bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction
Authors: Brackmann D.
Published: May 2011

The effect on tinnitus in 110 patients undergoing translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section is presented. The effect on tinnitus of vestibular and cochlear nerve section (VCNS) together and vestibular nerve section (VNS) alone was studied. The number of patients improved with VCNS (61 per cent) was slightly better than with VNS alone (49 per cent). VNS alone worsened tinnitus more often than VCNS. Age, side involved, sex, etiology of vertigo, severity of tinnitus, interference with sleep and activities, slope of the pre-operative audiogram, and magnitude of the hearing loss had no value in predicting the change in tinnitus following either VNS or VCNS.
Eine ungewöhnliche Ursache für faziale Hypästhesie
Authors: Stienen  , Seule  , Weber  , Gautschi
Published: May 2011

Eine 58-jährige Patientin stellte sich mit progredienten Sensibilitätsstörungen der linken Gesichtshälfte in der Notaufnahme vor. In der Magnetresonanztomographie zeigte sich ein 20 mm grosses Aneurysma der linken Arteria vertebralis, welches den linken Nervus trigeminus komprimierte. Wir führten eine endovaskuläre Okklusion durch kombiniertes Coiling mit Flow-Diverter durch. Bei einer direkt aus dem Aneurysma abgehenden Arteria cerebelli posterior inferior wurde ein Infarkt in deren Versorgungsgebiet in Kauf genommen. Die Patientin erholte sich gut und war in der Nachkontrolle nach vier Wochen komplett selbständig und beschwerdefrei.
Timing of Adult Transitions
Authors: Räikkönen Eija , Kokko Katja , Rantanen Johanna
Published: May 2011

Regarding the differences in timing of adult transitions (i.e., completion of education, full-time employment, having an intimate relationship, having a child) and their relation to childhood antecedents and adulthood psychological functioning, 282 participants were examined. The study was based on the ongoing Finnish Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development in which the same individuals have been followed from age 8 to mid-adulthood. Three groups were formed: On-Time Transitions (all transitions by age 27), Late Transitions (at least one transition after age 27), and Partial Transitions (not all transitions at age 42). Participants with all transitions (On-Time or Late) were socially more active in childhood than participants with partial transitions. Furthermore, participants with on-time transitions were more likely females, and participants with late transitions came more likely from high SES families than participants with partial transitions. Regarding psychological functioning, the participants with all transitions reported higher psychological well-being and self-esteem at ages 36 and 42, and higher life satisfaction at age 42 than participants with partial transitions. Furthermore, participants with on-time transitions showed higher life satisfaction at ages 27 and 36 than participants with late transitions, but by age 42 the difference leveled off.
Social Discounting of Monetary Rewards
Authors: Ostaszewski Paweł , Osiński Jerzy Tomasz
Published: May 2011

The purpose of the study was to test hypotheses regarding a form of social discounting in which the subjective value of a reward decreases as a function of the number of people it is shared with. Based on evolutionary theory, individuals’ social discounting rates were expected to depend on both reward amount and the type of relationship with the people with whom the reward would be shared. As predicted, smaller amounts were discounted less steeply than larger ones, and social discounting was steepest when sharing with strangers and shallowest when sharing with family. The effect of the type of social relationship is consistent with Hamilton’s inclusive fitness theory. The shallower discounting of smaller rewards may be adaptive when resources are limited; alternatively, this finding may be due to the degree of disappointment that is anticipated if the reward is unfairly shared, assuming that the disappointment increases with the size of the reward being withheld by the group.
Save Now, Save Later?
Authors: Ashby Julie S. , Schoon Ingrid , Webley Paul
Published: May 2011

Using evidence from an 18-year British follow-up study this paper examines whether saving during adolescence is linked to saving in adulthood. A contextual development model of saving behavior is tested, examining the interplay between socioeconomic family background, parenting style, economic socialization, adult socioeconomic attainments, and saving behavior in adolescence and adulthood. The findings suggest that saving at age 16 is linked to saving at age 34, and that socialization experiences during adolescence, as well as own social status and income, shape the savers that we become.
The Link Between Perceptual Congruence and Couple Relationship Satisfaction in Dyadic Coping
Authors: Iafrate Raffaella , Bertoni Anna , Margola Davide , Cigoli Vittorio , Acitelli Linda K.
Published: May 2011

The current study extends prior research on perceptual congruence within couples by examining some variables of perceptual congruence in the context of dyadic coping. We examined each partner’s perceived similarity in dyadic coping, actual similarity in providing and receiving support in times of stress, and what we call the couple bond, that is, the recognition of each partner’s coping efforts as measured at a couple level. In a sample of 281 married and unmarried couples, we tested the predictive power of perceptual congruence variables on relationship satisfaction. Congruence variables were computed through an idiographic or dyad-centered approach. In order to measure congruence pertaining to each dyad and separate two equally important components of dyadic congruence (i.e., unique similarity and stereotypical similarity), stereotype adjusted and not-adjusted scores were computed. The results indicated that, with adjusted scores, the effect of the perceptual congruence of dyadic coping was weakened but, for women at least, the effect of perceived similarity remained significant and the variable of couple bond was marginally significant. The results provide preliminary clues to the role of dyadic coping within an interpersonal- and social-based perspective.
The Unique Contribution of Positive Orientation to Optimal Functioning
Authors: Alessandri Guido , Caprara Gian Vittorio , Tisak John
Published: May 2011

Literature documents that the judgments people hold about themselves, their life, and their future are important ingredients of their psychological functioning and well-being, and are commonly related to each other. In this paper, results from a large cross-sectional sample (N = 1,331, 48% males) are presented attesting to the hypothesis that evaluations about oneself, one’s life, and one’s future rest on a common mode of viewing experiences named “Positive Orientation.” These results corroborate the utility of the new construct as a critical component of individuals’ well functioning.
Effects of aspen harvesting on groundwater recharge and water table dynamics in a subhumid climate
Authors: Carrera‐Hernández J. J. , Mendoza C. A. , Devito K. J. , Petrone R. M. , Smerdon B. D.
Published: May 2011

Numerical experiments were developed using different water table depths and soil textures to investigate the impact of aspen harvesting on hydrological processes on the Western Boreal Plain. The effect of harvesting on soil moisture dynamics, fluxes at the water table, and water table fluctuation were compared for different harvesting scenarios simulated under wet and dry climatic cycles. Strong interaction between shallow water tables (i.e., 2 m) and atmospheric variability is observed for all soil textures and is reduced as the vadose zone thickens, particularly after a dry cycle, as a series of positive net atmospheric fluxes are needed to reduce soil moisture storage in order for recharge to occur. Because of harvesting, the water table fluxes can increase by 50 mm month−1, while on a yearly basis, this increase can reach 200 mm yr−1, with rainfall events taking between 1 and 5 years to become recharge (i.e., time lag). Also, the water table is expected to rise between 1 and 3.5 m, with rainfall–water table rise time lags of 1–3 years; however, the peak manifestation of harvesting on water table elevation can take up to 7 years after harvesting. The effects of aspen harvesting are more pronounced during wet cycles, and the development of forestry activities in the Boreal Plain should consider not only preceding precipitation but also the preceding precipitation–reference evapotranspiration ratio, water table depth, and soil texture. The interaction of these factors needs to be considered in order to develop sustainable forestry plans and avoid waterlogging conditions.
Constitutive equations for coupled flows in clay materials
Authors: Revil A. , Woodruff W. F. , Lu N.
Published: May 2011

We first upscale the local transport (Stokes and Nernst‐Planck) equations to the scale of a single capillary saturated by a binary 1:1 electrolyte. These equations are then upscaled to the scale of a network of tortuous capillaries embedded in a homogeneous and continuous mineral matrix, including the influence of the distribution of pore sizes but excluding the effect of connectivity between the pores. One of the features of our theory is to account for transport along the mineral surface in the so‐called Stern layer because of recent evidence that this mechanism is effective in describing frequency‐dependent electrical conductivity. Real clay materials are, however, not described by a set of capillaries, so we have to modify the model to include the effect of transversal dispersivity, for example. We found no evidence for transport in the Stern layer because of the discontinuity of the solid phase at the scale of a representative elementary volume in clay materials. The effect of the diffuse layer is accounted for through the use of a Donnan equilibrium approach to determine the effective concentrations of the ions in the pore space, which are different from the ionic concentrations of an ionic reservoir in local equilibrium with the porous material. We found that the diffuse layer controls various transport properties, including, for example, the DC electrical conductivity, the osmotic efficiency coefficient, the streaming potential coupling coefficient, and the macroscopic Hittorf numbers. Comparison to a large data set of experimental data, mainly on clay materials, confirms the validity of the derived relationships used to describe the material properties entering into the constitutive equations.
The global technical and economic potential of bioenergy from salt-affected soils
Authors: Wicke Birka , Smeets Edward , Dornburg Veronika , Vashev Boris , Gaiser Thomas , Turkenburg Wim , Faaij André
Published: May 2011

An analysis of bioenergy production on salt-affected land indicates that this type of degraded land has a considerable technical and economic potential for sustainably producing bioenergy.
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) pharmacogenetics, activity and expression analysis in cancer patients and healthy volunteers
Authors: Zaremba Tomasz , Thomas Huw D. , Cole Michael , Coulthard Sally A. , Plummer Elizabeth R. , Curtin Nicola J.
Published: May 2011

There is a wide inter-individual variation in PARP-1 {PAR [poly(ADP-ribose)] polymerase 1} activity, which may have implications for health. We investigated if the variation: (i) is due to polymorphisms in the PARP-1 gene or PARP-1 protein expression; and (ii) affects patients' response to anticancer treatment. We studied 56 HV (healthy volunteers) and 118 CP (cancer patients) with supporting in vivo experiments. PARP activity ranged between 10 and 2600 pmol of PAR/106 cells and expression between 0.02–1.55 ng of PARP-1/μg of protein. PARP-1 expression correlated with activity in HV (R2=0.19, P=0.003) and CP (R2=0.06, P=0.01). A short CA repeat in the promoter was significantly associated with increased cancer risk [OR (odds ratio), 5.22; 95% CI (confidence interval), 1.79–15.24]. PARP activity was higher in men than women (P=0.04) in the HV. Male mice also had higher PARP activity than females or castrated males. Oestrogen supplementation activated PARP in PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from female mice (P=0.003), but inhibited PARP-1 in their livers by 80%. PARP activity and expression were not dependent on the investigated polymorphisms, but there was a modest correlation of PARP activity with expression. Studies in the HV revealed sex differences in PARP activity, which was confirmed in mice and shown to be associated with sex hormones. Toxic response to treatment was not associated with PARP activity and/or expression.
Entropy reduction of quantum measurements
Authors: Shirokov M. E.
Published: May 2011

It is shown that the entropy reduction (the information gain in the initial terminology) of an efficient (ideal or pure) quantum measurement coincides with the generalized quantum mutual information of a quantum-classical channel mapping an a priori state to the corresponding posteriori probability distribution of the outcomes of the measurement. As a result the entropy reduction is defined for arbitrary a priori states (not only for states with finite von Neumann entropy) and its analytical properties is studied in detail by using general properties of the quantum mutual information. By using this approach it is shown that the entropy reduction of an efficient quantum measurement is a nonnegative lower semicontinuous concave function on the set of all a priori states having continuous restrictions to subsets on which the von Neumann entropy is continuous. Monotonicity and subadditivity of the entropy reduction are also easily proved by this method. A simple continuity condition for the entropy reduction and for the mean posteriori entropy considered as functions of a pair (a priori state, measurement) is obtained. A characterization of an irreducible measurement (in the Ozawa sense) which is not efficient is considered in the Appendix.
Estimation of elasticity map of soft biological tissue mimicking phantom using laser speckle contrast analysis
Authors: Suheshkumar Singh M. , Rajan K. , Vasu R. M.
Published: May 2011

Scattering of coherent light from scattering particles causes phase shift to the scattered light. The interference of unscattered and scattered light causes the formation of speckles. When the scattering particles, under the influence of an ultrasound (US) pressure wave, vibrate, the phase shift fluctuates, thereby causing fluctuation in speckle intensity. We use the laser speckle contrast analysis (LSCA) to reconstruct a map of the elastic property (Young’s modulus) of soft tissue-mimicking phantom. The displacement of the scatters is inversely related to the Young’s modulus of the medium. The elastic properties of soft biological tissues vary, many fold with malignancy. The experimental results show that laser speckle contrast (LSC) is very sensitive to the pathological changes in a soft tissue medium. The experiments are carried out on a phantom with two cylindrical inclusions of sizes 6mm in diameter, separated by 8mm between them. Three samples are made. One inclusion has Young’s modulus E of 40kPa. The second inclusion has either a Young’s modulus E of 20kPa, or scattering coefficient of μs'=3.00mm-1 or absorption coefficient of μa=0.03mm-1. The optical absorption (μa), reduced scattering (μs') coefficient, and the Young’s modulus of the background are μa=0.01mm-1, μs'=1.00mm-1 and 12kPa, respectively. The experiments are carried out on all three phantoms. On a phantom with two inclusions of Young’s modulus of 20 and 40kPa, the measured relative speckle image contrasts are 36.55% and 63.72%, respectively. Experiments are repeated on phantoms with inclusions of μa=0.03mm-1, E=40kPa and μs'=3.00mm-1. The results show that it is possible to detect inclusions with contrasts in optical absorption, optical scattering, and Young’s modulus. Studies of the variation of laser speckle contrast with ultrasound driving force for various values of μa, μs', and Young’s modulus of the tissue mimicking medium are also carried out.
Current annealing and electrical breakdown of epitaxial graphene
Authors: Hertel S. , Kisslinger F. , Jobst J. , Waldmann D. , Krieger M. , Weber H. B.
Published: May 2011

We report on epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide at high current densities. We observe two distinguished regimes, and a final breakdown. First for low current densities the conductance is enhanced due to desorption of adsorbates. Second with increasing bias the sample locally starts to glow and is strongly heated. The silicon carbide material decomposes, graphitic material is formed and thus additional current paths are created. The graphene layer breaks down, which is, however, not visible in high bias data. The final breakdown is a self-amplifying process resulting in a locally destroyed sample but surprisingly with better conductance than the original sample.
Effect of silver evolution on conductivity and transmittance of ZnO/Ag thin films
Authors: Zhang Dongyan , Yabe Hiromi , Akita Eri , Wang Pangpang , Murakami Ri-ichi , Song Xiaoping
Published: May 2011

ZnO films with an embedded silver layer, one of the most promising transparent conductive materials, possess excellent conductivity and optical transmittance. The performance of ZnO films is greatly affected by the morphology of the silver layer. In this work, we studied the changes in the electrical and optical properties of ZnO/Ag multilayered films as a function of the coalescence of the silver clusters. Silver clusters aggregated into various morphologies at different layer growth stages and dominantly affected the conductivity of ZnO/Ag films as a result of different electron transport mechanisms. The optical transmittance was also enhanced by surface plasmon resonance between the incident light and the random grating of the silver clusters. The improved electrical conductivity and optical transmittance give asymmetric ZnO/Ag multilayered films the potential to be used as transparent electrodes.
Surface-electrode ion trap with integrated light source
Authors: Kim Tony Hyun , Herskind Peter F. , Chuang Isaac L.
Published: May 2011

An atomic ion is trapped at the tip of a single-mode optical fiber in a cryogenic (8 K) surface-electrode ion trap. The fiber serves as an integrated source of laser light, which drives the quadrupole qubit transition of S88r+. Through in situ translation of the nodal point of the trapping field, the Gaussian beam profile of the fiber output is imaged, and the fiber-ion displacement, in units of the mode waist at the ion, is optimized to within 0.13±0.10 of the mode center despite an initial offset of 3.30±0.10. Fiber-induced charging by 125 μW of 674 nm light is observed to be ∼10 V/m at an ion height of 670 μm, with charging and discharging time constants of 1.6±0.3 s and 4.7±0.6 s, respectively. This work is of importance to large-scale, ion-based quantum information processing, where optics integration in surface-electrode designs may be a crucial enabling technology.
Note: Laser ablation technique for electrically contacting a buried implant layer in single crystal diamond
Authors: Ray M. P. , Baldwin J. W. , Feygelson T. I. , Butler J. E. , Pate B. B.
Published: May 2011

The creation of thin, buried, and electrically conducting layers within an otherwise insulating diamond by annealed ion implantation damage is well known. Establishing facile electrical contact to the shallow buried layer has been an unmet challenge. We demonstrate a new method, based on laser micro-machining (laser ablation), to make reliable electrical contact to a buried implant layer in diamond. Comparison is made to focused ion beam milling.
Submonolayer barium passivation study for germanium(100)/molecular beam epitaxial Al2O3
Authors: Sun X. , Merckling C. , Heyns M. , Dekoster J. , Caymax M.
Published: May 2011

The passivation effect of a Ba submonolayer with (2×1) and (4×1) surface reconstructions are investigated for Ge(001)/Al2O3 interfaces. The interface characteristics are evaluated by capacitance-voltage and ac conductance techniques at various temperatures. It is found that the Ba passivating effect on Ge is dose dependent below one monolayer. At the same time, Ge oxides are suppressed by the presence of a Ba submonolayer. The interface is thermally stable, even at a temperature higher than the desorption temperature of Ge oxides. Forming gas annealing at this temperature yields a relatively symmetric distribution of interface traps in the Ge band gap.
Tapered Dipoles in Briefly Flashed Glass-Pattern Sequences Disambiguate Perceived Motion Direction
Authors: Johnson Bareena , Wenderoth Peter
Published: May 2011

In order to investigate the relationship between ‘neural speedlines’, form (shape), and fast motion-direction decisions, Glass patterns were constructed with dipoles assuming a tapered shape. The results of a 2-alternative forced-choice direction-discrimination task, for both concentric and translational Glass-pattern sequences, suggest that with short stimulus presentations (<1 s) form can influence direction decisions. This result implies that neural speedlines may be analogous to tapered lines and further supports Geisler's (1999, Nature400 65 – 69) model of form/motion interaction.
The Sickening Rug: A Repeating Static Pattern That Leads to Motion-Sickness-like Symptoms
Authors: Bonato Frederick , Bubka Andrea , Ishak Shaziela , Graveline Veronica
Published: May 2011

The nauseogenic properties of a patterned rug that reputedly caused motion-sickness-like symptoms in those who viewed it was the topic of this study. Naive observers viewed a 1:1 scale image of the black-and-white patterned rug and a homogeneous gray region of equivalent luminance in a counterbalanced within-subjects design. After 5 min of viewing, symptoms were assessed with the simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), yielding a total SSQ score and sub-scores for nausea, oculomotor symptoms, and disorientation. All four scores were significantly higher in the rug condition. Observers also reported significantly more self-motion perception in the rug condition, even though they were seated during the experiment. Results are consistent with findings that suggest that neurologically normal individuals who view a repeating static pattern can experience unpleasant symptoms, some of which are similar to motion sickness.
Identity Aftereffects, but Not Composite Effects, are Contingent on Contrast Polarity
Authors: Taubert Jessica , Alais David
Published: May 2011

People are very good at discriminating faces despite their gross similarity. Our ability to capitalize on the variance that exists between faces has been attributed to an adaptive face-coding system. Evidence from psychophysical adaptation paradigms has generally supported this view, although results from other paradigms have suggested alternative accounts. The composite face-effect (CFE), for example, has been used to argue that holistic processing supports face discrimination. The question addressed here is whether the notion of holistic processing can be integrated with the notion of an adaptive face-coding system. Experiment 1 clearly demonstrates that the CFE acts on contrast-reversed faces while experiment 2 reveals that face-space adaptation depends on contrast polarity, consistent with previous observations of contrast-reversal impairing discrimination performance. Our results suggest that two popular theoretical frame-works in the face-recognition literature can be integrated, with holistic processing occurring at an earlier stage than face discrimination.
Self-Motion Perception Compresses Time Experienced in Return Travel
Authors: Seno Takeharu , Ito Hiroyuki , Sunaga Shoji
Published: May 2011

It is often anecdotally reported that time experienced in return travel (back to the start point) seems shorter than time spent in outward travel (travel to a new destination). Here, we report the first experimental results showing that return travel time is experienced as shorter than the actual time. This discrepancy is induced by the existence of self-motion perception.
Thresholds for the Detection of Changing Visual Features
Authors: Burmester Alex , Wallis Guy
Published: May 2011

Change blindness refers to the difficulty observers have in detecting otherwise obvious changes to visual stimuli, when these changes are masked in some way. Typically, change blindness is studied by using complex visual scenes and complex changes to these scenes. In the current study, we used a more controlled visual environment, presenting observers with a series of oriented, sinusoidal patterns (Gabors), one of which underwent a change during a blanking of the screen. Changes were made to different features (size, colour, spatial frequency, and speed) with the target – distractor discriminability varying. The detectability of these changes was quantified by calculating psychometric functions and thresholds for each individual observer. Thresholds for the detection of changing features were higher than those for non-changing features, but thresholds for both tasks show consistency across observers. Psychometric-function slopes show consistency across observers and change type only for non-changing targets. For changing targets, psychometric-function slopes show no obvious pattern across observers or change types. We suggest this reflects vSTM treating different features as abstract, interchangeable tokens, as alternative explanations (such as additional noise in vSTM) can be ruled out.
South‐East European Regional Conference of Psychology, 2009, Sofia, Bulgaria
Authors: Knowles Michael , Sabourin Michel
Published: May 2011

The first South‐East European Regional Conference of Psychology was held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 30 October to 1 November 2009, under the Patronage of the President of Bulgaria and the auspices of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), and the International Association for Cross‐Cultural Psychology (IACCP), with further financial support provided by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) and the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS). The conference was hosted by the Bulgarian Psychological Society under the Conference Presidency of Dr Plamen Dimitrov, who was supported by Professor Sava Djonev as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee. It attracted over 350 participants from 25 countries, including 14 countries from the SEE region and its immediate neighbours. The Scientific Program explored ways and means to promote the role of psychology individually and institutionally at regional and international levels. Planning is already under way to organize a second regional conference in three years’ time.
First Report of Squash leaf curl Philippines virus Infecting Chayote (Sechium edule) in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai W. S. , Hu C. J. , Shung D. P. , Lee L. M. , Wang J. T. , Kenyon L.
Published: May 2011

Young shoots and leaves of chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.) are commonly consumed as a vegetable in Taiwan. In Hualien County, the major chayote-production area of Taiwan, as much as 15% of chayote plants were not marketable between September and October 2010 because of mosaic symptoms on the leaves. Three symptomatic leaves were collected from each of three fields in Hualien. All nine samples tested positive for a begomovirus by PCR using general primer pair PAL1v1978B/PAR1c715H (3) and negative for Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, Cucumber mosaic virus, Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, Melon yellow spot virus, Papaya ringspot virus - type W, Watermelon mosaic virus, and Watermelon silver mottle virus by ELISA (2). On the basis of the high nucleotide sequence identity (97.7 to 99.6%) of the 1.5-kb begomoviral DNA-A fragments, all nine samples were considered infected by the same begomovirus species. The 1.5-kb sequences had greatest nucleotide sequence identity (96.6 to 97.8%) with Squash leaf curl Philippines virus (SLCPHV) pumpkin isolate from Taiwan (1) (GenBank Accession No. DQ866135; SLCPHV-TW[TW:Pum:05]). One sample was selected to complete viral genomic DNA analysis. Abutting primer pairs PKA-V/C (PKA-V: 5′-AACGGATCCACTTATGCACGATTTCCCT-3′; PKA-C: 5′-TAAGGATCCCACATGTTGTGGAGCA-3′) and PKB-V/C (PKB-V: 5′-TGTCCATGGATTGATGCGTTATCGGA-3′; PKB-C: 5′-TGACCATGGCATTTCCGAGATCTCCCA-3′') were used to amplify the complete DNA-A and DNA-B, respectively. The sequences of DNA-A (GenBank Accession No. JF146795) and DNA-B (GenBank Accession No. JF146796) contain 2,734 and 2,715 nucleotides, respectively. The geminivirus conserved sequence TAATATTAC was found in both DNA-A and -B. The DNA-A has two open reading frames (ORFs) in the virus sense (V1 and V2) and four in the complementary sense (C1 to C4). The DNA-B also had one ORF each in the virus sense (BV1) and the complementary sense (BC1). When compared by BLASTn in GenBank and analyzed by MEGALIGN software (DNASTAR, Madison, WI), they were found to have greatest nucleotide identity (98.0 to 99.0% of DNA-A and 96.7% of DNA-B) with SLCPHV isolates from Taiwan. In addition, SLCPHV caused similar symptoms on leaves when transmitted to healthy chayote by viruliferous whitefly. In Taiwan, SLCPHV has been detected and sequenced from naturally infected melon (GenBank Accession No. EU479710), pumpkin (GenBank Accession No. DQ866135), and wax gourd (GenBank Accession No. EU310406). To our knowledge, this is the first report of SLCPHV infecting chayote plants in Taiwan. The prevalence of SLCPHV infection on different cucurbit crops should be taken into consideration for managing viral diseases in Taiwan.

References: (1) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Dis. 91:907, 2007. (2) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Dis. 94:923, 2010. (3) W. S. Tsai et al. Online publication. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2011.02424.x. Plant Pathol., 2011.
Transcriptomic profiling of Microplitis
demolitor bracovirus reveals host, tissue and stage-specific patterns of activity
Authors: Bitra Kavita , Zhang Shu , Strand Michael R.
Published: May 2011

The polydnaviruses (PDVs) are a family of DNA viruses that are symbiotically associated with parasitoid wasps. The transcription of particular genes or gene-family members have been reported for several PDVs, but no studies have characterized the spatio-temporal patterns of expression for the entire complement of predicted genes in the encapsidated genome of any PDV isolate. The braconid wasp Microplitis
demolitor carries the PDV Microplitis
demolitor bracovirus (MdBV) and parasitizes larval stage Pseudoplusia (Chrysodeixis) includens. The encapsidated genome consists of 15 genomic segments with 51 predicted ORFs encoding proteins ≥100 aa. A majority of these ORFs form four multimember gene families (ptp, ank, glc and egf) while the remaining ORFs consist of single copy (orph) genes. Here we used RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR methods to profile the encapsidated transcriptome of MdBV in P.
includens and M.
demolitor. Our results indicate that most predicted genes are expressed in P.
includens. Spatial patterns of expression in P.
includens differed among genes, but temporal patterns of expression were generally similar, with transcript abundance progressively declining between 24 and 120 h. A subset of ptp, ank and orph genes were also expressed in adult female but not male M.
demolitor. Only one encapsidated gene (ank-H4) was expressed in all life stages of M.
demolitor, albeit at much lower levels than in P.
includens. However, another encapsidated gene (orph-B1) was expressed in adult M.
demolitor at similar levels to those detected in P.
includens.
Tissue rinse liquid‐based cytology: a feasible tool for the intraoperative pathological evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients
Authors: Yamashiro K. , Taira K. , Nakajima M. , Okuyama D. , Azuma M. , Takeda H. , Suzuki H. , Jotoku H. , Watanabe K. , Takahashi M. , Taguchi K. , Tamura M.
Published: May 2011

K. Yamashiro, K. Taira, M. Nakajima, D. Okuyama, M. Azuma, H. Takeda, H. Suzuki, H. Jotoku, K. Watanabe, M. Takahashi, K. Taguchi and M. Tamura  Tissue rinse liquid‐based cytology: a feasible tool for the intraoperative pathological evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients

Objectives:  A unique diagnostic method was designed for the intraoperative pathological evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer patients, and the results were verified with 2 years of experience.

Methods:  Excised lymph nodes were cut into 2‐mm‐thick slices and rinsed thoroughly in CytoRich Red®. The sliced tissues were embedded in a paraffin block. Three cytological glass slides of the cells exfoliated in CytoRich Red® were prepared by the SurePath® liquid‐based cytology (LBC) technique. Two slides were stained by the Papanicolaou method, and the remaining slide was immunostained with an anti‐keratin antibody. This process is called tissue rinse liquid‐based cytology (TRLBC). The results of TRLBC were compared with those of the final pathological diagnoses, including immunostaining with an anti‐keratin antibody on paraffin blocks (PB).

Results:  This study analysed 444 SLNs from 247 consecutive breast cancer patients. It required 35 minutes to complete the intraoperative diagnosis on a single node, and it took an additional 5 minutes per node if more than one node was submitted. When the results of PB were assumed to be the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of TRLBC were 81.9% and 96.1%, respectively. TRLBC detected all nodes with macrometastasis and 23 of 24 nodes with micrometastasis. Fifteen false‐negative TRLBC results were ‘isolated tumour cell clusters’ on PB, but there was one with micrometastasis histologically. Four of 14 false‐positive TRLBC results were proven to be true positive by supplementary examination using step sectioning of the paraffin blocks of the nodes.

Conclusion:  TRLBC is a feasible and promising intraoperative cytopathological tool showing a comparable efficacy to PB while still allowing the conventional postoperative histological examination.
Asthma: a simple concept but in reality a complex disease
Authors: Holgate Stephen T.
Published: May 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2011; 41 (12): 1339–1352

Background  Asthma is a disorder of the conducting airways that contract too easily and too much to cause variable airflow obstruction with symptoms of wheeze, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Based on this knowledge, initial treatments were directed to dilating the contracted airways with anticholinergic and adrenergic drugs. The recognition that allergic‐type inflammation underlay the hyperresponsive airways in asthma led to the introduction of anti‐inflammatory drugs such as sodium cromoglicate and corticosteroids. Over the 2 decades that followed, these drugs have been progressively improved by increasing their therapeutic index and duration of action.

Methods  A review of the recent literature indicates that since the 1980s, the explosive increase in knowledge of the cell and mediator mechanisms of asthma has only led to modest improvements in therapy including the introduction of leukotriene modifiers and a blocking monoclonal antibody against IgE. Indeed, biologics targeting allergic cytokines and effector cells have on the whole proven disappointing despite initial promise being shown in animal models.

Results  Part of the difficulty lies in the oversimplified concept that asthma is only driven by allergic processes when in reality there are many environmental causes and triggers and the view that it is a homogeneous disorder only varying in severity.

Conclusions  The more recent views that asthma is a complex disorder made up of different subtypes with differing causes, treatment responses and natural histories creates a new opportunity for stratified medicine in which therapies acting upstream selectively target specific disease subtypes identified by specific diagnostic biomarkers.
Adhesion molecules and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein levels in patients with sickle cell beta‐thalassaemia
Authors: Kanavaki Ino , Makrythanasis Periklis , Lazaropoulou Christina , Kattamis Antonis , Tzanetea Revekka , Kalotychou Vassiliki , Rombos Ioannis , Papassotiriou Ioannis
Published: May 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (1): 27–33

Background and aim  The primary symptoms of sickle cell disease (SCD) arise from vaso‐occlusive crises. The pathogenesis of these crises is complex phenomenon where endothelial activation and damage has a major role. Chronic inflammation also plays an important role in the pathophysiology of SCD. We aimed to investigate endothelial activation in Caucasian Greek patients with SCD by means of measuring adhesion molecules and markers of inflammation.

Subjects and methods  Twenty‐eight patients with SCD aged 5–63 years were included in the study. Most of the patients (23/28) were double heterozygotes for sickle cell/beta‐thalassaemia, while five patients (5/28) were sickle cell homozygotes. Patients were treated with one/or more of hydroxyurea, therapeutic phlebotomies, blood transfusion or splenectomy. Twenty apparently healthy individuals matched for age and sex formed the control group. Measurements of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, (sICAM‐1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (sVCAM‐1), P‐selectin, E‐selectin, soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels were performed using immunoassays in both patients and healthy individuals.

Results  We found that all endothelial adhesion molecules and hs‐CRP were significantly increased (P < 0·001) in patients with SCD compared with controls, while sTM levels did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) and this increase was not influenced by the treatment.

Conclusion  Our findings demonstrate the high degree of endothelial activation and damage seen in sickle cell patients even in steady‐state condition, as well as the important chronic inflammation underlying the pathophysiology of this widespread disease.
Bioinformatics meets parasitology
Authors: CANTACESSI C. , CAMPBELL B. E. , JEX A. R. , YOUNG N. D. , HALL R. S. , RANGANATHAN S. , GASSER R. B.
Published: May 2011

The advent and integration of high‐throughput ‘‐omics’ technologies (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, glycomics and lipidomics) are revolutionizing the way biology is done, allowing the systems biology of organisms to be explored. These technologies are now providing unique opportunities for global, molecular investigations of parasites. For example, studies of a transcriptome (all transcripts in an organism, tissue or cell) have become instrumental in providing insights into aspects of gene expression, regulation and function in a parasite, which is a major step to understanding its biology. The purpose of this article was to review recent applications of next‐generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatic tools to large‐scale investigations of the transcriptomes of parasitic nematodes of socio‐economic significance (particularly key species of the order Strongylida) and to indicate the prospects and implications of these explorations for developing novel methods of parasite intervention.
Social exposure to an antiretroviral treatment programme in rural KwaZulu‐Natal
Authors: Bor Jacob , Bärnighausen Till , Newell Colin , Tanser Frank , Newell Marie‐Louise
Published: May 2011

Objective  To investigate the prevalence of social exposure to a large, government‐run ART programme in rural South Africa.

Method  Clinical data on 6681 patients were matched with demographic data on a nearly complete cohort of 102 359 people residing in the programme catchment area. We calculated the proportion of residents in the demographic surveillance area that were members of a household, or resided in a compound where someone had initiated ART or received pre‐ART care.

Results  By January 2010, 3% of the population had initiated ART. However, 25% of the population shared household membership or resided in a compound with someone who had initiated ART; 40% shared household or living arrangements with people who had either initiated ART or were enrolled in pre‐ART care.

Conclusion  Such high rates of social exposure suggest that ART programmes in HIV endemic areas are likely to have significant population‐level effects on social norms and economic welfare. These results also point to the opportunity to reach large numbers of people with health and social services through existing ART programmes.
Estimation of seed production by Myosotis arvensis, Veronica hederifolia, Veronica persica and Viola arvensis under different competitive conditions
Authors: LUTMAN P J W , WRIGHT K J , BERRY K , FREEMAN S E , TATNELL L
Published: May 2011

Lutman PJW, Wright KJ, Berry K, Freeman SE & Tatnell L (2011). Estimation of seed production by Myosotis arvensis, Veronica hederifolia, Veronica persica and Viola arvensis under different competitive conditions. Weed Research51, 499–507.

Seed production by Myosotis arvensis, Viola arvensis, Veronica persica and Veronica hederifolia was estimated in a series of 12 experiments. These species were grown in the field either on their own or in competition with a range of arable crops, though mainly winter wheat. Plants were harvested in summer, as they approached maturity and capsule and flower head numbers and dry weights were recorded. Seeds produced by each capsule (flower head) were also assessed in all experiments. Seed numbers were regressed with plant weight on a log/log basis, and high correlations were achieved in all cases (percentage variance accounted for >91%). Slopes of the overall regression lines were slightly <1.0 for all species (0.77–0.92). In the absence of crop competition, M. arvensis was estimated to produce c. 100 000, V. arvensis 3714, V. persica 4100 and V. hederifolia 980 seeds per plant. Competition from winter wheat reduced seed production of three of the species by more than 70%, but only reduced V. hederifolia production by 56%. These data on seed production form a key building block for the construction of population dynamics models to predict the likely consequences of the lower input weed management that is being promoted to reduce the environmental impact of weed control.
Strategies for exome and genome sequence data analysis in disease‐gene discovery projects
Authors: Robinson PN , Krawitz P , Mundlos S
Published: May 2011

Robinson PN, Krawitz P, Mundlos S. Strategies for exome and genome sequence data analysis in disease‐gene discovery projects.

In whole‐exome sequencing (WES), target capture methods are used to enrich the sequences of the coding regions of genes from fragmented total genomic DNA, followed by massively parallel, ‘next‐generation’ sequencing of the captured fragments. Since its introduction in 2009, WES has been successfully used in several disease‐gene discovery projects, but the analysis of whole‐exome sequence data can be challenging. In this overview, we present a summary of the main computational strategies that have been applied to identify novel disease genes in whole‐exome data, including intersect filters, the search for de novo mutations, and the application of linkage mapping or inference of identity‐by‐descent (IBD) in family studies.
Optimization of Glycerol Concentration and Freezing Rate in the Cryopreservation of Ejaculate From Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Authors: de Paz P , Alvarez‐Rodriguez M , Nicolas M , Alvarez M , Chamorro CA , Borragán S , Martinez‐Pastor F , Anel L
Published: May 2011

Contents

In order to establish a semen bank for the endangered Cantabrian brown bear, we tested five glycerol concentrations and three freezing rates for electroejaculated semen. Electroejaculation was performed on nine males. Semen was diluted in TES–Tris–Fructose (20% egg yolk, 2% EDTA, 1% Equex) with 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% glycerol and frozen at −10, −20 or −40°C/min. Before and after cryopreservation, samples were analysed for motility (CASA), viability and acrosomal status (flow cytometry). Pre‐freezing results showed that glycerol concentration had no significant effect on total motility or progressive motility, but it significantly decreased VCL, ALH, viability and acrosomal status (p < 0.05). After thawing, sperm motility was higher at extender with 4%, 6% and 8% glycerol, but only at 4% and 6% glycerol for viability and acrosomal status. For 4% and 6% glycerol, freezing rates did not have significant effects. The curve fitting gave an estimate of the optimal glycerol concentration, with all the optimal values for every parameter between 6% and 7% glycerol falling. We propose using 6% glycerol and a freezing velocity of −20°C/min for freezing brown bear ejaculated spermatozoa.
Impact of urethral ultrasonography on decision‐making in anterior urethroplasty
Authors: Buckley Jill C. , Wu Alex K. , McAninch Jack W.
Published: May 2011

Study Type – Diagnostic (Exploratory cohort)

Level of Evidence 2b

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Standard plain film evaluation of an anterior urethral strictures is inaccurate and can be misleading. A useful adjunctive imaging study that adds objective, precise anatomical information that helps guide surgical planning.

OBJECTIVE

• To assess the impact of urethral ultrasonography on decision‐making in complex anterior urethral reconstructions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• This was an institutional review board approved retrospective review of 500 patients receiving anterior urethroplasty from 1985 to 2007.

• In all, 232 patients met the inclusion criteria of documented preoperative clinical assessment, retrograde urethrogram (RUG), urethral ultrasonogram, and measured operative stricture length and dimensions.

• At the time of surgery, intraoperative urethral ultrasonography was performed.

• A preoperative planned reconstructive approach was compared with the reconstructive procedure performed to determine how often urethral ultrasonography impacted operative decision‐making.

RESULTS

• Of the 232 patients in our review, 115 (50%), 88 (38%) and 16 (7%) received respectively anastomotic, buccal mucosa graft and fasciocutaneous flap urethroplasties.

• Intraoperative ultrasonography changed surgical approach in 44 patients (19%), and was integral in deciding between two equally possible approaches in an additional 61 patients (26%).

• In patients whose approach was changed from anastomotic urethroplasty to an onlay urethroplasty, mean RUG length was 2.0 cm while mean ultrasound length was significantly longer at 3.4 cm (P= 0.02).

• When the surgical approach was changed from an onlay urethroplasty to an anastomotic urethroplasty, mean RUG length was 2.7 cm compared with a significantly shorter intraoperative ultrasonography length of 1.9 cm (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

• Ultrasonography of the anterior urethra directly influenced our reconstructive operative approach in 45% of patients.

• It is a simple, reliable procedure that adds valuable clinical insight and objective radiographic data to help select the optimal anterior urethral reconstructive approach.
Macro‐integration with inequality constraints: an application to the integration of transport and trade statistics
Authors: Boonstra Harm Jan H. , Blois Chris J. de , Linders Gert‐Jan M.
Published: May 2011

Macro‐integration is the process of combining data from several sources at an aggregate level. We review a Bayesian approach to macro‐integration with special emphasis on the inclusion of inequality constraints. In particular, an approximate method of dealing with inequality constraints within the linear macro‐integration framework is proposed. This method is based on a normal approximation to the truncated multivariate normal distribution. The framework is then applied to the integration of international trade statistics and transport statistics. By combining these data sources, transit flows can be derived as differences between specific transport and trade flows. Two methods of imposing the inequality restrictions that transit flows must be non‐negative are compared. Moreover, the figures are improved by imposing the equality constraints that aggregates of incoming and outgoing transit flows must be equal.