bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Cushing's disease remission after transsphenoidal surgery based on early serum cortisol dynamics
Authors: Costenaro Fabíola , Rodrigues Ticiana C. , Rollin Guilherme A. F. , Ferreira Nelson P. , Czepielewski Mauro A.
Published: July 2013

Objective

To evaluate the ability of post‐transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS) serum cortisol levels (s‐cortisol) to predict surgical remission and recurrence of Cushing's disease (CD).

Design

One hundred and three patients with CD from a tertiary referral centre were prospectively analysed over 6·0 ± 4·8 years of follow‐up. Twenty patients received perioperative glucocorticoids as routine care and had s‐cortisol measured 10–12 days after TSS (Protocol I). Eighty‐six patients (91 surgeries) had s‐cortisol measured at 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 h, and 10–12 days after TSS, and received glucocorticoids only in case of adrenal insufficiency (Protocol II).

Main outcomes

Remission [clinical signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (or hypocortisolism) plus cortisol <3 μg/dl on the 1‐mg overnight test (OT) and/or normal free urinary cortisol] during follow‐up. Recurrence was defined as loss of remission criteria at least 1 year after TSS.

Results

The remission rate after first TSS was 80%; 8% had recurrence. An s‐cortisol nadir ≤3·5 μg/dl within 48 h after TSS had sensitivity of 73%, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 60% and an s‐cortisol nadir ≤5·7 μg/dl within 10–12 days of TSS had specificity and PPV of 100% and sensitivity of 91% NPV of 78% for CD remission.

Conclusion

At hospital discharge, the s‐cortisol nadir within 48 h after TSS was already able to predict surgical remission for some patients, and the s‐cortisol nadir within 10–12 days of TSS was able to predict cohort‐wide surgical remission.
Functional analysis and in vitro correction of splicing FAH mutations causing tyrosinemia type I
Authors: Pérez‐Carro R. , Sánchez‐Alcudia R. , Pérez B. , Navarrete R. , Pérez‐Cerdá C. , Ugarte M. , Desviat L.R.
Published: July 2013

Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT1) is a rare disease caused by a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) in the tyrosine catabolic pathway, resulting mainly in hepatic alterations due to accumulation of the toxic metabolites fumarylacetoacetate, maleylacetoacetate and succinylacetone. We have characterized using minigenes four splicing mutations affecting exonic or intronic nucleotides of the FAH gene identified in two HT1 patients. Two of the mutations are novel, c.82‐1G>A and c.913G>C and the other two have been previously associated with a splicing defect (c.836A>G and c.1062+5G>A). All mutations were confirmed to affect splicing in minigenes, resulting in exon skipping or activation of a cryptic splice site. We have analyzed the effect of different compounds known to modulate splicing (valproic acid, phenyl butyrate, M344, EIPA, and resveratrol) and the overexpression of splice factors of the SR protein family on the transcriptional profile of the mutant minigenes. For the c.836A>G mutation, a partial recovery of the correctly spliced transcript was observed. These results confirm the relevance of performing functional studies for mutations potentially affecting the splicing process and open the possibility of supplementary therapeutic approaches to diseases caused by splicing defects.
Prolonged pudendal nerve terminal motor latency is associated with decreased resting and squeeze pressures in the intact anal sphincter
Authors: Loganathan A. , Schloithe A. C. , Hakendorf P. , Liyanage C. M. , Costa M. , Wattchow D.
Published: July 2013

Aim

To determine the contribution of the pudendal nerve to the anal continence mechanism by determining the correlation between pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) and resting and squeeze anal canal pressures.

Method

In all, 1051 patients were investigated with anorectal physiology studies between January 1998 and July 2010. Of these, 213 patients had intact anal sphincters on endoanal ultrasound and had undergone PNTML testing and anal manometry with measurement of resting and squeeze pressures. The relationship between PNTML and mean resting and squeeze pressures was compared in these patients with an intact anal sphincter. Values were compared using a two‐sample t test with equal variances. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Of these patients 40.8% had normal PNTML bilaterally, 9.9% had slow PNTML bilaterally and 21.6% had a unilateral slow PNTML. Mean resting pressure was significantly reduced in patients with unilateral slow and bilateral slow PNTML compared with normal. The magnitude of the reduction was 28% and 19% respectively. Mean squeeze pressure was significantly reduced in patients with unilateral slow and bilateral slow PNTML compared with normal. The magnitude of the reduction was 18% and 23% respectively.

Conclusion

In patients with an intact anal sphincter, either unilaterally or bilaterally prolonged PNTMLs are associated with significantly decreased resting and squeeze pressures. Our results suggest that both internal and external sphincter function is impaired with pudendal nerve injury. The inhibition of internal sphincter function may be due to damage of autonomic, principally sympathetic fibres carried in the pudendal nerve.
Compression as a Universal Principle of Animal Behavior
Authors: Ferrer‐i‐Cancho Ramon , Hernández‐Fernández Antoni , Lusseau David , Agoramoorthy Govindasamy , Hsu Minna J. , Semple Stuart
Published: July 2013

A key aim in biology and psychology is to identify fundamental principles underpinning the behavior of animals, including humans. Analyses of human language and the behavior of a range of non‐human animal species have provided evidence for a common pattern underlying diverse behavioral phenomena: Words follow Zipf's law of brevity (the tendency of more frequently used words to be shorter), and conformity to this general pattern has been seen in the behavior of a number of other animals. It has been argued that the presence of this law is a sign of efficient coding in the information theoretic sense. However, no strong direct connection has been demonstrated between the law and compression, the information theoretic principle of minimizing the expected length of a code. Here, we show that minimizing the expected code length implies that the length of a word cannot increase as its frequency increases. Furthermore, we show that the mean code length or duration is significantly small in human language, and also in the behavior of other species in all cases where agreement with the law of brevity has been found. We argue that compression is a general principle of animal behavior that reflects selection for efficiency of coding.
Luminance, but not chromatic visual pathways, mediate amplification of conditioned danger signals in human visual cortex
Authors: Keil Andreas , Miskovic Vladimir , Gray Michael J. , Martinovic Jasna
Published: July 2013

Complex organisms rely on experience to optimize the function of perceptual and motor systems in situations relevant to survival. It is well established that visual cues reliably paired with danger are processed more efficiently than neutral cues, and that such facilitated sensory processing extends to low levels of the visual system. The neurophysiological mechanisms mediating biased sensory processing, however, are not well understood. Here we used grating stimuli specifically designed to engage luminance or chromatic pathways of the human visual system in a differential classical conditioning paradigm. Behavioral ratings and visual electroencephalographic steady‐state potentials were recorded in healthy human participants. Our findings indicate that the visuocortical response to high‐spatial‐frequency isoluminant (red–green) grating stimuli was not modulated by fear conditioning, but low‐contrast, low‐spatial‐frequency reversal of grayscale gratings resulted in pronounced conditioning effects. We conclude that sensory input conducted via the chromatic pathways into retinotopic visual cortex has limited access to the bi‐directional connectivity with brain networks mediating the acquisition and expression of fear, such as the amygdaloid complex. Conversely, luminance information is necessary to establish amplification of learned danger signals in hierarchically early regions of the visual system.
7T MR spectroscopic imaging in the localization of surgical epilepsy
Authors: Pan Jullie W. , Duckrow Robert B. , Gerrard Jason , Ong Caroline , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Resor Stanley R. , Zhang Yan , Petroff Ognen , Spencer Susan , Hetherington Hoby P. , Spencer Dennis D.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

With the success that surgical approaches can provide for localization‐related epilepsy, accurate seizure localization remains important. Although magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy has had success in earlier studies in medial temporal lobe epilepsy, there have been fewer studies evaluating its use in a broader range of localization‐related epilepsy. With improvements in signal‐to‐noise with ultra‐high field MR, we report on the use of high resolution 7T MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) in 25 surgically treated patients studied over a 3.5‐year period.

Methods

Patients were included in this analysis if the region of MRSI study included the surgical resection region. Concordance between region of MRSI abnormalities and of surgical resection was classified into three groups (complete, partial, or no agreement) and outcome was dichotomized by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) I–III and IV–VI groups. MRSI was performed with repetition time/echo time 1.5 s/40 msec in two‐dimensional (2D) or three‐dimensional (3D) encoding for robust detection of singlets N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), and choline with abnormalities in NAA/Cr determined with correction for tissue content of gray matter.

Key Findings

The concordance between MRSI‐determined abnormality and surgical resection region was significantly related to outcome: Outcome was better if the resected tissue was metabolically abnormal. All 14 patients with complete resection of the region with the most severe metabolic abnormality had good outcome, including five requiring intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) analysis, whereas only 3/11 without complete resection of the most severe metabolic abnormality had good outcome (p < 0.001).

Significance

This is consistent with the seizure‐onset zone being characterized by metabolic dysfunction and suggests that high resolution MRSI can help define these regions for the purposes of outcome prediction.
Soil organic carbon dust emission: an omitted global source of atmospheric CO2
Authors: Chappell Adrian , Webb Nicholas P. , Butler Harry J. , Strong Craig L. , McTainsh Grant H. , Leys John F. , Viscarra Rossel Raphael A.
Published: July 2013

Soil erosion redistributes soil organic carbon (SOC) within terrestrial ecosystems, to the atmosphere and oceans. Dust export is an essential component of the carbon (C) and carbon dioxide (CO2) budget because wind erosion contributes to the C cycle by removing selectively SOC from vast areas and transporting C dust quickly offshore; augmenting the net loss of C from terrestrial systems. However, the contribution of wind erosion to rates of C release and sequestration is poorly understood. Here, we describe how SOC dust emission is omitted from national C accounting, is an underestimated source of CO2 and may accelerate SOC decomposition. Similarly, long dust residence times in the unshielded atmospheric environment may considerably increase CO2 emission. We developed a first approximation to SOC enrichment for a well‐established dust emission model and quantified SOC dust emission for Australia (5.83 Tg CO2‐e yr−1) and Australian agricultural soils (0.4 Tg CO2‐e yr−1). These amount to underestimates for CO2 emissions of ≈10% from combined C pools in Australia (year = 2000), ≈5% from Australian Rangelands and ≈3% of Australian Agricultural Soils by Kyoto Accounting. Northern hemisphere countries with greater dust emission than Australia are also likely to have much larger SOC dust emission. Therefore, omission of SOC dust emission likely represents a considerable underestimate from those nations’ C accounts. We suggest that the omission of SOC dust emission from C cycling and C accounting is a significant global source of uncertainty. Tracing the fate of wind‐eroded SOC in the dust cycle is therefore essential to quantify the release of CO2 from SOC dust to the atmosphere and the contribution of SOC deposition to downwind C sinks.
Concurrent substance abuse is associated with sexual risk behavior among adults seeking treatment for prescription opioid dependence
Authors: Meade Christina S. , Bevilacqua Lisa A. , Moore Elizabeth D. , Griffin Margaret L. , Gardin John G. , Potter Jennifer S. , Hatch‐Maillette Mary , Weiss Roger D.
Published: July 2013

Background

Increasingly, new HIV infections among people who use drugs are attributed to sexual risk behavior. However, HIV prevention research targeting persons with opioid dependence continues to focus on drug injection practices. Moreover, despite the rising prevalence of prescription opioid dependence in the United States, little is known about HIV risk in this population.

Methods

This study examined the prevalence of sexual risk behavior among patients with opioid dependence who primarily use prescription opioids for non‐medical purposes. As part of a multi‐site clinical trial, participants (N = 653) completed a baseline assessment that included the Risk Behavior Survey.

Results

In the past month, 74% were sexually active. Of these, most had opposite sex partners (97.3%) and vaginal intercourse (97.1%); anal intercourse was uncommon (3.1%). The majority reported unprotected intercourse (76.5%), but few had multiple partners (11.3%). Unprotected intercourse was associated with history of other substance dependence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.73), and having multiple partners was associated with concurrent cocaine use (AOR = 2.54). Injection drug use in the past month was rare (2.5%).

Conclusions

While the majority of sexually active participants engaged in unprotected intercourse, the proportion with multiple sex partners was low relative to other samples of persons who use illicit drugs. Among persons with non‐medical prescription opioid dependence, those who concurrently use other substances may be at elevated risk for HIV infection. Comprehensive assessment of substance abuse history among individuals dependent upon prescription opioids is critical for identifying patients who may require additional clinical interventions to reduce HIV sexual risk behavior. (Am J Addict 2014;23:27–33)
EU–Turkey: Integration without Full Membership or Membership without Full Integration? A Conceptual Framework for Accession Alternatives
Authors: Karakas Cemal
Published: July 2013

The EU accession aspirations of the de jure European country Turkey remain a highly contested issue. Due to the national preferences and mainly socio‐cultural resentment in some EU Member States and due to its limited integration capacity, the EU offered Ankara a discriminatory ‘full membership minus’. The current EU law and the various paradigms of ‘differentiated integration’ do not only provide the spatial, temporal and thematic scope for a conceptual framework on accession alternatives, they also limit it. In this context, the gradual integration/membership concept could be an interesting option for both parties. The depreciation of full membership in the case of Turkey has weakened the EU conditionality policy in general. On the other hand, ‘external’ flexibilization can help to overcome deadlock by allowing the Member States and accession candidates such as Turkey to co‐operate at different levels of integration.
The Silence of Ministers: Consensus and Blame Avoidance in the Council of the European Union
Authors: Novak Stéphanie
Published: July 2013

According to conventional wisdom, in areas where the Council of the European Union is supposed to decide by qualified majority voting, it does not vote but rather decides ‘by consensus’. This article aims to explain why the Council does not vote and what ‘consensus’ means. Given that consensus is often used by international organizations and EU institutional bodies, it is important to explain how it differs from unanimity. The article argues that formal voting is avoided because it would disclose the identity of opponents and would be detrimental to the negotiation process. Furthermore, ministers tend not to register their opposition even when they remain unsatisfied with an adopted measure because they expect to be blamed by their constituencies for having failed to defend national interests. Consensus is not necessarily used to signal that a general agreement is reached. It sometimes results from a strategy of blame avoidance that conflicts with democratic accountability.
Case typologies, chronic illness and primary health care
Authors: Griffiths Frances E. , Lindenmeyer Antje , Borkan Jeffrey , Donner Banzhoff Norbert , Lamb Sarah , Parchman Michael , Sturt Jackie
Published: July 2013

Rationale and aims and objectives

When assessing patients, clinicians use typologies developed through their own particular clinical experience. Our aim was to develop a typology, based on the patient's perspective and not specific to one illness, with the potential to enhance person‐centred clinical follow‐up of those living with chronic illness.

Methods

We applied the qualitative comparative method of analysis to interview data from 37 people living with type 2 diabetes or with chronic back pain, recruited from UK General Practices. Informed by theory on time and complexity, analysis focused on the ongoing adjustments made by individuals living with chronic illness (their dynamic) in current time. Health professionals (n = 20) and people living with diabetes or living with back pain (n = 14) refined and validated the typology in five focus groups.

Results

We identified the following types of dynamic: past reminders, stuck and struggling, becalmed, and submerged. Among interviewees who provided data at different time points, we found some transformed from one dynamic type to another.

Conclusion

This typology may aid personalization of treatment decisions and could be extended to other chronic illness.
Characteristics associated with the occurrence of adverse events: a retrospective medical record review using the Global Trigger Tool in a fully digitalized tertiary teaching hospital in Korea
Authors: Hwang Jee‐In , Chin Ho Jun , Chang Yoon‐Seok
Published: July 2013

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the performance of the Global Trigger Tool and to investigate characteristics associated with the occurrence of adverse events (AEs).

Study design

Retrospective medical record review.

Setting

A tertiary teaching hospital, Korea.

Method

We employed two‐stage review of a random sample of 630 charts for patients discharged between January and June 2011. Two quality improvement specialists reviewed the presence of AEs using 53 triggers developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Two physicians reviewed and validated the findings of adverse events. Positive predictive values for individual triggers were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with AEs.

Results

Of 629 patients, 45 (7%) experienced at least one AE during their hospitalization. Among the observed AEs, 61% were preventable. The frequent types of AEs were ‘procedure‐related’ and ‘medication‐related’. Six triggers had positive predictive values of greater than 50.0%: ‘health care‐associated infection’, ‘any procedure complication’, ‘medication: other’, ‘return to surgery’, ‘occurrence of any operative complication’ and ‘intubation/reintubation’. Significant factors associated with the occurrence of AEs were length of stay (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.20) and the number of triggers (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.98).

Conclusion

The Global Trigger Tool was useful for the detection of adverse events in a Korean hospital setting. Triggers with high positive predictive values should have priority for incorporation into routine screening systems. Furthermore, patients who stay longer in the hospital need to be closely monitored using triggers to improve patient safety.
Galanin stimulates neurite outgrowth from sensory neurons by inhibition of Cdc42 and Rho GTPases and activation of cofilin
Authors: Hobson Sally‐Ann , Vanderplank Penny A. , Pope Robert J. P. , Kerr Niall C. H. , Wynick David
Published: July 2013

We and others have previously shown that the neuropeptide galanin modulates neurite outgrowth from adult sensory neurons via activation of the second galanin receptor; however, the intracellular signalling pathways that mediate this neuritogenic effect have yet to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that galanin decreases the activation state in adult sensory neurons and PC12 cells of Rho and Cdc42 GTPases, both known regulators of filopodial and growth cone motility. Consistent with this, activated levels of Rho and Cdc42 levels are increased in the dorsal root ganglion of adult galanin knockout animals compared with wildtype controls. Furthermore, galanin markedly increases the activation state of cofilin, a downstream effector of many of the small GTPases, in the cell bodies and growth cones of sensory neurons and in PC12 cells. We also demonstrate a reduction in the activation of cofilin, and alteration in growth cone motility, in cultured galanin knockout neurons compared with wildtype controls. These data provide the first evidence that galanin regulates the Rho family of GTPases and cofilin to stimulate growth cone dynamics and neurite outgrowth in sensory neurons. These findings have important therapeutic implications for the treatment of peripheral sensory neuropathies.

image

Galanin plays a key role in neurite outgrowth from adult sensory neurons via activation of the second galanin receptor (GalR2). Our results demonstrate the galanin decreases the activation state of Rho and Cdc42 and markedly increases the activation of cofilin. These changes lead to alterations in growth cone motility. These findings have important implications for the treatment of peripheral sensory neuropathies.
Cdc42 GTPases facilitate TNF‐α‐mediated secretion of CCL2 from peripheral nerve microvascular endoneurial endothelial cells
Authors: Langert Kelly A. , Von Zee Cynthia L. , Stubbs, Evan B.
Published: July 2013

Trafficking of autoreactive leukocytes across the blood‐nerve barrier and into peripheral nerves is an early pathological hallmark of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), a proinflammatory cytokine, promotes transendothelial migration by upregulating endothelial expression of inflammatory mediators, including CCL2, a chemokine implicated in GBS. We sought to determine the mechanism by which TNF‐α induces expression and secretion of CCL2 from peripheral nerve microvascular endoneurial endothelial cells (PNMECs). Expression of CCL2 mRNA and protein in quiescent PNMEC cultures was minimal. In contrast, cultures treated with TNF‐α exhibited increased CCL2 mRNA and protein content, as well as protein secretion. Simvastatin significantly attenuated TNF‐α‐induced CCL2 secretion without affecting CCL2 mRNA or protein expression. Co‐incubation with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, but not farnesyl pyrophosphate, prevented the effect of simvastatin. By comparison, inhibiting protein isoprenylation with GGTI‐298, but not FTI‐277, mimicked the effect of simvastatin and significantly attenuated transendothelial migration in vitro. Inhibition of the monomeric GTPase Cdc42, but not Rac1 or RhoA‐C, attenuated TNF‐α‐mediated CCL2 secretion. TNF‐α‐mediated trafficking of autoreactive leukocytes into peripheral nerves during GBS may proceed by a mechanism that involves Cdc42‐facilitated secretion of CCL2.
Functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury in the transgenic Thy1‐GFP rat
Authors: Kemp Stephen W. P. , Phua Peter D. , Stanoulis Krisanne N. , Wood Matthew D. , Liu Edward H. , Gordon Tessa , Borschel Gregory H.
Published: July 2013

Transgenic mice have been previously used to assess nerve regeneration following peripheral nerve injury. However, mouse models are limited by their small caliber nerves, short nerve lengths, and their inability to fully participate during behavioral assessments. The transgenic Thy1 GFP rat is a novel transgenic rat model designed to assess regeneration following peripheral nerve injury. However, return of functional and behavioral recovery following nerve injury has not yet been evaluated in these rats. In this study, we ask whether differences in anatomy, recovery of locomotion, myological, and histomorphological measures exist between transgenic Thy1 GFP rats when compared to wild type (WT) Sprague Dawley rats following unilateral sciatic nerve injury. We found that both motor and sensory neuronal architecture, overground and skilled locomotion, muscle force, motor unit number estimation (MUNE) and wet muscle weights, and histomorphometric assessments are similar between both genetic phenotypes. Overall, these data support the use of the transgenic Thy1‐GFP rat in experiments assessing functional and behavioral recovery following nerve injury and repair.
Utilization of Travel Reimbursement in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Nelson Richard E. , Hicken Bret , Cai Beilei , Dahal Arati , West Alan , Rupper Randall
Published: July 2013

Purpose

To improve access to care, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) increased its patient travel reimbursement rate from 11 to 28.5 cents per mile on February 1, 2008, and again to 41.5 cents per mile on November 17, 2008. We identified characteristics of veterans more likely to receive travel reimbursements and evaluated the impact of these increases on utilization of the benefit.

Methods

We examined the likelihood of receiving any reimbursement, number of reimbursements, and dollar amount of reimbursements for VHA patients before and after both reimbursement rate increases. Because of our data's longitudinal nature, we used multivariable generalized estimating equation models for analysis. Rurality and categorical distance from the nearest VHA facility were examined in separate regressions.

Findings

Our cohort contained 214,376 veterans. During the study period, the average number of reimbursements per veteran was higher for rural patients compared to urban patients, and for those living 50‐75 miles from the nearest VHA facility compared to those living closer. Higher reimbursement rates led to more veterans obtaining reimbursement regardless of urban‐rural residence or distance traveled to the nearest VHA facility. However, after the rate increases, urban veterans and veterans living <50 miles from the nearest VHA facility increased their travel reimbursement utilization slightly more than other patients.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest an inverted U‐shaped relationship between veterans’ utilization of the VHA travel reimbursement benefit and travel distance. Both urban and rural veterans responded in roughly equal manner to changes to this benefit.
The Curious Case of Self‐Interest: Inconsistent Effects and Ambivalence toward a Widely Accepted Construct
Authors: Kim Anita
Published: July 2013

Self‐interest is widely accepted as a powerful motivator by both academics and laypeople alike. However, research surrounding the self‐interest motive paints a complicated picture of this most important psychological construct. Additionally, research on the social desirability of self‐interest has revealed that despite its widespread acceptance, people do not readily accept that self‐interest drives their own behaviors. This paper reviews the literature on self‐interest and reveals several curious features surrounding its actual effect on helping behaviors, political attitudes and voting, and people's apparent ambivalence toward self‐interest as a motive. It is possible that norms against the expression of self‐interestedness evolved, creating ambivalence towards this widely accepted construct, subsequently affecting its expression on many human behaviors.
The influence of landscape on gene flow in the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus): insight from computer simulations
Authors: DiLeo Michelle F. , Rouse Jeremy D. , Dávila José A. , Lougheed Stephen C.
Published: July 2013

Understanding how gene flow shapes contemporary population structure requires the explicit consideration of landscape composition and configuration. New landscape genetic approaches allow us to link such heterogeneity to gene flow within and among populations. However, the attribution of cause is difficult when landscape features are spatially correlated, or when genetic patterns reflect past events. We use spatial Bayesian clustering and landscape resistance analysis to identify the landscape features that influence gene flow across two regional populations of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus c. catenatus. Based on spatially explicit simulations, we inferred how habitat distribution modulates gene flow and attempted to disentangle the effects of spatially confounded landscape features. We found genetic clustering across one regional landscape but not the other, and also local differences in the effect of landscape on gene flow. Beyond the effects of isolation‐by‐distance, water bodies appear to underlie genetic differentiation among individuals in one regional population. Significant effects of roads were additionally detected locally, but these effects are possibly confounded with the signal of water bodies. In contrast, we found no signal of isolation‐by‐distance or landscape effects on genetic structure in the other regional population. Our simulations imply that these local differences have arisen as a result of differences in population density or tendencies for juvenile rather than adult dispersal. Importantly, our simulations also demonstrate that the ability to detect the consequences of contemporary anthropogenic landscape features (e.g. roads) on gene flow may be compromised when long‐standing natural features (e.g. water bodies) co‐exist on the landscape.
Leadership, Interpersonal Conflict, and Counterproductive Work Behavior: An Examination of the Stressor–Strain Process
Authors: Kessler Stacey R. , Bruursema Kari , Rodopman Burcu , Spector Paul E.
Published: July 2013

Researchers have established a link between interpersonal conflicts among employees and counterproductive work behavior (CWB), which consists of acts that harm organizations and people in organizations. Both conflict and CWB can be damaging variables that have far reaching consequences for organizations. In a study of 116 employee–coworker dyads, we tested models linking leadership behaviors (passive/avoidant leadership and transformational leadership), interpersonal conflict (with coworkers and supervisors), and CWB directed toward the organization or other people. We found support for models positing that leadership behaviors and interpersonal conflict lead to negative emotions, which in turn lead to the amount of CWB committed.
Clinicopathologic features of autosomal recessive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with optineurin mutation
Authors: Kamada Masaki , Izumi Yuishin , Ayaki Takashi , Nakamura Masataka , Kagawa Seiko , Kudo Eiji , Sako Wataru , Maruyama Hirofumi , Nishida Yoshihiko , Kawakami Hideshi , Ito Hidefumi , Kaji Ryuji
Published: July 2013

We performed clinicopathological analyses of two amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with homozygous Q398X optineurin (OPTN) mutation. Clinically, both patients presented signs of upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, but only Patient 1 showed gradual frontal dysfunction and extrapyramidal signs, and temporal lobe and motor cortex atrophy. Neuropathological examination of Patient 1 revealed extensive cortical and spinal motor neuron degeneration and widespread degeneration of the basal ganglia. Bilateral corticospinal tracts exhibited degeneration. Loss of spinal anterior horn cells (AHCs) and gliosis were observed, whereas posterior columns, Clarke's columns, intermediate lateral columns, and the Onuf's nucleus were spared. In the brainstem, moderate neuronal loss and gliosis were noted in the hypoglossal and facial motor nuclei. No Bunina bodies were found in the surviving spinal and brainstem motor neurons. Transactivation response (TAR) DNA‐binding protein 43 (TDP‐43)‐positive neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions were observed throughout the central nervous system. The Golgi apparatus in motor neurons of the brainstem and spinal cord was often fragmented. Immunoreactivity for OPTN was not observed in the brain and spinal cord, consistent with nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay of OPTN. The TDP‐43 pathology of Q398X was similar to that of an autosomal dominant E478G mutation. This result suggests that the loss‐of‐function, but not the proteinopathy itself, of OPTN results in TDP‐43 deposits in neuronal and glial cytoplasm and Golgi apparatus fragmentation, leading to multisystem neurodegeneration.
ALS‐associated protein FIG4 is localized in Pick and Lewy bodies, and also neuronal nuclear inclusions, in polyglutamine and intranuclear inclusion body diseases
Authors: Kon Tomoya , Mori Fumiaki , Tanji Kunikazu , Miki Yasuo , Toyoshima Yasuko , Yoshida Mari , Sasaki Hidenao , Kakita Akiyoshi , Takahashi Hitoshi , Wakabayashi Koichi
Published: July 2013

FIG4 is a phosphatase that regulates intracellular vesicle trafficking along the endosomal‐lysosomal pathway. Mutations of FIG4 lead to the development of Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease type 4J and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Moreover, ALS‐associated proteins (transactivation response DNA protein 43 (TDP‐43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), optineurin, ubiquilin‐2, charged mutivesicular body protein 2b (CHMP2B) and valosin‐containing protein) are involved in inclusion body formation in several neurodegenerative diseases. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined the brains and spinal cords of patients with various neurodegenerative diseases, including sporadic TDP‐43 proteinopathy (ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration). TDP‐43 proteinopathy demonstrated no FIG4 immunoreactivity in neuronal inclusions. However, FIG4 immunoreactivity was present in Pick bodies in Pick's disease, Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, neuronal nuclear inclusions in polyglutamine and intranuclear inclusion body diseases, and Marinesco and Hirano bodies in aged control subjects. These findings suggest that FIG4 is not incorporated in TDP‐43 inclusions and that it may have a common role in the formation or degradation of neuronal cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions in several neurodegenerative diseases.
Ethnicity and Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment
Authors: Gagnon Christine M. , Matsuura Justin T. , Smith Clark C. , Stanos Steven P.
Published: July 2013

Objective

The purpose of this study was to identify ethnic differences in interdisciplinary pain treatment outcome and whether these differences occur while controlling for the effects of demographics, psychosocial, and secondary gain.

Methods

We assessed a sample of 116 (Caucasian, African American, and Latino/a) chronic pain patients who participated a 4‐week interdisciplinary pain treatment program. Outcome measure included pretreatment, post‐treatment, and change scores on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale 20, Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, Coping Strategies Questionnaire‐revised, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—short form.

Results

Analysis of covariances revealed that after accounting for educational and sex differences, ethnic minorities differed from Caucasians on a number of treatment outcome measures at pre‐ and post‐treatment [F's ≥ 5.38; P's < 0.01]. At pretreatment, Latino/a's endorsed greater levels of pain‐related anxiety, pain severity, and pain catastrophizing than Caucasians. Both Latino/a's and African Americans reported greater use of prayer at pre‐ and post‐treatment, with Caucasians showing the greatest decrease in the use of prayer in response to treatment. At post‐treatment, African Americans had higher level of depression and lower levels of reported activity than Caucasians.

Conclusions

Results support the notion that ethnic differences in pain treatment outcome exist. Further, ethnic minority groups appear to have greater levels of distress compared to Caucasians. However, African Americans, Latino/a's and Caucasians demonstrated similar improvements on all outcome measures, with exception of the use of prayer. Future studies should begin to explore the mechanisms to explain why ethnic group differences in pain treatment outcome occur.
“Creeping” or just information seeking? Gender differences in partner monitoring in response to jealousy on Facebook
Authors: MUISE AMY , CHRISTOFIDES EMILY , DESMARAIS SERGE
Published: July 2013

New media, such as Facebook, has implications for romantic relationships, including easing the ability to monitor a partner's activities. Across two studies we demonstrate that in response to feelings of jealousy, women are more likely than men to monitor their partner's activities on Facebook. In Study 1, participants were exposed to one of three experimental conditions meant to provoke jealousy, and their search time on a simulated Facebook environment was recorded. Jealousy predicted more time searching for women, but less for men. In Study 2, a dyadic daily experience study, on days when women (but not men) reported greater jealousy they spent more time monitoring their partner on Facebook, and anxious attachment was one mechanism that explained this association. The results are discussed in terms of gender differences in attachment and response to feelings of jealousy.
Relationship quality promotes the desire for closeness among distressed avoidantly attached individuals
Authors: SLOTTER ERICA B. , LUCHIES LAURA B.
Published: July 2013

Individuals who experience attachment avoidance tend to desire less closeness in their romantic relationships than others, especially when experiencing distress. However, emerging research suggests that avoidant individuals value social closeness and are more comfortable with it when they perceive that seeking closeness is welcomed. Thus, this research examined the relationship characteristics that might predict avoidant individuals seeking more closeness than they would otherwise. We investigated whether perceiving their relationship to be high quality would predict avoidant individuals desiring more closeness when distressed. We hypothesized that avoidant individuals who perceived their relationship to be high quality would desire greater closeness with their partners when distressed—counteracting their tendency to eschew relational closeness. A study of dating couples supported this hypothesis.
Prevention of cytomegalovirus following solid organ transplantation: A literature review
Authors: Kowalsky Shanna , Arnon Ronen , Posada Roberto
Published: July 2013

CMV is the most common opportunistic infection affecting SOT recipients. Although current strategies to prevent both CMV infection and disease have been effective, CMV related complications continue to occur, particularly late‐onset CMV disease. This literature review article examines the benefits and disadvantages of different prevention modalities, and presents emerging strategies to better prevent CMV in organ transplant recipients.
Occurrence of the F129L mutation in Alternaria solani populations in Germany in response to QoI application, and its effect on sensitivity
Authors: Leiminger J. H. , Adolf B. , Hausladen H.
Published: July 2013

Early blight caused by Alternaria solani is a highly destructive disease of potatoes. Control of early blight mainly relies on the use of preventive fungicide treatments. Because of their high efficacy, azoxystrobin and other quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) are commonly used to manage early blight. However, loss of sensitivity to QoIs has previously been reported for A. solani in the United States. Two hundred and three A. solani field isolates collected from 81 locations in Germany between 2005 and 2011 were screened for the presence of the F129L mutation in the cytochrome b gene; of these, 74 contained the F129L mutation. Sequence analysis revealed the occurrence of two structurally different cytb genes, which differed in the presence (genotype I) or absence (genotype II) of an intron, with genotype I being the most prevalent (63% of isolates). The F129L mutation was detected only in genotype II isolates, where it occurred in 97%. Sensitivity to azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin was determined in conidial germination assays. All isolates possessing the F129L mutation had reduced sensitivity to azoxystrobin and, to a lesser extent, to pyraclostrobin. Early blight disease severity on plants treated with azoxystrobin was significantly higher for A. solani isolates with reduced fungicide sensitivity in the conidial germination assay compared with sensitive isolates. Data suggest an accumulation of F129L isolates in the German A. solani population over the years 2009–2011. It is assumed that the application of QoIs has selected for the occurrence of F129L mutations, which may contribute to loss of fungicide efficacy.
Cultural Education: Redefining the Role of Museums in the 21st Century
Authors: Earle Wendy
Published: July 2013

In this paper, I argue that in the face of a crisis about the value of culture, cultural education has been represented by some of its advocates as a new way of legitimising the cultural sector. It enables museums, for example, to appear more inclusive and democratic, more relevant to young people and others who do not normally visit museums, and more responsive to the needs of the society. However, defining the value of culture through an emphasis on cultural education, paradoxically, has the potential to undermine the basis of the museum's existence as a public institution.

With reference to my research into New Labour's cultural policy, particularly in relation to museums, this paper highlights discourses that have given cultural education a more significant role in the cultural sector. I show how cultural education, with ‘cultural inclusion’ as its main objective, has evolved in the context of an existential crisis in the museum sector over the past 30 years, appearing to offer a means through which they can redefine their role and value in the society as anti‐elitist organisations supporting social change. I then go onto show how this apparent solution to the problem might further undermine the unique value of museums.
Blue‐light‐induced PIN3 polarization for root negative phototropic response in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhang Kun‐Xiao , Xu Heng‐Hao , Yuan Ting‐Ting , Zhang Liang , Lu Ying‐Tang
Published: July 2013

Root negative phototropism is an important response in plants. Although blue light is known to mediate this response, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying root negative phototropism remain unclear. Here, we report that the auxin efflux carrier PIN‐FORMED (PIN) 3 is involved in asymmetric auxin distribution and root negative phototropism. Unilateral blue‐light illumination polarized PIN3 to the outer lateral membrane of columella cells at the illuminated root side, and increased auxin activity at the illuminated side of roots, where auxin promotes growth and causes roots bending away from the light source. Furthermore, root negative phototropic response and blue‐light‐induced PIN3 polarization were modulated by a brefeldin A‐sensitive, GNOM‐dependent, trafficking pathway and by phot1‐regulated PINOID (PID)/PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A (PP2A) activity. Our results indicate that blue‐light‐induced PIN3 polarization is needed for asymmetric auxin distribution during root negative phototropic response.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressures Resulting From Experimental Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries in a Pig Model
Authors: Jones Claire F. , Lee Jae H. T. , Burstyn Uri , Okon Elena B. , Kwon Brian K. , Cripton Peter A.
Published: July 2013

Despite considerable effort over the last four decades, research has failed to translate into consistently effective treatment options for spinal cord injury (SCI). This is partly attributed to differences between the injury response of humans and rodent models. Some of this difference could be because the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) layer of the human spine is relatively large, while that of the rodents is extremely thin. We sought to characterize the fluid impulse induced in the CSF by experimental SCIs of moderate and high human-like severity, and to compare this with previous studies in which fluid impulse has been associated with neural tissue injury. We used a new in vivo pig model (n = 6 per injury group, mean age 124.5 days, 20.9 kg) incorporating four miniature pressure transducers that were implanted in pairs in the subarachnoid space, cranial, and caudal to the injury at 30 mm and 100 mm. Tissue sparing was assessed with Eriochrome Cyanine and Neutral Red staining. The median peak pressures near the injury were 522.5 and 868.8 mmHg (range 96.7–1430.0) and far from the injury were 7.6 and 36.3 mmHg (range 3.8–83.7), for the moderate and high injury severities, respectively. Pressure impulse (mmHg.ms), apparent wave speed, and apparent attenuation factor were also evaluated. The data indicates that the fluid pressure wave may be sufficient to affect the severity and extent of primary tissue damage close to the injury site. However, the CSF pressure was close to normal physiologic values at 100 mm from the injury. The high injury severity animals had less tissue sparing than the moderate injury severity animals; this difference was statistically significant only within 1.6 mm of the epicenter. These results indicate that future research seeking to elucidate the mechanical origins of primary tissue damage in SCI should consider the effects of CSF. This pig model provides advantages for basic and preclinical SCI research due to its similarities to human scale, including the existence of a human-like CSF fluid layer.
Porous Biodegradable Lumbar Interbody Fusion Cage Design and Fabrication Using Integrated Global-Local Topology Optimization With Laser Sintering
Authors: Kang Heesuk , Hollister Scott J. , La Marca Frank , Park Paul , Lin Chia-Ying
Published: July 2013

Biodegradable cages have received increasing attention for their use in spinal procedures involving interbody fusion to resolve complications associated with the use of nondegradable cages, such as stress shielding and long-term foreign body reaction. However, the relatively weak initial material strength compared to permanent materials and subsequent reduction due to degradation may be problematic. To design a porous biodegradable interbody fusion cage for a preclinical large animal study that can withstand physiological loads while possessing sufficient interconnected porosity for bony bridging and fusion, we developed a multiscale topology optimization technique. Topology optimization at the macroscopic scale provides optimal structural layout that ensures mechanical strength, while optimally designed microstructures, which replace the macroscopic material layout, ensure maximum permeability. Optimally designed cages were fabricated using solid, freeform fabrication of poly(ε-caprolactone) mixed with hydroxyapatite. Compression tests revealed that the yield strength of optimized fusion cages was two times that of typical human lumbar spine loads. Computational analysis further confirmed the mechanical integrity within the human lumbar spine, although the pore structure locally underwent higher stress than yield stress. This optimization technique may be utilized to balance the complex requirements of load-bearing, stress shielding, and interconnected porosity when using biodegradable materials for fusion cages.