bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecmo-assisted carinal resection and reconstruction after left pneumonectomy
Authors: Lei Jie , Su Kai , Li Xiao F , Zhou Yong A , Han Yong , Huang Li J , Wang Xiao P
Published: October 2010

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) has become an increasingly important technique for patients with respiratory or cardiac failure for a variety of causes. In addition, there are many reports about the use of ECMO in surgical operation on neonates and children patients with tracheal obstruction. In this report we present a case about an adult patient who underwent a carinal resection and reconstruction after left pneumonectomy with ECMO assistance successfully. To our knowledge, this case is the first of its kind to use ECMO in adult carinal resection and reconstruction after pneumonectomy. In this report, we try to illustrate that ECMO is effective in operations of this kind.
The Cherokee Syllabary from Script to Print
Authors: Cushman Ellen
Published: October 2010

The development of the Cherokee syllabary from script to print happened during a time in the tribe's history when great pressures were upon them to civilize, adopt English and the Roman alphabet, and establish a government. Between 1821 and 1828, the syllabary itself went through considerable change from the manuscript version to the print version recognized today. These changes remark on the sociocultural pressures of the time and reveal that the tribe had a larger stake in developing the script into print than previously understood. When the Cherokee syllabary became available in print, it facilitated Cherokee identity creation as a tribe and political position as a nation.
“My Medicine Is Punishment”: A Case of Torture in Early California, 1775–1776
Authors: Saunt Claudio
Published: October 2010

In November 1775, Kumeyaay Indians attacked and destroyed Mission San Diego, at the foot of Alta California. In the wake of that event, Spanish officials interrogated and tortured Indians to gather intelligence. While historians have recounted the uprising's origins and aftermath, they have not recognized that their accounts ultimately rest on coerced testimony. This article suggests that, even after torture had fallen out of favor in the courts of New Spain, the practice continued informally in the northern borderlands, where Spanish colonists lived among numerous and often hostile native peoples. It concludes that the desire and determination to uncover native intentions have led ethnohistorians to accept coerced testimony that is of dubious historical value.
Zebrafish model of tuberous sclerosis complex reveals cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous functions of mutant tuberin
Authors: Kim Seok-Hyung , Speirs Christina K. , Solnica-Krezel Lilianna , Ess Kevin C.
Published: October 2010

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in either the TSC1 (encodes hamartin) or TSC2 (encodes tuberin) genes. Patients with TSC have hamartomas in various organs throughout the whole body, most notably in the brain, skin, eye, heart, kidney and lung. To study the development of hamartomas, we generated a zebrafish model of TSC featuring a nonsense mutation (vu242) in the tsc2 gene. This tsc2vu242 allele encodes a truncated Tuberin protein lacking the GAP domain, which is required for inhibition of Rheb and of the TOR kinase within TORC1. We show that tsc2vu242 is a recessive larval-lethal mutation that causes increased cell size in the brain and liver. Greatly elevated TORC1 signaling is observed in tsc2vu242/vu242 homozygous zebrafish, and is moderately increased in tsc2vu242/+ heterozygotes. Forebrain neurons are poorly organized in tsc2vu242/vu242 homozygous mutants, which have extensive gray and white matter disorganization and ectopically positioned cells. Genetic mosaic analyses demonstrate that tsc2 limits TORC1 signaling in a cell-autonomous manner. However, in chimeric animals, tsc2vu242/vu242 mutant cells also mislocalize wild-type host cells in the forebrain in a non-cell-autonomous manner. These results demonstrate a highly conserved role of tsc2 in zebrafish and establish a new animal model for studies of TSC. The finding of a non-cell-autonomous function of mutant cells might help explain the formation of brain hamartomas and cortical malformations in human TSC.
pH-dependent localization of Btn1p in the yeast model for Batten disease
Authors: Wolfe Devin M. , Padilla-Lopez Sergio , Vitiello Seasson Phillips , Pearce David A.
Published: October 2010

Btn1p the yeast homolog of human CLN3, which is associated with juvenile Batten disease has been implicated in several cellular pathways. Yeast cells lacking BTN1 are unable to couple ATP hydrolysis and proton pumping activities by the vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase). In this work, we demonstrate that changes in extracellular pH result in altered transcription of BTN1, as well as a change in the glycosylation state and localization of Btn1p. At high pH, Btn1p expression was increased and the protein was mainly located in vacuolar membranes. However, low pH decreased Btn1p expression and changed its location to undefined punctate membranes. Moreover, our results suggest that differential Btn1p localization may be regulated by its glycosylation state. Underlying pathogenic implications for Batten disease of altered cellular distribution of CLN3 are discussed.
Label-free Rapid Semiquantitative Detection of Proteins Down to Sub-monolayer Coverage by Using Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering of Nitrate Ion
Authors: Zhou Zhen , Huang Genin Gary , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: October 2010

A novel heat-induced SERS method was used to selectively enhance a band of NO3− at 1049 cm−1 for semi-quantitative detection of lysozyme and insulin down to 10−9 and 10−8 M, respectively, and bell shape variations of SERS intensities were observed for the concentration dependency of the proteins.
Acetylated Cyclodextrins as New Organogelators
Authors: Kida Toshiyuki , Kishimoto Koichiro , Hatano Koji , Muraoka Masahiro , Nakatsuji Yohji , Akashi Mitsuru
Published: October 2010

Acetylated cyclodextrins (CDs), including peracetylated α- and β-CDs as well as 2,3-O-diacetylated α- and β-CDs, were found to function as organogelators for organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes at ambient temperature. Their organogelation capability was strongly affected by both the CD ring size and the degree of acetylation. Peracetylated α-CD showed the highest organogelation capability among these acetylated CDs, possibly due to the effective construction of three-dimensional networks by the pillar-like assemblies in the organic solvents.
Invasive Spindle Cell Thymomas (WHO Type A)
Authors: Moran Cesar A. , Kalhor Neda , Suster Saul
Published: October 2010

We report 41 cases of invasive spindle cell thymomas (World Health Organization type A). The patients were 16 women and 25 men between the ages of 38 and 80 years. Clinically, the patients had diverse symptomatology, including chest pain, cough, and dyspnea. None of the patients had a history of myasthenia gravis. According to the Mazaoka surgical staging system, 34 patients had stage II disease, 6 had stage III, and 1 had stage IV. Follow-up information showed that 30 patients were alive after a period ranging from 12 to 96 months; for 8 patients who are alive, the follow-up was less than 12 months; 1 patient died 10 months after initial diagnosis. For 2 patients, no follow-up information was obtained. This study stresses the fact that histologic features do not correlate with invasion or encapsulation because all thymomas, regardless of their histologic type, are capable of invasion.
Oral and Extraoral Plasmablastic Lymphoma
Authors: Hansra Damien , Montague Naomi , Stefanovic Alexandra , Akunyili Ikechukwu , Harzand Arash , Natkunam Yasodha , de la Ossa Margarita , Byrne Gerald E. , Lossos Izidore S.
Published: October 2010

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL), initially characterized as an aggressive lymphoma arising in the jaw and oral mucosa in HIV-infected patients, was recently reported to occur with extraoral manifestations, heterogeneous histologic findings, and variable association with immunodeficiency states. We reviewed clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic features of 13 cases of PBL to determine whether these different subtypes represent distinct morphologic and clinical entities. Two distinct subtypes of PBL were identified and classified as oral and extraoral PBL. The oral PBLs were strongly associated with HIV infection and commonly demonstrated plasmablastic morphologic features without plasmacytic differentiation. Extraoral PBLs tended to occur in patients with underlying non–HIV-related immunosuppression and universally demonstrated plasmacytic differentiation. The patients with oral PBL demonstrated better overall survival compared with patients with extraoral PBL (P = .02). Our findings suggest that PBL with oral and extraoral manifestation represent 2 distinct clinicopathologic entities.
Nighttime and Weekend Medication Error Rates in an Inpatient Pediatric Population
Authors: Miller April D , Piro Christina C , Rudisill Celeste N , Bookstaver P Brandon , Bair Jennifer D , Bennett Charles L
Published: October 2010

Background:

Nighttime and weekend admission has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality and has been linked to a variety of factors. Medication errors in hospitalized patients occur frequently, but the association between error rates and time of day and day of week (weekday vs weekend) has not been extensively studied.

Objective:

To compare reported medication error rates over a 1-year period between daytime versus nighttime shifts and weekday versus weekend in a children's hospital and to characterize the types of errors that occurred.

Methods:

One hundred forty errors reported between January and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed and classified by error type and severity according to established standards. Two investigators independently classified errors, and a third investigator with pediatric pharmacy expertise resolved discrepancies. Data on doses dispensed were collected from pharmacy records.

Results:

Over the study period, the reported error rate during daytime nursing shifts was 1.17 errors per 1000 doses dispensed versus 2.12 errors per 1000 doses dispensed for nighttime nursing shifts (p = 0.005). The error rates during pharmacy shifts (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) were 1.01, 2.24, and 1.88 per 1000 doses dispensed, respectively (p = 0.0019). Reported errors for weekday versus weekend were 1.9 errors per 1000 weekday doses versus 2.55 errors per 1000 doses, respectively (p = 0.181), and error rate for weekend shifts relative to first shift on weekdays was greater (p = 0.0004). Errors in medication administration, followed by dispensing errors, occurred most frequently.

Conclusions:

There was an increase in medication error rate during evening and nighttime shifts relative to day shift and during weekends relative to weekdays at this institution. Additional studies to validate this finding are needed; however, error prevention efforts should be instituted now for evening, nighttime, and weekend medication dispensing and administration.
Grading the Severity of Drug-Drug Interactions in the Intensive Care Unit: A Comparison Between Clinician Assessment and Proprietary Database Severity Rankings
Authors: Smithburger Pamela L , Gill Sandra L Kane , Benedict Neal J , Falcione Bonnie A , Seybert Amy L
Published: October 2010

Background:

Computerized provider order entry with decision support software offers an opportunity to identify and prevent medication-related errors, including drug-drug interactions (DDIs), through alerting mechanisms. However, the number of alerts generated can overwhelm and lead to “alert fatigue.” A DDI alert system based on severity rankings has been shown to reduce alert fatigue; however, the best method to populate this type of database is unclear.

Objective:

To compare the severity ranking of proprietary databases to clinician assessment for DDIs occurring in critically ill patients.

Methods:

This observational, prospective study was conducted over 8 weeks in the cardiac and cardiothoracic intensive care unit. Medication profiles of patients were screened for the presence of DDIs and a severity evaluation was conducted using rankings of proprietary databases and clinician opinion using a DDI severity assessment tool. The primary outcome measure was the number of DDIs considered severe by both evaluation methods.

Results:

A total of 1150 DDIs were identified after 400 patient medication profiles were evaluated. Of these, 458 were unique drug pairs. Overall, 7.4% (34/458) were considered a severe interaction based upon proprietary database ratings. The assessment by clinicians ranked 6.6% (30/458) of the unique DDIs as severe. Only 3 interactions, atazanavir–simvastatin, atazanavir–tenofovir, and aspirin–warfarin, were considered severe by both evaluation methods.

Conclusions:

Since proprietary databases and clinician assessment of severe DDIs do not agree, developing a knowledge base for a DDI alert system likely requires proprietary database information in conjunction with clinical opinion.
Determination of daptomycin in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Clinical application
Authors: Verdier Marie-Clémence , Bentué-Ferrer Danièle , Tribut Olivier , Collet Nicolas , Revest Matthieu , Bellissant Eric
Published: October 2010

Background: Daptomycin is a recently developed cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic active against most Gram-positive pathogens including vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. To optimize treatment efficacy and safety, especially in patients undergoing multiple drug regimens and/or co-morbidities, a specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantification of daptomycin in plasma.

Methods: A C18 column was used for separation, with a mobile phase initially consisting of 0.1% formic acid, water, and acetonitrile (ACN) in a linear gradient from 20% to 70%. After protein precipitation with ACN, the clear upper layer was diluted in water:ACN (50:50, v/v) before injection. Detection was performed using an electrospray ionization technique. MS/MS transitions, monitored in the positive ion mode were m/z 811.1 → m/z 313.1 for daptomycin, and m/z 609.4 → m/z 194.9 for reserpine, used as internal standard.

Results: Elution of daptomycin and reserpine occurred at 4.5 and 3.9 min, respectively. The method was validated over a range of concentrations from 1 mg/L to 120 mg/L. The assay met recommended acceptance criteria: coefficients of variation were <6.3% and <7.4%, and accuracies were between –5.9% and +11.2% and between –3.5% and +3.7%, for intra- and inter-day validations, respectively.

Conclusions: This method appears well-adapted to routine hospital practice for therapeutic drug monitoring of daptomycin considering its time of analysis, range of concentrations measured, precision and accuracy.
Age- and gender-dependent changes in circulating concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 and sulfated glycosaminoglycan in healthy people
Authors: Komosinska-Vassev Katarzyna , Olczyk Pawel , Winsz-Szczotka Katarzyna , Klimek Katarzyna , Olczyk Krystyna
Published: October 2010

Background: In this study, the effect of gender and physio-logical ageing on circulating concentrations of plasma sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) as well as molecules involved in pro- (tumor necrosis factor-α; TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory responses (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1, sTNF-RI) were assessed. The relationships between sGAG and molecules involved in age-dependent extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during physiological ageing were also investigated.

Methods: Circulating TNF-α and sTNF-RI were measured in 91 healthy volunteers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. sGAG were quantified using an Alcian blue-binding assay.

Results: A linear age-related decline in plasma sGAG was found during the first five decades of life (r=–0.61, p<0.05), followed by an increase occurring only in females (r=0.46, p<0.05). Circulating TNF-α concentrations were inversely correlated with age (r=–0.24, p<0.05) over the lifetime. For TNF-α, the observed changes were gender specific. Serum sTNF-RI concentrations were not affected by age in either men or women. A significant positive correlation was found between the concentrations of TNF-α and both sGAG (r=0.22, p<0.05) and sTNF-RI (r=0.21, p<0.05).

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that physiological ageing is associated with ECM remodeling, reflected by plasma sGAGs concentrations. Changes in the ECM metabolism during the ageing process were influenced by circulating TNF-α. Furthermore, serum concentrations of biomolecules involved in pro- and anti-inflammatory responses are not increased in healthy elderly subjects.
Development of a fluorescent microsphere immunoassay for cystatin B (CSTB) in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ji Na Young , Kang Yun Hee , Park Mi-Young , Lee Chung Il , Kim Mi Kyung , Kim Dae Ghon , Kim Jong Wan , Song Eun Young
Published: October 2010

Background: Serum cystatin B (CSTB) concentrations have been reported to be increased in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared to concentrations seen in normal subjects. In this study, we developed a “fluorescent microsphere immunoassay” (FMI) capable of specifically detecting CSTB in serum.

Methods: The FMI used a microparticle conjugated polyclonal antibody to CSTB and biotinylated monoclonal antibody as capture protein and probe protein, respectively. The results were obtained using the Bio-Plex200 system.

Results: The dose-response relationship between CSTB and fluorescent intensity showed linearity in the range 0–1000 pg/mL and 7 pg/mL, sensitivity lower than 11.2 pg/mL. This result revealed that the FMI system was more sensitive than enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Additionally, the FMI system used smaller sample volumes compared to ELISA.

Conclusions: We measured CSTB with both the FMI and an ELISA procedure and compared the two methods. The CSTB concentrations in serum specimens as measured with the FMI assay system were similar to those measured with ELISA. Thus, the new FMI using the Bio-Plex system may be useful for detection of CSTB in human serum.
Prevalence and course of pseudothrombocytopenia in outpatients
Authors: Froom Paul , Barak Mira
Published: October 2010

Background: The prevalence and course of pseudothrombocytopenia in outpatients is uncertain.

Methods: In a cohort study of 687,955 members of a health maintenance organization, we extracted 36,780 consecutive automated complete blood count test results and determined the point prevalence of pseudothrombocytopenia during a one-month period. We also calculated a retrospective cumulative prevalence over the past 5 years.

Results: There were 1105 (2.7%) patients with platelet counts of 100–149×109/L and 304 (0.8%) with counts <100×109/L, of whom 12.8% (n=39) had pseudothrombocytopenia newly discovered or in the past. There were 40 additional patients with a history of pseudothrombocytopenia, but now showing platelet counts of 150×109/L or more, and another 21 with platelet counts of 100–149×109/L. The total cumulative prevalence of pseudothrombocytopenia was 0.27% (100/36,780), 2.5-fold higher than the point prevalence of 0.11% (39/36,780). Platelet counts were extremely variable in these patients during the 5-year follow-up period.

Conclusions: Physicians should be aware of the variability of platelet counts in patients with pseudothrombocytopenia in order to reduce unnecessary retesting. Since pseudothrombocytopenia can result in platelet counts between 100 and 149×109/L, peripheral smears should be done in all patients with such values, or the reference limit value should be lowered to 100×109/L.
On the inversion formulas of Pestov and Uhlmann for the geodesic ray transform
Authors: Krishnan Venkateswaran P.
Published: October 2010

We generalize the inversion formulas obtained by Pestov–Uhlmann for the geodesic ray transform of functions and vector fields on 2-dimensional manifolds with boundary of constant curvature. Our formulas hold for simple 2-dimensional manifolds whose curvatures are close to a constant.
GABAAReceptor Trafficking Is Regulated by Protein Kinase Cε and theN-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor
Authors: Chou Wen-Hai , Wang Dan , McMahon Thomas , Qi Zhan-Heng , Song Maengseok , Zhang Chao , Shokat Kevan M. , Messing Robert O.
Published: October 2010

Disturbances in GABAAreceptor trafficking contribute to several neurological and psychiatric disorders by altering inhibitory neurotransmission. Identifying mechanisms that regulate GABAAreceptor trafficking could lead to better understanding of disease pathogenesis and treatment. Here, we show that protein kinase Cε (PKCε) regulates theN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), an ATPase critical for membrane fusion events, and thereby promotes the trafficking of GABAAreceptors. Activation of PKCε decreased cell surface expression of GABAAreceptors and attenuated GABAAcurrents. Activated PKCε associated with NSF, phosphorylated NSF at serine 460 and threonine 461, and increased NSF ATPase activity, which was required for GABAAreceptor downregulation. These findings identify new roles for NSF and PKCε in regulating synaptic inhibition through downregulation of GABAAreceptors. Reducing NSF activity by inhibiting PKCε could help restore synaptic inhibition in disease states in which it is impaired.
Frontostriatal Involvement in Task Switching Depends on Genetic Differences in D2 Receptor Density
Authors: Stelzel Christine , Basten Ulrike , Montag Christian , Reuter Martin , Fiebach Christian J.
Published: October 2010

Recent studies suggest an association of dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) availability with flexibility in reward-based learning. We extend these results by demonstrating an association of genetically based differences in DRD2 density with the ability to intentionally switch between nonrewarded tasks: noncarriers of the A1 allele of the DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIa polymorphism, associated with higher DRD2 density, show increased task-switching costs, increased prefrontal switching activity in the inferior frontal junction area, and increased functional connectivity in dorsal frontostriatal circuits, relative to A1 allele carriers. A DRD2 haplotype analysis in the same sample confirmed these results, indicating an association between high D2 density and increased task-switching effort. Our results provide evidence that converges with that from association studies relating increased D2 density to deficits in cognitive flexibility in schizophrenia. We suggest that individual differences in striatal D2 signaling in healthy humans modulate goal-directed gating to prefrontal cortex, thus leading to individual differences in switching intentionally to newly relevant behaviors.
Differential Subcellular Recruitment of Monoacylglycerol Lipase Generates Spatial Specificity of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol Signaling during Axonal Pathfinding
Authors: Keimpema Erik , Barabas Klaudia , Morozov Yury M. , Tortoriello Giuseppe , Torii Masaaki , Cameron Gary , Yanagawa Yuchio , Watanabe Masahiko , Mackie Ken , Harkany Tibor
Published: October 2010

Endocannabinoids, particularly 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), impact the directional turning and motility of a developing axon by activating CB1cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) in its growth cone. Recent findings posit thatsn-1-diacylglycerol lipases (DAGLα/β) synthesize 2-AG in the motile axon segment of developing pyramidal cells. Coincident axonal targeting of CB1Rs and DAGLs prompts the hypothesis that autocrine 2-AG signaling facilitates axonal outgrowth. However, DAGLs alone are insufficient to account for the spatial specificity and dynamics of 2-AG signaling. Therefore, we hypothesized that local 2-AG degradation by monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL) must play a role. We determined how subcellular recruitment of MGL is temporally and spatially restricted to establish the signaling competence of 2-AG during axonal growth. MGL is expressed in central and peripheral axons of the fetal nervous system by embryonic day 12.5. MGL coexists with DAGLα and CB1Rs in corticofugal axons of pyramidal cells. Here, MGL and DAGLα undergo differential axonal targeting with MGL being excluded from the motile neurite tip. Thus, spatially confined MGL activity generates a 2-AG-sensing microdomain and configures 2-AG signaling to promote axonal growth. Once synaptogenesis commences, MGL disperses in stationary growth cones. The axonal polarity of MGL is maintained by differential proteasomal degradation because inhibiting the ubiquitin proteasome system also induces axonal MGL redistribution. Because MGL inactivation drives a CB1R-dependent axonal growth response, we conclude that 2-AG may act as a focal protrusive signal for developing neurons and whose regulated metabolism is critical for attaining correct axonal complexity.
Timescales of Sensory- and Decision-Related Activity in the Middle Temporal and Medial Superior Temporal Areas
Authors: Price Nicholas S. C. , Born Richard T.
Published: October 2010

The contribution of sensory neurons to perceptual decisions about external stimulus events has received much attention, but it is less clear how sensory responses are integrated over time to produce decisions that are both rapid and reliable. To address this issue, we recorded from middle temporal area and medial superior temporal area neurons in rhesus macaques performing a task requiring the detection and discrimination of unpredictable speed changes. We examined how neuronal activity encoded the sign of the speed change and predicted the animals' behavioral judgments and reaction times, with a focus on the timescales over which neuronal activity is informative. False detection trials, on which animals reported a speed change even though none had occurred, were grouped according to the animals' discrimination judgment. By comparing the neuronal responses between the two groups of false detection trials, we were able to predict the animals' choices from the sensory activity of single neurons at levels significantly better than chance. These choice probability measurements were strongest using spike counts in an 80 ms window ending 150 ms before a choice saccade began, but significant choice probabilities were observed in windows as short as 10 ms. While the maximum deviation in spiking rate following a speed change is evident in the transient response, averaging neuronal activity in longer time windows can be more informative about both the stimulus and the animals' behavioral judgments. Thus the timescales found in this study represent a trade-off between producing rapid reactions and overcoming the noise inherent in short time windows.
Eyelid Conditioning to a Target Amplitude: Adding How Much to Whether and When
Authors: Kreider Joy C. , Mauk Michael D.
Published: October 2010

Conceptual and practical advantages of pavlovian eyelid conditioning facilitate analysis of cerebellar computation and learning. Even so, eyelid conditioning procedures are unrealistic in an important way. The error signal to the olivocerebellar system does not decrease as learning adapts response amplitude or gain. This inherently limits the utility of eyelid conditioning for studies investigating how cerebellar learning mechanisms acquire and store an adaptive response amplitude. We report the development and characterization of a training procedure in which conditioned response amplitude is brought under experimental control with contingencies that more closely parallel natural conditions. In this procedure, the delivery of the unconditioned stimulus (US) is made contingent on conditioned response amplitude: the US is delivered for responses that fail to reach a specified target amplitude and is omitted for responses that meet or exceed the target. We find that rabbits trained with either a tone or with mossy fiber stimulation as the conditioned stimulus learn responses that approach target amplitudes ranging from 2 to 5 mm. Inactivating the interpositus nucleus with muscimol infusions abolished these conditioned responses, indicating that cerebellar involvement in eyelid conditioning is not tied explicitly to the use of pavlovian procedures. Together with previous studies, these data suggest that response amplitude is learned and encoded in the cerebellum during eyelid conditioning. As such, these results provide a foundation for systematic and controlled investigations of the cerebellar mechanisms that learn and encode the proper amplitude of adaptive movements.
Structural Remodeling of Fibrous Astrocytes after Axonal Injury
Authors: Sun Daniel , Lye-Barthel Ming , Masland Richard H. , Jakobs Tatjana C.
Published: October 2010

Reactive astrocytes are a pathological hallmark of many CNS injuries and neurodegenerations. They are characterized by hypertrophy of the soma and processes and an increase in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein. Because the cells obscure each other in immunostaining, little is known about the behavior of a single reactive astrocyte, nor how single astrocytes combine to form the glial scar. We have investigated the reaction of fibrous astrocytes to axonal degeneration using a transgenic mouse strain expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein in small subsets of astrocytes. Fibrous astrocytes in the optic nerve and corpus callosum initially react to injury by hypertrophy of the soma and processes. They retract their primary processes, simplifying their shape and dramatically reducing their spatial coverage. At 3 d after crush, quantitative analysis revealed nearly a twofold increase in the thickness of the primary processes, a halving of the number of primary processes leaving the soma and an eightfold reduction in the spatial coverage. In the subsequent week, they partially reextend long processes, returning to a near-normal morphology and an extensive spatial overlap. The resulting glial scar consists of an irregular array of astrocyte processes, contrasting with their original orderly arrangement. These changes are in distinct contrast to those reported for reactive protoplasmic astrocytes of the gray matter, in which the number of processes and branchings increase, but the cells continue to maintain nonoverlapping individual territories throughout their response to injury.
Mit Kopf, Körper und Hand: Herausforderungen Humanoider Roboter
Authors: Ritter Helge , Steil Jochen J. , Sagerer Gerhard
Published: October 2010

Humanoide Roboter stellen uns vor die Herausforderung, komplexe Embodiment-Funktionen zu beherrschen: Koordination von Ganzkörperbewegungen, Benutzung anthropomorpher Hände und Steuerung ausdrucksfähiger Gesichtsgestik. Wir stellen einige Beiträge und Forschungslinien des Bielefelder CoR-Lab und des Exzellenzclusters CITEC zu diesen Themenfeldern vor und beleuchten einige disziplinübergreifende Bezüge zur Erforschung kognitiver Systeme.
San Diego stress ribbon bridge sets new world record
Authors: Sánchez Tony
Published: October 2010

The world's longest stress ribbon bridge opened in San Diego, California, USA in May 2009. The David Kreitzer Lake Hodges bicycle and pedestrian bridge uses high-strength steel cables embedded in an ultra-slender concrete deck to span 300 m across a sensitive lake habitat within a nature park. It forms a vital link in an 88 km nature trail and enables cycle commuters to get off the busy I-15 freeway. This paper describes how a stress ribbon bridge was chosen for this site, the design process and how the bridge was constructed.
Delivering the Beijing National Aquatics Center
Authors: Wang Chen , Abdul-Rahman Hamzah , Wang Hui
Published: October 2010

The Beijing National Aquatics Center played a key role in the 2008 Olympics. It was a ground-breaking project in many ways, with its highly complex and irregular polyhedron steel space frame clad with ethylene tetrafluoroethylene membrane pillows – designed to resemble a ‘water cube’ – setting new standards for design and construction technology. This paper provides an overview of the innovative design and explains how the concept of ‘on-site further design’ was formally developed to help deliver it.
Water Absorption Characteristics of Nigerian Acha (Digitaria exilis)
Authors: Tunde-Akintunde Toyosi Y
Published: October 2010

The water absorption characteristics of acha (Digitaria exilis) were investigated at temperatures of 40, 60, 80 and 100°C. The Peleg equation was used to model the hydration behaviour of the hydrated grains. The correlation coefficient for Pelegs equation, which varied from 0.9931 to 0.9986, suggests that the equation gave a good fit to the experimental data. The water absorption capacity and hydration equilibrium water contents of the grain increased as the hydration temperature increased. The gelatinization temperature of acha was 600°C and the activation energy was 0.35 kJ mol-1 and 2.00 kJ mol-1 above and below this temperature.
Integration of immigrants: A two way process
Authors: Avramov Dragana
Published: October 2010

This paper builds on the surveys undertaken under the FEMAGE project in eight countries (the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, and Finland) among natives on attitudes about migration and immigrants, interviews in these countries with immigrant women about their migration experiences, and policy deliberations among European stakeholders about policy options for addressing needs for immigrants in ageing societies and needs for their integration in the new home country. In this paper we have chosen to first address five critical questions: ? How native and migrant women see each other? ? How is need for migration viewed? ? How is integration perceived? ? What are the perceptions and experiences of discrimination? ? Emancipation and perceptions of one's own old age, and life satisfaction Then we identify policy implications of our survey findings. Finally, we discuss policy choices and draw conclusions about needs for tailoring of integration policies based on the reflexive approach and involvement of the key policy stakeholders active in European institutions and multipliers such as international NGOs and media.
Serbia as immigration country: Foreseeable future?
Authors: Nikitovic Vladimir
Published: October 2010

The question whether migration will be central demographic issue in the future of Serbia is assessed through probabilistic population projection. Therefore, the problem on formulating international migration hypothesis, specifically estimation of uncertainty attached to future migration flow, is highlighted. For that purpose, experiences from probabilistic projections of the countries that undergone substantial changes of international migration after joined EU were used. Forecast results up to 2050 shows that Serbia will face significant population ageing with no chances to revert the process during the projection horizon. With respect to decreasing trend of population size, fertility increase is one of two indispensable conditions if Serbia wants to restore its current size. The other is huge immigration that could be accomplished if the country experience fundamental political and economic changes in the forthcoming period. Even then, there is only 15 percent probability that Serbia's population size in 2050 will be higher than it is today. However, if actual emigration pattern of international migration turns into immigration one during the next decades, the uncertainty attached to forecasted indicators of population ageing would be considerably decreased.
Adolescents, fertility and reproductive health of the young in the Bosnian Serb Republic
Authors: Zivkovic Milorad
Published: October 2010

This paper presents data which clearly reveal that the behavior model of young people in the Bosnian Serb Republic is characterized by an insufficient degree of information and poor knowledge on reproductive health, an increase in the number of alcohol consumers, drugs and cigarettes which leads to an increase in risky behavior, entering sexual relations and an earlier age, an increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies which often result in abortions or premature birth. At the same time young people recognize the necessity for more information, mention competent authorities and expect help from them. At the same time, they show readiness to learn through peer education. On the other hand, the estimated results which we obtained by using available sources, because of the lack of a population census, give us information on the grave demographic situation in the Bosnian Serb Republic and negative tendencies in the future. When we speak of the total fertility rate and compare these data with countries of Europe and the surrounding areas, we can unfortunately only state that many factors - the most important being: war events, insecurity, unfavorable economic and social situation, significant migration of not only young people but of whole families - caused severely low total fertility rate in the Bosnian Serb Republic. Even worse, these tendencies are further decreasing and society is moving towards open depopulation with unforeseeable demographic, economic and national consequences. At the same time, it has been ascertained that young people are getting married at a later age, deciding on becoming parents at a later age and acting more riskily which decreases their fertility capacity and decreases their share in the total fertility capacity, making the already bad demographic picture of the Bosnian Serb Republic even worse.
Invariants and Bonnet-type theorem for surfaces in ℝ4
Authors: Ganchev Georgi , Milousheva Velichka
Published: October 2010

In the tangent plane at any point of a surface in the four-dimensional Euclidean space we consider an invariant linear map ofWeingarten-type and find a geometrically determined moving frame field. Writing derivative formulas of Frenet-type for this frame field, we obtain eight invariant functions. We prove a fundamental theorem of Bonnet-type, stating that these eight invariants under some natural conditions determine the surface up to a motion. We show that the basic geometric classes of surfaces in the four-dimensional Euclidean space, determined by conditions on their invariants, can be interpreted in terms of the properties of two geometric figures: the tangent indicatrix, which is a conic in the tangent plane, and the normal curvature ellipse. We construct a family of surfaces with flat normal connection.
Ideals which generalize (v
0)
Authors: Kalemba Piotr , Plewik Szymon
Published: October 2010

Countable products of finite discrete spaces with more than one point and ideals generated by Marczewski-Burstin bases (assigned to trimmed trees) are examined, using machinery of base tree in the sense of B. Balcar and P. Simon. Applying Kulpa-Szymanski Theorem, we prove that the covering number equals to the additivity or the additivity plus for each of the ideals considered.
The signed k-domination number of directed graphs
Authors: Atapour Maryam , Sheikholeslami Seyyed , Hajypory Rana , Volkmann Lutz
Published: October 2010

Let k ≥ 1 be an integer, and let D = (V; A) be a finite simple digraph, for which d
D− ≥ k − 1 for all v ɛ V. A function f: V → {−1; 1} is called a signed k-dominating function (SkDF) if f(N
−[v]) ≥ k for each vertex v ɛ V. The weight w(f) of f is defined by $$
\sum\nolimits_{v \in V} {f(v)}
$$. The signed k-domination number for a digraph D is γkS(D) = min {w(f|f) is an SkDF of D. In this paper, we initiate the study of signed k-domination in digraphs. In particular, we present some sharp lower bounds for γkS(D) in terms of the order, the maximum and minimum outdegree and indegree, and the chromatic number. Some of our results are extensions of well-known lower bounds of the classical signed domination numbers of graphs and digraphs.
Dynamical approach to spectator fragmentation in Au+Au reactions at 35 MeV/A
Authors: Vermani Yogesh , Puri Rajeev
Published: October 2010

The characteristics of fragment emission in peripheral 197Au+197Au collisions 35 MeV/A are studied using the two clusterization approaches within framework of quantum molecular dynamics model. Our model calculations using minimum spanning tree (MST) algorithm and advanced clusterization method namely simulated annealing clusterization algorithm (SACA) showed that fragment structure can be realized at an earlier time when spectators contribute significantly toward the fragment production even at such a low incident energy. Comparison of model predictions with experimental data reveals that SACA method can nicely reproduce the fragment charge yields and mean charge of the heaviest fragment. This reflects suitability of SACA method over conventional clusterization techniques to investigate spectator matter fragmentation in low energy domain.
The adrenal cortex in female rats after estradiol or calcium treatment
Authors: Milošević Verica , Ajdžanović Vladimir , Filipović Branko , Nestorović Nataša , Manojlović-Stojanoski Milica , Pantelić Jasmina , Sekulić Milka
Published: October 2010

Administration of estradiol or calcium, or combined, represents the classical therapeutic approach in the treatment of some menopausal symptoms. We have studied the effects of estradiol dipropionate (EDP) and calcium glucoheptonate (Ca) on morphological and hormonal features of the adrenal gland in 14-month-old female Wistar rats. The animals were treated with EDP (0.625 mg/kg b.w.) or Ca (11.4 mg/kg b.w.) daily for two weeks, with control rats receiving vehicle alone by the same schedule. The cell volumes in the zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF) were 11.2% and 5.5% greater (P<0.05) and in the zona reticularis (ZR) 13.0% smaller (P<0.05) in the EDP group than in the control group. In the Ca group, cell volume in the ZG was increased by 5.6% (P<0.05), while cell volumes in the ZF and ZR were decreased by 26.0% and 14.7%, respectively (P<0.05), in comparison with control values. Serum aldosterone and corticosterone concentrations were higher in the EDP-treated (by 27.8% and 19.8%, respectively) and Ca-treated (by 80.0% and 24.1%, respectively) groups in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). These data suggest that EDP and Ca treatments have stimulatory effects on the ZG and ZF, but inhibitory effects on the ZR in middle-aged female rats.
Effect of S-methylmethionine on the photosynthesis in maize at different chilling temperatures
Authors: Kósa Eszter , Szegő Dóra , Horváth Eszter , Rácz Ilona , Szigeti Zoltán , Lásztity Demeter , Páldi Emil
Published: October 2010

The effect of the natural compound S-methylmethionine (SMM) on the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus, the efficiency of photosynthesis and the synthesis of stress-induced phenoloids and anthocyanins involved in defence was investigated in young maize plants exposed to moderate and severe chilling stress. Damage to PSII was observed as a reduction in the value of variable fluorescence (Fv/Fm) which could be detected even after few hours of mild chilling stress. At temperatures below 10°C, the reduction in Fv/Fm was more pronounced. Changes in the value of net photosynthesis exhibited a similar tendency. SMM has a moderating effect on this reduction and its protective effect was more pronounced under long-lasting chilling stress and at the lowest temperatures. Monitoring of fluorescence intensities and ratios correlated with the levels of stress defence compounds. The fluorescence intensities were found to increase over the course of chilling stress in response to SMM, with the highest values being recorded in plants exposed to the longest period of stress. A similar tendency was observed for the quantity of anthocyanins. The results confirm the complex role of SMM, which is manifested both in preserving the ability of the photosynthetic apparatus to function and in stimulating the synthesis of metabolites involved in stress defence.
Computer calculations of refractive indices in orthoconic SmCA *. Is it possible to obtain “isotropic” antiferroelectric liquid crystal (IAFLC)?
Authors: Perkowski P. , Raszewski Z. , Piecek W. , Kędzierski J. , Rutkowska J. , Zieliński J. , Sun X.W.
Published: October 2010

Orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystals (OAFLC) are promising materials for applications. The saturated value of the tilt angle for such materials is 45°, while for “classical” antiferroelectric liquid crystals (AFLC) it reaches typically 30°. Homogeneously oriented slab of OAFLC, unwound by surface action of cell walls is apparently optically isotropic for the light beam at normal incidence. Such unwound structure of OAFLC one can call isotropic OAFLC (IOAFLC). Optical indicatrix of OAFLC is represented by an oblate sphere (ellipsoid of revolution) with its short axis perpendicular to cell walls. Here the question arises: “Is it possible to create isotropic AFLC (IAFLC)? An effective refractive index of IAFLC should have the same value for the light beam propagating at each direction, hence the optical indicatrix should be a sphere. In the way of theoretical considerations we found that IAFLC can exist for twisted structure of AFLC characterized by the tilt angle as high as 54.3°. Unfortunately, such a big tilt angle is still not achievable in practice. Calculations show that AFLC can be optically isotropic when the helix is not suppressed by cell walls action.
Analysis of deformations of flexoelectric homeotropic liquid crystal layers with various anchoring strengths
Authors: Buczkowska M. , Derfel G.
Published: October 2010

Deformations of homeotropic layers of nematic liquid crystal possessing flexoelectric properties and subjected to external dc voltage were studied numerically. The influence of the anchoring strengthWwas investigated. The calculations were performed for two types of layers, one with positive dielectric anisotropy and positive sum of flexoelectric coefficients and the other with opposite signs of these parameters. Strongly blocking electrodes were assumed. The threshold voltages for deformations were computed for several anchoring strength values and for low, moderate, and high ion contents. The director distributions were also determined. They were influenced by joined effects of anchoring strength and space charge of ions. For increasing ion contents and increasing anchoring strength, remarkable change of deformation character was noticed. In the case of negative dielectric and flexoelectric parameters, the threshold was nearly proportional to W for low anchoring strength and saturated at some high value of W. In the case of positive dielectric and flexoelectric parameters, the threshold voltage increased strongly with W. In the range of enhanced ion concentrations, the deformation arose in two voltage ranges. The increasing anchoring strength damped the deformations in the whole layer, however, this effect was minor at high ion content.
Is Metrical Foot a Phonetic Object?
Authors: Ciszewski Tomasz
Published: October 2010

The assumption behind this pilot study is that metrical feet are not ‘groups of syllables’ or ‘interstress intervals’ but rather ‘groups of vowels’ extracted from the phonetic material contained between two stresses. We analysed the duration, pitch, intensity and acoustic energy of all vowels in isolated pronunciations of 72 initially stressed items (mono-, di- and trisyllables). The results reveal that pre-fortis clipping of the stressed vowel and final lengthening are interrelated, which suggests that stressed and unstressed final vowels are able to ‘negotiate’ their durations. Such ‘communication’ between the stressed vowels and the final unstressed ones is possible only if a mediating constituent (the foot) is postulated. Most importantly, we found no significant differences (p < .05) between the total acoustic energy and the total vowel duration in words having a different number of syllables, which supports the assumption of foot-level isochrony in English. It was also observed that the significant increase in vowel duration in stressed CVC monosyllables co-occurs with a significantly greater pitch slope, which we interpret to be a tonally driven implementation of minimal foot binarity requirement.