bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-malarial drug safety information obtained through routine monitoring in a rural district of South-Western Senegal
Authors: Brasseur Philippe , Vaillant Michel T , Olliaro Piero L
Published: December 2012

Background

Knowing the safety profile of anti-malarial treatments in routine use is essential; millions of patients receive now artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) annually, but the return on information through current systems is as yet inadequate. Cohort event monitoring (CEM) is a WHO (World Health Organization)-recommended practice; testing its performance and feasibility in routine practice in malaria-endemic is important.

Methods

A nine-year CEM-based study of the safety of artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) at five peripheral health facilities in a rural district of South-western Senegal. Staff (nurses, health workers) were trained to collect actively and systematically information on the patient, treatment and events on a purposely designed questionnaire. The occurrence and severity of events was collected before, during and after treatment up to 28 days in order to generate information on all adverse events (AEs) as well as treatment-emerging signs/symptoms (TESS). Laboratory tests (haematology, liver and renal) was planned for at least 10% of cases.

Results

During 2001–2009, 3,708 parasitologically-confirmed malaria cases (mean age = 16.0 ± 12.7 years) were enrolled (26% and 52% of all and parasitologically-confirmed ASAQ treatments, respectively). Treatment was supervised in 96% of cases. Products changed over time: 49% were a loose combination of individually-packaged products (available 2001–03), 42% co-blistered products (2004–09) and 9% a fixed-dose co-formulation (2006–09); dosing was age-based for 42%, weight-based for 58%. AS and AQ were correctly dosed in 97% and 82% of cases with the loose and 93% and 86% with the fixed combination, but only 50% and 42% with the co-blistered product.

Thirty-three per cent (33%) of patients had at least one sign/symptom pre-treatment, 12% had at least one AE and 9% a TESS (total events 3,914, 1,144 and 693, respectively). AEs overestimated TESS by 1.2-2 fold (average 1.7). Changes in laboratory value were insignificant. Over-dosing more than doubled the risk of TESS, though statistical significance was reached only during 2003–2007. The incidence of serious events (including death) was five per thousand.

Conclusions

The study was successful in quantifying and characterizing known reactions and has benchmarking value. Health staff performance varied. Investments in training, motivating and providing a quality control system would be needed. The study proved that a CEM-based system is feasible in this setting but more research is needed to assess whether it is sustainable and what conditions would make it cost-effective, including the amount and quality of data generated, and the use thereof for decision-making.
Common fixed points for self-mappings on partial metric spaces
Authors: Di Bari Cristina , Milojević Marija , Radenović Stojan , Vetro Pasquale
Published: December 2012

In this paper, we prove some results of a common fixed point for two self-mappings on partial metric spaces. Our results generalize some interesting results of Ilić et al. (Appl. Math. Lett. 24:1326-1330, 2011). We conclude with a result of the existence of a fixed point for set-valued mappings in the context of 0-complete partial metric spaces.

MSC:54H25, 47H10.
Ex vivo localization and immunohistochemical detection of sentinel lymph node micrometastasis in patients with colorectal cancer can upgrade tumor staging
Authors: Wang Fu-Long , Shen Fang , Wan De-Sen , Lu Zhen-Hai , Li Li-Ren , Chen Gong , Wu Xiao-Jun , Ding Pei-Rong , Kong Ling-Heng , Pan Zhi-Zhong
Published: December 2012

Background

It is not clear if sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping can improve outcomes in patients with colorectal cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic values of ex vivo sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of SLN micrometastasis in colorectal cancers.

Methods

Colorectal cancer specimens were obtained during radical resections and the SLN was identified by injecting a 1% isosulfan blue solution submucosally and circumferentially around the tumor within 30 min after surgery. The first node to stain blue was defined as the SLN. SLNs negative by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were further examined for micrometastasis using cytokeratin IHC.

Results

A total of 54 patients between 25 and 82 years of age were enrolled, including 32 males and 22 females. More than 70% of patients were T3 or above, about 86% of patients were stage II or III, and approximately 90% of patients had lesions grade II or above. Sentinel lymph nodes were detected in all 54 patients. There were 32 patients in whom no lymph node micrometastasis were detected by HE staining and 22 patients with positive lymph nodes micrometastasis detected by HE staining in non-SLNs. In contrast only 7 SLNs stained positive with HE. Using HE examination as the standard, the sensitivity, non-detection rate, and accuracy rate of SLN micrometastasis detection were 31.8% (7/22), 68.2% (15/22), and 72.2%, respectively. Micrometastasis were identified by ICH in 4 of the 32 patients with HE-negative stained lymph nodes, resulting in an upstaging rate 12.5% (4/32). The 4 patients who were upstaged consisted of 2 stage I patients and 2 stage II patients who were upstaged to stage III. Those without lymph node metastasis by HE staining who were upstaged by IHC detection of micrometastasis had a significantly poorer disease-free survival (p = 0.001) and overall survival (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Ex vivo localization and immunohistochemical detection of sentinel lymph node micrometastasis in patients with colorectal cancer can upgrade tumor staging, and may become a factor affecting prognosis and guiding treatment.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1350200526694475.
Domestic dog demographic structure and dynamics relevant to rabies control planning in urban areas in Africa: the case of Iringa, Tanzania
Authors: Gsell Alena S , Knobel Darryn L , Cleaveland Sarah , Kazwala Rudovick R , Vounatsou Penelope , Zinsstag Jakob
Published: December 2012

Background

Mass vaccinations of domestic dogs have been shown to effectively control canine rabies and hence human exposure to rabies. Knowledge of dog population demography is essential for planning effective rabies vaccination programmes; however, such information is still rare for African domestic dog populations, particularly so in urban areas. This study describes the demographic structure and population dynamics of a domestic dog population in an urban sub-Saharan African setting. In July to November 2005, we conducted a full household-level census and a cross-sectional dog demography survey in four urban wards of Iringa Municipality, Tanzania. The achievable vaccination coverage was assessed by a two-stage vaccination campaign, and the proportion of feral dogs was estimated by a mark-recapture transect study.

Results

The estimated size of the domestic dog population in Iringa was six times larger than official town records assumed, however, the proportion of feral dogs was estimated to account for less than 1% of the whole population. An average of 13% of all households owned dogs which equalled a dog:human ratio of 1:14, or 0.31 dogs per household or 334 dogs km-2. Dog female:male ratio was 1:1.4. The average age of the population was 2.2 years, 52% of all individuals were less than one year old. But mortality within the first year was high (72%). Females became fertile at the age of 10 months and reportedly remained fertile up to the age of 11 years. The average number of litters whelped per fertile female per year was 0.6 with an average of 5.5 pups born per litter. The population growth was estimated at 10% y-1.

Conclusions

Such high birth and death rates result in a rapid replacement of anti-rabies immunised individuals with susceptible ones. This loss in herd immunity needs to be taken into account in the design of rabies control programmes. The very small proportion of truly feral dogs in the population implies that vaccination campaigns aimed at the owned dog population are sufficient to control rabies in urban Iringa, and the same may be valid in other, comparable urban settings.
Method for simultaneous analysis of eight analogues of vitamin D using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Shah Iltaf , Petroczi Andrea , Naughton Declan P
Published: December 2012

Background

Despite considerable global investigation over several decades, the roles of vitamin D in health and disease development remains convoluted. One recognised issue is the difficulty of accurately measuring the active forms of vitamin D. Advances made include some new methods addressing the potential interference by excluding epimers and isobars. However, there is no evidence that epimers are without function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate, for the first time, a new assay to simultaneously measure levels of six forms of vitamin D along with two epimers. The assay was applied to multilevel certified reference material (CRM) and 25 pooled human sera samples, obtained from the Vitamin D External Quality Assessment Scheme (DEQAS), to demonstrate its efficiency.

Results

The assay is capable of simultaneously measuring eight vitamin D analogues over the calibration ranges and LODs (in nmol/L) of: 1α25(OH)2D2 [0.015-1; 0.01], 1α25(OH)2D3 [0.1-100; 0.01], 25OHD3 [0.5-100, 0.025], 3-epi-25OHD3 [0.1-100, 0.05], 25OHD2 [0.5-100, 0.025], 3-epi-25OHD2 [0.1-100, 0.05], vitamin D3 [0.5-100, 0.05] and vitamin D2 [0.5-100, 0.05], using stanozolol-d3 as internal standard. Certified reference material and external quality control samples (DEQAS) were analysed to meet the standards outlined by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Validation steps included recovery and both precision and accuracy under inter- and intra-day variation limit of detection, and analysis of each analyte over a linear range. All validation parameters were in line with acceptable Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. All eight analogues were quantified with the 25OHD levels being commensurate with DEQAS data.

Conclusions

This report details the application of a new LC-MS/MS based assay for the efficient analysis of eight analogues of vitamin D over a range of samples, which is a significant advance over the existing methods. Simultaneous measure of eight vitamin D analogues does not compromise the analytical capability of the assay to quantify the commonly used biomarker (25OHD) for vitamin D status. The results demonstrate the feasibility of applying the assay in research and clinical practice that i) excludes misleading measures owing to epimers and isobars and ii) is able to quantify the excluded component to facilitate further in vivo investigation into the roles of ubiquitous epimers.
Population dynamics of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in Bobo-Dioulasso city: bionomics, infection rate and susceptibility to insecticides
Authors: Dabiré Roch K , Namountougou Moussa , Sawadogo Simon P , Yaro Lassina B , Toé Hyacinthe K , Ouari Ali , Gouagna Louis-Clément , Simard Frédéric , Chandre Fabrice , Baldet Thierry , Bass Chris , Diabaté Abdoulaye
Published: December 2012

Background

Historical studies have indicated that An. gambiae s.s. is the predominant malaria vector species in Bobo-Dioulasso the second biggest city of Burkina Faso (West Africa). However, over the last decade, An. arabiensis appears to be replacing An. gambiae s.s. as the most prevalent malaria vector in this urban setting. To investigate this species transition in more detail the present study aims to provide an update on the malaria vector composition in Bobo-Dioulasso, and also the Plasmodium infection rates and susceptibility to insecticides of the local An. gambiae s.l. population.

Methods

An entomological survey was carried out from May to December 2008 in Dioulassoba and Kodeni (central and peripheral districts respectively), which are representative of the main ecological features of the city. Sampling consisted of the collection of larval stages from water bodies, and adults by monthly indoor residual spraying (IRS) using aerosol insecticides. Insecticide susceptibility tests were performed using the WHO filter paper protocol on adults emerged from larvae. PCR was used to determine vector species and to identify resistance mechanisms (kdr and ace-1

R
). The Plasmodium infection rate was estimated by ELISA performed on female mosquitoes collected indoors by IRS.

Results

An. arabiensis was found to be the major malaria vector in Bobo-Dioulasso, comprising 50 to 100% of the vector population. The sporozoite infection rate for An. arabiensis was higher than An. gambiae s.s. at both Dioulassoba and Kodeni. An. gambiae s.l. was resistant to DDT and cross-resistant to pyrethroids at the two sites with higher levels of resistance observed in An. gambiae s.s. than An. arabiensis. Resistance to 0.1% bendiocarb was observed in the An. gambiae s.s. S form but not the M form or in An. arabiensis. The L1014F kdr mutation was detected in the two molecular forms of An. gambiae s.s. at varying frequencies (0.45 to 0.92), but was not detected in An. arabiensis, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in DDT resistance in this species. The ace-1

R
mutation was only detected in the S molecular form and was observed at the two sites at similar frequency (0.3).

Conclusions

Over the last ten years, An. arabiensis has become the major malaria vector in Bobo-Dioulasso city where it was formerly present only at low frequency. However, the ecological determinant that enhances the settlement of this species into urban and peri-urban areas of Bobo-Dioulasso remains to be clarified. The impact of the changing An. gambiae s.l. population in this region for vector control including resistance management strategies is discussed.
Effect of high pressure and heat treatments on black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius) muscle protein
Authors: Jantakoson Thitima , Kijroongrojana Kongkarn , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: December 2012

Application of high pressure, a minimal processing, has gained interest particularly in extending the shelf-life or modifying the texture of seafood, especially in shrimp. However, pressurization may render the products with different texture as compared with their fresh and heated counterparts. Therefore, the impact of high-pressure treatment (200, 400, 600, and 800 MPa for 20 min at 28°C) on black tiger shrimp muscle proteins in comparison with heat treatment (100°C for 2 min) was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry thermogram indicated that high pressure up to 200 MPa for 20 min induced the denaturation of myosin and actin with subsequent formation of a network stabilized by hydrogen bond. An electrophoretic study revealed that the sample pressurized at 800 MPa or heated at 100°C was also stabilized by disulfide bond. L*, a*, and b* values, compression force, and shear force increased with increasing pressure (p < 0.05). The heat-treated sample had higher L*, a*, b*, and shear force (toughening) than the pressurized and fresh samples (p < 0.05). Pressure at different levels had no effect on weight loss (p ≥ 0.05). However, a weight loss of 27.89% was observed in the heat-treated sample. Proteolytic activity of crude extract from the pressurized sample at 200 to 600 MPa did not differ from that of the fresh sample (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the activity in the heated sample and that of the pressurized sample at 800 MPa decreased, indicating the inactivation of endogenous proteases in the muscle.
Immigrant over- and under-education: the role of home country labour market experience
Authors: Piracha Matloob , Tani Massimiliano , Vadean Florin
Published: December 2012

Literature on the immigrant labour market mismatch has not explored the signal provided by the quality of home country work experience, particularly that of education-occupation mismatch prior to migration. We show that type of work experience in the home country plays a significant role in explaining immigrant mismatch in the destination country’s labour market. We use the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia and find that having been over-educated in the last job held in the home country increases the likelihood of being over-educated in Australia by about 45 percent. Whereas having been under-educated in the home country has an even stronger impact, as it increases the probability to be similarly mismatched in Australia by 62 percent.
Maintenance of S-nitrosothiol homeostasis plays an important role in growth suppression of estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors
Authors: Cañas Amanda , López-Sánchez Laura M , Valverde-Estepa Araceli , Hernández Vanessa , Fuentes Elena , Muñoz-Castañeda Juan R , López-Pedrera Chary , De La Haba-Rodríguez Juan R , Aranda Enrique , Rodríguez-Ariza Antonio
Published: December 2012

Introduction

Protein denitrosylation by thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is key for maintaining S-nitrosothiol (SNO) homeostasis, although its role in tumor progression is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the role of altered SNO homeostasis in breast cancer cells.

Methods

The impairment of SNO homeostasis in breast cancer cells was achieved with the highly specific TrxR inhibitor auranofin and/or exposure to S-nitroso-L-cysteine. S-nitrosylated proteins were detected using the biotin switch assay. Estrogen receptor (ER) alpha knockdown was achieved using RNA silencing technologies and subcellular localization of ERα was analyzed by confocal microscopy. The Oncomine database was explored for TrxR1 (TXNRD1) expression in breast tumors and TrxR1, ER and p53 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a panel of breast tumors.

Results

The impairment of SNO homeostasis enhanced cell proliferation and survival of ER+ MCF-7 cells, but not of MDA-MB-231 (ER-, mut p53) or BT-474 (ER+, mut p53) cells. This enhanced cell growth and survival was associated with Akt, Erk1/2 phosphorylation, and augmented cyclin D1 expression and was abolished by the ER antagonist fulvestrant or the p53 specific inhibitor pifithrin-α. The specific silencing of ERα expression in MCF-7 cells also abrogated the growth effect of TrxR inhibition. Estrogenic deprivation in MCF-7 cells potentiated the pro-proliferative effect of impaired SNO homeostasis. Moreover, the subcellular distribution of ERα was altered, with a predominant nuclear localization associated with phosphorylation at Thr311 in those cells with impaired SNO homeostasis. The impairment of SNO homeostasis also expanded a cancer stem cell-like subpopulation in MCF-7 cells, as indicated by the increase of percentage of CD44+ cells and the augmented capability to form mammospheres in vitro. Notably, ER+ status in breast tumors was significantly associated with lower TXNDR1 mRNA expression and immunohistochemical studies confirmed this association, particularly when p53 abnormalities were absent.

Conclusion

The ER status in breast cancer may dictate tumor response to different nitrosative environments. Impairment of SNO homeostasis confers survival advantages to ER+ breast tumors, and these molecular mechanisms may also participate in the development of resistance against hormonal therapies that arise in this type of mammary tumors.
On the Value Function of the M/G/1 FCFS and LCFS Queues
Authors: Hyytiä Esa , Aalto Samuli , Penttinen Aleksi , Virtamo Jorma
Published: December 2012

We consider a single-server queue with Poisson input operating under first-come–first-served (FCFS) or last-come–first-served (LCFS) disciplines. The service times of the customers are independent and obey a general distribution. The system is subject to costs for holding a customer per unit of time, which can be customer specific or customer class specific. We give general expressions for the corresponding value functions, which have elementary compact forms, similar to the Pollaczek–Khinchine mean value formulae. The results generalize earlier work where similar expressions have been obtained for specific service time distributions. The obtained value functions can be readily applied to develop nearly optimal dispatching policies for a broad range of systems with parallel queues, including multiclass scenarios and the cases where service time estimates are available.
Diversity and evolution of bodyguard manipulation
Authors: Maure Fanny , Daoust Simon Payette , Brodeur Jacques , Mitta Guillaume , Thomas Frédéric
Published: December 2012

Among the different strategies used by parasites to usurp the behaviour of their host, one of the most fascinating is bodyguard manipulation. While all classic examples of bodyguard manipulation involve insect parasitoids, induced protective behaviours have also evolved in other parasite–host systems, typically as specific dimensions of the total manipulation. For instance, parasites may manipulate the host to reduce host mortality during their development or to avoid predation by non-host predators. This type of host manipulation behaviour is rarely described, probably due to the fact that studies have mainly focused on predation enhancement rather than studying all the dimensions of the manipulation. Here, in addition to the classic cases of bodyguard manipulation, we also review these ‘bodyguard dimensions’ and propose extending the current definition of bodyguard manipulation to include the latter. We also discuss different evolutionary scenarios under which such manipulations could have evolved.
An overview of parasite-induced behavioral alterations – and some lessons from bats
Authors: Moore Janice
Published: December 2012

An animal with a parasite is not likely to behave like a similar animal without that parasite. This is a simple enough concept, one that is now widely recognized as true, but if we move beyond that statement, the light that it casts on behavior fades quickly: the world of parasites, hosts and behavior is shadowy, and boundaries are ill-defined. For instance, at first glance, the growing list of altered behaviors tells us very little about how those alterations happen, much less how they evolved. Some cases of parasite-induced behavioral change are truly manipulative, with the parasite standing to benefit from the changed behavior. In other cases, the altered behavior has an almost curative, if not prophylactic, effect; in those cases, the host benefits. This paper will provide an overview of the conflicting (and coinciding) demands on parasite and host, using examples from a wide range of taxa and posing questions for the future. In particular, what does the larger world of animal behavior tell us about how to go about seeking insights – or at least, what not to do? By asking questions about the sensory–perceptual world of hosts, we can identify those associations that hold the greatest promise for neuroethological studies of parasite-induced behavioral alterations, and those studies can, in turn, help guide our understanding of how parasite-induced alterations evolved, and how they are maintained.
The Comparative Effectiveness of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology Sampling Policies
Authors: Schmidt Robert L. , Howard Kirsten , Hall Brian J. , Layfield Lester J.
Published: December 2012

Sample adequacy is an important aspect of overall fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) performance. FNAC effectiveness is augmented by an increasing number of needle passes, but increased needle passes are associated with higher costs and greater risk of adverse events. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of several different sampling policies on FNAC effectiveness and adverse event rates using discrete event simulation. We compared 8 different sampling policies in 12 different sampling environments. All sampling policies were effective when the per-pass accuracy is high (>80%). Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) improves FNAC effectiveness when the per-pass adequacy rate is low. ROSE is unlikely to be cost-effective in sampling environments in which the per-pass adequacy is high. Alternative ROSE assessors (eg, cytotechnologists) may be a cost-effective alternative to pathologists when the per-pass adequacy rate is moderate (60%–80%) or when the number of needle passes is limited.
Comparative Assessment of Urinary Prostate Cancer Antigen 3 and TMPRSS2:ERG Gene Fusion with the Serum [−2]Proprostate-Specific Antigen–Based Prostate Health Index for Detection of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Stephan Carsten , Jung Klaus , Semjonow Axel , Schulze-Forster Kai , Cammann Henning , Hu Xinhai , Meyer Hellmuth-A , Bögemann Martin , Miller Kurt , Friedersdorff Frank
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND

We compared urinary prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2):v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (avian) (ERG) gene fusion (T2:ERG), and the serum [−2]proprostate-specific antigen ([−2]proPSA)-based prostate health index (Phi) for predicting biopsy outcome.

METHODS

Serum samples and first-catch urine samples were collected after digital rectal examination (DRE) from consented outpatients with PSA 0.5–20 μg/L who were scheduled for prostate biopsy. The PCA3 score (PROGENSA PCA3, Hologic Gen-Probe) and T2:ERG score (Hologic Gen-Probe) were determined. Measurements of serum PSA, free PSA, and [−2]proPSA (Beckman Coulter) were performed, and the percentages of free PSA (%fPSA) and Phi ([−2]proPSA/fPSA × √PSA) were determined.

RESULTS

Of 246 enrolled men, prostate cancer (PCa) was diagnosed in 110 (45%) and there was no evidence of malignancy (NEM) in 136 (55%). A first set of biopsies was performed in 136 (55%) of all men, and 110 (45%) had ≥1 repeat biopsies. PCA3, Phi, and T2:ERG differed significantly between men with PCa and NEM, and these markers showed the largest areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) (0.74, 0.68, and 0.63, respectively). PCA3 had the largest AUC of all parameters, albeit not statistically different from Phi. Phi showed somewhat lower specificities than PCA3 at 90% sensitivity. Combination of both markers enhanced diagnostic power with modest AUC gains of 0.01–0.04. Although PCA3 had the highest AUC in the repeat-biopsy cohort, the highest AUC for Phi was observed in DRE-negative patients with PSA in the 2–10 μg/L range.

CONCLUSIONS

PCA3 and Phi were superior to the other evaluated parameters but their combination gave only moderate enhancements in diagnostic accuracy for PCa at first or repeat prostate biopsy.
The Distilled Art of Ethical Poetry- The Aesthetic Pursuit of Chinese Ethical Melodrama Film
Authors: He Chungeng
Published: December 2012

The development of Chinese movies shows that their general artistic aim is to reflect reality, punish evil-doers and reward good people. The participants in the making of the social ethic movie combined elements of progressive history with the pursuit of the ethical expression of emotion.
The dramatic structure of the narration and the classical characters, notable for their moral integrity, were all popular elements of these films. These traditional aspects were inherited and developed by Zheng Zhenqiu, Cai Chusheng, and Xie Jin. Movie directors have continued to use these
traditional elements into the 1980s, except during the Cultural Revolution when they were under political attack. Their pursuit of increasing refinement and popular appeal remain a significant source for the current Chinese movies.
A New Day in Old Sana’a: An Interview with the Director and Producer of Yemen’s First Feature Film
Authors: Ciecko Anne
Published: December 2012

The following is an interview with director and producer Bader Ben Hirsi, who released Yemen's first feature film, A New Day in Old Sana'a. The following interview took place at the Dubai International Film Festival 2006.
Kim Ki-duk’s Non-Person Films
Authors: Sheng-Mei Ma
Published: December 2012

This article will firstly consider the question "Why do we consume the Korean Wave?" From Korean to Asian to global, the Korean Wave's "non-person person" appeals to the audience in different ways: Koreans attracted to, among other things, the reprise of traditional
sentiment of han (historical suffering and the elation of overcoming grievances or simply outliving them) Asians drawn to Western modernity that, paradoxically, alienates; Westerners in search of exotic alternative entertainment that echoes their sense of atomization.
Monsters, Midgets, Politicians and Superheroes: The Philippines on Film
Authors: Black Art
Published: December 2012

This article will discuss the Filipino film industry, starting with its history. The industry crashed to a halt when Japan invaded the Philippines within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor, bringing film production to a standstill (with the exception of Japanese-sanctioned propaganda
films). Following the liberation, Filipino filmmaking resumed, with a spate of movies depicting the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers during the war. Over the next few years, the themes of these films gradually grew more cynical and pessimistic, paralleling Film Noir in the U.S. and
focusing on the plight of disillusioned, disenfranchised veterans returning home to experience hardship, poverty, and inequality. Then, unexpectedly, the 1950s offered a bold new source for film stories.
The Interaction of Bayesian Priors and Sensory Data and Its Neural Circuit Implementation in Visually Guided Movement
Authors: Yang Jin , Lee Joonyeol , Lisberger Stephen G.
Published: December 2012

Sensory-motor behavior results from a complex interaction of noisy sensory data with priors based on recent experience. By varying the stimulus form and contrast for the initiation of smooth pursuit eye movements in monkeys, we show that visual motion inputs compete with two independent priors: one prior biases eye speed toward zero; the other prior attracts eye direction according to the past several days' history of target directions. The priors bias the speed and direction of the initiation of pursuit for the weak sensory data provided by the motion of a low-contrast sine wave grating. However, the priors have relatively little effect on pursuit speed and direction when the visual stimulus arises from the coherent motion of a high-contrast patch of dots. For any given stimulus form, the mean and variance of eye speed covary in the initiation of pursuit, as expected for signal-dependent noise. This relationship suggests that pursuit implements a trade-off between movement accuracy and variation, reducing both when the sensory signals are noisy. The tradeoff is implemented as a competition of sensory data and priors that follows the rules of Bayesian estimation. Computer simulations show that the priors can be understood as direction-specific control of the strength of visual-motor transmission, and can be implemented in a neural-network model that makes testable predictions about the population response in the smooth eye movement region of the frontal eye fields.
A Parieto-Medial Temporal Pathway for the Strategic Control over Working Memory Biases in Human Visual Attention
Authors: Soto David , Greene Ciara M. , Kiyonaga Anastasia , Rosenthal Clive R. , Egner Tobias
Published: December 2012

The contents of working memory (WM) can both aid and disrupt the goal-directed allocation of visual attention. WM benefits attention when its contents overlap with goal-relevant stimulus features, but WM leads attention astray when its contents match features of currently irrelevant stimuli. Recent behavioral data have documented that WM biases of attention may be subject to strategic cognitive control processes whereby subjects are able to either enhance or inhibit the influence of WM contents on attention. However, the neural mechanisms supporting cognitive control over WM biases on attention are presently unknown. Here, we characterize these mechanisms by combining human functional magnetic resonance imaging with a task that independently manipulates the relationship between WM cues and attention targets during visual search (with WM contents matching either search targets or distracters), as well as the predictability of this relationship (100 vs 50% predictability) to assess participants' ability to strategically enhance or inhibit WM biases on attention when WM contents reliably matched targets or distracter stimuli, respectively. We show that cues signaling predictable (> unpredictable) WM–attention relations reliably enhanced search performance, and that this strategic modulation of the interplay between WM contents and visual attention was mediated by a neuroanatomical network involving the posterior parietal cortex, the posterior cingulate, and medial temporal lobe structures, with responses in the hippocampus proper correlating with behavioral measures of strategic control of WM biases. Thus, we delineate a novel parieto-medial temporal pathway implementing cognitive control over WM biases to optimize goal-directed selection.
Distinct Roles of Nogo-A and Nogo Receptor 1 in the Homeostatic Regulation of Adult Neural Stem Cell Function and Neuroblast Migration
Authors: Rolando Chiara , Parolisi Roberta , Boda Enrica , Schwab Martin E. , Rossi Ferdinando , Buffo Annalisa
Published: December 2012

In the adult mammalian subventricular zone (SVZ), GFAP-positive neural stem cells (NSCs) generate neuroblasts that migrate tangentially along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) toward the olfactory bulb (OB). In the mouse brain, we found that the plasticity inhibitors Nogo-A and Nogo receptor 1 (NgR1) are differentially expressed in the SVZ–OB system, in which Nogo-A identifies immature neuroblasts and NgR1 germinal astrocytes. We therefore examined the role of Nogo-A and NgR1 in the regulation of neurogenesis. Pharmacological experiments show that Nogo-66/NgR1 interaction reduces the proliferation of NSCs. This is consistent with a negative-feedback loop, in which newly generated neurons modulate cell division of SVZ stem cells. Moreover, the Nogo-A–Δ20 domain promotes neuroblast migration toward the OB through activation of the Rho/ROCK (Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase) pathway, without the participation of NgR1. Our findings reveal a new unprecedented function for Nogo-A and NgR1 in the homeostatic regulation of the pace of neurogenesis in the adult mouse SVZ and in the migration of neuroblasts along the RMS.
Altered Functional Brain Connectivity in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Cocchi Luca , Bramati Ivanei E. , Zalesky Andrew , Furukawa Emi , Fontenelle Leonardo F. , Moll Jorge , Tripp Gail , Mattos Paulo
Published: December 2012

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity that often persist in adulthood. There is a growing consensus that ADHD is associated with abnormal function of diffuse brain networks, but such alterations remain poorly characterized. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we characterized multivariate (complex network measures), bivariate (network-based statistic), and univariate (regional homogeneity) properties of brain networks in a non-clinical, drug-naive sample of high-functioning young men and women with ADHD (nine males, seven females) and a group of matched healthy controls. Data from our sample allowed the isolation of intrinsic functional connectivity alterations specific to ADHD diagnosis and symptoms that are not related to developmental delays, general cognitive dysfunction, or history of medication use. Multivariate results suggested that frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices were abnormally connected locally as well as with the rest of the brain in individuals with ADHD. Results from the network-based statistic support and extend multivariate results by isolating two brain networks comprising regions between which inter-regional connectivity was significantly altered in the ADHD group; namely, a frontal amygdala-occipital network and a frontal temporal-occipital network. Brain behavior correlations further highlighted the key role of altered orbitofrontal-temporal and frontal-amygdala connectivity for symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. All univariate properties were similar between groups. Taken together, results from this study show that the diagnosis and the two main symptom dimensions of ADHD are related to altered intrinsic connectivity in orbitofrontal-temporal-occipital and fronto-amygdala-occipital networks. Accordingly, our findings highlight the importance of extending the conceptualization of ADHD beyond segregated fronto-striatal alterations.
Improving Visual Perception through Neurofeedback
Authors: Scharnowski Frank , Hutton Chloe , Josephs Oliver , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Rees Geraint
Published: December 2012

Perception depends on the interplay of ongoing spontaneous activity and stimulus-evoked activity in sensory cortices. This raises the possibility that training ongoing spontaneous activity alone might be sufficient for enhancing perceptual sensitivity. To test this, we trained human participants to control ongoing spontaneous activity in circumscribed regions of retinotopic visual cortex using real-time functional MRI-based neurofeedback. After training, we tested participants using a new and previously untrained visual detection task that was presented at the visual field location corresponding to the trained region of visual cortex. Perceptual sensitivity was significantly enhanced only when participants who had previously learned control over ongoing activity were now exercising control and only for that region of visual cortex. Our new approach allows us to non-invasively and non-pharmacologically manipulate regionally specific brain activity and thus provide “brain training” to deliver particular perceptual enhancements.
Beyond National Identity in Taiwan: A Multidimensional and Evolutionary Conceptualization
Authors: Chen Rou-Lan
Published: December 2012

This article conceptualizes the multifaceted concept of national identity in Taiwan. The prevailing measures on national identity were ubiquitous, one-dimensional, and categorical, forcing people to choose between being Taiwanese and being Chinese or opting for independence or unification. Conceptual haziness leaves us ill equipped to examine the essence of Taiwan’s identity politics. Hence, this article goes beyond national identity to explore the dimensionality that underlies its nature.
The role of salivary cortisol measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in the diagnosis of subclinical hypercortisolism
Authors: Palmieri S , Morelli V , Polledri E , Fustinoni S , Mercadante R , Olgiati L , Eller Vainicher C , Cairoli E , Zhukouskaya V V , Beck-Peccoz P , Chiodini I
Published: December 2012

Objective

The use of late-night salivary cortisol (LNSalC) for diagnosing subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) is debated. No data are available regarding the role of LNSalC as measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in SH diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of LNSalC measured by LC–MS/MS in SH.

Design

Cross-sectional prospective study of outpatients.

Methods

In 70 consecutive patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AI), without signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism, we diagnosed SH in the presence of at least two of the following: cortisol after 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg DST) >83 nmol/l, 24-h urinary free cortisol (UFC) >193 nmol/24 h, and morning ACTH <2.2 pmol/l. The LNSalC levels by LC–MS/MS at 2300 h (normal values <2.8 nmol/l) and the presence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and osteoporosis (OP) were assessed.

Results

The increased LNSalC levels (>2.8 nmol/l) had an 83.3% specificity (SP) and a 31.3% sensitivity (SN) for predicting the biochemical diagnosis of SH. The increased LNSalC had an 85.2% SP and a 55.6% SN for predicting the presence of hypertension, T2DM, and OP, while the combination of LNSalC >1.4 nmol/l (cutoff with 100% SN) plus 1 mg DST >50 nmol/l had an 88.9% SN and an 85.2% SP (similar to SH criterion at enrollment).

Conclusions

In AI patients, LNSalC measured by LC–MS/MS appears to be useful in combination with 1 mg DST for diagnosing SH, while it is not useful as a single criterion.
Structure and Mechanical Properties of Portland Cement-Polyacrylnitril Fiber Composites
Authors: Odler I.
Published: December 2012

A series of fiber-cement composite materials was prepared by dispersing different amounts of polyacrylnitril (PAN) fibers in portland cement suspensions of variable water/solid ratios. The samples were used to study the effect of the volume of fibers and the water-cement ratio on the physico-mechanical properties of the material. The distribution of the fibers within the cementitious matrix and the fracture mechanism were studied by SEM and compared with those existing in glass fiber-cement composites.
Influence of the Laser Repetition Rate on Crystalline Structure, Composition and Magnetic Properties of Laser Deposited Y3Fe5O12/Gd3Ga5O12(111) Films
Authors: Kahl S. , Denysenkov V.P. , Kranzusch S.I. , Grishin A.M.
Published: December 2012

Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) films have been deposited onto single crystal Gd4Ga5O12(GGG) substrates by publsed laser deposition. For a given set of experimental parameters, the oxygen background pressure and substrate tempetature were optimized to achieve the narrowest ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) lines. The repetition rate was then varied from 10 to 50 Hz. There is a cleasr transition from films with low saturation magnetization 4πMs ≈ 300 Gs, high coercive fields Hc > 20 Oe, and broad FMR lines ΔH > 100 Oe to films with 4πMs ≈ 1400Gs, Hc < 10 Oe, and ΔH ≤ 10 Oe. This crossover occurs when the laser repetition rate is changed from 20 to 30 Hz. No significant differences could be detected in any of the other investigated properties: crystalline structure, cation concentration rastio, amd surface roughness do not depend on the repetition rate. Annealing experiments show that the films deposited at 10 and 20 Hz repetition rate are oxygen deficent. We loaded the film deposited at 20 Hz with oxygen, so that it reached the bulk value for 4πMs. The coercive field, however, remained large.
Raman Characterization of Nitrogen Doped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Webster S. , Maultzsch J. , Thomsen C. , Liu J. , Czerw R. , Terrones M. , Adar F. , John C. , Whitley A. , Carroll D. L.
Published: December 2012

N-type multi-walled nanotubes were synthesized by nitrogen doping using pyridine and pyridine-melamine mixtures in chemical vapor deposition, and their donor states were verified by Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy. Tunneling Electron Microscopy reveals small amounts of residual catalyst and Scanning Electron Microscopy show well aligned mats of the Nitrogen doped nanotubes. Nitrogen is present in the lattice of these MWNTs as pyridine structures and CNx structures. Raman scattering measurements were performed as a function of increasing growth temperature and the results compared to previously studied boron doped multiwalled nanotubes.
Growth Mechanism and Opmization of MOD CeO2 Buffer Layers for TFA YBa2Cu3O7/CeO2 Multilayers
Authors: Sandiumenge Felip , Cavallaro Andrea , Coll Mariona , Gàzquez Jaume , Puig Teresa , Pomar Alberto , Romá Neus , Mestres Narcís , Obradors Xavier
Published: December 2012

The evolution from a partially oriented granular microstructure to a dense epitaxial one in CeO2 buffer layers deposited by metallorganic decomposition (MOD) on single crystal Y-stabilised ZrO2 (YSZ) substrates, has been investigated. CeO2 buffer layers were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Reducing atmospheric conditions inhibit grain growth resulting in a nanometric granular microstructure with a high concentration of C impurities decorating grain boundaries and porosity. Oxidation and elimination of C species promotes grain growth resulting in a dense epitaxial film, as well as stabilizes otherwise energetically prohibitive polar (001) planes. Trifluoracetate (TFA) derived MOD YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) films deposited on optimized CeO2 buffers exhibit a sharp interface while the undesired reaction giving BaCeO3 is minimized. Jc values of 1.5 MA/cm2 and 14 MA/cm2 at 77K and 5K, respectively, are achieved.
Construindo sentidos e possibilidades: a experiência da equipe de incubação de um empreendimento solidário
Authors: Rojo Priscila Tagliaferro , Filizola Carmen Lúcia Alves
Published: December 2012

Esta pesquisa qualitativa teve por objetivo analisar a experiência da equipe de incubação de um empreendimento solidário de usuários de saúde mental. As entrevistas ocorreram com sete membros da equipe, sendo os dados analisados segundo análise de conteúdo. Da análise emergiram quatro categorias: Considerando a incubação como um processo - aprendendo e encontrando os significados de ser apoio; Apontando facilidades e dificuldades no processo de construção do empreendimento; Visualizando resultados da inclusão pelo trabalho - percebendo a melhora dos usuários; Apontando necessidades de mudanças no processo, esperando uma maior autonomia dos usuários e a formalização do empreendimento. A experiência revelou ser um trabalho novo e gratificante para a equipe, possibilitando aprendizado, troca de saberes e vínculo. Identificamos o papel do técnico como educador/facilitador do processo. Além das facilidades e do reconhecimento da relevância do trabalho para a vida dos usuários, a equipe enfrenta desafios para gerar renda satisfatória.
Fatores de risco e complicações em hipertensos/diabéticos de uma regional sanitária do nordeste brasileiro
Authors: Santos Jênifa Cavalcante dos , Moreira Thereza Maria Magalhães
Published: December 2012

Objetivou-se com este estudo identificar os fatores de risco e a complicações associadas em usuários com hipertensão/diabetes, cadastrados no HIPERDIA da Secretaria Executiva Regional VI em Fortaleza, CE. O estudo documental analítico abordou 2.691 pessoas. Do total, 73,6% eram mulheres; 44,6% tinham 60-79 anos, com média de 60,8 anos; 87,4% eram brancos, amarelos ou pardos; 63,7% tinham até oito anos de estudo; 79,7% não eram fumantes; 56,6% sedentários; 59,6% apresentavam sobrepeso/obesidade; 48,4% possuíam antecedente familiar de doença cardiovascular. Verificou-se associação entre sedentarismo e sobrepeso/obesidade com diabéticos e diabéticos hipertensos; antecedente familiar de doença cardiovascular com os hipertensos e diabéticos hipertensos; acidente vascular encefálico, doença arterial coronariana e insuficiência renal crônica com hipertensos e diabéticos hipertensos; infarto e acidente vascular encefálico com diabéticos. O antecedente familiar cardiovascular associou-se com doença arterial coronariana e infarto. Evidenciou-se a presença relevante de fatores de risco e complicações, destacando a necessidade da educação em saúde com os usuários.