bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Best practice in managing violence and related risks
Authors: Haque Quazi , Cree Adrian , Webster Christopher , Hasnie Bushra 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBest Practice in Managing Risk is a recent Department of Health publication which provides a framework for mental health professionals working with service users to assess risk. It underpins risk assessment with principles of good practice for all mental health settings and provides a list of guides offering structure to risk management. We consider the potential issues that may influence successful implementation of this framework across services based on personal experience in the field of risk assessment.
Role of Protein Kinase C in the Expression of Endothelin Converting Enzyme-1
Authors: Khamaisi Mogher , Dahan Rachel , Hamed Saher , Abassi Zaid , Heyman Samuel N. , Raz Itamar 
Published: October 2008

Increased expression of endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) is associated with diabetic nephropathy. The molecular mechanisms underlying this association, as yet unknown, possibly involve protein kinase C (PKC) pathways. In the present study, we examined the effects of high glucose and PKC activation on ECE-1 expression in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in HUVEC line (EA.hy926). Increasing glucose concentration, but not mannitol, from 5.5–22.2 mmol/liter for 3 d, enhanced prepro endothelin-1 (ET-1) mRNA expression, ET-1 levels, ECE-1 protein, and mRNA expressions by 7, 4, 20, and 2.6-fold, respectively. High glucose increased ECE-1 protein expression dose and time dependently. By Western blot analysis, PKC-β1, -β2, and -δ isoform levels were significantly increased relative to other isoforms when glucose level was increased. Treatment with Rottlerin, a PKC-δ isoform inhibitor, reduced significantly the glucose-induced ET-1 secretion, and ECE-1 protein expression, but (S)-13-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-10,11,14,15-tetrahydro-4,9:16,21-dimetheno 1H,13H-dibenzo[e,k]pyrrolo[3,4-h] (1, 4, 3) oxadiaza-cyclohexadecene-1,3(2H)-dione or Gö6976, specific PKC-β and -α inhibitors, respectively, did not. Overexpression of PKC-δ but not PKC-α or -β1 isoforms by adenovirus vector containing the respective cDNA in HUVECs incubated with 5.5 mmol/liter glucose, increased in parallel PKC proteins, and glucose-induced endothein-1 and ECE-1 protein expression by 4- to 6-fold. These results show that enhanced ECE-1 expression induced by hyperglycemia is partly due to activation of the PKC-δ isoform. Thus, inhibition of this PKC isoform may prevent diabetes-related increase in ET-1.Hyperglycemia-induced enhanced endothelin converting enzyme-1 expression is mediated by PKC-δ. Inhibition of this PKC isoform may prevent diabetes-related increase in endothelin-1.
c-Fos Mediates Angiotensin II-Induced Aldosterone Production and Protein Synthesis in Bovine Adrenal Glomerulosa Cells
Authors: Rincon Garriz Jose Maria , Suarez Catherine , Capponi Alessandro M. 
Published: October 2008

Angiotensin II (AngII), potassium ion, and ACTH are the main factors controlling aldosterone biosynthesis in adrenal glomerulosa cells. AP-1 response elements for the immediate early gene products, c-Fos and c-Jun, have been identified, among others, in the promoter of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein gene, whose expression is acutely regulated by activators of aldosterone production. In bovine glomerulosa cells, AngII treatment led to a rapid and transient increase in c-fos mRNA expression, c-Fos protein expression, and c-Fos phosphorylation. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway abolished the effect of AngII on c-fos mRNA, protein, and phosphorylation. EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that c-Fos binds with c-Jun to the proximal StAR promoter and that AngII treatment increases the amount of c-Fos bound to the promoter. Overexpression of a dominant-negative form of c-Fos with adenoviral vectors inhibited StAR mRNA and StAR protein expression as well as aldosterone biosynthesis in response to AngII. The dominant-negative c-Fos also prevented the increase in protein synthesis induced by AngII in glomerulosa cells, as assessed by [3H]leucine incorporation. These results indicate that AngII rapidly induces c-Fos expression and posttranslational modifications. Furthermore, a heterodimeric c-Fos/c-Jun complex binds to the proximal StAR promoter in glomerulosa cells, thus activating StAR gene expression and acute aldosterone biosynthesis. Finally, c-Fos also contributes to other functional responses to the hormone, such as protein synthesis.In adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II induces expression and phosphorylation of c-Fos, which mediates the peptide’s effects on StAR gene expression, aldosterone production and protein synthesis.
Targeted Ablation of the WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase Tumor Suppressor Leads to Impaired Steroidogenesis
Authors: Aqeilan Rami I. , Hagan John P. , de Bruin Alain , Rawahneh Maysoon , Salah Zaidoun , Gaudio Eugenio , Siddiqui Hasan , Volinia Stefano , Alder Hansjuerg , Lian Jane B. , Stein Gary S. , Croce Carlo M. 
Published: October 2008

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene encodes a 46-kDa tumor suppressor. The Wwox protein contains two N-terminal WW domains that interact with several transcriptional activators containing proline-tyrosine motifs and a central short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase domain that has been suggested to play a role in steroid metabolism. Recently, we have shown that targeted deletion of the Wwox gene in mice leads to postnatal lethality and defects in bone growth. Here, we report that Wwox-deficient mice display impaired steroidogenesis. Mutant homozygous mice are born with gonadal abnormalities, including failure of Leydig cell development in testis and reduced theca cell proliferation in ovary. Furthermore, Wwox−/− mice displayed impaired gene expression of key steroidogenesis enzymes. Affymetrix microarray gene analysis revealed differentially expressed related genes in steroidogenesis in knockout mice testis and ovary as compared with control mice. These results demonstrate the essential requirement for the Wwox tumor suppressor in proper steroidogenesis.
The Wwox tumor suppressor is an essential requirement in proper steroidogenesis.
Retarded Developmental Expression and Patterning of Retinal Cone Opsins in Hypothyroid Mice
Authors: Lu Ailing , Ng Lily , Ma Michelle , Kefas Benjamin , Davies Terry F. , Hernandez Arturo , Chan Chi-Chao , Forrest Douglas 
Published: October 2008

Color vision is mediated by cone photoreceptors that express opsin photopigments with sensitivities to different light wavelengths. Most mammals, including mice, differentially express M and S opsins for response to medium-long and short wavelengths, respectively. Previous studies demonstrated that a thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ2) is critical for opsin patterning: in TRβ2-deficient mice, M opsin is lost and all cones instead express S opsin. Here, to investigate the requirement for thyroid hormone in cone development, we studied Tshr−/−mice as a model of congenital hypothyroidism. The onset of M opsin expression in Tshr−/−mice was severely delayed until after postnatal d 17 (P17), and M opsin expression failed to attain normal levels at older adult ages. S opsin showed a subtler change with an extended distribution pattern over the superior-inferior axis of the retina. Similar opsin abnormalities were detected in wild-type C57BL/6J mice made hypothyroid by methimazole treatment. In Tshr−/− mice, T3 treatment from P8 recovered significant M opsin expression at P17. Tshr−/− mice produced normal numbers of cones, indicating that the major requirement for thyroid hormone is in opsin patterning rather than in cone generation. The phenotype is similar to, although milder than, that caused by loss of TRβ2 and indicates the necessity for thyroid hormone for cone maturation.Hypothyroidism in mice retards expression of cone opsins, the photopigments required for color vision, highlighting the sensitivity of sensory systems to thyroid hormone.
Flexibility foils filter function: structural limitations on suspension feeding
Authors: Ferner Matthew C. , Gaylord Brian 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARY
Suspension feeders rely on filter structures of a variety of forms to capture food particles. Much effort has been devoted to examining the operation of such filters, but mechanistic evaluations have generally represented filter elements with artificially stiff cylinders. We extended this previous work to investigate how bending affects the function of flexible cylindrical filter elements. Scaled models of filters were constructed from materials with elastic moduli comparable to material stiffnesses of invertebrate appendages (1–177 GPa). These models were mounted on a sled to mimic the protrusion of filters away from an animal's body or from the substratum, and were towed through a vat of syrup to generate relative fluid motion at low Reynolds numbers (Re &lt;10–3, based on cylinder diameter and tow speed). Flow between filter elements was quantified at multiple positions along their lengths, and a hydrodynamic index of filter performance (`leakiness') was calculated. Leakiness generally increased with cylinder Re and distance from the filter base. At higher flexibilities, however, streamwise bending and lateral narrowing of the filter reduced projected area and slowed flow between elements. This effect decreased leakiness and reversed the otherwise monotonic trend for increased leakiness at higher cylinder Re. Additional experiments showed that filters composed of stouter elements were less susceptible to bending but experienced lower leakiness because of their reduced ability to transcend boundary layers formed over surfaces to which they attached. These findings indicate that filter bending can strongly alter the performance of particle capture apparatus in suspension feeders.
FRAP analysis of molecular diffusion inside sea-urchin spermatozoa
Authors: Takao Daisuke , Kamimura Shinji 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYIn sea-urchin spermatozoa, energy required for flagellar motility is provided by ATP diffusion from mitochondria located at the proximal ends of the flagella along with the creatine shuttle system. However, no direct analysis of the diffusion rates inside flagella has been carried out thus far. Using a FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) technique, we determined the diffusion coefficients of fluorescein-derivatives (calcein,carboxyfluorescein and Oregon Green) to be 63–64 μm2s–1. Although these values are about one third of the estimates that were previously used for theoretical calculations, we concluded that the rate of ATP diffusion inside spermatozoa was high enough to support the continuous motility of sea-urchin sperm flagella if the creatine shuttle system is working. We also investigated the diffusion rate through the `neck'region between the head and tail. When the head region of a calcein-loaded spermatozoon was photobleached, slow recovery of head fluorescence along with the decrease of fluorescence signal in the tail region was observed. It suggests that small molecules such as calcein (Mr, 622.54)can move beyond the boundary between the head and the flagellum. We expect that these findings regarding the diffusion properties inside spermatozoa will provide us with more general insights into the energy equilibrium and material transportation by passive diffusion inside eukaryotic cilia and flagella.
Reflected polarization guides chironomid females to oviposition sites
Authors: Lerner Amit , Meltser Nikolay , Sapir Nir , Erlick Carynelisa , Shashar Nadav , Broza Meir 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARY
Chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae; non-biting midges) are known to be carriers of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, responsible for the fatal cholera disease in humans. It was recently discovered that chironomid females choose their oviposition site by a visual cue. In this study, we test the hypothesis that this visual cue is the linear polarization of light reflected from the water surface. We conducted two multiple choice field experiments using egg traps with different light intensities and polarizations. With controlled illumination, a higher number of eggs was found under both high intensity and high polarization. Under natural illumination, no eggs were found in the unpolarized traps, and the egg number increased with the percentage polarization regardless of the light intensity. Field measurements showed that at sunset, when chironomids are active, the intensity of light reflected from their natural ponds decreases by 96%, while the percentage polarization remains stable and high at 60%. Furthermore, the percentage polarization is positively correlated with the total organic carbon (TOC)concentration in the water. Orthogonal alignment of the microvilli found in ommatidia from the ventral part of the female eye may provide the anatomical basis for polarization sensitivity. We conclude that the percentage polarization of reflected light is the cue by which chironomid females choose their oviposition site. It is a stable cue and can provide information on the amount of food available to the larvae in the water. Based on our results, we suggest that manipulating the polarization of reflected light is a viable way to control chironomid populations and mitigate cholera dispersion.
Traditional allometric analysis fails to provide a valid predictive model for mammalian metabolic rates
Authors: Packard Gary C. , Birchard Geoffrey F. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYThe field of biological allometry was energized by the publication in 1997 of a theoretical model purporting to explain 3/4-power scaling of metabolic rate with body mass in mammals. This 3/4-power scaling exponent, which was first reported by Max Kleiber in 1932, has been derived repeatedly in empirical research by independent investigators and has come to be known as`Kleiber's Law'. The exponent was estimated in virtually every instance,however, by fitting a straight line to logarithmic transformations of data and by then re-expressing the resulting equation in the arithmetic scale. Because this traditional method may yield inaccurate and misleading estimates for parameters in the allometric equation, we re-examined the comprehensive data set that led Savage and colleagues to reaffirm the view that the metabolic rate of mammals scales to the 3/4-power of body mass. We found that a straight line fitted to logged data for the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of mammals ranging in size from a 2.4 g shrew to a 3672 kg elephant does not satisfy assumptions underlying the analysis and that the allometric equation obtained by back-transformation underestimates BMR for the largest species in the sample. Thus, the concept of 3/4-power scaling of metabolic rate to body mass is not well supported because the underlying statistical model does not apply to mammalian species spanning the full range in body size. Our findings have important implications with respect to methods and results of other studies that used the traditional approach to allometric analysis.
Comparative visual function in five sciaenid fishes inhabiting Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Horodysky Andrij Z. , Brill Richard W. , Warrant Eric J. , Musick John A. , Latour Robert J. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYMaintaining optimal visual performance is a difficult task in the photodynamic coastal and estuarine waters in which western North Atlantic sciaenid fishes support substantial commercial and recreational fisheries. Unavoidable tradeoffs exist between visual sensitivity and resolution, yet sciaenid visual systems have not been characterized despite strong species-specific ecomorphological and microhabitat differentiation. We therefore used electroretinographic techniques to describe the light sensitivities, temporal properties, and spectral characteristics of the visual systems of five sciaenids common to Chesapeake Bay, USA: weakfish(Cynoscion regalis), spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus),red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus). Benthic sciaenids exhibited higher sensitivities and broader dynamic ranges in white light V/logI experiments than more pelagic forms. Sensitivities of the former were at the lower (more sensitive) end of an emerging continuum for coastal fishes. Flicker fusion frequency experiments revealed significant interspecific differences at maximum intensities that correlated with lifestyle and habitat, but no specific differences at dimmer intensities. Spectral responses of most sciaenids spanned 400—610 nm, with significant diel differences in weakfish and Atlantic croaker. Weakfish, a crepuscular predator, also responded to ultraviolet wavelengths; this characteristic may be more useful under less turbid conditions. Collectively,these results suggest that sciaenids are well adapted to the dynamic photoclimate of the coastal and estuarine waters they inhabit. However, the recent anthropogenic degradation of water quality in coastal environments, at a pace faster than the evolution of visual systems, has amplified the importance of characterizing visual function in managed aquatic fauna.
Experimental investigations on combustion of jatropha methyl ester in a turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine
Authors: Anand K , Sharma R P , Mehta P S 
Published: October 2008

Suitability of vegetable oil as an alternative to diesel fuel in compression ignition engines has become attractive, and research in this area has gained momentum because of concerns on energy security, high oil prices, and increased emphasis on clean environment. The experimental work reported here has been carried out on a turbocharged direct-injection multicylinder truck diesel engine using diesel fuel and jatropha methyl ester (JME)-diesel blends. The results of the experimental investigation indicate that an increase in JME quantity in the blend slightly advances the dynamic fuel injection timing and lowers the ignition delay compared with the diesel fuel. A maximum rise in peak pressure limited to 6.5 per cent is observed for fuel blends up to 40 per cent JME for part-load (up to about 50 per cent load) operations. However, for a higher-JME blend, the peak pressures decrease at higher loads remained within 4.5 per cent. With increasing proportion of JME in the blend, the peak pressure occurrence slightly advances and the maximum rate of pressure rise, combustion duration, and exhaust gas temperature decrease by 9 per cent, 15 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. Although the changes in brake thermal efficiencies for 20 per cent and 40 per cent JME blends compared with diesel fuel remain insignificant, the 60 per cent JME blend showed about 2.7 per cent improvement in the brake thermal efficiency. In general, it is observed that the overall performance and combustion characteristics of the engine do not alter significantly for 20 per cent and 40 per cent JME blends but show an improvement over diesel performance when fuelled with 60 per cent JME blend.
Dynamic Programming, Integral Polyhedra and Horn Clause Knowledge Base
Authors: Jeroslow Robert G. , Wang Jinchang 
Published: October 2008

We show how the structure of proofs in a Horn clause knowledge base is completely described by certain of the extreme solutions to a suitable “dual” linear constraint set. The extreme points of this linear system are integer vectors, and give the count of the number of times that a given proposition is used in a proof of a “target” proposition. The “primal” to this dual provides the pointwise maximum vector which solves a set of dynamic programming recursions, and the latter recursions are derived from the Horn clause knowledge base. Variation in the facts or in the rules of the knowledge base corresponds to changes in only the criterion vector of the dual linear program. This linear programming approach to inference in expert systems also allows for the detection of “near proofs.” The latter are, by definition, proof structures which would become valid, if only exactly one more fact were known to be true. The first author, Robert G. Jeroslow, deceased August 31, 1988. INFORMS Journal on Computing, ISSN 1091-9856, was published as ORSA Journal on Computing from 1989 to 1995 under ISSN 0899-1499.
A Formal Development of Event Graphs as an Aid to Structured and Efficient Simulation Programs
Authors: Som Tapas K. , Sargent Robert G. 
Published: October 2008

Schruben introduced event graphs as a graphical technique for visualizing event-oriented system structures. In this paper, a formal framework for event-oriented simulation is introduced and event graphs are examined using this framework. Comprehensive rules are presented for identifying situations where event execution order priorities may be necessary. The concept of expanded event graphs and super events are introduced. A procedure for generating expanded event graphs which show hierarchy and possible grouping of events as one single unit without violating predefined execution order priorities is described. Expanded event graphs generated by this procedure can be used as bases for structured and efficient simulation programs. INFORMS Journal on Computing, ISSN 1091-9856, was published as ORSA Journal on Computing from 1989 to 1995 under ISSN 0899-1499.
Analysis of Stiff Markov Chains
Authors: Reibman Andrew , Trivedi Kishor , Kumar Sanjaya , Ciardo Gianfranco 
Published: October 2008

Continuous-time Markov chains (CTMC) are widely used mathematical models. Reliability models, queueing networks, and inventory models all require transient solutions of CTMC. The cost of CTMC transient solution increases with size, stiffness, and mission time. To eliminate stiffness and reduce the cost of solution, approximation techniques have been proposed. In this paper, we describe a software package for the specification and solution of stiff CTMC. As an interface, we use a language for the description of Markov chains. The language also provides facilities for controlling the solution procedure. Both exact and approximate solution techniques are provided. To conclude the paper, we use several examples to show the use of our specification language and the utility of our approximation technique. INFORMS Journal on Computing, ISSN 1091-9856, was published as ORSA Journal on Computing from 1989 to 1995 under ISSN 0899-1499.
An Implementation of a Primal-Dual Interior Point Method for Linear Programming
Authors: McShane Kevin A. , Monma Clyde L. , Shanno David 
Published: October 2008

The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail an implementation of a primal-dual interior point method for solving linear programming problems. Preliminary computational results indicate that this implementation compares favorably with a comparable implementation of a dual affine interior point method, and with MINOS 5.0, a state-of-the-art implementation of the simplex method. INFORMS Journal on Computing, ISSN 1091-9856, was published as ORSA Journal on Computing from 1989 to 1995 under ISSN 0899-1499.
Algorithmic Enhancements to the Method of Centers for Linear Programming Problems
Authors: Boggs Paul T. , Domich Paul D. , Donaldson Janet R. , Witzgall Christoph 
Published: October 2008

Interior point algorithms for solving linear programming problems are considered. The techniques are derived from a continuous version of Huard's method of centers that yields a family of trajectories in the feasible region that all converge to an optimal solution. The tangential direction of these trajectories is the dual affine direction. Deficiencies in some of these trajectories are discussed, and the need to recenter is argued. Several new algorithms that use the dual affine direction and a recentering direction in a multidirection approach are then derived. The most promising of these algorithms is based on minimizing the cost function on a sequence of two-dimensional cross sections of the feasible region. Numerical results are presented. INFORMS Journal on Computing, ISSN 1091-9856, was published as ORSA Journal on Computing from 1989 to 1995 under ISSN 0899-1499.