bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic PFOS exposures induce life stage–specific behavioral deficits in adult zebrafish and produce malformation and behavioral deficits in F1 offspring
Authors: Chen Jiangfei , Das Siba R. , La Du Jane , Corvi Margaret M. , Bai Chenglian , Chen Yuanhong , Liu Xiaojuan , Zhu Guonian , Tanguay Robert L. , Dong Qiaoxiang , Huang Changjiang
Published: October 2012

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is an organic contaminant that is ubiquitous in the environment. Few studies have assessed the behavioral effects of chronic PFOS exposure in aquatic organisms. The present study defined the behavioral effects of varying life span chronic exposures to PFOS in zebrafish. Specifically, zebrafish were exposed to control or 0.5 µM PFOS during 1 to 20, 21 to 120, or 1 to 120 d postfertilization (dpf). Exposure to PFOS impaired the adult zebrafish behavior mode under the tapping stimulus. The movement speed of male and female fish exposed for 1 to 120 dpf was significantly increased compared with control before and after tapping, whereas in the groups exposed for 1 to 20 and 21 to 120 dpf, only the males exhibited elevated swim speed before tapping. Residues of PFOS in F1 embryos derived from parental exposure for 1 to 120 and 21 to 120 dpf were significantly higher than control, and F1 embryos in these two groups also showed high malformation and mortality. The F1 larvae of parental fish exposed to PFOS for 1 to 20 or 21 to 120 dpf exhibited a higher swimming speed than control larvae in a light-to-dark behavior assessment test. The F1 larvae derived from parental fish exposed to PFOS for 1 to 120 dpf showed a significantly lower speed in the light period and a higher speed in the dark period compared with controls. Although there was little PFOS residue in embryos derived from the 1- to 20-dpf parental PFOS-exposed group, the adverse behavioral effects on both adult and F1 larvae indicate that exposure during the first 21 dpf induces long-term neurobehaviorial toxicity. The authors' findings demonstrate that chronic PFOS exposure during different life stages adversely affects adult behavior and F1 offspring morphology, behavior, and survival. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:201–206. © 2012 SETAC
An analysis of channel access delay in synchronized MAC protocol for cognitive radio networks
Authors: Joshi Gyanendra Prasad , Nam Seung Yeob , Kim Sung Won
Published: October 2012

The spectrum scarcity issue due to a fixed radio spectrum allocation system has become an obstacle to future wireless communications. In cognitive radio, the idea of an open spectrum was devised, which allows unlicensed users to utilise these underutilised licensed spectrum bands opportunistically. Several synchronisation‐based, Medium Access Control protocols for cognitive radio networks have been reported. This study examines how these protocols suffer from the common control channel bottleneck problem in a dense network. The analysis shows that control messages exchanging in a fixed channel negotiation window in the control channel is not efficient in dense cognitive radio networks. This increases the channel access delay and limits the network performance. This study develops an analytical model to calculate the expected channel access delay and analyse the impact of the number of nodes on the channel access. The analysis is verified with simulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the performance of amplify‐and‐forward protocol with generalised order selection combining
Authors: Chu Shao‐I , Lee Hung‐Peng , Chang Hsin‐Chiu , Lin Wei‐Cheng
Published: October 2012

This paper investigates the performance of amplify‐and‐forward protocol with selection combining of , and best relays. The closed‐form expressions for the symbol error rate, outage probability and channel capacity are derived. Analysis reveals that the diversity‐multiplexing trade‐off is (R − i1 + 2)[1 − r(1 + K)], where r is the multiplexing gain and R is the total number of relays. Investigation also shows that the fixed‐gain relaying provides the same diversity gain with the variable‐gain relaying. Simulation and numerical results substantiate the tightness of derived expressions and the accuracy of our theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SOCIAL CONTAGION OF MENTAL HEALTH: EVIDENCE FROM COLLEGE ROOMMATES
Authors: Eisenberg Daniel , Golberstein Ezra , Whitlock Janis L. , Downs Marilyn F.
Published: October 2012

From a policy standpoint, the spread of health conditions in social networks is important to quantify, because it implies externalities and possible market failures in the consumption of health interventions. Recent studies conclude that happiness and depression may be highly contagious across social ties. The results may be biased, however, because of selection and common shocks. We provide unbiased estimates by using exogenous variation from college roommate assignments. Our findings are consistent with no significant overall contagion of mental health and no more than small contagion effects for specific mental health measures, with no evidence for happiness contagion and modest evidence for anxiety and depression contagion. The weakness of the contagion effects cannot be explained by avoidance of roommates with poor mental health or by generally low social contact among roommates. We also find that similarity of baseline mental health predicts the closeness of roommate relationships, which highlights the potential for selection biases in studies of peer effects that do not have a clearly exogenous source of variation. Overall, our results suggest that mental health contagion is lower, or at least more context specific, than implied by the recent studies in the medical literature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE EFFECT OF HOSPITAL–PHYSICIAN INTEGRATION ON HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
Authors: Lammers Eric
Published: October 2012

The US federal government has recently made a substantial investment to enhance the US health information technology (IT) infrastructure. Previous literature on the impact of IT on firm performance across multiple industries has emphasized the importance of a process of co‐invention whereby organizations develop complementary practices to achieve greater benefit from their IT investments. In health care, employment of physicians by hospitals can confer greater administrative control to hospitals over physicians' actions and resources and thus enable the implementation of new technology and initiatives aimed at maximizing benefit from use of the technology. In this study, I tested for the relationship between hospital employment of physicians and hospitals' propensity to use health IT. I used state laws that prohibit hospital employment of physicians as an instrument to account for the endogenous relationship with hospital IT use. Hospital employment of physicians is associated with significant increases in the probability of hospital health IT use. Therefore, subsidization of health IT among hospitals not employing physicians may be less efficient. Furthermore, state laws prohibiting hospitals from employing physicians may inhibit adoption of health IT, thus working against policy initiatives aimed at promoting use of the technology. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of Gut Microbiomes in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Patients: A Connection Between Endogenous Alcohol and NASH
Authors: Zhu Lixin , Baker Susan S. , Gill Chelsea , Liu Wensheng , Alkhouri Razan , Baker Robert D. , Gill Steven R.
Published: October 2012

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a serious liver disease associated with obesity. Characterized by metabolic syndrome, hepatic steatosis, and liver inflammation, NASH is believed to be under the influence of the gut microflora. Here, the composition of gut bacterial communities of NASH, obese, and healthy children was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA pyrosequencing. In addition, peripheral blood ethanol was analyzed to monitor endogenous ethanol production of patients and healthy controls. UniFrac-based principle coordinates analysis indicated that most of the microbiome samples clustered by disease status. Each group was associated with a unique pattern of enterotypes. Differences were abundant at phylum, family, and genus levels between healthy subjects and obese patients (with or without NASH), and relatively fewer differences were observed between obese and the NASH microbiomes. Among those taxa with greater than 1% representation in any of the disease groups, Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and

Escherichia

were the only phylum, family and genus types exhibiting significant difference between obese and NASH microbiomes. Similar blood-ethanol concentrations were observed between healthy subjects and obese non-NASH patients, but NASH patients exhibited significantly elevated blood ethanol levels.

Conclusions:

The increased abundance of alcohol-producing bacteria in NASH microbiomes, elevated blood-ethanol concentration in NASH patients, and the well-established role of alcohol metabolism in oxidative stress and, consequently, liver inflammation suggest a role for alcohol-producing microbiota in the pathogenesis of NASH. We postulate that the distinct composition of the gut microbiome among NASH, obese, and healthy controls could offer a target for intervention or a marker for disease.
CD34+/CD38− acute myelogenous leukemia cells aberrantly express CD82 which regulates adhesion and survival of leukemia stem cells
Authors: Nishioka Chie , Ikezoe Takayuki , Furihata Mutsuo , Yang Jing , Serada Satoshi , Naka Tetsuji , Nobumoto Atsuya , Kataoka Sayo , Tsuda Masayuki , Udaka Keiko , Yokoyama Akihito
Published: October 2012

To identify molecular targets in leukemia stem cells (LSCs), this study compared the protein expression profile of freshly isolated CD34+/CD38− cells with that of CD34+/CD38+ counterparts from individuals with acute myelogenous leukemia (n = 2, AML) using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). A total of 98 proteins were overexpressed, while six proteins were underexpressed in CD34+/CD38− AML cells compared with their CD34+/CD38+ counterparts. Proteins overexpressed in CD34+/CD38− AML cells included a number of proteins involved in DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, gland differentiation, antiapoptosis, adhesion, and drug resistance. Aberrant expression of CD82, a family of adhesion molecules, in CD34+/CD38− AML cells was noted in additional clinical samples (n = 12) by flow cytometry. Importantly, down‐regulation of CD82 in CD34+/CD38− AML cells by a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibited adhesion to fibronectin via up‐regulation of matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9) and colony forming ability of these cells as assessed by transwell assay, real‐time RT‐PCR, and colony forming assay, respectively. Moreover, we found that down‐regulation of CD82 in CD34+/CD38− AML cells by an shRNA significantly impaired engraftment of these cells in severely immunocompromised mice. Taken together, aberrant expression of CD82 might play a role in adhesion of LSCs to bone marrow microenvironment and survival of LSCs. CD82 could be an attractive molecular target to eradicate LSCs.
uPA and MMP‐2 were involved in self‐assembled network formation in a two dimensional co‐culture model of bone marrow stromal cells and endothelial cells
Authors: Li Haiyan , Daculsi Richard , Bareille Reine , Bourget Chantal , Amedee Joëlle
Published: October 2012

Two dimensional (2D) co‐cultures of human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulate osteoblastic differentiation of HBMSCs, induce the formation of self‐assembled network and cell interactions between the two cell types involving many vascular molecules. Because of their strong activities on angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) as well tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (TIMP‐2) were investigated in this 2D co‐culture model. We found that the expression of uPA, MMP‐2 in the co‐cultured cells was significantly higher than those in mono‐cultured cells. In opposite, PAI‐1, expressed only by HUVECs is not regulated in the co‐culture. Inhibition assays confirm that uPA played a critical role in the formation of self‐assembled network as neutralization of uPA disturbed this network. In the same context, inhibition of MMP‐2 prevented the formation of self‐assembled network, while the inhibition of uPA abolished the over expression and the activity of MMP‐2. This upregulation could initiate the uPA expression and proteolysis processes through the MMP‐2 activity, and may contribute to endothelial cell migration and the formation of this self‐assembled network observed in these 2D co‐cultured cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 650–657, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sonographic findings in three cases of carcinoma showing thymus‐like differentiation
Authors: Yamamoto Yayoi , Yamada Keiko , Motoi Noriko , Fujiwara Yoshimasa , Toda Kazuhisa , Sugitani Iwao , Kohno Atsushi
Published: October 2012

Carcinoma showing thymus‐like differentiation (CASTLE) is a rare tumor of the thyroid gland or soft tissues of the head and neck. To our knowledge, there have been only a few reports concerning imaging findings of CASTLE. We report herein the sonographic appearances of three cases of CASTLE. Two tumors were located at the lower part of the thyroid and one had spread throughout the thyroid. Sonograms showed heterogeneously solid tumors without cystic components or calcification. The central part of the tumor was slightly hyperechoic compared with the peripheral part of the tumor. Histologically, the tumors were composed of a mixture of fibrous stroma and epithelial nests. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 41:574–578, 2013.
An innovative and efficient synthesis of stable isotope labelled 1‐methyl‐5‐(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazole via [13C42H3] N‐methylpyrazole
Authors: Manning Calvin , Athlan Audrey , Badman Geoff
Published: October 2012

In support of a programme to develop a treatment for cancer, a stable isotope labelled version of the drug candidate was required. The key labelled intermediate was [13C42H3] N‐methylpyrazole prepared by a novel bisacetal cyclisation. This was prepared from commercially available diethyl [13C3] malonate and [13C2H3] iodomethane. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel technique for MR elastography of the prostate using a modified standard endorectal coil as actuator
Authors: Thörmer Gregor , Reiss‐Zimmermann Martin , Otto Josephin , Hoffmann Karl‐Titus , Moche Michael , Garnov Nikita , Kahn Thomas , Busse Harald
Published: October 2012

Purpose:

To present a novel method for MR elastography (MRE) of the prostate at 3 Tesla using a modified endorectal imaging coil.

Materials and Methods:

A commercial endorectal coil was modified to dynamically generate mechanical stress (contraction and dilation) in a prostate phantom with embedded phantom “lesions” (6 mm diameter) and in a porcine model. Resulting tissue displacements were measured with a motion‐sensitive EPI sequence at actuation frequencies of 50–200 Hz. Maps of shear modulus G were calculated from the measured phase‐difference shear‐wave patterns.

Results:

In the G maps of the phantom, “lesions” were easily discernible against the background. The average G values of regions of interest placed in the “lesion” (8.2 ± 1.9 kPa) were much higher than those in the background (3.6 ± 1.4 kPa) but systematically lower than values reported by the vendor (13.0 ± 1.0 and 6.7 ± 0.7 kPa, respectively). In the porcine model, shear waves could be generated and measured shear moduli were substantially different for muscle (7.1 ± 2.0 kPa), prostate (3.0 ± 1.4 kPa), and bulbourethral gland (5.6 ± 1.9 kPa).

Conclusion:

An endorectal MRE concept is technically feasible. The presented technique will allow for simultaneous MRE and MRI acquisitions using a commercial base device with minor, MR‐conditional modifications. The diagnostic value needs to be determined in further trials. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:1480–1485. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Delineation of motor and somatosensory thalamic subregions utilizing probabilistic diffusion tractography and electrophysiology
Authors: Sudhyadhom Atchar , McGregor Keith , Okun Michael S. , Foote Kelly D. , Trinastic Jonathan , Crosson Bruce , Bova Frank J.
Published: October 2012

Purpose:

To employ and compare probabilistic diffusion tractography (PDT) for the explicit localization of connections from the thalamus to somatosensory cortex (S1) and primary motor cortex (M1) / supplementary motor area (SMA) with microelectrode electrophysiology in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.

Materials and Methods:

These tractography‐derived connections were used to categorize voxels in the thalamus as corresponding to sensory or motor physiology. A novel model (referred to in this work as the “mixture” model) to delineate PDT‐based thalamic functional subregions by thresholding fiber intensities, ie, connectivity‐defined regions (CDR), was devised. Regions created using this classification method were compared with the most commonly used model (referred to in this work as the “separation” or “winner takes all” model) for defining CDRs.

Results:

Electrophysiology data corresponded better for S1 CDRs created using the mixture model for both sensory and motor cells. Separation model CDRs showed poor correspondence against electrophysiology, with few sensory cells corresponding to the S1 separation model CDR.

Conclusion:

Mixture model‐based CDRs may offer a significant improvement in delineation of functional subregions of subcortical structures. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:600–609. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Output capabilities of personal music players and assessment of preferred listening levels of test subjects: Outlining recommendations for preventing music‐induced hearing loss
Authors: Breinbauer Hayo A. , Anabalón Jose L. , Gutierrez Daniela , Cárcamo Rodrigo , Olivares Carla , Caro Jorge
Published: October 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Our goal was to assess the impact of personal music players, earphones, and music styles on output, the subject's preferred listening levels, and outline recommendations for the prevention of music‐induced hearing loss.

Study Design:

Experimental study. Personal music players' output capabilities and volunteers' preferred output levels were assessed in different settings. Based on current noise‐induced hearing loss exposure limits, recommendations were outlined.

Methods:

On three different devices and earphone types and 10 music styles, free field equivalent sound pressure output levels were assessed by applying a microphone probe inside the auditory canal. Forty‐five hearing‐healthy volunteers were asked to select preferred listening levels in different background noise scenarios.

Results:

Sound pressure output reached 126 dB. No difference was found between device types, whereas earbud and supra‐aural earphones showed significantly lower outputs than in‐ear earphones (P < .001). Three distinct music style groups were identified with as much as 14.4 dB difference between them. In silence, 17.8% of volunteers spontaneously selected a listening level above 85 dB. With 90 dB background noise, 40% selected a level above 94 dB. Earphone attenuation capability was found to correlate significantly with preferred level reductions (r = 0.585, P < .001). In‐ear and especially supra‐aural earphones reduced preferred listening levels the most.

Conclusions:

Safe‐use recommendations were outlined, whereas selecting the lowest volume setting comfortable remained the main suggestion. High background noise attenuating earphones may help in reducing comfortable listening levels and should be preferred. A risk table was elaborated, presenting time limits before reaching a risky exposure. Laryngoscope, 2012
An Integrative Perspective of Online Foraging Behavior with Search Engines
Authors: Flavián Carlos , Gurrea Raquel , Orús Carlos
Published: October 2012

While technology evolves rapidly, humans have to adapt to the environment. Evolutionary theories are proposed as an overarching framework to explain the information systems phenomena. However, there is a need to develop these theories in more realistic contexts, and to integrate them with nonevolutionary theories, in order to gain a better understanding of human–computer interactions. Searching entails uncertainty, and the feelings that it arouses may affect search behavior. This research aims to fill this gap by examining the impact of situational factors on online foraging with search engines, taking into account users’ behavior and their emotional responses during the process. The results stress the importance of the initial emotional state and the temporal dimension in shaping the online environment that determines the online search behavior.
Brand Attachment and Consumer Emotional Response to Unethical Firm Behavior
Authors: Schmalz Sebastian , Orth Ulrich R.
Published: October 2012

Attaching consumers to a brand is a cornerstone of relationship marketing as attachment increases loyalty. This research investigates another possible benefit of attachment, its potential and limits for shielding brands from firms’ ethical missteps. Merging motivated reasoning and attachment theories, two studies focus on how brand attachment influences consumer judgments of firm ethics and the emotional and behavioral consequences developing from those. A field study indicates that attachment attenuates judgments of unethical behavior, contributes to emotional ambivalence, and affects purchase intentions. A subsequent experiment corroborates these findings and shows that the buffering role of attachment is limited to conditions when the information about firm ethics is moderately rather than extremely negative. Implications focus on advancing research on ethics and emotional ambivalence in consumer brand relationships and on managerial implications.
Who Likes Bratz? The Impact of Girls’ Age and Gender Role Orientation on Preferences for Barbie Versus Bratz
Authors: Karniol Rachel , Stuemler‐Cohen Tamara , Lahav‐Gur Yael
Published: October 2012

Why did Bratz dolls appeal to young girls? To answer this question, sixty Israeli girls, 6–11 years old, completed Boldizar's (1989) Children's Sex Role Inventory (CSRI) and were later asked how many Barbies and Bratz dolls they have. After being shown pictures of a Barbie and a Bratz doll, they were asked as to their preference, justified their preference, and explained why girls in general like the dolls. Feminine girls indicated having a larger number of dolls of both types and all girls reported having more Barbies; yet nearly all girls reported preferring to play with Bratz. Feminine girls were least likely to offer positive descriptors of Bratz dolls. The dolls’ beauty was more often cited as reasons for younger girls’ liking both dolls, and such explanations were independent of girls’ gender role orientation. Gender role orientation did not impact any of the categories of preference justification for Barbie, but it did impact justifications for liking Bratz, with androgynous and undifferentiated girls more often citing Bratz's clothes as justifications for liking the doll. The data indicate that Bratz's appearance and clothing appealed primarily to girls with nontraditional gender role orientations.
Advantages of paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) complexes having slow to intermediate water exchange properties as responsive MRI agents
Authors: Soesbe Todd C. , Wu Yunkou , Dean Sherry A.
Published: October 2012

Paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (PARACEST) complexes are exogenous contrast agents that have great potential to further extend the functional and molecular imaging capabilities of magnetic resonance. As a result of the presence of a central paramagnetic lanthanide ion (Ln3+ ≠ La3+, Gd3+, Lu3+) within the chelate, the resonance frequencies of exchangeable protons bound to the PARACEST agent are shifted far away from the bulk water frequency. This large chemical shift, combined with an extreme sensitivity to the chemical exchange rate, make PARACEST agents ideally suited for the reporting of significant biological metrics, such as temperature, pH and the presence of metabolites. In addition, the ability to turn PARACEST agents ‘off’ and ‘on’ using a frequency‐selective saturation pulse gives them a distinct advantage over Gd3+‐based contrast agents. A current challenge for PARACEST research is the translation of the promising in vitro results into in vivo systems. This short review article first describes the basic theory behind PARACEST contrast agents, their benefits over other contrast agents and their applications to MRI. It then describes some of the recent PARACEST research results: specifically, pH measurements using water molecule exchange rate modulation, T2 exchange contrast caused by water molecule exchange, the use of ultrashort TEs (TE < 10 µs) to overcome T2 exchange line broadening and the potential application of T2 exchange as a new contrast mechanism for MRI. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positive temperature coefficient to resistively characteristics of polystyrene/nickel powder/multiwall carbon nanotubes composites
Authors: Kar Prativa , Maiti Sandip , Shrivastava Nilesh K. , Dhibar Saptarshi , Khatua B.B.
Published: October 2012

Positive temperature coefficient to resistivity (PTCR) characteristics of polystyrene (PS)/Ni‐powder (40 wt%) composites in the presence of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been investigated with reference to PS/carbon black (CB) composites. The PS/CB (10 wt%) composites showed a sudden rise in resistivity (PTC trip) at ≈110°C, above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PS (Tg ≈95°C). Interestingly, the PTC trip temperature of PS/Ni‐powder (40 wt%)/MWCNT (0.75 phr) composites appeared at ≈90°C (below Tg of PS), indicating better dimensional stability of the composites at PTC trip temperature. The PTC trip temperature of the composites below the Tg of matrix polymer (PS) has been explained in terms of higher coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) value of PS than Ni that led to a disruption in continuous network structure of Ni even below the Tg of PS. The dielectric study of PS/Ni‐powder (40 wt%)/MWCNT (0.75 phr) composites indicated possible use of the PTC composites as dielectric material. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis studies revealed higher storage modulus and improved thermal stability of PS/Ni‐powder (40 wt%)/MWCNT (0.75 phr) composites than the PS/CB (10 wt%) composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 33:1977–1986, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Maternal serum second trimester screening for chromosomal disorders and neural tube defects in a government hospital of North India
Authors: Kaur Gurjit , Srivastav Jyoti , Kaur Avneet , Huria Anju , Goel Poonam , Kaur Ravinder , Kataria Sandeep , Chavan Bir Singh , Kochhar Suman , Aggarwal Purnima , Kaur Narinder , Panigrahi Inusha , Chawla Pawandeep
Published: October 2012

Objective

Down syndrome (DS) has major resource implications especially in developing countries being third most important cause of mental handicap. Maternal serum screening for chromosomal aneuploidies and neural tube defects (NTDs) is practiced worldwide in many countries and has been integrated into mainstream health care, while it is gradually gaining momentum in Asian countries.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was carried out in pregnant women undergoing triple screening test between January 2007 and December 2010 after informed consent. Biomarkers alpha‐fetoprotein, human‐chorionic‐gonadotropin and unconjugated‐estriol were tested, and risk of pregnancy being affected with DS, Edward's syndrome or NTDs were calculated. Screen‐positive patients were referred for detailed ultrasonography and confirmatory amniocentesis. Follow‐up record was maintained until delivery.

Results

Of 7400 pregnant women enrolled, 419(5.7%) were screen‐positive, including 339 positive for DS, two for trisomy 18, and 62 for NTDs. Total eight cases of DS were eventually diagnosed in the population (prevalence of DS = 1 : 925), seven of which were detected in utero following diagnostic evaluation for positive serum screen (DR of DS screen = 87.5%). Total five cases of NTD were observed, yielding NTD prevalence of 0.67/1000.

Conclusions

Triple screening in the second trimester is reasonably effective for the detection of major chromosomal defects and NTDs, and can be implemented successfully also in India. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the impact of dignity therapy on distressed patients with advanced cancer: three case studies
Authors: Hall Sue , Goddard Cassie , Martin Pauline , Opio Diana , Speck Peter
Published: October 2012

Background

Dignity therapy (DT) has been developed to help reduce distress experienced by people nearing the end of life; however, evaluations of this novel intervention have largely involved non‐distressed samples.

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore in detail the impact of DT on distressed patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

We used a case study approach. Three patients with the highest levels of dignity‐related distress who received DT were explored in depth. We collected quantitative and qualitative outcomes from patients in face‐to‐face interviews at baseline and at 1 and 4 weeks after completion of the intervention. We assessed dignity‐related distress using the Patient Dignity Inventory. Patients rated the benefits of DT at completion of the intervention and at both follow‐ups. We conducted qualitative interviews exploring experiences of DT with patients and with two recipients of generativity documents produced by patients.

Results

These patients were experiencing a wide range of major or overwhelming physical and psychosocial problems when they received the intervention, most of which would not be expected to be helped by DT. All felt that DT had helped them and had helped or would help their families; however, patients' concerns about their current situation made delivering the intervention challenging, and DT‐relevant problems returned when a patients' condition deteriorated.

Conclusions

The extent to which DT can help these patients and their families, either as a stand‐alone therapy or as an adjunct to other therapies, needs to be determined in studies focussing on distressed patients, particularly those with problems likely to be helped by the therapy.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
μ–τ interchange symmetry and lepton mixing
Authors: Grimus W. , Lavoura L.
Published: October 2012

We focus on the use of a μ–τ interchange symmetry to explain features of lepton mixing, especially maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing. We review two models which achieve this goal and are based on the seesaw mechanism and on the soft breaking of the family‐lepton‐number symmetries. We also note that that symmetry may be embedded in a generalized CP symmetry. We show that, in the context of some of our models, arguments of naturalness may be used for explaining the smallness of the mass ratio mμ / mτ.
Super flavorsymmetry with multiple Higgs doublets
Authors: Kubo J.
Published: October 2012

The meaning of non‐Abelian super flavorsymmetry in the presence of Multiple Higgs Doublets is twofold: The first one is to order the Yukawa sector of the standard model, while generating the Cheng‐Sher suppression of tree‐level Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNCs), and the second one is to soften the fine tuning problem in the scalar potential and at the same time to suppress FCNCs coming from the soft breaking of supersymmetry. If spontaneous CP violation is combined with non‐Abelian super flavorsymmetry the CP phases in the soft supersymmetry breaking sector can disappear. This feature of super flavorsymmetry is reviewed and elaborated in a supersymmetric model of flavor based on the finite group Q6. The predictions of the model in ferimion mass and mixing, and flavor and CP violation can be tested in future experiments.
The role of lepton flavor symmetries in leptogenesis
Authors: Aristizabal Sierra D. , de Medeiros Varzielas I.
Published: October 2012

The presence of flavor symmetries in the lepton sector may have several consequences for the generation of the baryon asymmetry of the Universe via leptogenesis. We review the mechanism in general type‐I, type‐II and type‐III seesaw models. We then turn to the discussion of the cases when the asymmetry is generated in the context of seesaw models extended with flavor symmetries, before or after flavor symmetry breaking. Finally we explain how the interplay between type‐I and type‐II seesaws can (or not) lead to viable models for leptogenesis even when there is an exact mixing pattern enforced by the flavor symmetry.
Mash1 expression is induced in neuroendocrine prostate cancer upon the loss of Foxa2
Authors: Gupta Aparna , Yu Xiuping , Case Tom , Paul Manik , Shen Michael M. , Kaestner Klaus H. , Matusik Robert J.
Published: October 2012

Neuroendocrine (NE) prostate tumors and neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in prostatic adenocarcinomas have been associated with poor prognosis. In this study, we used the TRAMP mouse model that develops NE prostate tumors to identify key factors that can lead to NED. We have previously reported that NE tumors express the forkhead transcription factor, Foxa2, Mash1 (mouse achaete scute homolog‐1), as well as Synaptophysin. In TRAMP, the prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) first expresses Foxa2 and Synaptophysin, which then progresses to NE cancer. In order to determine if Foxa2 is dispensable for development or maintenance of NE cancer, a conditional knock‐out of Foxa2 in TRAMP mice was generated by breeding mice with two floxed alleles of Foxa2 and one copy of Nkx3.1‐Cre. Nkx3.1‐Cre/Foxa2loxP/loxP mice showed loss of Foxa2 expression in embryonic prostatic buds. No expression of Foxa2 was seen in the adult prostate in either conditional null or control mice. Foxa2 is universally expressed in all wild type TRAMP NE tumors, but Mash1 expression is seen only in a few samples in a few cells. With the loss of Foxa2 in the NE tumors of the TRAMP/Nkx3.1‐Cre/Foxa2loxP/loxP mice, the expression of the pro‐neuronal gene Mash1 is upregulated. NE tumors from both the TRAMP control and Foxa2‐deficient TRAMP prostate express Synaptophysin and SV40 Large T‐antigen, and both show a loss of androgen receptor expression in NE cells. These studies suggest that the TRAMP NE tumors can form in the absence of Foxa2 by an up regulation of Mash1. Prostate 73: 582–589, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of germline copy number variation in high‐risk African American families with prostate cancer
Authors: Ledet Elisa M. , Hu Xiaofeng , Sartor Oliver , Rayford Walter , Li Marilyn , Mandal Diptasri
Published: October 2012

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is a complex multi‐allelic disease and the most common malignancy in men. The incidence of prostate cancer in African American men is more than twice as high as that of any other race. Despite the high prevalence of prostate cancer amongst African American men, this population has been under represented in genetic studies of prostate cancer. Although genomic copy number variations (CNVs) have been detected in prostate tumors, this is the first study describing germline CNVs in African American hereditary prostate cancer families.

METHODS

Ten high‐risk African American families with three or more affected individuals and with an early age of onset were recruited. From these families, 37 individuals, including 23 affected males, and 14 unaffected males, were selected for CNV analysis. Array comparative genomic hybridization was used to characterize germline CNVs unique to African American men with hereditary prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Through common aberration analysis in affected family members; novel CNVs were identified at chromosomes 1p36.13 and 16q23.3. Differential analysis comparing affected and unaffected family members identified 9.4 kb duplication on chromosome 14q32.33 which segregate with prostate cancer patients in these high‐risk families.

CONCLUSIONS

The duplication at 14q32.33 encompasses IGHG3 gene which has been shown to have both significant gains in copy number as well as overexpression in prostate tumors in African Americans. These CNVs may represent a component of genetic predisposition which contributes to the high prevalence and mortality of prostate cancer in African American men. Prostate 73: 614–623, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Black‐backed woodpecker nest‐tree preference in burned forests of the Sierra Nevada, California
Authors: Seavy Nathaniel E. , Burnett Ryan D. , Taille Paul J.
Published: October 2012

Black‐backed woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus) are well‐known to occur at higher densities in recently burned forests than they do in nearby green forests. In the forests of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, there is relatively little information on the types of nest trees that these birds use in recently burned forests. From 2009 to 2011, we studied nest‐tree preference by black‐backed woodpeckers in 2 burned forests in the northern Sierra Nevada. For each of 31 nest trees and 389 randomly selected trees, we recorded decay class, diameter at breast height, top condition, and species. We also recorded the number of snags with >23 cm diameter at breast height within an 11.3‐m radius of each nest tree and randomly selected tree. We evaluated nest‐tree preference by comparing the characteristics of nest trees to randomly selected trees. Black‐backed woodpeckers preferred dead but not heavily decayed trees and moderate (29–61 cm dbh) diameter trees. There was no evidence that black‐backed woodpeckers had strong preferences for trees with broken tops or trees of particular species. Snag density around nest trees was higher than around randomly selected trees. Our results suggest that in conifer forests of the Sierra Nevada, the distribution of black‐backed woodpeckers in post‐fire environments is influenced more by surrounding snag densities than by particular characteristics of potential nest trees. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Systems biology approaches to finding novel pain mediators
Authors: Antunes‐Martins Ana , Perkins James R. , Lees Jonathan , Hildebrandt Tobias , Orengo Christine , Bennett David L.H.
Published: October 2012

Chronic pain represents a major health burden; this maladaptive pain state occurs as a consequence of hypersensitivity within the peripheral and central components of the somatosensory system. High throughput technologies (genomics, transciptomics, lipidomics, and proteomics) are now being applied to tissue derived from pain patients as well as experimental pain models to discover novel pain mediators. The use of clustering, meta‐analysis and other techniques can help refine potential candidates. Of particular importance are systems biology methods, such as co‐expression network generating algorithms, which infer potential associations/interactions between molecules and build networks based on these interactions. Protein–protein interaction networks allow the lists of potential targets generated by these different platforms to be analyzed in their biological context. Outputs from these different methods must also be related to the clinical pain phenotype. The improved and standardized phenotyping of pain symptoms and sensory signs enables much better subject stratification. Our hope is that, in the future, the use of computational approaches to integrate datasets including sensory phenotype as well as the outputs of high throughput technologies will help define novel pain mediators and provide insights into the pathogenesis of chronic pain. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:11–35. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1192

This article is categorized under:

Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease

Biological Mechanisms > Regulatory Biology

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > RNA Methods
Anatomic Reconstruction of the Radioulnar Ligament
Authors: Henry Mark
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Twenty-five patients (19 males and six females) were included in the study based on: chronic symptoms of distal radioulnar joint instability, demonstrable instability on examination, MRI evidence of radioulnar ligament deficiency, and arthroscopic findings of foveal disruption of the radioulnar ligament.

Materials and Methods

Exclusion criteria were: distal radius malunion, congenital malformation of the sigmoid notch, DRUJ arthritis, and less than 24 months minimum follow-up. Mean age was 35 years old with a mean interval from injury to surgery of 5 months. Surgery began with arthroscopic confirmation of the chronic foveal detachment followed by open reconstruction of the radioulnar ligament using the palmaris longus tendon. The specific method employed three drill tunnels corresponding to the true anatomic points of attachment of the radioulnar ligament. Patients were examined post-operatively at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months.

Results and Discussion

Final evaluation averaged 51 (±14) months following surgery. Measures obtained before and after treatment included: wrist range of motion, forearm range of motion, grip strength, examination findings of distal radioulnar joint instability, and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores. Pre-operative and postoperative measures were compared using the paired Student's t test, accepting a p value of 0.05 as statistically significant. All patients healed the reconstruction without major complications and demonstrated distal radioulnar joint stability at the 6-week examination. Mean ranges of motion, in degrees, pre-/post-operative were: wrist flexion 53 (±13)/61 (±10), wrist extension 53 (±13)/62 (±15), supination 65 (±12)/74 (±7), and pronation 66 (±11)/71 (±8). Grip strengths expressed as % contralateral pre-/post-operative were: 57 (±23)/79 (±25). The differences in these measures were not found to be statistically significant. The mean pre-/post-operative DASH scores were: 62 (±16)/7 (±3). This difference was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion

Reconstruction of the RUL with a free palmaris longus tendon graft using the truly anatomic points of original RUL attachment at both the ulna and radius restored DRUJ stability and improved DASH scores without limiting forearm or wrist motion.
Risk factors of accelerated progression of peripheral artery disease in hemodialysis
Authors: Hsu Shang‐Reu , Su Ho‐Ming , Hsieh Ming‐Chia , Su Shin‐Li , Chen Szu‐Chia , Chen Hung‐Chun
Published: October 2012

Ankle‐brachial index (ABI) and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) are markers for peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) and arterial stiffness, respectively. The aims of this study were to assess whether PAOD and arterial stiffness progressed and to determine the risk factors for ABI and baPWV progression in patients on hemodialysis. This study enrolled 173 routine patients on hemodialysis. Both ABI and baPWV were measured by an ABI‐form device at baseline and at 1 year of follow‐up. Progression in ABI was defined as reduction in ABI exceeding 0.3, while baPWV measured at 1 year of follow‐up exceeding that at baseline indicated baPWV progression. Comparison with baseline data showed increase in both prevalence of ABI < 0.9 (p = 0.045) and baPWV (p = 0.028) at 1 year of follow‐up. Multiple linear regression analyses identified high fasting glucose and old age as independent factors of annual change in ABI and baPWV, respectively. Good control of blood sugar may contribute to delay the progression of peripheral artery disease in patients on hemodialysis.
Effects of dietary fibre and tea catechin, ingredients of the Japanese diet, on equol production and bone mineral density in isoflavone-treated ovariectomised mice
Authors: Tousen Yuko , Uehara Mariko , Kruger Marlena Cathorina , Ishimi Yoshiko
Published: October 2012

Equol is a metabolite of the isoflavone daidzein (Dz) and is produced by the bacterial microflora in the distal intestine and colon. Some epidemiological studies have reported an association between increased equol production and intakes of green tea or dietary fibre, which are ingredients of the standard Japanese diet. We examined the effects of a diet supplemented with Dz and tea catechin or dietary fibre on equol production and bone mineral density in ovariectomised (OVX) mice. Female mice of the ddY strain were either sham operated or OVX. OVX mice were fed a control diet, a 0·1 % Dz-supplemented diet or a 0·1 % Dz diet supplemented with one of the food components commonly consumed in the Japanese diet. The mice were given 1 % tea catechin (w/w) as part of the diet in Expt 1 or 5 % polydextrose (PD) and 5 % raffinose (Raf) (w/w) as part of the diet in Expt 2. Catechin reduced serum equol levels and attenuated the beneficial effect of Dz on femoral bone loss. The soluble dietary fibres PD and Raf stimulated equol production, and enhanced the bone-protective effects of Dz on femoral bone. These results suggest that dietary fibre, in particular, PD, may alter the bioavailability of isoflavones and prevent osteopenia in OVX mice.
Integration or separation? The stigmatisation of ex-combatants after war
Authors: MCMULLIN JAREMEY R.
Published: October 2012

Ex-combatant reintegration programmes are buttressed by a number of problematic assumptions about ex-combatants themselves; namely, that ex-combatants should not receive long-term support because such assistance would amplify the threat they pose to security and exacerbate community resentment towards them. The article uses data collected from Liberia to demonstrate that such thinking stigmatises ex-combatants and works against the objective of reintegration: it disruptsintegration intothe everyday social, economic, and political life of the post-conflict state and aims instead to render ex-combatantsseparate fromcommunities. Integration will remain elusive unless assumptions about ex-combatants as programme beneficiaries are challenged.
MRI: Modular reasoning about interference in incremental programming
Authors: OLIVEIRA BRUNO C. D. S. , SCHRIJVERS TOM , COOK WILLIAM R.
Published: October 2012

Incremental Programming(IP) is a programming style in which new program components are defined as increments of other components. Examples of IP mechanisms includeObject-oriented programminginheritance,aspect-oriented programmingadvice, andfeature-oriented programming. A characteristic of IP mechanisms is that, while individual components can be independently defined, the composition of components makes those components become tightly coupled, sharing both control and data flows. This makes reasoning about IP mechanisms a notoriously hard problem:modular reasoningabout a component becomes very difficult; and it is very hard to tell if two tightly coupled componentsinterferewith each other's control and data flows. This paper presentsmodular reasoning about interference(MRI), apurely functionalmodel of IP embedded in Haskell. MRI models inheritance with mixins and side effects with monads. It comes with a range of powerful reasoning techniques: equational reasoning, parametricity, and reasoning with algebraic laws about effectful operations. These techniques enable MRI in the presence of side effects. MRI formally capturesharmlessness, a hard-to-formalize notion in the interference literature, in two theorems. We prove these theorems with a non-trivial combination of all three reasoning techniques.