bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reversal of renal dysfunction by targeted administration of VEGF into the stenotic kidney: a novel potential therapeutic approach
Authors: Chade Alejandro R. , Kelsen Silvia
Published: February 2012

Renal microvascular (MV) damage and loss contribute to the progression of renal injury in renovascular disease (RVD). Whether a targeted intervention in renal microcirculation could reverse renal damage is unknown. We hypothesized that intrarenal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy will reverse renal dysfunction and decrease renal injury in experimental RVD. Unilateral renal artery stenosis (RAS) was induced in 14 pigs, as a surrogate of chronic RVD. Six weeks later, renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were quantified in vivo in the stenotic kidney using multidetector computed tomography (CT). Then, intrarenal rhVEGF-165 or vehicle was randomly administered into the stenotic kidneys ( n = 7/group), they were observed for 4 additional wk, in vivo studies were repeated, and then renal MV density was quantified by 3D micro-CT, and expression of angiogenic factors and fibrosis was determined. RBF and GFR, MV density, and renal expression of VEGF and downstream mediators such as p-ERK 1/2, Akt, and eNOS were significantly reduced after 6 and at 10 wk of untreated RAS compared with normal controls. Remarkably, administration of VEGF at 6 wk normalized RBF (from 393.6 ± 50.3 to 607.0 ± 45.33 ml/min, P < 0.05 vs. RAS) and GFR (from 43.4 ± 3.4 to 66.6 ± 10.3 ml/min, P < 0.05 vs. RAS) at 10 wk, accompanied by increased angiogenic signaling, augmented renal MV density, and attenuated renal scarring. This study shows promising therapeutic effects of a targeted renal intervention, using an established clinically relevant large-animal model of chronic RAS. It also implies that disruption of renal MV integrity and function plays a pivotal role in the progression of renal injury in the stenotic kidney. Furthermore, it shows a high level of plasticity of renal microvessels to a single-dose VEGF-targeted intervention after established renal injury, supporting promising renoprotective effects of a novel potential therapeutic intervention to treat chronic RVD.
Role of blood pressure in mediating the influence of salt intake on renin expression in the kidney
Authors: Machura Katharina , Neubauer Björn , Steppan Dominik , Kettl Ramona , Groβ Andreas , Kurtz Armin
Published: February 2012

The salt intake of an organism controls the number of renin-producing cells in the kidney by yet undefined mechanisms. This study aimed to assess a possible mediator role of preglomerular blood pressure in the control of renin expression by oral salt intake. We used wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking angiotensin II type 1a receptors (AT1a−/−) displaying an enhanced salt sensitivity to renin expression. In WT kidneys, we found renin-expressing cells at the ends of all afferent arterioles. A low-salt diet (0.02%) led to a moderate twofold increase in renin-expressing cells along afferent arterioles. In AT1a−/− mice, lowering of salt content led to a 12-fold increase in renin expression. Here, the renin-expressing cells were distributed along the preglomerular vascular tree in a typical distal-to-proximal distribution gradient which was most prominent at high salt intake and was obliterated at low salt intake by the appearance of renin-expressing cells in proximal parts of the preglomerular vasculature. While lowering of salt intake produced only a small drop in blood pressure in WT mice, the marked reduction of systolic blood pressure in AT1a−/− mice was accompanied by the disappearance of the distribution gradient from afferent arterioles to arcuate arteries. Unilateral renal artery stenosis in AT1a−/− mice on a normal salt intake produced a similar distribution pattern of renin-expressing cells as did low salt intake. Conversely, increasing blood pressure by administration of the NOS inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester or of the adrenergic agonist phenylephrine in AT1a−/− mice kept on low salt intake produced a similar distribution pattern of renin-producing cells as did normal salt intake alone. These findings suggest that changes in preglomerular blood pressure may be an important mediator of the influence of salt intake on the number and distribution of renin-producing cells in the kidney.
Adenosine inhibits glutamatergic input to basal forebrain cholinergic neurons
Authors: Hawryluk J. M. , Ferrari L. L. , Keating S. A. , Arrigoni E.
Published: February 2012

Adenosine has been proposed as an endogenous homeostatic sleep factor that accumulates during waking and inhibits wake-active neurons to promote sleep. It has been specifically hypothesized that adenosine decreases wakefulness and promotes sleep recovery by directly inhibiting wake-active neurons of the basal forebrain (BF), particularly BF cholinergic neurons. We previously showed that adenosine directly inhibits BF cholinergic neurons. Here, we investigated 1) how adenosine modulates glutamatergic input to BF cholinergic neurons and 2) how adenosine uptake and adenosine metabolism are involved in regulating extracellular levels of adenosine. Our experiments were conducted using whole cell patch-clamp recordings in mouse brain slices. We found that in BF cholinergic neurons, adenosine reduced the amplitude of AMPA-mediated evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and decreased the frequency of spontaneous and miniature EPSCs through presynaptic A1 receptors. Thus we have demonstrated that in addition to directly inhibiting BF cholinergic neurons, adenosine depresses excitatory inputs to these neurons. It is therefore possible that both direct and indirect inhibition may synergistically contribute to the sleep-promoting effects of adenosine in the BF. We also found that blocking the influx of adenosine through the equilibrative nucleoside transporters or inhibiting adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase increased endogenous adenosine inhibitory tone, suggesting a possible mechanism through which adenosine extracellular levels in the basal forebrain are regulated.
Fertility-Sparing Surgery in Early Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Viable Option?
Authors: Fotopoulou Christina , Braicu Ioana , Sehouli Jalid
Published: February 2012

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) continues to represent one of the most lethal conditions in women in the western countries. With the shifting of childbearing towards higher age, EOC increasingly affects women with active childbearing wish, resulting in major impacts on treatment management. Next to the optimal therapeutic treatment strategies, gynecologic oncologists are being asked to incorporate into their decision-making processes the patients' wish for fertility preserving alternatives ideally without compromising oncologic safety. Nowadays, fertility-sparing surgery represents an effective alternative to conventional radical cytoreduction in younger women with early stages of the disease. As such, this paper considers indications for fertility sparing surgery in EOC, reflects on outcomes from the oncologic and reproductive data of the largest and most relevant series outcomes data, reporting on fertility sparing techniques in EOC, reviews medicamentous efforts to prevent chemotherapy induced gonadotoxicity, and discusses future aspects in the gynecologic cancer management.
Chemical Constituents of Essential Oil fromLippia sidoidesCham. (Verbenaceae) Leaves Cultivated in Hidrolândia, Goiás, Brazil
Authors: Morais Sandra Ribeiro de , Oliveira Thiago Levi Silva , Bara Maria Teresa Freitas , Conceição Edemilson Cardoso da , Rezende Maria Helena , Ferri Pedro Henrique , Paula José Realino de
Published: February 2012

Several studies involving the family Verbenaceae, occurring in the Brazilian Cerrado, have emphasized the popular use of many aromatic species. We highlight the use ofLippia sidoidesCham., known as “alecrim pimenta,” native to northeastern Brazil and northern Minas Gerais. Leaves of this species were collected in antropized Brazilian Cerrado area, in Hidrolândia, Goiás, and their essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and thereafter analyzed GC/MS. Among the compounds identified in this study were the most abundant oxygenated monoterpenes, followed by sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons. The oxygenated monoterpene 1,8-cineole was the major constituent followed by isoborneol and bornyl acetate. The chemical composition of essential oil described in this paper differs from that described in the literature forL. sidoidesfound in its native environment, where the major constituents are thymol and carvacrol.
Reactive Oxygen Species Modulation of Na/K-ATPase Regulates Fibrosis and Renal Proximal Tubular Sodium Handling
Authors: Liu Jiang , Kennedy David J. , Yan Yanling , Shapiro Joseph I.
Published: February 2012

The Na/K-ATPase is the primary force regulating renal sodium handling and plays a key role in both ion homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. Recently, cardiotonic steroids (CTS)-mediated Na/K-ATPase signaling has been shown to regulate fibrosis, renal proximal tubule (RPT) sodium reabsorption, and experimental Dahl salt-sensitive hypertension in response to a high-salt diet. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important modulator of nephron ion transport. As there is limited knowledge regarding the role of ROS-mediated fibrosis and RPT sodium reabsorption through the Na/K-ATPase, the focus of this review is to examine the possible role of ROS in the regulation of Na/K-ATPase activity, its signaling, fibrosis, and RPT sodium reabsorption.
Viral Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: Generation, Mutagenesis, and Removal of Mini-F Sequences
Authors: Tischer B. Karsten , Kaufer Benedikt B.
Published: February 2012

Maintenance and manipulation of large DNA and RNA virus genomes had presented an obstacle for virological research. BAC vectors provided a solution to both problems as they can harbor large DNA sequences and can efficiently be modified using well-established mutagenesis techniques inEscherichia coli. Numerous DNA virus genomes of herpesvirus and pox virus were cloned into mini-F vectors. In addition, several reverse genetic systems for RNA viruses such as members ofCoronaviridaeandFlaviviridaecould be established based on BAC constructs. Transfection into susceptible eukaryotic cells of virus DNA cloned as a BAC allows reconstitution of recombinant viruses. In this paper, we provide an overview on the strategies that can be used for the generation of virus BAC vectors and also on systems that are currently available for various virus species. Furthermore, we address common mutagenesis techniques that allow modification of BACs from single-nucleotide substitutions to deletion of viral genes or insertion of foreign sequences. Finally, we review the reconstitution of viruses from BAC vectors and the removal of the bacterial sequences from the virus genome during this process.
Studies on the Effects of Interphase Heat Exchange during Thermal Explosion in a Combustible Dusty Gas with General Arrhenius Reaction‐Rate Laws
Authors: Adegbie K. S. , Alao F. I.
Published: February 2012

A mathematical model for thermal explosion in a combustible dusty gas containing fuel droplets with general Arrhenius reaction‐rate laws, convective and radiative heat losses, and interphase heat exchange between gas and inert solid particles is investigated. The objective of the study is to examine the effects of interphase heat exchange between the gas and solid particles on (i) ignition of reacting gas, (ii) accumulation of heat by the solid particles during combustion process (iii) evaporation of the liquid fuel droplets, and (iv) consumption of reacting gas concentration. The equations governing the physical model with realistic assumptions are stated and nondimensionalised leading to an intractable system of first‐order coupled nonlinear differential equations, which is not amenable to exact methods of solution. Therefore, we present numerical solutions as well as different qualitative effects of varying interphase heat exchange parameter. Graphs and Table feature prominently to explain the results obtained.
Short Communication: Some Observations on the Role of Bradykinin in Immunity toTeladorsagia circumcinctain Sheep
Authors: Williams Andrew R.
Published: February 2012

Bradykinin is a physiologically active peptide involved in vasodilation and smooth muscle contraction and is previously shown to be increased in gastrointestinal mucus during nematode challenge in sheep. Here, it is shown that bradykinin in the abomasum is positively correlated with both mast cells and globule leukocytes in the abomasum, and that all three of these parameters are negatively associated with numbers of adultTeladorsagia circumcinctaduring the challenge of immune sheep. It is suggested that bradykinin either stimulates the degranulation of mast cells, or is released during this degranulation process, or both. Multiple regression showed that almost 60% of the variation of in adultT. circumcinctacould be explained by two variables, bradykinin andT. circumcincta—specific IgG1in plasma. This provides further evidence that bradykinin may be a mechanism of protective immunity in sheep, although its involvement in asthma and other allergic disorders raises questions about its role in unwanted immunopathology.
Systolic Compression of Intramural Coronary Arteries in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sayin Muhammet Rasit , Dogan Sait Mesut , Karabag Turgut , Akpinar Ibrahim , Aydin Mustafa
Published: February 2012

We report a case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy due to systolic total narrowing of side branches of all major coronary arteries.
The Use of Mouse Models for Understanding the Biology of Down Syndrome and Aging
Authors: Vacano Guido N. , Duval Nathan , Patterson David
Published: February 2012

Down syndrome is a complex condition caused by trisomy of human chromosome 21. The biology of aging may be different in individuals with Down syndrome; this is not well understood in any organism. Because of its complexity, many aspects of Down syndrome must be studied either in humans or in animal models. Studies in humans are essential but are limited for ethical and practical reasons. Fortunately, genetically altered mice can serve as extremely useful models of Down syndrome, and progress in their production and analysis has been remarkable. Here, we describe various mouse models that have been used to study Down syndrome. We focus on segmental trisomies of mouse chromosome regions syntenic to human chromosome 21, mice in which individual genes have been introduced, or mice in which genes have been silenced by targeted mutagenesis. We selected a limited number of genes for which considerable evidence links them to aspects of Down syndrome, and about which much is known regarding their function. We focused on genes important for brain and cognitive function, and for the altered cancer spectrum seen in individuals with Down syndrome. We conclude with observations on the usefulness of mouse models and speculation on future directions.
The Energy‐Efficient Processing of Fine Materials by the Micropyretic Synthesis Route
Authors: Li H. P.
Published: February 2012

Energy‐efficient processing of TiB compound with nanowhiskers by micropyretic synthesis is investigated in this paper. Micropyretic synthesis not only offers shorter processing time but also excludes the requirement for high‐temperature sintering and it is considered as the one of the novel energy‐saving processing techniques. Experimental study and numerical simulation are both carried out to investigate the correlation of the processing parameters on the microstructures of the micropyretically synthesized products. The diffusion‐controlled reaction mechanism is proposed in this study. It is noted that nanosize TiB whiskers only occurred when the combustion temperature is lower than the melting point of TiB but higher than the extinguished temperature. The results generated in the numerical calculation can be used as a helpful reference to select the proper route of processing nanosize materials. The Arrhenius‐type plot of size and temperature is used to calculate the activation energy of TiB reaction. In addition to verifying the accuracy of the experimental measures, the reaction temperature for producing the micropyretically synthesized products with nanofeatures can be predicted.
Multipath Adaptive Tabu Search for a Vehicle Control Problem
Authors: Kluabwang Jukkrit , Puangdownreong Deacha , Sujitjorn Sarawut
Published: February 2012

Tabu search has become acceptable worldwide as one of the most efficient intelligent searches applied to various real‐world problems. There have been different modifications made to the generic tabu search in recent years to achieve better performances. Among those reviewed in the introduction of this paper, the adaptive tabu search (ATS) has incorporated the backtracking and the adaptive search radius mechanisms that help accelerate the search and release it from a local solution lock. The paper explains an enhancement made to the ATS to accomplish multipath ATS (MATS) algorithms. Performances of the ATS and the MATS are evaluated using surface optimization problems, and results are presented in the paper. Finally, the MATS is applied to solve a real‐world vehicle control problem.
Gerris spinolaeLethierry and Severin (Hemiptera: Gerridae) andBrachydeutera longipesHendel (Diptera: Ephydridae): Two Effective Insect Bioindicators to Monitor Pollution in Some Tropical Freshwater Ponds under Anthropogenic Stress
Authors: Pal Arijit , Sinha Devashish Chandra , Rastogi Neelkamal
Published: February 2012

The abundance patterns of two insects,Gerris spinolaeandBrachydeutera longipes, were found to be affected by abiotic aquatic factors including free carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, BOD, and phosphate concentrations prevailing in four tropical freshwater ponds, three of which being anthropogenically stressed. Regression analysis between each individual-independent water quality variable and insect abundance demonstrated a significant positive correlation in each case betweenB. longipesabundance and BOD, phosphate, free CO2, and algae dry weight, while a significant negative correlation of each of these variables was found withGerris spinolaeabundance. Moreover, a significant negative correlation ofB. longipesabundance was calculated with dissolved oxygen concentration, whileG. spinolaeabundance exhibited a positive correlation with the same. Thus,G. spinolaeappears to be a pollution sensitive, effective bioindicator for healthy unpolluted ponds, whileB. longipeshas potential as a pollution-resistant insect species indicative of pollution occurrence.
Mycophenolic Acid Overcomes Imatinib and Nilotinib Resistance of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells by Apoptosis or a Senescent-Like Cell Cycle Arrest
Authors: Drullion Claire , Lagarde Valérie , Gioia Romain , Legembre Patrick , Priault Muriel , Cardinaud Bruno , Lippert Eric , Mahon François-Xavier , Pasquet Jean-Max
Published: February 2012

We used K562 cells sensitive or generated resistant to imatinib or nilotinib to investigate their response to mycophenolic acid (MPA). MPA induced DNA damage leading to cell death with a minor contribution of apoptosis, as revealed by annexin V labeling (up to 25%). In contrast, cell cycle arrest and positive staining for senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity were detected for a large cell population (80%). MPA-induced cell death was potentialized by the inhibition of autophagy and this is associated to the upregulation of apoptosis. In contrast, senescence was neither decreased nor abrogated in autophagy deficient K562 cells. Primary CD34 cells from CML patients sensitive or resistant to imatinib or nilotinib respond to MPA although apoptosis is mainly detected. These results show that MPA is an interesting tool to overcome resistance in vitro and in vivo mainly in the evolved phase of the disease.
Transcription Expression and Clinical Significance of Dishevelled-3 mRNA andδ-Catenin mRNA in Pleural Effusions from Patients with Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Xiao-Yan , Liu Shu-Li , Cha Na , Zhao Yu-Jie , Wang Shao-Cheng , Li Wei-Nan , Wang En-Hua , Wu Guang-Ping
Published: February 2012

Objective. To evaluate diagnostic utility of Dishevelled-3 (DVL-3) mRNA andδ-catenin mRNA expression in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer.Methods. DVL-3 mRNA andδ-catenin mRNA levels were assessed by performing RT-PCR on pleural effusion specimens from patients with lung cancer (n=75) and with lung benign disease (n=51).Results. The expressions of DVL-3 mRNA andδ-catenin mRNA were significantly higher in malignant than in benign lung disease (P<0.01) and were obviously higher than cytology in adenocarcinoma (P<0.01). In single use, DVL-3 mRNA had the highest specificity (94.1%) and PPV (95.7%), whereasδ-catenin mRNA had the highest sensitivity (92.0%) and NPV (88.5%). When combinations of markers were evaluated together, DVL-3 mRNA andδ-catenin mRNA gave a high-diagnostic performance: sensitivity of 100.0%, NPV of 100.0%, and accuracy of 96.0%, respectively.Conclusion. As molecular markers of detecting pleural micrometastasis, DVL-3 mRNA andδ-catenin mRNA are helpful to diagnose the cancer cells in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer.
Error-Tolerant and Energy-Efficient Coverage Control Based on Biological Attractor Selection Model in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Iwai Takuya , Wakamiya Naoki , Murata Masayuki
Published: February 2012

A coverage problem is one of the important issues to prolong the lifetime of a wireless sensor network while guaranteeing that the target region is monitored by a sufficient number of active nodes. Most of existing protocols use geometric algorithm for each node to estimate the degree of coverage and determine whether to monitor around or sleep. These algorithms require accurate information about the location, sensing area, and sensing state of neighbor nodes. Therefore, they suffer from localization error leading to degradation of coverage and redundancy of active nodes. In addition, they introduce communication overhead leading to energy depletion. In this paper, we propose a novel coverage control mechanism, where each node relies on neither accurate location information nor communication with neighbor nodes. To enable autonomous decision on nodes, we adopt the nonlinear mathematical model of adaptive behavior of biological systems to dynamically changing environment. Through simulation, we show that the proposal outperforms the existing protocol in terms of the degree of coverage per node and the overhead under the influence of localization error.
Low High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Is Not Responsible for Decreased Paraoxonase Activity in Chronic Renal Failure
Authors: Varga Éva , Seres Ildikó , Harangi Mariann , Kárpáti István , Koncsos Péter , Sztanek Ferenc , Paragh György
Published: February 2012

Background/Aims: Human paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is responsible for the antioxidant effect of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by inhibiting low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Previous studies discovered dyslipidemia (DL) and decreased PON1 activity in chronic renal failure (CRF). We aimed to determine PON and arylesterase activity, phenotypic distribution of the PON1 enzyme, and lipid profile in low and normal HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) patients with CRF, and renal transplant (TX), compared to primary DL. Methods: 116 CRF (low or normal HDL-C), 52 TX (low or normal HDL-C), and 62 DL patients (low or normal HDL-C) were included. PON and arylesterase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. Phenotype was determined using the dual substrate method. Results: Aryl/HDL-C was significantly higher in low HDL-C patients. Patients with CRF had significantly lower arylesterase activity compared to DL, independent of HDL-C. PON activity and PON/HDL-C did not differ significantly in CRF compared to TX and DL. Phenotypic distribution was similar in patient groups. Low HDL-C CRF patients had significantly lower cholesterol and triglyceride than DL. Conclusion: Decreased arylesterase activity, correlating with PON1 enzyme protein quantity, is not explicable by decreased HDL-C in CRF. Low HDL-C CRF patients’ increased cardiovascular morbidity is not attributable to changes in PON1 activity, or phenotypic distribution.
Strategic Allocation of Attention Reduces Temporally Predictable Stimulus Conflict
Authors: Appelbaum L. Gregory , Boehler Carsten N. , Won Robert , Davis Lauren , Woldorff Marty G.
Published: February 2012

Humans are able to continuously monitor environmental situations and adjust their behavioral strategies to optimize performance. Here we investigate the behavioral and brain adjustments that occur when conflicting stimulus elements are, or are not, temporally predictable. ERPs were collected while manual response variants of the Stroop task were performed in which the SOAs between the relevant color and irrelevant word stimulus components were either randomly intermixed or held constant within each experimental run. Results indicated that the size of both the neural and behavioral effects of stimulus incongruency varied with the temporal arrangement of the stimulus components, such that the random-SOA arrangements produced the greatest incongruency effects at the earliest irrelevant first SOA (−200 msec) and the constant-SOA arrangements produced the greatest effects with simultaneous presentation. These differences in conflict processing were accompanied by rapid (∼150 msec) modulations of the sensory ERPs to the irrelevant distractor components when they occurred consistently first. These effects suggest that individuals are able to strategically allocate attention in time to mitigate the influence of a temporally predictable distractor. As these adjustments are instantiated by the participants without instruction, they reveal a form of rapid strategic learning for dealing with temporally predictable stimulus incongruency.
Large-scale Cortical Network Properties Predict Future Sound-to-Word Learning Success
Authors: Sheppard John Patrick , Wang Ji-Ping , Wong Patrick C. M.
Published: February 2012

The human brain possesses a remarkable capacity to interpret and recall novel sounds as spoken language. These linguistic abilities arise from complex processing spanning a widely distributed cortical network and are characterized by marked individual variation. Recently, graph theoretical analysis has facilitated the exploration of how such aspects of large-scale brain functional organization may underlie cognitive performance. Brain functional networks are known to possess small-world topologies characterized by efficient global and local information transfer, but whether these properties relate to language learning abilities remains unknown. Here we applied graph theory to construct large-scale cortical functional networks from cerebral hemodynamic (fMRI) responses acquired during an auditory pitch discrimination task and found that such network properties were associated with participants' future success in learning words of an artificial spoken language. Successful learners possessed networks with reduced local efficiency but increased global efficiency relative to less successful learners and had a more cost-efficient network organization. Regionally, successful and less successful learners exhibited differences in these network properties spanning bilateral prefrontal, parietal, and right temporal cortex, overlapping a core network of auditory language areas. These results suggest that efficient cortical network organization is associated with sound-to-word learning abilities among healthy, younger adults.
Voice and Emotion Processing in the Human Neonatal Brain
Authors: Cheng Yawei , Lee Shin-Yi , Chen Hsin-Yu , Wang Ping-Yao , Decety Jean
Published: February 2012

Although the voice-sensitive neural system emerges very early in development, it has yet to be demonstrated whether the neonatal brain is sensitive to voice perception. We measured the EEG mismatch response (MMR) elicited by emotionally spoken syllables “dada” along with correspondingly synthesized nonvocal sounds, whose fundamental frequency contours were matched, in 98 full-term newborns aged 1–5 days. In Experiment 1, happy syllables relative to nonvocal sounds elicited an MMR lateralized to the right hemisphere. In Experiment 2, fearful syllables elicited stronger amplitudes than happy or neutral syllables, and this response had no sex differences. In Experiment 3, angry versus happy syllables elicited an MMR, although their corresponding nonvocal sounds did not. Here, we show that affective discrimination is selectively driven by voice processing per se rather than low-level acoustical features and that the cerebral specialization for human voice and emotion processing emerges over the right hemisphere during the first days of life.
Impact force analysis during low-velocity impact of woven carbon/vinylester
Authors: Dale Michael , Carlsson Leif A , Acha Betiana A
Published: February 2012

This study is focused on the impact force response of two woven plain weave composites consisting of carbon fibers (T700) in vinylester 510A and 8084 matrices. Quasi-static loading was conducted to establish the indentation and bending responses and the threshold force where damage is initiated. The quasi-static tests verified that the indentation response followed the Willis formula for contact between a rigid sphere and a transversely isotropic half-space. The C/VE510A system displayed a lower impact force threshold for damage initiation than the C/VE8084 system, which is attributed to a more brittle VE510A matrix. With the contact and bending stiffnesses determined in the quasi-static tests, a mass-spring model of the impact configuration was solved numerically to determine the magnitude of force produced by hard-object impact with a given impact velocity. Falling weight impact tests were conducted over a range of drop heights to obtain velocity and impact force data. The spring-mass model predictions of impact force magnitude were in reasonable agreement with experimental results, although the model tends to under-predict the force, except at the highest impact energy.
Synthesis of modified carbon nanotube-reinforced thiazole dyes/silica hybrid materials
Authors: Yen Ming-Shien , Kuo Mu-Cheng , Huang Chao-Ming , Ma Ying-Chi
Published: February 2012

A series of novel hybrid materials prepared via the sol–gel process is synthesized from carbon nanotubes, tetraethoxysilane, and heteroaryl 2-aminothiazole azo dyes. The starting material thiazole is synthesized from thiourea, acetophenone, and iodide to obtain 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole. 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole, which is a coupling component, is coupled with p-methoxyaniline, which is a diazo component, in an ice bath to produce heterocyclic 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole azo dyes. Hybrid materials composed of carbon nanotube/SiO2/thiazole azo dyes are synthesized via the sol–gel process using a precursor system. Heterocyclic 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole azo dyes undergo a hydrolysis-condensation reaction with an appropriate proportion of surface-modified carbon nanotubes under a catalyst, at a constant ratio of vinyltriethoxysilane to tetraethoxysilane. The structures of these hybrid materials composed of carbon nanotube/SiO2/thiazole azo dyes are characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, 29Si-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Investigation on mechanical properties of silicon nitride composite reinforced by SiC nanoparticles
Authors: Liao Ningbo , Ma Guang , Zhang Miao , Xue Wei
Published: February 2012

The design of silicon nitride reinforced by silicon nitride (SiC) nanoparticles is attractive due to its improved high-temperature strength and resistance to oxidation. The high-temperature mechanical behaviors of these composites are difficult to be investigated because it is hard to measure these structural changes in the mechanical test. In this paper, we applied the molecular dynamics simulations to study the effects of size and quantity of SiC clusters on mechanical properties of silicon nitride-based composites. The results show the model with a SiC diameter of 2.4 nm has the largest stress and Young’s modulus, and the stress and Young’s modulus tend to be smaller when the quantity of SiC clusters increases. With an increasing temperature, the Young’s modulus of the structure with the largest clusters decreases before 1300 K and then jumps to 97 GPa at 1500 K, both the loss and jump in Young modulus is related to the interfacial effects between matrix and clusters.
Person-Centered Approach, Positive Psychology, and Relational Helping
Authors: Joseph Stephen , Murphy David
Published: February 2012

It is more than 20 years since the death of one of the most influential American clinical psychologists of the 20th century, Carl Rogers, who founded the client-centered school more than 50 years ago. Client-centered psychology remains a distinctive and alternative approach because of its assertion that the organismic valuing process is the engine of therapeutic change and the attendant implications for nondirective practice. Many of its ideas are also firmly integrated into other newer forms of therapy that acknowledge the person-centered approach as the foundation stone on which they were built. But less well understood is that many of the core ideas associated with person-centered psychology—such as its focus on therapeutic relationships, intrinsic motivation, and human potential—are topics that are alive and well in contemporary mainstream psychology. The aim is to promote bridge building among the person-centered community to these other areas of psychology.
Palatal Complexity Revisited: An Electropalatographic Analysis of /ɲ/ in Brazilian Portuguese with Comparison to Peninsular Spanish
Authors: Shosted Ryan , Hualde José Ignacio , Scarpace Daniel
Published: February 2012

Are palatal consonants articulated by multiple tongue gestures (coronal and dorsal) or by a single gesture that brings the tongue into contact with the palate at several places of articulation? The lenition of palatal consonants (resulting in approximants) has been presented as evidence that palatals are simple, not complex: When reduced, they do not lose their coronal gesture and become dorsals; instead, they manifest reduced linguopalatal contact while retaining their anterior place of articulation. The frequently-reported deocclusivization of the Brazilian Portuguese (BP) palatal nasal may support this claim. However, the linguopalatal configuration of this sound has not been studied directly. Electropalatographic evidence from three speakers of BP (compared with data from three speakers of Peninsular Spanish) demonstrates that the palatal nasal is frequently realized as an approximant. There is no evidence of anterior occlusion in BP’s post-palatal, lenited nasal. Under conditions of focus/hyperarticulation, there is no evidence of stronger/more anterior occlusion. We argue that the articulatory target of the BP palatal nasal is neither occluded nor anterior.
Exploring the Full-Information Bifactor Model in Vertical Scaling With Construct Shift
Authors: Li Ying , Lissitz Robert W.
Published: February 2012

To address the lack of attention to construct shift in item response theory (IRT) vertical scaling, a multigroup, bifactor model was proposed to model the common dimension for all grades and the grade-specific dimensions. Bifactor model estimation accuracy was evaluated through a simulation study with manipulated factors of percentage of common items, sample size, and degree of construct shift. In addition, the unidimensional IRT (UIRT) model, which ignores construct shift, was also estimated to represent current practice. It was found that (a) bifactor models were well recovered overall, though the grade-specific dimensions were not as well recovered as the general dimension; (b) item discrimination parameter estimates were overestimated in UIRT models due to the effect of construct shift; (c) the person parameters of UIRT models were less accurately estimated than those of bifactor models; (d) group mean parameter estimates from UIRT models were less accurate than those of bifactor models; and (e) a large effect due to construct shift was found for the group mean parameter estimates of UIRT models. A real data analysis provided an illustration of how bifactor models can be applied to problems involving vertical scaling with construct shift. General procedures for testing practice were recommended and discussed.
Committed to a Failing Strategy: Celebrity CEO, Intermediaries, Media and Stakeholders in a Co-created Drama
Authors: Sinha Paresha N. , Inkson Kerr , Barker James R.
Published: February 2012

The apparent status of having a “celebrity CEO” heading a large organization creates a strong impression that the organization will be successful and forms an almost irresistible force compelling stakeholder commitment. However, a newly appointed celebrity CEO and the celebrity’s co-creators run the risk of becoming over-confident, over-optimistic and over-committed to what may be a failing strategy. We explore a case in which this risk became reality. We use a dramaturgical perspective to analyse Air New Zealand’s failed acquisition of Ansett Australia in 2001 and describe how the CEO, financial intermediaries, media and stakeholders co-created an unfolding drama marked by the CEO escalating the firm’s commitment to the failing acquisition as a way of maintaining an illusion of control, which helped preserve the CEO’s celebrity identity. We consider the implications for the various types of stakeholders in organizations and for the study of organizational leadership.
Nasopharyngeal Biofilm‐Producing Otopathogens in Children with Nonsevere Recurrent Acute Otitis Media
Authors: Torretta Sara , Marchisio Paola , Drago Lorenzo , Baggi Elena , De Vecchi Elena , Garavello Werner , Nazzari Erica , Pignataro Lorenzo , Esposito Susanna
Published: February 2012

Objective

Bacterial biofilms have been detected in biopsies of the adenoid and middle ear mucosa of otitis‐prone children and children with chronic middle otitis media. However, the invasiveness of biopsy makes it unsuitable for routine clinical practice, especially in pediatrics. This study aimed to investigate nasopharyngeal biofilm‐producing otopathogens (BPOs) of nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) in children with a history of nonsevere recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) and healthy controls.

Study Design

A cross‐sectional study with planned data collection.

Setting

University of Milan.

Subjects and Methods

Transoral NPS were taken from infants and children aged 10 months to 11 years with nonsevere RAOM or healthy controls without adenoid hypertrophy. Nasopharyngeal colonization by otopathogens was assessed by means of microbiological cultures and standard bacterial identification, as well as nasopharyngeal BPOs by means of spectrophotometric analysis.

Results

The study involved 113 children (56.6% males; median age 40 months; range, 10‐132 months): 58 with a history of nonsevere RAOM (51.3%) and 55 controls (48.7%). Otopathogens were significantly more frequently detected in the RAOM group (24/58, 41.4%) than in controls (8/55, 14.5%; P =. 003); the main pathogens were respectively Haemophilus influenzae (12/24, 50.0%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (3/8, 37.5%). Nasopharyngeal BPOs were more frequently isolated in the RAOM group (17/58, 29.3%) than in controls (6/55, 10.9%; P =. 02). H influenzae (12/17, 70.6%) was confirmed as the main pathogen in the RAOM group.

Conclusion

The presence of nasopharyngeal BPOs is an important factor favoring RAOM; it is therefore useful investigating biofilms even in children with nonsevere recurrences of AOM without adenoid hypertrophy.
Prognostic Value of Cartilage Sclerosis in Laryngeal Cancer Treated with Primary Radiation Therapy
Authors: Moubayed Sami P. , Bélair Manon , Saliba Joe , Bibeau‐Poirier Jackie , Christopoulos Apostolos , Nguyen‐Tan Phuc‐Felix , Guertin Louis , Lambert Louise , Olivier Marie‐Jo , Ayad Tareck
Published: February 2012

Objective

In patients with laryngeal cancer, pretreatment diagnosis of cartilage invasion often warrants a surgical or a bimodal treatment. Controversy exists on whether laryngeal cartilage sclerosis on computed tomography (CT) scan is a sign of tumor invasion. Our objective is to evaluate locoregional, laryngectomy‐free, disease‐specific, and overall survival in patients with laryngeal cancer with or without laryngeal cartilage sclerosis treated with primary radiation therapy.

Study Design

Historical cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary referral university center.

Subjects and Methods

All laryngeal cancer patients treated with primary radiation therapy between 2002 and 2007 were included. Patients with and without laryngeal cartilage sclerosis on CT scan were identified. Patient, tumor, and treatment data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using Kaplan‐Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional‐hazards regression.

Results

One hundred eleven patients were included for analysis. Seventy‐nine patients were classified as T1 or T2, and 32 patients were classified as T3 or T4. Twenty‐three percent of patients had any laryngeal cartilage sclerosis, and 77% of patients had no sclerosis. On univariate and multivariate analyses, there was no statistically significant difference between patients with or without sclerosis. Results did not vary when studying each cartilage separately.

Conclusion

Laryngeal cancer patients with cartilage sclerosis on CT scan do not have significantly different survival than patients without sclerosis. Validation of these results prospectively is warranted.
“Glittering Mockery”
Authors: Parkin Katherine
Published: February 2012

This article considers the unconventional and chimerical custom of women proposing to men during a leap year. Capturing the imagination of Americans from 1904 into the 1960s, shame and ridicule made it difficult for women to take advantage of the opportunity to propose to men. Critics held that women who asked men to marry them were desperate, aggressive, and unfeminine. Considering postcards, advertisements, and newspaper columns, this article concludes that the leap year tradition promised real power for courting women but ultimately delivered false empowerment and reinforced traditional courtship practices.
The Decline of Indivisible Inheritance in Catalonia
Authors: Ros Rosa
Published: February 2012

This article studies the decline of the traditional primogeniture-based Catalan inheritance system. The analysis of marriage contracts and testaments from two towns and their hinterland between 1780 and 1860 shows the variation in the succession practices among different sociooccupational groups. The study reveals that the decline of the indivisible inheritance started in the towns, whose inhabitants were mainly artisans, merchants, or sailors, a lot earlier than in the rural world. These transformations of traditional succession practices were fuelled by structural changes of the crafts and by the increasing emigration to America.
Reconceiving Motherhood
Authors: Jaffary Nora E.
Published: February 2012

Colonial authorities prosecuted surprisingly few women for the crimes of abortion and infanticide in viceregal Mexico. Although criminal courts tried hundreds of such cases in the nineteenth century, only a handful of trials survive from Mexico’s colonial era. This article examines criminal and inquisition records, jurisprudence, and medical texts to try to explain this discrepancy. The available evidence suggests that women in colonial Mexico did commit infanticide and abortion much more frequently than the surviving documentary record implies but that neither their peers nor courts viewed the crimes as harshly as they would in later periods. Women successfully concealed the crimes, the public declined to view these acts as criminal, and criminal courts treated them with leniency. Justices, members of the public, and mothers themselves privileged other factors, particularly fiscal concerns and the maintenance of codes of female honor, above a concern with the crimes of infanticide and abortion.
Stem Families, Joint Families, and the European Pattern
Authors: Gruber Siegfried , Szołtysek Mikołaj
Published: February 2012

This article makes a new contribution to the discussion of historical European family forms. Its starting points are two recent contributions by Steven Ruggles in which the author discussed the historical appearances of stem and joint families across the globe. Drawing on most recent developments in census microdata infrastructure from historical Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe, the authors pinpoint limitations pertaining to the usage of IPUMS (Integrated Public Use Microdata Series) and NAPP (North Atlantic Population Project) collections for the investigation of European family systems. Using newly acquired materials and refined conceptual tools, they enhance the knowledge about the spatiotemporal distribution of stem- and joint-family arrangements in a broader European context. As the frequency of joint families in the regions under study cannot be fully accounted for by referring to measures of economic conditions and demographic structures alone, the authors speculate about some additional factors which may explain the observed differences in joint-family coresidence across historic Eastern Europe.
Enhancing the originality of the Stewart platform through its kinematic analyses
Authors: Gallardo-Alvarado Jaime
Published: February 2012

In this study, an approach to solve the kinematics of the Stewart platform is introduced with the purpose to enhance its originality. Contrary to the Gough platform, the forward displacement analysis of the Stewart platform is based on closure equations that allow to obtain nearly closed-form solutions. These equations lead to decoupled functions which are solved by means of the well-known Sylvester's dialytic method of elimination. The input–output equations of velocity and acceleration as well as the singularities of the robot are obtained systematically by resorting to reciprocal-screw theory. Numerical examples are provided in order to demonstrate the application of the proposed method. Furthermore, the numerical results obtained via screw theory are successfully compared with simulations generated with the aid of commercially available software. Finally, the contribution may be useful to recognize that the flight simulator proposed by Stewart almost five decades ago and the tire testing machine attributed to Gough are in reality robot manipulators with quite different characteristics.
Characteristics of flexible electrode made on cellulose by soluble polypyrrole coating
Authors: Nayak Jyoti , Mahadeva Suresha K , Kim Jaehwan
Published: February 2012

This article investigates the possibility of soluble polypyrrole coating on cellulose as an alternative low-cost electrode material for paper speaker application. Soluble polypyrrole was prepared using β-naphthalene sulfonic acid as dopant and ammonium persulfate as oxidizing agent. For coating soluble polypyrrole on regenerated cellulose, prepared polypyrrole powder was dissolved in N-Methylpyrrolidone. N-Methylpyrrolidone was chosen to dissolve β-naphthalene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole due to large dielectric constant (32.2) compared with other organic solvents. It is observed that the optical transmittance of cellulose tends to decrease while electrical conductivity increases with increase of the β-naphthalene sulfonic acid doped polypyrrole– N-Methylpyrrolidone coatings, due to increased thickness of the polypyrrole layer on cellulose films.
Numerical simulation of non-stationary propagation of combustion along a duct with supersonic flow of a viscid gas
Authors: Vlasenko Vladimir , Shiryaeva Anna
Published: February 2012

Numerical technology for fast and correct computation of non-stationary viscid gas flows is presented. It consists in the use of explicit numerical scheme with fractional time stepping and “wall law” boundary condition at the solid surfaces. The technology is verified by comparison with the calculation based on the no-slip boundary condition. Using this technology, the physics of supersonic flow in a model duct with combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in pseudoshock is analyzed.