bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms driving postfire abundance of a generalist mammal
Authors: Zwolak R. , Pearson D.E. , Ortega Y.K. , Crone E.E.
Published: January 2012

Changes in vertebrate abundance following disturbance are commonly attributed to shifts in food resources or predation pressure, but underlying mechanisms have rarely been tested. We examined four hypotheses for the commonly reported increase in abundance of deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)) following forest fires: source–sink dynamics, decreased predation, increased food resources, and increased foraging efficiency. We found that reproduction of deer mouse was considerably higher in burned versus unburned forests and survival did not differ between habitats, indicating that burned forests were not sink habitats. Comparable survival also suggested that predation rates were similar between habitats. Increased reproduction in burned versus unburned forest suggested better resource conditions, but abundance of seeds and arthropods (the primary food resources for mice) either did not differ between habitats or were higher overall in unburned forest. Foraging experiments indicated that seed removal from depots was substantially higher in burned versus unburned forests after controlling for mouse density. Additionally, in both habitats, mice were captured more often in open microhabitats and the odds of individual insect removal increased with decreasing cover during certain sampling periods. Of the four hypotheses tested, greater foraging efficiency provided the best explanation for elevated populations of deer mouse. However, predation risk may have influenced foraging success.
Sympathetic activation by chemical stimulation of white adipose tissues in rats
Authors: Shi Zhen , Chen Wei-Wei , Xiong Xiao-Qing , Han Ying , Zhou Ye-Bo , Zhang Feng , Gao Xing-Ya , Zhu Guo-Qing
Published: January 2012

Injection of leptin into white adipose tissue (WAT) increases sympathetic outflow. The present study was designed to determine the effects of capsaicin and other chemicals in WAT on the sympathetic outflow and blood pressure and the roles of WAT afferents and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the adipose afferent reflex (AAR). The AAR was induced by injection of capsaicin, bradykinin, adenosine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or leptin into inguinal WAT (iWAT) or retroperitoneal WAT (rWAT) in anesthetized rats. The iWAT injection of capsaicin increased the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) but not the heart rate. Bradykinin, adenosine, or leptin but not ATP in the iWAT caused similar effects to capsaicin on the RSNA and MAP. Intravenous, intramuscular, or intradermal injection of capsaicin had no significant effects on the RSNA and MAP. The effects of capsaicin in rWAT were similar to that in iWAT on the RSNA and MAP. Furthermore, injection of capsaicin into the iWAT increased the WAT afferent nerve activities, WAT efferent nerve activity, and brown adipose tissue efferent nerve activity. The iWAT denervation or chemical lesion of the PVN neurons with kainic acid abolished the AAR induced by the iWAT injection of capsaicin. These results indicate that the stimulation of iWAT afferents with capsaicin, bradykinin, adenosine, or leptin reflexly increases the RSNA and blood pressure. The iWAT afferents and the PVN are involved in the AAR induced by capsaicin in the iWAT.
Sound sensitivity of neurons in rat hippocampus during performance of a sound-guided task
Authors: Itskov Pavel M. , Vinnik Ekaterina , Honey Christian , Schnupp Jan , Diamond Mathew E.
Published: January 2012

To investigate how hippocampal neurons encode sound stimuli, and the conjunction of sound stimuli with the animal's position in space, we recorded from neurons in the CA1 region of hippocampus in rats while they performed a sound discrimination task. Four different sounds were used, two associated with water reward on the right side of the animal and the other two with water reward on the left side. This allowed us to separate neuronal activity related to sound identity from activity related to response direction. To test the effect of spatial context on sound coding, we trained rats to carry out the task on two identical testing platforms at different locations in the same room. Twenty-one percent of the recorded neurons exhibited sensitivity to sound identity, as quantified by the difference in firing rate for the two sounds associated with the same response direction. Sensitivity to sound identity was often observed on only one of the two testing platforms, indicating an effect of spatial context on sensory responses. Forty-three percent of the neurons were sensitive to response direction, and the probability that any one neuron was sensitive to response direction was statistically independent from its sensitivity to sound identity. There was no significant coding for sound identity when the rats heard the same sounds outside the behavioral task. These results suggest that CA1 neurons encode sound stimuli, but only when those sounds are associated with actions.
Admission Control for Multiservices Traffic in Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 Networks by Using Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Wu Jung-Shyr , Yang Shun-Fang , Huang Chen-Chieh
Published: January 2012

CAC (Call Admission Control) plays a significant role in providing QoS (Quality of Service) in mobile wireless networks. In addition to much research that focuses on modified Mobile IP to get better efficient handover performance, CAC should be introduced to Mobile IP-based network to guarantee the QoS for users. In this paper, we propose a CAC scheme which incorporates multiple traffic types and adjusts the admission threshold dynamically using fuzzy control logic to achieve better usage of resources. The method can provide QoS in Mobile IPv6 networks with few modifications on MAP (Mobility Anchor Point) functionality and slight change in BU (Binding Update) message formats. According to the simulation results, the proposed scheme presents good performance of voice and video traffic at the expenses of poor performance on data traffic. It is evident that these CAC schemes can reduce the probability of the handoff dropping and the cell overload and limit the probability of the new call blocking.
Parameter Estimation of a Multistate Model for an Aging Piece of Equipment under Condition‐Based Maintenance
Authors: Duan Qihong , Chen Xiang , Zhao Dengfu , Zhao Zheng
Published: January 2012

We study a multistate model for an aging piece of equipment under condition‐based maintenance and apply an expectation maximization algorithm to obtain maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters. Because of the monitoring discontinuity, we cannot observe any state′s duration. The observation consists of the equipment′s state at an inspection or right after a repair. Based on a proper construction of stochastic processes involved in the model, calculation of some probabilities and expectations becomes tractable. Using these probabilities and expectations, we can apply an expectation maximization algorithm to estimate the parameters in the model. We carry out simulation studies to test the accuracy and the efficiency of the algorithm.
On Reciprocal Series of Generalized Fibonacci Numbers with Subscripts in Arithmetic Progression
Authors: Ömür Neşe
Published: January 2012

We investigate formulas for closely related series of the forms: ,
,
for certain values of a, b, and c.
Development and Validation of a Smartphone Heart Rate Acquisition Application for Health Promotion and Wellness Telehealth Applications
Authors: Gregoski Mathew J. , Mueller Martina , Vertegel Alexey , Shaporev Aleksey , Jackson Brenda B. , Frenzel Ronja M. , Sprehn Sara M. , Treiber Frank A.
Published: January 2012

Objective. Current generation smartphones' video camera technologies enable photoplethysmographic (PPG) acquisition and heart rate (HR) measurement. The study objective was to develop an Android application and compare HRs derived from a Motorola Droid to electrocardiograph (ECG) and Nonin 9560BT pulse oximeter readings during various movement-free tasks.Materials and Methods. HRs were collected simultaneously from 14 subjects, ages 20 to 58, healthy or with clinical conditions, using the 3 devices during 5-minute periods while at rest, reading aloud under observation, and playing a video game. Correlation between the 3 devices was determined, and Bland-Altman plots for all possible pairs of devices across all conditions assessed agreement.Results. Across conditions, all device pairs showed high correlations. Bland-Altman plots further revealed the Droid as a valid measure for HR acquisition. Across all conditions, the Droid compared to ECG, 95% of the data points (differences between devices) fell within the limits of agreement.Conclusion. The Android application provides valid HRs at varying levels of movement free mental/perceptual motor exertion. Lack of electrode patches or wireless sensor telemetric straps make it advantageous for use in mobile-cell-phone-delivered health promotion and wellness programs. Further validation is needed to determine its applicability while engaging in physical movement-related activities.
Increased Atherothrombotic Burden in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Review of Antiplatelet Therapy
Authors: Balasubramaniam Karthik , Viswanathan Girish N. , Marshall Sally M. , Zaman Azfar G.
Published: January 2012

Patients with diabetes mellitus presenting with acute coronary syndrome have a higher risk of cardiovascular complications and recurrent ischemic events when compared to nondiabetic counterparts. Different mechanisms including endothelial dysfunction, platelet hyperactivity, and abnormalities in coagulation and fibrinolysis have been implicated for this increased atherothrombotic risk. Platelets play an important role in atherogenesis and its thrombotic complications in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome. Hence, potent platelet inhibition is of paramount importance in order to optimise outcomes of diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the increased thrombotic burden in diabetes and acute coronary syndrome, the underlying pathophysiology focussing on endothelial and platelet abnormalities, currently available antiplatelet therapies, their benefits and limitations in diabetic patients, and to describe potential future therapeutic strategies to overcome these limitations.
Multiobjective Optimization Methods for Congestion Management in Deregulated Power Systems
Authors: Vijayakumar K.
Published: January 2012

Congestion management is one of the important functions performed by system operator in deregulated electricity market to ensure secure operation of transmission system. This paper proposes two effective methods for transmission congestion alleviation in deregulated power system. Congestion or overload in transmission networks is alleviated by rescheduling of generators and/or load shedding. The two objectives conflicting in nature (1) transmission line over load and (2) congestion cost are optimized in this paper. The multiobjective fuzzy evolutionary programming (FEP) and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II methods are used to solve this problem. FEP uses the combined advantages of fuzzy and evolutionary programming (EP) techniques and gives better unique solution satisfying both objectives, whereas nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) II gives a set of Pareto‐optimal solutions. The methods propose an efficient and reliable algorithm for line overload alleviation due to critical line outages in a deregulated power markets. The quality and usefulness of the algorithm is tested on IEEE 30 bus system.
Assessing the Clinical Role of Genetic Markers of Early-Onset Prostate Cancer among High-Risk Men Enrolled in Prostate Cancer Early Detection
Authors: Hughes Lucinda , Zhu Fang , Ross Eric , Gross Laura , Uzzo Robert G. , Chen David Y.T. , Viterbo Rosalia , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Giri Veda N.
Published: January 2012

Background: Men with familial prostate cancer and African American men are at risk for developing prostate cancer at younger ages. Genetic markers predicting early-onset prostate cancer may provide clinically useful information to guide screening strategies for high-risk men. We evaluated clinical information from six polymorphisms associated with early-onset prostate cancer in a longitudinal cohort of high-risk men enrolled in prostate cancer early detection with significant African American participation.

Methods: Eligibility criteria include ages 35 to 69 with a family history of prostate cancer or African American race. Participants undergo screening and biopsy per study criteria. Six markers associated with early-onset prostate cancer [rs2171492 (7q32), rs6983561 (8q24), rs10993994 (10q11), rs4430796 (17q12), rs1799950 (17q21), and rs266849 (19q13)] were genotyped. Cox models were used to evaluate time to prostate cancer diagnosis and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) prediction for prostate cancer by genotype. Harrell's concordance index was used to evaluate predictive accuracy for prostate cancer by PSA and genetic markers.

Results: Four hundred and sixty participants with complete data and ≥1 follow-up visit were included. Fifty-six percent were African American. Among African American men, rs6983561 genotype was significantly associated with earlier time to prostate cancer diagnosis (P = 0.005) and influenced prediction for prostate cancer by the PSA (P < 0.001). When combined with PSA, rs6983561 improved predictive accuracy for prostate cancer compared with PSA alone among African American men (PSA = 0.57 vs. PSA + rs6983561 = 0.75, P = 0.03).

Conclusions: Early-onset marker rs6983561 adds potentially useful clinical information for African American men undergoing prostate cancer risk assessment. Further study is warranted to validate these findings.

Impact: Genetic markers of early-onset prostate cancer have potential to refine and personalize prostate cancer early detection for high-risk men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 53–60. ©2011 AACR.
Association of Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Breast Cancer with Socioeconomic Characteristics in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database, 2000–2007
Authors: Schlichting Jennifer A. , Soliman Amr S. , Schairer Catherine , Banerjee Mousumi , Rozek Laura S. , Schottenfeld David , Harford Joe B. , Merajver Sofia D.
Published: January 2012

Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and highly aggressive form of primary breast cancer. Little is known about the risk factors for IBC, specifically the association with socioeconomic position (SEP).

Methods: The association between breast cancer type (IBC vs. non-IBC) with county-level SEP in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for cases diagnosed from 2000 to 2007 was examined. County-level SEP characteristics included metropolitan versus non-metropolitan residence, percentage below the poverty level, percentage less than high-school graduate, and an index combining the poverty and high-school variables. IBC and non-IBC age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated, stratified on SEP and race/ethnicity. The odds of IBC versus non-IBC given a particular SEP characteristic, adjusting for age and race/ethnicity, was examined through fitting of hierarchical logistic regression models (HLM).

Results: Incidence rates for IBC generally increased as SEP decreased, whereas the opposite was found for non-IBC. HLM results showed that low SEP is associated with higher odds of IBC: highest (≥20%) versus lowest (<10%) persons below the poverty level [OR (95% confidence interval, CI) = 1.25 (1.09–1.43)]; highest (>28.76%) versus lowest (≤15.99%) persons less than high-school graduate [OR (95% CI) = 1.25 (1.10–1.42)]; and low SEP as measured by poverty-high school index versus high SEP [OR (95% CI)= 1.26 (1.11–1.44)].

Conclusion: Overall breast cancer has been found to be positively associated with SEP, whereas in this analysis, IBC was associated with decreasing SEP.

Impact: Studies focused on understanding the disparity in IBC incidence, as well as interventions to eliminate these differences are needed. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 155–65. ©2011 AACR.
Fine-Mapping CASP8 Risk Variants in Breast Cancer
Authors: Camp Nicola J. , Parry Marina , Knight Stacey , Abo Ryan , Elliott Graeme , Rigas Sushilaben H. , Balasubramanian Sabapathy P. , Reed Malcolm W. R. , McBurney Helen , Latif Ayse , Newman William G. , Cannon-Albright Lisa A. , Evans D. Gareth , Cox Angela
Published: January 2012

Background: Multiple genome-wide and candidate gene association studies have been conducted in search of common risk variants for breast cancer. Recent large meta analyses, consolidating evidence from these studies, have been consistent in highlighting the caspase-8 (CASP8) gene as important in this regard. To define a risk haplotype and map the CASP8 gene region with respect to underlying susceptibility variant/s, we screened four genes in the CASP8 region on 2q33-q34 for breast cancer risk.

Methods: Two independent data sets from the United Kingdom and the United States, including 3,888 breast cancer cases and controls, were genotyped for 45 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNP) in the expanded CASP8 region. SNP and haplotype association tests were carried out using Monte Carlo-based methods.

Results: We identified a three-SNP haplotype across rs3834129, rs6723097, and rs3817578 that was significantly associated with breast cancer (P < 5 × 10−6), with a dominant risk ratio and 95% CI of 1.28 (1.21–1.35) and frequency of 0.29 in controls. Evidence for this risk haplotype was extremely consistent across the two study sites and also consistent with previous data.

Conclusion: This three-SNP risk haplotype represents the best characterization so far of the chromosome upon which the susceptibility variant resides.

Impact: Characterization of the risk haplotype provides a strong foundation for resequencing efforts to identify the underlying risk variant, which may prove useful for individual-level risk prediction, and provide novel insights into breast carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 176–81. ©2011 AACR.
No Association between Parkinson Disease Alleles and the Risk of Melanoma
Authors: Meng Shasha , Song Fengju , Chen Honglei , Gao Xiang , Amos Christopher I. , Lee Jeffrey E. , Wei Qingyi , Qureshi Abrar A. , Han Jiali
Published: January 2012

Background: Recent data showed that melanoma was more common among patients with Parkinson disease than individuals without Parkinson disease and vice versa. It has been hypothesized that these two diseases may share common genetic and environmental risk factors.

Methods: We evaluated the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) selected on the basis of recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on Parkinson disease risk and the risk of melanoma using 2,297 melanoma cases and 6,651 controls.

Results: The Parkinson disease SNP rs156429 in the chromosome 7p15 region was nominally associated with melanoma risk with P value of 0.04, which was not significant after the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. No association was observed between the remaining 31 Parkinson disease SNPs and the risk of melanoma. The genetic score based on the number of Parkinson disease risk allele was not associated with melanoma risk [OR for the highest genetic score quartile (30–35) vs. the lowest (15–20), 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.47–2.70].

Conclusion: The Parkinson disease SNPs identified in published GWAS do not seem to play an important role in melanoma development.

Impact: The Parkinson disease susceptibility loci discovered by GWAS contribute little to the observed epidemiologic association between the Parkinson disease and melanoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 243–5. ©2011 AACR.
Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Survival Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Li Yanli , Brasky Theodore M. , Nie Jing , Ambrosone Christine B. , McCann Susan E. , Shields Peter G. , Trevisan Maurizio , Edge Stephen B. , Freudenheim Jo L.
Published: January 2012

Background: While there is accumulating evidence that use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) decreases breast cancer risk, little is known about the impact of NSAIDs on survival after breast cancer diagnosis.

Methods: We assessed whether recent, prediagnostic NSAID use and lifetime cumulative aspirin use before diagnosis were associated with survival among 1,024 women with incident, primary, invasive breast cancer.

Results: Recent prediagnostic use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen and lifetime use of aspirin up to diagnosis were not associated with either all-cause mortality or breast cancer–specific mortality. Neither dose nor frequency of use was associated with risk. Associations were not different for pre- and postmenopausal women.

Conclusion: In our data, prediagnostic NSAID use and lifetime cumulative aspirin use were not associated with breast cancer survival.

Impact: Our findings do not support a role of NSAIDs prior to diagnosis in breast cancer survival. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 239–42. ©2011 AACR.
Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Breast: Cytological and Histological Features and Review of the Literature
Authors: Trihia H. , Siatra H. , Gklisty H. , Diamantopoulos P. , Arapantoni-Dadiotis P. , Kalogerakos K.
Published: January 2012

Objective: We present, for the first time, the cytological features of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the breast in preoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and touch imprints from secondary deposits in the sentinel lymph node (SLN). Study Design: We report a case of a 53-year-old woman who was diagnosed with breast carcinoma on preoperative FNA and was subjected to SLN biopsy, partial mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. The final diagnosis was LELC of the breast. Cytological and histological features were analyzed. Results: The smears from preoperative FNA contained cohesive clusters and isolated tumour cells in a haemorrhagic background with scattered lymphocytes. Some of the clusters were infiltrated by the inflammatory cells. The cells had large, pleomorphic nuclei and scanty, ill-defined cytoplasm. The intraoperative touch imprints from the SLN were highly cellular, comprising abundant scattered lymphoid cells, among which were tight clusters of indistinct cells, about 3 times larger than the lymphocyte population. Conclusion: In our case, LELC shares many cytological features with LELC described in other organs. Immunostains with epithelial markers play an important role in establishing the epithelial nature of the neoplastic cells. LELC should be borne in mind in the evaluation of breast lesions with prominent lymphoid cell infiltration. Its cytological features, as presented, could contribute to its preoperative evaluation on cytological grounds.
Carotid Atherosclerosis Predicts Lower Cognitive Test Results: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study of 4,371 Stroke-Free Subjects – The Tromsø Study
Authors: Arntzen Kjell Arne , Schirmer Henrik , Johnsen Stein Harald , Wilsgaard Tom , Mathiesen Ellisiv B.
Published: January 2012

Background: Carotid artery atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for stroke and subsequent cognitive impairment. Prospective population studies have shown associations between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and stenosis and cognitive decline and dementia in elderly stroke-free persons, whereas results in the middle-aged are conflicting. Methods: In this prospective population-based study, 4,371 stroke-free middle-aged participants underwent carotid ultrasound examination and assessment of vascular risk factors at baseline and were tested for cognitive function 7 years later. Associations between IMT, number of plaques and total plaque area and cognitive test scores on verbal memory test, digit symbol-coding test and tapping test were assessed in linear regression models. Results: In the multivariable analyses adjusted for sex, age, education, depression and vascular risk factors, the presence of plaques was significantly associated with lower test scores on the verbal memory test (p = 0.01) and on the digit symbol-coding test (p = 0.03). The number of plaques (p = 0.01) and the total plaque area (p = 0.02) were associated with lower scores on the verbal memory test. No significant association was seen between common carotid artery IMT and cognitive test scores. The tapping test was not associated with the carotid ultrasound variables. Conclusions: In this middle-aged general population, subclinical carotid atherosclerosis measured as the presence of plaques, number of plaques and total plaque area were independent long-term predictors of lower cognitive test scores.
Stroke: Prevalence and Disability in Cotonou, Benin
Authors: Cossi Marie-Joëlle , Gobron Claire , Preux Pierre-Marie , Niama Didier , Chabriat Hugues , Houinato Dismand
Published: January 2012

Background: Little is known about the burden of stroke in sub-Saharan Africa that may increase with the ongoing demographic and socioeconomic transition. This study aims to assess the prevalence of stroke, its related disability rate and consequences in the quality of daily life in an urban door- to-door survey in Cotonou, Benin. Methods: A three-phase door-to-door study was performed in two districts of Cotonou with a broad range of socioeconomic income. A population of 15,155 individuals aged ≧15 years was evaluated. The first phase consisted in screening of stroke in the population using the modified WHO questionnaire, the second phase included the medical evaluation of all suspected cases, and in the third phase the diagnosis of stroke was confirmed by CT scan evaluation. Results: Out of 15,155 subjects, 321 cases were identified as possible stroke cases. The diagnosis was confirmed in 70 cases. The crude prevalence of stroke was thus estimated to be 4.6/1,000 (8.7/1,000 and 7.7/1,000 adjusted to the WHO and SEGI World Population). The mean age of the patients at onset was 56 ± 13 years. Sixty percent of stroke survivors had a Rankin score ≧2, and CT scan was found abnormal in 90.0% of them. Conclusion: The stroke prevalence in urban areas of Cotonou is higher than that reported in other sub-Saharan countries, and the majority of stroke survivors present with good functional recovery and without severe disability in their everyday life.
Birth Cohort Effects in Neurological Diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Ajdacic-Gross Vladeta , Schmid Margareta , Tschopp Alois , Gutzwiller Felix
Published: January 2012

Background: Generational differences in disease rates are the main subject of age-period-cohort (APC) analysis, which is mostly applied in cancer and suicide research. This study applied APC analysis to selected neurological diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The analyses were based on Swiss mortality data. Age-stratified data has been available for MS, PD and ALS since 1901, 1921, and 1942, respectively. APC analysis was performed within the framework of logit models. Main effect models were extended by implementing nested effects, i.e. age effects nested in subperiods, in order to account for the fact that age profiles may change for reasons other than generational influences. Results: In preliminary analyses, APC analysis yielded noteworthy birth cohort effects in all three diseases. After implementing nested effects, the birth cohort effects disappeared in ALS, and smoothed out in PD, where they were greater for the generations born before the 1920s. In MS, the birth cohort effects remained stable, and exhibited a peak in cohorts born in the 1910s and 1920s. Conclusions: APC analysis yielded some evidence for birth cohort effects, i.e. predisposing risk factors that may change in historical terms, in MS and PD, but probably not in ALS.
Rate of Recurrence following Stereotactic Aspiration of Colloid Cysts of the Third Ventricle
Authors: Rajshekhar Vedantam
Published: January 2012

Background: The rate of recurrence following stereotactic aspiration of colloid cysts is not defined in the literature. Aims: To study the long-term imaging and clinical outcome in patients who had stereotactic aspiration of colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Methods: Between 1987 and 1994, computerized tomography-guided stereotactic aspiration was attempted in 26 consecutive patients with colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Results: There was no mortality or permanent morbidity. A complete aspiration of the cyst was possible in 17 patients, a partial aspiration of the cyst was achieved in 6 and the aspiration failed in 3 patients. On long-term follow-up, symptomatic recurrence was noted in 5/6 patients after partial aspiration and 4/17 patients after complete aspiration (mean follow-up 84.8 months). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that after complete aspiration of the cyst, median time to recurrence on imaging is 42 months (95% CI 23.0–60.9 months) but median time to symptomatic recurrence is much later at 184 months (95% CI 88.2–279.7 months). Conclusions: Stereotactic aspiration of colloid cysts remains a valid surgical option as complete aspiration leads to a good long-term outcome in several patients. Partial aspiration of the cyst should be followed by excision of the cyst, due to the high rate of symptomatic recurrence. However, periodic follow-up imaging is mandatory even after complete aspiration as delayed recurrences are possible.
Tinnitus before and 6 Months after Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Kompis Martin , Pelizzone Marco , Dillier Norbert , Allum John , DeMin Nicola , Senn Pascal
Published: January 2012

In this prospective multicenter study, tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related distress were investigated in 174 cochlear implant (CI) candidates who underwent CI surgery at a Swiss cochlear implant center. All subjects participated in two session, one preoperatively and one 6 months after device activation. In both sessions, tinnitus loudness was assessed using a visual analogue scale and tinnitus distress using a standardized tinnitus questionnaire. The data were compared with unaided pre- and postoperative pure tone thresholds, and postoperative speech reception scores. 71.8% of the subjects reported tinnitus preoperatively. Six months after CI surgery 20.0% of these reported abolition of their tinnitus, 51.2% a subjective improvement, 21.6% no change and 7.2% a deterioration. Of the 49 (28.2%) subjects with no tinnitus preoperatively, 5 developed tinnitus 6 months after CI. These 5 had poorer speech understanding after CI surgery with their device than the group who remained tinnitus free. We found no correlation between tinnitus improvement, age, duration of tinnitus, or change in unaided hearing thresholds between the two sessions.
Mirtron MicroRNA-1236 Inhibits VEGFR-3 Signaling During Inflammatory Lymphangiogenesis
Authors: Jones Dennis , Li Yonghao , He Yun , Xu Zhe , Chen Hong , Min Wang
Published: January 2012

Objective—

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR)-3 is a critical regulator of developmental and adult vasculogenesis and lymphangiogenesis through its interactions with select members of the VEGF family. The goal of this study was to investigate how VEGFR-3 expression is regulated during inflammatory lymphangiogenesis.

Methods and Results—

In this study, we present for the first time evidence that VEGFR-3 can be negatively regulated by a mirtron, hsa-miR–1236 (miR-1236), which is expressed in primary human lymphatic endothelial cells. In human lymphatic endothelial cells, miR-1236 is upregulated in response to IL-1β, a negative regulator of VEGFR-3. miR-1236 binds the 3' untranslated region of Vegfr3, resulting in translational inhibition. Overexpression of miR-1236 significantly decreased expression of VEGFR-3, but not VEGFR-2, in human lymphatic endothelial cells. Compared to a control miR, overexpression of miR-1236 also led to decreased VEGFR-3 signaling. However, VEGFR-2–specific signaling was not affected. miR-1236 can attenuate human lymphatic endothelial cell migration and tube formation, as well as in vivo lymphangiogenesis.

Conclusion—

Our data suggest that miR-1236 may function as a negative regulator of VEGFR-3 signaling during inflammatory lymphangiogenesis.
Inflammation, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Autophagy, and the Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1/CCR2 Pathway
Authors: Kolattukudy Pappachan E. , Niu Jianli
Published: January 2012

Numerous inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1/CCL2 is expressed by mainly inflammatory cells and stromal cells such as endothelial cells, and its expression is upregulated after proinflammatory stimuli and tissue injury. MCP-1 can function as a traditional chemotactic cytokine and also regulates gene transcription. The recently discovered novel zinc-finger protein, called MCPIP (MCP-1-induced protein), initiates a series of signaling events that causes oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to autophagy that can result in cell death or differentiation, depending on the cellular context. After a brief review of the basic processes involved in inflammation, ER stress, and autophagy, the recently elucidated role of MCP-1 and MCPIP in inflammatory diseases is reviewed. MCPIP was found to be able to control inflammatory response by inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation through its deubiquitinase activity or by degradation of mRNA encoding a set of inflammatory cytokines through its RNase activity. The potential inclusion of such a novel deubiquitinase in the emerging anti-inflammatory strategies for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes is briefly discussed.
Left-Right Symmetry Breaking in Tissue Morphogenesis via Cytoskeletal Mechanics
Authors: Chen Ting-Hsuan , Hsu Jeffrey J. , Zhao Xin , Guo Chunyan , Wong Margaret N. , Huang Yi , Li Zongwei , Garfinkel Alan , Ho Chih-Ming , Tintut Yin , Demer Linda L.
Published: January 2012

Rationale:

Left-right (LR) asymmetry is ubiquitous in animal development. Cytoskeletal chirality was recently reported to specify LR asymmetry in embryogenesis, suggesting that LR asymmetry in tissue morphogenesis is coordinated by single- or multi-cell organizers. Thus, to organize LR asymmetry at multiscale levels of morphogenesis, cells with chirality must also be present in adequate numbers. However, observation of LR asymmetry is rarely reported in cultured cells.

Objectives:

Using cultured vascular mesenchymal cells, we tested whether LR asymmetry occurs at the single cell level and in self-organized multicellular structures.

Methods and Results:

Using micropatterning, immunofluorescence revealed that adult vascular cells polarized rightward and accumulated stress fibers at an unbiased mechanical interface between adhesive and nonadhesive substrates. Green fluorescent protein transfection revealed that the cells each turned rightward at the interface, aligning into a coherent orientation at 20° relative to the interface axis at confluence. During the subsequent aggregation stage, time-lapse videomicroscopy showed that cells migrated along the same 20° angle into neighboring aggregates, resulting in a macroscale structure with LR asymmetry as parallel, diagonal stripes evenly spaced throughout the culture. Removal of substrate interface by shadow mask-plating, or inhibition of Rho kinase or nonmuscle myosin attenuated stress fiber accumulation and abrogated LR asymmetry of both single-cell polarity and multicellular coherence, suggesting that the interface triggers asymmetry via cytoskeletal mechanics. Examination of other cell types suggests that LR asymmetry is cell-type specific.

Conclusions:

Our results show that adult stem cells retain inherent LR asymmetry that elicits de novo macroscale tissue morphogenesis, indicating that mechanical induction is required for cellular LR specification.
ACTIVLIM-Stroke: A Crosscultural Rasch-Built Scale of Activity Limitations in Patients With Stroke
Authors: Batcho Charles Sèbiyo , Tennant Alan , Thonnard Jean-Louis
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

This study describes the development of a Rasch-built scale measuring activity limitations in stroke patients, named ACTIVLIM-Stroke.

Method—

This new Rasch-built measure was constructed based on stroke patients' perceptions of difficulty in performing daily activities. Patients were recruited from inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation departments in Belgium and Benin. A 73-item questionnaire was completed by 204 participants. A random subsample of 83 subjects was given the questionnaire a second time. Data were analyzed using RUMM2030 software.

Results—

After successive Rasch analyses, the ACTIVLIM-Stroke questionnaire, a unidimensional and linear 20-item measure of activity limitations, was constructed. All 20 items fulfilled Rasch requirements (overall and individual item fit, category discrimination, invariance, local response independence, and nonredundancy in item difficulty). This simple patient-based scale encompasses a large range of activities related to self-care, transfer, mobility, manual ability, and balance. The ACTIVLIM-Stroke questionnaire exhibited high internal validity, excellent internal consistency, and good crosscultural validity. The test–retest reliability of item difficulty hierarchy (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.99) and patient location (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.92) were both excellent. Furthermore, it showed good external construct validity using correlations with the Functional Independence Measure motor and the Barthel Index and a higher discriminating capacity than either of these widely used indices.

Conclusions—

The ACTIVLIM-Stroke questionnaire has good psychometric qualities and provides accurate measures of activity limitations in patients with stroke. It is recommended for evaluating clinical and research interventions in patients with stroke, because it provides a higher discrimination and might be more sensitive to change.
Accuracy of Neurovascular Fellows' Prognostication of Outcome After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Navi Babak B. , Kamel Hooman , McCulloch Charles E. , Nakagawa Kazuma , Naravetla Bharath , Moheet Asma M. , Wong Christine , Johnston S. Claiborne , Hemphill J. Claude , Smith Wade S.
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and optimal timing of physician prognostication in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, a prototypical neurological disease characterized by variable outcomes and frequent disability.

Methods—

From October 2009 to April 2010, treating neurologists at a tertiary care academic medical center made daily predictions of the modified Rankin Scale at 6 months for consecutive patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Actual functional outcomes at 6 months were determined by phone interview and dichotomized into good (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) and poor (modified Rankin Scale 3–6) outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the accuracy of prognostications. Multiple logistic regression and generalized estimating equations were used to assess changes in prognostication accuracy over time and the relationship between prognostication accuracy and clinical factors.

Results—

Physicians made 648 prognostications for 66 patients. Overall accuracy ranged from 78% to 88%. Among patients predicted to have a good outcome, 81% (95% CI, 71%–92%) actually had a good outcome, whereas 88% (95% CI, 77%–99%) of patients predicted to do poorly had poor outcomes. No significant trends were seen in prognostication accuracy over time during the hospital course (
P
=0.72). Increasing age, infection, mechanical ventilation, hydrocephalus, and seizures all significantly worsened physician accuracy.

Conclusions—

Neurologists were generally but not perfectly accurate in their prognostications of functional outcomes. The accuracy of prognoses did not correlate with the hospital day on which they were made but was affected by clinical factors that can cloud the neurological examination.
Dissociation between Awareness and Spatial Coding: Evidence from Unilateral Neglect
Authors: Treccani Barbara , Cubelli Roberto , Sellaro Roberta , Umiltà Carlo , Della Sala Sergio
Published: January 2012

Prevalent theories about consciousness propose a causal relation between lack of spatial coding and absence of conscious experience: The failure to code the position of an object is assumed to prevent this object from entering consciousness. This is consistent with influential theories of unilateral neglect following brain damage, according to which spatial coding of neglected stimuli is defective, and this would keep their processing at the nonconscious level. Contrary to this view, we report evidence showing that spatial coding and consciousness can dissociate. A patient with left neglect, who was not aware of contralesional stimuli, was able to process their color and position. However, in contrast to (ipsilesional) consciously perceived stimuli, color and position of neglected stimuli were processed separately. We propose that individual object features, including position, can be processed without attention and consciousness and that conscious perception of an object depends on the binding of its features into an integrated percept.
Characterizing Episodic Memory Retrieval: Electrophysiological Evidence for Diminished Familiarity following Unitization
Authors: Pilgrim Lea K. , Murray Jamie G. , Donaldson David I.
Published: January 2012

Episodic memory relies on both recollection and familiarity; why these processes are differentially engaged during retrieval remains unclear. Traditionally, recollection has been considered necessary for tasks requiring associative retrieval, whereas familiarity supports recognition of items. Recently, however, familiarity has been shown to contribute to associative recognition if stimuli are “unitized” at encoding (a single representation is created from multiple elements)—the “benefit” of unitization. Here, we ask if there is also a “cost” of unitization; are the elements of unitized representations less accessible via familiarity? We manipulated unitization during encoding and used ERPs to index familiarity and recollection at retrieval. The data revealed a selective reduction in the neural correlate of familiarity for individual words originally encoded in unitized compared with nonunitized word pairs. This finding reveals a measurable cost of unitization, suggesting that the nature of to-be-remembered stimuli is critical in determining whether familiarity contributes to episodic memory.
Motion and Change in Aristotle’s Physics 5. 1
Authors: Rosen Jacob
Published: January 2012

Abstract

This paper illustrates how Aristotle’s topological theses about change in Physics 5-6 can help address metaphysical issues. Two distinctions from Physics 5. 1 are discussed: changing per se versus changing per aliud; motion versus change. Change from white to black is motion and alteration, whereas change from white to not white is neither. But is not every change from white to black identical with a change from white to not white? Theses from Physics 6 refute the identity. Is change from white to black at least accompanied by change from white to not white? Perhaps, but given further theses from Physics 6, this supposition yields unwelcome consequences. Most likely, when something changes from white to black it changes merely per aliud, not per se, from white to not white. Genuine change between white and not white is found elsewhere; its admission has bearing on Aristotle’s theory of perception.
The best of a harsh lot in a specialized species: breeding habitat use by the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) on rocky riverbanks
Authors: Joly Pierre , Cayuela Hugo , Cheylan Marc
Published: January 2012

Because of the narrowness of their niches, specialised species are often vulnerable because their populations suffer from fragmentation or low densities. Whatever the causes of their specialization, one might expect micro-habitat selection to be strong within the boundaries of the chosen niche to compensate for the costs linked to habitat constraints (variability of reproductive success due to high larval mortality, habitat fragmentation). We tested this hypothesis by investigating breeding site selection in the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) in the context of rock pools at riverbanks, which are supposed to be one of the pristine habitats of the species. In this species, breeding habitat use differs markedly from that of other European anurans since spawning takes place in small pools located in the close vicinity of rivers. Such pools experience high risks of drying up and flooding. By measuring 8 habitat variables at 187 rock pools along a 250 m river segment, we show a breeding habitat use based on a preference for pools with large volumes of water provided that they are devoid of alluvia, with a good exposition to sun. By ensuring longer water periods and faster development rates, large volumes and warm water probably reduce the mortality risks due to drying up (within suitable temperature range). This result contributes to understanding the process of niche conservatism (persistence of narrow range on certain dimensions of the niche), which is an important challenge in ecology and conservation biology.
The European External Action Service:A Pivotal Actor in EU Foreign Policy Communications?
Authors: Bicchi Federica
Published: January 2012

Summary

This article analyses the role of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in EU foreign policy communications. Having cumulated a number of pre-existing functions, the EEAS is situated at the centre of the existing communication systems used in the European Union in relation to matters of foreign policy. Moreover, the EEAS is contributing to the expansion of the existing practice of foreign policy communications in three ways. First, it has affected the direction of communication flows in the most well-established (but now declining) communication system — the COREU/CORTESY network — as a growing proportion of messages now originate in Brussels. Second, the EEAS is developing an autonomous EU capacity for information gathering, as EU delegations regularly draft political reports. Third, the EEAS has contributed to the expansion of information sharing in consular affairs, which is an area of mixed and contested competences. The EEAS is thus a key actor in EU foreign policy communications, although practices are forever shifting and its role is still under construction.