bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral carcinoma epidemiology in Paraná State, Southern Brazil
Authors: Losi-Guembarovski Roberta , Menezes Rodrigo Paes de , Poliseli Fernando , Chaves Vivian Nappi , Kuasne Hellen , Leichsenring Andrei , Maciel Marcos Euzébio , Guembarovski Alda Losi , Oliveira Benedito W. , Ramos Gyl , Mizuno Lauro Toyshi , Cavalli Iglenir João , Ribeiro Enilze Maria de Souza Fonseca , Cólus Ilce Mara de Syllos
Published: February 2009

Oral carcinoma is the sixth most frequent type of cancer in the world and the seventh most common in Brazil (the country with the highest incidence in Latin America). Mean five-year survival remains one of the lowest among the main cancers, thus justifying studies that contribute to the development of preventive strategies. The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiological, clinical, and histological characteristics of 91 patients with oral carcinoma. Mean age was 58.62 ± 10.46 years, and male-to-female ratio was 6.6:1.0 (79 men and 12 women). European descendants predominated with 79 patients (86.8%). Eighty-five individuals (93.4%) smoked and 70 (76.9%) consumed alcohol regularly. Anatomical distribution of tumors was: 27 (29.7%) tongue; 18 (19.8%) floor of mouth; 11 (12.1%) oropharynx; and 11 (12.1%) oral mucosa. Fifty-seven patients (62.6%) presented lymph node involvement and three (3.3%) had distant metastases. Surgery and radiotherapy were used in 43.2% of patients. With the exception of the male/female ratio (which was higher), our data are consistent with previous studies on oral carcinoma patients.
Phytotoxicity of the extracts of Lonchocarpus muehlbergianus Hassl. (Fabaceae) leaflets and galls on seed germination and early development of lettuce
Authors: Oliveira Denis Coelho de , Soares Geraldo Luiz Gonçalves , Isaias Rosy Mary dos Santos
Published: February 2009

Galls induced by Euphalerus ostreoides (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) cause structural and chemical alterations on Lonchocarpus muehlbergianus leaflets. Healthy and galled leaflet tissues of this plant species are rich in secondary metabolites with potential allelopathic effects. This research compares the allelopathic effects of the aqueous extracts of L. muehlbergianus leaflets and galls on seeds and seedlings of Lactuta sativa, and evaluates the chemical impact produced by a gall-inducing insect on the other trophic levels associated with it. The extracts were obtained through static maceration in distilled water (5% p/v). The treatments consisted of aqueous crude extracts and those previously filtered in polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP). After seven days, seedling height was measured, and the radicles were fixed in FAA50 for anatomical analyses. Healthy leaflet and gall aqueous extracts, and those filtered in PVP, significantly inhibited seed germination, with no significant differences between the two groups. Treatments with aqueous extracts reduced seed germination speed and vegetative axis length. Plant tissue alterations confirm the phytotoxicity of allelochemical substances present in the extracts. The differences among the treatments indicated that gall formation altered L. muehlbergianus leaflet metabolism, and this could influence the other trophic levels associated with this gall inducing-host plant system.
Bioprospecting insecticidal compounds from plants native to Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Authors: Souza Antonio P. , Marques Maria R. , Mahmoud Talal S. , Caputo Bruno A. , Canhete Gabriel M. , Leite Carla B. , Lima Dênis P. de
Published: February 2009

This paper reports on an evaluation of the insecticidal activity of extracts prepared from leaves of Tapirira guianensis Aubl. (Anacardiaceae), Attalea phalerata (Mart. ex Spreng.) Burret (Arecaceae), Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae), and Gomphrena elegans Mart. (Amaranthaceae) and from stems of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae). Four extracts and 18 fractions with a range of polarities were tested. Ten-gram batches of wheat grains were each nebulized with 1 mL of a separate extract at 10% w/v. After solvent evaporation at 38 ºC, the grains were placed into flasks along with 20 unsexed 10- to 20-day old adult individuals of Sitophilus zeamais. The assessment was carried out on the fifth and tenth day by counting and discarding the dead insects. Leaf extracts of G. elegans showed an insecticidal effect ranging from 27% to 60% by the fifth day, whereas the effect of the remaining extracts tested (if active at all) did not exceed 20% in the same period. By the tenth day, the most active extracts were those of A. phalerata (hexanic, 36.5%) and all those of G. elegans (5280.5%), whereas the effect of the other extracts did not exceed 30%.
Hidratação enteral em equinos - solução eletrolítica associada ou não à glicose, à maltodextrina e ao sulfato de magnésio: resultados de laboratório
Authors: Avanza Marcel Ferreira Bastos , Ribeiro Filho José Dantas , Lopes Marco Aurélio Ferreira , Ignácio Fernanda Saules , Carvalho Thony Assis , Guimarães José Domingos
Published: February 2009

No presente estudo, foram avaliados os efeitos de soluções eletrolíticas administradas via sonda nasoesofágica de pequeno calibre sobre o hematócrito, o volume plasmático e as concentrações plasmáticas de proteínas totais, sódio, potássio, cloreto, magnésio total e cálcio iônico de eqüinos hígidos e desidratados experimentalmente. Foram utilizados quatro equinos adultos, mestiços, dois machos e duas fêmeas. No experimento 1 (E1Des), os animais foram desidratados experimentalmente, enquanto no 2 (E2Hig) foram utilizados equinos hígidos. Os animais foram submetidos a cada um dos seguintes tratamentos: SE - solução eletrolítica isotônica; SEGli - solução eletrolítica isotônica + glicose; SEMalt - solução eletrolítica isotônica + maltodextrina e SEMg - solução eletrolítica isotônica + sulfato de magnésio. A solução eletrolítica foi administrada na dose de 15mL kg-1 h-1, durante 12h via sonda nasoesofágica por fluxo contínuo. Os tratamentos com as soluções eletrolíticas ocasionaram expansão do volume plasmático, ocasionando a redução nos valores das proteínas plasmáticas totais e do hematócrito, enquanto os valores dos eletrólitos avaliados permaneceram na faixa de referência.
Cisão de cadeia na degradação termo-mecânica do poliestireno sob múltiplas extrusões
Authors: Cáceres Carlos A. , Canevarolo Sebastião V.
Published: February 2009

Determinou-se o número de cisões de cadeia gerado pela degradação termo-mecânica do poliestireno quando submetido a múltiplas extrusões. A degradação foi acompanhada pelas mudanças nas curvas de distribuição de massa molar. Seguindo-se o significado físico das massas molares médias de uma curva de MWD mostrou-se que a massa molar numérica media Mn é a única que pode ser relacionada diretamente com o número de moléculas do sistema. A partir desta calculou-se o número de cadeias clivadas (ns) como uma relação entre a Mn da amostra degradada e a virgem. A função de distribuição de cisão de cadeia (CSDF) mostra que o processo de degradação termo-mecânica do poliestireno submetido a múltiplas extrusões à 240 °C é do tipo aleatório, independente da massa molar inicial.
Educação e liberdade em Hannah Arendt
Authors: Almeida Vanessa Sievers de
Published: February 2009

O presente artigo investiga, numa perspectiva filosófica, a relação entre os conceitos de educação e liberdade nos escritos de Hannah Arendt. Sustenta-se que, embora a autora não aponte para isso, existe em seu pensamento uma relação essencial entre esses conceitos. A interface principal é a natalidade, o fato de seres novos nascerem para um mundo já constituído. Dessa condição existencial decorre, por um lado, a potencial liberdade do ser humano, a capacidade de iniciar algo inesperado e, por outro, a necessidade de acolher os novos num espaço comum que é mais velho do que eles. A tarefa da educação é contribuir para que os "recém-chegados" se apropriem desse mundo que lhes é legado, possibilitando assim que futuramente assumam a responsabilidade por ele. Isso, no entanto, implica na necessidade de arrumar esse lugar, que está "fora dos eixos". A ação educativa nesse sentido, porém, pode ser apenas indireta: sendo que todo ser humano nasce como alguém singular, diferente de qualquer outro, cada um é uma novidade para o mundo e, por isso, é, a princípio, capaz de transformá-lo, começando algo novo. A liberdade, portanto, depende da singularidade de cada pessoa. A educação - que não muda o mundo numa ação direta - pode propiciar às crianças e aos jovens a possibilidade de desenvolver sua singularidade, contribuindo assim para que futuramente possam de fato realizar o dom da liberdade, renovando o mundo que herdaram.
Avaliação dos hábitos de atividades físicas de adolescentes com epilepsia do município de Toledo-PR
Authors: Cervelini Renato , Scorza Fulvio Alexandre , Cavalheiro Esper Abrão , Arida Ricardo Mário
Published: February 2009

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar da prática da atividade física ser enfatizada na sociedade atual pelos benefícios que proporciona sobre a aptidão física e saúde, assim como naqueles com diferentes tipos de doenças, pessoas com epilepsia são frequentemente desencorajados e excluídos da participação de programas de atividade física, pelo medo de que a prática de atividade física possa desencadear ou piorar as crises epilépticas. Estigma e preconceito são fatores que contribuem para estas atitudes. Apesar de vários estudos na literatura mundial analisarem a relação entre a epilepsia e a atividade física, não existem estudos que avaliam o perfil da população adolescente quanto aos seus hábitos de atividade física. OBJETIVO: Neste sentido o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar com um questionário, o grau de participação em atividades físicas de adolescentes com epilepsia do município de Toledo-PR. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Pacientes ambulatoriais adolescentes com epilepsia consultados pelo Consórcio (CISCOPAR) do município de Toledo-PR foram convidados a participar do estudo durante uma visita rotineira ao consultório do profissional médico que o atendia. Um questionário foi criado para avaliar os hábitos de atividades físicas. RESULTADOS: Todos os adolescentes relataram oportunidades de lazer. Oitenta por cento dos adolescentes participaram de atividades físicas, mas nem todos eles regularmente. Sessenta e nove por cento dos indivíduos em nosso estudo apresentaram crises durante o exercício físico e cinqüenta e dois por cento tem medo que o exercício possa causar crises. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar do pequeno número de indivíduos analisados neste estudo, nossos resultados mostram que a epilepsia exerce uma influência negativa nos hábitos de atividade física de adolescentes.
Estudo comparativo entre a qualidade do sono em crianças de 7 a 15 anos com epilepsia clinicamente controlada e refratária
Authors: Vidotto Gisele A. Frederich , Liberalesso Paulo Breno Noronha , Farias Antônio Carlos de , Jurkiewicz Ari Leon , Zeigelboim Bianca Simone , Löhr Júnior Alfredo
Published: February 2009

INTRODUÇÃO: a relação entre epilepsia e sono é conhecida há muitos anos. Distúrbios do sono e epilepsia são condições patológicas de elevada prevalência na população geral, particularmente na infância e adolescência. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a qualidade do sono em crianças com idades entre sete e 15 anos portadoras de epilepsia controlada e refratária. MÉTODOS: o questionário "Sleep Behavior Questionnaire", traduzido e validado para a língua portuguesa, foi aplicado aos pacientes com epilepsia controlada e com epilepsia refratária atendidos no Serviço de Neurologia Infantil do Hospital Pequeno Príncipe entre abril e setembro de 2007. RESULTADOS: foram incluídos 46 pacientes, sendo 24 com epilepsia controlada (Grupo 1) e 22 com epilepsia refratária (Grupo 2). Foi aplicado o teste estatístico de Mann-Whitney para amostras independentes e constatado diferença significativa (p = 0,000) ente os índices de qualidade de sono entre os dois grupos, sendo a qualidade de sono considerada pior nos pacientes com epilepsia refratária. Alterações no EEG não evidenciaram relação significativa com a qualidade de sono. CONCLUSÃO: nossos dados demonstram que crianças entre 7 e 15 anos portadoras de epilepsia refratária têm pior qualidade de sono que as crianças com epilepsia controlada.
Sequestro extralobar com hemotórax secundário a infarto pulmonar
Authors: Pinto Filho Darcy Ribeiro , Avino Alexandre José Gonçalves , Brandão Suzan Lúcia Brancher
Published: February 2009

O sequestro pulmonar é uma malformação incomum, representando 0,5-6% de todas as malformações pulmonares, sendo geralmente diagnosticado na infância. Dos dois tipos de sequestro pulmonar, intralobar e extralobar, este último é o menos freqüente. O presente relato descreve o caso de um paciente do sexo feminino, de 32 anos, com quadro de dor toracoabdominal e achados de radiografia e TC de tórax revelando consolidação e derrame pleural. A conduta inicial com toracocentese evidenciou hemotórax. A seqüência diagnóstica através da videotoracoscopia permitiu o diagnóstico de sequestro extralobar e a consequente conduta de conversão para toracotomia para ressecção da lesão com ligadura segura do pedículo vascular intercostal.
Molecular characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinomas without BRAF mutation or RET/PTC rearrangement: relationship with clinico-pathological features
Authors: Durand Stéphanie , Ferraro-Peyret Carole , Joufre Mireille , Chave Annie , Borson-Chazot Françoise , Selmi-Ruby Samia , Rousset Bernard
Published: February 2009

About 60–70% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) present a BRAFT1799A gene mutation or a rearrangement of RET gene (RET/PTC). In this study, we examined whether PTC without BRAFT1799A mutation and without RET/PTC rearrangement named PTC-ga(−) were distinguishable from PTC-ga(+) (with one or the other gene alteration) on the basis of gene expression characteristics. We analyzed the mutational state of 116 PTC and we compared gene expression profiles of PTC-ga(+) and PTC-ga(−) from data of a 200 gene macroarray and quantitative PCR. Seventy five PTC were PTC-ga(+) and 41 were PTC-ga(−). Unsupervised analyses of macroarray data by hierarchical clustering led to a complete segregation of PTC-ga(+) and PTC-ga(−). In a series of 42 genes previously recognized as PTC ‘marker’ genes, 22 were found to be expressed at a comparable level in PTC-ga(−) and normal tissue. Thyroid-specific genes, TPO, TG, DIO1, and DIO2 were under-expressed in PTC-ga(+) but expressed at a normal level in PTC-ga(−). A few genes including DUOX1 and DUOX2 were selectively dys-regulated in PTC-ga(−). Tumor grade of PTC-ga(−) was lower than that of PTC-ga(+). There was a strong association between the mutational state and histiotype of PTC; 81% of PTC follicular variants were corresponded to PTC-ga(−), whereas 84% of PTC of classical form were PTC-ga(+). In conclusion, we show that PTC without BRAFT1799A mutation or RET/PTC rearrangement, mainly corresponding to follicular variants, maintain a thyroid differentiation expression level close to that of normal tissue and should be of better prognosis than PTC with one or the other gene alteration.
Structure and function of the human Gly1619Arg polymorphism of M6P/IGF2R domain 11 implicated in IGF2 dependent growth
Authors: Rezgui Dellel , Williams Christopher , Savage Sharon A , Prince Stuart N , Zaccheo Oliver J , Jones E Yvonne , Crump Matthew P , Hassan A Bassim
Published: February 2009

The mannose 6-phosphate/IGF 2 receptor (IGF2R) is comprised of 15 extra-cellular domains that bind IGF2 and mannose 6-phosphate ligands. IGF2R transports ligands from the Golgi to the pre-lysosomal compartment and thereafter to and from the cell surface. IGF2R regulates growth, placental development, tumour suppression and signalling. The ligand IGF2 is implicated in the growth phenotype, where IGF2R normally limits bioavailability, such that loss and gain of IGF2R results in increased and reduced growth respectively. The IGF2R exon 34 (5002A>G) polymorphism (rs629849) of the IGF2 specific binding domain has been correlated with impaired childhood growth (A/A homozygotes). We evaluated the function of the Gly1619Arg non-synonymous amino acid modification of domain 11. NMR and X-ray crystallography structures located 1619 remote from the ligand binding region of domain 11. Arg1619 was located close to the fibronectin type II (FnII) domain of domain 13, previously implicated as a modifier of IGF2 ligand binding through indirect interaction with the AB loop of the binding cleft. However, comparison of binding kinetics of IGF2R, Gly1619 and Arg1619 to either IGF2 or mannose 6-phosphate revealed no differences in ‘on’ and ‘off’ rates. Quantitative PCR, 35S pulse chase and flow cytometry failed to demonstrate altered gene expression, protein half-life and cell membrane distribution, suggesting the polymorphism had no direct effect on receptor function. Intronic polymorphisms were identified which may be in linkage disequilibrium with rs629849 in certain populations. Other potential IGF2R polymorphisms may account for the correlation with childhood growth, warranting further functional evaluation.
Pituitary tumours: all silent on the epigenetics front
Authors: Dudley K J , Revill K , Clayton R N , Farrell W E
Published: February 2009

Investigation of the epigenome of sporadic pituitary tumours is providing a more detailed understanding of aberrations that characterise this tumour type. Early studies, in this and other tumour types adopted candidate-gene approaches to characterise CpG island methylation as a mechanism responsible for or associated with gene silencing. However, more recently, investigators have adopted approaches that do not require a priori knowledge of the gene and transcript, as example differential display techniques, and also genome-wide, array-based approaches, to ‘uncover’ or ‘unmask’ silenced genes. Furthermore, through use of chromatin immunoprecipitation as a selective enrichment technique; we are now beginning to identify modifications that target the underlying histones themselves and that have roles in gene-silencing events. Collectively, these studies provided convincing evidence that change to the tumour epigenome are not simply epiphenomena but have functional consequences in the context of pituitary tumour evolution. Our ability to perform these types of studies has been and is increasingly reliant upon technological advances in the genomics and epigenomics arena. In this context, other more recent advances and developing technologies, and, in particular, next generation or flow cell re-sequencing techniques offer exciting opportunities for our future studies of this tumour type.
Transport of Malathion in Homogeneous Soil Liquid Chromatographic Columns: Influence of Nonequilibrium Sorption
Authors: Tao Ya‐qi , Jiang Xin , Bian Yong‐rong , Yang Xing‐lun , Wang Fang
Published: February 2009

With a liquid chromatographic column, the transport behaviors of malathion and Cl− in red soil and gray fluvo‐aquic soil columns were studied. Malathion was leached with three different solutions (0.01 mol L−1 CaCl2, 0.01 mol L−1 CaCl2 + 0.001 mol L−1 citric acid, and 0.01 mol L−1 CaCl2 + 0.001 mol L−1 malic acid) at two pore water velocities (0.191 and 0.382 cm min−1). The symmetrical breakthrough curves (BTCs) of Cl−, which were obtained by using the conservative tracer, showed no significant physical nonequilibrium in solution transport. Compared with those of Cl−, the BTCs of malathion were obviously asymmetrical, with a shift to the right and an extended long‐time tail, which is typical of sorption nonequilibrium. Using CXTFIT2.1 and continuous time random walk (CTRW) theory, the physical and hydrodynamic parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental results to the measured BTCs. For both the local equilibrium assumption (LEA) model and the nonequilibrium two‐site model (TSM), introduction of a decay term improved the fitting of BTCs, which indicated that sorption–desorption influenced malathion transport. On the whole, the TSM fitted the BTCs better than the LEA model because the TSM accounted for either sorption‐ or transport‐related nonequilibrium. Under most experimental conditions, compared with the LEA and TSM, the CTRW described the distal portion, especially the extended long‐time tails, of BTCs better because non‐Fickian diffusion arose at later transport times. The results suggest that the nonequilibrium TSM is a useful approach to predict malathion transport. At later transport times, however, the CTRW, characterizing non‐Fickian transport, better explained the BTC tails. These results are valuable to predict and control the fate of malathion in the environment.
A Combined Penetrometer–Moisture Probe for Surveying Soil Properties of Natural Hillslopes
Authors: Kosugi Ken'ichirou , Yamakawa Yosuke , Masaoka Naoya , Mizuyama Takahisa
Published: February 2009

Information on spatial distributions of soil water content and mechanical strength is fundamental to hydrogeomorphological studies in mountainous watersheds. For simultaneous measurements of soil water content, θ, and penetration resistance,Nc, of soil mantles on natural hillslopes, we developed a new type of combined penetrometer–moisture probe (CPMP). The new CPMP has a robust configuration to reduce the frequency of moisture probe breakdowns during penetration into gravelly and rocky natural soils, and it has a penetration depth of up to 552 cm, which is about four to 14 times greater than the maximum measurable depth of any previous CPMP developed for agricultural soils. Laboratory calibrations and field validations showed that the CPMP succeeded in producing vertical distributions for θ andNcsimilar to those measured with conventional methods. The CPMP provided less time‐consuming and less destructive measurements of θ profiles than conventional methods that require excavation of deep trenches. Because θ profiles consider the stratified characteristics of soil mantles as well as the depths of groundwater tables, the CPMP was more effective than the conventional cone penetrometer for surveying the hydrogeomorphological structure of soil mantles. The CPMP was successful in determining the spatial distributions of θ andNcin a headwater basin underlain by weathered granitic bedrock. From a direct comparison between two θ andNcvalues measured on two different days at nearby points and the same depth, it was shown thatNctended to decrease when θ increased by more than 0.15.
New Analytic Solution Related to the Richards, Philip, and Green–Ampt Equations for Infiltration
Authors: Prevedello Celso Luiz , Loyola Jocely Maria Thomazoni , Reichardt Klaus , Nielsen Donald R.
Published: February 2009

Based on physical laws of similarity, an analytic solution of the soil water potential form of the Richards equation was derived for water infiltration into a homogeneous sand. The derivation assumes a similarity between the soil water retention function and that of the soil water content profiles taken at fixed times. The new solution successfully described soil water content profiles experimentally measured for water infiltrating downward, upward, and horizontally into a homogeneous sand and agrees with that presented by Philip in 1957. The utility of this analysis is still to be verified, but it is expected to hold for soils that have a narrow pore‐size distribution before wetting and that manifest a sharp increase of water content at the wetting front during infiltration. The effect of van Genuchten's parameters α and n on the application of the solution to other porous media was investigated. The solution also improves and provides a more realistic description of the infiltration process than that pioneered by Green and Ampt in 1911.
Partitioning and Fate of Particle‐Associated E. coli in River Waters
Authors: Garcia‐Armisen Tamara , Servais Pierre
Published: February 2009

Attachment of fecal bacteria to suspended matter in the water column has important implications for its fate in rivers. We examined the part of Escherichia coli (E. coli) associated with suspended matter in natural river water samples, using a combination of 5‐μm filtration and β‐D‐glucuronidase (GLUase) assay to estimate the E. coli abundance and attachment. We observed that the fraction of particle‐associated E. coli was positively correlated with suspended matter concentration. The settling rate of particle‐associated E. coli was found to be positively correlated with suspended matter concentration for samples with suspended matter content lower than 50 mg/L. For samples with higher suspended matter concentration, the settling rate was quite constant (0.066 m/h, on average). In batch experiments using river waters, we observed that free E. coli had a decay rate approximately 2 times higher than particle‐associated E. coli. This information can be used to improve the models on the fate of E. coli in rivers.
Only Four Ways Out
Authors: Delong Brad
Published: February 2009

Brad Delong explains that the Obama Administration is on the right track with the economy because it is on the only track.
Interleukin-21 Is Required for the Development of Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice
Authors: Sutherland Andrew P.R. , Van Belle Tom , Wurster Andrea L. , Suto Akira , Michaud Monia , Zhang Dorothy , Grusby Michael J. , von Herrath Matthias
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE

Interleukin (IL)-21 is a type 1 cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes via the unique biology of the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse strain. The aim of this study was to investigate a causal role for IL-21 in type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We generated IL-21R–deficient NOD mice and C57Bl/6 mice expressing IL-21 in pancreatic β-cells, allowing the determination of the role of insufficient and excessive IL-21 signaling in type 1 diabetes.

RESULTS

Deficiency in IL-21R expression renders NOD mice resistant to insulitis, production of insulin autoantibodies, and onset of type 1 diabetes. The lymphoid compartment in IL-21R−/− NOD is normal and does not contain an increased regulatory T-cell fraction or diminished effector cytokine responses. However, we observed a clear defect in autoreactive effector T-cells in IL-21R−/− NOD by transfer experiments. Conversely, overexpression of IL-21 in pancreatic β-cells induced inflammatory cytokine and chemokines, including IL-17A, IL17F, IFN-γ, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2, and interferon-inducible protein-10 in the pancreas. The ensuing leukocytic infiltration in the islets resulted in destruction of β-cells and spontaneous type 1 diabetes in the normally diabetes-resistant C57Bl/6 and NOD × C57Bl/6 backgrounds.

CONCLUSIONS

This work provides demonstration of the essential prodiabetogenic activities of IL-21 on diverse genetic backgrounds (NOD and C57BL/6) and indicates that IL-21 blockade could be a promising strategy for interventions in human type 1 diabetes.
Informational analysis of the grinding process of granular material using a multi-ribbon blender
Authors: Masiuk Stanisław , Rakoczy Rafał , Kordas Marian
Published: February 2009

A new concept of investigation on granular material grinding process using a multi-ribbon blender is demonstrated. A new approach of mathematical description of this process is presented using the Shannon’s entropy definition for random processes. The analysis of experiments was carried out employing the probability size distribution variation with the time of grinding process. The investigations reported in this work provide useful insight into the granular material grinding process. Moreover, the proposed informational description may be used to quantify the progress of this process whose importance in plant design and process optimisation, according to other experimental works, appears to be underestimated.
Influence of reaction medium composition on enzymatic synthesis of galactooligosaccharides and lactulose from lactose concentrates prepared from whey permeate
Authors: Adamczak Marek , Charubin Danuta , Bednarski Włlodzimierz
Published: February 2009

The paper presents the results of investigations into the technological possibilities of controlling the transgalactosylation process of lactose in permeate after whey ultrafiltration in order to improve the efficiency of galactooligosaccharides or lactulose synthesis. The synthesis efficiency was influenced by the selection of a β-galactosidase preparation, substrate concentration and, in the synthesis of lactulose, also by the ratio of lactose and fructose added to the reaction mixture. The obtained synthesis efficiency of GOS and, most of all, of lactulose (65 g L−1), may be found satisfactory. The study also resulted in a proposed GOS or lactulose concentrates (concentrated or dried) production technology using permeate after ultrafiltration of milk or whey as lactose sources.
Effects of vessel baffling on the drawdown of floating solids
Authors: Karcz Joanna , Mackiewicz Beata
Published: February 2009

The effects of baffling of an agitated vessel on the production of floating particles suspension are presented in this paper. Critical agitator speed, needed for particles dispersion in a liquid agitated in a vessel of the inner diameter of 0.295 m, was determined. The just drawdown agitator speeds were defined analogously to the Zwietering criterion. Specific agitation energy was calculated from the power consumption experimental data obtained by means of the strain gauge method. The experiments were carried out for twelve configurations of the baffles differing in number, length and their arrangement in the vessels. The following high-speed impellers were used: up- and downpumping six blade pitched blade turbines, Rushton turbine, and propeller. The impeller was located in the vessel in the height equal to two-thirds or one-third of the vessel diameter from the bottom of the vessel. The results were described in the form of a dimensionless equation.
Immobilization of modified penicillin G acylase on Sepabeads carriers
Authors: Žuža Milena , Milosavić Nenad , Knežević-Jugović Zorica
Published: February 2009

An approach to stable covalent immobilization of chemically modified penicillin G acylase from Escherichia coli on Sepabeads® carriers with high retention of hydrolytic activity and thermal stability is presented. The two amino-activated polymethacrylate particulate polymers with different spacer lengths used in the study were Sepabeads® EC EA and Sepabeads® EC HA. The enzyme was first modified by cross-linking with polyaldehyde derivatives of starch in order to provide it with new useful functions. Such modified enzyme was then covalently immobilized on amino supports. The method seems to provide a possibility to couple the enzyme without risking a reaction at the active site which might cause the loss of activity. Performances of these immobilized biocatalysts were compared with those obtained by the conventional method with respect to activity and thermal stability. The thermal stability study shows that starch-PGA immobilized on Sepabeads EC-EA was almost 4.5-fold more stable than the conventionally immobilized one and 7-fold more stable than free non-modified PGA. Similarly, starch-PGA immobilized on Sepabeads EC-HA was around 1.5- fold more stable than the conventionally immobilized one and almost 9.5-fold more stable than free non-modified enzyme.
Analyse Micro-Locale $\ell$-Adique en Caractéristique $p \gt 0$ le Cas d’un Trait
Authors: Abbes Ahmed , Saito Takeshi
Published: February 2009

We develop, for an

\ell

-adic étale sheaf on a complete trait of characteristic

p \gt 0

, the notion of characteristic variety. Our approach, inspired by the microlocal analysis of Kashiwara and Schapira, is a complement to our ramiﬁcation theory for local ﬁelds with general residue ﬁelds. We formulate the main property that should be satisﬁed by the characteristic variety (the isogeny conjecture), and prove it for rank one sheaves unconditionally on the trait, or unconditionally on the sheaf if the residue ﬁeld of the trait is perfect.
Algebraic $p$-Adic $L$-Functions in Non-Commutative Iwasawa Theory
Authors: Burns David
Published: February 2009

We deﬁne canonical algebraic

p

-adic

L

-functions in non-commutative Iwasawa theory and establish some of their basic properties.
A Prime-to-$p$ Version of Grothendieck’s Anabelian Conjecture for Hyperbolic Curves over Finite Fields of Characteristic $p > 0$
Authors: Saïdi Mohamed , Tamagawa Akio
Published: February 2009

In this paper, we prove a prime-to-

p

version of Grothendieck’s anabelian conjecture for hyperbolic curves over ﬁnite ﬁelds of characteristic

p > 0

, whose original (full proﬁnite) version was proved by Tamagawa in the affine case and by Mochizuki in the proper case.
On $p$-Adic Absolute CM-Periods II
Authors: Kashio Tomokazu , Yoshida Hiroyuki
Published: February 2009

In part I of this paper, we studied the

p

-adic absolute CM-period symbol in the completely split case. We presented a conjecture which predicts the exact value of this symbol with supporting evidences. In this part II, we study the properties of this symbol in the general case and clarify its relation to

p

-adic periods.
The Étale Theta Function and Its Frobenioid-Theoretic Manifestations
Authors: Mochizuki Shinichi
Published: February 2009

We develop the theory of the
tempered anabelian
and
Frobenioid-theoretic
aspects of the “
étale theta function
”, i.e., the Kummer class of the classical formal algebraic e theta function associated to a Tate curve over a nonarchimedean mixed-characteristic local ﬁeld. In particular, we consider a certain natural “environment” for the study of the étale theta function, which we refer to as a “
mono-theta environment
” — essentially a
Kummer-theoretic
version of the classical
theta trivialization
— and show that this mono-theta environment satisﬁes certain
remarkable rigidity properties
involving
cyclotomes, discreteness
, and
constant multiples
, all in a fashion that is
compatible
with the
topology
of the tempered fundamental group and the
extension structure
of the associated tempered Frobenioid.
The Shift from DB to DC Coverage: A Reflection on the Issues
Authors: Baldwin Bob
Published: February 2009

This paper takes as its point of departure the shift in workplace pension coverage from defined-benefit (DB) pension plans to defined-contribution (DC) pension plans. The central concern of the paper is to identify the public policy issues that should be addressed to help members of DC pension plans use these vehicles more effectively. Measures that might enhance the predictability of DC outcomes, lower administrative costs, or facilitate decision-making receive particular attention. Unresolved research issues related to the topic and gaps in available data are also noted.
The Evolution of Elderly Poverty in Canada
Authors: Milligan Kevin
Published: February 2009

In this article, I extend the analysis of head-count measures of income and consumption poverty to all currently available microdata. Along with standard measures, I implement a relative poverty indicator using the well-being of working age families as a benchmark. I find that poverty among elderly families decreased sharply through the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s, relative measures of income poverty increased because non-elderly incomes have risen more quickly than elderly incomes. Since the 1980s, a sharp spike in income poverty has emerged between the ages of 55 and 64, with no counterpart in the consumption data.
Exhaustive Enumeration of Kinetic Model Topologies for the Analysis of Time-Resolved RNA Folding
Authors: Martin Joshua  S. , Simmons Katrina , Laederach Alain
Published: February 2009

Unlike protein folding, the process by which a large RNA molecule adopts a functionally active conformation remains poorly understood. Chemical mapping techniques, such as Hydroxyl Radical (·OH) footprinting report on local structural changes in an RNA as it folds with single nucleotide resolution. The analysis and interpretation of this kinetic data requires the identification and subsequent optimization of a kinetic model and its parameters. We detail our approach to this problem, specifically focusing on a novel strategy to overcome a factorial explosion in the number of possible models that need to be tested to identify the best fitting model. Previously, smaller systems (less than three intermediates) were computationally tractable using a distributed computing approach. However, for larger systems with three or more intermediates, the problem became computationally intractable. With our new enumeration strategy, we are able to significantly reduce the number of models that need to be tested using non-linear least squares optimization, allowing us to study systems with up to five intermediates. Furthermore, two intermediate systems can now be analyzed on a desktop computer, which eliminates the need for a distributed computing solution for most mediumsized data sets. Our new approach also allows us to study potential degeneracy in kinetic model selection, elucidating the limits of the method when working with large systems. This work establishes clear criteria for determining if experimental ·OH data is sufficient to determine the underlying kinetic model, or if other experimental modalities are required to resolve any degeneracy.
The Carotenogenesis Pathway via the Isoprenoid-β-carotene Interference Approach in a New Strain of Dunaliella salina Isolated from Baja California Mexico
Authors: Paniagua-Michel J. , Capa-Robles Willian , Olmos-Soto Jorge , Gutierrez-Millan Luis Enrique
Published: February 2009

D. salina is one of the recognized natural sources to produce β-carotene, and an useful model for studying the role of inhibitors and enhancers of carotenogenesis. However there is little information in D. salina regarding whether the isoprenoid substrate can be influenced by stress factors (carotenogenic) or selective inhibitors which in turn may further contribute to elucidate the early steps of carotenogenesis and biosynthesis of β-carotene. In this study,Dunaliella salina (BC02) isolated from La Salina BC Mexico, was subjected to the method of isoprenoids-β-carotene interference in order to promote the interruption or accumulation of the programmed biosynthesis of carotenoids. When Carotenogenic and non-carotenogenic cells of D. salina BC02 were grown under photoautotrophicgrowth conditions in the presence of 200 µM fosmidomycin, carotenogenesis and the synthesis of β-carotene were interrupted after two days in cultured D. salina cells. This result is an indirect consequence of the inhibition of the synthesis of isoprenoids and activity of the recombinant DXR enzyme thereby preventing the conversionof 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) to 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol (MEP) and consequently interrupts the early steps of carotenogenesis in D. salina. The effect at the level of proteins and RNA was not evident. Mevinolin treated D. salina cells exhibited carotenogenesis and β-carotene levels very similar to those of control cell cultures indicating that mevinolin not pursued any indirect action in the biosynthesis of isoprenoids and had no effect at the level of the HMG-CoA reductase, the key enzyme of the Ac/MVA pathway.
A Real-Time De-Noising Algorithm for E-Noses in a Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Qu Jianfeng , Chai Yi , Yang Simon X.
Published: February 2009

A wireless e-nose network system is developed for the special purpose of monitoring odorant gases and accurately estimating odor strength in and around livestock farms. This system is to simultaneously acquire accurate odor strength values remotely at various locations, where each node is an e-nose that includes four metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors. A modified Kalman filtering technique is proposed for collecting raw data and de-noising based on the output noise characteristics of those gas sensors. The measurement noise variance is obtained in real time by data analysis using the proposed slip windows average method. The optimal system noise variance of the filter is obtained by using the experiments data. The Kalman filter theory on how to acquire MOS gas sensors data is discussed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can adjust the Kalman filter parameters and significantly reduce the noise from the gas sensors.
A Smart Nanoprobe Based On Fluorescence‐Quenching PEGylated Nanogels Containing Gold Nanoparticles for Monitoring the Response to Cancer Therapy
Authors: Oishi Motoi , Tamura Atsushi , Nakamura Takahito , Nagasaki Yukio
Published: February 2009

A biocompatible, caspase‐3‐responsive, and fluorescence‐quenching smart apoptosis nanoprobe based on a PEGylated nanogel that contains gold nanoparticles (GNPs) (fluorescence quenchers) in the cross‐linked polyamine gel core and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled DEVD peptides at the tethered PEG chain ends is prepared for monitoring the cancer response to therapy. FITC–DEVD–nanogel–GNP shows very little fluorescence in the absence of activated caspase‐3 (normal cells) through the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process between the GNPs and the FITC molecules, while pronounced fluorescence signals are observed in apoptotic cells because of the cleavage of the DEVD peptide by activated caspase‐3 present in the cells, which results in the release of FITC molecules. Thus, remarkable quenching and dequenching of fluorescence signals in response to activated caspase‐3 is observed. Apoptotic cells are detected in human hepatocyte (HuH‐7) multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs), a commonly used three‐dimensional in vitro model mimicking the in vivo biology of tumors, as early as one day post‐treatment with staurosporine, an apoptosis‐inducing agent; while growth inhibition (i.e., change in size) of the HuH‐7 MCTSs is only observed after a delay of three days (i.e., on day 4). This demonstrates the effectiveness of the FITC–DEVD–nanogel–GNP probe as a smart nanoprobe for real‐time monitoring as well as a more rapid assessment of the early response to cancer therapy.
Solid‐State Supramolecular Organization of Polythiophene Chains Containing Thienothiophene Units
Authors: Brocorens Patrick , Van Vooren Antoine , Chabinyc Michael L. , Toney Michael F. , Shkunov Maxim , Heeney Martin , McCulloch Iain , Cornil Jérôme , Lazzaroni Roberto
Published: February 2009

We use molecular modeling and the simulation of X‐ray diffraction patterns to determine the molecular packing of a thiophene‐based polymer showing exceptionally high field‐effect mobilities (up to 1 cm2 V−1 s−1). We focus on the organization of the polymer chains in lamellae and the orientation of these crystalline domains with respect to the substrate in thin films. The analysis is supported by XRD and NEXAFS experiments and is complemented by calculating intermolecular transfer integrals, which govern the charge mobility.
A chromosome 10 variant with a 12 Mb inversion [inv(10)(q11.22q21.1)] identical by descent and frequent in the Swedish population
Authors: Entesarian Miriam , Carlsson Birgit , Mansouri Mahmoud Reza , Stattin Eva‐Lena , Holmberg Eva , Golovleva Irina , Stefansson Hreinn , Klar Joakim , Dahl Niklas
Published: February 2009

We identified a paracentric inversion of chromosome 10 [inv(10)(q11.22q21.1)] in 0.20% of Swedish individuals (15/7,439) referred for cytogenetic analysis. A retrospective analysis of 8,896 karyotypes from amniocenteses in Sweden revealed a carrier frequency of 0.079% (7/8,896) for the inversion. Cloning and detailed analysis of the inversion breakpoint regions show enrichment for interspersed repeat elements and AT‐stretches. The centromeric breakpoint coincides with that of a predicted inversion from HapMap data, which suggests that this region is involved in several chromosome 10 variants. No known gene or predicted transcript are disrupted by the inversion which spans approximately 12 Mb. Carriers from four non‐related Swedish families have identical inversion breakpoints and haplotype analysis confirmed that the rearrangement is identical by descent. Diagnosis was retrieved in 6 out of the 15 carriers referred for cytogenetic analysis. No consistent phenotype was found to be associated with the inversion. Our study demonstrates that the inv(10)(q11.22q21.1) is a rare and inherited chromosome variant with a broad geographical distribution in Sweden. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Family letters are an effective way to inform relatives about inherited cardiac disease
Authors: van der Roest Wilma P. , Pennings José M. , Bakker Marian , van den Berg Maarten P. , van Tintelen J. Peter
Published: February 2009

Increasing numbers of individuals are being referred to cardiogenetics outpatient clinics with potentially inherited arrhythmia (ARR) or cardiomyopathy (CM). To inform relatives at‐risk, we ask index patients to distribute “family letters” containing information on the risks, possible genetic and other screenings, and preventive options. We assessed the responses to these letters in terms of referrals to a cardiologist and/or clinical geneticist. Fifty‐six index patients were asked to distribute 249 family letters: 85 in the ARR group and 164 in the CM group. Within a mean follow‐up period of 2 years (range 1–5 years) the number of relatives actually referred to the clinical geneticist and/or cardiologist was 57% (142 of 249). There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) between the ARR (80%) and CM groups (45.1%). To verify the results obtained from our files at the cardiogenetics department we sent a questionnaire to 52 index patients (response 50%). This showed that 23/26 (88%) index patients had distributed the letters to their relatives and that for 19/23 index patients one or more relatives had been screened. This is comparable with our files, which showed that 57% of relatives of index patients with a potentially inherited cardiac disease underwent screening, particularly in the ARR group. The actual response was underestimated because some relatives were investigated elsewhere or may still decide to be screened in the future. We conclude that distributing family letters is an effective way to inform and encourage relatives to undergo screening for high‐risk inherited cardiac disease. Am. J. Med. Genet. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A premature infant with Costello syndrome due to a rare G13C HRAS mutation
Authors: Piccione Maria , Piro Ettore , Pomponi Maria Grazia , Matina Federico , Pietrobono Roberta , Candela Eva , Gabriele Bruna , Neri Giovanni , Corsello Giovanni
Published: February 2009

Costello syndrome is caused by mutations in the HRAS proto‐oncogene whose clinical features in the first year of life include fetal and neonatal macrosomia with subsequent growth impairment due to severe feeding difficulties. We report on a premature male with Costello syndrome due to a rare G13C HRAS mutation and describe his clinical features and evolution during the first year of life. The diagnosis of Costello syndrome may be difficult at birth, especially in very preterm infants in whom feeding difficulties, reduced subcutaneous adipose tissue and failure to thrive are also part of their typical presentation. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spinnenseide: vom löslichen Protein zur außergewöhnlichen Faser
Authors: Heim Markus , Keerl David , Scheibel Thomas
Published: February 2009

Am seidenen Faden: Spinnenseiden haben mechanische Eigenschaften, die jene der meisten natürlichen und synthetischen Fasern übertreffen. Wegen der Komplexität des In‐vivo‐Spinnprozesses scheiterte bislang seine Nachahmung durch klassische Spinnmethoden. Die Analyse des natürlichen Prozesses, kombiniert mit Erkenntnissen aus In‐vitro‐Untersuchungen, hilft bei der Entwicklung eines bionischen Spinnverfahrens zur Spinnenseidenherstellung (siehe Bild).

magnified image

Die Proteinfaser Spinnenseide ist hinsichtlich ihrer Materialeigenschaften anderen natürlichen und vielen synthetischen Fasern überlegen. In der Natur beruht die Bildung einer festen Faser aus einem löslichen Spinnenseidenprotein auf komplexen biochemischen und physikalischen Prozessen, die in spezialisierten Spinnorganen ablaufen. In diesem Aufsatz wird der natürliche Prozess der Seidenherstellung ausgehend von der Gentranskription über die Proteinverarbeitung bis hin zur abschließenden Faserbildung vorgestellt; ebenso kommen technische Verfahren zur Seidenverspinnung zur Sprache. In‐vivo‐ und In‐vitro‐Befunde auf dem Gebiet der Spinnenseidenforschung bilden die Grundlage für die Gestaltung neuer Proteine und Verarbeitungsstrategien, die die Anwendung dieser faszinierenden proteinösen Materialien in der Technik und der Medizin ermöglichen können.