bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The inhibition of molting fluid enzymes of Pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) by an aspartic protease inhibitor: Its effects on insect development
Authors: KUMAR Ajit , KULYE Mahesh S. , DESHPANDE Mukund V. , RAO Mala
Published: March 2010

In this study, the inhibition of molting fluid enzymes from Helicoverpa armigera by an aspartic protease inhibitor, Alkalophilic Thermophilic Bacillus Inhibitor (ATBI) purified from Bacillus sp. is reported. The in vitro experiments showed 80% inhibition (IC50= 48 µM) of hemoglobin hydrolyzing and 95% inhibition (IC50= 35 µM) of chitin hydrolyzing activity from molting fluid by ATBI (IC50 value is the ATBI concentration for 50% inhibition of total enzymatic activity). The treatment of H. armigera larvae with 400 µM ATBI recorded 20% larval mortality, 27.77% deformed pupae and 12.22% deformed adults. The LC50 value (Concentration of ATBI calculated to give 50% mortality) calculated for insect population was found to be 330.06 µM. Similarly, significant variations in mean larval and pupal weight, no. of eggs laid per female and percent hatching of eggs were observed at higher concentrations of ATBI. The results may provide the basis for the selection of non‐host inhibitors to develop a H. armigera insecticide formulation.
First record and redescription of Prionochaeta sibirica Reitter (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae) from Korea
Authors: PARK Sun‐Jae , NISHIKAWA Masaaki
Published: March 2010

A genus and species Prionochaeta sibirica Reitter is identified for the first time in Korea. A habitus photo, redescription, and illustrations of diagnostic characters of the species are provided.
The brain in time: insights from neuromagnetic recordings
Authors: Hari Riitta , Parkkonen Lauri , Nangini Cathy
Published: March 2010

The millisecond time resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG) is instrumental for investigating the brain basis of sensory processing, motor planning, cognition, and social interaction. We review the basic principles, recent progress, and future potential of MEG in noninvasive tracking of human brain activity. Cortical activation sequences from tens to hundreds of milliseconds can be followed during,e.g.,perception, motor action, imitation, and language processing by recording both spontaneous and evoked brain signals. Moreover, tagging of sensory input can be used to reveal neuronal mechanisms of binaural interaction and perception of ambiguous images. The results support the emerging ideas of multiple, hierarchically organized temporal scales in human brain function. Instrumentation and data analysis methods are rapidly progressing, enabling attempts to decode the four‐dimensional spatiotemporal signal patterns to reveal correlates of behavior and mental contents.
Genetics as a tool for the dissociation of mental operations over the course of development
Authors: Fossella John A. , Guise Kevin , Fan Jin
Published: March 2010

In recent years it has become possible to differentiate separable aspects of attention and to characterize the anatomical structure and dynamic states of their underlying networks. When individual differences in the structure and dynamics of these networks are used as dependent measures in associations with individual genetic variation, it becomes possible to assign cellular and molecular changes that occur over the course of normal development to specific aspects of network structure and function. In this way, a more granular understanding of the physiology of neural networks can be obtained. Here we review a translational research strategy focused on how genetic variation contributes to the normal development of attentional function. We seek to use genetic information to help construct a multinode, multinetwork model that can explain, in part, individual differences in the development of attention over the course of development.
Crossmodal spatial attention
Authors: Spence Charles
Published: March 2010

In this review, I highlight some of the most exciting recent developments in the area of crossmodal spatial attention, focusing on studies that question the automaticity of exogenous spatial orienting following the peripheral presentation of spatially uninformative unimodal cues. The latest research, showing that multisensory cues capture participants’ spatial attention more effectively than unimodal cues, is also reviewed. There has been a rapid growth of interest in the application of laboratory‐based studies of crossmodal attention to real‐world interface design, and this research is discussed, focusing, in particular, on the design of multisensory warning signals for drivers. Finally, I outline a number of key issues for future applied research in the study of crossmodal exogenous spatial attention.
The multiplicity of self: neuropsychological evidence and its implications for the self as a construct in psychological research
Authors: Klein Stanley B. , Gangi Cynthia E.
Published: March 2010

This paper examines the issue of what the self is by reviewing neuropsychological research, which converges on the idea that the self may be more complex and differentiated than previous treatments of the topic have suggested. Although some aspects of self‐knowledge such as episodic recollection may be compromised in individuals, other aspects—for instance, semantic trait summaries—appear largely intact. Taken together, these findings support the idea that the self is not a single, unified entity. Rather, it is a set of interrelated, functionally independent systems. Implications for understanding the self in various areas of psychological research—e.g.,neuroimaging, autism, amnesia, Alzheimer's disease, and mirror self‐recognition—are discussed in brief.
Higher‐level motor processes
Authors: Rumiati Raffaella Ida , Papeo Liuba , Corradi‐Dell’Acqua Corrado
Published: March 2010

Traditionally the motor system was thought of as a movement output device that, after brain damage, can impede patients from correctly planning and executing an action. In the last 20 years neuropsychological observations have contributed to the development of a new view that attributes higher‐level functions to this system. Rapidly, this area of investigation has grown very popular, with motor representations being considered critical for action and object recognition, imagery and even language understanding. At present, we can distinguish between embodied and disembodied theories. The former predominantly are built on associations of deficits in these abilities whereas the latter rely on dissociations between deficits. Neuroimaging research has also showed that different action‐related functions activate either overlapping or discrete regions, thus sustaining either association‐based or dissociation‐based models. Although no convincing theory is, to date, available to explain both sets of observations, cognitive neuroscientists have begun to explore this intermediate hypothesis space. Here we suggest that concepts like strategy and simulation seem promising in explaining how the cognitive system alternates between action‐related functions.
Memory reconsolidation: an update
Authors: Nader Karim , Einarsson Einar Örn
Published: March 2010

Memory consolidation refers to the stabilization that a new memory has to undergo in order to persist. Recently, this dominant view of memory has been challenged by renewed interest in reconsolidation, where consolidated memories return to a transient unstable state following their retrieval, from which they must again stabilize in order to persist. In this review, we discuss how reconsolidation is supported by the same line of evidence as consolidation and recent findings of boundary conditions of reconsolidation. Furthermore, we discuss how recent controversies on the nature of amnesia following challenges to reconsolidation are using the same paradigm that failed to resolve the nature of amnesia after challenges to consolidation; we also discuss a new paradigm that can lead to more fruitful ways of studying amnesia in general.
The anatomy of language: a review of 100 fMRI studies published in 2009
Authors: Price Cathy J.
Published: March 2010

In this review of 100 fMRI studies of speech comprehension and production, published in 2009, activation is reported for: prelexical speech perception in bilateral superior temporal gyri; meaningful speech in middle and inferior temporal cortex; semantic retrieval in the left angular gyrus and pars orbitalis; and sentence comprehension in bilateral superior temporal sulci. For incomprehensible sentences, activation increases in four inferior frontal regions, posterior planum temporale, and ventral supramarginal gyrus. These effects are associated with the use of prior knowledge of semantic associations, word sequences, and articulation that predict the content of the sentence. Speech production activates the same set of regions as speech comprehension but in addition, activation is reported for: word retrieval in left middle frontal cortex; articulatory planning in the left anterior insula; the initiation and execution of speech in left putamen, pre‐SMA, SMA, and motor cortex; and for suppressing unintended responses in the anterior cingulate and bilateral head of caudate nuclei. Anatomical and functional connectivity studies are now required to identify the processing pathways that integrate these areas to support language.
What does the amygdala contribute to social cognition?
Authors: Adolphs Ralph
Published: March 2010

The amygdala has received intense recent attention from neuroscientists investigating its function at the molecular, cellular, systems, cognitive, and clinical level. It clearly contributes to processing emotionally and socially relevant information, yet a unifying description and computational account have been lacking. The difficulty of tying together the various studies stems in part from the sheer diversity of approaches and species studied, in part from the amygdala's inherent heterogeneity in terms of its component nuclei, and in part because different investigators have simply been interested in different topics. Yet, a synthesis now seems close at hand in combining new results from social neuroscience with data from neuroeconomics and reward learning. The amygdala processes a psychological stimulus dimension related to saliency or relevance; mechanisms have been identified to link it to processing unpredictability; and insights from reward learning have situated it within a network of structures that include the prefrontal cortex and the ventral striatum in processing the current value of stimuli. These aspects help to clarify the amygdala's contributions to recognizing emotion from faces, to social behavior toward conspecifics, and to reward learning and instrumental behavior.
Action knowledge, visuomotor activation, and embodiment in the two action systems
Authors: Buxbaum Laurel J. , Kalénine Solène
Published: March 2010

Scientific interest in the relationship between cognition and action has increased markedly in the past several years, fueled by the discovery of mirror neurons in monkey prefrontal and parietal cortex and by the emergence of a movement in cognitive psychology, termed the embodied cognition framework, which emphasizes the role of simulation in cognitive representations. Guided by a functional neuroanatomic model called the Two Action Systems account, which posits numerous points of differentiation between structure‐ and function‐based actions, we focus on two of the major issues under recent scrutiny: the relationship between representations for action production and recognition, and the role of action in object representations. We suggest that mirror neurons in humans are not critical for full action understanding, and that only function‐based (and not structure‐based) action is a component of embodied object concepts.
The neural mechanisms of visual selection: the view from neuropsychology
Authors: Riddoch M. Jane , Chechlacz Magda , Mevorach Carmel , Mavritsaki Eirini , Allen Harriet , Humphreys Glyn W.
Published: March 2010

In this review, we discuss how neuropsychological impairments in visual selection can inform us about how selection normally operates. Using neuroanatomical and behavioral evidence on the disorders of neglect, extinction, and simultanagnosia, we propose functional and anatomical links between different aspects of visual selection and distinct sites in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). This includes linking: (i) bottom‐up attentional capture and the right temporo‐parietal junction (TPJ); (ii) top‐down segmentation of displays and the medial PPC; (iii) grouping, individuation and identification, and the inferior intra‐parietal sulcus (IPS) bilaterally; and (iv) the suppression of saliency and the left IPS. In addition, when neuropsychological studies are combined with fMRI, there is evidence that these regions of the PPC interact with striate and extra‐striate cortical areas, which respond to specific properties of stimuli. Selection should be viewed as an emergent property of a network of areas involving both ventral and dorsal cortex.
The neuropsychology of delusions
Authors: Coltheart Max
Published: March 2010

Work in the field of cognitive neuropsychiatry over the past 20 years has made it plain that various forms of delusional belief are scientifically understandable in the sense that plausible neuropsychological explanations of their nature and genesis have been formulated. A two‐factor theory of delusional belief has emerged from this work. According to this theory, explaining the presence of a delusion requires (a) the presence a neuropsychological impairment that initially prompts the delusional belief and (b) the presence of a second neuropsychological impairment that interferes with processes of belief evaluation that would otherwise cause the delusional belief to be rejected. A very similar account of delusion has recently emerged from research on hypothesis evaluation using the associative‐learning paradigm with healthy control subjects and people with psychosis. Neuroimaging studies in this context suggest that the region of the brain specifically involved in hypothesis evaluation (and therefore, according to the two‐factor theory, impaired in people with delusions) is the right lateral prefrontal cortex.
Neurosteroid Biosynthetic Pathway Changes in Substantia Nigra and Caudate Nucleus in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Luchetti Sabina , Bossers Koen , Frajese Giovanni Vanni , Swaab Dick F.
Published: March 2010

There is emerging evidence from animal studies for a neuroprotective role of sex steroids in neurodegenerative diseases, but studies in human brain are lacking. We have carried out an extensive study of the neurosteroid biosynthetic pathways in substantia nigra (SN), caudate nucleus (CN) and putamen (PU) of 7 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 7 matched controls. The mRNA levels of 37 genes including neurosteroid biosynthetic enzymes, hormone receptors and the neurosteroid‐modulated γ‐amino‐butyric acid ‐A (GABA‐A) receptor subunits were analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In the SN, we found downregulation of 5α‐reductase type 1 (5α‐R1), sulfotransferase 2B1 (SULT2B1) and some GABA‐A receptor subunits (α4, β1) while in the CN, upregulation of 3α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (3α‐HSD3) and α4 GABA‐A receptor subunit (22‐fold) was observed. No significant differences were found in the PU. These data imply an involvement of pregnane steroids and changes in GABAergic neurotransmission in the neurodegenerative process and suggest that neurosteroids may deserve further investigation as potential therapeutic agents in PD.
NGF‐Dependent Activation of TrkA Pathway: A Mechanism for the Neuroprotective Effect of Troxerutin in D‐Galactose‐Treated Mice
Authors: Lu Jun , Wu Dong‐mei , Hu Bin , Zheng Yuan‐lin , Zhang Zi‐feng , Wang Yong‐jian
Published: March 2010

D‐galactose‐(D‐gal)‐treated mouse, with cognitive impairment, has been used for neurotoxicity investigation and anti‐neurotoxicity pharmacology research. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of troxerutin. The results showed that troxerutin improved behavioral performance in D‐gal‐treated mice by elevating Cu, Zn‐superoxide dismutases (Cu, Zn‐SOD) activity and decreasing reactive oxygen species levels. Furthermore, our results showed that troxerutin significantly promoted nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA expression which resulted in TrkA activation. On one hand, NGF/TrkA induced activation of Akt and ERK1/2, which led to neuronal survival; on the other hand, NGF/TrkA mediated CaMKII and CREB phosphorylation and increased PSD95 expression, which improved cognitive performance. However, the neuroprotective effect of troxerutin was blocked by treatment with K252a, an antagonist for TrkA. No neurotoxicity was observed in mice treated with K252a or troxerutin alone. In conclusion, administration of troxerutin to D‐gal‐injected mice attenuated cognitive impairment and brain oxidative stress through the activation of NGF/TrkA signaling pathway.
Expression of polycomb protein EZH2 in multi‐stage tissues of gastric carcinogenesis
Authors: CAI Gan Hui , WANG Ke , MIAO Qi , PENG Yan Shen , CHEN Xiao Yu
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:  To study the role and significance of the polycomb group (PcG) protein EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) in the multi‐step process of intestinal‐type gastric carcinogenesis.

METHODS:  Gastric specimens were obtained from 142 patients with gastric disease, including 34 with chronic non‐atrophic gastritis (NCAG), 33 chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with intestinal metaplasia (IM), 40 CAG with dysplasia (DYS) and 35 with intestinal‐type gastric carcinomas (GC), and 32 Helicobacter pylori‐negative controls. The EZH2 protein was stained by the immunohistochemical method and was expressed as the intensity and percentage of the total number of epithelial cells. The chronic gastritis and the grading of dysplasia were classified according to Chinese National Consensus on chronic gastritis and the Padova international classification.

RESULTS:  The EZH2 protein levels in the specimens of normal gastric tissue, NCAG, CAG with IM, DYS and intestinal‐type GC were gradually increased (P < 0.05), but statistical significance was not found between the groups of DYS and GC.

CONCLUSION:  PcG protein EZH2 plays an important role in the multi‐step process of intestinal‐type gastric carcinogenesis.
Clarithromycin resistance and point mutations in the 23S rRNA gene in Helicobacter pylori isolates from Malaysia
Authors: HO Sin‐Loong , TAN Eng Lai , SAM Chook Koon , GOH Khean‐Lee
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:  To determine the prevalence of primary clarithromycin resistance amongst Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains in Malaysian patients with gastroduodenal diseases, by using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in domain V of 23S rRNA.

METHODS:  Gastric biopsies were obtained from H. pylori positive patients undergoing gastroscopy. DNA extraction was followed by PCR amplification using the primers Hp23‐1 and Hp23‐2 flanking a region of 425bp within the bacterial 23S rRNA peptidyltranferase (Hp23S fragment). Analysis of the 23S rRNA gene mutations is based on the generation of restriction sites for two restriction enzymes: BbsI and BsaI, which correspond to the base substitutions characteristic of clarithromycin resistance from A to G at positions 2142 and 2143, respectively.

RESULTS:  Gastric biopsy samples were obtained from 107 patients. A fragment of size 425bp corresponding to that expected from amplification of domain V of 23S rRNA was PCR‐amplified from only 105 samples. The amplicon was subsequently subjected to restriction by BbsI and BsaI. Only 1 sample (0.95%) had the BbsI mutation (base substitution at A2142G) and 2 samples (1.90%) the BsaI mutation (base substitution at A2143G). Thus 3 of 105 (2.9%) samples harbored clarithromycin resistant strains.

CONCLUSION:  In our experience, PCR‐RFLP is a rapid and precise method to detect the resistance of H. pylori to clarithromycin. Using this method, a low prevalence of clarithromycin resistance was detected in our local Malaysian strains. This augurs well for the continued use of clarithromycin as a first line drug in the treatment and eradication of H. pylori infection.
Upper gastrointestinal problems in inhalational ketamine abusers
Authors: POON Tai Lun , WONG Ka Fai , CHAN Man Yee , FUNG Ka Wai , CHU Sau Kwan , MAN Chi Wai , YIU Ming Kwong , LEUNG Siu Kee
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:  To study the association between upper gastrointestinal (GI) problems and inhalational ketamine abuse.

METHODS:  This is a retrospective study of 64 ketamine abusers treated from 2001 to 2008. Variables studied included clinical presentations, findings of upper GI endoscopy, abstinence from ketamine and relief of epigastric pain.

RESULTS:  The following patients with (i) a previous history of upper GI problem; (ii) a history of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin or other substance abuse; and (iii) a known history of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection were excluded. The study group thus consisted of 37 ketamine abusers, of whom 28 had upper GI symptoms. Overall 14 of these patients had an upper endoscopy performed. The endoscopic diagnoses were: 12 (85.7%) with gastritis, one (7.1%) with gastroduodenitis, and one (7.1%) normal finding. Test for H. pylori, infection was negative. Abstinence from ketamine was found to be associated significantly with relief of symptoms (P= 0.027). Logistic regression showed the odds ratio of symptomatic relief for abstinence versus continued use of ketamine is 12.5 (95% CI[1.20, 130.6], P= 0.035). In patients whom an upper GI endoscopy was performed, H. pylori negative gastritis was the commonest histopathological finding (78.6%). Despite the use of medications, symptoms are commonly not relieved and that is associated with the continued abuse of ketamine.

CONCLUSION:  Ketamine abusers frequently presented with upper GI symptoms, the commonest of which is epigastric pain (73% of abusers). Abstinence from ketamine abuse can lead to the relief of symptoms, which is an important message for ketamine abusers.
Poor Blood Pressure and Urinary Albumin Excretion Responses to Home Blood Pressure‐Based Antihypertensive Therapy in Depressive Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Kabutoya Tomoyuki , Ishikawa Joji , Hoshide Satoshi , Eguchi Kazuo , Shimada Kazuyuki , Kario Kazuomi
Published: March 2010

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich).

There has been no report comparing the changes in home blood pressure (HBP) and target organ damage between depressive and nondepressive hypertensives receiving antihypertensive therapy based on HBP monitoring. This study was a multicenter prospective study conducted by 7 doctors at 2 institutions. The authors prospectively studied 42 hypertensive patients with home systolic blood pressure >135 mm Hg. Participants were divided into a depression group (Beck Depression Inventory score >10; n=21) and a nondepression group (Beck Depression Inventory score <9, matched for HBP level; n=21). The authors performed antihypertensive therapy to reduce home systolic blood pressure to below 135 mm Hg and, 6 months later, evaluated the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR). Although patients in the depression group tended to require the addition of a greater number of medications than those in the nondepression group (2.3±1.0 vs 1.7±1.0 drugs, P<.05), HBP was reduced similarly in both groups at 6 months (depression group: 150±17/78±11 mm Hg to 139±11/73±8 mm Hg, P<.001; nondepression group: 150±11/76±9 mm Hg to 135±9/70±8 mm Hg, P<.01). The reduction of UACR was smaller in the depression group than in the nondepression group (2.4 vs 10.1 mg/gCr, P<.05). Depressive hypertensive patients required a larger number of antihypertensive drugs to control HBP, and showed a smaller reduction in UACR than nondepressive hypertensives.
Relationship Between Exercise Heart Rate Recovery and Circadian Blood Pressure Pattern
Authors: Okutucu Sercan , Kabakci Giray , Deveci Onur Sinan , Aksoy Hakan , Kaya Ergun Baris , Aytemir Kudret , Oto Ali
Published: March 2010

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:407–413. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The aim of the present cross‐sectional study was to evaluate heart rate recovery (HRR) in normotensive and hypertensive individuals with either nondipper or dipper type circadian rhythm of blood pressure. Eighty‐five patients were divided into 4 groups according to the presence of hypertension and pattern of circadian blood pressure as follows: (1) normotensive/dipper, n=20; (2) normotensive/nondipper, n=21; (3) hypertensive/dipper, n=22; and (4) hypertensive/nondipper, n=22. HRR indices were calculated by subtracting first, second, and third minute heart rates from the maximal heart rate obtained during stress testing and designated as HRR1, HRR2, and HRR3. Mean HRR1 values (29.7±4.0 vs 26.6±3.7, P=.016) were significantly higher in the normotensive/dipper group than the normotensive/nondipper group. Mean HRR1 values (28.6±4.0 vs 24.8±4.6 beats per minute, P=.007) were higher in the hypertensive/dipper group than the hypertensive/nondipper group. Spearman’s correlation analyses revealed a positive correlation between degree of nighttime dipping and HRR1 (r=.600, P=.001). The correlation coefficient between degree of nighttime dipping and HRR1 was higher in the hypertensive group than the normotensive group (r=.676, P=.001 and r=.575, P=.001, respectively). Blunting of the nocturnal fall in blood pressure associates with a delayed recovery of heart rate after graded maximal exercise in both normotensive and hypertensive groups.
Uncertainties in flood risk mapping: a case study on estimating building damages for a river flood in Finland
Authors: Koivumäki L. , Alho P. , Lotsari E. , Käyhkö J. , Saari A. , Hyyppä H.
Published: March 2010

In our review of recent flood risk mapping approaches in Europe, we noted that the sources of uncertainty were rarely questioned. We demonstrated potential sources of uncertainty in flood risk mapping of buildings using a case study of a spring flood in 2005, in Kittilä, Finland. One‐ and two‐dimensional hydraulic models of the flood corresponded well with the actual inundation. The initial modelling result of the inundated buildings differed considerably from reality, but this could be improved through modelling performed with more diverse building elevation data. The accuracy of the digital terrain model is a key determinant in the accuracy of flood hazard modelling. An exposure analysis of buildings is often utilized by an overlay analysis of map layers representing both the flood and the buildings. However, we indicated that the analysis may be partly hindered by the characteristics and inaccuracies of the building datasets used and the modelled flood. In flood damage modelling, the average damages calculated from the database were used, as empirical damage data were too general for a detailed flood damage assessment. Damage modelling with empirical and synthetic damage data could be made more reliable through better archiving of actual flood damages and by performing more diverse damage estimates of standard buildings.
Long‐term results of laparoscopic treatment of Spigelian hernias with mesh
Authors: Portillo G , Franklin ME
Published: March 2010

Introduction: Spigelian hernias are exceptional. They often present with vague signs and symptoms, and the diagnosis can be problematic. Most Spigelian hernias are treated with open surgery and without mesh; little is known of the laparoscopic treatment and the long‐term follow‐up with mesh. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the laparoscopic treatment of Spigelian hernias with mesh at the Texas Endosurgery Institute.

Methods: From February 1991 through April 2008, all Spigelian hernias treated laparoscopically with mesh were prospectively followed. The technique was essentially the same for each procedure and involved (1) lysis of adhesions, (2) reduction of hernia contents, (3) closure of the defect, (4) 3–5 cm circumferential mesh coverage beyond the original edges, and (5) transfascial fixation of the mesh.

Results: Eighteen patients were analyzed, all of them having Spigelian hernia. The subjects included eight women (44%) and 10 men (56%), with a mean age of 65 years (range, 39–89 years). The mean height of patients was 1.69 cm (range, 1.44–1.98 cm), with a mean weight of 84.6 kg (range, 63–103.5 kg). The mean operative time was 91 min with a range of 75–120 min. The estimated blood loss was 30 ml (range 10–50 ml). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2 d (range from same‐day discharge to 5 d). The overall postoperative complication rate was 16.6%. No conversions to open approach were required. The mean follow up was 84.6 months (range, 13–176 months); no recurrence has been observed.

Conclusion: The laparoscopic treatment of Spigelian hernias is safe and effective.
Towards and Beyond Edinburgh 2010: A Historical Survey of Ecumenical Missiological Developments since 1910
Authors: Geevarghese Metropolitan Coorilos
Published: March 2010

This article provides a brief history of mission theology of the global church since Edinburgh 1910, highlighting the seismological shifts and major developments in missiological thinking and praxis over the years and through various world mission conferences, specifically from the perspective of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME). It argues that, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the centenary mission conference in Edinburgh in June 2010, mission theology has moved from its early stage of colonial, Eurocentric expressions to post‐colonial and polyphonic articulations of missiology. For the CWME, though, the missiological journey continues even beyond 2010. This article argues that, amongst many important missiological themes that CWME needs to address within the overarching theme of “Ecumenism in Mission”, the themes CWME has identified as its major focus for the coming years – viz. ecclesiology and mission, mission as healing, and mission as contestation – are of crucial pertinence. In the changing global Christian landscape where the centre of gravity of Christianity has moved to the global South, and in a context where new forms of being ecclesial communities are tried out, “The Nature and Mission of the Church” needs to take a “from below” approach, going beyond the traditional frameworks of mainline churches. Mission as healing would provide a comprehensive and more integral perspective to the salvific purpose of God for this world, especially as “healing” is a common strand within many religious, ecclesial and spiritual traditions, offering a dialogical perspective. Mission as contestation is equally significant in today's world where the gospel imperative of confronting satanic forces that express themselves in the form of globalization, neo‐imperialism, patriarchy, racism, casteism and eco‐violence is of cardinal importance.
Serving God's Mission Together in Christ's Way: Reflections on the Way to Edinburgh 2010
Authors: Matthey Jacques
Published: March 2010

This paper argues that missio Dei theology must continue to provide the basis for an ecumenical missiology, provided certain problems are revisited, in line with themes of the 2010 Edinburgh study process. Among them is the need for emphasizing the vertical dimension of a transformative spirituality, somehow neglected in earlier ecumenical theologies. Only this will prevent an over‐estimation of humanity's capacities. Within a missio Dei theology the specific role of the church is to be reaffirmed: there is no way back behind integration, which remains a cornerstone of an ecumenical approach, provided it keeps a critical distance to dogmatic ecclesiologies that tend to hinder progress towards visible unity. The debate on gospel and culture has to be urgently taken up again, through a positive appreciation of syncretism and the related search for criteria in intercultural hermeneutics. This will lead to articulating pneumatological approaches to mission with Christologies. Indeed, the New Testament texts with the most universal horizon refer to Christ as Word or Wisdom and not to the Holy Spirit. The paper moves on to ask whether then the relevance of the biblical wisdom tradition should not feature more in missiology. It could provide fertile approaches to witness in a religiously plural and ecologically damaged world. Ecumenical mission should in future be shaped by wisdom as much as it has been by prophecy, and keep both traditions in creative tension.
South India: Ecumenism's One Solid Achievement? Reflections on the History of the Ecumenical Movement
Authors: Daughrity Dyron B.
Published: March 2010

This article is a primer for understanding the history of the ecumenical movement by focusing first on one of its greatest institutional successes, the Church of South India in 1947, and then assessing the difficult relationship between ecumenism and missions. In the second half the article takes a broader view of ecumenical history, asking whether or not Christian ecumenism is still, in the words of Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple, “the great new fact of our era”. Focusing on various achievements and failings in the 20th century, the article asks throughout whether or not Christian ecumenism has already reached its height. The conclusion of the essay argues that in order to move forward in this time of transition, the World Council of Churches must take a careful look back at its successes, failures and very reasons for existence.
Do not log‐transform count data
Authors: O’Hara Robert B. , Kotze D. Johan
Published: March 2010

1. Ecological count data (e.g. number of individuals or species) are often log‐transformed to satisfy parametric test assumptions.

2. Apart from the fact that generalized linear models are better suited in dealing with count data, a log‐transformation of counts has the additional quandary in how to deal with zero observations. With just one zero observation (if this observation represents a sampling unit), the whole data set needs to be fudged by adding a value (usually 1) before transformation.

3. Simulating data from a negative binomial distribution, we compared the outcome of fitting models that were transformed in various ways (log, square root) with results from fitting models using quasi‐Poisson and negative binomial models to untransformed count data.

4. We found that the transformations performed poorly, except when the dispersion was small and the mean counts were large. The quasi‐Poisson and negative binomial models consistently performed well, with little bias.

5. We recommend that count data should not be analysed by log‐transforming it, but instead models based on Poisson and negative binomial distributions should be used.
Comparison of cardiovascular function and quality of recovery in isoflurane‐anaesthetised horses administered a constant rate infusion of lidocaine or lidocaine and medetomidine during elective surgery
Authors: VALVERDE A. , RICKEY E. , SINCLAIR M. , RIOJA E. , PEDERNERA J. , HATHWAY A. , CRUZ A.
Published: March 2010

Reasons for performing study:The effects of lidocaine combined with medetomidine or lidocaine alone on cardiovascular function during anaesthesia and their effects on recovery have not been thoroughly investigated in isoflurane‐anaesthetised horses.

Objectives:To determine the effects of an intraoperative i.v. constant rate infusion of lidocaine combined with medetomidine (Group 1) or lidocaine (Group 2) alone on cardiovascular function and on the quality of recovery in 12 isoflurane‐anaesthetised horses undergoing arthroscopy.

Hypothesis:The combination would depress cardiovascular function but improve the quality of recovery when compared to lidocaine alone in isoflurane‐anaesthetised horses.

Methods:Lidocaine (2 mg/kg bwt i.v. bolus followed by 50 µg/kg bwt/min i.v.) or lidocaine (same dose) and medetomidine (5 µg/kg bwt/h i.v.) was started 30 min after induction of anaesthesia. Lidocaine administration was discontinued 30 min before the end of surgery in both groups, whereas medetomidine administration was continued until the end of surgery. Cardiovascular function and quality of recovery were assessed.

Results:Horses inGroup 1had longer recoveries, which were of better quality due to better strength and overall attitude during the recovery phase than those inGroup 2. Arterial blood pressure was significantly higher inGroup 1than inGroup 2and this effect was associated with medetomidine. No significant differences in cardiac output, arterial blood gases, electrolytes and acid‐base status were detected between the 2 groups.

Conclusions and potential relevance:The combination of an intraoperative constant rate infusion of lidocaine and medetomidine did not adversely affect cardiovascular function in isoflurane‐anaesthetised horses and improved the quality of recovery when compared to an intraoperative infusion of lidocaine alone.
Effect of an endurance‐like exercise on the disposition and detection time of phenylbutazone and dexamethasone in the horse: Application to medication control
Authors: AUTHIE E. C. , GARCIA P. , POPOT M. A. , TOUTAIN P. L. , DOUCET M.
Published: March 2010

Reasons for performing study:Equine antidoping rules were established to prevent a horse's performance being altered after the administration of prohibited substances, including approved drugs used for legitimate treatment. Veterinarians have to advise owners or trainers on appropriate withholding times to guarantee that their horses may safely compete after drug administration. In order to propose tailored withdrawal times, several horse organisations released detection time (DT) values, for the main veterinary drugs used in horses. One of the possible limits to the information provided by published DTs in horses is the fact that they are determined from classic pharmacokinetic studies performed at rest under laboratory conditions. In field conditions, training and exercise programmes may have an influence on drug elimination.

Methods:Dexamethasone (DMX) and phenylbutazone (PBZ) have been quantified in plasma and urine after solid phase extraction. The kinetic disposition of DXM (8 μg/kg) and PBZ (8 mg/kg) administered by i.v. route in 8 horses, was investigated in rest conditions and during a standardised 3 h test exercise according to a cross‐over design.

Objectives:The aim of the present study was to compare the kinetic disposition of 2 test drugs, DMX and PBZ in rest vs. exercising conditions.

Results:It was shown in 8 horses that a sustained 3 h of mild exercise slightly decreased the plasma clearance of both drugs (about 25% for DXM and 37% for PBZ) and this is mainly explained by the significant decrease of the corresponding hepatic clearance. In addition, as the volume of distribution was correlatively decreased, the plasma terminal half‐life, which is a hybrid parameter of plasma clearance and volume of distribution, remains unchanged overall.

Conclusion and potential relevance:Establishing DTs or withdrawal times (WTs) are relevant as plasma and urine half‐lives, but not clearance, are the main determinants of DT length. Veterinarians may realistically decide upon a WT for a legitimate drug based on the corresponding DT obtained under resting conditions providing this drug has a low hepatic extraction ratio and a safety margin is added to allow for all possible sources of variability.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the equine temporomandibular joint anatomy
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ M. J. , AGUT A. , SOLER M. , LÓPEZ‐ALBORS O. , ARREDONDO J. , QUEROL M. , LATORRE R.
Published: March 2010

Reasons for performing study:In human medicine, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the ‘gold standard’ imaging procedure to assess the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). However, there is no information regarding MRI evaluation of equine TMJ.

Objectives:To describe the normal sectional MRI anatomy of equine TMJ by using frozen and plastinated anatomical sections as reference; and determine the best imaging planes and sequences to visualise TMJ components.

Methods:TMJs from 6 Spanish Purebred horse cadavers (4 immature and 2 mature) underwent MRI examination. Spin‐echo T1‐weighting (SE T1W), T2*W, fat‐suppressed (FS) proton density‐weighting (PDW) and fast spin‐echo T2‐weighting (FSE T2W) sequences were obtained in oblique sagittal, transverse and dorsal planes. Anatomical sections were procured on the same planes for a thorough interpretation.

Results:The oblique sagittal and transverse planes were the most informative anatomical planes. SE T1W images showed excellent spatial resolution and resulted in superior anatomic detail when comparing to other sequences. FSE T2W sequence provided an acceptable anatomical depiction but T2*W and fat‐suppressed PDW demonstrated higher contrast in visualisation of the disc, synovial fluid, synovial pouches and articular cartilage.

Conclusions:The SE T1W sequence in oblique sagittal and transverse plane should be the baseline to identify anatomy. The T2*W and fat‐suppressed PDW sequences enhance the study of the articular cartilage and synovial pouches better than FSE T2W.

Potential relevance:The information provided in this paper should aid clinicians in the interpretation of MRI images of equine TMJ and assist in the early diagnosis of those problems that could not be diagnosed by other means.
Comparisons of overground endoscopy and treadmill endoscopy in UK Thoroughbred racehorses
Authors: ALLEN K. J. , FRANKLIN S. H.
Published: March 2010

Reasons for performing study:To date there is no information on the comparison of the more recently documented technique of performing endoscopy during ridden exercise in the field, with the more traditional method of endoscopy during high‐speed treadmill exercise.

Objectives:To compare the results of upper respiratory tract endoscopy in UK Thoroughbred racehorses performed during ridden exercise in the field with those obtained during exercise on the treadmill.

Methods:A direct comparison was undertaken in 4 horses whereby both procedures were performed in the same horse within 10 days of each other. An indirect comparison was also undertaken whereby the results of overground endoscopy performed in 50 racehorses was compared to the results obtained during treadmill endoscopy in a further 50 racehorses. Horses were matched for age, gender, use (National Hunt vs. Flat) and presenting complaint (abnormal respiratory noise vs. poor performance).

Results:Dorsal displacement of the soft palate was diagnosed less frequently during overground endoscopy than during treadmill endoscopy. There was no significant difference in the diagnosis of dynamic laryngeal collapse between the 2 techniques. The treadmill exercise test was performed over longer distances at higher inclines, albeit at lower speeds than the overground test. In contrast to the treadmill test, the overground test was frequently performed in intervals.

Conclusions:The results of both the direct and indirect comparisons suggest that dorsal displacement of the soft palate is diagnosed less often during overground endoscopy than during treadmill endoscopy. Strenuous exercise tests may be more easily performed on a treadmill than by performing multiple exercise intervals in the field.

Potential relevance:Care should be taken in interpreting negative findings during both procedures, but particularly during overground endoscopy if racing conditions have not been appropriately replicated.
Taking Risks with Translational Research
Authors: Mills Ian G. , Sykes Richard B.
Published: March 2010

The private sector should undertake the high-throughput elements of
translational research, while the public sector funds the development of
scientists with the confidence to attempt to translate genetic data into
a mechanistic understanding of complex diseases.
H1N1: Can a Pandemic Cycle Be Broken?
Authors: Settembre Ethan C. , Dormitzer Philip R. , Rappuoli Rino
Published: March 2010

The 2009 influenza pandemic initially surprised us, but the lessons it
has taught about viral evolution and herd immunity may prepare us for
future pandemics.
The Enemy Within
Authors: Morozov Alexei
Published: March 2010

Collagen-secreting cells in kidney fibrosis may be derived from microvascular pericytes in the stroma rather than through an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
CHARACTERIZING THE 'PRINCIPLES' OF NON CONTRADICTION AND EXCLUDED MIDDLE IN [0,1]
Authors: GARCÍA-HONRADO ITZIAR , TRILLAS ENRIC
Published: March 2010

Under an interpretation of the principles of non-contradiction and excluded-middle based on the concept of self-contradiction, this paper mainly deals with the principles' verification in the case of the unit interval of the real line. Such verification is done in the three following cases: (1) The unit interval is totally ordered by the restriction to it of the usual order of the real line, (2) the unit interval is partially ordered by the sharpened order, and (3) the unit interval is under a new particular preorder. The first case is immediately extended to characterize the case of fuzzy sets.
Corporate Governance, Legal Environment, and Auditor Choice in Emerging Markets
Authors: Hossain Mahmud , Lim Chee Yeow , Siang Tan Patricia Mui
Published: March 2010

In this study, we examine the effect of firm-level governance on the firm's choice of an external auditor. Further, we test how the relation between corporate governance and auditor choice may be affected by the strength of legal environment. The results show that firm-level governance scores are positively related to the firm's auditor choice. This association is strengthened by country-level legal protection. Specifically, the positive association between auditor choice and the firm-level governance scores is weaker (stronger) in a low (high) legal environment. These findings are robust after controlling for determinants that were found to be significant in earlier research. Overall, our results suggest that the benefits arising from the employment of high-quality auditors are likely to be greater when legal environment is stronger because both auditors and firms are subject to more severe legal punishments for opportunistic behavior.
Simultaneous Volatility Transmission and Spillover Effects
Authors: Gannon Gerard L.
Published: March 2010

Simultaneous volatility models are developed and shown to be separate from multivariate GARCH estimators. An example is provided that allows for simultaneous and unidirectional volatility and volume of trade effects. These effects are tested using intraday data from the Australian cash index and index futures markets. Overnight volatility spillover effects from the United States S&P500 index futures markets are tested using alternative estimates of this US market volatility. The simultaneous volatility model proves to be robust to alternative specifications of returns equations and to misspecification of the direction of volatility causality.
GENETACK: FRAMESHIFT IDENTIFICATION IN PROTEIN-CODING SEQUENCES BY THE VITERBI ALGORITHM
Authors: ANTONOV IVAN , BORODOVSKY MARK
Published: March 2010

We describe a new program for ab initio frameshift detection in protein-coding nucleotide sequences. The task is to distinguish the same strand overlapping ORFs that occur in the sequence due to a presence of a frameshifted gene from the same strand overlapping ORFs that encompass true overlapping or adjacent genes. The GeneTack program uses a hidden Markov model (HMM) of genomic sequence with possibly frameshifted protein-coding regions. The Viterbi algorithm finds the maximum likelihood path that discriminates between true adjacent genes and those adjacent protein-coding regions that just appear to be separate entities due to frameshifts. Therefore, the program can identify spurious predictions made by a conventional gene-finding program misled by a frameshift. We tested GeneTack as well as two earlier developed programs FrameD and FSFind on 17 prokaryotic genomes with frameshifts introduced randomly into known genes. We observed that the average frameshift prediction accuracy of GeneTack, in terms of (Sn + Sp)/2 values, was higher by a significant margin than the accuracy of two other programs. In addition, we observed that the average accuracy of GeneTack is favorably compared with the accuracy of the FSFind-BLAST program that uses protein database search to verify predicted frameshifts, even though GeneTack does not use external evidence. GeneTack is freely available at .