bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
20-Hydroxyecdysone decreases weight and hyperglycemia in a diet-induced obesity mice model
Authors: Kizelsztein Pablo , Govorko Dmitry , Komarnytsky Slavko , Evans Alysa , Wang Zhong , Cefalu William T. , Raskin Ilya
Published: January 2009

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE) is an essential signaling molecule that modulates molting response in insects and may function as a putative anabolic factor in vertebrate animals, although no mammalian 20HE receptor has been identified. Here we show that in H4IIE cell culture, 20HE treatment decreased expression of phospho enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), reduced glucose production, and induced Akt2 phosphorylation sensitive to the phosphoinositide-3 kinase pathway-specific inhibitor LY-294002. Daily oral administration of 20HE (10 mg/kg for 13 wk) ameliorated obesity and insulin resistance in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet and produced a significant decrease of body weight gain and body fat mass compared with nontreated animals as demonstrated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis. In addition, plasma insulin levels and glucose tolerance were significantly lowered by 20HE treatment. These changes were accompanied by the reduced hepatic expression of PEPCK and G6Pase and increased adiponectin production by visceral fat tissue. These studies demonstrate the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of 20HE and begin to elucidate its putative cellular targets both in vitro and in vivo.
Atrial natriuretic peptide increases inflammation, infarct size, and mortality after experimental coronary occlusion
Authors: Houng Aiilyan K. , McNamee Rachel A. , Kerner Attila , Sharma Pallavi , Mohamad Almois , Tronolone Jonathan , Reed Guy L.
Published: January 2009

Acute coronary artery occlusion triggers the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart. ANP affects vasodilation, natriuresis, and inflammation, but the integrated biological effects of ANP on myocardial infarction are unknown. To elucidate these effects, the left anterior coronary artery was ligated in anesthetized, ANP-deficient (ANP−/−) and congenic wild-type (ANP+/+) mice. The survival of ANP−/− mice was markedly better (56%) at 30 days postinfarction than the survival of ANP+/+ mice (20%, P < 0.01). Surviving mice were comparable initially, but ANP−/− mice developed more cardiac hypertrophy ( P < 0.001) and had lower contractility indexes 30 days after infarction ( P < 0.05). An analysis 24 h after coronary occlusion showed that ANP−/− mice had smaller infarcts than ANP+/+ mice (62.6 ± 12.1 vs. 100.8 ± 3.8%, P < 0.001) adjusted for comparable areas at risk for ischemia. The administration of ANP to ANP−/− mice via osmotic minipumps significantly enlarged infarct size to levels comparable with those observed in ANP+/+ mice ( P < 0.05). There was no difference in neutrophil migration into the noninfarcted myocardium of ANP−/− mice undergoing actual versus sham-operated coronary occlusion. By comparison, after coronary occlusion, the neutrophil infiltration into the myocardium was enhanced in ANP+/+ ( P < 0.0005) and ANP−/− mice administered ANP ( P < 0.0005). The expression of P-selectin, a molecule that mediates neutrophil adhesion, was significantly greater after coronary occlusion in the vasculature of ANP+/+ or ANP−/− mice treated with ANP than in ANP−/− mice ( P < 0.002). Taken together, these results indicate that ANP increases P-selectin, neutrophil infiltration, infarct size, and mortality following experimental coronary occlusion.
Effects of intracerebroventricular and intra-accumbens melanin-concentrating hormone agonism on food intake and energy expenditure
Authors: Guesdon Benjamin , Paradis Éric , Samson Pierre , Richard Denis
Published: January 2009

The brain melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) system represents an anabolic system involved in energy balance regulation through influences exerted on the homeostatic and nonhomeostatic controls of food intake and energy expenditure. The present study was designed to further delineate the effect of the MCH system on energy balance regulation by assessing the actions of the MCH receptor 1 (MCHR1) agonism on both food intake and energy expenditure after intracerebroventricular (third ventricle) and intra-nucleus-accumbens-shell (intraNAcSH) injections of a MCHR1 agonist. Total energy expenditure and substrate oxidation were assessed following injections in male Wistar rats using indirect calorimetry. Food intake was also measured. Pair-fed groups were added to evaluate changes in thermogenesis that would occur regardless of the meal size and its thermogenic response. Using such experimental conditions, we were able to demonstrate that acute MCH agonism in the brain, besides its orexigenic effect, induced a noticeable change in the utilization of the main metabolic fuels. In pair-fed animals, MCH significantly reduced lipid oxidation when it was injected in the third ventricle. Such an effect was not observed following the injection of MCH in the NAcSH, where MCH nonetheless strongly stimulated appetite. The present results further delineate the influence of MCH on energy expenditure and substrate oxidation while confirming the key role of the NAcSH in the effects of the MCH system on food intake.
The c-src Homologue Src64B Is Sufficient to Activate the Drosophila Cellular Immune Response
Authors: Williams Michael J.
Published: January 2009

The Drosophila larval cellular immune response involves cells (haemocytes) that can be recruited from a haematopoietic organ known as the lymph gland, as well as a sessile population of cells found just underneath the larval cuticle arranged in a segmental pattern. Overexpression of the Drosophila c-src homologue Src64B disrupts the sessile-haemocyte banding pattern. Though Src64B overexpression induced the formation of specialized haemocytes known as lamellocytes, its hyperactivation had no effect on circulating plasmatocyte concentration. Also, there is evidence of non-autonomous regulation as Src64B activity was observed in non-overexpressing plasmatocytes. Finally, Src64B overexpression induced F-actin formation and Jun kinase activation in plasmatocytes.
Nation-State Belonging among Asian Australians and the Question of Transnationalism
Authors: Clark Juliet
Published: January 2009

Research shows that migrants are likely to develop multiple attachments to local and global allegiances that lie beyond the boundaries of the nation-state. Drawing on the Asian Australian experience as a point of departure, this article explores whether Asian Australian migrants from a range of different social and cultural backgrounds are more or less likely than the rest of the Australian population to feel a sense of belonging to the nation-state. Using the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes 2003, the results show that Asian Australian migrants have similar views towards the nation-state as the rest of the Australian population. Given that research on the Asian Australian migrant experience is predominantly located in cultural studies, the results suggest the importance of using survey research as another avenue to understand the migrant experience.
Effects of Safety Behaviour On the Maintenance of Anxiety and Negative Belief Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Okajima Isa , Kanai Yoshihiro , Chen Junwen , Sakano Yuji
Published: January 2009

Background: Safety behaviour plays an important role in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder (SAD). SAD patients engage in various safety behaviours in social situations in order to decrease the risk of negative evaluations from others.

Aims: The present study examined the effect of safety behaviour on the maintenance of anxiety and negative belief in SAD by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).

Methods: Participants were a healthy group (442) and a SAD group (46) who met the SAD criteria for DSM-IV and who had high scores of SAD symptoms. In the assumed maintenance model, independence variables were safety and avoidance behaviour and dependence variables were anxiety and negative belief.

Results: This result showed that the SAD group significantly has more high scores than the healthy group in all scales of anxiety, negative belief and avoidance behaviour, expect for safety behaviour. The result of the multiple-group procedure indicated that safety behaviour contributes more strongly to anxiety and negative belief in the SAD group than in the healthy group.

Conclusions: It is speculated that the SAD group have a stronger link between safety behaviour and negative belief than the healthy group, whereas frequency of the use of safety behaviour is equivalent between two groups. These results support the findings of previous studies.
Perceived Risk of Internet Theft Victimization
Authors: Reisig Michael D. , Pratt Travis C. , Holtfreter Kristy
Published: January 2009

This study examines the antecedents of online consumers' estimates of the risk of credit card theft victimization and whether risk perceptions are empirically linked to online lifestyles. Using telephone survey data from a sample of adult Internet users in the state of Florida ( N = 573), the regression analysis shows that socially vulnerable (e.g., lower socioeconomic status consumers) and financially impulsive respondents perceive higher levels of risk when using their credit card online. Results from the negative binomial models show that consumers with higher risk scores spend significantly less time on the Internet and make fewer purchases from Web sites, yet financially impulsive respondents fail to engage in such risk-reduction strategies. Overall, these findings suggest that key features of Ferraro's risk interpretation model generalize to the online victimization context.
Aliphatic Liquid Transport through Heterogeneous Ethylene—Propylene— Diene Monomer Rubber/Poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) Blends
Authors: George Shyla , Kumari Prajitha , Unnikrishnan G.
Published: January 2009

The sorption and diffusion of n-alkanes, namely, hexane, heptane, and octane through crosslinked Ethylene—Propylene—Diene Monomer/ Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EPDM/EVA) blends has been examined in the temperature interval of 28—58°C. Special reference has been given to the effects of blend composition, crosslinking systems, penetrant nature, and temperature on the liquid transport. The solvent uptake was found to decrease with increase in EVA content in the blends. The blends were crosslinked by three crosslinking systems namely, sulfur, dicumyl peroxide (DCP), and a mixture consisting of sulfur and peroxide. The DCP crosslinked system exhibited the lowest solvent uptake. These observations have been correlated with the phase morphology of the blends using scanning electron micrographs. The values of the kinetic parameters of permeability and molar mass between crosslinks have been found to be complementary to the observations. The experimental diffusivity values have been compared with different theoretical models.
Novel Approaches to the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: St. Onge Erin L. , Miller Shannon A. , Taylor James R.
Published: January 2009

The emergence of the glucoregulatory hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1, has expanded our understanding of glucose homeostasis. The glucoregulatory actions of glucagon-like peptide-1 include enhancement of glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppression of inappropriately elevated glucagon secretion, slowing of gastric emptying, and reduction of food intake. Two approaches have been developed to potentiate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 in those with type 2 diabetes. The glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs, such as exenatide, and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, such as sitagliptin, are currently available whereas others are in the final stages of development. These agents effectively reduce hemoglobin A1c while providing the other benefits associated with increased glucagon-like peptide-1. They also offer the potential to preserve the β-cell function. The effects on cardiovascular disease, if any, are unknown. Based on the current evidence, these agents represent viable second-and third-line options in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Absorption
Authors: Menzies Victoria , Taylor Ann Gill , Bourguignon Cheryl
Published: January 2009

Given that mind–body interventions constitute a major portion of complementary and alternative medicine used by the public, it seems important to explore those human characteristics that may contribute to the efficacy of mind–body interventions in those who are most likely to benefit. One such characteristic, absorption, reflects an individual's cognitive capacity for involvement in sensory and imaginative experiences in ways that alter an individual's perception, memory, and mood with behavioral and biological consequences. Thus, one's level of absorption may potentially create differential treatment effects in mind–body intervention outcomes. Conducting practical clinical trials helps address the challenge of determining whether a specific mind–body modality intervention may be effective. Such trials may be strengthened by including measures of personality dimensions such as absorption.
The Sarbanes—Oxley Act
Authors: Nezhina Tamara G. , Brudney Jeffrey L.
Published: January 2009

Based on a survey of a representative sample of nonprofit organizations, this article explores the impact of the Sarbanes—Oxley Act (SOX) on the nonprofit sector. The study addresses two questions: What is the level of SOX adoption by nonprofit organizations? and How do we explain variations in the adoption level of SOX? Using Poisson regression models, our study finds that the level of SOX adoption in nonprofit organizations is determined to a large extent by nonprofit organizations’ accountability and transparency structure prior to SOX. When this factor is taken into account, contrary to previous studies, the level of SOX adoption by nonprofits is modest. In addition to the existing accountability structure, important variables in the statistical explanation of SOX adoption include CEOs’ familiarity with SOX, attitudes of nonprofit CEOs toward SOX, and organization size.
“It’s All About Give and Take,” Or Is It?
Authors: Henderson Juliet
Published: January 2009

In this article the author draws on a larger project related to university internationalisation as represented by student voices to explore the part native and non-native speaker uses of English, as a marker of identity and legitimacy, play inside and outside formal curriculum delivery. Through the analysis of student voice constructions of difference, ambiguity is identified in response to non-native speakers of English. When discussing assessed and informal group tasks, non-native speakers’ communicative English and identities are generally represented as an obstacle to learning and task achievement. Yet removed from such tasks, respect for non-native speakers of English underpinned by empathy for the difficulties they face and admiration for their sociolinguistic prowess come to the fore. Through the reading of student voice data inconsistencies are also identified in university practice, which should be addressed if principles of social justice are to be upheld.
Taking Late Night Comedy Seriously
Authors: Parkin Michael
Published: January 2009

Candidate appearances on entertainment television have become a staple of recent presidential campaigns, yet little is known about their effect on voters. Many assume that they leave viewers uninformed and focused on the candidate’s personal image. In this article, the author investigates this idea with an experiment using John Kerry’s 2004 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. He finds that—contrary to popular expectations—late night interviews have particular features that can, at times, engage otherwise politically disinterested viewers, causing them to process and recall substantive policy information.
The Heritability of Partisan Attachment
Authors: Settle Jaime E. , Dawes Christopher T. , Fowler James H.
Published: January 2009

One of the strongest regularities in the empirical political science literature is the well-known correlation in parent and child partisan behavior. Until recently, this phenomenon was thought to result solely from parental socialization, but new evidence on genetic sources of behavior suggests it might also be due to heritability. In this article, the authors hypothesize that genes contribute to variation in a general tendency toward strength of partisanship. Using data collected at the Twins Days Festival, the authors compare the similarity of partisan strength in identical twins who share all of their genes to the similarity of partisan strength in nonidentical twins who share only half of their genes. The results show that heritability accounts for almost half of the variance in strength of partisan attachment, suggesting we should pay closer attention to the role of biology in the expression of important political behaviors.
Micromechanical Thermoelastic Model for Sandwich Composite Shells made of Generally Orthotropic Materials
Authors: Saha Gobinda C. , Kalamkarov Alexander L.
Published: January 2009

Analytical solutions based on the two-scale asymptotic homogenization method for thermoelastic problem pertinent to general thin composite shells are obtained. The model allows the determination of both local fields and effective elastic and thermal expansion coefficients of composite sandwich shells made of generally orthotropic materials. Orthotropy in the material characteristics leads to a significantly complex set of thermoelastic local problems and is considered for the first time in the present article. First, a 3D-to-2D general asymptotic homogenization composite shell model based on a set of four unit-cell problems is derived. Secondly, the expansion of the model is continued to the further derivation of formulae for the forces, moments, displacements, strains, stresses, and effective thermoelastic coefficients that are representatives of the sandwich shell. Finally, the theory is illustrated by examples pertaining to thin composite sandwich shells with hexagonal honeycomb, hexagonal-triangular, and star-hexagonal cellular cores of orthotropic materials.
Binge-drinking in Britain as a Social and Cultural Phenomenon
Authors: Van Wersch Anna , Walker Wendy
Published: January 2009

Techniques and procedures of Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory were used to develop a conditional matrix on binge-drinking in Britain, reflecting data of 32 participants, aged between 22 and 58. The core category was `binge-drinking as a social and cultural phenomenon'. Results show the value of binge-drinking as an enjoyable way of socializing and counter-balancing the demands of daily hassles and routines. Intervening and contextual factors indicate fluctuations in binge-drinking behaviour and the social and cultural constraints that may operate, such as `no drink-driving', `not when the next day is a work day' and `not on one's own'.
The re-articulation of cultural studies in Japan and its consequences for Japanese studies
Authors: Schäfer Fabian
Published: January 2009

This article analyzes the global circulation of Cultural Studies in the light of its `re-articulation' within the certain local context in Japan. Furthermore, it will not simply raise the question of how to put Cultural Studies into Japanese Studies, but, by taking the detour via the re-articulation of Cultural Studies in Japan, wants to ask what Japanese Studies might `learn' from this already contextualized formation of Cultural Studies. This approach is important because it will illuminate the opportunities for Japanese Studies (and Area Studies in general) to contribute to the project of `provincialization' of Anglo-American Cultural Studies by sustaining a constant reflux of theories and approaches from marginalized formations of Cultural Studies into its geographical centers. •
Writing for publication — getting your ideas into print
Authors: Cooper Tracey
Published: January 2009

This article provides helpful tips and suggestions on how to write an article and get it accepted for publication. The points raised are based upon the author's own experience of writing articles for publication over the past 12 years, and experience over the past four years as Editor of the British Journal of Infection Control. The advice can be used in conjunction with the official guidelines for authors to improve the chances of getting an article accepted and published.
FORCA, a promoter element that responds to crosstalk between defense and light signaling
Authors: Evrard Alexandre , Ndatimana Theogene , Eulgem Thomas
Published: January 2009

Background

Recognition of pathogenic microorganisms triggers in plants comprehensive transcriptional reprogramming. In order to identify transcriptome-level control elements required for plant immune responses we are examining several sets of genes found by microarray experiments to be co-activated in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) seedlings infected with the oomycete Hyaloperonospora parasitica. Promoter motifs conserved in clusters of co-expressed genes may be involved in mediating coordinated gene activity patterns. Although numerous studies identified such conserved promoter motifs in co-expressed gene sets, reports confirming their function as regulatory elements are rare.

Results

FORC
A is a hexameric promoter motif that is conserved in clusters of Arabidopsis genes co-expressed in response to fungal or oomycete pathogens as well as defined light treatments. FORC
A is generally more frequently present in Arabidopsis promoter regions than statistically expected. It constitutively interacts in a DNA-sequence specific manner with nuclear Arabidopsis proteins. These interactions are suppressed by defense-related stimuli and enhanced by prolonged exposure to constant light. Furthermore FORC
A mediates constitutive reporter gene expression in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana leaves as well as in stably transformed Arabidopsis plants. Its responsiveness to defense-stimuli is modulated by the duration of light exposure. In plants grown under normal light conditions or constant darkness defense-related stimuli result in suppression of FORC
A-mediated reporter gene expression, while in plants grown under constant light exposure, defense-induction results in enhanced FORC
A-mediated expression. In addition, we found plants subjected to constant light exposure to exhibit reduced susceptibility to virulent H. parasitica.

Conclusion

We propose that FORC
A is a regulatory cis-element that is present in a wide variety of Arabidopsis promoters. It integrates light- and defense-related signals and participates in adjusting the transcriptome to changes in environmental conditions.
Novel expression hosts for complex secondary metabolite megasynthetases: Production of myxochromide in the thermopilic isolate Corallococcus macrosporus GT-2
Authors: Perlova Olena , Gerth Klaus , Kuhlmann Silvia , Zhang Youming , Müller Rolf
Published: January 2009

Although many secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities have been isolated from myxobacteria, most strains of these biotechnologically important gliding prokaryotes remain difficult to handle genetically. In this study we describe the new fast growing myxobacterial thermophilic isolate GT-2 as a heterologous host for the expression of natural product biosynthetic pathways isolated from other myxobacteria. According to the results of sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA, this moderately thermophilic isolate is closely related to Corallococcus macrosporus and was therefore named C. macrosporus GT-2. Fast growth of moderately thermophilic strains results in shorter fermentation and generation times, aspects which are of significant interest for molecular biological work as well as production of secondary metabolites. Development of a genetic manipulation system allowed the introduction of the complete myxochromide biosynthetic gene cluster, located on a transposable fragment, into the chromosome of GT-2. Genetic engineering of the biosynthetic gene cluster by promoter exchange leads to much higher production of myxochromides in the heterologous host C. macrosporus GT-2 in comparison to the original producer Stigmatella aurantiaca and to the previously described heterologous host Pseudomonas putida (600 mg/L versus 8 mg/L and 40 mg/L, respectively).
Identification and bioinformatic characterization of a multidrug resistance associated protein (ABCC) gene in Plasmodium berghei
Authors: González-Pons María , Szeto Ada C , González-Méndez Ricardo , Serrano Adelfa E
Published: January 2009

Background

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily is one of the largest evolutionarily conserved families of proteins. ABC proteins play key roles in cellular detoxification of endobiotics and xenobiotics. Overexpression of certain ABC proteins, among them the multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP), contributes to drug resistance in organisms ranging from human neoplastic cells to parasitic protozoa. In the present study, thePlasmodium berghei mrpgene (pbmrp) was partially characterized and the predicted protein was classified using bioinformatics in order to explore its putative involvement in drug resistance.

Methods

Thepbmrpgene from theP. bergheidrug sensitive, N clone, was sequenced using a PCR strategy. Classification and domain organization of pbMRP were determined with bioinformatics. ThePlasmodium spp.MRPs were aligned and analysed to study their conserved motifs and organization. Gene copy number and organization were determined via Southern blot analysis in both N clone and the chloroquine selected line, RC. Chromosomal Southern blots and RNase protection assays were employed to determine the chromosomal location and expression levels ofpbmrpin blood stages.

Results

Thepbmrpgene is a single copy, intronless gene with a predicted open reading frame spanning 5820 nucleotides. Bioinformatic analyses show that this protein has distinctive features characteristic of the ABCC sub-family. Multiple sequence alignments reveal a high degree of conservation in the nucleotide binding and transmembrane domains within the MRPs from thePlasmodium spp.analysed. Expression ofpbmrpwas detected in asexual blood stages. Gene organization, copy number and mRNA expression was similar in both lines studied. A chromosomal translocation was observed in the chloroquine selected RC line, from chromosome 13/14 to chromosome 8, when compared to the drug sensitive N clone.

Conclusion

In this study, thepbmrpgene was sequenced and classified as a member of the ABCC sub-family. Multiple sequence alignments reveal that this gene is homologous to thePlasmodium y. yoeliiandPlasmodium knowlesi mrp, and thePlasmodium vivaxandPlasmodium falciparum mrp2genes. There were no differences in gene organization, copy number, or mRNA expression between N clone and the RC line, but a chromosomal translocation ofpbmrpfrom chromosome 13/14 to chromosome 8 was detected in RC.
Heterotopic pregnancy following ovulation induction by Clomiphene and a healthy live birth: a case report
Authors: Honarbakhsh Abbas , Khoori Elham , Mousavi Simin
Published: January 2009

Introduction

A heterotopic pregnancy is defined as the presence of a combined intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy. Its estimated incidence is accepted as between 1/7000 and 1/30,000 pregnancies. It is also reported to be as high as 1% after the use of assisted reproductive technology, but Clomiphene Citrate which increases the rate of twinning, could be associated with a heterotopic pregnancy rate of 1/900, which is much less than using assisted reproductive technology. Heterotopic pregnancies are diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for obstetricians. If they continue without diagnosis, a life-threatening situation may occur even when surgical intervention with laparotomy is performed.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 22-year-old Iranian woman who developed a simultaneous extra -and intrauterine pregnancy after the induction of ovulation with Clomiphene. In this case, there was a delay in the detection of the ectopic pregnancy component resulting in an emergency laparotomy being performed. Fortunately after the laparotomy, the intrauterine pregnancy was not affected and it progressed satisfactorily until 37 weeks. A healthy male baby was delivered by caesarean section.

Conclusion

This case suggests that a heterotopic pregnancy must always be considered in patients presenting with pelvic pain even in a confirmed intrauterine pregnancy, particularly after the induction of ovulation by Clomiphene Citrate or assisted reproductive technology. Every clinician treating women of reproductive age should keep this diagnosis in mind. It also demonstrates that early diagnosis is essential in order to salvage the intrauterine pregnancy and avoid maternal morbidity and mortality.
Synthetic control of a fitness tradeoff in yeast nitrogen metabolism
Authors: Bayer Travis S , Hoff Kevin G , Beisel Chase L , Lee Jack J , Smolke Christina D
Published: January 2009

Background

Microbial communities are involved in many processes relevant to industrial and medical biotechnology, such as the formation of biofilms, lignocellulosic degradation, and hydrogen production. The manipulation of synthetic and natural microbial communities and their underlying ecological parameters, such as fitness, evolvability, and variation, is an increasingly important area of research for synthetic biology.

Results

Here, we explored how synthetic control of an endogenous circuit can be used to regulate a tradeoff between fitness in resource abundant and resource limited environments in a population of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that noise in the expression of a key enzyme in ammonia assimilation, Gdh1p, mediated a tradeoff between growth in low nitrogen environments and stress resistance in high ammonia environments. We implemented synthetic control of an endogenous Gdh1p regulatory network to construct an engineered strain in which the fitness of the population was tunable in response to an exogenously-added small molecule across a range of ammonia environments.

Conclusion

The ability to tune fitness and biological tradeoffs will be important components of future efforts to engineer microbial communities.
Telangiectatic adenoma – computed tomography and magnetic resonance findings: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Takayassu Tatiana Chinem , Marchiori Edson , Eiras Antonio , Cabral Rafael Ferracini , Cabral Fernanda Caseira , Batista Raquel Ribeiro , Zanetti Gláucia , Dias Paula Cristina Pereira
Published: January 2009

Telangiectatic adenoma is a new classification of a hepatic lesion. It was previously named telangiectatic focal nodular hyperplasia but it is in fact true adenoma with telangiectatic features. We report here a case of telangiectatic adenoma in a 72-year-old woman. The image features are lack of a central scar, a heterogeneous lesion, hyperintensity in T1-weighted MR images, strong hyperintensity in T2-weighted MR images, and persistent contrast enhancement in delayed-phase contrast-enhanced CT or T1-weighted MR images. It is a monoclonal lesion with potential of malignancy. The treatment of telangiectatic adenoma is surgery, the same way as hepatic adenoma. Focal nodular hyperplasia may be managed by clinical follow-up alone.
Advocacy: time to communicate
Authors: Harrison Tom , Davis Ruth
Published: January 2009

This article offers an introduction to advocacy on behalf of people with mental disorders and/or intellectual disabilities. It concentrates mainly on the issues related to independent specialist advocacy, but refers to other forms also. The term is itself contentious, having different meanings in different contexts. Some of these controversies are outlined here. Inevitably, diverse interpretations imply varying practices, and these too are illustrated briefly. Legislation and concordance of expectations are both contributing to a set of standards to which most advocates in the UK and Ireland will adhere. The requirements that such legislation makes of mental healthcare staff working with independent specialist advocates are outlined, and the ethical dimension of mental health advocacy is noted.
The ‘Natural Health Service’: natural does not mean safe
Authors: Dunne Francis J.
Published: January 2009

Plants have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, treating everything from non-specific ailments such as backache and colds to serious conditions, including depression and cancer. In this review, a few commonly known plants with psychotropic effects (St John's wort, Ginkgo biloba, kava, ginseng and valerian) are discussed by way of illustration. The readers' attention is brought to important interactions between herbal remedies and conventional drugs. A background to the constituents of herbs, possible mechanisms of action and an explanation of their antioxidant properties is given.
Are you looking at me? Understanding and managing paranoid personality disorder
Authors: Carroll Andrew
Published: January 2009

Paranoid personality disorder is a neglected topic in clinical psychiatry, and is often the subject of diagnostic confusion and therapeutic pessimism. This article presents a summary of the key diagnostic issues relating to paranoid personality disorder and describes various psychological and social processes mooted to be central to the genesis of paranoid thinking and behaviours. The evidence relating to paranoid personality disorder and risk of violence is summarised and clinically useful guidance for the safe treatment of people with the disorder is outlined.
CPD and recertification: improving patient outcomes through focused learning
Authors: Bamrah J. S. , Bhugra Dinesh
Published: January 2009

The impending regulatory changes for all medical professionals in the UK will make it necessary for doctors to be relicensed and, in the case of specialists, to be recertified. This editorial argues strongly in favour of recertification and proposes that continuing professional development is one of the main planks on which recertification of psychiatrists should be based. We present cogent reasons for this, as well as evidence that improved learning contributes positively to healthcare. We also recommend that psychiatrists should make learning objectives more clinically focused as well as properly resourced.
Self-harm in adolescent in-patients
Authors: Livesey Anthony E.
Published: January 2009

Aims and Method

Self-harm among adolescent in-patients exercises all who work with them. the UK has an exceptionally high prevalence of this behaviour compared with the rest of Europe. However, in one in-patient adolescent unit, in-patient self-harm was significantly reduced. Details of our rationale and intervention are presented, together with a retrospective data analysis.

Results

Using a range of practical and psychological interventions, the alarmingly high level of self-harm was almost completely eliminated and this level has been maintained to the present.

Clinical Implications

Our results suggest that self-harm in in-patients can be managed and reduced without adverse effects on the patients. Our methods may be applicable to other settings, although some staff may initially feel uncomfortable with such policy.
Community care law for psychiatrists
Authors: Allen Danny
Published: January 2009

Although psychiatrists are well-acquainted with the Mental Health Act 1983, most are unlikely to know much about community care law, despite the fact that its provisions have the potential to significantly improve the level of service for the users. This paper explains the meaning of community care law, looks at how it applies to National Health Service trusts and what are the psychiatrists' responsibilities. It examines how community care law works and discusses the significance of ‘fair access to care services’ policy, the meaning of ‘need’, the benefits of direct payments, the significance of housing provision and the role of carers.
Prevalence of parental mental illness in Australian families
Authors: Maybery Darryl John , Reupert Andrea E. , Patrick Kent , Goodyear Melinda , Crase Lin
Published: January 2009

Aims and Method

To provide multiple estimates of the numbers of Australian and Victorian families and children living in families where a parent has had a mental illness. We used the Australian Bureau of Statistics Victorian Mental Health Branch service usage and data collected from 701 community participants to triangulate prevalence information.

Results

According to population estimates, 23.3% of all children in Australia have a parent with a non-substance mental illness, 20.4% of mental health service users have dependent children and 14.4% of the community study participants report having at least one parent with a mental illness.

Clinical Implications

The multiple prevalence estimates of the numbers of children in families with parental mental illness provide fundamental information for psychiatric policy, planning and programming.
Ageing, ethnicity and psychiatric services
Authors: Oommen Geetha , Bashford Jon , Shah Ajit
Published: January 2009

In 2001, the Royal College of Psychiatrists produced Council Report (CR103) which concluded that services for Black and minority ethnic elders had received little attention. the report also called for an urgent need to establish a reliable and informative database of good practice and increased research. It is currently under review by the College. This article attempts to set out some of the issues that remain as well as newly identified ones. In particular, the article hopes to heighten awareness and raise debate about these issues and to link these with the College's Race Equality Action Plan.
Role confusion, values-based practice and the demise of the generalist
Authors: Crossley David , Lepping Peter
Published: January 2009

As multidisciplinary work becomes less about profession than role and more about specialties than generalism, generalist roles are at risk of being overlooked (from a systemic perspective) and undervalued (from a values-based practice perspective). This article re-examines these issues and points to some practical implications of recovering the generalist role in mental health work.
Bin Packing with Queues
Authors: Shah Devavrat , Tsitsiklis John N.
Published: January 2009

We study the best achievable performance (in terms of the average queue size and delay) in a stochastic and dynamic version of the bin-packing problem. Items arrive to a queue according to a Poisson process with rate 2ρ, where ρ ∈ (0, 1). The item sizes are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) with a uniform distribution in [0, 1]. At each time unit, a single unit-size bin is available and can receive any of the queued items, as long as their total size does not exceed 1. Coffman and Stolyar (1999) and Gamarnik (2004) have established that there exist packing policies under which the average queue size is finite for every ρ ∈ (0, 1). In this paper we study the precise scaling of the average queue size, as a function of ρ, with emphasis on the critical regime where ρ approaches 1. Standard results on the probabilistic (but static) bin-packing problem can be readily applied to produce policies under which the queue size scales as O(h2), where h = 1 / (1 - ρ), which raises the question of whether this is the best possible. We establish that the average queue size scales as Ω(hlogh), under any policy. Furthermore, we provide an easily implementable policy, which packs at most two items per bin. Under that policy, the average queue size scales as O(hlog3/2h), which is nearly optimal. On the other hand, if we impose the additional requirement that any two items packed together must have near-complementary sizes (in a sense to be made precise), we show that the average queue size must scale as Θ(h2).
Spontaneous phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling dynamics drive spreading and random migration of fibroblasts
Authors: Weiger Michael C. , Wang Chun-Chao , Krajcovic Matej , Melvin Adam T. , Rhoden John J. , Haugh Jason M.
Published: January 2009

During directed cell migration (chemotaxis), cytoskeletal dynamics are stimulated and spatially biased by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and other signal transduction pathways. Live-cell imaging using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy revealed that, in the absence of soluble cues, 3′-phosphoinositides are enriched in a localized and dynamic fashion during active spreading and random migration of mouse fibroblasts on adhesive surfaces. Surprisingly, we found that PI3K activation is uncoupled from classical integrin-mediated pathways and feedback from the actin cytoskeleton. Inhibiting PI3K significantly impairs cell motility, both in the context of normal spreading and when microtubules are dissociated, which induces a dynamic protrusion phenotype as seen by TIRF in our cells. Accordingly, during random migration, 3′-phosphoinositides are frequently localized to regions of membrane protrusion and correlate quantitatively with the direction and persistence of cell movement. These results underscore the importance of localized PI3K signaling not only in chemotaxis but also in basal motility/migration of fibroblasts.
A method for predicting performance improvements with effective cycle-to-cycle control of highly dilute spark ignition engine combustion
Authors: Kaul B C , Vance J B , Drallmeier J A , Sarangapani J
Published: January 2009

Dilute spark ignition engine combustion offers a promising method of improving fuel efficiency and reducing engine-out emissions and yet is not currently feasible owing to high levels of cyclic variability under highly dilute homogeneous operation. The deterministic nature of the undesirable cycle-to-cycle variations in combustion heat release implies that appropriate control schemes should yield significant reductions in cyclic variability, making it possible to use higher levels of charge dilution in production engines. A novel analysis approach is used to predict the improvement in fuel conversion efficiency that could be expected with effective control. Additionally, this analysis gives some insight into the effect of spark timing on the dynamics and controllability of the system.
Acoustic emission for monitoring aircraft structures
Authors: Holford K M , Pullin R , Evans S L , Eaton M J , Hensman J , Worden K
Published: January 2009

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is of paramount importance in the aircraft industry: not only to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft in flight and to ensure timely maintenance of critical components, but also increasingly to monitor structures under test for airworthiness certification of new designs. This article highlights some of the recent advances in the acoustic emission (AE) technique as applied to SHM, and the new approaches that are crucial for the successful use of AE data for diagnostic purposes. These include modal analysis, enhanced location techniques, and novel signal processing approaches. A case study is presented on a landing gear component undergoing fatigue loading in which a linear location analysis using conventional techniques identified the position of fracture and final rupture of the specimen. A principal component analysis approach was used to separate noise signals from signals arising from fatigue cracks, which identified and located further fatigue crack positions, subsequently confirmed by magnetic particle inspection. Kernel probability density functions are used to aid visualization of the damage location.
Optimal wind turbine design to maximize energy production
Authors: Lanzafame R , Messina M
Published: January 2009

Determining the best geometric parameters for the blade of a wind turbine is critical for maximizing energy production. This paper considers how to determine the laws which govern twist to maximize electrical energy output for a rotor with two blades, with a 10 m diameter, in a given wind site.

Optimum twist was obtained by applying the ‘blade element momentum theory’. Then two different blade design methods were compared. The first, based on maximizing the power coefficient (at the average wind velocity, assuming an attack angle which maximizes the ratio of lift and drag coefficients); the second, based on maximizing the annual energy production for the turbine object of this study, in a given wind site.
Effects of area ratio and nature of surfaces on scuffing in lubricated contacts
Authors: Nilsson D , Isaksson P , Prakash B
Published: January 2009

Heavily loaded moving machine components encounter severe tribological problems. Typical examples include piston and cylinder contacts in a hydraulic motor. Piston and cylinder bore contacts invariably operate in boundary lubrication regime and the risk for seizure of these contacts is high particularly when lubricated with low-viscosity lubricants. The piston assembly in a radial piston hydraulic motor has conformal (area) contact. In this work, these contacts have been simulated in the laboratory by using a thrust washer test configuration. The influence of area ratio, nature of contacting surfaces, and speed on scuffing has been investigated by using a factorial design of experiments approach. The influence of area ratio on wear at lower speed has also been studied. The results have revealed that the surface power, or μ pv-value, at scuffing varies by 3—4 times when the area ratio was increased from 8 to 72 per cent. The running-in wear tests have shown that running-in of the upper and lower specimens also varies with the area ratio. During the first 30 s the upper specimen is polished with low area ratio, whereas the lower specimen is polished with high area ratio. The surface temperature was estimated by using finite-element calculation and it was found to be similar prior to scuffing for both 8 and 72 per cent area ratios at 1.7 m/s sliding speed. The comparison of the results with the actual motor tests shows that an area ratio of 24 per cent seems to simulate the piston-cylinder contact better.
Effect of surface modification on surface properties and tribological behaviours of titanium alloys
Authors: Luo Y , Ge S , Jin Z , Fisher J
Published: January 2009

Nitrogen ion implantation and carburization technology were chosen to modify the surface properties of titanium alloys. The surface components and element concentration distribution profile of the modified titanium alloy were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface hardness and contact angle of the modified titanium alloys were measured to analyse the improvement of the mechanical properties and wettability. Friction and wear tests were performed between the modified titanium alloy plate against a ZrO2 ball on a universal multi-functional tester. Then the tribological behaviours of the modified titanium alloys were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and a laser granularity ana-lyser. The XPS analysis results indicated that titanium nitride and titanium carbide were formed on the titanium alloy surface. In addition, the surface hardness of nitrogen-ion-implanted titanium increased from 335±7.4 HV ( n=6) to 357±9.8 HV ( n=6), whereas the surface hardness of carburized titanium increased to 750±25.3 HV ( n=6). The contact angles of nitrogen-ion-implanted and carburized titanium alloys were decreased from 83 to 80 and 71.5°, respectively, indicating an improvement of surface wettability. In addition, the wear results indicated that both nitrogen ion implantation and carburization greatly improved the wear resistance of the titanium alloys and decreased the size of the wear debris. Finally, an attempt was made to explain the wear mechanisms of the modified titanium alloys.