bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A potential early physiological marker for CNS oxygen toxicity: hyperoxic hyperpnea precedes seizure in unanesthetized rats breathing hyperbaric oxygen
Authors: Pilla Raffaele , Landon Carol S. , Dean Jay B.
Published: February 2013

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) stimulates presumptive central CO2-chemoreceptor neurons, increases minute ventilation (V̇min), decreases heart rate (HR) and, if breathed sufficiently long, produces central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT; i.e., seizures). The risk of seizures when breathing HBO2 is variable between individuals and its onset is difficult to predict. We have tested the hypothesis that a predictable pattern of cardiorespiration precedes an impending seizure when breathing HBO2. To test this hypothesis, 27 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters to assess diaphragmatic/abdominal electromyogram, electrocardiogram, and electroencephalogram. Seven days after surgery, each rat was placed in a sealed, continuously ventilated animal chamber inside a hyperbaric chamber. Both chambers were pressurized in parallel using poikilocapnic 100% O2 (animal chamber) and air (hyperbaric chamber) to 4, 5, or 6 atmospheres absolute (ATA). Breathing 1 ATA O2 initially decreased V̇min and HR ( Phase 1 of the compound hyperoxic ventilatory response). With continued exposure to normobaric hyperoxia, however, V̇min began increasing toward the end of exposure in one-third of the animals tested. Breathing HBO2 induced an early transient increase in V̇min ( Phase 2) and HR during the chamber pressurization, followed by a second significant increase of V̇min ≤8 min prior to seizure ( Phase 3). HR, which subsequently decreased during sustained hyperoxia, showed no additional changes prior to seizure. We conclude that hyperoxic hyperpnea ( Phase 3 of the compound hyperoxic ventilatory response) is a predictor of an impending seizure while breathing poikilocapnic HBO2 at rest in unanesthetized rats.
Endurance training ameliorates the metabolic and performance characteristics of circadianClockmutant mice
Authors: Pastore Stephen , Hood David A.
Published: February 2013

Circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) is a nuclear transcription factor that is a component of the central autoregulatory feedback loop that governs the generation of biological rhythms. Homozygous Clock mutant mice contain a truncated CLOCKΔ19protein within somatic cells, subsequently causing an impaired ability to rhythmically transactivate circadian genes. The present study sought to investigate whether the Clock mutation affects mitochondrial physiology within skeletal muscle, as well as the responsiveness of these mutant animals to adapt to a chronic voluntary endurance training protocol. Within muscle, Clock mutant mice displayed 44% and 45% reductions in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor-A protein content, respectively, and an accompanying 16% decrease in mitochondrial content, as determined by cytochrome c oxidase enzyme activity. These decrements contributed to a 50% decrease in exercise tolerance in Clock mutant mice. Interestingly, the Clock mutation did not appear to alter subsarcolemmal or intermyofibrillar mitochondrial respiration within muscle or systemic glucose tolerance. Daily locomotor activity levels were similar between wild-type and Clock mutant mice throughout the training protocol. Endurance training ameliorated the decrease in PGC-1α protein expression and mitochondrial content in the Clock mutant mice, eliciting a 2.9-fold improvement in exercise tolerance. Thus our data suggest that a functional CLOCK protein is essential to ensure the maintenance of mitochondrial content within muscle although the absence of a functional CLOCK protein does not impair the ability of animals to adapt to chronic exercise.
Caspases Playing in the Field of Neuroinflammation: Old and New Players
Authors: Venero Jose L. , Burguillos Miguel A. , Joseph Bertrand
Published: February 2013

Neuroinflammation is a complex immune response against the harmful effects of diverse stimuli within the central nervous system. Caspases are a family of intracellular cysteine proteases that mediate proteolytic events indispensable for transduction of signaling pathway-controlling biological phenomena such as apoptosis and inflammation. To date, 14 players have been identified in mammals. For many years, caspases were simply divided into ‘apoptotic' and ‘proinflammatory' caspases and this classification remains useful to some extent. However, increasing evidence indicates that many of these so-called apoptotic caspases also exert nonapoptotic functions. In addition, the role of certain members of the supposed inflammatory caspases in the inflammatory process per se has also been discussed. In this review, we highlight the role for ‘apoptotic' and ‘proinflammatory' caspases in the regulation of the inflammation response with a special focus on the central nervous system.
Effects of plasma kallikrein deficiency on haemostasis and thrombosis in mice: Murine Ortholog of the Fletcher Trait
Authors: Bird J. Eileen , Smith Patricia , Wang Xinkang , Schumacher William , Barbera Frank , Revelli Jean-Pierre , Seiffert Dietmar
Published: February 2013

Plasma kallikrein is a multifunctional serine protease involved in contact activation of coagulation. Deficiency in humans is characterised by prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT); however, the balance between thrombosis and haemostasis is not fully understood. A study of plasma kallikrein-deficient mice revealed increased aPTT, without prolonged bleeding time. Prekallikrein antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment in mice suggested potential for a positive therapeutic index. The current goal was to further define the role of plasma kallikrein in coagulation. Blood pressure and heart rate were normal in plasma kallikrein-deficient mice, and mice were completely protected from occlusion (100 ± 1.3% control flow) in 3.5% FeCl3 -induced arterial thrombosis versus heterozygotes (20 ± 11.4%) and wild-type littermates (8 ± 0%). Vessels occluded in 8/8 wild-type, 7/8 heterozygotes, and 0/8 knockouts. Anti-thrombotic protection was less pronounced in 5% FeCl3-induced arterial injury. Integrated blood flow was 8 ± 0% control in wild-type and heterozygotes, and significantly (p<0.01) improved to 43 ± 14.2% in knockouts. The number of vessels occluded was similar in all genotypes. Thrombus weight was significantly reduced in knockouts (−47%) and heterozygotes (−23%) versus wild-type in oxidative venous thrombosis. Average tail bleeding time increased modestly in knockout mice compared to wild-type. Average renal bleeding times were similar in all genotypes. These studies confirm and extend studies with prekallikrein ASO, and demonstrate that plasma kallikrein deletion prevents occlusive thrombus formation in mice with a minimal role in provoked bleeding. Additional support for the significance of the intrinsic pathway in the coagulation cascade is provided, as well as for a potential new anti-thrombotic approach.
Alkaline Phosphatase, Serum Phosphate, and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Total Mortality in Older Men
Authors: Wannamethee Sasiwarang Goya , Sattar Naveed , Papcosta Olia , Lennon Lucy , Whincup Peter H.
Published: February 2013

Objective—

We have examined the association between serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and total mortality in older men.

Approach and Results—

A prospective study of 3381 men, aged 60 to 79 years, without a history of myocardial infarction or stroke followed up for an average 11 years during which there were 605 major CVD events (fatal coronary heart disease and nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and CVD death) and 984 total deaths. ALP but not serum phosphate was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and overall CVD events which persisted after adjustment for CVD risk factors and markers of inflammation and after exclusion of men with chronic kidney disease (adjusted hazard ratio per SD, 1.19 [1.05, 1.34];
P
=0.007 and 1.10 [1.01, 1.21];
P
=0.04). In contrast, serum phosphate was only associated with increased CVD mortality owing to noncoronary heart disease or stroke causes (adjusted hazard ratio per SD, 1.35 [1.01, 1.83];
P
=0.04). Both raised phosphate and ALP were associated with significantly increased total mortality after full adjustment and exclusion of men with chronic kidney disease.

Conclusions—

ALP but not serum phosphate is associated with coronary heart disease risk in elderly men. High levels of ALP and serum phosphate are both associated with increased total mortality.
On the Northern Annular Mode Surface Signal Associated with Stratospheric Variability
Authors: Kunz Torben , Greatbatch Richard J.
Published: February 2013

The wintertime northern annular mode (NAM) at the surface is known to undergo slow intraseasonal variations in association with stratospheric variability, which leads the surface signal by up to several weeks. The relative contributions, however, of potentially relevant stratosphere–troposphere coupling mechanisms are not yet fully understood.

In this study the relative roles of (i) the downward effect of the zonal-mean secondary circulation induced by quasigeostrophic (QG) adjustment to stratospheric wave drag and radiative damping and (ii) wave drag local to the troposphere are estimated. For this purpose, a spectral tendency equation of the QG zonal-mean zonal wind is derived and used, in a first step, to obtain the external mechanical forcing that, in the QG framework, drives exactly the observed stratospheric and tropospheric daily NAM. In a second step, the equation is then integrated in time to reconstruct the daily NAM, but with the forcing restricted to either stratospheric or tropospheric levels, each case leaving a characteristic NAM surface signal.

The relative roles of the above-mentioned mechanisms are found to be of similar quantitative importance, but to differ in a qualitative sense. The downward effect of stratospheric QG adjustment is responsible for the initiation of the NAM surface signal, whereas subsequently local tropospheric wave drag actively maintains and persists the signal over several weeks. Furthermore, the downward effect of QG adjustment to stratospheric radiative damping is shown to have only a minor impact, compared to that from stratospheric wave drag. The robustness of these conclusions is demonstrated by a sensitivity study with respect to various model parameters.
Psychoacoustic and Phoneme Identification Measures in Cochlear-Implant and Normal-Hearing Listeners
Authors: Goldsworthy Ray L. , Delhorne Lorraine A. , Braida Louis D. , Reed Charlotte M.
Published: February 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify precise and repeatable measures for assessing cochlear-implant (CI) hearing. The study presents psychoacoustic and phoneme identification measures in CI and normal-hearing (NH) listeners, with correlations between measures examined. Psychoacoustic measures included pitch discrimination tasks using pure tones, harmonic complexes, and tone pips; intensity perception tasks included intensity discrimination for tones and modulation detection; spectral-temporal masking tasks included gap detection, forward and backward masking, tone-on-tone masking, synthetic formant-on-formant masking, and tone in noise detection. Phoneme perception measures included vowel and consonant identification in quiet and stationary and temporally gated speech-shaped noise. Results on psychoacoustic measures illustrate the effects of broader filtering in CI hearing contributing to reduced pitch perception and increased spectral masking. Results on consonant and vowel identification measures illustrate a wide range in performance across CI listeners. They also provide further evidence that CI listeners obtain little to no release of masking in temporally gated noise compared to stationary noise. The forward and backward-masking measures had the highest correlation with the phoneme identification measures for CI listeners. No significant correlations between speech reception and psychoacoustic measures were observed for NH listeners. The superior NH performance on measures of phoneme identification, especially in the presence of background noise, is a key difference between groups.
The Role of Art and Literacy Activities in Children’s Healing Process
Authors: Thobaben Arianna Maya
Published: February 2013

Home health nurses/staff can inform parents of the healing qualities of inexpensive and simple therapeutic art and literacy activities. They can instruct them of the variety of art, literature, storytelling, and writing activities that can be used and encourage parents to provide such opportunities for their children during their healing processes. These activities can give children some of the emotional support they need to help them heal and provide an opportunity for children to maintain healthy cognitive and emotional developmental growth even while they are homebound.
Fiscal Incentives and Shared Revenue Sources with Differentiated Sharing Rates
Authors: Shishkin Dmitry
Published: February 2013

A closer look at the estimating procedures that have been used to examine the empirical evidence of weak fiscal incentives at the local level in Russia in 1990s shows serious flaws in the treatment of proceeds from shared revenue sources with differentiated sharing rates widely employed in the intergovernmental fiscal relations in Russia at that time. This work analyzes two approaches suggested earlier to deal with proceeds from these sources when estimating fiscal incentives, and it develops an alternative method. Empirical results from this alternative approach suggest that the lack of fiscal incentives in Russia in mid-1990s was not as overwhelming as it appears from the estimates reported in the earlier works, which implies that the regional intergovernmental fiscal relations policies might have not been the likely cause of poor performance of the government and the economy in Russia at that time.
Health in all policies as a priority in Finnish health policy: A case study on national health policy development
Authors: Melkas Tapani
Published: February 2013

This article describes national level development towards a Health in All Policies approach in Finland over the past four decades. In the early 1970s, improving public health became a political priority, and the need to influence key determinants of health through sectors beyond the health sector became evident. The work began with policy on nutrition, smoking and accident prevention. Intersectoral health policy was developed together with the World Health Organization (WHO).

When Finland joined the European Union in 1995, some competencies were delegated to the EU which complicated national intersectoral work. The priority in the EU is economy, but the Constitution’s requirement to protect health in all policies gives legal backing for including health consideration in the EU-level work. To promote that, Finland adopted ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) as the health theme for its EU Presidency in 2006. The intersectoral work on health has developed from tackling single health problems, through large-scale programmes, further to systematic work based on legislation and permanent structures. In the 2000s, work at local level was strengthened by introducing more focused and tighter legislation and by providing expert support for implementation. Recently, emphasis has been on broad objectives and Governmental intersectoral programmes, and actors outside the administrative machinery. Great improvements in the population health have been gained over the past few decades. However, health inequalities across social groups have remained unacceptably large. Major decisions on economic policy with varying impacts by the social groups have been made without health impact assessment, or ignoring assessments conducted.
Quality of medical certificates issued in long-term sick leave or disability in relation to patient characteristics and delivery of health care
Authors: Kiessling Anna , Arrelöv Britt , Larsson Anny , Henriksson Peter
Published: February 2013

Aim: To assess the quality of medical certificates issued during long-term sick leave or disability. Methods: We collected a stratified randomised sample of 250 medical certificates issued for assessment of work capacity: Certificates issued in primary health care (PHC) with a locomotor, psychiatric or other main diagnosis, in psychiatric care, and in other secondary care. Four experts performed a quality assessment per section of the certificate and globally. Results: The certificates varied from short notes to extensive documents. Those issued in PHC included more diagnoses per certificate ( p <0.0001) than in secondary care. PHC physicians had a longer professional relationship to their patients ( p = 0.009). Information on work capacity was entirely adequate and relevant in only 10% of the certificates. Disturbed mental function was indicated in 60% of the certificates without psychiatric main diagnosis. Whether indicated medical state influenced functional state was not assessable in 46 (19 %) of the certificates due to lack of information. Similarly, if reduced function influenced working capacity was not assessable in 66 (27 %) of the certificates. The global quality differed ( p <0.0001) between certificates issued in primary care 5.7 (CI 5.5–5.9) and secondary care 6.9 (CI 6.5–7.3). Conclusions: There is a need for improvement of the quality of medical certificates issued in cases of long-term sick leave or disability. The quality of medical certificates was low and lacked necessary information requested by the Social Insurance Agency. The quality was lower in certificates issued in primary care, which might be explained by a different case-mix.
Listening to voice hearers
Authors: Sapey Bob , Bullimore Peter
Published: February 2013

This article considers what the Hearing Voices Network can offer to mental health social work. It combines an extensive literature review of voice hearing by Bob Sapey and the expertise by experience of Peter Bullimore who runs a peer support group for voice hearers.

Findings

The re-framing of auditory hallucinations as voice hearing has significantly changed the way many voice hearers have been able to understand their experience. This new approach to working with voices was developed at the University of Maastricht, principally by social psychiatrist Marius Romme. By moving away from biological explanations of brain disease to psychological understandings of emotions, Romme and his colleagues have found ways of helping people cope with voices, rather than trying to get rid of them through medication. This has led to a network of voice hearing groups throughout the world. There is much of what happens in these groups and within the social psychiatric responses known as the Maastricht approach that can be practiced by social workers.

Applications

The Maastricht approach to working with voices challenges the basis of pharmacological responses to psychosis and moves beyond anti-psychiatry by offering positive alternatives to the current biomedical treatment of schizophrenia. This approach can be undertaken by experts by experience and mental health professionals. We describe these approaches and argue that in adopting them, social workers can help voice hearers cope both with the content of their voices and the stigmatising responses to being diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Complexity in cognitive assessment of elderly British minority ethnic groups: Cultural perspective
Authors: Khan Farooq , Tadros George
Published: February 2013

Aim:

To study the influence of cultural believes on the acceptance and accessibility of dementia services by patients from British Minority Ethnic (BME) groups.

Results:

It is noted that non-White ethnic populations rely more on cultural and religious concepts as coping mechanisms to overcome carer stress. In British Punjabi families, ageing was seen as an accepted reason for withdrawal and isolation, and cognitive impairment was rarely identified. Illiteracy added another complexity, only 35% of older Asians in a UK city could speak English, 21% could read and write English, while 73% could read and write in their first language. False positive results using Mini Mental State Examination was found to be 6% of non-impaired white people and 42% of non-impaired black people. Cognitive assessment tests under-estimate the abilities in BME groups. Wide range of variations among white and non-White population were found, contributors are education, language, literacy and culture-specific references.
Towards the mitigation of correlation effects in anomaly detection for hyperspectral imagery
Authors: Williams Jason P , Bihl Trevor J , Bauer Kenneth W
Published: February 2013

This research involves simulating remote sensing conditions using previously collected hyperspectral imagery (HSI) data. The Reed–Xiaoli (RX) anomaly detector is well-known for its unsupervised ability to detect anomalies in hyperspectral images. However, the RX detector assumes uncorrelated and homogeneous data, both of which are not inherent in HSI data. To address this difficulty, we propose a new method termed linear RX (LRX). Whereas RX places a test pixel at the center of a moving window, LRX employs a line of pixels above and below the test pixel. In this paper, we contrast the performance of LRX, a variant of LRX called iterative linear RX (ILRX), the recently introduced iterative RX (IRX) algorithm, and the support vector data description (SVDD) algorithm, a promising new HSI anomaly detector. Through experimentation, the line of pixels used by ILRX shows an advantage over RX and IRX in that it appears to mitigate the deleterious effects of correlation due to the spatial proximity of the pixels; while the iterative adaptation taken from IRX simultaneously eliminates outliers allowing ILRX an advantage over LRX. Such innovations to the basic RX algorithm allow for the reduction of bias and error in the estimation of the mean vector and covariance matrix, thus accounting for a portion of the spatial correlation inherent in HSI data.
Evolution of Escherichia coli rifampicin resistance in an antibiotic-free environment during thermal stress
Authors: Rodríguez-Verdugo Alejandra , Gaut Brandon S , Tenaillon Olivier
Published: February 2013

Background

Beneficial mutations play an essential role in bacterial adaptation, yet little is known about their fitness effects across genetic backgrounds and environments. One prominent example of bacterial adaptation is antibiotic resistance. Until recently, the paradigm has been that antibiotic resistance is selected by the presence of antibiotics because resistant mutations confer fitness costs in antibiotic free environments. In this study we show that it is not always the case, documenting the selection and fixation of resistant mutations in populations of Escherichia coli B that had never been exposed to antibiotics but instead evolved for 2000 generations at high temperature (42.2°C).

Results

We found parallel mutations within the rpoB gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase. These amino acid substitutions conferred different levels of rifampicin resistance. The resistant mutations typically appeared, and were fixed, early in the evolution experiment. We confirmed the high advantage of these mutations at 42.2°C in glucose-limited medium. However, the rpoB mutations had different fitness effects across three genetic backgrounds and six environments.

Conclusions

We describe resistance mutations that are not necessarily costly in the absence of antibiotics or compensatory mutations but are highly beneficial at high temperature and low glucose. Their fitness effects depend on the environment and the genetic background, providing glimpses into the prevalence of epistasis and pleiotropy.
The ancestral activation promiscuity of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases from oxygenic photosynthetic organisms
Authors: Kuhn Misty L , Figueroa Carlos M , Iglesias Alberto A , Ballicora Miguel A
Published: February 2013

Background

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADP-Glc PPase) catalyzes the first committed step in the synthesis of glycogen in bacteria and starch in algae and plants. In oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, ADP-Glc PPase is mainly activated by 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA) and to a lesser extent by other metabolites. In this work, we analyzed the activation promiscuity of ADP-Glc PPase subunits from the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120, the green alga Ostreococcus tauri, and potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber by comparing a specificity constant for 3-PGA, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), fructose-6-phosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate.

Results

The 3-PGA specificity constant for the enzymes from Anabaena (homotetramer), O. tauri, and potato tuber was considerably higher than for other activators. O. tauri and potato tuber enzymes were heterotetramers comprising homologous small and large subunits. Conversely, the O. tauri small subunit (OtaS) homotetramer was more promiscuous because its FBP specificity constant was similar to that for 3-PGA. To explore the role of both OtaS and OtaL (O. tauri large subunit) in determining the specificity of the heterotetramer, we knocked out the catalytic activity of each subunit individually by site-directed mutagenesis. Interestingly, the mutants OtaSD148A/OtaL and OtaS/OtaLD171A had higher specificity constants for 3-PGA than for FBP.

Conclusions

After gene duplication, OtaS seemed to have lost specificity for 3-PGA compared to FBP. This was physiologically and evolutionarily feasible because co-expression of both subunits restored the specificity for 3-PGA of the resulting heterotetrameric wild type enzyme. This widespread promiscuity seems to be ancestral and intrinsic to the enzyme family. Its presence could constitute an efficient evolutionary mechanism to accommodate the ADP-Glc PPase regulation to different metabolic needs.
Comparative transcriptomics reveals different strategies of Trichodermamycoparasitism
Authors: Atanasova Lea , Crom Stephane Le , Gruber Sabine , Coulpier Fanny , Seidl-Seiboth Verena , Kubicek Christian P , Druzhinina Irina S
Published: February 2013

Background

Trichoderma is a genus of mycotrophic filamentous fungi (teleomorph Hypocrea) which possess a bright variety of biotrophic and saprotrophic lifestyles. The ability to parasitize and/or kill other fungi (mycoparasitism) is used in plant protection against soil-borne fungal diseases (biological control, or biocontrol). To investigate mechanisms of mycoparasitism, we compared the transcriptional responses of cosmopolitan opportunistic species and powerful biocontrol agents Trichoderma atroviride and T. virens with tropical ecologically restricted species T. reesei during confrontations with a plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani.

Results

The three Trichoderma spp. exhibited a strikingly different transcriptomic response already before physical contact with alien hyphae. T. atroviride expressed an array of genes involved in production of secondary metabolites, GH16 ß-glucanases, various proteases and small secreted cysteine rich proteins. T. virens, on the other hand, expressed mainly the genes for biosynthesis of gliotoxin, respective precursors and also glutathione, which is necessary for gliotoxin biosynthesis. In contrast, T. reesei increased the expression of genes encoding cellulases and hemicellulases, and of the genes involved in solute transport. The majority of differentially regulated genes were orthologues present in all three species or both in T. atroviride and T. virens, indicating that the regulation of expression of these genes is different in the three Trichoderma spp. The genes expressed in all three fungi exhibited a nonrandom genomic distribution, indicating a possibility for their regulation via chromatin modification.

Conclusion

This genome-wide expression study demonstrates that the initial Trichoderma mycotrophy has differentiated into several alternative ecological strategies ranging from parasitism to predation and saprotrophy. It provides first insights into the mechanisms of interactions between Trichoderma and other fungi that may be exploited for further development of biofungicides.
Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes in Spain: PERCEDIME2 study
Authors: Rodriguez-Poncelas Antonio , Garre-Olmo Josep , Franch-Nadal Josep , Diez-Espino Javier , Mundet-Tuduri Xavier , Barrot-De la Puente Joan , Coll-de Tuero Gabriel ,   RedGDPS Study Group
Published: February 2013

Bakground

The objective of this study was to determinate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the different stages of CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) treated in primary care consults in Spain.

Methods

A national cross-sectional study was performed in primary care consults. The following data were collected: demographic and anthropometric information; list of present cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF); previous macrovascular and microvascular disease history; physical examination and analytical data from the previous 12 months, including the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to evaluate renal function.

Results

With regard to the patients, 27.9% presented some degree of CKD as follows: 3.5% with stage 1; 6.4% with stage 2; 16.8% with stage 3 (11.6% with stage 3A and 5.2% with stage 3B); and 1.2% with stages 4 and 5. The prevalence of patients with UACR ≥ 30 mg/g was 15.4% (13% microalbuminuria and 2.4% macroalbuminuria). Renal impairment (RI) was found in 206 patients (18%) of whom 133 patients (64.6%) was stage 3A, 60 patients (29.1%) was stage 3B and 13 patients (6.3%) stages 4 and 5. Among patients with RI, 143 patients (69.4%) had normoalbuminuria.

The following variables were significantly associated with CKD: age; sex (women); systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP) ≥ 150 mmHg; and a previous history of cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions

The results showed that the prevalence for any type of CKD was 27.9%. A systematic determination of UACR and eGFR may contribute to an early diagnosis, thus allowing intervention during the initial stages of the disease when treatment is more efficient.
Smoking and dietary inadequacy among Inuvialuit women of child bearing age in the Northwest Territories, Canada
Authors: Kolahdooz Fariba , Mathe Nonsikelelo , Katunga Lalage A , Beck Lindsay , Sheehy Tony , Corriveau Andre , Sharma Sangita
Published: February 2013

Objective

The prevalence of smoking in Aboriginal Canadians is higher than non-Aboriginal Canadians, a behavior that also tends to alter dietary patterns. Compared with the general Canadian population, maternal smoking rates are almost twice as high. The aim of this study was to compare dietary adequacy of Inuvialuit women of childbearing age comparing smokers versus non-smokers.

Research methods & procedures

A cross-sectional study, where participants completed a culturally specific quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Non-parametric analysis was used to compare mean nutrient intake, dietary inadequacy and differences in nutrient density among smokers and non-smokers. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for key nutrients inadequacy and smoking status. Data was collected from three communities in the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories, Canada from randomly selected Inuvialuit women of childbearing age (19-44 years).

Results

Of 92 participants, 75% reported being smokers. There were no significant differences in age, BMI, marital status, education, number of people in household working and/or number of self employed, and physical activity between smokers and non-smokers. Non-parametric analysis showed no differences in nutrient intake between smokers and non-smokers. Logistic regression however revealed there was a positive association between smoking and inadequacies of vitamin C (OR = 2.91, 95% CI, 1.17-5.25), iron (OR = 3.16, 95% CI, 1.27-5.90), and zinc (OR = 2.78, 95% CI, 1.12-4.94). A high percentage of women (>60%), regardless of smoking status, did not meet the dietary recommendations for fiber, vitamin D, E and potassium.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of inadequate dietary intake among Inuvialuit of childbearing age regardless of smoking behavior.
Comparison of the killing effects between nitrogen-doped and pure TiO2 on HeLa cells with visible light irradiation
Authors: Li Zheng , Pan Xiaobo , Wang Tianlong , Wang Pei-Nan , Chen Ji-Yao , Mi Lan
Published: February 2013

The killing effect of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) nanoparticles on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells by visible light photodynamic therapy (PDT) was higher than that of TiO2 nanoparticles. To study the mechanism of the killing effect, the reactive oxygen species produced by the visible-light-activated N-TiO2 and pure-TiO2 were evaluated and compared. The changes of the cellular parameters, such as the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular Ca2+, and nitrogen monoxide (NO) concentrations after PDT were measured and compared for N-TiO2- and TiO2-treated HeLa cells. The N-TiO2 resulted in more loss of MMP and higher increase of Ca2+ and NO in HeLa cells than pure TiO2. The cell morphology changes with time were also examined by a confocal microscope. The cells incubated with N-TiO2 exhibited serious distortion and membrane breakage at 60 min after the PDT.
Blue light emission from the heterostructured ZnO/InGaN/GaN
Authors: Wang Ti , Wu Hao , Wang Zheng , Chen Chao , Liu Chang
Published: February 2013

ZnO/InGaN/GaN heterostructured light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy and atomic layer deposition. InGaN films consisted of an Mg-doped InGaN layer, an undoped InGaN layer, and a Si-doped InGaN layer. Current-voltage characteristic of the heterojunction indicated a diode-like rectification behavior. The electroluminescence spectra under forward biases presented a blue emission accompanied by a broad peak centered at 600 nm. With appropriate emission intensity ratio, the heterostructured LEDs had potential application in white LEDs. Moreover, a UV emission and an emission peak centered at 560 nm were observed under reverse bias.
Computer-assisted therapy for medication-resistant auditory hallucinations: proof-of-concept study
Authors: Leff Julian , Williams Geoffrey , Huckvale Mark A. , Arbuthnot Maurice , Leff Alex P.
Published: February 2013

Background

One in four patients with schizophrenia responds poorly to antipsychotic medication, continuing to hear persecutory auditory hallucinations. Patients who are able to sustain a dialogue with their persecutor feel much more in control.

Aims

To develop a computerised system that enables the patient to create an avatar of their persecutor. To encourage them to engage in a dialogue with the avatar, which the therapist is able to control so that the avatar progressively yields control to the patient.

Method

Avatar therapy was evaluated by a randomised, single blind, partial crossover trial comparing the novel therapy with treatment as usual (TAU). We used three main outcome measures: (a) the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS), hallucinations section; (b) the Omnipotence and Malevolence subscales of the Revised Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ-R); and (c) the Calgary Depression Scale (CDS).

Results

The control group showed no change over time in their scores on the three assessments, whereasthe novel therapy group showed mean reductions in the total PSYRATS score (auditory hallucinations) of 8.75 (P = 0.003) and in the BAVQ-R combined score of omnipotence and malevolence of the voices of 5.88 (P = 0.004). There was no significant reduction in the CDS total score for depression. For the crossover control group, comparison of the period of TAU withthe period ofavatar therapy confirmed the findings of the previous analysis. The effect size of the therapy was 0.8.

Conclusions

Avatar therapy represents a promising treatment for medication-resistant auditory hallucinations. Replication with a larger sample is required before roll-out to clinical settings.
Maturation of polarization and luminance contrast sensitivities in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
Authors: Cartron Lelia , Dickel Ludovic , Shashar Nadav , Darmaillacq Anne-Sophie
Published: February 2013

Polarization sensitivity (PS) is a characteristic of the visual system of cephalopods. It has been well documented in adult cuttlefish which use PS in a large range of tasks such as communication, orientation and predation. Since cuttlefish do not benefit from parental care, their visual system and motion detection ability need to be efficient from hatching to enable them to detect prey or predators. We studied the maturation and functionality of polarization sensitivity in newly hatched cuttlefish. In a first experiment, we examined the response of juvenile cuttlefish from hatching to the age of one month, towards a moving, vertically-oriented grating (contrasting and polarized stripes) using an optomotor response apparatus. Cuttlefish showed differences in maturation of polarization vs. intensity contrast motion detection. In a second experiment, we examined the involvement of polarization information in prey preference and detection in cuttlefish of the same age. Cuttlefish chose preferentially not to attack transparent prey in which the polarization contrast has been removed with a depolarizing filter. Performances of prey detection based on intensity contrast improved with age. Polarization contrast can help cuttlefish detect transparent prey. Our results suggest that polarization is not a simple modulation of intensity information, but rather that it is processed as a distinct channel of visual information. Both intensity and polarization sensitivity are functional, though not fully matured, in newly hatched cuttlefish and seem to help in prey detection.
CPEL Redesigns Its Land Express Network
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Tang Ou , Zhao Jin , Huo Jiazhen , Xia Yonggang
Published: February 2013

The China Postal Express and Logistics Corporation (CPEL), China’s largest corporation in the express delivery industry, is restructuring its nationwide land express network after completing its reorganization. In this redesign project, we proposed a network design framework and developed a decision support system (MMHHSNDDSS) to integrate and optimize the topology structure and functional configuration of CPEL’s intermodal and multilayered network. Our model seeks to minimize operations and investment costs, constrained by the delivery time limits of CPEL’s service products. Using MMHHSNDDSS, CPEL’s senior management team can determine the optimal network by incorporating soft constraints, such as the experience of CPEL’s decision makers, into a series of solutions. According to an evaluation based on data gathered in 2009, CPEL expects the new network to improve service levels and provide savings of more than 20 percent in annual operations costs. The implementation of our proposed solution began in 2010. In addition, the quantitative methods applied in this project have changed the company’s attitude toward applying operations research methods to strategic decision-making processes.
Sum formula of multiple Hurwitz-zeta values
Authors: Zhao Jianqiang
Published: February 2013

Let

s
1

,
⋯
,

s
d

$s_1,\dots ,s_d$

be d positive integers and define the multiple t-values
of depth d by

t

(

s
1

,
⋯
,

s
d

)

=

∑

n
1

>
⋯
>

n
d

≥
1

1

(
2

n
1

-
1
)

s
1

⋯

(
2

n
d

-
1
)

s
d

,

$
t(s_1,\dots ,s_d)=\sum _{n_1>\cdots >n_d\ge 1}
\frac{1}{(2n_1-1)^{s_1}\cdots (2n_d-1)^{s_d}},
$

which is equal to the multiple Hurwitz-zeta value

2

-
w

ζ

(

s
1

,
⋯
,

s
d

;
-

1
2

,
⋯
,
-

1
2

)

$2^{-w}\zeta (s_1,\dots ,s_d;-\frac{1}{2},\dots ,-\frac{1}{2})$

where

w
=

s
1

+
⋯
+

s
d

$w=s_1+\cdots +s_d$

is called the weight.
For

d
≤
n

$d\le n$

, let

T
(
2
n
,
d
)

$T(2n,d)$

be the sum of all multiple t-values
with even arguments whose weight is

2
n

$2n$

and whose
depth is d. In 2011, Shen and Cai gave formulas for

T
(
2
n
,
d
)

$T(2n,d)$

for

d
≤
5

$d\le 5$

in terms of

t
(
2
n
)

$t(2n)$

,

t
(
2
)
t
(
2
n
-
2
)

$t(2)t(2n-2)$

and

t
(
4
)
t
(
2
n
-
4
)

$t(4)t(2n-4)$

. In this short note we generalize their results to
arbitrary depth by using the theory of symmetric functions
established by Hoffman (2012).
Glucocerebrosidase, a new player changing the old rules in Lewy body diseases
Authors: Yang Na-Young , Lee Yu-Na , Lee He-Jin , Kim Yoon Suk , Lee Seung-Jae
Published: February 2013

Mutations in the gene encoding glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) cause Gaucher disease (GD), a lysosomal storage disease with recessive inheritance. Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) is a lysosomal lipid hydrolase that digests glycolipid substrates, such as glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine. GBA1 mutations have been implicated in Lewy body diseases (LBDs), such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Parkinsonism occurs more frequently in certain types of GD, and GBA1 mutation carriers are more likely to have LBDs than non-carriers. Furthermore, GCase is often found in Lewy bodies, which are composed of α-synuclein fibrils as well as a variety of proteins and vesicles. In this review, we discuss potential mechanisms of action of GBA1 mutations in LBDs with particular emphasis on α-synuclein aggregation by reviewing the current literature on the role of GCase in lysosomal functions and glycolipid metabolism.
Biochemical characterization of an S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent methyltransferase (Rv0469) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Meena Laxman S. , Chopra Puneet , Vishwakarma Ram A. , Singh Yogendra
Published: February 2013

Tuberculostearic acid (l0-methylstearic acid, TSA) is a major constituent of mycobacterial membrane phospholipids, and its biosynthesis involves the direct methylation of oleic acid esterified as a component of phospholipids. The methyltransferases of mycobacteria were long proposed to be involved in the synthesis of methyl-branched short-chain fatty acids, but direct experimental evidence is still lacking. In this study, we identified the methyltransferase encoded by umaA in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv as a novel S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase capable of catalyzing the conversion of olefinic double bond of phospholipid-linked oleic acid to biologically essential TSA. Therefore, UmaA, catalyzing such modifications, offer a viable target for chemotherapeutic intervention.
Konsistenzprüfung im frühen mechatronischen Entwurf
Authors: Rauscher Michael , Göhner Peter
Published: February 2013

Die Entwicklung mechatronischer Systeme ist eine multidisziplinäre Aufgabe, bei der in der frühen Entwurfsphase versucht wird, mit Modellen eine gemeinsame Vorstellung des späteren Systems zu erlangen. Der Beitrag zeigt, wie die hierfür verwendeten Modelle abstrahiert und verallgemeinert werden können, wodurch eine automatisierte Konsistenzprüfung ermöglicht wird. Zudem wird aufgezeigt, wie Regeln zur Konsistenzprüfung dieser Modelle aufgebaut sein müssen.
Human testicular peritubular cells: more than meets the eye
Authors: Mayerhofer Artur
Published: February 2013

In healthy men, several layers of inconspicuously flat cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins build the wall of the seminiferous tubules. The cells of this wall, peritubular cells, are not well characterized. They are smooth-muscle-like and contractile and transport immotile sperm, a function important for male fertility. However, their full functional importance, especially their potential contribution to the paracrine regulation of the male gonad, is unknown. In men with impaired spermatogenesis, the architecture of the tubular wall is frequently altered. Deposits of ECM and morphological changes of peritubular cells imply that functions of peritubular cells may be fundamentally altered. To be able to study human peritubular cells and their functions, a culture method was established. It is based on small biopsies of patients with obstructive azoospermia but normal spermatogenesis (human testicular peritubular cells, HTPCs) and non-obstructive azoospermia, impaired spermatogenesis, and testicular fibrosis (HTPCFs). Results obtained from cellular studies and parallel examinations of biopsies provide insights into the repertoire of the secretion products, contractile properties, and plasticity of human peritubular cells. They produce ECM components, including the proteoglycan decorin, which may influence paracrine signaling between testicular cells. They may contribute to the spermatogonial stem cell niche via secreted factors. They are regulated by mast cell and macrophage products, and in response produce factors that can fuel inflammatory changes. They possess a high degree of plasticity, which results in hypertrophy and loss of contractile abilities. The data collectively indicate important roles of inconspicuous testicular peritubular cells in human male fertility and infertility.
Laparoscopos és nyitott splenectomia összehasonlítása
Authors: Nyilas Áron , Paszt Attila , Simonka Zsolt , Ábrahám Szabolcs , Pál Tamás , Lázár György
Published: February 2013

Absztrakt

Bevezetés/Célkitűzés: A hagyományos műtéti eljárásokat a minimálisan invazív sebészeti módszerek fokozatosan felváltják a lép sebészetében is. A SZTE Sebészeti Klinikán a laparoscopos splenectomia bevezetését követő tíz évben szerzett tapasztalatainkat összegezzük, összehasonlítva a nyitott és a minimálisan invazív technikát. Betegek és módszerek: 2002. január 1. és 2011. december 1. között klinikánkon 141 splenectomiát végeztünk, melyek közül 17 acut műtét volt. A 124 elektív műtétből 54 laparoscopos, 70 nyitott műtétet végeztünk. A nyitott műtétek közül 40 esetben multivisceralis műtét során távolítottuk el a lépet, mely eseteket a későbbi analízisből kizártunk. A vizsgálat során a laparoscopos, illetve az elektív nyitott műtéten átesett betegek csoportjait hasonlítottuk össze retrospektív módon. Eredmények: A laparoscopos műtétek átlagos hossza kissé meghaladta a nyitott műtétekét (133 vs. 122 perc, p = 0,074). A tanulási periódust követően a laparoscopos műtétek hossza csökkent (az első öt évben 147 vs. a második öt évben 118 perc, p = 0,003), nagyobb lépeket (220 vs. 450 gramm, p = 0,063) távolítottunk el, valamint kevesebb konverziót végeztünk. A laparoscopos csoportban kevesebb reoperáció (1,5% vs. 6%, p = 0,718), korábbi passage-megindulás (2 vs. 3 nap, p = 0,002) és rövidebb hospitalizáció (5 vs. 8 nap, p ≤ 0,001) volt jellemző a nyitott csoporthoz képest. Következtetések: Vizsgálatunk alátámasztja, hogy a laparoscopos lépeltávolítás biztonságos, és számos előnnyel jár. Eredményeink korrelálnak a nemzetközi irodalmi adatokkal.
Lépvéna-aneurysma operált esete
Authors: Dzsinich Csaba , Fazekas Péter , Barta László , Nyiri Gabriella , Vallus Gábor , Tóth Lajos , Beke Gábor , Berek Péter
Published: February 2013

Absztrakt

Szerzők egy rendkívül ritkán észlelt, a vena lienalison kialakult aneurysmáról számolnak be. A 34 éves nőbeteg felső hasi panaszok miatt került kivizsgálásra, amelyek hátterében CT-angiographia a vena lienalis aneurysmáját igazolta. A fusiformis, rendkívül vékony falú, 40 mm maximális átmérőjű saccularis tágulat a pancreas hátsó falán képezett benyomatot. A műtét során a v. lienalis és a lép megtartásával tangentialis resectiót végeztek. A beteg eseménytelenül gyógyult, és az 5. posztoperatív napon panaszmentesen távozott. 3 hónappal a műtét után panaszmentesen normál máj és pancreas laboratóriumi paraméterekkel került ellenőrző vizsgálatra.