bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet‐based intervention programme for obese adolescents and their families (Next.Step): research protocol of a controlled trial
Authors: Sousa Pedro , Fonseca Helena , Gaspar Pedro , Gaspar Filomena
Published: September 2013

Aim

This paper describes the design and rationale of a controlled trial that aims to determine the effectiveness of an intervention programme in which the internet is used.

Background

Adolescent obesity is a major health problem, there being urgency to find effective interventions that induce behavioural change. The inclusion of the internet in the intervention may improve adolescents' adherence to the weight management programme and lead to adoption of healthier lifestyles.

Design

A clinical trial with a control group (non‐randomized).

Methods

Participants are adolescents with appointments at a paediatric obesity clinic (Portugal). Sample size was calculated according to the power analysis. The experimental group will follow the standard treatment protocol and receive free access to the e‐therapeutic platform. The control group will follow the standard treatment protocol and join a waiting list. Intervention length will be 36 weeks (24 weeks of direct intervention with a follow‐up for 12 weeks). This study was approved by the Ethical Committee for Health (Lisbon, Portugal) in January 2012 and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) in December 2012.

Discussion

The results of this research will promote reflection on new approaches directed to treat adolescent obesity and on the promotion of healthy behaviours. We expect to gather empirical evidence of the intervention programme effectiveness. The expectations lie on the population health gains, empowerment in decision‐making and adoption of healthier lifestyles.
Fecundity and longevity of Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) queens in response to irradiation
Authors: Coulin C. , Calcaterra L. A. , Follett P. A.
Published: September 2013

Irradiation is a post‐harvest quarantine treatment option to control ants and other hitchhiker pests on fresh horticultural products traded between countries. As little is known about irradiation effects on ants, radiotolerance of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae), was studied to determine a dose sufficient for its control. Queens collected from Buenos Aires, Argentina, were irradiated with 30, 60, 90 Gy or left untreated as controls, and then followed for 8 weeks to evaluate their survival and fecundity. Overall queen survival and brood viability decreased with increasing irradiation dose. The number of eggs was reduced by 50%, 69% and 56% in the 30, 60 and 90 Gy doses, respectively, compared with untreated control queens. The percentage of eggs that developed into larvae decreased from 41.1% in the control to 22.5%, 1.4%, and 0% in the 30, 60, and 90 Gy treatments, respectively. Thus, the number of larvae was reduced by 69% in the 30 Gy treatment compared with the control, only one larva was observed in the 60 Gy treatment, and none in the 90 Gy treatment. Only one pupa was observed in the 30 Gy treatment and none in the 60 and 90 Gy treatments during the 8‐week experiment. Queens irradiated with 60 and 90 Gy had significantly reduced longevity compared with queens treated with lower doses or untreated queens. Radiation dose ≥90 Gy stopped brood development in Argentine ant queens and should be sufficient as a phytosanitary treatment. The radiotolerance of Argentine ant appears to be similar to that of two other important invasive ants.
Reasons for referral, intervention approaches and demographic characteristics of clients with intellectual disability attending adult psychiatric outpatient services in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Grey I. , Al‐Saihati B. A. , Al‐Haddad M. , McClean B.
Published: September 2013

Background

Relatively little information is available regarding the use of psychiatric services by individuals with intellectual disability (ID) in Arab countries. The current study aimed to identify (1) the reasons for referral; (2) demographic characteristics of individuals referred; (3) previous contact with child psychiatric services; (4) psychiatric diagnoses; (5) level of ID; (6) nature of interventions; and (7) patterns of medication usage in individuals attending a specialist psychiatric service for individuals with an ID in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Method

Case file analysis was used. Files that recorded attendance at the specialist service within a specific calendar year were selected. A total of 537 files were available for review and 79 contained records indicating the individual had been seen within the year.

Results

The primary referral reason to adult psychiatric services was the presence of behavioural disturbance. Pharmacological intervention was the dominant treatment choice and no individual was recommended for psychological/behavioural intervention. Psychiatric diagnosis was not recorded in over 90% of cases.

Conclusion

Services in the Kingdom of Bahrain for individuals with ID rely exclusively on pharmacological approaches for the treatment of behavioural disorders. Implications for best practice guidelines are discussed.
Overweight and obesity in youth with developmental disabilities: a call to action
Authors: Grondhuis S. N. , Aman M. G.
Published: September 2013

Elevated weight status has become a leading problem for adults and children around the world, regardless of the presence or lack of disability. Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more vulnerable than the typical population to overweight in recent decades, and these individuals often experience overweight and obesity at higher rates than their typically developing peers. Young people with disabilities have many circumstances, beyond those of typically developing children, which increase their risk for greater body mass. These include greater medication use, having syndromes with obesity as an associated symptom, and possessing altered eating habits related to their disability. We discuss obesity‐related health risks, possible weight management options, recommendations for weight maintenance or loss, and future research. Although most professionals who work with youth having developmental disabilities do not have great expertise in nutrition and weight management, we must collectively recognise the importance of weight issues for quality of life of these individuals and work with them in maintaining healthy lifestyles. Intervention options, both for caregivers and for health professionals, are discussed.
Openness and avoidance – a longitudinal study of fathers of children with intellectual disability
Authors: Boström P. K. , Broberg M.
Published: September 2013

Background

Fathers' interactions with children who have intellectual disabilities (ID) or developmental delays (DD) have increased over the past few decades and may be expected to continue to increase as maternal and paternal roles, along with other gender roles, become more equal. The aim of the present study was to explore fathers' experiences of parenthood in relation to a child with ID/DD from the initial discovery of the disability to 5 years later.

Methods

Fathers' experiences of parenting children with ID/DD were explored in a longitudinal framework. Seven Swedish fathers of young children with ID/DD participated in a series of semi‐structured interviews from 2005 to 2010, and their accounts were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

The analysis revealed three themes: (1) An interrupted path – no longer taking things for granted, which describes the fathers' reactions to their children's diagnosis; (2) Being a good father, which describes the fathers' overall perceptions of their parenting of a child with ID/DD; and (3) Dealing with the unexpected, which describes fathers' individual ways of integrating, managing, and living with the knowledge of their child's disability over the 5 years during which fathers were interviewed.

Conclusions

Fathers' individual paths need to be taken into consideration when offering psychological support to families of children with ID/DD.
Dementia Care in Eight European Countries: Developing a Mapping System to Explore Systems
Authors: Hallberg Ingalill R. , Leino‐Kilpi Helena , Meyer Gabriele , Raamat Katrin , Martin Maria Soto , Sutcliffe Caroline , Zabalegui Adelaida , Zwakhalen Sandra , Karlsson Staffan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

There is a knowledge gap with regard to the structure of the care and service system available to persons with dementia. This is very much a concern for nurses who are the main providers in the care of dementia. The study, a part of the “RightTimePlaceCare” project, describes the development and content of a mapping system aimed at exploring the content of care and service for persons with dementia and their informal caregiver throughout the disease trajectory. The usefulness of the mapping system is illustrated in describing the availability of care and service at the diagnostic stage, and at the institutional and palliative stages.

Design

A descriptive cross‐country design concerning eight European countries differing in demographic composition and terms of long‐term care provided is employed.

Methods

A modified consensus strategy was used to develop the mapping system and define the terminology. Thereafter, each country's mapping system was completed by its research group collecting country‐specific information and using expert groups either as consultants or for completing the system.

Findings

The consensus procedure worked satisfactorily with regard to content and definitions, whereas assessing the availability and utilization of care and service was problematic. Some 50 types care and service activities were identified and defined and were categorized as follows: (a) screening, diagnostic procedures, and treatment of dementia; (b) outpatient care facilities; (c) care at home; (d) institutional care; (e) palliative care; (f) informal caregiving and supportive actions; and (g) civic activities. Care at home included the broadest range of activities; palliative care, informal caregiving, and supportive actions were the smallest range.

Conclusions

The dementia care systems were found to be comprehensive and to emphasize home care. Activities aimed at transferring knowledge to informal caregivers, though highly important for home care, seemed less extensive. The mapping system appears useful from a nurse manager's standpoint for exploring the dementia care pathway. Comparisons between countries appear useful for developing the care system and for sharing information of how to perfect it. Further testing and development are needed regarding information on the availability and utilization of care and service activities.

Clinical Relevance

The mapping system can be useful in clarifying the dementia care system for those concerned, in helping nurse researchers and managers review and initiate evaluation and communicate with policy makers, as well as to ensure that providers use appropriate parts of the system. It can also be useful in national and international comparative studies.
Cetuximab inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis via degradation of epidermal growth factor receptor
Authors: Dai Wei , Li Yanshu , Zhou Qing , Xu Zhongfei , Sun Changfu , Tan Xuexin , Lu Li
Published: September 2013

Cetuximab (Erbitux, C225) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), inhibiting tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of Cetuximab in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. Here, we report that Cetuximab modulates EGFR protein stability through the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway, resulting in the inhibition of human OSCC growth. Cetuximab significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of human OSCC cells by blocking epithelial/mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the AKT and ERK pathways. Furthermore, Cetuximab‐inhibited cell growth by modulating the expression of integrin β5. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the mechanism of Cetuximab action and suggest potential therapeutic strategies for OSCC.
First Report of Pseudomonas lurida Causing Bacterial Leaf Spot on Miscanthus sinensis
Authors: Lee Dong Wan , Hong Jin‐Sung , Kim Sun‐Hyung , Kim Jin Won , Kim Beom Seok
Published: September 2013

Miscanthus spp. are large perennial wetland grasses that are receiving considerable attention as bioenergy crops. In late summer 2011, leaf spot symptoms were observed in a field of Miscanthus sinensis in Jeongseon, Gangwon province, Korea. Bacterial strains that belonged to the γ‐Proteobacteria genus Pseudomonas were isolated from the affected leaves. By phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characterization, the representative strain MDM‐03 was identified as Pseudomonas lurida. Healthy M. sinensis leaves inoculated with MDM‐03 developed leaf spots similar to those observed in field. Bacteria re‐isolated from the leaf lesions were identical to the original strain MDM‐03 based on their cultural characteristics and 16S rDNA sequencing. This is the first report of bacterial leaf spot in Miscanthus sinensis.
Alcoholic fermentation induces melatonin synthesis in orange juice
Authors: Fernández‐Pachón M. S. , Medina S. , Herrero‐Martín G. , Cerrillo I. , Berná G. , Escudero‐López B. , Ferreres F. , Martín F. , García‐Parrilla M. C. , Gil‐Izquierdo A.
Published: September 2013

Melatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine) is a molecule implicated in multiple biological functions. Its level decreases with age, and the intake of foods rich in melatonin has been considered an exogenous source of this important agent. Orange is a natural source of melatonin. Melatonin synthesis occurs during alcoholic fermentation of grapes, malt and pomegranate. The amino acid tryptophan is the precursor of all 5‐methoxytryptamines. Indeed, melatonin appears in a shorter time in wines when tryptophan is added before fermentation. The aim of the study was to measure melatonin content during alcoholic fermentation of orange juice and to evaluate the role of the precursor tryptophan. Identification and quantification of melatonin during the alcoholic fermentation of orange juice was carried out by UHPLC‐QqQ‐MS/MS. Melatonin significantly increased throughout fermentation from day 0 (3.15 ng/mL) until day 15 (21.80 ng/mL) reaching larger amounts with respect to other foods. Melatonin isomer was also analysed, but its content remained stable ranging from 11.59 to 14.18 ng/mL. The enhancement of melatonin occurred mainly in the soluble fraction. Tryptophan levels significantly dropped from 13.80 mg/L (day 0) up to 3.19 mg/L (day 15) during fermentation. Melatonin was inversely and significantly correlated with tryptophan (r = 0.907). Therefore, the enhancement in melatonin could be due to both the occurrence of tryptophan and the new synthesis by yeast. In summary, the enhancement of melatonin in novel fermented orange beverage would improve the health benefits of orange juice by increasing this bioactive compound.
Turnover of Se in adequately fed chickens using Se‐75 as a tracer
Authors: Brandt‐Kjelsen A. , Govasmark E. , Haug A. , Salbu B.
Published: September 2013

Inorganic selenium (Se) in the form of selenite is applied to livestock to avoid Se deficiency. Selenite is, however, an artificial Se source in diets of unsupplemented chickens. It is therefore hypothesized that organic Se sources, such as Se‐enriched yeast and wheat, could be a more suitable Se supply in animal nutrition, although information on the transition of Se from organic Se sources in fast‐growing chickens is scarce. In this work, chickens were fed a low Se diet (0.27 ± 0.01 mg Se/kg, Se‐enriched yeast) until 20 days of age, after which the Se concentration was increased to maximum concentration allowed by the poultry industry in Europe (0.5 p.p.m. Se). At the same time, a daily contribution of carrier‐free 75Se tracer from labelled wheat was administered from day 20 to 27. The chickens showed S and Se homeostasis, as the concentration of S and Se in liver, blood or kidney remained about constant, and steady state of S and Se in the other organs was reached 1 day after the diet shift. The uptake of 75Se was readily seen in all organs. After 1 week, the depuration of the 75Se tracer was followed, and biological half‐lives and retention in individual organs were determined. The shortest biological half‐lives were observed in major metabolic organs, the liver, kidney and pancreas with half‐lives close to 4 days. There was a significant (p < 0.05) uptake in lung, brain and muscle that reached steady state when the administration of 75Se was terminated. The half‐life of 75Se in heart was 9 days and 7 days in blood. The longest half‐lives were observed in muscle (12 days), brain and lungs (13 days). All half‐lives were shorter than in Se deplete animals.
Effects of pH and fermentative substrate on ruminal metabolism of fatty acids during short‐term in vitro incubation
Authors: Troegeler‐Meynadier A. , Palagiano C. , Enjalbert F.
Published: September 2013

The ruminal biohydrogenation of c9,c12‐18:2 can be affected by the fibre/starch ratio of the diet and the ruminal pH. The objectives of this study were to examine independently in vitro the effects of fermentation substrate (hay vs. corn starch) and buffer pH (6 vs. 7) on the biohydrogenation of c9,c12‐18:2 carried out by grape seed oil, focusing on its t11 and t10 pathways, using 6‐h ruminal incubations. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Fermentation substrate and pH affected the C18 fatty acid balance in incubated media, but few interactions were observed. Compared with starch, hay as the fermentation substrate favoured the production of 18:0 (×2.3), all trans‐18:1 isomers (×12.6) and CLA (×6.1), except c9,t11‐CLA, and the disappearance of unsaturated C18 fatty acids, but decreased the production of odd and branched chain fatty acids. Compared with pH 6 buffer, pH 7 buffer resulted in higher c9,c12‐18:2 disappearance and CLA production. For c9,t11‐CLA, an interaction was noticed between the two factors, leading to the highest production in cultures incubated on hay with the 7 pH buffer. Compared with starch, hay as fermentation substrate favoured the activity of t11 producers, which are fibrolytic bacteria, and the production of t10 isomers, possibly due to the presence of potential t10 producers in hay. Low pH resulted in a decreased t11 isomers production and in a slightly increased t10 isomers production, probably due to a modulation of enzymatic or bacterial activity.
Platelet increases survival in a model of 90% hepatectomy in rats
Authors: López Mónica L. , Kieling Carlos O. , Uribe Cruz Carolina , Osvaldt Alessandro , Ochs de Muñoz Gustavo , Meurer Luise , Silla Lucia , Matte Ursula
Published: September 2013

Background & Aims

Ninety per cent hepatectomy in rodents is a model for acute liver failure. It has been reported that platelets have a strong effect enhancing liver regeneration, because of the production of several growth factors such as serotonin. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of microencapsulated platelets on 90% hepatectomy in rats.

Methods

Platelets (PLT) were microencapsulated in sodium alginate and implanted in the peritoneum of rats after 90% partial hepatectomy (PH). Control group received empty capsules (EC). Animals were euthanized at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post PH (n = 9–12/group/time) to evaluate liver regeneration rate, mitotic index, liver content, serum and tissue levels of Interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and serotonin and its receptor 5‐hydroxytryptamine type 2B (5Ht2b). Survival rate in 10 days was evaluated in a different set of animals (n = 20/group).

Results

Platelets group showed the highest survival rate despite the lowest liver regeneration rate at any time point. Mitotic and BrdU index showed no difference between groups. However, the number of hepatocytes was higher and the internuclear distance was shorter for PLT group. Liver dry weight was similar in both groups indicating that water was the main responsible factor for the weight difference. Gene expression of IL‐6 in the liver was significantly higher in EC group 6 h after PH, whereas 5Ht2b was up‐regulated at 72 h in PLT group.

Conclusions

Platelets enhance survival of animals with 90% PH, probably by an early protective effect on hepatocytes and the increase in growth factor receptors.
Mitochondrial translation factors of Trypanosoma brucei: elongation factor‐Tu has a unique subdomain that is essential for its function
Authors: Cristodero Marina , Mani Jan , Oeljeklaus Silke , Aeberhard Lukas , Hashimi Hassan , Ramrath David J. F. , Lukeš Julius , Warscheid Bettina , Schneider André
Published: September 2013

Mitochondrial translation in the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei relies on imported eukaryotic‐type tRNAs as well as on bacterial‐type ribosomes that have the shortest known rRNAs. Here we have identified the mitochondrial translation elongation factors EF‐Tu, EF‐Ts, EF‐G1 and release factor RF1 of trypanosomatids and show that their ablation impairs growth and oxidative phosphorylation. In vivo labelling experiments and a SILAC‐based analysis of the global proteomic changes induced by EF‐Tu RNAi directly link EF‐Tu to mitochondrial translation. Moreover, EF‐Tu RNAi reveals downregulation of many nuclear encoded subunits of cytochrome oxidase as well as of components of the bc1‐complex, whereas most cytosolic ribosomal proteins were upregulated. Interestingly, T. brucei EF‐Tu has a 30‐amino‐acid‐long, highly charged subdomain, which is unique to trypanosomatids. A combination of RNAi and complementation experiments shows that this subdomain is essential for EF‐Tu function, but that it can be replaced by a similar sequence found in eukaryotic EF‐1a, the cytosolic counterpart of EF‐Tu. A recent cryo‐electron microscopy study revealed that trypanosomatid mitochondrial ribosomes have a unique intersubunit space that likely harbours the EF‐Tu binding site. These findings suggest that the trypanosomatid‐specific EF‐Tu subdomain serves as an adaption for binding to these unusual mitochondrial ribosomes.
Two key arginine residues in the coat protein of Bamboo mosaic virus differentially affect the accumulation of viral genomic and subgenomic RNAs
Authors: Hung Chien‐Jen , Hu Chung‐Chi , Lin Na‐Sheng , Lee Ya‐Chien , Meng Menghsiao , Tsai Ching‐Hsiu , Hsu Yau‐Heiu
Published: September 2013

The interactions between viral RNAs and coat proteins (CPs) are critical for the efficient completion of infection cycles of RNA viruses. However, the specificity of the interactions between CPs and genomic or subgenomic RNAs remains poorly understood. In this study, Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) was used to analyse such interactions. Using reversible formaldehyde cross‐linking and mass spectrometry, two regions in CP, each containing a basic amino acid (R99 and R227, respectively), were identified to bind directly to the 5′ untranslated region of BaMV genomic RNA. Analyses of the alanine mutations of R99 and R227 revealed that the secondary structures of CP were not affected significantly, whereas the accumulation of BaMV genomic, but not subgenomic, RNA was severely decreased at 24 h post‐inoculation in the inoculated protoplasts. In the absence of CP, the accumulation levels of genomic and subgenomic RNAs were decreased to 1.1%–1.5% and 33%–40% of that of the wild‐type (wt), respectively, in inoculated leaves at 5 days post‐inoculation (dpi). In contrast, in the presence of mutant CPs, the genomic RNAs remained about 1% of that of wt, whereas the subgenomic RNAs accumulated to at least 87%, suggesting that CP might increase the accumulation of subgenomic RNAs. The mutations also restricted viral movement and virion formation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves at 5 dpi. These results demonstrate that R99 and R227 of CP play crucial roles in the accumulation, movement and virion formation of BaMV RNAs, and indicate that genomic and subgenomic RNAs interact differently with BaMV CP.
An Aspect of Functional Harmony in Schoenberg's Early Post‐Tonal Music
Authors: Newton Neil
Published: September 2013

Two views of Schoenberg's post‐tonal music are common: that it is non‐functional, and that there was a complete break from the tonal music that preceded it. In this article I show that there are aspects of functional voice leading, derived from tonality, that are still present in Schoenberg's early post‐tonal music. Furthermore, this functional harmony also helps to communicate the form of the piece and to supply closure.
OsFIE2 plays an essential role in the regulation of rice vegetative and reproductive development
Authors: Li Shisheng , Zhou Bing , Peng Xiongbo , Kuang Quan , Huang Xiaolong , Yao Jialing , Du Bo , Sun Meng‐Xiang
Published: September 2013

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are gene repressors that help to maintain cellular identity during development via chromatin remodeling. Fertilization‐independent endosperm (FIE), a member of the PcG complex, operates extensively in plant development, but its role in rice has not been fully investigated to date.

We report the isolation and characterization of a PcG member in rice, which was designated OsFIE2 for Oryza sativa Fertilization‐Independent Endosperm 2. OsFIE2 is a single‐copy gene in the rice genome and shows a universal expression pattern.

The OsFIE2 RNAi lines displayed pleiotropic phenotypes in vegetative and reproductive organ generation. In unfertilized lines, endosperm formation could be triggered without embryo formation, which indicates that FIE is indeed involved in the suppression of autonomous endosperm development in rice. Furthermore, lateral root generation was promoted early in the roots of OsFIE2 RNAi lines, whereas the primary root was premature and highly differentiated. As the root tip stem cell differentiated, QHB, the gene required for stem cell maintenance in the quiescent center, was down‐regulated.

Our data suggest that the OsFIE2–PcG complex is vital for rice reproduction and endosperm formation. Its role in stem cell maintenance suggests that the gene is functionally conserved in plants as well as animals.
Host‐specific Nod‐factors associated with Medicago truncatula nodule infection differentially induce calcium influx and calcium spiking in root hairs
Authors: Morieri Giulia , Martinez Eduardo A. , Jarynowski Andrzej , Driguez Hugues , Morris Richard , Oldroyd Giles E. D. , Downie J. Allan
Published: September 2013

Rhizobial nodulation (Nod) factors activate both nodule morphogenesis and infection thread development during legume nodulation. Nod factors induce two different calcium responses: intra‐nuclear calcium oscillations and a calcium influx at the root hair tip. Calcium oscillations activate nodule development; we wanted to test if the calcium influx is associated with infection.

Sinorhizobium meliloti nodL and nodF mutations additively reduce infection of Medicago truncatula. Nod‐factors made by the nodL mutant lack an acetyl group; mutation of nodF causes the nitrogen (N)‐linked C16:2 acyl chain to be replaced by C18:1. We tested whether these Nod‐factors differentially induced calcium influx and calcium spiking.

The absence of the NodL‐determined acetyl group greatly reduced the induction of calcium influx without affecting calcium spiking. The calcium influx was even further reduced if the N‐linked C16:2 acyl group was replaced by C18:1. These additive effects on calcium influx correlate with the additive effects of mutations in nodF and nodL on legume infection. Infection thread development is inhibited by ethylene, which also inhibited Nod‐factor‐induced calcium influx.

We conclude that Nod‐factor perception differentially activates the two developmental pathways required for nodulation and that activation of the pathway involving the calcium influx is important for efficient infection.
Autonomic Dysfunction in Patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Biochemical Evidence of Altered Signaling Pathways
Authors: PAUL MATTHIAS , MEYBORG MATTHIAS , BOKNIK PETER , GERGS ULRICH , GERSS JOACHIM , SCHMITZ WILHELM , BREITHARDT GÜNTER , WICHTER THOMAS , NEUMANN JOACHIM
Published: September 2013

Background

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an important cause of sudden cardiac death especially in times of increased sympathetic tone, for example, during sports, which have been confirmed by nuclear imaging studies. However, the underlying biochemical pathways remain to be delineated. Therefore, we investigated the expression levels of proteins of the signaling cascade in patients with ARVC.

Methods

During diagnostic work‐up, right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) were sampled from 15 consecutive male ARVC patients (52 ± 14 years). Tissue levels of key proteins of the signaling cascade were analyzed. Results were compared to those obtained from EMBs of 10 patients with idiopathic right ventricular outflow‐tract tachycardia (RVOT; 41 ± 14 years) and of five control subjects without identifiable structural heart disease (42 ± 13 years; P = ns).

Results

Among the proteins analyzed, only tissue levels of norepinephrine (NE; P < 0.04) and cyclic adenosine‐3´,5´‐monophospate (cAMP; P < 0.01) were significantly lower in ARVC when compared to RVOT patients. When compared to controls, mean cAMP levels were lower in patients with ARVC but did not reach statistical significance. No differences in cAMP were observed between RVOT and controls.

Conclusions

The current findings confirm and expand the concept of adrenergic dysfunction in ARVC: the reduction of NE in ARVC could lead to an impaired stimulation of β‐adrenoceptor subsequent signaling pathways with potential implication for cardiac fibrosis and arrhythmogenesis.
The ‘Oxycythereis’ problem: taxonomy and palaeobiogeography of deep‐sea ostracod genera Pennyella and Rugocythereis
Authors: Yasuhara Moriaki , Hunt Gene , Okahashi Hisayo , Brandão Simone N.
Published: September 2013

Systematic revision of the globally distributed deep‐sea ostracod genera Pennyella Neale, 1974 and Rugocythereis Dingle, Lord and Boomer, 1990, which have been considered to correspond, at least partially, to nomen nudum but widely used genus name ‘Oxycythereis,’ was conducted to reduce taxonomic uncertainty of these important components of the Modern and fossil deep‐sea ostracod community. Approximately 100 specimens from 18 species were examined, ranging in age from the Cretaceous to the present day. Nine new species are described: Pennyella rexi, Pennyella sanfordae, Pennyella liowae, Pennyella schellenbergi, Pennyella majorani, Pennyella iani, Pennyella ayressi, Rugocythereis melonis and Rugocythereis zarikiani. Emended generic concepts of Pennyella and Rugocythereis are proposed, and the palaeobiogeographical distributions of these two genera are discussed.
Late Rebound of Infantile Hemangioma after Cessation of Oral Propranolol
Authors: Shehata Nancy , Powell Julie , Dubois Josée , Hatami Afshin , Rousseau Elizabeth , Ondrejchak Sandra , McCuaig Catherine
Published: September 2013

Propranolol has become the first line of treatment for infantile hemangiomas (IHs), with a high response rate, but rebound growth after cessation of propranolol has been reported, primarily in the first year of life. We sought to determine the frequency and associated factors leading to late regrowth after successful treatment at an age when the proliferative phase has usually ceased. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts, serial photographs, and radiologic images of children with rebound IH occurring after the age of 15 months after a successful course of oral propranolol averaging 2.6 mg/kg/day (range 2–3 mg/kg/day). Thirteen (10 female, 3 male) of 212 patients (6%) treated with oral propranolol since 2008 were evaluated. The mean age at the start of treatment was 5.3 months (range 1.8–13 months), and an average of 10.3 months (range 4.5–16 months) of treatment was given. It took an average of 5.3 months (range 1–13.8 months) for a significant rebound to appear. Late rebound after successful propranolol indicates a prolonged proliferation phase of IH even after 15 months of age. This is compared with previous reports of rebound, which occurred primarily in infants younger than 1 year old. Late proliferation can occur in localized, small, mixed, and deep IH, even after several months of a positive response to propranolol. A second course of propranolol readily controlled the recurrence.
Longitudinal evaluation of endothelial function in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A long‐term follow‐up study
Authors: Bruzzi Patrizia , Predieri Barbara , Patianna Viviana Dora , Salvini Annamaria , Rossi Rosario , Modena Maria Grazia , Iughetti Lorenzo
Published: September 2013

Background

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) predisposes to cardiovascular disease, increasing the risk to develop atherosclerosis. In the pediatric population, the cardiovascular risk may be evaluated examining endothelial function by a non‐invasive ultrasound technique, namely flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. The aims of this study were the longitudinal evaluation of the potential change in the endothelium‐dependent vasomotor function in children and adolescents with T1DM and the identification of clinical and laboratory data correlated to modifications.

Methods

We studied 39 T1DM patients (20 girls and 19 boys; aged 11.2 ± 3.72 years). FMD and blood samples were obtained from all patients at baseline (time 0) and after a follow up of at least 1 year (time 1). FMD was also evaluated in 45 healthy controls (22 boys, 23 girls) aged 10.2 ± 3.05 years.

Results

At time 0, 43.6% of T1DM patients presented an impaired FMD. FMD at time 1 revealed a dramatic impairment of endothelial function: altered FMD values were shown in 61.5% of patients and it got worse in 74.3% of them. Longitudinally, boys had a greater impairment of FMD than girls. At baseline, multivariate analysis identified only sex as significant predictor of FMD (β = 0.470, P = 0.029).

Conclusions

Because endothelial dysfunction appears earlier in diabetic children, they are at higher risk to develop atherosclerosis. Our results suggest the usefulness of FMD as a tool to stratify pediatric T1DM patients according to their cardiovascular risk and to follow them up longitudinally.
Physiological acclimation to drought stress in Solidago canadensis
Authors: Nolf Markus , Pagitz Konrad , Mayr Stefan
Published: September 2013

Solidago canadensis is an invasive species from North America that is spreading across Europe, Australia and temperate Asia. We hypothesized that the species' wide ecological amplitude is also based on its potential in hydraulic acclimation, and analyzed hydraulic and anatomical properties along a transect with decreasing soil humidity. Stem hydraulic conductivity, vulnerability to drought‐induced embolism, stomatal closure during dehydration and xylem‐anatomical parameters were quantified at three sites. At the humid site, specific hydraulic conductivity of stems (1.0 ± 0.2 kg m–1 MPa–1 s–1) was about twofold higher, and leaf‐specific conductivity about 1.5 times higher (3.1 ± 0.5 kg m–1 MPa–1 s–1) than at the dry site. Water potential (Ψ) at 50% loss of conductivity was −3.7 ± 0.1 MPa at the dry site and −3.1 ± 0.2 MPa at the humid site (September). Vulnerability to drought‐induced embolism decreased along the transect and over the vegetation period. At drier sites, stomata started closing at lower Ψ while complete stomatal closure was reached at less negative Ψ (12% of maximum stomatal conductance: –2.5 ± 0.0 and −3.0 ± 0.2 MPa at the dry and humid site). The safety margin between stomatal closure and 50% loss of conductivity was 1.2 and 0.2 MPa at the dry and humid sites. The observed variability indicated an efficient acclimation in hydraulic conductivity and safety: plants at dry sites exhibited lower specific hydraulic conductivity, higher embolism resistance and broader safety margins, signifying a trade‐off between the hydraulic safety and efficiency. The observed intraspecific plasticity in hydraulic and anatomical traits may help to explain the invasive potential of this species.
Moment‐Independent Sensitivity Analysis Using Copula
Authors: Wei Pengfei , Lu Zhenzhou , Song Jingwen
Published: September 2013

In risk assessment, the moment‐independent sensitivity analysis (SA) technique for reducing the model uncertainty has attracted a great deal of attention from analysts and practitioners. It aims at measuring the relative importance of an individual input, or a set of inputs, in determining the uncertainty of model output by looking at the entire distribution range of model output. In this article, along the lines of Plischke et al., we point out that the original moment‐independent SA index (also called delta index) can also be interpreted as the dependence measure between model output and input variables, and introduce another moment‐independent SA index (called extended delta index) based on copula. Then, nonparametric methods for estimating the delta and extended delta indices are proposed. Both methods need only a set of samples to compute all the indices; thus, they conquer the problem of the “curse of dimensionality.” At last, an analytical test example, a risk assessment model, and the levelE model are employed for comparing the delta and the extended delta indices and testing the two calculation methods. Results show that the delta and the extended delta indices produce the same importance ranking in these three test examples. It is also shown that these two proposed calculation methods dramatically reduce the computational burden.
The Social Process Behind Inequalities in Children's Mental Health: Incorporating an Illness Career Framework
Authors: Potter Daniel
Published: September 2013

More advantaged children (both in terms of social class and racial/ethnic membership) appear protected from symptoms of mental health problem, but a pattern has emerged in which these children who tend to have better mental health are more likely to be diagnosed with certain mental health disorders. These patterns have led some researchers and professionals to wonder if the qualifications for diagnosis are culturally biased or might unfairly favor the mental health needs of more advantaged individuals in society. Evidence that White and middle‐class children are more likely to be diagnosed with certain mental health disorders raises important and legitimate concerns about the mental health profession, but this problem of social advantage leading to mental health diagnosis has often overlooked the role of social process in how children become diagnosed. Mental health diagnoses represent the culmination of a process that involves several stages and requires initiation and (often times) persistence on the part of the individual being diagnosed. This idea of process has previously been referred to as the “illness career,” and applying this logic to the study of children opens the door for renewed inquiry into understanding who is and who is not diagnosed with a mental health problem.
Men's Aging Amidst Intersecting Relations of Inequality
Authors: King Neal , Calasanti Toni
Published: September 2013

Men age under the pressure of age relations and their intersections with such other inequalities as gender, race, class, nation, and sexuality. We review findings of research on masculinity, inequalities, and social gerontology, and argue that a theoretically informed combination of all three offers the best understanding. We theorize that many men are privileged by their claims on occupational niches and family care and that age relations disrupt those privileges. Age relations exacerbate inequalities among men and reverse many claims to high status. Old men find themselves doing more care work, with less recognition, and suffering effects of the activities that had maintained status in younger years. Economic dependency, loss of status, declining health, isolation, and increasing invisibility shape old manhood even as other relations shield many from the lowest status.
Informed Consent in the Twenty‐First Century: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Future Challenges in Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making
Authors: Mazur Dennis J.
Published: September 2013

Consent evolved from judge‐made law in Great Britain in 1767. The term informed consent entered the judicial lexicon in 1957. The first court case to articulate a reasonable person standard adopted by the high courts in Canada and Australia was heard in the U.S. in 1972. Today, informed consent continues to develop in four areas: (i) the court‐based doctrines of consent and informed consent in clinical care in judge‐made law; (ii) federal regulations related to research on human study participants; (iii) shared decision making adopted by care organizations and medical societies in the US, Canada, and Europe; and (iv) areas including decision analysis, discourse analysis, ethics, linguistic analysis, patient–physician communication, risk and evidence communication, and social theory.

In this paper, we will focus on consent and informed consent in the first part of the twenty‐first century. We will examine a range of information and decision making frameworks from the oldest court‐established frameworks of consent and informed consent to recent conceptions of information and decision making in evidence‐based decision making and shared decision making in the patient–physician relationship. This paper is divided into three parts: I. What informed consent is, II. What informed consent isn't, and III. Future challenges in informed consent and shared decision making.
Is Small Still Beautiful? The Case of Austria
Authors: Gebhard Carmen
Published: September 2013

Small states are often perceived to be particularly suited to take on the role of mediators and facilitators in international disputes. The case of Austria is peculiar in this regard insofar as the emergence of a ‘typical’ small state attitude in international affairs indeed coincided with the establishment of the country as a small nation in 1945. Throughout the Cold War, Austria developed an active and value‐based foreign policy which heavily emphasized international law. Austrian political leaders, foremost the Social Democrat Bruno Kreisky, established a global reputation for their country as a benevolent mediator, for example in the Middle East. This attitude has been intrinsically linked to the country's neutral status, which has been formally preserved until today but has lost much of its substance and practical importance. This paper discusses the historical and normative foundations of Austria's small state identity and asks to what extent the glorious reputation of the past has been preserved. The paper argues that European and transatlantic integration as well as a number of domestic factors have substantially diminished Austria's role as a ‘natural born’ peacemaker on the global stage.
The Necker–Zeno Model for Bistable Perception
Authors: Atmanspacher Harald , Filk Thomas
Published: September 2013

A novel conceptual framework for theoretical psychology is presented and illustrated for the example of bistable perception. A basic formal feature of this framework is the non‐commutativity of operations acting on mental states. A corresponding model for the bistable perception of ambiguous stimuli, the Necker–Zeno model, is sketched and some empirical evidence for it so far is described. It is discussed how a temporal non‐locality of mental states, predicted by the model, can be understood and tested.
Kinetic Analysis on Nanoparticle Condensation by Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Suh Donguk , Yasuoka Kenji
Published: September 2013

Condensation on a cubic seed particle was simulated by classical molecular dynamics (MD). Seed size and supersaturation ratio of the system were the factors that were examined in order to observe the effects of the dimension of seeds and thermodynamic conditions. Two stages of nucleation were observed in the phenomenon, where the first stage is from the seed growth and the second from homogeneous nucleation. Therefore, the nucleation rate and growth rate were each calculated by the Yasuoka–Matsumoto (YM) method. As the seed size increased, the growth rate decreased, but there was no clear seed influence on the homogeneous nucleation characteristics. Besides, the classical nucleation theory (CNT), cluster formation free energy and kinetic analysis were conducted. The free energy in the exponential term of the classical nucleation theory and that obtained from the cluster formation free energy showed different characteristics.
Guidelines for the Determination of Single-Phase Forced Convection Coefficients in Microchannels
Authors: Morini Gian Luca , Yang Yahui
Published: September 2013

This paper deals with the analysis of the main features of forced microconvection of liquid and gas flows through microchannels. A critical overview of the main effects that tends to play an important role in the determination of Nusselt number in microchannels is presented. Some experimental data obtained at the Microfluidics Lab of the University of Bologna together with the main results which appeared recently in the open literature both for liquids and gases are used in order to highlight the peculiar characteristics of the convective heat transfer through microchannels and to suggest the guidelines for a physically based interpretation to the experimental results. By means of specific examples, it is shown that the thermal behavior at microscale of gas and liquid flows through microchannels in terms of convective heat transfer coefficients can be strongly affected by scaling and micro-effects but also by practical issues linked to the geometry of the test rig, the real thermal boundary conditions, the presence of fittings, position and type of the sensors, and so on. All these aspects have to be taken into account during the data post processing in order to obtain a correct evaluation of the Nusselt numbers. It is also highlighted how it is always useful to couple to the experimental approach a complete computational thermal fluid-dynamics analysis of the whole tested microsystem in order to be able to recognize “a priori” the main effects which can play an important role on the convective heat transfer analysis. It is demonstrated in this paper that this “a priori” analysis is crucial in order to: (i) individuate the main parameters which influence the convective heat transfer coefficients (this is important for the development of new correlations); (ii) compare in a right way the conventional correlations with the experimental results.
Effect of Cross-Sectional Perturbation on Critical Heat Flux Criteria in Microchannels
Authors: Miner Mark J. , Phelan Patrick E.
Published: September 2013

A variety of predictive correlations for critical heat flux (CHF) are examined in light of the growing body of work exploring enhanced flow boiling CHF via cross-sectional expansion. The analysis considers the effect of a small perturbation of the diameter of a circular microchannel on the predictions made by the selected criteria, and seeks to demonstrate an optimum rate of expansion. It is demonstrated that a nonzero diameter expansion necessarily improves performance under several criteria for critical heat flux, and an optimum expansion rate exists for many of these criteria. CHF relations are seen to follow a few distinct types, and those relations which contemplate effects which may directly influence CHF, such as pressure and phase velocity, tend to better reflect the experimentally demonstrated effect of the expanding channel diameter on CHF. Experimental data are examined from several investigators, including the authors' group, and the validity of both the criteria and the analysis is compared to the data.