bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping dietary habits may provide clues about the factors that determine food choice
Authors: Hackett A. , Boddy L. , Boothby J. , Dummer T. J. B. , Johnson B. , Stratton G.
Published: July 2008

Background  Food deserts are thought to be a barrier to making healthier food choices. This concept has been challenged. The interaction between the physical environment and children’s food choice has received little attention. The present study used food intake data to generate hypotheses concerning the role of the physical environment in food choice.

Methods  A cross‐sectional analysis was conducted of the dietary habits of Year 5 (9–10‐year‐old) children from 90 of Liverpool’s 118 primary schools. Individuals with the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ food choices were mapped and two areas associated with these extreme choices located.

Results  One thousand five hundred and thirty‐five children completed the dietary questionnaire and supplied a full and valid postcode. Two adjacent areas with relatively large numbers of children in the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ food choice groups were chosen. Both areas had very similar socio‐economic profiles. The contrast in the physical environments was striking, even on visual inspection.

Conclusions  Food deserts as a cause of poor food choice did not stand scrutiny; the area located by the worst food choices had a plethora of shops selling food (better termed a food prairie), whereas the area located by the best food choices had no shops in evidence but did have more ‘space’.
Factors associated with the risk of behaviour problems in adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities
Authors: Chadwick O. , Kusel Y. , Cuddy M.
Published: July 2008

Background Little is known about the factors affecting the risk of behavioural and emotional problems in young people with severe intellectual disability (ID), although such evidence as there is suggests that there may be differences between the pattern of risk factors in this group and those that operate in general population samples of the same age.

Method From a sample of 111 children with severe ID who had been initially identified from the registers of six special schools at 4–11 years, 82 were traced and reassessed on average 5 years 4 months later. The relationships between potential risk factors and behaviour problems, reported here for 11:00–17:04 year olds, were assessed by means of parental interview conducted in the family home.

Results Behaviour problems were associated with the severity of ID and the severity of autistic symptomatology. Perhaps surprisingly, they were also more common in pre‐pubertal than post‐pubertal adolescents. Family factors such as a history of interrupted/disrupted maternal care, parental criticism of the child and aggressive parental disciplinary practices were also associated with behaviour problems, although the direction of causation was unclear. Several factors, including gender, social disadvantage and epilepsy, well established as risk factors in children without ID, were not significantly associated with behaviour problems in the present sample.

Conclusion The findings suggest that the pattern of factors associated with behaviour problems in children withsevereID differs from that found both in the general population and in children with mild ID.
Hepatitis C virus‐specific T‐cell immune responses in seronegative injection drug users
Authors: Zeremski M. , Shu M. A. , Brown Q. , Wu Y. , Des Jarlais D. C. , Busch M. P. , Talal A. H. , Edlin B. R.
Published: July 2008

Summary.  T‐cell responses to hepatits C virus (HCV) antigens have been reported in high‐risk HCV seronegative persons, suggesting that an effective cellular immune response might be able to clear infection without the development of antibodies. Such findings, however, could be explained by waning antibody or cross‐reactivity to other antigens. To address these issues, we evaluated HCV‐specific T‐cell responses in 26 young (age 18–33 years) aviremic, seronegative injection drug users (IDUs) (median duration of injection, 6 years) by interferon‐γ enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay using 429 overlapping HCV peptides pooled in 21 mixes. Seventeen aviremic, seropositive IDUs (spontaneous resolvers) and 15 healthy people were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The percentage of patients with HCV‐specific cellular immune responses was similar in seronegative and seropositive aviremic IDUs (46%vs 59%, P = 0.4), while these responses were not detected in any of the negative controls. Among the seronegative IDUs, six (23%) had intermediate to very strong responses to 10–20 peptide mixes and another six (23%) had moderately strong responses for two to six mixes. The 12 seronegative IDUs with HCV‐specific T‐cell responses had higher demographical and behavioural risk profiles than the 14 IDUs without T‐cell responses (estimated risk of HCV infection, 0.47 vs 0.26, P < 0.01). In conclusion, HCV‐specific T‐cell responses are common among high‐risk, seronegative IDUs. The responses are broad and are associated with risk factors for HCV exposure, suggesting that they reflect true exposure to HCV in seronegative persons.
The role of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Storr M. A. , Yüce B. , Andrews C. N. , Sharkey K. A.
Published: July 2008

Abstract  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a spectrum of disorders characterized by abdominal discomfort and pain, associated with altered bowel habits. Though gut motility, secretion and sensation may be altered in patients with IBS, the pathophysiology of this condition remains to be fully understood. The endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of numerous gastrointestinal functions including motility, sensation and secretion under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Activation of cannabinoid (CB)1 and CB2 receptors under various circumstances reduces motility, limits secretion and decreases hypersensitivity in the gut. Drugs that alter the levels of endocannabinoids in the gut also reduce motility and attenuate inflammation. In this review, we discuss the role of the endocannabinoid system in gastrointestinal physiology. We go on to consider the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the context of symptoms associated with IBS and a possible role of this system in the pathophysiology and treatment of IBS.
Comparison of genetic diversity and pathogenicity of fusarium head blight pathogens from China and Europe by SSCP and seedling assays on wheat
Authors: Qu B. , Li H. P. , Zhang J. B. , Huang T. , Carter J. , Liao Y. C. , Nicholson P.
Published: July 2008

The genetic diversity and pathogenicity of isolates of Fusarium graminearum and F. asiaticum isolated from wheat heads in China were examined and compared with those of isolates of F. graminearum, F. asiaticum and F. meridionale from Europe, USA and Nepal. Genetic diversity was assessed by SSCP (single strand conformation polymorphism) and AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) analysis and by molecular chemotyping. SSCP analysis of the Fg16F/Fg16R PCR amplicon differentiated F. graminearum, F. asiaticum and F. meridionale and revealed three haplotypes among sequence‐characterized amplified region (SCAR) type 1 F. graminearum isolates. AFLP analysis showed a high level of genetic diversity and clustered the majority of Chinese isolates in one group along with other isolates of Asian origin. The second cluster contained F. graminearum isolates from China, Europe and the USA. Of the Chinese isolates, 79% were F. asiaticum and 81% of these were of the 3‐AcDON chemotype, with only 9·5% of either chemotype 15‐AcDON or NIV. All the Chinese and USA isolates of F. graminearum were 15‐AcDON, whereas among the isolates from Europe, 21% were NIV and 8% were 3‐AcDON chemotype. No evidence was found for possible differences in aggressiveness between F. graminearum and F. asiaticum. Highly aggressive isolates were present in each region and no evidence was found for any association between aggressiveness and geographical origin or chemotype among the isolates examined. No difference was observed in pathogenicity towards wheat seedlings between Chinese isolates and those from Europe, the USA or Nepal.
Metabolic regulation of leaf senescence: interactions of sugar signalling with biotic and abiotic stress responses
Authors: Wingler A. , Roitsch T.
Published: July 2008

Sugars are important signals in the regulation of plant metabolism and development. During stress and in senescing leaves, sugars often accumulate. In addition, both sugar accumulation and stress can induce leaf senescence. Infection by bacterial and fungal pathogens and attack by herbivores and gall‐forming insects may influence leaf senescence via modulation of the sugar status, either by directly affecting primary carbon metabolism or by regulating steady state levels of plant hormones. Many types of biotic interactions involve the induction of extracellular invertase as the key enzyme of an apoplasmic phloem unloading pathway, resulting in a sourcesink transition and an increased hexose/sucrose ratio. Induction of the levels of the phytohormones ethylene and jasmonate in biotic interactions results in accelerated senescence, whereas an increase in plant‐ or pathogen‐derived cytokinins delays senescence and results in the formation of green islands within senescing leaves. Interactions between sugar and hormone signalling also play a role in response to abiotic stress. For example, interactions between sugar and abscisic acid (ABA) signalling may be responsible for the induction of senescence during drought stress. Cold treatment, on the other hand, can result in delayed senescence, despite sugar and ABA accumulation. Moreover, natural variation can be found in senescence regulation by sugars and in response to stress: in response to drought stress, both drought escape and dehydration avoidance strategies have been described in different Arabidopsis accessions. The regulation of senescence by sugars may be key to these different strategies in response to stress.
How natural infection by Nosema ceranae causes honeybee colony collapse
Authors: Higes Mariano , Martín‐Hernández Raquel , Botías Cristina , Bailón Encarna Garrido , González‐Porto Amelia V. , Barrios Laura , del Nozal M. Jesús , Bernal José L. , Jiménez Juan J. , Palencia Pilar García , Meana Aránzazu
Published: July 2008

In recent years, honeybees (Apis mellifera) have been strangely disappearing from their hives, and strong colonies have suddenly become weak and died. The precise aetiology underlying the disappearance of the bees remains a mystery. However, during the same period, Nosema ceranae, a microsporidium of the Asian bee Apis cerana, seems to have colonized A. mellifera, and it's now frequently detected all over the world in both healthy and weak honeybee colonies. For first time, we show that natural N. ceranae infection can cause the sudden collapse of bee colonies, establishing a direct correlation between N. ceranae infection and the death of honeybee colonies under field conditions. Signs of colony weakness were not evident until the queen could no longer replace the loss of the infected bees. The long asymptomatic incubation period can explain the absence of evident symptoms prior to colony collapse. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that healthy colonies near to an infected one can also become infected, and that N. ceranae infection can be controlled with a specific antibiotic, fumagillin. Moreover, the administration of 120 mg of fumagillin has proven to eliminate the infection, but it cannot avoid reinfection after 6 months. We provide Koch's postulates between N. ceranae infection and a syndrome with a long incubation period involving continuous death of adult bees, non‐stop brood rearing by the bees and colony loss in winter or early spring despite the presence of sufficient remaining pollen and honey.
UKPDS—modelling of cardiovascular risk assessment and lifetime simulation of outcomes
Authors: Adler A. I.
Published: July 2008

Although known principally as a clinical trial, the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) provided longitudinal data which helped define the natural history of cardiovascular complications in Type 2 diabetes. Using clinical, epidemiological, statistical and economics methods, UKPDS investigators developed mathematical models that helped define predictors (risk factors) for cardiovascular disease including angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and death in Type 2 diabetes. The UKPDS made clearer the contributions to risk of age, hyperglycaemia, elevated blood pressure, adverse blood lipids and smoking. Equations were developed, combined and incorporated into the UKPDS Risk Engine and the UKPDS Outcomes models. For example, the UKPDS risk engine—version 2—estimates that a white 62‐year‐old man with 11 years of Type 2 diabetes, a glycated haemoglobin of 8.3%, a systolic blood pressure of 145 mmHg and total and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol values of 5.8 and 1.1 mmol/l who did not smoke has a 33% chance of having overt coronary heart disease within 10 years. These models contribute to the estimation of risk and/or health outcomes adjusted for quality of life for use by, amongst others, clinicians, trialists, health planners, guideline developers and health economists.
Impact of the UKPDS—an overview
Authors: Home P. D.
Published: July 2008

The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) is a group of clinical trials, epidemiological analyses and health‐modelling studies with an influence which can be assessed across a broad range of health domains.

Original publications (n = 85) are notable for being mainly published in the key weekly or diabetes journals (78%) and being mainly in the clinical arena (68%). Notable reference to the publications can be found in UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, but also in evidence‐based international guidelines, where UKPDS papers form a significant fraction of the citations. In educational materials UKPDS‐derived slides remain popular (10 and 30% of some international slide sets), again as much for the epidemiological findings as for the core trial results. Slides of the deterioration in blood glucose control with time, and evidence that this is as a result of progressive decline of pancreatic islet B‐cell function, are used particularly often. The UKPDS enhanced the promotion of glycated haemoglobin to its core role in clinical monitoring, through understanding of the quantitative relationship of vascular complications to glucose control, and thus to target setting. Notably, metformin therapy was promoted by the UKPDS findings on macrovascular disease in the overweight study, although controversy remains regarding the significance of the effect on macrovascular disease of the core glucose‐lowering study, promoting the development of further studies reporting in 2008. The effects of decreasing blood pressure on microvascular disease have had an important impact on guidelines and health economic analyses, together with other evidence on the value of rennin–angiotensin system blockers.

The UKPDS has evidently been unusually influential in the development of treatment guidelines, clinical education and the thinking of healthcare professionals. By inference it must be responsible for a significant part of the improvement in health outcomes in people with Type 2 diabetes over the last decade.
International prevalence of physical activity in youth and adults
Authors: Sisson S. B. , Katzmarzyk P. T.
Published: July 2008

Understanding population prevalences of physical activity is important to develop benchmarks for current baseline levels to monitor future changes, and for making country/regional comparisons. The purpose was to review the global prevalence of physical activity levels among youth and adults. Standardized literature searches for articles about national prevalences of physical activity were conducted in PubMed. A total of 34 studies in adults and 28 studies in youth were deemed contemporary (1996 – present) and met the inclusion criteria for this review. Wide variability was present between countries in the prevalence of physical activity (as measured and defined by individual studies). Studies with the highest reported prevalences of physical activity were for men in Sweden (77%), women in Denmark (81%), 12‐ to 15‐year‐old boys in Australia (74%) and <12‐year‐old girls (75%) in China. The countries with the lowest reported prevalences of physical activity were men in Brazil (4%), women in Saudi Arabia (2%) and Thailand (2%), and 17‐ to 18‐year‐old boys (0%) and 17‐ to18‐year‐old girls (0%) in Russia. The ranges of prevalence of physical activity, mode of data collection, and determination of meeting the physical activity threshold vary greatly between countries. However, the aggregation of these data can be a useful resource to practitioners, interventionists and epidemiologists.
5. Modeling Diffusion of Multiple Innovations via Multilevel Diffusion Curves: Payola in Pop Music Radio
Authors: Rossman Gabriel , Chiu Ming Ming , Mol Joeri M.
Published: July 2008

Diffusion curve analysis can estimate whether an innovation spreads endogenously (indicated by a characteristic “s-curve”) or exogenously (indicated by a characteristic negative exponential curve). Current techniques for pooling information across multiple innovations require a two-stage analysis. In this paper, we develop multilevel diffusion curve analysis, which is statistically more efficient and allows for more flexible specifications than do existing methods. To substantively illustrate this technique, we use data on bribery in pop radio as an example of exogenous influence on diffusion.
Histamine H4 receptor antagonism reduces hapten‐induced scratching behaviour but not inflammation
Authors: Roßbach Kristine , Wendorff Stephanie , Sander Kerstin , Stark Holger , Gutzmer Ralf , Werfel Thomas , Kietzmann Manfred , Bäumer Wolfgang
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  Effects of the histamine H4 receptor antagonist JNJ 7777120 (1‐[(5‐chloro‐1H‐indol‐2‐yl)carbonyl]‐4‐methylpiperazine) were tested in two models of allergic contact dermatitis. Dermatitis was induced by 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene and toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate, which differ in their Th1–Th2 profile in that way that 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene is a classical contact allergen with a pronounced Th1‐mediated inflammation, while the respiratory chemical allergen toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate induces a Th2‐dominated inflammation. JNJ 7777120 (15 mg/kg) administered 2 h and 30 min before and 1 h after challenge did not reduce the hapten‐induced ear swelling determined 24 h after challenge. This was confirmed by histological evaluation of the ear skin. A repeated administration of the haptens to the rostral part of the back of sensitized animals resulted in a frequent scratching behaviour. An administration of JNJ 7777120 (15 mg/kg) 30 min before challenge reduced this hapten‐induced scratching significantly. The H1 receptor antagonist cetirizine also reduced the scratching bouts in sensitized mice. A combination of H1 and H4 receptor antagonists resulted in the strongest inhibition of scratching behaviour associated with allergic dermatitis. These results indicate that H4 receptor antagonism fails to reduce the allergic inflammatory response but strongly inhibits allergen‐induced itch. Thus, a combination of H4 and H1 receptor antagonism might be a new strategy to treat pruritus related to allergic diseases like atopic dermatitis.
Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg cells express 15‐lipoxygenase‐1 and are putative producers of eoxins in vivo
Authors: Claesson Hans‐Erik , Griffiths William J. , Brunnström Åsa , Schain Frida , Andersson Erik , Feltenmark Stina , Johnson Hélène A. , Porwit Anna , Sjöberg Jan , Björkholm Magnus
Published: July 2008

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma has unique clinical and pathological features and tumour tissue is characterized by a minority of malignant Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg cells surrounded by inflammatory cells. In the present study, we report that the Hodgkin lymphoma‐derived cell line L1236 has high expression of 15‐lipoxygenase‐1 and that these cells readily convert arachidonic acid to eoxin C4, eoxin D4 and eoxin E4. These mediators were only recently discovered in human eosinophils and mast cells and found to be potent proinflammatory mediators. Western blot and immunocytochemistry analyses of L1236 cells demonstrated that 15‐lipoxygenase‐1 was present mainly in the cytosol and that the enzyme translocated to the membrane upon calcium challenge. By immunohistochemistry of Hodgkin lymphoma tumour tissue, 15‐lipoxygenase‐1 was found to be expressed in primary Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg cells in 17 of 20 (85%) investigated biopsies. The enzyme 15‐lipoxygenase‐1, however, was not expressed in any of 10 biopsies representing nine different subtypes of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. In essence, the expression of 15‐lipoxygenase‐1 and the putative formation of eoxins by Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg cells in vivo are likely to contribute to the inflammatory features of Hodgkin lymphoma. These findings may have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications in Hodgkin lymphoma. Furthermore, the discovery of the high 15‐lipoxygenase‐1 activity in L1236 cells demonstrates that this cell line comprises a useful model system to study the chemical and biological roles of 15‐lipoxygenase‐1.
Increase in Free Choice Oral Ethanol Self‐Administration in Catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase Gene‐Disrupted Male Mice
Authors: Tammimäki Anne , Forsberg Markus M. , Karayiorgou Maria , Gogos Joseph A. , Männistö Pekka T.
Published: July 2008

Abstract: The effect of catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (Comt) gene disruption on the voluntary oral consumption of water, ethanol (2.5–20%, v/v) and cocaine (0.1–0.8 mg/ml) was studied in the free‐choice, two‐bottle paradigm in male and female mice. Solutions containing ethanol or cocaine, or tap water were availablead libitumfrom drinking burettes for 4 weeks. Catechol‐O‐methyltransferase‐deficient male mice consumed significantly more ethanol than their wild‐type male littermates. In contrast, female mice did not show genotype differences in the consumption of ethanol solutions. During the cocaine experiment, male mice developed either a side preference or an aversion that obscured cocaine consumption. This pattern of drinking was not dependent onComtgenotype. In female mice,Comtgenotype was not associated with cocaine consumption. In conclusion, disruption ofComtgene influenced ethanol consumption in a gender‐dependent manner in mice, supporting the hypothesis that low catechol‐O‐methyltransferase activity is one of the predisposing factors for high alcohol consumption in males.
Association of early annual peak influenza activity with El Niño southern oscillation in Japan
Authors: Zaraket Hassan , Saito Reiko , Tanabe Naohito , Taniguchi Kiyosu , Suzuki Hiroshi
Published: July 2008

Background Seasonality characterizing influenza epidemics suggests susceptibility to climate variation. El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO), which involves two extreme events, El Niño and La Niña, is well‐known for its large effects on inter‐annual climate variability. The influence of ENSO on several diseases has been described.

Objectives In this study, we attempt to analyze the possible influence of ENSO on the timing of the annual influenza activity peak using influenza‐like illness report data in Japan during 1983–2007.

Materials Influenza surveillance data for 25 influenza epidemics, available under the National Epidemiological Surveillance of the Infectious Diseases, was used in this study. ENSO data were obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Results Influenza‐like illness peak week varied largely during the study period, ranging between 4th and 11th weeks (middle of winter to early spring). The average of peak week during ENSO cycles (n = 11, average = 4·5 ± 0·9) was significantly earlier than in non‐ENSO years (n = 14, average = 7·6 ± 2·9;P = 0·01), but there was no significant difference in the peak timing between hot (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) phases. Earlier peaks of influenza activity were observed in 16, out of 25, epidemics. These coincided with 10 (90·9%) out of 11 ENSO and 6 (85·7%) out of seven large‐scale epidemics.

Conclusion Influenza activity peak occurred earlier in years associated with ENSO and/or large scale epidemics.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the deep‐sea marine fish, the roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris)
Authors: KNUTSEN HALVOR , LE GOFF‐VITRY MARIE , FIANI DAVID , HOELZEL A. RUS
Published: July 2008

We developed polymerase chain reaction primers for eight dinucleotide microsatellite loci in the marine deep sea fish, roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris). All markers were obtained from a partial genomic DNA library, and characterized in 90 unrelated individuals from one putative population sampled on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. The number of alleles ranged from two to 61 with an average of 21 per locus. The observed heterozygosity levels ranged from 0.301 to 0.987 with an average of 0.672. Several of the markers amplified multiple alleles from either the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) or the deep‐sea fish roughhead grenadier (Macrourus berglax).
Monosynaptic convergence of C‐ and Aδ‐afferent fibres from different segmental dorsal roots on to single substantia gelatinosa neurones in the rat spinal cord
Authors: Pinto Vitor , Szûcs Peter , Derkach Victor A. , Safronov Boris V.
Published: July 2008

Although it is known that each spinal cord segment receives thin‐fibre inputs from several segmental dorsal roots, it remains unclear how these inputs converge at the cellular level. To study whether C‐ and Aδ‐afferents from different roots can converge monosynaptically on to a single substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurone, we performed tight‐seal recordings from SG neurones in the entire lumbar enlargement of the rat spinal cord with all six segmental (L1–L6) dorsal roots attached. The neurones in the spinal cord were visualized using our recently developed oblique LED illumination technique. Individual SG neurones from the spinal segment L4 or L3 were voltage clamped to record the monosynaptic EPSCs evoked by stimulating ipsilateral L1–L6 dorsal roots. We found that one‐third of the SG neurones receive simultaneous monosynaptic inputs from two to four different segmental dorsal roots. For the SG neurones from segment L4, the major monosynaptic input was from the L4–L6 roots, whereas for those located in segment L3 the input pattern was shifted to the L2–L5 roots. Based on these data, we propose a new model of primary afferent organization where several C‐ or Aδ‐fibres innervating one cutaneous region (peripheral convergence) and ascending together in a common peripheral nerve may first diverge at the level of spinal nerves and enter the spinal cord through different segmental dorsal roots, but finally re‐converge monosynaptically on to a single SG neurone. This organization would allow formation of precise and robust neural maps of the body surface at the spinal cord level.
A RELAX-AND-CUT ALGORITHM FOR THE KNAPSACK NODE WEIGHTED STEINER TREE PROBLEM
Authors: CORDONE ROBERTO , TRUBIAN MARCO
Published: July 2008

The Knapsack Node Weighted Steiner Tree Problem (KNWSTP) is a generalization of the Steiner Tree Problem on graphs, which takes into account the classical cost function defined on the edges, as well as a prize function defined on the vertices and a limit on the size of the solution. It has several applications to network design. We propose an exact branch-and-bound algorithm for this problem, based on a relax-and-cut approach: the algorithm relaxes an exponential family of generalized subtour elimination constraints and takes into account only the violated ones as the computation proceeds. The performance of the algorithm has been tested on a wide set of benchmark problems, up to three hundred vertices, whose structure reflects the features of the most likely applications (sparse graphs with Euclidean costs) and covers different cases with respect to the prize function (only positive, or both positive and negative prizes) and the weight threshold.
Particular Structure of the Anterior Third of the Human True Vocal Cord
Authors: Strocchi R. , De Pasquale V. , Messerotti G. , Raspanti M. , Franchi M. , Ruggeri A.
Published: July 2008

The histological aspects of the true vocal cord mucosa change in the anterior third compared with the posterior two thirds. The anterior third is characterized by an epithelium where the ridges, marked in the posterior two thirds, are very slight or even absent. The underlying basement membrane, which is thin in the posterior two thirds, here appears particularly thick. At the ultrastructural level in this area, beneath a normally thickened basal lamina, a thick layer of finely granulated electron-dense material, interspersed with thin and randomly scattered collagen fibrils and proteoglycan filaments, is detectable. Beneath this thickened basement membrane, a layer of small undulated collagen fibril bundles with very numerous interspersed oxytalan fibres is found. The collagen fibrils, small in diameter (30-40 nm), seem to continue with the collagen fibrils of the basement membrane. In this layer numerous blood vessels with a very thick, delaminated basement membrane are also observed. The underlying area is characterized by the vocal cord ligament, composed by large compact collagen fibril bundles with interspersed elastic fibres. The particular features of the thick basement membrane, the thick-walled and delaminated vessels and the modular distribution of the elastic system together may well form the basic structure enabling the functional integration of the vocal ligament into the overlying mucosa and the underlying vocal muscle.
Preference of Invasive Cytotrophoblast for Maternal Vessels in Early Implantation in the Macaque
Authors: Enders A.C. , Lantz K.C. , Schlafke S.
Published: July 2008

The interaction of cytotrophoblast with maternal endometrium, especially endometrial blood vessels, was examined in macaque gestational stages between 2 and 8 days after the onset of implantation. Serial sectioning of these early implantation sites allowed immunostaining of consecutive sections with a number of different antibodies, facilitating cell identification. In the earliest implantation site, immunostaining showed that antibody to cytokeratin stained cytotrophoblast, syncytial trophoblast, epithelial plaque and endometrial gland cells. However, only those cytotrophoblast cells near the maternal-fetal border and within vessels showed surface staining for neural cell adhesion molecules and only syncytial trophoblast showed SP1 reactivity. Even at this early stage cytotrophoblast filled the lumen of superficial arterioles, whereas dilated venules contained only a few cytotrophoblast cells. In later stages endovascular cytotrophoblast not only plugged many spiral arterioles but also migrated into the walls of these arterioles, and progressed into deeper coils. Displacement of endothelial cells and disruption of vessel walls were illustrated with antibody to factor VIII, TGFoc, and desmin. Clusters of cytotrophoblast cells at the fetal-maternal interface tended to bypass clusters of epithelial plaque cells and larger clusters of maternal fibroblasts, but readily entered all vascular spaces. Consequently the vascular system constituted a major pathway of invasion, although the arterioles were the only component substantially invaded beyond the trophoblastic-shell/endometrial border.
Changing Patterns of Cell Adhesion Molecules during Mouse Pelage Hair Follicle Development
Authors: Hardy M.H. , Vielkind U.
Published: July 2008

The morphogenesis of hairs is initiated and maintained by reciprocal interactions between groups of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. To examine whether cell adhesion molecules play a role in this process, prenatal distribution patterns of various cell adhesion molecules were studied during hair follicle morphogenesis in the dorsal skin of C57BL mouse embryos, using monoclonal antibodies. E-cadherin was present on all epithelial cells of the skin when the ectoderm gave rise to periderm and epidermis. E-cadherin was reduced in the follicle placodes and hair plugs, then disappeared from the presumptive hair matrix of elongating follicles. P-cadherin was initially present on all cells of periderm and epidermis and was later retained at a reduced level in the basal epidermal layer. P-cadherin was prominent in all follicle placodes and hair plugs and in the presumptive hair matrix of elongating follicles. N-CAM was present on all mesenchymal cells of the presumptive dermis at the prefollicle stage, then temporarily restricted to a few cells just below the dermal-epithelial junction. Later, N-CAM reappeared in the interfollicular mesenchyme and was prominent in the mesenchymal sheath and dermal papilla of elongating follicles. In addition, N-CAM was expressed in the hair plugs, then becaume progressively restricted to the upper caudal part of the elongating follicles. The results suggest that the main role of cell adhesion molecules is to mould the follicle by relaxing or reinforcing cell contacts in areas of increased morphogenetic activity.
Myofibrillar Architecture in Engineered Cardiac Myocytes
Authors: Parker Kevin Kit , Tan John , Chen Christopher S. , Tung Leslie
Published: July 2008

Morphogenesis is often considered a function of transcriptional synchrony and the spatial limits of diffusing mitogens; however, physical constrainment by the cell microenvironment represents an additional mechanism for regulating self-assembly of subcellular structures. We asked whether myocyte shape is a distinct signal that potentiates the organization of myofibrillar arrays in cardiac muscle myocytes. We engineered the shape of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes by culturing them on microfabricated fibronectin islands, where they spread and assumed the shape of the island. Myofibrillogenesis followed, both spatially and temporally, the assembly of unique actin networks whose architecture was predictable given the shape of the island. Subsequently, the
z
lines of the sarcomeres aligned and registered in distinct patterns in different regions of the myocytes in such a way that orthogonal axes of contraction could be distinctly engineered. These data suggest that physical constrainment of muscle cells by extracellular matrix may be an important regulator of myofibrillar organization.
Optimizing Stroke Systems of Care by Enhancing Transitions Across Care Environments
Authors: Cameron Jill I. , Tsoi Chris , Marsella Amanda
Published: July 2008

Stroke affects many aspects of the lives of stroke survivors and their family caregivers. Supporting long-term recovery and rehabilitation are necessary to help stroke survivors adapt to living with the effects of stroke and to help family members adapt to the caregiving role. During recovery and rehabilitation, many elements of the health care continuum are utilized, including emergency response, acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and community and long-term care. With the advent of thrombolytic therapy and the benefits of stroke units, stroke survival and outcomes are improving. As a result, the current emphasis of stroke system improvement is to implement stroke units throughout the developed world. To enhance the patient centeredness of stroke care delivery, an important next phase of stroke system improvement will center on the experiences of stroke survivors and their family caregivers as they move through diverse care environments. The objective of this article was to conduct a scoping review of the literature on stroke transitions to identify the current areas of research emphasis. This article highlights stroke survivors’ and family caregivers’ experiences with transitions across care environment and some potential strategies to improve those transitions.
Stroke Location and Association With Fatal Cardiac Outcomes
Authors: Rincon Fred , Dhamoon Mandip , Moon Yeseon , Paik Myunghee C. , Boden-Albala Bernadette , Homma Shunichi , Di Tullio Marco R. , Sacco Ralph L. , Elkind Mitchell S.V.
Published: July 2008

Background and Purpose—

Cardiac mortality after stroke is common, and small studies have suggested an association of short-term cardiac mortality with insular location of cerebral infarction. Few population-based studies with long-term follow-up have evaluated the effect of stroke location on the long-term risk of cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) after first ischemic stroke. We sought to determine the association between stroke location and cardiac death or MI in a multiethnic community-based cohort.

Methods—

The Northern Manhattan Study is a population-based study designed to determine stroke incidence, risk factors, and prognosis in a multiethnic urban population. First ischemic stroke patients age 40 or older were prospectively followed up for cardiac death defined as fatal MI, fatal congestive heart failure, or sudden death/arrhythmia and for nonfatal MI. Primary brain anatomic site was determined by consensus of research neurologists. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were calculated by Cox proportional-hazards models and adjusted for vascular risk factors (age, sex, history of coronary disease, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, and smoking), stroke severity, infarct size, and stroke etiology.

Results—

The study population consisted of 655 patients whose mean age was 69.7±12.7 years; 44.6% were men and 51.3% were Hispanic. During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 44 patients (6.7%) had fatal cardiac events. Of these, fatal MI occurred in 38.6%, fatal congestive heart failure in 18.2%, and sudden death in 43.2%. In multivariate models, clinical diagnosis of left parietal lobe infarction was associated with cardiac death (adjusted HR=4.45; 95% CI, 1.83 to 10.83) and cardiac death or MI (adjusted HR=3.30; 95% CI, 1.45 to 7.51). When analysis of anatomic location was restricted to neuroimaging (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or both [n=447]), left parietal lobe infarction was associated with cardiac death (adjusted HR=3.37; 95% CI, 1.26 to 8.97), and both left (adjusted HR=3.49; 95% CI, 1.38 to 8.80) and right (adjusted HR=3.13; 95% CI, 1.04 to 9.45) parietal lobe infarctions were associated with cardiac death or MI. We did not find an association between frontal, temporal, or insular stroke and fatal cardiac events, although the number of purely insular strokes was small.

Conclusions—

Parietal lobe infarction is an independent predictor of long-term cardiac death or MI in this population. Further studies are needed to confirm whether parietal lobe infarction is an independent predictor of cardiac events and death. Surveillance for cardiac disease and implementation of cardioprotective therapies may reduce cardiac mortality in patients with parietal stroke.
Low Vitamin D Levels Predict Stroke in Patients Referred to Coronary Angiography
Authors: Pilz Stefan , Dobnig Harald , Fischer Joachim E. , Wellnitz Britta , Seelhorst Ursula , Boehm Bernhard O. , März Winfried
Published: July 2008

Background and Purpose—

Vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly and may contribute to cerebrovascular diseases. We aimed to elucidate whether low vitamin D levels are predictive for fatal stroke.

Methods—

The LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study includes 3316 patients who were referred to coronary angiography at baseline between 1997 and 2000. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] were measured in 3299 and 3315 study participants, respectively. To account for the seasonal variation of vitamin D metabolites, we calculated
z
values for the 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D concentrations within each month of blood draw.

Results—

During a median follow-up time of 7.75 years, 769 patients died, including 42 fatal (ischemic and hemorrhagic) strokes. When compared with survivors in binary logistic-regression analyses, the odds ratios (with 95% CIs) for fatal stroke were 0.58 (0.43 to 0.78;
P
<0.001) per
z
value of 25(OH)D and 0.62 (0.47 to 0.81;
P
<0.001) per
z
value of 1,25(OH)2D. After adjustment for several possible confounders, these odds ratios remained significant for 25(OH)D at 0.67 (0.46 to 0.97;
P
=0.032) and for 1,25(OH)2D at 0.72 (0.52 to 0.99;
P
=0.047).
Z
values of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D were also reduced in the 274 patients who had a history of previous cerebrovascular disease events at baseline.

Conclusions—

Low levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D are independently predictive for fatal strokes, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation is a promising approach in the prevention of strokes.
Image Navigation for the FY2 Geosynchronous Meteorological Satellite
Authors: Lu Feng , Zhang Xiaohu , Xu Jianmin
Published: July 2008

An automatic image navigation algorithm for Feng Yun 2 (FY2) spin-stabilized geosynchronous meteorological satellites was determined at the National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC) of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). This paper derives the parameters and coordinate systems used in FY2 image navigation, with an emphasis on attitude and misalignment parameters. The solution to the navigation model does not depend on any landmark matching.

The time series dataset of the satellite orientation with respect to the center line of the earth’s disk contains information on the two components of the attitude (orientation of the satellite spin axis) and the roll component of the misalignment. With this information, the two attitude components can be solved simultaneously, expressed as declination and right ascension (with diurnal variation in the fixed earth coordinate system) and the roll component of the misalignment (with no diurnal variation).

In each spin cycle, the satellite views the sun and earth. The position of the sun is detected and used to align earth observation pixels in the scan line together with an angle subtended at the satellite by the sun and earth (β). With satellite position and attitude known, the β angle can be calculated and predicted with sufficient accuracy. Next, the image is assembled. Prediction of the β angle takes an important role in the image formation process, as imperfect β angle prediction may cause east–west shift and image deformation. In the image registration process of FY2, both the east–west shift and the image deformation are compensated for.

The above-mentioned solution to the navigation model requires accurate knowledge of astronomical parameters and coordinate systems. The orbital, attitude, misalignment, and β angle parameters are produced automatically and routinely without any manual operation. Image navigation accuracy for the FY2 geosynchronous meteorological satellite approaches 5 km at the subsatellite point (SSP).
Comparison of Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter, 3DVAR, and 4DVAR in a Quasigeostrophic Model
Authors: Yang Shu-Chih , Corazza Matteo , Carrassi Alberto , Kalnay Eugenia , Miyoshi Takemasa
Published: July 2008

Local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) data assimilation, three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR), and four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) schemes are implemented in a quasigeostrophic channel model. Their advantages and disadvantages are compared to assess their use in practical applications. LETKF and 4DVAR, which take into account the flow-dependent errors, outperform 3DVAR under a perfect model scenario. Given the same observations, LETKF produces more accurate analyses than 4DVAR with a 12-h window by effectively correcting the fast-growing errors with the flow-dependent background error covariance. Even though 4DVAR performance benefits substantially from using a longer assimilation window, LETKF is also able to achieve a satisfactory accuracy compared to the 24-h 4DVAR analyses. It is shown that the advantage of the LETKF over 3DVAR is a result of both the ensemble averaging and the information about the “errors of the day” provided by the ensemble. The analysis corrections at the end of the 12-h assimilation window are similar for LETKF and the 12-h window 4DVAR, and they both resemble bred vectors. At the beginning of the assimilation window, LETKF analysis corrections obtained using a no-cost smoother also resemble the corresponding bred vectors, whereas the 4DVAR corrections are significantly different with much larger horizontal scales.
Modification of Cardiometabolic Risk Through Cannabinoid Type-1 Receptor Antagonism
Authors: Andrikopoulos George K. , Tzeis Stylianos
Published: July 2008

Large-scale epidemiological studies show that hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia are highly prevalent among obese individuals. Regrettably, preventive efforts have failed to abolish the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide. The endocannabinoid system is implicated in the regulation of appetite, food intake, lipids, and glucose metabolism. Rimonabant is the first type-1 endocannabinoid receptor blocker that has been shown to improve the serum lipid profile, insulin and glucose levels, and blood pressure. In particular, the RIO (rimonabant in obesity) studies documented the beneficial metabolic effects of rimonabant. These favorable metabolic effects exceed by about 50% those anticipated by weight reduction, possibly due to modulation of the endocannabinoid system in peripheral tissues. The beneficial effects, however, seem to come at the cost of an increased risk of psychiatric disorders. However, given the efficacy of this treatment and the magnitude of the obesity problem, rimonabant may prove to be a valuable adjunct in targeting obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors.
Organizational Responses to Negative Evaluation by External Stakeholders
Authors: Randel Amy E. , Jaussi Kimberly S. , Standifird Stephen S.
Published: July 2008

The authors offer a framework based on the stakeholder, organizational identity, and strategic response literatures to specify how organizational identity influences an organization’s responses to negative evaluation in the public domain by external stakeholders. The framework proposes how the number of organizational identities possessed by an organization and the level of perceived organizational identity threat affect which type of response an organization will adopt. Directions for future research are developed and implications for practicing managers are proposed.
Formulation of Long-term Creep and Fatigue Strengths of Polymer Composites Based on Accelerated Testing Methodology
Authors: Miyano Yasushi , Nakada Masayuki , Cai Hongneng
Published: July 2008

The applicability of our developed accelerated testing methodology (ATM) based on the time—temperature superposition principle (TTSP) and others for the prediction of long-term fatigue life of polymer matrix composites is performed experimentally and theoretically. A formulation method of master curves of creep and fatigue strengths for polymer matrix composites is introduced based on ATM. The master curves of creep and fatigue strengths for the typical three directions of unidirectional CFRP, that is the longitudinal tensile and compressive loadings and the transverse tensile loading, are formulated using the data measured based on ATM.