bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved symptoms and lifestyle more than 20 years after untethering surgery for primary tethered cord syndrome
Authors: Fukui Junnosuke , Ohotsuka Kuniyoshi , Asagai Yoshimi
Published: May 2011

Aims

Evaluation of the long‐term effectiveness of untethering surgery on social adaptations to urinary symptoms at the time of the survey.

Methods

Postoperative analysis of the current activities of daily life implemented as a postal questionnaire survey. Completed questionnaires were returned by 33 of 52 patients with primary tethered cord syndrome (p‐TCS) who had undergone untethering surgery more than 20 years ago, including 10 patients with tight filum terminale (TFT) and 23 with cauda equina adhesion syndrome (CEAS).

Results

Long‐term follow‐up surveys in patients with p‐TCS after untethering surgery indicated excellent effects on lower urinary tract symptoms in 9 of 10 patients with TFT, and the progression of symptoms tended to improve or halted in over half of the 23 patients with CEAS. However, one patient with TFT in whom new symptoms of voiding difficulty appeared immediately after surgery and 7 with CEAS showed deterioration of urinary and/or bowel symptoms. Eighteen patients complained of some symptoms caused by lower urinary tract dysfunction after untethering surgery in terms of difficulty in activities of daily life. With the exception of one female p‐TCS patient with short stature and low body weight, all data of physical status, as well as educational level, employment, occupational category and marriage statistics were within the normal respective ranges taken from the Japanese census.

Conclusions

Postoperative long‐term follow‐up survey in patients with p‐TCS indicated significant improvement of urological symptoms. However, 55% of patients had some lower urinary tract dysfunction that affected their activities in daily life. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:1333–1337, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Research using blogs for data: Public documents or private musings?
Authors: Eastham Linda A.
Published: May 2011

Nursing and other health sciences researchers increasingly find blogs to be valuable sources of information for investigating illness and other human health experiences. When researchers use blogs as their exclusive data source, they must discern the public/private aspects inherent in the nature of blogs in order to plan for appropriate protection of the bloggers' identities. Approaches to the protection of human subjects are poorly addressed when the human subject is a blogger and the blog is used as an exclusive source of data. Researchers may be assisted to protect human subjects via a decisional framework for assessing a blog author's intended position on the public/private continuum. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 34:353–361, 2011
Validity of diagnostic codes and liver‐related laboratory abnormalities to identify hepatic decompensation events in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study
Authors: Re Vincent Lo , Lim Joseph K. , Goetz Matthew Bidwell , Tate Janet , Bathulapalli Harini , Klein Marina B. , Rimland David , Rodriguez‐Barradas Maria C. , Butt Adeel A. , Gibert Cynthia L. , Brown Sheldon T. , Kidwai Farah , Brandt Cynthia , Dorey‐Stein Zachariah , Reddy K. Rajender , Justice Amy C.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The absence of validated methods to identify hepatic decompensation in cohort studies has prevented a full understanding of the natural history of chronic liver diseases and impact of medications on this outcome. We determined the ability of diagnostic codes and liver‐related laboratory abnormalities to identify hepatic decompensation events within the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS).

Methods

Medical records of patients with hepatic decompensation codes and/or laboratory abnormalities of liver dysfunction (total bilirubin ≥ 5.0 g/dL, albumin ≤ 2.0 g/dL, INR ≥ 1.7) recorded 1 year before through 6 months after VACS entry were reviewed to identify decompensation events (i.e., ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma) at VACS enrollment. Positive predictive values (PPVs) of diagnostic codes, laboratory abnormalities, and their combinations for confirmed outcomes were determined.

Results

Among 137 patients with a hepatic decompensation code and 197 with a laboratory abnormality, the diagnosis was confirmed in 57 (PPV, 42%; 95%CI, 33%–50%) and 56 (PPV, 28%; 95%CI, 22%–35%) patients, respectively. The combination of any code plus laboratory abnormality increased PPV (64%; 95%CI, 47%–79%). One inpatient or ≥2 outpatient diagnostic codes for ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, or variceal hemorrhage had high PPV (91%; 95%CI, 77%–98%) for confirmed hepatic decompensation events.

Conclusion

An algorithm of 1 inpatient or ≥ 2 outpatient codes for ascites, peritonitis, or variceal hemorrhage has sufficiently high PPV for hepatic decompensation to enable its use for epidemiologic research in VACS. This algorithm may be applicable to other cohorts. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New imidazole‐functionalized polyfluorene derivatives: convenient postfunctional syntheses, sensitive probes for metal ions and cyanide, and adjustable output signals with diversified fluorescence color
Authors: Dong Shoucheng , Ou Daxin , Qin Jingui , Li Zhen
Published: May 2011

Based on our previous work on the sensitive and selective conjugated fluorescent polymeric sensors toward cyanide, 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole and 4,7‐bis(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole were incorporated into the polyfluorene backbone to yield three new polymers bearing imidazole moieties in the side chains, with different fluorescence color. The fluorescence could be turned off by Cu2+ ions and then recovered on addition of cyanide, making them good cyanide sensors with the detection limit down to 1.9 μM. Moreover, by fully understanding this “turn off–turn on” strategy and using the cooperation of two polymers with different fluorescence color, the emission color of the mixture system of one of the imidazole‐containing polymers and one from the corresponding polymers without imidazole ones, could be adjusted by the concentrations of the added copper and cyanide ions, leading to the output fluorescent signals diversity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Convenient synthesis of thermo‐responsive PtBA‐g‐PPEGMEMA well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer without polymeric functional group transformation
Authors: Song Xuemei , Zhang Yaqin , Yang Dong , Yuan Li , Hu Jianhua , Lu Guolin , Huang Xiaoyu
Published: May 2011

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers bearing hydrophobic poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) backbone and hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)] (PPEGMEMA) side chains were synthesized by sequential reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) without any polymeric functional group transformation. A new Br‐containing acrylate monomer, tert‐butyl 2‐((2‐bromoisobutanoyloxy)methyl)acrylate (tBBIBMA), was first prepared, which can be homopolymerized by RAFT to give a well‐defined PtBBIBMA homopolymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.15). This homopolymer with pendant Br initiation group in every repeating unit initiated SET‐LRP of PEGMEMA at 45 °C using CuBr/dHbpy as catalytic system to afford well‐defined PtBBIBMA‐g‐PPEGMEMA graft copolymers via the grafting‐from strategy. The self‐assembly behavior of the obtained graft copolymers in aqueous media was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and TEM. These copolymers were found to be stimuli‐responsive to both temperature and ions. Finally, poly(acrylic acid)‐g‐PPEGMEMA double hydrophilic graft copolymers were obtained by selective acidic hydrolysis of hydrophobic PtBA backbone while PPEGMEMA side chains kept inert. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Electrospun fibers of functional nanocomposites composed of single‐walled carbon nanotubes, fullerene derivatives, and poly(3‐hexylthiophene)
Authors: Bounioux Céline , Itzhak Racheli , Avrahami Ron , Zussman Eyal , Frey Joseph , Katz Eugene A. , Yerushalmi‐Rozen Rachel
Published: May 2011

Electrospinning of fibers composed of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), fullerene derivative, phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) is reported. While of great promise for photovoltaic applications, morphological control of functional structures is a great challenge for most processing methods. It is demonstrated that the use of a tailor‐made block‐copolymer for dispersion of individual SWNT enables the preparation of stable dispersions of individual tubes that may be further cospun from chloroform solutions with PCBM and P3HT into submicron fibers. The block copolymer used to mediate the colloidal and interfacial interactions in the combined system enables the spinning of centimeters long and uniform fibers. Structural characterization indicates a high degree of ordering and alignment within the fibers and absorption and quenching of the photoluminescence indicate significant interactions among the components. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1263–1268, 2011
Increased incidence of bronchopulmonary fistulas complicating pediatric pneumonia
Authors: McKee A.J. , Ives A. , Balfour‐Lynn I.M.
Published: May 2011

Background

The frequency of complicated pneumococcal disease, including necrotizing pneumonia, has increased over the last decade. During 2008–2009, we noted an increase in the number of children whose empyema was complicated by the development of a bronchopleural fistula and air leak. We studied these children to see if there was an associated cause.

Methods

This was a retrospective case note and database review of children admitted to our tertiary unit with a parapneumonic effusion or empyema from 2002 to 2007, compared with 2008 to 2009. For the latter period, we also compared the outcomes of those with a bronchopleural fistula to those without.

Results

During the 8‐year period, 310 children were admitted. In the first 6 years, the frequency of air leaks was 1% (2/258) rising to 33% (16/49) in the last 2 years (P < 0.0001). Three children were excluded as their fistulas were possibly iatrogenic. This was associated with a significant increase in median hospital stay (7 vs. 10 days, P < 0.0001) and surgical intervention rate (2% vs. 14%, P = 0.001). In the latter 2 years, S. pneumoniae serotype 3 was identified in 10/16 (91%) of those with a bronchopleural fistula compared to 1/33 (3%) of those without.

Conclusions

The frequency of bronchopleural fistulas increased markedly in the 2 years 2008–2009. Although these cases were associated with pneumococcal serotype 3 infection, which was not covered by the heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar® in use at that time, we do not know whether the increased incidence of fistulas was due to a change in serotype 3 prevalence. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011; 46:717–721. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exhaled breath temperature in healthy children is influenced by room temperature and lung volume
Authors: Logie Karla M. , Kusel Merci M.H. , Sly Peter D. , Hall Graham L.
Published: May 2011

Background

Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has been proposed for the non‐invasive assessment of airway inflammation. Previous studies have not examined the influence of room temperature or lung size on the EBT.

Objective

This study aimed to address these issues in healthy children.

Methods

We assessed the effects of room temperature and lung volume in 60 healthy children aged 9–11 years (mean age 10.3 years, 33 male). Static lung volumes were assessed using multiple breath nitrogen washout. Questionnaire and skin prick tests were also used to establish respiratory health in the children. We obtained the EBT parameters of slope, end plateau temperature (PLET) and normalized plateau temperature (nPLET; plateau temperature minus inspired air temperature), and ascertained physiological factors influencing EBT.

Results

End plateau temperature was shown to be proportionally affected by room temperature (r = 0.532, P < 0.001) whereas slope and nPLET decreased with increasing room temperature (r = −0.392 P < 0.02 and r = −0.507 P = 0.002). After adjusting for room temperature, height and age, the total lung capacity (r2 = 0.435, P = 0.006) and slow vital capacity (SVC; r2 = 0.44, P = 0.005) were found to be the strongest predictors of end PLET in healthy children. When all factors were included in a multiple regression model, SVC and room temperature were the only predictors of plateau and nPLET. Slope was only influenced by room temperature.

Conclusions

Exhaled breath temperature measurements are highly feasible in children with a 95% success rate in this healthy population. Room temperature and SVC significantly influence EBT variables in healthy children. Further studies are required to investigate the ability of EBT to assess airway inflammation in children with respiratory disease. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2011; 46:1062–1068. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Discriminative properties of two predictive indices for asthma diagnosis in a sample of preschoolers with recurrent wheezing
Authors: Rodriguez‐Martinez Carlos E. , Sossa‐Briceño Monica P. , Castro‐Rodriguez Jose A.
Published: May 2011

Introduction

It is important to predict if preschool children with recurrent wheezing will suffer from asthma in future years. To aid in this early identification, a number of asthma predictive scores have been reported, such as the asthma predictive index (API) and the PIAMA risk score. However, to the best of our knowledge, their predictive properties have not been evaluated in any lower‐ to middle‐income country.

Materials and Methods

A prospective cohort study was carried out including preschoolers aged 1–3 years with recurrent wheezing who came to our Pediatric Pulmonary Unit in Bogota, Colombia. We collected the information required to complete the API index and the PIAMA risk score. At 5–6 years of age, the patients were contacted in order to determine if they were suffering from active asthma. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios (LR) of the API and PIAMA risk scores for the presence of active asthma at 5–6 years old.

Results

The mean age at recruitment of the 130 included patients was 27.2 ± 5.9 months. The loose API yielded a sensitivity of 71.4% (95% CI: 50.0–86.2), specificity of 33.3% (95% CI 23.5–44.8), and positive predictive value of 23.8% (95% CI: 15.0–35.6). The stringent API yielded a sensitivity of 42.9% (95% CI: 24.5–63.5), specificity of 79.2% (95% CI 68.4–86.9), positive predictive value of 37.5% (95% CI: 21.2–57.3), and positive LR of 2.06. The PIAMA risk score yielded a sensitivity of 54.5% (95% CI: 42.6–66.0), specificity of 78.9 (95% CI: 66.7–87.5), positive predictive value of 75.0 (95% CI: 61.2–85.1), and positive LR of 2.59.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that both indices can be used to predict asthma in preschoolers with recurrent wheezing in the context of a referral hospital. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011; 46: 1175–1181. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Properties of monolithic InGaN quantum dot pillar microcavities
Authors: Sebald K. , Seyfried M. , Kalden J. , Dartsch H. , Tessarek C. , Aschenbrenner T. , Figge S. , Kruse C. , Hommel D. , Florian M. , Jahnke F. , Gutowski J.
Published: May 2011

InGaN quantum dots were successfully implemented into fully epitaxially grown nitride‐based monolithic microcavities (MCs). The discrete modes of airpost pillar MCs prepared out of the planar sample are shown in microreflectivity as well as in microphotoluminescence. These measurements are compared to theoretical simulations based on a vectorial‐transfer matrix method. Quality factors of up to 280 have been achieved and the emission of a single quantum dot was traced up to a temperature of 125 K.
Paramagnetic regime in Zn1−xMnxGeAs2 diluted magnetic semiconductor
Authors: Kilanski L. , Fedorchenko I. V. , Górska M. , Dynowska E. , Wójcik M. , Kowalski B. J. , Anderson J. R. , Rotundu C. R. , Varnavskiy S. A. , Dobrowolski W. , Marenkin S. F.
Published: May 2011

The systematic studies of both magnetic and magnetotransport properties of Zn0.947Mn0.053GeAs2 diluted magnetic semiconductor are presented. The paramagnetic behaviour of the sample confirms that the solubility of Mn in the studied alloy is of the order of 5 at%. The Curie–Weiss behaviour of magnetic susceptibility is preserved only at low temperatures, T < 100 K indicating the presence of short‐range magnetic interactions in the system due to the presence of groups of Mn counting few ions. The high‐field magnetization together with magnetoresistance data is used to estimate the amount of magnetic ions active in the semiconductor matrix. The obtained results showed that the amount of magnetically active Mn ions in the semiconductors matrix is two orders of magnitude lower than the value obtained from X‐ray fluorescence measurements. The magnetotransport studies revealed that only about 30% of all Mn ions are electrically active in the semiconductor matrix.
Electronic structure of CeAgGa based on the experimental and model data
Authors: Goraus Jerzy , Ślebarski Andrzej , Fijałkowski Marcin
Published: May 2011

Ferromagnetic compound CeAgGa crystallizes in CeCu2 Imma structure with Ag and Ga atoms distributed randomly at 8h position. We report X‐ray photoemission (XPS) valence‐band spectra for CeAgGa and compare the results with those obtained from the full potential linear augmented plane‐wave (FP‐LAPW) method. In order to study the influence of the atomic disorder at 8h sites on the calculated density of states (DOS) we analysed different geometries of the unit cell, possible for CeAgGa. We found that neither disorder nor Ce 4f electron correlations, when they are also taken into account, do give satisfactory agreement between the calculated DOSs and the XPS spectra. We show, however, that inclusion of a Coulomb repulsion U on the Ag 4d states yields a good result. We also report that disorder in Ag/Ga layers leads to the localization of the Ag 4d states. Magnetic moments on Ce atoms from our calculations are in good agreement with those obtained experimentally and the ferromagnetic ground state is energetically preferred. The valence of Ce ions close to 3+ has also been confirmed by the Ce 3d XPS spectra.
First principles study of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of Nb2N and Ta2N compounds
Authors: Chihi T. , Parlebas J. C. , Guemmaz M.
Published: May 2011

Structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of hexagonal β‐Nb2N and β‐Ta2N compounds are studied for different pressures. The computational technique is based on a plane wave pseudo potential (PWPP) method. The exchange correlation is treated using a generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We evaluate ground state quantities such as lattice parameter, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative, as well as elastic constants. The calculated equilibrium lattice is in rather good agreement with experimental data. Elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using a static finite strain technique. We derive bulk and shear moduli, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline β‐Nb2N and β‐Ta2N aggregates. Also, we present results of densities of states. Furthermore, starting from dynamical optical properties, the static dielectric constant ε(ω = 0) is calculated for both compounds, along with the corresponding static refractive index n(0). The present results are a pioneer quantitative theoretical prediction of elastic, electronic and optical properties in the case of β‐Nb2N and β‐Ta2N compounds.
Structural characterization of MBE grown InGaGdN/GaN and InGaN/GaGdN structures
Authors: Krishnamurthy Daivasigamani , Tawil Siti Nooraya Mohd , Kakimi Rina , Ishimaru Manabu , Emura Shuichi , Zhou Yi‐Kai , Hasegawa Shigehiko , Asahi Hajime
Published: June 2011

The structural characteristics of Gd doped InGaN structures grown by radio frequency plasma assisted MBE are analysed using high resolution x‐ray diffraction and reciprocal space maps (RSMs). The symmetric (002) RSMs of the InGaGdN thin films, InGaGdN/GaN and InGaN/GaGdN superlattice (SL) structures confirmed the absence of any tilt between the GaN buffer and the thin films or SL structures. The asymmetric RSMs of InGaGdN thin films showed double reciprocal lattice points (RLPs). The asymmetric RSMs of both types of superlattice structures indicated the presence of partial relaxation. The degree of partial relaxation increased with the Gd concentration for a fixed In composition. The InGaN/GaGdN SLs showed better crystallinity. Under optimized conditions, almost coherent growth of InGaN/GaGdN SLs could be achieved as confirmed by the nearly aligned RLPs in their asymmetric RSMs. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Nanosilicon: a new platform for photonics
Authors: Bettotti Paolo , Pavesi Lorenzo
Published: May 2011

Silicon photonics has produced the first all‐optical components intergrated into systems available already on the market. Nanosilicon, where low dimensional silicon allows new phenomena and devices, is a way to expand the reach of silicon photonics. In this article we review some of our past research activities focused on the demonstration of innovative photonic integrated circuits building blocks. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Application of the photomodulated reflectance technique to the monitoring of metal layers
Authors: Dobos Gábor , Somogyi András , Lenk Sándor , Újhelyi Ferenc , Szita Zsófia , Kocsányi László
Published: May 2011

Photomodulated reflectance (PMR) measurement techniques are currently used for the monitoring of ultra‐shallow junctions. This paper discusses the possibility of applying them to the characterisation of metal layers. A finite element method based computer model has been created to study the dependence of the PMR signal on different sample parameters. We present the results of these simulations and show that the method can be used to establish the thickness of a metal layer (if the material is known) and it can also provide information about the metal/semiconductor interface. This information might be used to characterise the barrier seed layer beneath the metal, by a non‐contact and non‐destructive way. Simulation results are also supported by actual measurements on test samples. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Control of discrete cavity solitons in coupled cavities
Authors: Aghdami Keivan Mahmoud , Karimi Roghayeh , Kheradmand Reza
Published: May 2011

In this paper, the light propagation in arrays of coupled optical cavities endowed with self‐focusing Kerr nonlinearity, derived by a holding beam has been studied. Our simulations showed the possibility of solitons switching (on/off) with appropriate Gaussian beam. The minimum injection time of control beam for a successful writing/erasing process is obtained. We estimate maximum rate for sequence of on/off switching in this system (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Clinical Assessment of a Supplement of Pycnogenol® and l‐arginine in Japanese Patients with Mild to Moderate Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Aoki Hiromitsu , Nagao Junji , Ueda Taro , Strong Jeffry M. , Schonlau Frank , Yu‐Jing Song , Lu Yan , Horie Shigeo
Published: May 2011

A double‐blind parallel group comparison design clinical study was conducted in Japanese patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction to investigate the efficacy of a supplement containing Pycnogenol® and L‐arginine. Subjects were instructed to take a supplement (Pycnogenol® 60 mg/day, l‐arginine 690 mg/day and aspartic acid 552 mg/day) or an identical placebo for 8 weeks, and the results were assessed using the five‐item erectile domain (IIEF‐5) of the International Index of Erectile Function. Additionally, blood biochemistry, urinalysis and salivary testosterone were measured. Eight weeks of supplement intake improved the total score of the IIEF‐5. In particular, a marked improvement was observed in ‘hardness of erection’ and ‘satisfaction with sexual intercourse’. A decrease in blood pressure, aspartate transaminase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GTP), and a slight increase in salivary testosterone were observed in the supplement group. No adverse reactions were observed during the study period. In conclusion, Pycnogenol® in combination with l‐arginine as a dietary supplement is effective and safe in Japanese patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inter‐laboratory comparison: Quantitative surface analysis of thin Fe‐Ni alloy films
Authors: Kim K. J. , Unger W. E. S. , Kim J. W. , Moon D. W. , Gross T. , Hodoroaba V.‐D. , Schmidt D. , Wirth T. , Jordaan W. , van Staden M. , Prins S. , Zhang L. , Fujimoto T. , Song X. P. , Wang H.
Published: May 2011

An international interlaboratory comparison of the measurement capabilities of four National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and one Designated Institute (DI) in the determination of the chemical composition of thin Fe‐Ni alloy films was conducted via a key comparison (K‐67) of the Surface Analysis Working Group of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance. This comparison was made using XPS (four laboratories) and AES (one laboratory) measurements. The uncertainty budget of the measured chemical composition of a thin alloy film was dominated by the uncertainty of the certified composition of a reference specimen which had been determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using the isotope dilution method. Pilot study P‐98 showed that the quantification using relative sensitivity factors (RSFs) of Fe and Ni derived from an alloy reference sample results in much more accurate result in comparison to an approach using RSFs derived from pure Fe and Ni films. The individual expanded uncertainties of the participants in the K‐67 comparison were found to be between 2.88 and 3.40 atomic %. The uncertainty of the key comparison reference value (KCRV) calculated from individual standard deviations and a coverage factor (k) of 2 was 1.23 atomic %. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Excessive fluoride induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and interferes enamel proteinases secretion
Authors: Wei Wei , Gao Yanhui , Wang Cheng , Zhao Lijun , Sun Dianjun
Published: May 2011

Protein retention in the enamel layer during tooth formation is well known to be associated with dental fluorosis but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The functions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) correlate directly with secreted protein metabolism. We used an ameloblast‐derived cell line to determine whether excessive amounts of fluoride cause ER stress, and whether this interferes with the secretion of enamel matrix proteinases. ER stress activates a signaling network called the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here, we used real‐time RT‐PCR and immunofluorescence to study the effect of fluoride on the expression, translation, and secretion of UPR transcription factors in ameloblast‐like cells. Measurement of both the gene and protein expression of UPR transcription factors indicated that high‐dose fluoride increases the expression of UPR transcription factors in a dose‐dependent manner. We also used ELISA to detect and quantify the enamel proteinases secreted by ameloblasts. We found a corresponding decrease in extracellular secretion of the enamel proteinases matrix metalloproteinase‐20 and kallikrein‐4, after exposure to fluoride. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that the expression of UPR transcription factors showed a strong inverse correlation with that of enamel proteinases. The results suggest that high‐dose fluoride initiates an ER stress response in ameloblasts and induces the UPR, which interferes with the synthesis and secretion of enamel proteinases. Taken together, these results suggest that excessive ingestion of fluoride during tooth formation can decrease the secretion of proteinases, thus causing protein retention in the enamel layer, indicating that the ER stress response may be responsible for dental fluorosis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.
Four‐year follow‐up of chronic neuronopathic Gaucher disease in Europeans using a modified severity scoring tool
Authors: Davies Elin Haf , Mengel Eugen , Tylki‐Szymanska Anna , Kleinotiene G. , Reinke Joerg , Vellodi Ashok
Published: May 2011

In 2007, the European Task Force for neuronopathic Gaucher disease (NGD) published a review of 55 patients across four countries. Although some observations were possible, analysis was difficult due to the absence of a systematic way of assessing patients. In response to this, a Severity Scoring Tool (SST) was devised to offer a systematic means of assessing the neurological presentation seen. The SST has been modified (mSST) and is a valid tool for monitoring neurological progression. This review describes disease status and progression of neurological manifestations in a cohort of 39 chronic NGD patients across three European countries over a period of 4 years, using the mSST.
Statistical Significance of the Contribution of Variables to the PCA solution: An Alternative Permutation Strategy
Authors: Linting Mariëlle , van Os Bart Jan , Meulman Jacqueline J.
Published: May 2011

In this paper, the statistical significance of the contribution of variables to the principal components in principal components analysis (PCA) is assessed nonparametrically by the use of permutation tests. We compare a new strategy to a strategy used in previous research consisting of permuting the columns (variables) of a data matrix independently and concurrently, thus destroying the entire correlational structure of the data. This strategy is considered appropriate for assessing the significance of the PCA solution as a whole, but is not suitable for assessing the significance of the contribution of single variables. Alternatively, we propose a strategy involving permutation of one variable at a time, while keeping the other variables fixed. We compare the two approaches in a simulation study, considering proportions of Type I and Type II error. We use two corrections for multiple testing: the Bonferroni correction and controlling the False Discovery Rate (FDR). To assess the significance of the variance accounted for by the variables, permuting one variable at a time, combined with FDR correction, yields the most favorable results. This optimal strategy is applied to an empirical data set, and results are compared with bootstrap confidence intervals.
Effect of graft site and gonadotrophin treatment on follicular development of canine ovarian grafts transplanted to NOD‐SCID mice
Authors: Abdel‐Ghani Mohammed Ali , Abe Yasuyuki , Asano Tomoyoshi , Suzuki Hiroshi
Published: May 2011

Purpose

To investigate the effect of graft site and gonadotrophins administration on the number and survival rate of follicles of canine ovarian grafts transplanted to NOD‐severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice.

Methods

Fresh ovarian cortex slices obtained from immature bitches were grafted subcutaneously (SC), under kidney capsule (KC) or into ovarian bursa (OB) in NOD‐SCID mice. Two months after surgery, the mice allocated into non‐treated and treated gonadotrophins groups that injected with porcine follicle stimulating hormone during 7 days and human chorionic gonadotrophin 48 h later. Ovarian grafts were collected after 10 h of last injection and processed for histology.

Results

The number of transitional and preantral follicles under KC and into OB was significantly higher in gonadotrophins‐treated mice than those who received saline. Furthermore, the survival rates of primary, transitional and preantral follicles under KC and into OB grafts were significantly higher than those placed SC in the treated gonadotrophins group, and in the non‐treated gonadotrophins group; the proportion of primary and preantral follicle survival was significantly higher under KC and into OB than SC grafts.

Conclusions

In canine ovarian xenografting, administration of gonadotrophin could be effective for improvement of survival of transplanted ovary. Furthermore, the grafting into OB appeared to be better than grafting under KC, which in turn is better than SC.
Margins and Hedge Fund Contagion
Authors: Dudley Evan , Nimalendran Mahendrarajah
Published: May 2011

Funding risk measures the extent to which a fund can borrow money by posting collateral. Using a novel measure of funding risk based on futures margins, we are able to empirically identify the mechanism by which changes in funding risk affect the likelihood of contagion. An increase in margins of the order of magnitude observed during the subprime crisis increases the probability of contagion among certain types of funds by up to 34%. Our analysis shows that some types of hedge funds are more vulnerable to contagion than others. Our results also suggest that policies that limit the magnitude of changes in margins over short periods of time may reduce the likelihood of contagion among hedge funds.
New dialogues, old routes: emergent collaborations between Brazilian and Angolan music makers
Authors: Moehn Frederick
Published: May 2011

This article considers emergent musical dialogues and official cultural collaborations between Brazil and Angola in light of recent literature theorizing the Lusophone Atlantic. As Angola restructures following a long civil war and Brazil takes a leading role among the rapidly developing BRIC nations, new questions arise pertaining to the African heritage in Brazilian music, and to Brazil's role in Angolan cultural initiatives and musical markets. Through examination of Brazilian discourse about such exchanges, combined with a comparative analysis of three versions of Angolan musician Teta Lando’s 1974 song, ‘Angolano segue em frente’ (Landos original, a recent Brazilian rerecording, and a Brazilian remix), I reveal a South-South dialogue that builds on historical connections yet also establishes new resonances in musical evocations of Atlantic affinities and flows.
Constructing community in the digital home studio: Carnival, creativity and indigenous music video production in the Bolivian Andes
Authors: Stobart Henry
Published: May 2011

This paper examines issues surrounding the production of a Carnival music video VCD in the home studio of the Bolivian indigenous(originario)musician and cultural activist Gregorio Mamani. On the one hand, continuities with rural productive practices suggest a model for the ‘home studio’ more resembling a ‘cottage industry’ than the kind of ‘isolated’ activity separate from family life that Paul Théberge has described for the case of North America (1997). On the other hand, the urban isolation, entrepreneurial motivations, and concern with promoting the individual that characterise Gregorio Mamani's home studio suggest the very antithesis of indigenous community values. Notwithstanding difficult relations with his community of origin and his use of technological artifice to construct (or even ‘fake’) an audiovisual impression of thecommunitasof Carnival, Mamani presents this work as a means to ‘strengthen culture’. Despite these contradictions, this low budget production – targeted at rural peasants and urban migrants – is shown to engage deeply with indigenous concepts of creativity and oral tradition, as well as potentially contributing to the construction of broader circuits of culture and ‘imagined communities’. Mamani's individualistic, yet influential, approach and his insistence that only one or two individuals are the composers in an indigenous community, challenges us to question the relationship between creativity and community.
A combinator library for the design of railway track layouts
Authors: STRATFORD BARNEY
Published: May 2011

In the design of railway track layouts, there are only a small number of geometric configurations that are used in practice, and a number of constraints as to how those configurations can be fitted together to create a whole layout. In order to solve these problems, we construct a Haskell combinator library. The library has been used for the design of real-world track layouts.
Structural recursion with locally scoped names
Authors: PITTS ANDREW M.
Published: May 2011

This paper introduces a new recursion principle for inductively defined data modulo α-equivalence of bound names that makes use of Odersky-style local names when recursing over bound names. It is formulated in simply typed λ-calculus extended with names that can be restricted to a lexical scope, tested for equality, explicitly swapped and abstracted. The new recursion principle is motivated by the nominal sets notion of ‘α-structural recursion’, whose use of names and associated freshness side-conditions in recursive definitions formalizes common practice with binders. The new calculus has a simple interpretation in nominal sets equipped with name-restriction operations. It is shown to adequately represent α-structural recursion while avoiding the need to verify freshness side-conditions in definitions and computations. The paper is a revised and expanded version of Pitts (Nominal System T. InProceedings of the 37th ACM SIGACT-SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages, POPL 2010 (Madrid, Spain). ACM Press, pp. 159–170, 2010).
Effect of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance and habitat occupancy of two endemic hornbill species in Buton island, Sulawesi
Authors: WINARNI NURUL L. , JONES MARTIN
Published: May 2011

The Red-knobbed HornbillRhyticeros cassidixand the Sulawesi Tarictic HornbillPenelopides exarhatusare endemic to Sulawesi. This study assessed the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on these two species in Lambusango forest, Buton, south-east Sulawesi. Data were collected between 2005 and 2007 in six study sites which varied in their levels of disturbance. Two of the lightly disturbed and two of the more heavily disturbed sites were within ‘protection forest’ whereas the rest were classified as ‘production forest’. We used point counts with distance sampling to survey the hornbills. Habitat data were also collected at each of the points and related to hornbill ‘occupancy’ with the program PRESENCE. Both hornbills were estimated to be at higher density in the lightly disturbed forest but the level of disturbance had more of a detrimental effect on Red-knobbed Hornbill than on Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill. Lightly disturbed forest had significantly more large trees than the heavily disturbed forest but there was no difference in the abundance of figs. Using four covariates (disturbance level, protection status, number of large trees, and number of figs), 99% of presence/absence of Red-knobbed Hornbills at the points could be explained by habitat disturbance and 87% by forest status; the same covariates explained 76% of presence/absence for the Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill with abundance of large trees as the most important factor. These results support the notion that Red-knobbed Hornbill is more sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance and its conservation is highly dependent upon the preservation of forest habitats with low levels of disturbance.
Fontan conversion with concomitant arrhythmia surgery for the failing atriopulmonary connections: mid-term results from a single centre
Authors: Sridhar Anuradha , Giamberti Alessandro , Foresti Sara , Cappato Riccardo , Rubio-Iglesias García Carlos , Cabrera Nerea Delgado , Micheletti Angelo , Negura Diana , Bussadori Claudio , Butera Gianfranco , Frigiola Alessandro , Carminati Mario , Chessa Massimo
Published: May 2011

Objectives

Classical Atriopulmonary Fontan connections tend to fail in the long term due to progressive anastomotic site obstruction, right atrial enlargement, and refractory atrial arrhythmias. Conversion to total cavopulmonary connection with concomitant arrhythmia surgery is a promising treatment but optimal timing of the procedure remains controversial.

Methods

Between the years 2002 and 2009, 15 patients with a median age of 26.2 (12–43) years underwent Fontan conversion operation with concomitant arrhythmia surgery. All were symptomatic and 14 out of the 15 patients had refractory arrhythmias. The duration of pre-operative arrhythmia and the outcome of surgery were correlated to study the impact of delay in surgical intervention on post-operative survival and arrhythmia control.

Results

There were two patients who died in the early post-operative period (13.3%). At the mid-term follow-up, 53 (20–86) months, late atrial arrhythmias had recurred in two of the 13 surviving patients (15.30%) and one patient developed late sinus node dysfunction. The need for anti-arrhythmic drugs decreased considerably from 93.5% to 15.3% on mid-term follow-up. There was no late death or need for cardiac transplantation. The duration of arrhythmia before surgery was prolonged for more than 10 years in patients who died as well as in those who had complications like late recurrence of arrhythmias, dependence on anti-arrhythmic medications, and worsening of ventricular dysfunction.

Conclusions

Fontan conversion is a well-established treatment option for salvaging the failing atriopulmonary connections. Concomitant arrhythmia surgery effectively resolves the refractory atrial arrhythmias and improves survival, but we need to optimise the timing of Fontan conversion to improve the long-term outcome.
Environmental and development issues in Latin America: moving forward
Authors: ALPÍZAR FRANCISCO , MONTERO JUAN-PABLO
Published: May 2011

For the most part, economic research in Latin America has had a ‘macro’ orientation (e.g., economic growth, monetary and fiscal policy, hyperinflation crisis). This is perfectly understandable because of the macro instability that has affected the entire region for decades and that still remains in many places. However, the composition of research is gradually changing as more attention is paid to a wider set of problems. Nowadays we see an increasing number of researchers in the region focusing on a variety of economic problems dealing with health, education, poverty alleviation, competition policy and the protection of natural resources and pollution control, among many others. This special issue of Environment and Development Economics presents a small sample of four research papers on these latter topics by researchers in established academic institutions in the region.
Masking Levels (Minimum Masking Levels) and Tinnitus Frequency
Authors: Johnson Robert M. , Fenwick James
Published: May 2011

Regardless of the procedure used for the treatment of tinnitus, most clinicians initially attempt to determine the pitch and loudness of tinnitus. If the treatment of choice is a tinnitus masking program, two additional measures are made routinely. The first is an evaluation of the minimum masking level (MML) and the second is a determination of the amount of residual inhibition that occurs as the result of presenting a continuous stimulus over a period of time (generally for one minute).
Ear Disease and Auditory Hallucinations: (Some Observations in Otosclerosis and in Alcoholism)
Authors: Weiss Alfred D.
Published: May 2011

Hallucinations are a well known aspect of chronic alcoholism. Visual hallucinations are much more common than auditory hallucinations, and both occur as part of the syndrome of sudden withdrawal following prolonged, heavy imbibition of alcoholic beverages, approximately the equivalent of one pint of ethanol per day for forty days. During the first 24–36 hours of alcohol withdrawal, acute visual and auditory hallucinations and grand mal seizures may occur prior to the disorientation and autonomic changes of delirium tremens, which need not follow invariably. Thus, some study of the patients in this stage is possible. The characteristic of the hallucinational content is its concreteness. The visual hallucination is of figures, faces and objects which the patient describes in concrete detail. The auditory hallucinations are of voices which the patient can describe, and quote what they are saying to him or to each other. Often the faces and voices are not familiar to the patient, and they may seem benign, although they are more commonly threatening. These hallucinations are distinctly different from those seen in schizophrenic patients. During the acute phase, the auditory hallucinations are localized as coming from the next room, or from the street, and not as being inside the head or in the ears.
Acoustic Trauma: Tinnitus and Vertigo
Authors: Weiss Alfred D. , Weiss Elizabeth R.
Published: May 2011

Three hundred ten randomly selected male shipyard workers, with an average age of 56 years, with an average of 19 years with their employer, excluding workers with evidence of other otologic or relevant neurologic disease, were analyzed in terms of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and family history of hearing loss. The audiograms showed bilateral, symmetrical mid to high frequency hearing loss with SRT of 21 db and 85 per cent PB word discrimination. Eleven per cent had a family history of hearing loss, but this did not correlate with the patients' hearing loss, tinnitus, or vertigo. Fifteen per cent of the patients gave a history of vertigo. Tinnitus occurred in 43 per cent of right ears and in 41 per cent of left ears. Statistical analysis showed that the tinnitus did not correlate with hearing loss at any frequency in the right ear but correlated significantly with hearing loss at 2000 and 3000 HZ in the left ear! These were significant but small. Multiple correlational analysis indicated.
A new high-frequency audiometer
Authors: Tonndorf Juergen , Kurman Barbara
Published: May 2011

Tinnitus (TI) is held to be a symptom that is usually associated with hearing losses of various origin (Chaba, 1982). This notion was, at least partially, supported by Berlin. In a number of patients with Tl, who did not show hearing losses on discretefrequency audiometry, he demonstrated small circumscribed losses at between frequencies by means of Békésy audiometer with a continuous-frequency sweep. Berlin then proposed that in some other patients, in whom hearing losses are not evident, these may be located in the highfrequency region, beyond the reach of conventional audiometry, i.e., beyond 8 kHz.
Relationship of acoustic stimulation and tinnitus suppression by electrical stimulation
Authors: Shulman A.
Published: May 2011

Electrical stimulation of the auditory system results in auditory perception as well as auditory suppression. Historically, this is well documented. The recent application of advances of high technology and microsurgery of the ear have allowed basic science and clinical investigation to have access to electrical stimulation of the auditory system and its response. It is historically of great interest that such investigation in the past always involved attempts for evaluation and treatment for either auditory stimulation and/or auditory suppression. I believe the work of Aran (1981) reawakened recent interest in electrical stimulation of the auditory system for tinnitus suppression as well as auditory stimulation. Briefly, in his investigation of a deaf patient, he observed the following: (a) negative currents were more effective than positive currents for auditory stimulation; (b) positive current pulses reduced (suppressed) the intensity of tinnitus; (c) electrical stimulation in deaf patients by negative currents resulted in some sound perception. (In the congenitally deaf patients, it is difficult to evaluate the sensation produced); (d) the intensity of positive pulses necessary to suppress tinnitus is always higher than that of negative pulses resulting in auditory perception; (e) for positive pulses, the range between the threshold of tinnitus suppression and auditory perception when pulses of intermediate intensity are used, without inducing auditory perception, is wide enough to achieve total tinnitus suppression. (In other words, the current effective for electrical stimulation suppressing tinnitus is at a strength well below that producing auditory sensation); (f) negative electrical pulses can produce two different sounds-tinnitus and an auditory sensation; (g) electrical stimulation via the promontory and/or round window can be used both for auditory stimulation as well as for auditory suppression.