bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Derivatives of Plant Phenolic Compound Affect the Type III Secretion System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via a GacS-GacA Two-Component Signal Transduction System
Authors: Yamazaki Akihiro , Li Jin , Zeng Quan , Khokhani Devanshi , Hutchins William C. , Yost Angela C. , Biddle Eulandria , Toone Eric J. , Chen Xin , Yang Ching-Hong
Published: October 2011

Antibiotic therapy is the most commonly used strategy to control pathogenic infections; however, it has contributed to the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To circumvent this emerging problem, we are searching for compounds that target bacterial virulence factors rather than their viability.Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen, possesses a type III secretion system (T3SS) as one of the major virulence factors by which it secretes and translocates T3 effector proteins into human host cells. The fact that this human pathogen also is able to infect several plant species led us to screen a library of phenolic compounds involved in plant defense signaling and their derivatives for novel T3 inhibitors. Promoter activity screening ofexoS, which encodes a T3-secreted toxin, identified two T3 inhibitors and two T3 inducers ofP. aeruginosaPAO1. These compounds alterexoStranscription by affecting the expression levels of the regulatory small RNAs RsmY and RsmZ. These two small RNAs are known to control the activity of carbon storage regulator RsmA, which is responsible for the regulation of the key T3SS regulator ExsA. As RsmY and RsmZ are the only targets directly regulated by GacA, our results suggest that these phenolic compounds affect the expression ofexoSthrough the GacSA-RsmYZ-RsmA-ExsA regulatory pathway.
Functional Promoter Haplotypes of Interleukin-18 Condition Susceptibility to Severe Malarial Anemia and Childhood Mortality
Authors: Anyona Samuel B. , Kempaiah Prakasha , Raballah Evans , Ouma Collins , Were Tom , Davenport Gregory C. , Konah Stephen N. , Vulule John M. , Hittner James B. , Gichuki Charity W. , Ong'echa John M. , Perkins Douglas J.
Published: October 2011

Severe malarial anemia (SMA) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children residing in regions wherePlasmodium falciparumtransmission is holoendemic. Although largely unexplored in children with SMA, interleukin-18 (IL-18) is important for regulating innate and acquired immunity in inflammatory and infectious diseases. As such, we selected two functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-18 promoter (−137G→C [rs187238] and −607C→A [rs1946518]) whose haplotypes encompass significant genetic variation due to the presence of strong linkage disequilibrium among these variants. The relationship between the genotypes/haplotypes, SMA (hemoglobin [Hb], <5.0 g/dl], and longitudinal clinical outcomes were then investigated in Kenyan children (n= 719). Multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for age, gender, sickle cell trait, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, HIV-1, and bacteremia revealed that carriage of the −607AA genotype was associated with protection against SMA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.440 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 0.21 to 0.90],P= 0.031) in children with acute infection. In contrast, carriers of the −137G/−607C (GC) haplotype had increased susceptibility to SMA (OR = 2.050 [95% CI = 1.04 to 4.05],P= 0.039). Measurement of IL-18 gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes demonstrated that elevated IL-18 transcripts were associated with reduced hemoglobin concentrations (ρ = −0.293,P= 0.010) and that carriers of the “susceptible” GC haplotype had elevated IL-18 transcripts (P= 0.026). Longitudinal investigation of clinical outcomes over a 3-year follow-up period revealed that carriers of the rare CC haplotype (∼1% frequency) had 5.76 times higher mortality than noncarriers (P= 0.001). Results presented here demonstrate that IL-18 promoter haplotypes that condition elevated IL-18 gene products during acute infection are associated with increased risk of SMA. Furthermore, carriage of the rare CC haplotype significantly increases the risk of childhood mortality.
The war against bacteria: how were sulphonamide drugs used by Britain during World War II?
Authors: Davenport Diana
Published: October 2011

Penicillin is often considered one of the greatest discoveries of 20th century medicine. However, the revolution in therapeutics brought about by sulphonamides also had a profound effect on British medicine, particularly during World War II (WWII). Sulphonamides were used to successfully treat many infections which later yielded to penicillin and so their role deserves wider acknowledgement. The sulphonamides, a pre-war German discovery, were widely used clinically. However, the revolution brought about by the drugs has been either neglected or obscured by penicillin, resulting in less research on their use in Britain during WWII. By examining Medical Research Council records, particularly war memorandums, as well as medical journals, archives and newspaper reports, this paper hopes to highlight the importance of the sulphonamides and demonstrate their critical role in the medical war effort and their importance in both the public and more particularly, the medical, sectors. It will present evidence to show that sulphonamides gained importance due to the increased prevalence of infection which compromised the health of servicemen during WWII. The frequency of these infections led to an increase in demand and production. However, the sulphonamides were soon surpassed by penicillin, which had fewer side-effects and could treat syphilis and sulphonamide-resistant infections. Nevertheless, despite these limitations, the sulphonamides drugs were arguably more important in revolutionising medicine than penicillin, as they achieved the first real success in the war against bacteria.
Feeding performance in the Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus): ontogeny and the effects of prey type and size
Authors: Hampton Paul M.
Published: October 2011

It has been suggested that juveniles have exaggerated morphologies or improved performance to compensate for the disadvantages of being small. As gape-limited predators, juvenile snakes are at a particular disadvantage in terms of prey availability, capture, and ingestion. Prey preference often changes with snake size yet previous studies generally compare only one prey type or relative prey size among age classes. Using Western Ribbon Snakes ( Thamnophis proximus (Say in James, 1823)), I investigated the ontogeny of head dimensions and feeding performance on frogs and fish using a range of relative prey sizes. Comparison among snake sizes indicated that smaller individuals had larger relative head sizes than larger conspecifics; however, larger individuals had larger heads. Initial bite position differed between juveniles and adults fed fish but not frogs. Both frogs and fish were generally consumed headfirst by adults and juveniles. Head length did not influence feeding performance in terms of time or pterygoid protractions for snakes fed either fish or frogs. In general, this study suggests that allometry of trophic morphology does not improve feeding performance.
ENHANCING THE MASS SENSITIVITY OF NANOCANTILEVER
Authors: LAKSHMOJI K. , PRABAKAR K. , KUMAR ATUL , JAYAPANDIAN J. , TYAGI A. K.
Published: October 2011

In the present work, dynamic frequency analysis of different nanostructures like nanobelt, nanotube etc., which can be attached to a conventional micro cantilever, is performed for estimating the mass sensitivity using finite element analysis. It is found that compared to rectangular bar and cylinder shape, tube shape gives higher sensitivity and is explained on the basis of distribution of effective mass. In the case of nanocantilever, it is found that by introducing a step discontinuity along the length of the cantilever, mass sensitivity can be enhanced. It is also proved that mass sensitivity is highly dependent on the position of mass loading in cantilever based mass sensors.
Checksum-Aware Fuzzing Combined with Dynamic Taint Analysis and Symbolic Execution
Authors: Wang Tielei , Wei Tao , Gu Guofei , Zou Wei
Published: October 2011

Fuzz testing has proven successful in finding security vulnerabilities in large programs. However, traditional fuzz testing tools have a well-known common drawback: they are ineffective if most generated inputs are rejected at the early stage of program running, especially when target programs employ checksum mechanisms to verify the integrity of inputs. This article presents TaintScope, an automatic fuzzing system using dynamic taint analysis and symbolic execution techniques, to tackle the above problem. TaintScope has several novel features: (1) TaintScope is a checksum-aware fuzzing tool. It can identify checksum fields in inputs, accurately locate checksum-based integrity checks by using branch profiling techniques, and bypass such checks via control flow alteration. Furthermore, it can fix checksum values in generated inputs using combined concrete and symbolic execution techniques. (2) TaintScope is a taint-based fuzzing tool working at the x86 binary level. Based on fine-grained dynamic taint tracing, TaintScope identifies the “hot bytes” in a well-formed input that are used in security-sensitive operations (e.g., invoking system/library calls), and then focuses on modifying such bytes with random or boundary values. (3) TaintScope is also a symbolic-execution-based fuzzing tool. It can symbolically evaluate a trace, reason about all possible values that can execute the trace, and then detect potential vulnerabilities on the trace.

We evaluate TaintScope on a number of large real-world applications. Experimental results show that TaintScope can accurately locate the checksum checks in programs and dramatically improve the effectiveness of fuzz testing. TaintScope has already found 30 previously unknown vulnerabilities in several widely used applications, including Adobe Acrobat, Flash Player, Google Picasa, and Microsoft Paint. Most of these severe vulnerabilities have been confirmed by Secunia and oCERT, and assigned CVE identifiers (such as CVE-2009-1882, CVE-2009-2688). Vendor patches have been released or are in preparation based on our reports.
Authenticated Dictionaries
Authors: Crosby Scott A. , Wallach Dan S.
Published: October 2011

Authenticated dictionaries are a widely discussed paradigm to enable verifiable integrity for data storage on untrusted servers, such as today’s widely used “cloud computing” resources, allowing a server to provide a “proof,” typically in the form of a slice through a cryptographic data structure, that the results of any given query are the correct answer, including that the absence of a query result is correct. Persistent authenticated dictionaries (PADs) further allow queries against older versions of the structure. This research presents implementations of a variety of different PAD algorithms, some based on Merkle tree-style data structures and others based on individually signed “tuple” statements (with and without RSA accumulators). We present system throughput benchmarks, indicating costs in terms of time, storage, and bandwidth as well as considering how much money would be required given standard cloud computing costs. We conclude that Merkle tree PADs are preferable in cases with frequent updates, while tuple-based PADs are preferable with higher query rates. For Merkle tree PADs, red-black trees outperform treaps and skiplists. Applying Sarnak-Tarjan’s versioned node strategy, with a cache of old hashes at every node, to red-black trees yields the fastest Merkle tree PAD implementation, notably using half the memory of the more commonly used mutation-free path copying strategy. For tuple PADs, although we designed and implemented an algorithm using RSA accumulators that offers constant update size, constant storage per update, constant proof size, and sublinear computation per update, we found that RSA accumulators are so expensive that they are never worthwhile. We find that other optimizations in the literature for tuple PADs are more cost-effective.
Security Seals on Voting Machines
Authors: Appel Andrew W.
Published: October 2011

Tamper-evident seals are used by many states’ election officials on voting machines and ballot boxes, either to protect the computer and software from fraudulent modification or to protect paper ballots from fraudulent substitution or stuffing. Physical tamper-indicating seals can usually be easily defeated, given they way they are typically made and used; and the effectiveness of seals depends on the protocol for their application and inspection. The legitimacy of our elections may therefore depend on whether a particular state’s use of seals is effective to prevent, deter, or detect election fraud. This paper is a case study of the use of seals on voting machines by the State of New Jersey. I conclude that New Jersey’s protocols for the use of tamper-evident seals have been not at all effective. I conclude with a discussion of the more general problem of seals in democratic elections.
A real-time analysis approach in opportunistic networks
Authors: Santos Rodrigo , Orozco Javier , Ochoa Sergio F.
Published: October 2011

There are several mobile work scenarios requiring real-time messages. Examples of these scenarios are disaster relief or mobile work in isolated areas. Although opportunistic networks are not intended for real-time messages, under certain conditions the communication could be feasible. This paper presents the schedulability analysis of an opportunistic network for real-time traffic. It includes a stochastic and deterministic analysis of the network performance. Moreover, a scheduling policy is also proposed.
Using Network Calculus to compute end-to-end delays in SpaceWire networks
Authors: Ferrandiz Thomas , Frances Fabrice , Fraboul Christian
Published: October 2011

The SpaceWire network standard is promoted by the ESA and is scheduled to be used as the sole on-board network for future satellites. This network uses a wormhole routing mechanism that can lead to packet blocking in routers and consequently to variable end-to-end delays. As the network will be shared by real-time and non real-time traffic, network designers require a tool to check that temporal constraints are verified for all the critical messages.

Network Calculus can be used for evaluating worst-case end-to-end delays. However, we first have to model SpaceWire components through the definition of service curves. In this paper, we propose a new Network Calculus element that we call the Wormhole Section. This element allows us to better model a wormhole network than the usual multiplexer and demultiplexer elements used in the context of usual Store-and-Forward networks.
Eating Disorders and Major Depression: Role of Anger and Personality
Authors: Giovanni Abbate-Daga , Carla Gramaglia , Enrica Marzola , Federico Amianto , Maria Zuccolin , Secondo Fassino
Published: October 2011

This study aimed to evaluate comorbidity for MD in a large ED sample and both personality and anger as clinical characteristics of patients with ED and MD. We assessed 838 ED patients with psychiatric evaluations and psychometric questionnaires: Temperament and Character Inventory, Eating Disorder Inventory-2, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. 19.5% of ED patients were found to suffer from comorbid MD and 48.7% reported clinically significant depressive symptomatology: patients with Anorexia Binge-Purging and Bulimia Nervosa were more likely to be diagnosed with MD. Irritable mood was found in the 73% of patients with MD. High Harm Avoidance (HA) and low Self-Directedness (SD) predicted MD independently of severity of the ED symptomatology, several clinical variables, and ED diagnosis. Assessing both personality and depressive symptoms could be useful to provide effective treatments. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the pathogenetic role of HA and SD for ED and MD.
Theoretical Insight into the Spectral Characteristics of Fe(II)-Based Complexes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells—Part I: Polypyridyl Ancillary Ligands
Authors: Lu Xiaoqing , Wei Shuxian , Wu Chi-Man Lawrence , Ding Ning , Li Shaoren , Zhao Lianming , Guo Wenyue
Published: October 2011

The design of light-absorbent dyes with cheaper, safer, and more sustainable materials is one of the key issues for the future development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We report herein a theoretical investigation on a series of polypyridyl Fe(II)-based complexes of FeL2(SCN)2, [FeL3]2+, [FeL′(SCN)3]-, [FeL′2]2+, and FeL′′(SCN)2(L = 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, L′ = 2,2′,2″-terpyridyl-4,4′,4″-tricarboxylic acid, L″= 4,4‴-dimethyl-2,2′ : 6′,2″ :6″,2‴-quaterpyridyl-4′,4″-biscarboxylic acid) by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). Molecular geometries, electronic structures, and optical absorption spectra are predicted in both the gas phase and methyl cyanide (MeCN) solution. Our results show that polypyridyl Fe(II)-based complexes display multitransition characters of Fe → polypyridine metal-to-ligand charge transfer and ligand-to-ligand charge transfer in the range of 350–800 nm. Structural optimizations by choosing different polypyridyl ancillary ligands lead to alterations of the molecular orbital energies, oscillator strength, and spectral response range. Compared with Ru(II) sensitizers, Fe(II)-based complexes show similar characteristics and improving trend of optical absorption spectra along with the introduction of different polypyridyl ancillary ligands.
Passivity-Based Control of Rotational and Translational Timoshenko Arms
Authors: Sasaki Minoru , Ueda Takeshi , Inoue Yshihiro , Book Wayne J.
Published: October 2011

It is shown that the alternate passivity-based control schemes can be designed which explicitly exploit the passivity properties of the Timoshenko model. This approach has the advantage over the conventional methods in the respect that it allows one to deal directly with the system's partial differential equations without resorting to approximations. Numerical results for the tracking control of a translational and rotational flexible Timoshenko arm are presented and compared. They verify that the proposed control schemes are effective at controlling flexible dynamical systems.
Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology ofLepidium meyenii(Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands
Authors: Gonzales Gustavo F.
Published: October 2011

Lepidium meyenii(maca) is a Peruvian plant of the Brassicaceae family cultivated for more than 2000 years, which grows exclusively in the central Andes between 4000 and 4500 m altitude. Maca is used as a food supplement and also for its medicinal properties described traditionally. Since the 90s of the XX century, an increasing interest in products from maca has been observed in many parts of the world. In the last decade, exportation of maca from Peru has increased from 1,415,000 USD in 2001 to USD 6,170,000 USD in 2010. Experimental scientific evidence showed that maca has nutritional, energizer, and fertility-enhancer properties, and it acts on sexual dysfunctions, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, memory and learning, and protects skin against ultraviolet radiation. Clinical trials showed efficacy of maca on sexual dysfunctions as well as increasing sperm count and motility. Maca is a plant with great potential as an adaptogen and appears to be promising as a nutraceutical in the prevention of several diseases.
Vibrational Spectroscopy of Chemical Species in Silicon and Silicon-Rich Nitride Thin Films
Authors: Bugaev Kirill O. , Zelenina Anastasia A. , Volodin Vladimir A.
Published: October 2011

Vibrational properties of hydrogenated silicon-rich nitride () of various stoichiometry () and hydrogenated amorphous silicon () films were studied using Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furnace annealing during 5 hours in Ar ambient at
and pulse laser annealing were applied to modify the structure of films. Surprisingly, after annealing with such high-thermal budget, according to the FTIR data, the nearly stoichiometric silicon nitride film contains hydrogen in the form of Si–H bonds. From analysis of the FTIR data of the Si–N bond vibrations, one can conclude that silicon nitride is partly crystallized. According to the Raman data films with hydrogen concentration 15% and lower contain mainly Si–H chemical species, and films with hydrogen concentration 30–35% contain mainly Si–H2 chemical species. Nanosecond pulse laser treatments lead to crystallization of the films and its dehydrogenization.
Dermatophyte Virulence Factors: Identifying and Analyzing Genes That May Contribute to Chronic or Acute Skin Infections
Authors: Achterman Rebecca Rashid , White Theodore C.
Published: October 2011

Dermatophytes are prevalent causes of cutaneous mycoses and, unlike many other fungal pathogens, are able to cause disease in immunocompetent individuals. They infect keratinized tissue such as skin, hair, and nails, resulting in tinea infections, including ringworm. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the ability of these organisms to establish and maintain infection. The recent availability of genome sequence information and improved genetic manipulation have enabled researchers to begin to identify and study the role of virulence factors of dermatophytes. This paper will summarize our current understanding of dermatophyte virulence factors and discuss future directions for identifying and testing virulence factors.
Analysis on Binding Energy and Auger Parameter for Estimating Size and Stoichiometry of ZnO Nanorods
Authors: Bera Santanu , Dhara Sandip , Velmurugan S. , Tyagi A. K.
Published: October 2011

ZnO nanorods prepared through chemical vapor deposition technique are characterized by microscopic and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques to correlate the effects of size on the binding energy of Zn 2p3/2 photoelectrons. A positive shift in Zn 2p3/2-binding energy as compared to that in bulk ZnO is assumed to be the effect of size of ZnO tips. The shift in binding energy has been explained in terms of relaxation energy in the photoemission process. Simultaneously, Auger parameter of the nanorods is evaluated for stoichiometric composition. The extra peak in O1s spectrum of nanorods is explained as adsorbed O-bearing species or surface contaminants.
Pathophysiology of the Behçet's Disease
Authors: Türsen Ümit
Published: October 2011

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by chronic relapsing oral-genital ulcers and uveitis. Multiple systemic associations including articular, gastrointestinal, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, and vascular involvement are also observed in BD. Although the etiopathogenesis of the disease remains unknown, increased neutrophil functions such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anion, which may be responsible for oxidative tissue damage seen in BD, and also immunological alterations, T lymphocyte abnormalities in both subpopulation and function have been considered to be correlated with the etiopathogenesis of BD. There is some clinical evidence suggesting that emotional stress and hormonal alterations can influence the course and disease activity of BD.
Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours towards Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Their Children: A Systematic Review from 2001 to 2011
Authors: Trim Kristina , Nagji Naushin , Elit Laurie , Roy Katherine
Published: October 2011

Objectives. A systematic review of parental surveys about HPV and/or child HPV vaccination to understand parental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour before and after FDA approval of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine and the bivalent HPV vaccine.Search Strategy. Searches were conducted using electronic databases limited to published studies between 2001 and 2011.Findings. The percentage of parents who heard about HPV rose over time (from 60% in 2005 to 93% in 2009), as did their appreciation for the HPV infection and cervical cancer link (from 70% in 2003 to 91% in 2011). During the FDA approval, there was a stronger vaccine awareness but it has waned. The same pattern is seen with parents whose children received the HPV vaccine (peak at 84% in 2010 and now 36% in 2011) or the intention to vaccinate (peak at 80% in 2008 and now 41% in 2011).Conclusions. Parents had safety concerns and wanted more information their physician from to recommend and to confidently HPV vaccinate their children.
DNA-Platinum Thin Films for Use in Chemoradiation Therapy Studies
Authors: Rezaee Mohammad , Alizadeh Elahe , Hunting Darel , Sanche Léon
Published: October 2011

Dry films of platinum chemotherapeutic drugs covalently bound to plasmid DNA (Pt-DNA) represent a useful experimental model to investigate direct effects of radiation on DNA in close proximity to platinum chemotherapeutic agents, a situation of considerable relevance to understand the mechanisms underlying concomitant chemoradiation therapy. In the present paper we determine the optimum conditions for preparation of Pt-DNA films for use in irradiation experiments. Incubation conditions for DNA platination reactions have a substantial effect on the structure of Pt-DNA in the films. The quantity of Pt bound to DNA as a function of incubation time and temperature is measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Our experiments indicate that chemical instability and damage to DNA in Pt-DNA samples increase when DNA platination occurs at37°Cfor 24 hours, the condition which has been extensively used for in vitro studies. Platination of DNA for the formation of Pt-DNA films is optimal at room temperature for reaction times less than 2 hours. By increasing the concentration of Pt compounds relative to DNA and thus accelerating the rate of their mutual binding, it is possible to prepare Pt-DNA samples containing known concentrations of Pt while reducing DNA degradation caused by more lengthy procedures.
A Mechanism-Based Approach to Prevention of and Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Authors: Vierck Charles J.
Published: October 2011

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by pain referred to deep tissues. Diagnosis and treatment of FMS are complicated by a variable coexistence with regional pain, fatigue, sleep disruption, difficulty with mentation, and depression. The widespread, deep pain of FMS can be a consequence of chronic psychological stress with autonomic dysregulation. Stress acts centrally to facilitate pain and acts peripherally, via sympathetic vasoconstriction, to establish painful muscular ischemia. FMS pain, with or without a coexistent regional pain condition, is stressful, setting up a vicious circle of reciprocal interaction. Also, stress interacts reciprocally with systems of control over depression, mentation, and sleep, establishing FMS as a multiple-system disorder. Thus, stress and the ischemic pain it generates are fundamental to the multiple disorders of FMS, and a therapeutic procedure that attenuates stress and peripheral vasoconstriction should be highly beneficial for FMS. Physical exercise has been shown to counteract peripheral vasoconstriction and to attenuate stress, depression, and fatigue and improve mentation and sleep quality. Thus, exercise can interrupt the reciprocal interactions between psychological stress and each of the multiple-system disorders of FMS. The large literature supporting these conclusions indicates that exercise should be considered strongly as a first-line approach to FMS therapy.
Contribution of Genoarchitecture to Understanding Forebrain Evolution and Development, with Particular Emphasis on the Amygdala
Authors: Medina Loreta , Bupesh Munisamy , Abellán Antonio
Published: October 2011

The amygdala is a forebrain center involved in functions and behaviors that are critical for survival (such as control of the neuroendocrine system and homeostasis, and reproduction and fear/escape responses) and in cognitive functions such as attention and emotional learning. In mammals, the amygdala is highly complex, with multiple subdivisions, neuronal subtypes, and connections, making it very difficult to understand its functional organization and evolutionary origin. Since evolution is the consequence of changes that occurred in development, herein we review developmental data based on genoarchitecture and fate mapping in mammals (in the mouse model) and other vertebrates in order to identify its basic components and embryonic origin in different species and understand how they changed in evolution. In all tetrapods studied, the amygdala includes at least 4 components: (1) a ventral pallial part, characterized by expression of Lhx2 and Lhx9, that includes part of the basal amygdalar complex in mammals and a caudal part of the dorsal ventricular ridge in sauropsids and also produces a cell subpopulation of the medial amygdala; (2) a striatal part, characterized by expression of Pax6 and/or Islet1, which includes the central amygdala in different species; (3) a pallidal part, characterized by expression of Nkx2.1 and, in amniotes, Lhx6, which includes part of the medial amygdala, and (4) a hypothalamic part (derived from the supraoptoparaventricular domain or SPV), characterized by Otp and/or Lhx5 expression, which produces an important subpopulation of cells of the medial extended amygdala (medial amygdala and/or medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis). Importantly, the size of the SPV domain increases upon reduction or lack of Nkx2.1 function in the hypothalamus. It appears that Nkx2.1 expression was downregulated in the alar hypothalamus during evolution to mammals, which may have produced an enlargement of SPV and the amygdalar cell subpopulation derived from it.
Predictors of Decline in Medication Adherence
Authors: Krousel-Wood Marie , Joyce Cara , Holt Elizabeth , Muntner Paul , Webber Larry S. , Morisky Donald E. , Frohlich Edward D. , Re Richard N.
Published: October 2011

Few data are available on the predictors of decline in antihypertensive medication adherence and the association of decline in adherence with subsequent blood pressure (BP) control. The current analysis included 1965 adults from the Cohort Study of Medication Adherence Among Older Adults recruited between August 2006 and September 2007. Decline in antihypertensive medication adherence was defined as a ≥2-point decrease on the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale assessed during telephone surveys 1 and 2 years after baseline. Risk factors for decline in adherence were collected using telephone surveys and administrative databases. BP was abstracted from outpatient records. The annual rate for a decline in adherence was 4.3% (159 participants experienced a decline). After multivariable adjustment, a decline in adherence was associated with an odds ratio (OR) for uncontrolled BP (≥140/90 mm Hg) at follow-up of 1.68 (95% CI: 1.01–2.80). Depressive symptoms (OR: 1.84 [95% CI: 1.20–2.82]) and a high stressful life events score (OR: 1.68 [95% CI: 1.19–2.38]) were associated with higher ORs for a decline in adherence. Female sex (OR: 0.61 [95% CI: 0.42–0.88]), being married (OR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.47–0.98]), and calcium channel blocker use (OR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.48–0.97]) were associated with lower ORs for decline. In summary, a decline in antihypertensive medication adherence was associated with uncontrolled BP. Modifiable factors associated with decline were identified. Further research is warranted to determine whether interventions can prevent the decline in antihypertensive medication adherence and improve BP control.
Central Pulse Pressure and Aortic Stiffness Determine Renal Hemodynamics
Authors: Hashimoto Junichiro , Ito Sadayoshi
Published: October 2011

A significant link has been reported between aortic stiffening and renal microvascular damage, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that alterations in central and renal hemodynamics are responsible for this link. In 133 patients with hypertension, pressure waveforms were recorded on the radial, carotid, femoral, and dorsalis pedis arteries with applanation tonometry to estimate the aortic pressures and aortic (carotid-femoral) and peripheral (carotid-radial and femoral-dorsalis pedis) pulse wave velocities. Flow-velocity waveforms were recorded on the renal segmental arteries with duplex ultrasound to calculate the resistive index (RI) as [1 − (end-diastolic velocity/peak systolic velocity)] and on the femoral arteries to calculate the reverse/forward flow index and diastolic/systolic forward-flow ratio. Albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin/creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g of creatinine. The renal RI (mean: 0.65±0.07) was strongly correlated (
P
<0.001) with the aortic pulse pressure (
r
=0.62), incident pressure wave (
r
=0.55), augmented pressure (
r
=0.49), and aortic pulse wave velocity (
r
=0.51), although not with the mean arterial pressure or peripheral pulse wave velocities. The correlations remained highly significant after consideration of confounders including age, cholesterol, hemoglobin A
1c
, and glomerular filtration rate. The renal RI was inversely correlated with the femoral reverse and diastolic forward flow indices. Both aortic pulse pressure and renal RI correlated with the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio independent of confounders. Each 0.1 increase in renal RI was associated with a 5.4-fold increase in the adjusted relative risk of albuminuria. In conclusion, increased aortic pulse pressure causes renal microvascular damage through altered renal hemodynamics resulting from increased peripheral resistance and/or increased flow pulsation.
Community Attachment and Negative Affective States in the Context of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Authors: Lee Matthew R. , Blanchard Troy C.
Published: October 2011

This study advances research on the mental health impacts of disasters by examining how a mainstay of the sociological literature, community attachment, influences negative affective states such as anxiety and fear stimulated by a technological disaster. Survey data were collected in three coastal Louisiana parishes (counties) geographically proximate to the BP oil spill of 2010 while the oil was still flowing. The data reveal that community attachment is associated with higher levels of negative affect. This finding holds for those tied to the fishing and seafood industry, those tied to the oil industry, and those having no immediate links to either industry. These results highlight that although community attachment is essential for community resilience, it can also be disruptive to individual well-being when technological disasters occur in communities dependent on renewable and natural resources.
70 km/h Speed Limits on Former 90 km/h Roads
Authors: Jongen Ellen M. M. , Brijs Kris , Mollu Kristof , Brijs Tom , Wets Geert
Published: October 2011

Objective: It was investigated how speed limit repetition and distraction affect drivers’ speed management throughout a road section where the imposed speed limit is not in accordance (too low) with road design.

Background: It is not clear how driving speed evolves and to what degree speed limit repetition is necessary on roads where the imposed speed limit is not in accordance (too low) with road design. It is furthermore of interest how all these factors are influenced by driver distraction.

Method: In a driving simulator, 47 volunteers completed one trip with and without distraction. Within each trip, three configurations were presented: speed limit sign repetition after every intersection, repetition only in the middle of a segment, or no repetition.

Results: Distraction lowered driving speed. Speed management varied depending on speed limit repetition. The speed limit was exceeded more often when speed limit signs were repeated less frequently. When drivers were not reminded of the limit, speed linearly increased throughout the segment. In all three configurations, speed increased toward the end of the segment, but this increase was largest when there had been no repetition at all of the speed limit.

Conclusion: In low-demanding road designs that allow drivers to exceed the speed limit, limit repetition is necessary. Frequent repetition may be preferred, as speed management was most homogenous in that case.

Application: The proposed analysis of speed management throughout a section increases our understanding of how speed evolves and thereby shows where repetition of the speed limit is necessary.
States of Sovereignty and Regional Integration in the Andes
Authors: Latimer Amanda
Published: October 2011

The trajectory of trade negotiations between the European Union and the Comunidad Andina de Naciones can be seen as an expression of the contemporary character of dependency between the two regions and of the conflict between competing strategies of integration within the Andean region itself. The first strategy reinforces current patterns of accumulation in the area of three “strategic openings” (primary and raw materials, services, and the state), the expansion of rights for Northern investors, and the state violence that has accompanied the internationalization of Colombian and Peruvian capital over the past few years. The second strategy, while mired in the class-based constraints that accompanied earlier experiments with “inward-looking development,” positions regional integration as an alternative to neoliberalism and integration with Northern blocs dominated by imperialist interests.
Romans 4:1—8 as a Test Case for the New Perspective on Paul
Authors: Pounds S. Brian
Published: October 2011

This article contrasts a “traditional” exegesis of Romans 4:1—8 with two prominent “New Perspective” interpretations of the passage. As representatives of the latter paradigm, James D. G. Dunn and N. T. Wright offer explanations of the text which diverge from its conventional reading due to their redefinition of “justification” as the inclusion of Gentiles within the covenant people and “works of the law” as those aspects of Torah observance that functioned in separating Jews from Gentiles. However, it is argued that understanding “justification” as acquittal by God and “works of the law” as general Torah observance leads to a more straightforward interpretation of Paul’s metaphor of worker and wages as well as his use of Abraham and David as types.
What Is Known about Parents’ Treatment Decisions? A Narrative Review of Pediatric Decision Making
Authors: Lipstein Ellen A. , Brinkman William B. , Britto Maria T.
Published: October 2011

Background. With the increasing complexity of decisions in pediatric medicine, there is a growing need to understand the pediatric decision-making process. Objective. To conduct a narrative review of the current research on parent decision making about pediatric treatments and identify areas in need of further investigation. Methods. Articles presenting original research on parent decision making were identified from MEDLINE (1966–6/2011), using the terms “decision making,” “parent,” and “child.” We included papers focused on treatment decisions but excluded those focused on information disclosure to children, vaccination, and research participation decisions. Results. We found 55 papers describing 52 distinct studies, the majority being descriptive, qualitative studies of the decision-making process, with very limited assessment of decision outcomes. Although parents’ preferences for degree of participation in pediatric decision making vary, most are interested in sharing the decision with the provider. In addition to the provider, parents are influenced in their decision making by changes in their child’s health status, other community members, prior knowledge, and personal factors, such as emotions and faith. Parents struggle to balance these influences as well as to know when to include their child in decision making. Conclusions. Current research demonstrates a diversity of influences on parent decision making and parent decision preferences; however, little is known about decision outcomes or interventions to improve outcomes. Further investigation, using prospective methods, is needed in order to understand how to support parents through the difficult treatment decisions.
China's New Deal
Authors: Kirby Simon
Published: October 2011

The artist Ai Weiwei’s outspoken views are gaining currency. Simon Kirby reflects on a change of mood in China as people lose faith in the Party
Culture Wars
Authors: Kennicott Philip
Published: October 2011

A censorship scandal at one of the leading public institutions in the US is a setback for artistic and academic freedom, says Philip Kennicott
A Singular Voice
Authors: Kapoor Anish
Published: October 2011

Anish Kapoor explains why artists have a duty to take a political stand for freedom of expression
Exploring ecosystem service issues across diverse knowledge domains using Bayesian Belief Networks
Authors: Haines-Young Roy
Published: October 2011

The analysis of the relationships between people and nature is complex, because it involves bringing together insights from a range of disciplines, and, when stakeholders are involved, the perspectives and values of different interest groups. Although it has been suggested that analytical-deliberate approaches may be useful in dealing with some of this complexity, the development of methods is still at an early stage. This is particularly so in relation to debates around the concept of ecosystem services where biophysical, social and economic insights need to be integrated in ways that can be accessed by decision-makers. The paper draws on case studies to examine the use of Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs) as a means of implementing analytical-deliberative approaches in relation to mapping ecosystem services and modelling scenario outcomes. It also explores their use as a tool for representing individual and group values. It is argued that when linked with GIS techniques BBNs allow mapping and modelling approaches rapidly to be developed and tested in an efficient and transparent way, and that they are a valuable scenario-building tool. The case-study materials also show that BBNs can support multicriteria forms of deliberative analysis that can be used to capture stakeholder opinions so that different perspectives can be compared and shared social values identified.
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Treatment of Cartilage Defects of the Knee
Authors: Jungmann Pia M. , Salzmann Gian M. , Schmal Hagen , Pestka Jan M. , Südkamp Norbert P. , Niemeyer Philipp
Published: October 2011

Background: Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a well-established treatment option for isolated cartilage defects of the knee joint, providing satisfying outcome. However, cases of treatment failure with the need for surgical reintervention are reported; typical patient’s individual and environmental risk factors have previously not been described.

Hypothesis: The need for reintervention after ACI is associated with specific preoperative detectable individual risk factors.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 413 patients following ACI (first, second, and third generation) were filtered for those who required revision surgery during their follow-up time (2-11.8 years). Factors were analyzed that might have significant effects on increased revision rate. Using preoperatively collected data, all patients were grouped according to 12 standard prognostic factors. Apart from odds ratio and Pearson χ2 test, statistical analysis of risk factors was performed with multivariate binary logistic regression models and Cox regression, the method of choice for survival time data.

Results: After a follow-up of 4.4 ± 0.9 years (limited to 5 years), a total of 88 patients (21.3%) had undergone surgical revision. The time to revision surgery was 1.8 ± 1.1 years. Four prognostic factors associated with a significantly higher risk for reintervention were detected: (1) female gender (Cox survival fit: P = .033), (2) previous surgeries of the affected joint ( P = .002), (3) previous bone marrow stimulation ( P = .041), and (4) periosteum patch–covered ACI ( P = .028). An influence of patient age, body mass index (BMI), defect number, defect size, lesion origin, lesion location, parallel treatment, or smoking on the risk for reintervention could not be observed.

Conclusion: The study identifies clear facts that significantly increase the risk of revision surgery. These facts can be easily obtained preoperatively and may be taken into consideration when indicating ACI.
Prolonged Elevation of Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase in Children After Clinical Diagnosis of Brain Death
Authors: Suzuki Yasuhiro , Mogami Yukiko , Toribe Yausihisa , Yamada Keitaro , Yanagihara Keiko , Hirata Ikuko , Mano Toshiyuki
Published: October 2011

To elucidate the time course of neuronal cell death after the clinical criteria for brain death are met, the authors reviewed serial changes of serum neuron-specific enolase levels in 3 children (age range, 3-15 years) clinically diagnosed as brain dead due to cardiopulmonary arrest. All patients survived for more than 2 months after brain death. Children with brain death had higher peak neuron-specific enolase values (1069-2849 ng/mL) than did 3 control children (256-1800 ng/mL) who did not become brain dead but had poor neurological outcome (1 death, 2 vegetative state) after cardiopulmonary arrest. A major finding is that children with brain death showed persistent elevation of neuron-specific enolase at 4 weeks (>400 ng/mL) and 8 weeks (>50 ng/mL) after cardiopulmonary arrest, in comparison with 2 surviving patients without brain death (<50 ng/mL at 4 weeks). This prolonged elevation of neuron-specific enolase suggests that total brain necrosis might not be present at the time of clinical diagnosis of brain death.
Fetal Opercular Cavernous Angioma Causing Cerebral Cleft
Authors: Sarnat Harvey B. , Wei Xing-Chang , Flores-Sarnat Laura , Trevenen Cynthia L. , Barlow Karen
Published: October 2011

We describe a 22-week female fetus after pregnancy was terminated because of fetal magnetic resonance imaging showing a large left cerebral hemispheric cleft suggestive of porencephaly or schizencephaly. Postmortem examination revealed a large cavernous angioma of the left opercular region with evidence of previous hemorrhage and extensive cerebral infarction. In the right hemisphere, another vascular malformation within the frontal germinal matrix consisted of an aggregate of primitive vessels not yet canalized. Selective dysgenesis of the right subiculum also was demonstrated. This case illustrates not only a severe encephaloclastic effect of cavernous angioma in fetal brain but also the importance of fetal autopsy to help correlate and explain fetal neuroimaging. Potential future prenatal treatment of fetal angiomata requires precise in utero diagnosis.