bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Petrophysically determined lithofacies at the Nankai Trough Accretionary Prism: NanTroSEIZE, IODP Expedition 314
Authors: Tudge J. , Lovell M.A. , Davies S.J. , Harvey P.K. , Saito S. ,   Expedition 314 Scientists
Published: August 2009

Characterizing the physical properties and identifying boundaries within active accretionary prisms is necessary in understanding their behaviour and recent movement. In such unstable conditions core recovery is not always reliable, especially around fault zones. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 314 was the first stage of the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE), and used logging-while-drilling (LWD) technology to record continuous physical property data. We use iterative non-hierarchical cluster analysis (INCA) to quantitatively define the characteristics of the slope sediments and sediments within the accretionary prism at Sites C0001 and C0004. A new and detailed log-based lithostratigraphy is developed, and positions of major boundaries, defined by 3D seismic profiles and initial interpretation of log responses, are refined. The results produce clusters that clearly distinguish the slope sediments and characterize formations within the accretionary prism. Boundaries that correlate to the seismic-defined unconformity between the slope sediments and the accretionary prism, and a boundary within the accretionary prism that corresponds to a megasplay fault previously unresolved by log analysis and borehole images, are identified. Our study demonstrates that INCA analysis of LWD data can accurately define boundaries and characterize sediments in environments where core recovery may be incomplete.
Fold patterns and multilayer rheology of the Lurestan Province, Zagros Simply Folded Belt (Iran)
Authors: Casciello E. , Vergés J. , Saura E. , Casini G. , Fernández N. , Blanc E. , Homke S. , Hunt D.W.
Published: August 2009

Anticlines of the Lurestan Province in the Zagros fold–thrust belt have been studied by integrating field-based analysis with the use of high-resolution satellite images and data available from the literature. The distribution of folds in the southeastern Lurestan Province, expressed in terms of axial length and wavelength distribution, shows a direct link with the characteristics of the sedimentary multilayer in which the folds developed. Within the carbonate deposits of the Late Cretaceous Bangestan Group the transition from pelagic to neritic facies determines a threefold increase in anticline spacing and promotes the development of thrust structures in the forelimb of anticlines. The Oligocene–Miocene Shahbazan–Asmari unit folds harmonically with the Bangestan Group, except in the areas where the Palaeogene deposits interposed between the two units exceed 1300 m of thickness. In these areas the Shahbazan–Asmari carbonates display short-wavelength folds indicating a complete decoupling from the underlying folds of the Bangestan Group. It is suggested that this decoupling occurs because the summed thickness of the incompetent units separating the two carbonate units exceeds the extension of the zone of effective contact strain of the Bangestan Group folds.
A critical analysis of the structure and tectonic significance of rift-oblique lineaments (‘transfer zones') in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic succession of the Faroe–Shetland Basin, NE Atlantic margin
Authors: Moy D.J. , Imber J.
Published: August 2009

NW–SE-trending rift-oblique lineaments (‘transfer zones') occur along the length of the NE Atlantic margin. Previous workers have suggested that these lineaments played an important role in providing conduits and/or barriers to sedimentation during the Cretaceous and Palaeocene; it has also been suggested that they were active as discrete, basin-wide strike-slip faults. This study uses a well-calibrated 3D seismic survey of regional extent to critically assess the structural and stratigraphic evidence for three rift-oblique lineaments in the UK sector of the Faroe–Shetland Basin (Victory, Clair and Judd Lineaments). Structures previously attributed to basin-wide strike-slip deformation can be more simply explained as igneous intrusions, hydrothermal vent complexes, gas chimneys and/or faults that transfer extensional strain between en echelon rift segments. There is little evidence to suggest that activity along discrete, basin-wide lineaments controlled Palaeocene sedimentation within the Faroe–Shetland Basin. Rather, sediment transport and deposition at this time are likely to have been controlled by along- and across-strike variations in the magnitude of thermal subsidence, which in turn reflect the 3D nature of the underlying Mesozoic rift architecture.
Rocky coast: geological constraints for hazard assessment
Authors: Violante Crescenzo
Published: August 2009

Geological hazard along rocky coasts is basically associated with processes of rapid sediment transfers. Massive transport of rock, regolith, sedimentary cover and soil occur episodically, accounting for cliff recession, sudden increase in solid load in short coastal rivers, and flank collapse of volcanic structures and rocky slopes. In geohazard terms, rocky coasts operate as transfer zones that deliver sediment directly from slopes to the coast and open sea at intermittent time intervals. Erosion and transport of material causes major physical changes and exposes coastal communities and human activity to hazard with potential damage to property and infrastructure, and loss of life. This paper focuses on geological processes that regulate rapid sediment transfers in rocky coastal areas, with examples drawn mostly from the Italian coasts. It is stressed that proper comprehension of coastal mass wasting hazard has to include marine and historical investigations. As a main delivery area, the submerged part of rocky coasts preserves reliable sedimentary records of past geological events occurring on land, which are often only partly detectable along subaerial rocky slopes and commonly reported in historical sources.
Insights into flood-dominated fan-deltas: very high-resolution seismic examples off the Amalfi cliffed coasts, eastern Tyrrhenian Sea
Authors: Sacchi M. , Molisso F. , Violante C. , Esposito E. , Insinga D. , Lubritto C. , Porfido S. , Tóth T.
Published: August 2009

A high-resolution (IKB-Seistec) seismic survey calibrated with gravity-core data, off the Amalfi coast, a rocky coastal area on the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula (Italy), documents the internal stratigraphic architecture of a series of small fan-deltas that develop at the mouth of major bedrock streams. The fan-delta system mostly postdates the Plinian eruption of Vesuvius of
ad
79 and displays various phases of development associated with periods of high sediment supply from the adjacent river basins. During these periods landscape-mantling loose pyroclastic deposits (mostly air-fall tephra from Vesuvius) were quickly eroded and delivered to the continental shelf by sheet wash and flash flood events. Depositional processes on the foresets were dominated by sediment gravity flows originating from hyperpycnal river flow and pyroclastic fall deposits. This in turn created favourable conditions for sea-floor instability, soft sediment failure, slumping and sliding, which characterize the deltaic stratigraphic architecture. The intermittently increased sediment yield during the various phases of the evolution of the fan-delta system was probably influenced also by the morphoclimatic regime. This may have resulted in varying rates of progradation of the delta foresets, tentatively correlated with the main climatic oscillations of the last 2000 years. The Amalfi fan-delta system represents a small-scale analogue for larger flood-dominated fan-deltas of the world and may be regarded as a useful example for a better understanding of inner-shelf, mixed siliciclastic–volcaniclastic fan-delta systems in the stratigraphic record.
Catastrophic landslides off Ischia volcanic island (Italy) during prehistory
Authors: de Alteriis G. , Violante C.
Published: August 2009

Generally the evaluation of the geological hazards from active volcanoes chiefly concerns the prediction of eruptions whereas less attention is generally paid to other volcanic-related phenomena, such as avalanching–landsliding. This is the case for Ischia (Italy), an active volcanic complex, whose collapse behaviour is only now being evaluated and recognized following extensive marine geophysical and geological investigations. The island of Ischia represents the emerged section of a larger east–west-trending volcanic ridge. The central sector of the island, Mt. Epomeo, has risen to at least 800 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the past
c
. 30 ka, at an average rate of 20 mm a
−1
. The major consequence of such volcano-tectonic uplift includes either sudden collapses, with attendant debris avalanches, or other mass movements in the form of mud-debris flows, debris slides and rock-falls, all radiating out from Mt. Epomeo and most of them entering the sea. During prehistoric times the island of Ischia underwent major catastrophic collapses resulting in debris avalanche deposits of >1 km
3
to <0.5 km
3
that have been recognized offshore both NW and south of the island. This study provides possible scenarios for the emplacement of these deposits, with particular reference to the resulting landslide-related tsunami hazard.
Landslides in coastal areas of Italy
Authors: Iadanza C. , Trigila A. , Vittori E. , Serva L.
Published: August 2009

Of the more than 8000 km of coasts in Italy, about 35% consist of cliffs and rocky shores. On them many villages are located, some of them dating back to Roman or Greek times. Typical natural hazards along these coastal areas are rock falls, slides and debris flows. They induce locally extremely high levels of risk, as shown by the many disasters that have occurred in recent time. This paper provides a first portrait over the whole of Italy of (1) the number and distribution of coastal landslides; (2) their typologies; (3) their state of activity; (4) the most common damage and exposed elements; and (5) the most typical mitigation measures. This information has been largely derived from the IFFI archive (Italian Landslides Inventory). Geographic information system processing has allowed us to identify 4135 landslides affecting a large portion of the Italian cliffed coasts. The damage evaluation, based on the AVI archive (inventory of information on sites historically affected by landslides and floods in Italy for the period 1918–2000), has shown the extent of the problem: there have been 408 casualties in the 20th century and 713 significant disruptions of the rail and road networks. A more detailed analysis has been carried out in three sample areas to illustrate the basic factors controlling the genesis and evolution of slope instabilities in the various coastal settings.
Slope instability on rocky coast: a case study of Le Grazie landslides (eastern Liguria, northern Italy)
Authors: Brandolini P. , Faccini F. , Robbiano A. , Terranova R.
Published: August 2009

The stretch of rocky coast between Rapallo and Chiavari (Tigullio Gulf) is characterized by significant geomorphological instability phenomena, mainly contained between the shoreline and the Via Aurelia. Research was focused particularly on the geomorphological features and the states of activity of the landslides that are situated below the Santuario di N. S. delle Grazie. The dynamics can be partially attributed to natural causes, including the geological–tectonic layout, the geomechanical properties of the rock mass and wave undercutting, and partially to human activity related to the opening of limestone quarries and the construction of roadway, railway and communications networks. The recent evolution of the landslides, involving buildings, structures and infrastructure, requiring a variety of consolidation measures and work, has been observed. The latter were implemented following in-depth analysis of the subsoil geology and monitoring activity.
The use of documentary sources for reconstructing flood chronologies on the Amalfi rocky coast (southern Italy)
Authors: Porfido S. , Esposito E. , Alaia F. , Molisso F. , Sacchi M.
Published: August 2009

Documentary source materials are essential for retrospective reconstruction of flood events occurring in past centuries. This paper presents methods of research and archiving of historical data from the 16th century to the present. The quality and completeness of the various original sources were evaluated and carefully analysed in their historical context, to avoid serious mistakes. Systematic investigation of about 3000 documents, mainly found in national State Archives and libraries, allows us to identify and localize at least 106 flood events occurring along the Amalfi coast (southern Italy) for five centuries between the years 1500 and 2000. The collected data provide useful details on flood dynamics, size of flooded areas, flood duration, damage level, number of victims and induced geological effects. When available in sufficient quantity, the flood data allow determination of very useful parameters such as the severity class, to identify large floods and their recurrence interval.
Program locality analysis using reuse distance
Authors: Zhong Yutao , Shen Xipeng , Ding Chen
Published: August 2009

On modern computer systems, the memory performance of an application depends on its locality. For a single execution, locality-correlated measures like average miss rate or working-set size have long been analyzed using
reuse distance
—the number of distinct locations accessed between consecutive accesses to a given location. This article addresses the analysis problem at the program level, where the size of data and the locality of execution may change significantly depending on the input.

The article presents two techniques that predict how the locality of a program changes with its input. The first is approximate reuse-distance measurement, which is asymptotically faster than exact methods while providing a guaranteed precision. The second is statistical prediction of locality in all executions of a program based on the analysis of a few executions. The prediction process has three steps: dividing data accesses into groups, finding the access patterns in each group, and building parameterized models. The resulting prediction may be used on-line with the help of distance-based sampling. When evaluated on fifteen benchmark applications, the new techniques predicted program locality with good accuracy, even for test executions that are orders of magnitude larger than the training executions.

The two techniques are among the first to enable quantitative analysis of whole-program locality in general sequential code. These findings form the basis for a unified understanding of program locality and its many facets. Concluding sections of the article present a taxonomy of related literature along five dimensions of locality and discuss the role of reuse distance in performance modeling, program optimization, cache and virtual memory management, and network traffic analysis.
Teaching formal methods in the context of software engineering
Authors: Liu Shaoying , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Hayashi Toshinori , Nakayama Toshihiro
Published: August 2009

Formal methods were developed to provide systematic and rigorous techniques for software development, and they must be taught in the context of software engineering. In this paper, we discuss the importance of such a teaching paradigm and describe several specific techniques for teaching formal methods. These techniques have been tested over the last fifteen years in our formal methods education programs for undergraduate and graduate students at universities as well as practitioners at companies. We also present a curriculum to systematically introduce formal methods to students at university and a successful program of teaching formal methods to industry. Our experience shows that students can gain confidence in formal methods only when they learn their clear benefits in the context of software engineering.
Experiences with a CS1 for the health sciences
Authors: Stone Jeffrey A. , Medica Darcy L. , Fetsko Leah Ann
Published: August 2009

Computer Science (CS) educators are increasingly being tasked to design courses for specific groups of non-majors. This paper reports on an experiment with a CS1-style course for the health sciences. Experiences with offering this course to a cohort of specific health-science majors and with other non-majors are discussed. The results suggest that tailoring a course around a discipline-specific theme may make the course more attractive to students outside rather than inside of the specific discipline. The results also point to the persistent gender gap in CS, as well as the difficulty in translating student success into self-confidence.
Roles for Bmp4 and CaM1 in Shaping the Jaw: Evo-Devo and Beyond
Authors: Parsons Kevin J. , Albertson R. Craig
Published: August 2009

The craniofacial skeleton, including jaws and beaks, figures prominently in discussions of adaptive divergence. Craniofacial abnormalities also occur in a number of human syndromes, making the development and genetic basis of craniofacial morphology an area of great interest to a wide spectra of biological and medical disciplines. Recent experiments have implicated key roles for Bmp4 and CaM1 in determining the size and shape of craniofacial traits. These factors offer potent new molecular inroads into the processes, mechanisms, and pathways that underlie craniofacial development and the morphogenesis of shape. Here we review this evidence and discuss its use as the basis for a number of new research avenues.
Effects of hypoxia on testosterone release in rat Leydig cells
Authors: Hwang Guey-Shyang , Chen Szu-Tah , Chen Te-Jung , Wang Shyi-Wu
Published: August 2009

The aim of this study was to explore the effect and action mechanisms of intermittent hypoxia on the production of testosterone both in vivo and in vitro. Male rats were housed in a hypoxic chamber (12% O2+ 88% N2, 1.5 l/ml) 8 h/day for 4 days. Normoxic rats were used as control. In an in vivo experiment, hypoxic and normoxic rats were euthanized and the blood samples collected. In the in vitro experiment, the enzymatically dispersed rat Leydig cells were prepared and challenged with forskolin (an adenylyl cyclase activator, 10−4M), 8-Br-cAMP (a membrane-permeable analog of cAMP, 10−4M), hCG (0.05 IU), the precursors of the biosynthesis testosterone, including 25-OH-C (10−5M), pregnenolone (10−7M), progesterone (10−7M), 17-OH-progesterone (10−7M), and androstendione (10−7-10−5M), nifedipine (L-type Ca2+channel blocker, 10−6-10−4M), nimodipine (L-type Ca2+channel blocker, 10−5M), tetrandrine (L-type Ca2+channel blocker, 10−5M), and NAADP (calcium-signaling messenger causing release of calcium from intracellular stores, 10−6-10−4M). The concentrations of testosterone in plasma and medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The level of plasma testosterone in hypoxic rats was higher than that in normoxic rats. Enhanced testosterone production was observed in rat Leydig cells treated with hCG, 8-Br-cAMP, or forskolin in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Intermittent hypoxia resulted in a further increase of testosterone production in response to the testosterone precursors. The activity of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was stimulated by the treatment of intermittent hypoxia in vitro. The intermittent hypoxia-induced higher production of testosterone was accompanied with the influx of calcium via L-type calcium channel and the increase of intracellular calcium via the mechanism of calcium mobilization. These results suggested that the intermittent hypoxia stimulated the secretion of testosterone at least in part via stimulatory actions on the activities of adenylyl cyclase, cAMP, L-type calcium channel, and steroidogenic enzymes.
Recurrent restriction of sleep and inadequate recuperation induce both adaptive changes and pathological outcomes
Authors: Everson Carol A. , Szabo Aniko
Published: August 2009

Chronic restriction of a basic biological need induces adaptations to help meet requisites for survival. The adaptations to chronic restriction of sleep are unknown. A single episode of 10 days of partial sleep loss in rats previously was shown to be tolerated and to result in increased food intake and loss of body weight as principal signs. The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the extent to which adaptation to chronic sleep restriction would ameliorate short-term effects and result in a changed internal phenotype. Rats were studied during 10 wk of multiple periods of restricted and unrestricted sleep to allow adaptive changes to develop. Control rats received the same ambulatory requirements only consolidated into periods that lessened interruptions of their sleep. The results indicate a latent period of relatively stable food and water intake without weight gain, followed by a dynamic phase marked by enormous increases in food and water intake and progressive loss of body weight, without malabsorption of calories. Severe consequences ensued, marked especially by changes to the connective tissues, and became fatal for two individuals. The most striking changes to internal organs in sleep-restricted rats included lengthening of the small intestine, decreased size of adipocytes, and increased incidence of multilocular adipocytes. Major organs accounted for an increased proportion of total body mass. These changes to internal tissues appear adaptive in response to high energy production, decomposition of lipids, and increased need to absorb nutrients, but ultimately insufficient to compensate for inadequate sleep.
Effect of consecutive repeated sprint and resistance exercise bouts on acute adaptive responses in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Coffey Vernon G. , Jemiolo Bozena , Edge Johann , Garnham Andrew P. , Trappe Scott W. , Hawley John A.
Published: August 2009

We examined acute molecular responses in skeletal muscle to repeated sprint and resistance exercise bouts. Six men [age, 24.7 ± 6.3 yr; body mass, 81.6 ± 7.3 kg; peak oxygen uptake, 47 ± 9.9 ml·kg−1·min−1; one repetition maximum (1-RM) leg extension 92.2 ± 12.5 kg; means ± SD] were randomly assigned to trials consisting of either resistance exercise (8 × 5 leg extension, 80% 1-RM) followed by repeated sprints (10 × 6 s, 0.75 N·m torque·kg−1) or vice-versa. Muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis were obtained at rest, 15 min after each exercise bout, and following 3-h recovery to determine early signaling and mRNA responses. There was divergent exercise order-dependent phosphorylation of p70 S6K (S6K). Specifically, initial resistance exercise increased S6K phosphorylation (∼75% P < 0.05), but there was no effect when resistance exercise was undertaken after sprints. Exercise decreased IGF-I mRNA following 3-h recovery (∼50%, P = 0.06) independent of order, while muscle RING finger mRNA was elevated with a moderate exercise order effect ( P < 0.01). When resistance exercise was followed by repeated sprints PGC-1α mRNA was increased (REX1-SPR2; P = 0.02) with a modest distinction between exercise orders. Repeated sprints may promote acute interference on resistance exercise responses by attenuating translation initiation signaling and exacerbating ubiquitin ligase expression. Indeed, repeated sprints appear to generate the overriding acute exercise-induced response when undertaking concurrent repeated sprint and resistance exercise. Accordingly, we suggest that sprint-activities are isolated from resistance training and that adequate recovery time is considered within periodized training plans that incorporate these divergent exercise modes.
Do distinct populations of dorsal root ganglion neurons account for the sensory peptidergic innervation of the kidney?
Authors: Ditting Tilmann , Tiegs Gisa , Rodionova Kristina , Reeh Peter W. , Neuhuber Winfried , Freisinger Wolfgang , Veelken Roland
Published: August 2009

Peptidergic afferent renal nerves (PARN) have been linked to kidney damage in hypertension and nephritis. Neither the receptors nor the signals controlling local release of neurokinines [calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP)] and signal transmission to the brain are well-understood. We tested the hypothesis that PARN, compared with nonrenal afferents (Non-RN), are more sensitive to acidic stimulation via transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels and exhibit a distinctive firing pattern. PARN were distinguished from Non-RN by fluorescent labeling (DiI) and studied by in vitro patch-clamp techniques in dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRG; T11-L2). Acid-induced currents or firing due to current injection or acidic superfusion were studied in 252 neurons, harvested from 12 Sprague-Dawley rats. PARN showed higher acid-induced currents than Non-RN (transient: 15.9 ± 5.1 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2* pA/pF at pH 6; sustained: 20.0 ± 4.5 vs. 6.2 ± 1.2* pA/pF at pH 5; * P < 0.05). The TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine inhibited sustained, amiloride-transient currents. Forty-eight percent of PARN were classified as tonic neurons (TN = sustained firing during current injection), and 52% were phasic (PN = transient firing). Non-RN were rarely tonic (15%), but more frequently phasic (85%), than PARN ( P < 0.001). TN were more frequently acid-sensitive than PN (50–70 vs. 2–20%, P < 0.01). Furthermore, renal PN were more frequently acid-sensitive than nonrenal PN (20 vs. 2%, P < 0.01). Confocal microscopy revealed innervation of renal vessels, tubules, and glomeruli by CGRP- and partly SP-positive fibers coexpressing TRPV1. Our data show that PARN are represented by a very distinct population of small-to-medium sized DRG neurons exhibiting more frequently tonic firing and TRPV1-mediated acid sensitivity. These very distinct DRG neurons might play a pivotal role in renal physiology and disease.
Involuntary Orienting of Attention to Nociceptive Events: Neural and Behavioral Signatures
Authors: Legrain Valéry , Perchet Caroline , García-Larrea Luis
Published: August 2009

Pain can involuntarily capture attention and disrupt pain-unrelated cognitive activities. The brain mechanisms of these effects were explored by laser- and visual-evoked potentials. Consecutive nociceptive laser stimuli and visual stimuli were delivered in pairs. Subjects were instructed to ignore nociceptive stimuli while performing a task on visual targets. Because involuntary attention is particularly sensitive to novelty, in some trials (17%), unexpected laser stimuli were delivered on a different hand area (location-deviant) relative to the more frequent standard laser stimuli. Compared with frequent standard laser stimuli, deviant stimuli enhanced all nociceptive-evoked brain potentials (laser N1, N2, P2a, P2b). Deviant laser stimuli also decreased the amplitude of late latency–evoked responses (visual N2-P3) to the subsequent visual targets and delayed reaction times to them. The data confirm that nociceptive processing competes with pain-unrelated cognitive activities for attentional resources and that concomitant nociceptive events affect behavior by depressing attention allocation to ongoing cognitive processing. The laser-evoked potential magnitude reflected the engagement of attention to the novel nociceptive stimuli. We conclude that the laser-evoked potentials index the activity of a neural system involved in the detection of novel salient stimuli in order to focus attention and prioritize action to potentially damaging dangers.
Evidence of MyomiR network regulation of β-myosin heavy chain gene expression during skeletal muscle atrophy
Authors: McCarthy John J. , Esser Karyn A. , Peterson Charlotte A. , Dupont-Versteegden Esther E.
Published: August 2009

There is a growing recognition that noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. A class of small (19–22 nt) ncRNAs, known as microRNAs (miRs), have received a great deal of attention lately because of their ability to repress gene expression through a unique posttranscriptional 3′-untranslated region (UTR) mechanism. The objectives of the current study were to identify miRs expressed in the rat soleus muscle and determine if their expression was changed in response to hindlimb suspension. Comprehensive profiling revealed 151 miRs were expressed in the soleus muscle and expression of 18 miRs were significantly ( P < 0.01) changed after 2 and/or 7 days of hindlimb suspension. The significant decrease (16%) in expression of muscle-specific miR-499 in response to hindlimb suspension was confirmed by RT-PCR and suggested activation of the recently proposed miR encoded by myosin gene (MyomiR) network during atrophy. Further analysis of soleus muscle subjected to hindlimb suspension for 28 days provided evidence consistent with MyomiR network repression of β-myosin heavy chain gene (β-MHC) expression. The significant downregulation of network components miR-499 and miR-208b by 40 and 60%, respectively, was associated with increased expression of Sox6 (2.2-fold) and Purβ (23%), predicted target genes of miR-499 and known repressors of β-MHC expression. A Sox6 3′-UTR reporter gene confirmed Sox6 is a target gene of miR-499. These results further expand the role of miRs in adult skeletal muscle and are consistent with a model in which the MyomiR network regulates slow myosin expression during muscle atrophy.
New Characterization for Nonlinear Weighted Best Simultaneous Approximation
Authors: Luo Xianfa , Wu Delin , He Jinsu
Published: August 2009

This paper is concerned with the problem of a wide class of weighted best simultaneous approximation in normed linear spaces, and it establishes a new characterization result for the class of
approximation by virtue of the notion of simultaneous regular point.
Analysis of Array-CGH Data Using the R and Bioconductor Software Suite
Authors: Hofmann Winfried A. , Weigmann Anja , Tauscher Marcel , Skawran Britta , Focken Tim , Buurman Reena , Wingen Luzie U. , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Steinemann Doris
Published: August 2009

Background. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) is an emerging high-resolution and high-throughput molecular genetic technique that allows genome-wide screening for chromosome alterations. DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) are a hallmark of somatic mutations in tumor genomes and congenital abnormalities that lead to diseases such as mental retardation. However, accurate identification of amplified or deleted regions requires a sequence of different computational analysis steps of the microarray data.Results. We have developed a user-friendly and versatile tool for the normalization, visualization, breakpoint detection, and comparative analysis of array-CGH data which allows the accurate and sensitive detection of CNAs.Conclusion. The implemented option for the determination of minimal altered regions (MARs) from a series of tumor samples is a step forward in the identification of new tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes.
On Uniqueness of Conjugacy of Continuous and Piecewise Monotone Functions
Authors: Ciepliński Krzysztof , Zdun Marek Cezary
Published: August 2009

We investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions "Equation missing" of the functional equation "Equation missing", "Equation missing", where "Equation missing" are closed intervals, and "Equation missing", "Equation missing" are some continuous piecewise monotone functions. A fixed point principle plays a crucial role in the proof of our main result.
Induction of Tetraploids from Petiole Explants through Colchicine Treatments in Echinacea purpurea L.
Authors: Nilanthi Dahanayake , Chen Xiao-Lu , Zhao Fu-Cheng , Yang Yue-Sheng , Wu Hong
Published: August 2009

Petiole explants were obtained from in vitro grown diploid (2x = 22) Echinacea purpurea plantlets. Shoots were regenerated by culturing the explants on MS basal medium containing 0.3 mg/L benzyladenine (BA), 0.01 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and four concentrations (30, 60, 120, and 240 mg/L) of colchicine for 30 days, or 120 mg/L of colchicine for various durations (7, 14, 21, and 28 days). The regenerated shoots were induced to
root on MS basal medium with 0.01 mg/L NAA, and then the root‐tips of the regenerated shoots were sampled for count of chromosome number. It was found that a treatment duration of >7 days was necessary for induction of tetraploid (4x = 44) shoots, and treatment with 120 mg/L colchicine for 28 days was the most efficient for induction of tetraploids, yielding 23.5% of tetraploids among all the regenerated shoots. Chimeras were observed in almost all the treatments. However, the ratio of tetraploid to diploid cells in a chimeric plant was usually low. In comparison with diploid plants, tetraploid plants in vitro had larger stomata and thicker roots with more root branches, and had prominently shorter inflorescence stalk when mature.
Multifocal Arterial Thrombosis during Thalidomide Therapy: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ferri Monica , Faggioli Gianluca , Fratesi Francesca , Stella Andrea
Published: August 2009

Introduction. Thalidomide has been associated with both venous and arterial thrombotic events.Case Presentation. A 66-years old man during thalidomide therapy for myeloma experienced acute right arm ischemia, emergently treated with thrombectomy and, on postoperative day one left side weakness with right internal carotid thrombosis.Discussion. Because of the increased risk of arterial thrombosis complication, prophylactic therapy with ASA or anticoagulation during thalidomide administration is mandatory.
Biomolecular Markers in Cancer of the Tongue
Authors: Ferrari Daris , Codecà Carla , Fiore Jessica , Moneghini Laura , Bosari Silvano , Foa Paolo
Published: August 2009

The incidence of tongue cancer is increasing worldwide, and its aggressiveness remains high regardless of treatment. Genetic changes and the expression of abnormal proteins have been frequently reported in the case of head and neck cancers, but the little information that has been published concerning tongue tumours is often contradictory. This review will concentrate on the immunohistochemical expression of biomolecular markers and their relationships with clinical behaviour and prognosis. Most of these proteins are associated with nodal stage, tumour progression and metastases, but there is still controversy concerning their impact on disease-free and overall survival, and treatment response. More extensive clinical studies are needed to identify the patterns of molecular alterations and the most reliable predictors in order to develop tailored anti-tumour strategies based on the targeting of hypoxia markers, vascular and lymphangiogenic factors, epidermal growth factor receptors, intracytoplasmatic signalling and apoptosis.
Application of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Removal of Deep Invasive Submucosal Colon Carcinoma
Authors: Con Sergio A. , Saito Yutaka , Matsuda Takahisa , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Nakajima Takeshi
Published: August 2009

Endoscopic submucosal (sm) dissection (ESD) is a recently used technique that enablesen-blocresection of large colorectal tumors allowing a more precise histopathological analysis of the resected specimen. However, it has not been widely adopted even in Japan mainly due to its technical difficulty and increased risk of perforation. Herein, we present an ESD-treated lesion with deep sm invasion removed without complications, such as bleeding or perforation, from a patient at high-risk for surgical intervention. A successful ESD was achieved although the sm invasion was greater than 1000μm from the muscularis mucosae, and the nonlifting sign was positive. It is our belief that this procedure should be performed at least in patients at high-risk for surgical intervention. At present, we have removed 16 lesions with deep sm invasion by ESD without complications, demonstrating that deep sm cancer can be successfully resected by this technique as a local resection. Herein, we report on one of these cases
Hashish Body Packing: A Case Report
Authors: Soriano-Perez Manuel Jesus , Serrano-Carrillo Jose Luis , Marin-Montin Inmaculada , Cruz-Caballero Alfonso
Published: August 2009

A 42-year-old African male was brought by the police to the emergency department under suspicion of drug smuggling by body-packing. Plain abdominal radiograph showed multiple foreign bodies within the gastrointestinal tract. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT confirmed the findings, and the patient admitted to have swallowed “balls” of hashish. Body-packing is a recognized method of smuggling drugs across international borders. Body packers may present to the emergency department because of drug toxicity, intestinal obstruction, or more commonly, requested by law-enforcement officers for medical confirmation or exclusion of suspected body packing.
Effect of Food Restriction on Adipose Tissue in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii Fatty Rats
Authors: Morinaga Hisayo , Ohta Takeshi , Matsui Kenichi , Sasase Tomohiko , Fukuda Sumiaki , Ito Makoto , Ueda Masatoshi , Ishii Yukihito , Miyajima Katsuhiro , Matsushita Mutsuyoshi
Published: August 2009

Spontaneously Diabetic Torii-fa/fa(SDT fatty) rat is a new model of obese type 2 diabetes. SDT fatty rat exhibits obesity associated with hyperphagia. In this study, SDT fatty rats were subjected to pair-feeding with SDT-+/+ (SDT) rats from 6 to 22 weeks of age. The ratio of visceral fat weight to subcutaneous fat weight (V/S) decreased at 12 weeks of age in the pair-feeding rats. The intraperitoneal fat weight such as epididymal and retroperitoneal fat weight decreased, whereas mesenteric fat weight had no change. Cell size of the epididymal fat in the pair-feeding rats tended to decrease. Glucose oxidation level in epididymal fat in the pair-feeding rats at 12 weeks of age was recovered to a similar level with that in SDT rats. These results indicated that SDT fatty rat is a useful model to evaluate the functional or the morphological features in adipose tissue and develop a novel drug for antiobesity.
A New Liquid Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Determination of Bisoprolol in Human Plasma Samples
Authors: Peste Gabriela , Bibire Nela , Apostu Mihai , Vlase Aurel , Oniscu Corneliu
Published: August 2009

Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) detection is one of the most powerful analytical tools for organic compound analysis. The advantages of using LC/MS methods over HPLC methods include: selectivity, chromatographic integrity, peak assignment, structural information, and rapid method development. In this paper, a new liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the determination of bisoprolol in human plasma samples, using metoprolol as internal standard and liquid‐liquid extraction procedure. The assay has proven to be sensitive, specific and reproducible, suitable to determine the bisoprolol concentration, following a single oral administration of a 10 mg bisoprolol tablet in 22 healthy volunteers, in the bioequivalence study of Bisoprolol 10 mg coated tablets, produced by Antibiotice S.A. versus Concor 10 mg, produced by Merck.
Colorectal Carcinoma with Extremely Low CA19-9
Authors: Kawamura Yutaka J. , Tokumitsu Aika , Sasaki Junichi , Tsujinaka Shingo , Maeda Takafumi , Mizogami Ken , Konishi Fumio
Published: August 2009

Aim. The aim of this study is to determine the significance of postoperative sequential measurements of serum CA19-9 in patients with extremely low serum level.Patients and Methods. Serum level of CA19-9 of 1096 patients who underwent surgery was measured preoperatively and every three months after surgery for 5 years. Patients with CA19-9 level of less than 2 U/mL at the time of diagnosis were defined as Extremely Low CA19-9 (ELCA).Results. One hundred and seven patients (9.8%) were ELCA. Of these, 86 underwent surgery with curative intent. Serum levels of CA19-9 in patients who did not undergo curative resection () and who developed recurrence () were less than 2.0 U/mL in all occasions during followup. In all patients without recurrence, serum level of CA19-9 also remained less than 2.0 U/mL.Conclusion. In patients with extremely low CA19-9, who consist of 9.8% of colorectal carcinoma cases, postoperative sequential measurement of serum level of CA19-9 contributed neither to assessment of curability of surgical resection nor to detection of recurrence.
Vitamin D Levels and Lipid Response to Atorvastatin
Authors: Pérez-Castrillón José Luis , Abad Manteca Laura , Vega Gemma , del Pino Montes Javier , de Luis Daniel , Dueňas Laita Antonio
Published: August 2009

Adequate vitamin D levels are necessary for good vascular health. 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol activates CYP3A4, an enzyme of the cytochrome P450 system, which metabolizes atorvastatin to its main metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of cholesterol and triglycerides to atorvastatin according to vitamin D levels. Sixty-three patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with low and high doses of atorvastatin were included. Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured at baseline and at 12 months of follow-up. Baseline levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were classified as deficient (30 nmol/L), insufficient (30–50 nmol/L), and normal (50 nmol/L). In patients with 25-OHD  nmol/L, there were no significant changes in levels of total cholesterol ( mg/dL versus  mg/dL), triglycerides ( mg/dL versus  mg/dL), and LDL cholesterol ( mg/dL versus 92  mg/dL); whereas patients with insufficient (30–50 nmol/L) and normal vitamin D (50 nmol/L) had a good response to atorvastatin. We suggest that vitamin D concentrations 30 nmol/L may be required for atorvastatin to reduce lipid levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Role of Vitamin D in Insulin Secretion and Insulin Sensitivity for Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Alvarez Jessica A. , Ashraf Ambika
Published: August 2009

Vitamin D functions are not limited to skeletal health benefits and may extend to preservation of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. This review summarizes the literature related to potential vitamin D influences on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Cross-sectional data provide some evidence that circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is inversely associated with insulin resistance, although direct measurements of insulin sensitivity are required for confirmation. Reported associations with insulin secretion, however, are contradictory. Available prospective studies support a protective influence of high 25(OH)D concentrations on type 2 diabetes mellitus risk. There is a general lack of consistency in vitamin D intervention outcomes on insulin secretion and sensitivity, likely due to differences in subject populations, length of interventions, and forms of vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and vitamin D interactions with the insulin like growth factor system may further influence glucose homeostasis. The ambiguity of optimal vitamin D dosing regimens and optimal therapeutic concentrations of serum 25(OH)D limit available intervention studies. Future studies, including cross-sectional and prospective, should be performed in populations at high risk for both vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Well-designed, placebo-controlled, randomized intervention studies are required to establish a true protective influence of vitamin D on glucose homeostasis.
Chemopreventive Effects of Gefitinib on Nonsmoking-Related Lung Tumorigenesis in Activating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Transgenic Mice
Authors: Ohashi Kadoaki , Takigawa Nagio , Osawa Masahiro , Ichihara Eiki , Takeda Hiromasa , Kubo Toshio , Hirano Seiki , Yoshino Tadashi , Takata Minoru , Tanimoto Mitsune , Kiura Katsuyuki
Published: August 2009

Twenty-five percent of all lung cancer cases are not attributable to smoking. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, which are involved in ∼50% of nonsmoker lung cancer, are positively correlated with responsiveness to gefitinib, and inversely correlated with smoking history. Activating EGFR mutations play a critical role in the carcinogenesis of nonsmoking-related lung cancer. To investigate the chemopreventive effects of gefitinib on nonsmoking-related lung cancer, we generated transgenic mice expressing EGFR L858R in type II pneumocytes constitutively using the surfactant protein-C promoter. The transgenic mice invariably developed atypical adenomatous hyperplasia at age 4 weeks and multifocal adenocarcinoma of varying sizes at age 7 weeks. Notably, the expression levels of phosphorylated and total ErbB2, ErbB3, and thyroid transcription factor-1 were elevated in the transgenic mice compared with wild-type controls at age 3 weeks. Administration of gefitinib to 3-week-old transgenic mice for 1 week before carcinogenesis reduced the amount of phosphorylated EGFR in the lungs of the mice to the baseline level. Gefitinib (5 mg/kg/d; n = 5, 5, and 15) or vehicle (n = 5, 5, and 15) was administered to transgenic mice from age 3 to 8, 13, and 18 weeks, respectively. The numbers of lung tumors in the control and gefitinib-treated groups were 1.75, 5.8, 10.2, and 0 (P < 0.05), respectively. No fatal toxic events occurred in either group, and gefitinib inhibited tumorigenesis completely in this mouse model. These results suggest the utility of molecular targeted chemoprevention against nonsmoking-related lung cancer. [Cancer Res 2009;69(17):7088–95]
TGFBR1 Haplotypes and Risk of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Lei Zhe , Liu Reng-Yun , Zhao Jun , Liu Zeyi , Jiang Xiefang , You Weiming , Chen Xiao-Feng , Liu Xia , Zhang Kui , Pasche Boris , Zhang Hong-Tao
Published: August 2009

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) receptors are centrally involved in TGF-β–mediated cell growth and differentiation and are frequently inactivated in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Constitutively decreased type I TGF-β receptor (TGFBR1) expression is emerging as a novel tumor-predisposing phenotype. The association of TGFBR1 haplotypes with risk for NSCLC has not yet been studied. We tested the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and/or TGFBR1 haplotypes are associated with risk of NSCLC. We genotyped six TGFBR1 haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNP) by PCR-RFLP assays and one htSNP by PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism assay in two case-control studies. Case-control study 1 included 102 NSCLC patients and 104 healthy controls from Suzhou. Case-control study 2 included 131 patients with NSCLC and 133 healthy controls from Wuxi. Individuals included in both case-control studies were Han Chinese. Haplotypes were reconstructed according to the genotyping data and linkage disequilibrium status of these seven htSNPs. None of the htSNP was associated with NSCLC risk in either study. However, a four-marker CTGC haplotype was significantly more common among controls than among cases in both studies (P = 0.014 and P = 0.010, respectively), indicating that this haplotype is associated with decreased NSCLC risk {adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.09 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.01–0.61] and 0.11 [95% CI, 0.02–0.59], respectively}. Combined analysis of both studies shows a strong association of this four-marker haplotype with decreased NSCLC risk (adjusted OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03–0.39). This is the first evidence of an association between a TGFBR1 haplotype and risk for NSCLC. [Cancer Res 2009;69(17):7046–52]