highly related myophages, and the other two groups are composed of more genetically heterogeneous siphophages. Finally, no gene homologous to genes encoding
C. difficile
toxins or toxin regulators could be identified in the genomes of these phages using DNA hybridization. Interestingly, each unique phage restriction profile correlated with a specific
C. difficile
PCR ribotype.
Genomic Deletion Marking an Emerging Subclone of
Francisella tularensis
subsp.
holarctica
in France and the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Dempsey M. P. , Dobson M. , Zhang C. , Zhang M. , Lion C. , Gutiérrez-Martín C. B. , Iwen P. C. , Fey P. D. , Olson M. E. , Niemeyer D. , Francesconi S. , Crawford R. , Stanley M. , Rhodes J. , Wagner D. M. , Vogler A. J. , Birdsell D. , Keim P. , Johansson A. , Hinrichs S. H. , Benson A. K.
Published: September 2007

Francisella tularensis
subsp.
holarctica
is widely disseminated in North America and the boreal and temperate regions of the Eurasian continent. Comparative genomic analyses identified a 1.59-kb genomic deletion specific to
F. tularensis
subsp.
holarctica
isolates from Spain and France. Phylogenetic analysis of strains carrying this deletion by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis showed that the strains comprise a highly related set of genotypes, implying that these strains were recently introduced or recently emerged by clonal expansion in France and the Iberian Peninsula.
Differences in Virulence among
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 Strains Isolated from Humans during Disease Outbreaks and from Healthy Cattle
Authors: Baker Diane R. , Moxley Rodney A. , Steele Mike B. , LeJeune Jeffrey T. , Christopher-Hennings Jane , Chen Ding-Geng , Hardwidge Philip R. , Francis David H.
Published: September 2007

Escherichia coli
O157:H7 causes life-threatening outbreaks of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans and significant economic loss in agriculture and could be a potential agent of bioterrorism. Although the prevalence of
E. coli
O157:H7 in cattle and other species with which humans have frequent contact is high, human infections are relatively uncommon, despite a low infectious dose. A plausible explanation for the low disease incidence is the possibility that not all strains are virulent in humans. If there are substantial differences in virulence among strains in nature, then human disease may select for high virulence. We used a gnotobiotic piglet model to investigate the virulence of isolates from healthy cattle and from humans in disease outbreaks and to determine the correlation between production of Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and Stx2 and virulence. Overall,
E. coli
O157:H7 strains isolated from healthy cattle were less virulent in gnotobiotic piglets than strains isolated from humans during disease outbreaks. The amount of Stx2 produced by
E. coli
O157:H7 strains correlated with strain virulence as measured by a reduction in piglet survival and signs of central nervous system disease due to brain infarction. The amount of Stx1 produced in culture was not correlated with the length of time of piglet survival or with signs of central nervous system disease. We suggest that disease outbreaks select for producers of high levels of Stx2 among
E. coli
O157:H7 strains shed by animals and further suggest that Stx1 expression is unlikely to be significant in human outbreaks.
Aspergillus Volatiles Regulate Aflatoxin Synthesis and Asexual Sporulation in
Aspergillus parasiticus
Authors: Roze Ludmila V. , Beaudry Randolph M. , Arthur Anna E. , Calvo Ana M. , Linz John E.
Published: September 2007

Aspergillus parasiticus
is one primary source of aflatoxin contamination in economically important crops. To prevent the potential health and economic impacts of aflatoxin contamination, our goal is to develop practical strategies to reduce aflatoxin synthesis on susceptible crops. One focus is to identify biological and environmental factors that regulate aflatoxin synthesis and to manipulate these factors to control aflatoxin biosynthesis in the field or during crop storage. In the current study, we analyzed the effects of aspergillus volatiles on growth, development, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and promoter activity in the filamentous fungus
A. parasiticus
. When colonies of
Aspergillus nidulans
and
A. parasiticus
were incubated in the same growth chamber, we observed a significant reduction in aflatoxin synthesis and asexual sporulation by
A. parasiticus
. Analysis of the headspace gases demonstrated that
A. nidulans
produced much larger quantities of 2-buten-1-ol (CA) and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (EH) than
A. parasiticus
. In its pure form, EH inhibited growth and increased aflatoxin accumulation in
A. parasiticus
at all doses tested; EH also stimulated aflatoxin transcript accumulation. In contrast, CA exerted dose-dependent up-regulatory or down-regulatory effects on aflatoxin accumulation, conidiation, and aflatoxin transcript accumulation. Experiments with reporter strains carrying
nor-1
promoter deletions and mutations suggested that the differential effects of CA were mediated through separate regulatory regions in the
nor-1
promoter. The potential efficacy of CA as a tool for analysis of transcriptional regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis is discussed. We also identify a novel, rapid, and reliable method to assess norsolorinic acid accumulation in solid culture using a Chroma Meter CR-300 apparatus.
Culturable Psychrotrophic Bacterial Communities in Raw Milk and Their Proteolytic and Lipolytic Traits
Authors: Hantsis-Zacharov Elionora , Halpern Malka
Published: September 2007

During cold storage after milk collection, psychrotrophic bacterial populations dominate the microflora, and their extracellular enzymes, mainly proteases and lipases, contribute to the spoilage of dairy products. The diversity, dynamics, and enzymatic traits of culturable psychrotrophs in raw milk from four farms were investigated over a 10-month period. About 20% of the isolates were found to be novel species, indicating that there is still much to be learned about culturable psychrotrophs in raw milk. The psychrotrophic isolates were identified and classified in seven classes. Three classes were predominant, with high species richness (18 to 21 species per class) in different seasons of the year:
Gammaproteobacteria
in spring and winter,
Bacilli
in summer, and
Actinobacteria
in autumn. The four minor classes were
Alphaproteobacteria
,
Betaproteobacteria
,
Flavobacteria
, and
Sphingobacteria
. The dominant classes were found in all four dairies, although every dairy had its own unique “bacterial profile.” Most but not all bacterial isolates had either lipolytic or both lipolytic and proteolytic activities. Only a few isolates showed proteolytic activity alone. The dominant genera,
Pseudomonas
and
Acinetobacter
(
Gammaproteobacteria
), showed mainly lipolytic activity,
Microbacterium
(
Actinobacteria
) was highly lipolytic and proteolytic, and the lactic acid bacteria (
Lactococcus
and
Leuconostoc
) displayed very minor enzymatic ability. Hence, the composition of psychrotrophic bacterial flora in raw milk has an important role in the determination of milk quality. Monitoring the dominant psychrotrophic species responsible for the production of heat-stable proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes offers a sensitive and efficient tool for maintaining better milk quality in the milk industry.
Multiplex Assay Based on Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms for Rapid Identification of
Brucella
Isolates at the Species Level
Authors: Scott Julie C. , Koylass Mark S. , Stubberfield Michael R. , Whatmore Adrian M.
Published: September 2007

The genus
Brucella
includes a number of species that are major animal pathogens worldwide and significant causes of zoonotic infections of humans. Traditional methods of identifying
Brucella
to the species level can be time-consuming, can be subjective, and can pose a hazard to laboratory personnel in the absence of suitable biocontainment facilities. Using a robust phylogenetic framework, a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that define particular species within the genus were identified. These SNPs were used to develop a multiplex SNP detection assay, based on primer extension technology, that can rapidly and unambiguously identify an isolate as a member of one of the six classical
Brucella
species or as a member of the recently identified marine mammal group.
Diversity Analysis of Dairy and Nondairy
Lactococcus lactis
Isolates, Using a Novel Multilocus Sequence Analysis Scheme and (GTG)
5
-PCR Fingerprinting
Authors: Rademaker Jan L. W. , Herbet Hélène , Starrenburg Marjo J. C. , Naser Sabri M. , Gevers Dirk , Kelly William J. , Hugenholtz Jeroen , Swings Jean , van Hylckama Vlieg Johan E. T.
Published: September 2007

The diversity of a collection of 102 lactococcus isolates including 91
Lactococcus lactis
isolates of dairy and nondairy origin was explored using partial small subunit rRNA gene sequence analysis and limited phenotypic analyses. A subset of 89 strains of
L. lactis
subsp.
cremoris
and
L. lactis
subsp.
lactis
isolates was further analyzed by (GTG)
5
-PCR fingerprinting and a novel multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) scheme. Two major genomic lineages within
L. lactis
were found. The
L. lactis
subsp.
cremoris
type-strain-like genotype lineage included both
L. lactis
subsp.
cremoris
and
L. lactis
subsp.
lactis
isolates. The other major lineage, with a
L. lactis
subsp.
lactis
type-strain-like genotype, comprised
L. lactis
subsp.
lactis
isolates only. A novel third genomic lineage represented two
L. lactis
subsp.
lactis
isolates of nondairy origin. The genomic lineages deviate from the subspecific classification of
L. lactis
that is based on a few phenotypic traits only. MLSA of six partial genes (
atpA
, encoding ATP synthase alpha subunit;
pheS
, encoding phenylalanine tRNA synthetase;
rpoA
, encoding RNA polymerase alpha chain;
bcaT
, encoding branched chain amino acid aminotransferase;
pepN
, encoding aminopeptidase N; and
pepX
, encoding X-prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase) revealed 363 polymorphic sites (total length, 1,970 bases) among 89
L. lactis
subsp.
cremoris
and
L. lactis
subsp.
lactis
isolates with unique sequence types for most isolates. This allowed high-resolution cluster analysis in which dairy isolates form subclusters of limited diversity within the genomic lineages. The
pheS
DNA sequence analysis yielded two genetic groups dissimilar to the other genotyping analysis-based lineages, indicating a disparate acquisition route for this gene.
Synthesis of γ-Aminobutyric Acid by Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from a Variety of Italian Cheeses
Authors: Siragusa S. , De Angelis M. , Di Cagno R. , Rizzello C. G. , Coda R. , Gobbetti M.
Published: September 2007

The concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in 22 Italian cheese varieties that differ in several technological traits markedly varied from 0.26 to 391 mg kg
−1
. Presumptive lactic acid bacteria were isolated from each cheese variety (total of 440 isolates) and screened for the capacity to synthesize GABA. Only 61 isolates showed this activity and were identified by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Twelve species were found.
Lactobacillus paracasei
PF6,
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
PR1,
Lactococcus lactis
PU1,
Lactobacillus plantarum
C48, and
Lactobacillus brevis
PM17 were the best GABA-producing strains during fermentation of reconstituted skimmed milk. Except for
L. plantarum
C48, all these strains were isolated from cheeses with the highest concentrations of GABA. A core fragment of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) DNA was isolated from
L. paracasei
PF6,
L. delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
PR1,
L. lactis
PU1, and
L. plantarum
C48 by using primers based on two highly conserved regions of GAD. A PCR product of ca. 540 bp was found for all the strains. The amino acid sequences deduced from nucleotide sequence analysis showed 98, 99, 90, and 85% identity to GadB of
L. plantarum
WCFS1 for
L. paracasei
PF6,
L. delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
PR1,
L. lactis
PU1, and
L. plantarum
C48, respectively. Except for
L. lactis
PU1, the three lactobacillus strains survived and synthesized GABA under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The findings of this study provide a potential basis for exploiting selected cheese-related lactobacilli to develop health-promoting dairy products enriched in GABA.