bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Prevention of Delirium and Complications Associated with Surgical Treatments (PODCAST) study: protocol for an international multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Avidan Michael S , Fritz Bradley A , Maybrier Hannah R , Muench Maxwell R , Escallier Krisztina E , Chen Yulong , Ben Abdallah Arbi , Veselis Robert A , Hudetz Judith A , Pagel Paul S , Noh Gyujeong , Pryor Kane , Kaiser Heiko , Arya Virendra Kumar , Pong Ryan , Jacobsohn Eric , Grocott Hilary P , Choi Stephen , Downey Robert J , Inouye Sharon K , Mashour George A
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Postoperative delirium is one of the most common complications of major surgery, affecting 10–70% of surgical patients 60 years and older. Delirium is an acute change in cognition that manifests as poor attention and illogical thinking and is associated with longer intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, long-lasting cognitive deterioration and increased mortality. Ketamine has been used as an anaesthetic drug for over 50 years and has an established safety record. Recent research suggests that, in addition to preventing acute postoperative pain, a subanaesthetic dose of intraoperative ketamine could decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium as well as other neurological and psychiatric outcomes. However, these proposed benefits of ketamine have not been tested in a large clinical trial.

Methods

The Prevention of Delirium and Complications Associated with Surgical Treatments (PODCAST) study is an international, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. 600 cardiac and major non-cardiac surgery patients will be randomised to receive ketamine (0.5 or 1 mg/kg) or placebo following anaesthetic induction and prior to surgical incision. For the primary outcome, blinded observers will assess delirium on the day of surgery (postoperative day 0) and twice daily from postoperative days 1–3 using the Confusion Assessment Method or the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. For the secondary outcomes, blinded observers will estimate pain using the Behavioral Pain Scale or the Behavioral Pain Scale for Non-Intubated Patients and patient self-report.

Ethics and dissemination

The PODCAST trial has been approved by the ethics boards of five participating institutions; approval is ongoing at other sites. Recruitment began in February 2014 and will continue until the end of 2016. Dissemination plans include presentations at scientific conferences, scientific publications, stakeholder engagement and popular media.

Registration details

The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov,NCT01690988(last updated March 2014). The PODCAST trial is being conducted under the auspices of the Neurological Outcomes Network for Surgery (NEURONS).

Trial registration number

NCT01690988 (last updated December 2013).
‘Beats the alternative but it messes up your life’: Aboriginal people's experience of haemodialysis in rural Australia
Authors: Rix Elizabeth F , Barclay Lesley , Stirling Janelle , Tong Allison , Wilson Shawn
Published: September 2014

Objectives

Australian Aboriginal people have at least eight times the incidence of end-stage kidney disease, requiring dialysis, as the non-Aboriginal population. Provision of health services to rural Aboriginal people with renal disease is challenging due to barriers to access and cultural differences. We aimed to describe the experiences of Aboriginal people receiving haemodialysis in rural Australia, to inform strategies for improving renal services.

Design

A qualitative design incorporating: Indigenist research methodology and Community Based Participatory Research principles. In-depth interviews used a ‘yarning’ and storytelling approach. Thematic analysis was undertaken and verified by an Aboriginal Community Reference Group.

Setting

A health district in rural New South Wales, Australia.

Participants

Snowball sampling recruited 18 Aboriginal haemodialysis recipients.

Results

Six themes emerged which described the patient journey: ‘The biggest shock of me life,’ expressed the shock of diagnosis and starting the dialysis; ‘Beats the alternative but it messes up your life,’ explained how positive attitudes to treatment develop; ‘Family is everything’, described the motivation and support to continue dialysis; ‘If I had one of them nurses at home to help me’, depicted acute hospital settings as culturally unsafe; ‘Don't use them big jawbreakers’, urged service providers to use simple language and cultural awareness; ‘Stop ‘em following us onto the machine’, emphasised the desire for education for the younger generations about preventing kidney disease. An Aboriginal interpretation of this experience, linked to the analysis, was depicted in the form of an Aboriginal painting.

Conclusions

Family enables Aboriginal people to endure haemodialysis. Patients believe that priorities for improving services include family-centred and culturally accommodating healthcare systems; and improving access to early screening of kidney disease. Inclusion of Aboriginal patients in cultural education for renal staff is recommended. Providing opportunities for patients to educate young Aboriginal people about kidney disease prevention may be highly effective and empowering.
Prognostic values of highly sensitive cardiac troponin T and B-type natriuretic peptide for clinical features in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nakamura Shunichi , Takano Hitoshi , Matsuda Junya , Chinen Daigo , Kitamura Mitsunobu , Murai Koji , Asai Kuniya , Yasutake Masahiro , Takayama Morimasa , Shimizu Wataru
Published: September 2014

Objectives

Although B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (cTnT) are useful for the evaluation of clinical features in various cardiovascular diseases, there are comparatively few data regarding the utility of these parameters in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The goal of this study was to assess the association between BNP, cTnT and clinical parameters in patients with HOCM.

Design

Cross-sectional survey

Settings

The relationship between BNP, cTnT and clinical end points and echocardiographic data was investigated.

Participants

This study included 102 consecutive outpatients with HOCM who were clinically stable.

Results

BNP was significantly associated with both maximum left ventricular (LV) wall thickness (r=0.28; p=0.003), and septal peak early transmitral filling velocity/peak early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (r=0.51; p=0.0001). No statistically significant associations were seen between cTnT and any echocardiographic parameters, but the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) was associated with a high level of cTnT (p=0.01).

Conclusions

BNP is useful for monitoring clinical parameters and as a reflection of both LV systolic/diastolic function and increased LV pressure in patients with HOCM. A high level of serum cTnT is associated with the presence of AF.
Sodium-induced hyperhydration decreases urine output and improves fluid balance compared with glycerol- and water-induced hyperhydration
Authors: Savoie Félix A. , Dion Tommy , Asselin Audrey , Goulet Eric D.B.
Published: September 2014

Before 2010, which is the year the World Anti-Doping Agency banned its use, glycerol was commonly used by athletes for hyperhydration purposes. Through its effect on osmoreceptors, we believe that sodium could prove a viable alternative to glycerol as a hyperhydrating agent. Therefore, this study compared the effects of sodium-induced hyperhydration (SIH), glycerol-induced hyperhydration (GIH) and water-induced hyperhydration (WIH) on fluid balance responses. Using a randomized, double-blind and counterbalanced protocol, 17 men (21 ± 3 years, 64 ± 6 kg fat-free mass (FFM)) underwent three 3-h hyperhydration protocols during which they ingested, over the first 60-min period, 30 mL/kg FFM of water with (i) an artificial sweetener (WIH); (ii) an artificial sweetener + 7.45 g/L of table salt (SIH); or (iii) an artificial sweetener + 1.4 g glycerol/kg FFM (GIH). Changes in body weight (BW), urine production, fluid retention, hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma volume, and perceptual variables were monitored throughout the 3-h trials. After 3 h, SIH was associated with significantly (p < 0.05) lower hemoglobin, hematocrit (SIH: 43.1% ± 2.8%; GIH: 44.9% ± 2.4%), and urine production, as well as greater BW, fluid retention (SIH: 1144 ± 294 mL; GIH: 795 ± 337 mL), and plasma volume (SIH: 11.9% ± 12.0%; GIH: 4.0% ± 6.0%) gains, compared with GIH and WIH. No significant differences in heart rate or abdominal discomfort were observed between treatments. In conclusion, our results indicate that SIH is a superior hyperhydrating technique than, and proves to be a worthwhile alternative to, GIH.
Cortical cholinergic dysregulation as a long-term consequence of neonatal hypoglycemia
Authors: Anju T.R. , Paulose C.S.
Published: September 2014

Neonatal hypoglycemia limits the glucose supply to cells, affecting the function of brain due to its high energy demand. This can cause long-term consequences in brain function, leading to memory and cognitive deficits. The present study evaluated the cholinergic functional regulation in cerebral cortex of one month old rats exposed to neonatal hypoglycemia to understand the long-term effects of early life stress. Receptor binding and gene expression studies were done in the cerebral cortex to analyze the changes in total muscarinicreceptors, muscarinic M1, M2, M3 receptors, and the enzymes involved in acetylcholine metabolism, cholineacetyl transferase and acetylcholine esterase. Neonatal hypoglycemia decreased total muscarinic receptors (p < 0.001) with reduced muscarinic M1, M2, and M3 receptor genes (p < 0.001) in one month old rats. The reduction in acetylcholine metabolism is indicated by the downregulated cholineacetyl transferase, upregulated acetylcholine esterase, and decreased vesicular acetylcholine transporter expression. These alterations in cholinergic function in one month old rat brain indicates the longterm consequences of neonatal hypoglycemia in cortical function, which can contribute to the onset of many disease conditions in later stages of life.
The role of miR-29 in pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Cushing Leah , Kuang Pingping , Lü Jining
Published: September 2014

Pulmonary fibrosis is a pathological condition in which lungs become scarred due to the excess extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and structural alterations in the interstitium of lung parenchyma. Many patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) caused by long-term exposure to toxic substances, chronic infections, or autoimmune responses develop fibrosis. Etiologies for many ILDs are unknown, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating, relentless form of pulmonary fibrosis with a median survival of 2–3 years. Despite several decades of research, factors that initiate and sustain the fibrotic response in lungs remain unclear and there is no effective treatment to block progression of fibrosis. Here we summarize recent findings on the antifibrotic activity of miR-29, a small noncoding regulatory RNA, in the pathogenesis of fibrosis by regulating ECM production and deposition, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also describe interactions of miR-29 with multiple profibrotic and inflammatory pathways. Finally, we review the antifibrotic activity of miR-29 in animal models of fibrosis and highlight miR-29 as a promising therapeutic reagent or target for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Physiology and performance of wild and domestic strains of diploid and triploid rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in response to environmental challenges
Authors: Scott Mark A. , Dhillon Rashpal S. , Schulte Patricia M. , Richards Jeffrey G.
Published: September 2014

To determine the factors that may contribute to the poor survival of triploid (3n) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in lake stocking programs, we compared the physiology and responses to environmental challenges of four wild strains and one domestic strain of diploid (2n) and 3n juvenile rainbow trout. Over four successive years, wild trout were caught from nature, spawned, and progeny were reared in a hatchery along with hatchery-bred domestic trout. Offspring of each strain were raised for up to 12 months as both 2n and 3n, and growth rate, critical swimming speed, routine oxygen consumption rate, critical oxygen tensions, thermal tolerance, and hypoxia tolerance were assessed in a laboratory setting. Cohorts of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 wild strains were also stocked into two experimental lakes and recaptured as adults using traps and fyke nets in 2011 for laboratory analysis. In the juvenile trout, the only measure of performance to show a consistent difference between 2n and 3n individuals across all strains was hypoxia tolerance, where 3n trout had a shorter time to loss of equilibrium (LOE) at 16 Torr than their 2n counterparts, but this effect was not seen in adult, lake-reared trout. Strain had a significant effect on specific growth rate, critical swimming speed (Ucrit), and time to LOE in hypoxia, although the effects of strain on these variables was not consistent from year to year. Overall, this study suggests that poorer hypoxia tolerance in 3n trout compared with 2n trout may be a contributing factor to the higher lake stocking mortalities in 3n trout.
Site conditions and definition of compositional proportion modify mixture effects in Picea abies – Abies alba stands
Authors: Huber Markus O. , Sterba Hubert , Bernhard Luzi
Published: September 2014

For most forest types in the European Alps, little is known about mixture effects on stand productivity. The comparability of studies on mixture effects often suffers from the open methodological question of whether the results depend on the definition of compositional proportion. In this study, data from the Swiss National Forest Inventory were used to investigate how the growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is modified by the admixture of the other species and if the mixture effect depends on site, climate, age, or stand density. Stocking proportion (proportion by area) as well as the proportion of relative density index, stem number, basal area, stem volume, and aboveground biomass were used to define compositional proportion, and the results were compared. At low-quality sites, Norway spruce grew faster in basal area as its relative share of composition increased, but this pattern diminished as the site quality increased. At cooler sites, silver fir grew faster as its share of composition decreased, but the pattern reversed at warmer sites. Overyielding was predicted only for 16% of the 679 sites used for this study. Beneficial effects of species mixture were overestimated when species-specific stocking potentials were not considered in the definition of compositional proportion.
AN UNBIASED BI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL AND ALGORITHM FOR CONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION
Authors: DONG NING , WANG YUPING
Published: September 2014

Transforming a constrained optimization problem (COP) into a bi-objective optimization problem (BOP) is an efficient way to solve the COP. However, how to obtain a good balance between the objective function and the constraint violation function is not easy in BOP. To handle this issue, a novel unbiased bi-objective optimization model is proposed, in which both objective functions are equally treated. Furthermore, the novel model is shown to have the unique Pareto optimal vector under proper condition, and the Pareto optimal vector is exactly corresponding to the optimal solution of COP. Moreover, the relationship between the existing biased bi-objective model and the proposed unbiased one is analyzed in detail. For the unbiased model, a generic multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithm, i.e. a differential evolution (DE), can be used to solve it, and Pareto ranking is employed as the unique selection criterion. The experiments are conducted on 24 well-known benchmark test instances and the results illustrate that the proposed model is not only effective but also efficient.
DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND TESTING OF A FLEXIBLE FULLY-DIGITAL TRANSPONDER FOR LOW-EARTH ORBIT SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: DAVALLE DANIELE , CASSETTARI RICCARDO , SAPONARA SERGIO , FANUCCI LUCA , CUCCHI LUCA , BIGONGIARI FRANCO , ERRICO WALTER
Published: September 2014

This paper presents a flexible Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C) transponder for Earth Observation (EO) small satellites. The proposed device adds to the state-of-the-art EO TT&C transponders the possibility of scientific data transfer thanks to the high downlink data-rate (up to 40 Mbps) and in-flight reconfigurability via Telecomand (TC). The integration of these features in one single device represents a considerable optimization in terms of mass budget, which is important for EO small satellites. Furthermore, in-flight reconfigurability of communication parameters via TC is important for in-orbit link optimization, which is especially useful for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites where visibility can be as short as few hundreds of seconds.

The proposed transponder is a digital radio unit working at 70 MHz intermediate frequency (IF). A new custom and configurable hardware accelerator was developed to cover intensive radio DSP functions at IF. The custom hardware is integrated in a single FPGA with a space-compliant processor core, for control, configuration and interface with the other satellite subsystems.

All the quantization parameters were fine-tailored to reach a trade-off between hardware complexity and implementation loss (IL). The IF RX/TX ports require eight bits and seven bits, respectively. The IL is 0.5 dB at BER = 10-5 for the RX chain.

A system proof-of-concept was implemented on the Xilinx Virtex 6 VLX75T-FF484 FPGA. The total device occupation is 82%. The power consumption of the design fitted in FPGA is less than 2 W. The power consumption of the whole demonstrator board is less than 9 W.
DIAGNOSIS OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS IN HIV INFECTION
Authors: Shabbir Shabnam S. , Andreou Nicholas , Brand Alexander , Nelson Mark
Published: September 2014

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. Musculoskeletal pain is well described within the HIV population. We retrospectively investigated the link between HIV positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy and the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. Antiretroviral medications, pathology results and plantar fasciitis treatments were recorded. Based on our results of this small cohort, there was no positive association found between these criteria and the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.
On fixed point sets of wavelet induced isomorphisms
Authors: Masood Dania , Singh Pooja
Published: September 2014

In this paper, we show that [½, 1) is not a fixed point set of any wavelet induced isomorphism. The same holds for [0, ½). This settles Problem 1 posed in the paper "On wavelet induced isomorphisms" by Singh in Int. J. Wavelets Multiresolut. Inf. Process.8 (2010) 359–371. Further, we obtain that every other subinterval of [0, 1) of measure ½ is a fixed point set of some wavelet induced isomorphism.
Coincidence Measurements in Dual-Color Confocal Microscopy: A Combined Single-Particle and Fluorescence Correlation Approach
Authors: Friaa Ouided , Fradin Cécile
Published: September 2014

In this paper we discuss how the coincident detection of mobile particles in dual-color confocal images can be improved. Optimal coincidence detection requires a careful choice of experimental conditions and image acquisition parameters in order to maximize the overlap between the two detection volumes. By measuring this overlap with fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy, we show in particular that a small confocal field of view is necessary in order to maintain good coincidence. Most importantly, coincidence detection also requires a dedicated image analysis strategy. Traditionally, two approaches have been adopted to assess coincidence of mobile particles: fluorescence fluctuation measurements, notably cross-correlation spectroscopy, and single particle detection. Here we propose to combine these two approaches by calculating a cross-correlation coefficient for each of the detected single particles. We show that this allows to remove accidental coincidence events from a data set, and thus to unambiguously identify particles that instead carry two different fluorophores. This strategy can help increase the available concentration range for confocal coincidence measurements and detect rare binding events.

[Formula: see text]Special Issue Comments: This article about coincident detection of mobile particle in two-color confocal images is thematically related to several articles in this Special Issue, namely the review of FRET-based single-molecule fluorescence techniques by Ruedas-Rama et al.,1 the single particle detection work presented by de Keersmaecker et al.2 and the general considerations on the mathematical treatment of single molecule trajectories presented by Flomenbom3. Our study of single liposomes is also relevant to experiments involving proteins and liposomes, such as the enzyme experiments described in the review by Jørgensen and Hatzakis.4
The rare earth element signal in Archaean microbial carbonate: information on ocean redox and biogenicity
Authors: Kamber Balz S. , Webb Gregory E. , Gallagher Meabh
Published: September 2014

Microbial carbonates contain valuable chemical, isotopic and molecular information regarding the Precambrian Earth. They record shallow-water information complementary to deep ocean proxies, such as banded iron formation and black shale. Six groups of well-preserved stromatolites illustrate how the rare earth elements (REE) are used for chemical investigation. The first task is to test whether the REE inventory of carbonate is compromised by clastic, volcanic, or diagenetic contaminants. Once the cleanliness has been verified, the shale-normalized REE pattern can be used to distinguish between marine and lacustrine settings. For marine carbonates, it is possible to distinguish between restricted basin and open marine settings and for thick platform limestones the relative water depth can be inferred from REE systematics. The studied shallow-water stromatolites range in age from 2.52 to 3.45 Ga. They contain no evidence from the behaviour of the redox-sensitive element cerium that free oxygen levels in the shallow sea approached concentrations beyond a trace gas by 2.52 Ga. Compared with abiotic early diagenetic marine carbonate cements, microbial carbonate is strongly enriched in REE. This may itself not yet serve as a biomarker, but it is regarded as a necessary prerequisite for a sample to qualify for biomarker studies.
Future of technology in NERC data models and informatics: outputs from InformaTEC
Authors: Kingdon Andrew , Giles Jeremy R. A. , Lowndes Jonathan P.
Published: September 2014

The ‘Big Data’ paradigm will revolutionize understanding of the natural environment. New technologies are revolutionizing our ability to measure, model, understand and make robust, evidence-based predictions at increasingly spatial and temporal resolutions. Realising this potential will require reengineering of environmental sciences in the observation infrastructure, in data management and processing, and in the culture of environmental sciences. Collectively these will deliver vibrant, integrated research communities. Manipulating such enormous data streams requires a new data infrastructure underpinned by four technologies. Pervasive environmental sensor networks will continuously measure suites of environmental parameters and transmit these wirelessly to scientists, regulators and modellers in real time. Integrated environmental modelling will process data, streamed from sensor networks, using components synthesizing natural systems developed by domain experts, each of which will be linked at runtime to other expert developed components. Semantic interoperability will facilitate cross-disciplinary working, as has already happened within the biosciences so that data items can be exchanged with unambiguous, shared meaning. Cloud computing will revolutionize data processing allowing scalable computing close to observations on an as-needed basis. Leveraging the full potential of these technologies requires a major culture change in the environmental sciences where national and continental scale observatories of sensors networks become basic scientific tools.
Redefining the tectonostratigraphic and structural architecture of the Almora klippe and the Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust sheet in NW India
Authors: Mandal S. , Robinson D. M. , Khanal S. , Das O.
Published: September 2014

We integrate U–Pb zircon geochronology and ε
Nd
(0) values with field mapping to determine which tectonostratigraphic units are represented to the north, south and within the Almora klippe in Kumaun, NW India. Rock in the Almora klippe and north of the Main Central thrust (MCT) have Neoproterozoic (
c.
900 Ma) detrital zircon ages, coupled with similar ε
Nd
(0) (−7.6 to −11.8) values, suggesting that these two units are the same tectonostratigraphic unit, and that the Almora klippe is the southern continuation of the MCT or another thrust in the Greater Himalayan thrust system. However, north of the Almora klippe, detrital zircon age populations establish the presence of Palaeoproterozoic rock instead of the previous interpretation of Neoproterozoic rocks. These Palaeoproterozoic Lesser Himalayan (LH) rocks are carried by the Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust (RMT) dipping south and folded underneath the klippe. South of the klippe, the RMT carries both the less metamorphosed Palaeoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic LH rocks, in disagreement with the idea that only Neoproterozoic–Cambrian LH rocks are present south of Almora klippe. These results suggest that previous cross-sections in Kumaun are incorrect and must be re-evaluated.

Supplementary material:

U–Pb zircon geochronological data table is available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18777
.
Suppression of mTORC1 activation in acid-α-glucosidase-deficient cells and mice is ameliorated by leucine supplementation
Authors: Shemesh Adi , Wang Yichen , Yang Yingjuan , Yang Gong-She , Johnson Danielle E. , Backer Jonathan M. , Pessin Jeffrey E. , Zong Haihong
Published: September 2014

Pompe disease is due to a deficiency in acid-α-glucosidase (GAA) and results in debilitating skeletal muscle wasting, characterized by the accumulation of glycogen and autophagic vesicles. Given the role of lysosomes as a platform for mTORC1 activation, we examined mTORC1 activity in models of Pompe disease. GAA-knockdown C2C12 myoblasts and GAA-deficient human skin fibroblasts of infantile Pompe patients were found to have decreased mTORC1 activation. Treatment with the cell-permeable leucine analog l-leucyl-l-leucine methyl ester restored mTORC1 activation. In vivo, Pompe mice also displayed reduced basal and leucine-stimulated mTORC1 activation in skeletal muscle, whereas treatment with a combination of insulin and leucine normalized mTORC1 activation. Chronic leucine feeding restored basal and leucine-stimulated mTORC1 activation, while partially protecting Pompe mice from developing kyphosis and the decline in muscle mass. Leucine-treated Pompe mice showed increased spontaneous activity and running capacity, with reduced muscle protein breakdown and glycogen accumulation. Together, these data demonstrate that GAA deficiency results in reduced mTORC1 activation that is partly responsible for the skeletal muscle wasting phenotype. Moreover, mTORC1 stimulation by dietary leucine supplementation prevented some of the detrimental skeletal muscle dysfunction that occurs in the Pompe disease mouse model.
Postural dependence of human locomotion during gait initiation
Authors: Mille Marie-Laure , Simoneau Martin , Rogers Mark W.
Published: September 2014

The initiation of human walking involves postural motor actions for body orientation and balance stabilization that must be effectively integrated with locomotion to allow safe and efficient transport. Our ability to coordinately adapt these functions to environmental or bodily changes through error-based motor learning is essential to effective performance. Predictive compensations for postural perturbations through anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that stabilize mediolateral (ML) standing balance normally precede and accompany stepping. The temporal sequencing between these events may involve neural processes that suppress stepping until the expected stability conditions are achieved. If so, then an unexpected perturbation that disrupts the ML APAs should delay locomotion. This study investigated how the central nervous system (CNS) adapts posture and locomotion to perturbations of ML standing balance. Healthy human adults initiated locomotion while a resistance force was applied at the pelvis to perturb posture. In experiment 1, using random perturbations, step onset timing was delayed relative to the APA onset indicating that locomotion was withheld until expected stability conditions occurred. Furthermore, stepping parameters were adapted with the APAs indicating that motor prediction of the consequences of the postural changes likely modified the step motor command. In experiment 2, repetitive postural perturbations induced sustained locomotor aftereffects in some parameters (i.e., step height), immediate but rapidly readapted aftereffects in others, or had no aftereffects. These results indicated both rapid but transient reactive adaptations in the posture and gait assembly and more durable practice-dependent changes suggesting feedforward adaptation of locomotion in response to the prevailing postural conditions.
Effect of visual and haptic feedback on grasping movements
Authors: Bozzacchi Chiara , Volcic Robert , Domini Fulvio
Published: September 2014

Perceptual estimates of three-dimensional (3D) properties, such as the distance and depth of an object, are often inaccurate. Given the accuracy and ease with which we pick up objects, it may be expected that perceptual distortions do not affect how the brain processes 3D information for reach-to-grasp movements. Nonetheless, empirical results show that grasping accuracy is reduced when visual feedback of the hand is removed. Here we studied whether specific types of training could correct grasping behavior to perform adequately even when any form of feedback is absent. Using a block design paradigm, we recorded the movement kinematics of subjects grasping virtual objects located at different distances in the absence of visual feedback of the hand and haptic feedback of the object, before and after different training blocks with different feedback combinations (vision of the thumb and vision of thumb and index finger, with and without tactile feedback of the object). In the Pretraining block, we found systematic biases of the terminal hand position, the final grip aperture, and the maximum grip aperture like those reported in perceptual tasks. Importantly, the distance at which the object was presented modulated all these biases. In the Posttraining blocks only the hand position was partially adjusted, but final and maximum grip apertures remained unchanged. These findings show that when visual and haptic feedback are absent systematic distortions of 3D estimates affect reach-to-grasp movements in the same way as they affect perceptual estimates. Most importantly, accuracy cannot be learned, even after extensive training with feedback.
Increased contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions indicates a hyperresponsive medial olivocochlear system in humans with tinnitus and hyperacusis
Authors: Knudson Inge M. , Shera Christopher A. , Melcher Jennifer R.
Published: September 2014

Atypical medial olivocochlear (MOC) feedback from brain stem to cochlea has been proposed to play a role in tinnitus, but even well-constructed tests of this idea have yielded inconsistent results. In the present study, it was hypothesized that low sound tolerance (mild to moderate hyperacusis), which can accompany tinnitus or occur on its own, might contribute to the inconsistency. Sound-level tolerance (SLT) was assessed in subjects (all men) with clinically normal or near-normal thresholds to form threshold-, age-, and sex-matched groups: 1) no tinnitus/high SLT, 2) no tinnitus/low SLT, 3) tinnitus/high SLT, and 4) tinnitus/low SLT. MOC function was measured from the ear canal as the change in magnitude of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) elicited by broadband noise presented to the contralateral ear. The noise reduced DPOAE magnitude in all groups (“contralateral suppression”), but significantly more reduction occurred in groups with tinnitus and/or low SLT, indicating hyperresponsiveness of the MOC system compared with the group with no tinnitus/high SLT. The results suggest hyperresponsiveness of the interneurons of the MOC system residing in the cochlear nucleus and/or MOC neurons themselves. The present data, combined with previous human and animal data, indicate that neural pathways involving every major division of the cochlear nucleus manifest hyperactivity and/or hyperresponsiveness in tinnitus and/or low SLT. The overactivation may develop in each pathway separately. However, a more parsimonious hypothesis is that top-down neuromodulation is the driving force behind ubiquitous overactivation of the auditory brain stem and may correspond to attentional spotlighting on the auditory domain in tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Palm Olein as Renewable Raw Materials for Industrial and Pharmaceutical Products Applications: Chemical Characterization and Physicochemical Properties Studies
Authors: Derawi Darfizzi , Abdullah Bashar Mudhaffar , Zaman Huri Hasniza , Yusop Rahimi M. , Salimon Jumat , Hairunisa Nany , Salih Nadia
Published: September 2014

Palm olein (POo) is widely produced as edible oil in tropical countries. POois considered as renewable raw material for the new industrial and pharmaceutical products synthesis based on its characterization. Palm olein was good on its viscosity index, oxidative stability, and flash and fire point. POocontained unsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs): POO (33.3%); POP (29.6%) which plays an important role in chemical modification process to produce new industrial products. The double bond was detected on1H-NMR (5.3 ppm) and13C-NMR (130 ppm) spectra. The chemical compositions of POowere tested by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) techniques. This unsaturated oil is potentially to be used as renewable raw materials in chemical modification process to synthesise polyols, polyurethane, and biolubricant for industrial and pharmaceutical products application.
Evolution of Network Biomarkers from Early to Late Stage Bladder Cancer Samples
Authors: Wong Yung-Hao , Li Cheng-Wei , Chen Bor-Sen
Published: September 2014

We use a systems biology approach to construct protein-protein interaction networks (PPINs) for early and late stage bladder cancer. By comparing the networks of these two stages, we find that both networks showed very significantly different mechanisms. To obtain the differential network structures between cancer and noncancer PPINs, we constructed cancer PPIN and noncancer PPIN network structures for the two bladder cancer stages using microarray data from cancer cells and their adjacent noncancer cells, respectively. With their carcinogenesis relevance values (CRVs), we identified 152 and 50 significant proteins and their PPI networks (network markers) for early and late stage bladder cancer by statistical assessment. To investigate the evolution of network biomarkers in the carcinogenesis process, primary pathway analysis showed that the significant pathways of early stage bladder cancer are related to ordinary cancer mechanisms, while the ribosome pathway and spliceosome pathway are most important for late stage bladder cancer. Their only intersection is the ubiquitin mediated proteolysis pathway in the whole stage of bladder cancer. The evolution of network biomarkers from early to late stage can reveal the carcinogenesis of bladder cancer. The findings in this study are new clues specific to this study and give us a direction for targeted cancer therapy, and it should be validated in vivo or in vitro in the future.
Autoimmune Gastrointestinal Paralysis: Failure of Conventional Treatment without Immunomodulation
Authors: Weinkauf Craig , McPhillips Sean , Krouse Robert , Levine Ira
Published: September 2014

The treatment of the rare enteric nervous system (ENS) manifestations of paraneoplastic syndromes, which are most frequently associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), is poorly understood and described. Patients with neuroendocrine-derived tumors can develop B-cell reactivity towards the tumor with cross-reactivity for neurons located in the submucosal and myenteric ganglia of the ENS. The ensuing autoimmune neuritis causes aperistalsis and severe gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Immune-directed therapy is not the standard of care but may be paramount for patient recovery. Our patient, a 63-year-old man with recent symptoms of esophageal dysmotility and newly diagnosed SCLC was hospitalized with nausea, emesis, and constipation. After an extensive work-up that included laparoscopy and celiotomy with bowel resection, we diagnosed what we refer to as Autoimmune Paraneoplastic Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction (AP-CIPO). Unlike the few clinically similar reports, SCLC and AP-CIPO were diagnosed in our patient within weeks of each other, which presented the dilemma of treating the two processes simultaneously. In this report, we review the relevant literature and describe our patient’s course. We believe standard chemotherapy is not effective treatment for AP-CIPO. Based on evidence discussed herein, we suggest initiating autoimmune-directed therapy before or simultaneous with cancer-directed therapy.
The Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Pathogenesis of Senile Plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Provias J. , Jeynes B.
Published: September 2014

The accumulation of beta-amyloid [Aβ] within senile plaques [SP] is characteristic of these lesions in Alzheimer’s disease. The accumulation of Aβ42, in particular, in the superior temporal [ST] cortex may result from an inability of the blood brain barrier (BBB) to regulate the trans-endothelial transport and clearance of the amyloid. Lipoprotein receptor-related protein [LRP] and P-glycoprotein [P-gp] facilitate the efflux of Aβout of the brain, whereas receptor for advanced glycation end products [RAGE] facilitates Aβinflux. Additionally, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] may influence the trans-BBB transport of Aβ. In this study we examined ST samples and compared SP burden of all types with the capillary expression of LRP, p-gp, RAGE, VEGF, and e-NOS in samples from 15 control and 15 Alzheimer brains. LRP, P-gp, RAGE, VEGF, and eNOS positive capillaries and Aβ42plaques were quantified and statistical analysis of the nonparametric data was performed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. In the Alzheimer condition P-gp, VEGF, and eNOS positive capillaries were negatively correlated with SP burden, but LRP and RAGE were positively correlated with SP burden. These results indicate altered BBB function in the pathogenesis of SPs in Alzheimer brains.
A Personal Reflection of Greenlight 532 nm Laser for BPH Treatment
Authors: Chughtai Bilal , Dunphy Claire , Te Alexis
Published: September 2014

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia are a bothersome symptom set that affect approximately one in every four males above the age of 50. First line treatment is typically medication, but when medications fail surgical therapy is the next option. Technological advances have made surgical therapy safer and more effective. One area that our group has particular interest and focus in is the application of the 532 nm laser in surgical therapy. The high power 532 nm laser is used to remove obstructive prostatic tissue and the laser energy is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin in the prostate tissue, resulting in effective tissue vaporization and removal. We review our experience with Greenlight laser system and its evolution from the original 60-watt laser to the most recent 180-watt Greenlight system with MoXy fiber.
Proliferation andTH1/TH2 Cytokine Production in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells after Treatment with Cypermethrin and MancozebIn Vitro
Authors: Mandarapu Rajesh , Ajumeera Rajanna , Venkatesan Vijayalakshmi , Prakhya Balakrishna Murthy
Published: September 2014

In recent times, human cell-based assays are gaining attention in assessments of immunomodulatory effects of chemicals. In the study here, the possible effects of cypermethrin and mancozeb on lymphocyte proliferation and proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor (TNF-)α) and immunoregulatory cytokine (interferon- (IFN-)γ, interleukins (IL) 2, 4, 6, and 10) formationin vitrowere investigated. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated and exposed for 6 hr to noncytotoxic doses (0.45–30 µM) of cypermethrin or mancozeb in the presence of activating rat S9 fraction. Cultures were then further incubated for 48 or 72 hr in fresh medium containing phytohemagglutinin (10 µg/mL) to assess, respectively, effects on cell proliferation (BrdU-ELISA method) and cytokine formation (flow cytometric bead immunoassays). Mancozeb induced dose-dependent increases in lymphocyte proliferation, inhibition of production of TNFαand theTH2 cytokines IL-6 and IL-10, and an increase in IFNγ(TH1 cytokine) production (at least 2-fold compared to control); mancozeb also induced inhibition of IL-4 (TH2) and stimulated IL-2 (TH1) production, albeit only in dose-related manners for each. In contrast, cypermethrin exposure did not cause significant effects on proliferation or cytokine profiles. Further studies are needed to better understand the functional significance of ourin vitrofindings.
Uncertainty Analysis of Method-Based Operating Event Groups Ranking
Authors: Šimić Zdenko , Zerger Benoit , Banov Reni
Published: September 2014

Safe operation and industrial improvements are coming from the technology development and operational experience (OE) feedback. A long life span for many industrial facilities makes OE very important. Proper assessment and understanding of OE remains a challenge because of organization system relations, complexity, and number of OE events acquired. One way to improve OE events understanding is to focus their investigation and analyze in detail the most important. The OE ranking method is developed to select the most important events based on the basic event parameters and the analytical hierarchy process applied at the level of event groups. This paper investigates further how uncertainty in the model affects ranking results. An analysis was performed on the set of the two databases from the 20 years of nuclear power plants in France and Germany. From all uncertainties the presented analysis selected ranking indexes as the most relevant for consideration. Here the presented analysis of uncertainty clearly shows that considering uncertainty is important for all results, especially for event groups ranked closely and next to the most important one. Together with the previously performed sensitivity analysis, uncertainty assessment provides additional insights and a better judgment of the event groups’ importance in further detailed investigation.
Carborane-Based Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: Insight into CAII/CAIX Specificity from a High-Resolution Crystal Structure, Modeling, and Quantum Chemical Calculations
Authors: Mader Pavel , Pecina Adam , Cígler Petr , Lepšík Martin , Šícha Václav , Hobza Pavel , Grüner Bohumír , Fanfrlík Jindřich , Brynda Jiří , Řezáčová Pavlína
Published: September 2014

Carborane-based compounds are promising lead structures for development of inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases (CAs). Here, we report structural and computational analysis applicable to structure-based design of carborane compounds with selectivity toward the cancer-specific CAIX isoenzyme. We determined the crystal structure of CAII in complex with 1-methylenesulfamide-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane at 1.0 Å resolution and used this structure to model the 1-methylenesulfamide-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane interactions with CAIX. A virtual glycine scan revealed the contributions of individual residues to the energy of binding of 1-methylenesulfamide-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane to CAII and CAIX, respectively.
Species Diversity, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Virulence Attributes of Candida Colonising the Oral Cavities of Adult Diabetic Patients
Authors: Anil Kumar Deepa , Muralidhar Sumathi , Biswas Krishna , Banerjee Uma , Basir Seemi Farhat , Khan Luqman Ahmad
Published: September 2014

Oral candidiasis is a common occurrence in diabetic patients. Species of Candida isolated from these infections and their virulence pattern undergo changes over time and require periodic assessments. Objective of this study was to determine changes in the spectrum of Candida species colonizing oral cavity, their antifungal susceptibility patterns, and virulence attributes, in adult diabetic patients. Oral swabs were collected from 100 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and an equal number of healthy controls. Specimens were cultured for Candida and species were identified, according to standard protocols. Of 100 diabetic patients, 42 were colonized by yeasts with C. albicans as the predominant species (51%). Non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species accounted for 47% of the specimens, with C. tropicalis being the commonest. Among healthy controls, 23 were colonized by Candida species, of which C. albicans was predominant. Results obtained indicate that C. albicans continues to be the predominant species in oral cavities of diabetic patients. Candidal carriage was significantly associated with duration of diabetes and fasting blood sugar levels. Virulence attributes, proteinase and phospholipase secretion, and biofilm formation were significantly higher in DM group.
Myristic Acid Produces Anxiolytic-Like Effects in Wistar Rats in the Elevated Plus Maze
Authors: Contreras Carlos M. , Rodríguez-Landa Juan Francisco , García-Ríos Rosa Isela , Cueto-Escobedo Jonathan , Guillen-Ruiz Gabriel , Bernal-Morales Blandina
Published: September 2014

A mixture of eight fatty acids (linoleic, palmitic, stearic, myristic, elaidic, lauric, oleic, and palmitoleic acids) at similar concentrations identified in human amniotic fluid produces anxiolytic-like effects comparable to diazepam in Wistar rats. However, individual effects of each fatty acid remain unexplored. In Wistar rats, we evaluated the separate action of each fatty acid at the corresponding concentrations previously found in human amniotic fluid on anxiety-like behaviour. Individual effects were compared with vehicle, an artificial mixture of the same eight fatty acids, and a reference anxiolytic drug (diazepam, 2 mg/kg). Myristic acid, the fatty acid mixture, and diazepam increased the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and reduced the anxiety index compared with vehicle, without altering general locomotor activity. The other fatty acids had no effect on anxiety-like behaviour, but oleic acid reduced locomotor activity. Additionally, myristic acid produced anxiolytic-like effects only when the concentration corresponded to the one identified in human amniotic fluid (30 𝜇g/mL) but did not alter locomotor activity. We conclude that of the eight fatty acids contained in the fatty acid mixture, only myristic acid produces anxiolytic-like effects when administered individually at a similar concentration detected in human amniotic fluid.