bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone‐1 Gene Expression in the Preoptic Area Predicts Transitions in Seasonal Reproductive State
Authors: Stevenson T. J. , Hahn T. P. , Ball G. F.
Published: October 2011

In many seasonally reproducing animals, the experience of prolonged exposure to constant photoperiods results in the induction of a state of photorefractoriness, which is defined as a lack of responsiveness to a previously stimulatory photoperiod. The physiological and genetic processes that control photorefractoriness are not well understood; however, the hallmark of photorefractoriness is an endogenous change in the physiological response to a constant photoperiod. It is already known that preoptic area (POA) gnrh1 gene expression declines during the development of refractoriness to long‐day stimulation in European starlings. We employed in situ hybridisation histochemistry to characterise changes in POA gnrh1 mRNA expression during the reinstatement of photosensitivity in female starlings. Photorefractory starlings moved to short days (8L:16D) increased optical density of gnrh1 expressing cells within 10 days. Exposure to 30 short days resulted in greater visible gnrh1 cell numbers, with no detectable change in measures of ovarian follicular volume and oviduct mass. We subsequently examined the extent of gnrh1 expression in response to photostimulation after incremental periods on short day lengths. A significant long‐day‐induced increase in both gnrh1 expression and ovarian and oviduct mass occurred only after at least 30 short days. These findings demonstrate that the recovery of photorefractoriness involves an increase in gnrh1 mRNA expression and expands upon our previous knowledge that the development of photosensitivity is associated with an increase in both the precursor proGnRH1‐GAP and GnRH1 peptides in the POA. Importantly, the change in the brain sensitivity occurs well before such changes can be detected via variation in ovarian activity.
Renal histological lesions and outcome in liver transplant recipients
Authors: Tsapenko Mykola , El‐Zoghby Ziad M. , Sethi Sanjeev
Published: October 2011

Tsapenko M, El‐Zoghby ZM, Sethi S. Renal histological lesions and outcome in liver transplant recipients.  Clin Transplant 2012: 26: E48–E54.  © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Background:  Chronic kidney disease in liver transplant (OLT) recipients is often attributed to calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) toxicity, but little is known about the spectrum of their renal histological lesions.

Methods:  Between 1988 and 2008, 1698 OLTs were performed in our center. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and histological data on 23 recipients (1.4%) referred for kidney biopsy (KB).

Results:  Median age at OLT was 50.2 yr, 65.2% were men, 30.4% had hepatitis C, and 95.7% were given CNI. KB was performed 6.9 yr (median) post‐OLT. Median creatinine was 1 mg/dL pre‐OLT and 2.2 mg/dL at KB. Main pathological diagnoses were focal segmental and global glomerulosclerosis (n = 8, 34.8%), glomerular diseases (7, 30.4%), CNI toxicity (2, 8.7%), and diabetic nephropathy (2, 8.7%). Moderate/severe interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, arteriosclerosis, and hyalinosis were present in 47.8%, 43.5%, 60.9%, and 56.5%, respectively. Twelve patients (52.5%) reached end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) and 17 (73.9%) died. Death was more common among those reaching ESRD, but the difference was not significant (83.3% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.37).

Conclusion:  Renal histology is variable and not limited to CNI toxicity in OLT recipients referred for KB. Whether management based on KB findings can directly improve outcomes remains unclear.
Expression and functions of proteases in vascular tissues
Authors: Petzold H. Earl , Zhao Mingzhe , Beers Eric P.
Published: October 2011

With the emergence of new models for wood formation and the increasing emphasis on improving the efficiency of cellulosic biofuel production, research on vascular tissue biology has intensified in recent years. Some of the most active areas of research focus on manipulating activity of enzymes in the cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin pathways. In addition, great strides have been made in the characterization of transcriptional networks controlling genes that affect differentiation, secondary cell wall synthesis and programmed cell death in xylem. Less attention has been devoted to the characterization of proteases that may be important regulators of post‐translational events that affect vascular cell differentiation and function and cell wall composition. Several genes for proteases and components of the ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway are upregulated in xylem and phloem and in cell culture systems for studying the differentiation of xylem tracheary elements (TEs). Although small molecule protease inhibitors have been used to explore the roles of proteases during the differentiation of cultured TEs, only a small number of vascular tissue‐associated protease genes have been directly tested to determine whether they play roles in vascular tissue biology. In this report, we review roles for proteases in vascular cell differentiation and function as determined through the use of protease inhibitors and genetic analyses and conclude by identifying opportunities for future research in this area.
Genetic and phenotypic influences on clone‐level success and host specialization in a generalist parasite
Authors: KOEHLER A. V. , SPRINGER Y. P. , RANDHAWA H. S. , LEUNG T. L. F. , KEENEY D. B. , POULIN R.
Published: October 2011

Studying resource specialization at the individual level can identify factors constraining the evolution of generalism. We quantified genotypic and phenotypic variability among infective stages of 20 clones of the parasitic trematode Maritrema novaezealandensis and measured their infection success and post‐infection fitness (growth, egg output) in several crabs and amphipods. First, different clones varied in their infection success of different crustaceans. Second, neither genetic nor phenotypic traits had consistent effects on infection success across all host species. Although the results suggest a relationship between infection success and phenotypic variability, phenotypically variable clones were not better at infecting more host species than less variable ones. Third, genetic and phenotypic traits also showed no consistent correlations with post‐infection fitness measures. Overall, we found no consistent clone‐level specialization, with some clones acting as specialists and others, generalists. The trematode population therefore maintains an overall generalist strategy by comprising a mixture of clone‐level specialists and generalists.
The impact of intraspecific variation in a fish predator on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity and investment in sex in Daphnia ambigua
Authors: WALSH M. R. , POST D. M.
Published: October 2011

Theory predicts that the evolution of phenotypic plasticity depends upon cues that indicate environmental change. Predators typically induce plastic responses in prey. However, variation among populations of predators alters the frequency of predation and, possibly, the evolution of plasticity. We compared responses to predator cues in Daphnia ambigua from lakes where alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) either do (anadromous) or do not (landlocked) migrate between marine and freshwater. In ‘anadromous’ lakes, Daphnia are abundant each spring but eliminated by alewives in summer, whereas Daphnia are constantly under the threat of predation in ‘landlocked’ lakes. Daphnia from ‘anadromous’ lakes grew faster, matured earlier and larger, produced more offspring and invested more in sex than Daphnia from landlocked lakes. We observed several significant lake type‐by‐predator treatment interactions. These interactions, whereby the differences between lakes were greater in predator‐conditioned water, agree with theory and argue that Daphnia plasticity has been influenced by variation in alewives.
Growth‐Related Changes in Subcellular Ion Patterns in Maize Leaves (Zea mays L.) under Salt Stress
Authors: Shahzad M. , Witzel K. , Zörb C. , Mühling K. H.
Published: October 2011

Na+ accumulation in the leaf apoplast has been suggested to lead to dehydration, later wilting and finally, the death of the affected leaves. Our aim has been to evaluate whether the reduction in the plant growth of sensitive maize in response to salinity is correlated with higher amounts of Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the leaf apoplast. Subcellular ion patterns in intact leaves were investigated by using deionised water infiltration. We found an increase in soluble Na+ and Cl− concentrations of about 16‐ and 4‐fold, respectively, compared with the control. These concentrations characterized the apoplasts of expanding leaves that had entirely developed under salinity. Interestingly, the K+ concentration was significantly reduced by 64 % compared with its control in the symplast under salinity. Our finding of a significantly decreased Ca2+ concentration in shoots suggested a possible association of Ca2+ concentration with the reduction in leaf expansion under salinity. As the absolute increase in the apoplastic Na+ concentration during salt treatment was much lower compared with the increase in the symplastic Na+ concentration, salt treatment in maize appears not to result in osmotic stress imposed by a high apoplastic Na+ concentration as has been suggested for other plant species (Oertli hypothesis).
Rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumor of the septum pellucidum with extension to the supratentorial ventricles: Rare case with genetic analysis
Authors: Xiong Ji , Liu Ying , Chu Shu‐Guang , Chen Hong , Chen Hai‐Xia , Mao Ying , Wang Yin
Published: October 2011

In the original description, rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumors (RGNTs) were restricted to the fourth ventricle and/or posterior fossa. Here, we first report an unusual case of RGNT centered in the septum pellucidum and associated with multiple masses occupying the wall of the bilateral lateral ventricles and the third ventricle. No mass was found in the fourth ventricle. Histological and immunohistochemical examination revealed that the tumor presented biphasic differentiation characterized by predominantly neurocytic rosettes and pilocytic astrocytoma‐like components with obvious microvascular proliferation. Chromosome 1p/19q deletions and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) mutations were not identified. Because this case exhibited a worrisome growth pattern, further studies and long‐term follow‐up are needed to determine the true nature of these tumors.
How do people with chronic kidney disease value cancer‐related quality of life?
Authors: WONG GERMAINE , HOWARD KIRSTEN , CHAPMAN JEREMY , POLLOCK CAROL , CHADBAN STEVEN , SALKELD GLENN , TONG ALLISON , WILLIAMS NARELLE , WEBSTER ANGELA , CRAIG JONATHAN C
Published: October 2011

Objectives: To estimate the utility‐based quality of life (QOL) of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to estimate the QOL associated with two hypothetical colorectal cancer health states.

Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in people with CKD (stages 3–5, transplant recipients and those on dialysis) from three centres in Sydney, Australia. We measured participants' own QOL and that of two hypothetical colorectal cancer health states using a rating scale, and a utility‐based QOL measure, the time trade‐off, with extremes of 0 (death) and 1 (full health).

Results: Recipients of kidney transplants (n = 79) had the highest mean QOL weights of 0.79 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.34) compared with participants with CKD 3–5 (n = 53) with mean QOL weights of 0.70 (SD = 0.39), and those on dialysis (n = 89), who had the lowest mean QOL weights of 0.62 (SD = 0.41) (P = 0.02). Having early and advanced stage colorectal cancers were valued at mean QOL weights of 0.44 (SD = 0.41) and 0.12 (SD = 0.25) among people with moderate stage CKD; 0.45 (SD = 0.39) and 0.11 (SD = 0.24) among dialysis patients; 0.62 (SD = 0.36) and 0.18 (SD = 0.29) among kidney transplant recipients.

Conclusions: People with CKD have poor QOL. Having coexistent illnesses such as cancer further reduces the overall well‐being of individuals with kidney disease. In addition to the development of effective screening and treatment programs to improve cancer outcomes in people with CKD, our study also highlights the need for effective interventions to improve the QOL in people with CKD, particularly those with major comorbidities like cancer.
Development of a non‐targeted metabolomics method to investigate urine in a rat model of polycystic kidney disease
Authors: ABBISS HAYLEY , MAKER GARTH L , GUMMER JOEL , SHARMAN MATTHEW J , PHILLIPS JACQUELINE K , BOYCE MARY , TRENGOVE ROBERT D
Published: October 2011

Aim:  The purpose of this research was to use metabolomics to investigate the cystic phenotype in the Lewis polycystic kidney rat.

Methods:  Spot urine samples were collected from four male Lewis control and five male Lewis polycystic kidney rats aged 5 weeks, before kidney function was significantly impaired. Metabolites were extracted from urine and analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis was used to determine key metabolites contributing to the variance observed between sample groups.

Results:  With the development of a metabolomics method to analyse Lewis and Lewis polycystic kidney rat urine, 2‐ketoglutaric acid, allantoin, uric acid and hippuric acid were identified as potential biomarkers of cystic disease in the rat model.

Conclusion:  The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of metabolomics to further investigate kidney disease.
Obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea: Mechanisms for increased collapsibility of the passive pharyngeal airway
Authors: ISONO SHIROH
Published: October 2011

Epidemiological evidence suggests there are significant links between obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), with a particular emphasis on the importance of fat distribution in the development of OSA. In patients with OSA, the structure of the pharyngeal airway collapses. A collapsible tube within a rigid box collapses either due to decreased intraluminal pressure or increased external tissue pressure (i.e. reduction in transmural pressure), or due to reduction in the longitudinal tension of the tube. Accordingly, obesity should structurally increase the collapsibility of the pharyngeal airway due to excessive fat deposition at two distinct locations. In the pharyngeal airway region, excessive soft tissue for a given maxillomandibular enclosure size (upper airway anatomical imbalance) can increase tissue pressure surrounding the pharyngeal airway, thereby narrowing the airway. Even mild obesity may cause anatomical imbalance in individuals with a small maxilla and mandible. Lung volume reduction due to excessive central fat deposition may decrease longitudinal tracheal traction forces and pharyngeal wall tension, changing the ‘tube law’ in the pharyngeal airway (lung volume dependence of the upper airway). The lung volume dependence of pharyngeal airway patency appears to contribute more significantly to the development of OSA in morbidly obese, apnoeic patients. Neurostructural interactions required for stable breathing may be influenced by obesity‐related hormones and cytokines. Accumulating evidence strongly supports these speculations, but further intensive research is needed.
Comparing Aspiration Models: The Role of Selective Attention
Authors: Washburn Mark , Bromiley Philip
Published: October 2011

abstract

For many years, scholars have used a variety of models to measure organizational aspirations, but these alternative measures reflect differing assumptions about the decision‐making processes determining aspiration levels. This study begins by examining some of the implications of the aspiration models in use. It then extends the theoretical model of aspiration levels from the behavioural theory of the firm to incorporate varying attention, another fundamental concept from the theory. Finally, it uses direct aspiration measures on the sales performance of retailers in a large automotive manufacturer to assess the alternative theories by comparing existing models with one that incorporates varying attention. We find support for a model where the importance of the factors influencing aspiration levels varies with the level of past firm performance relative to industry performance. Thus, the varying attention so central to the behavioural theory of the firm influences the formulation of aspirations.
The Lion and the Eunuch: National Identity and the British Genius
Authors: COLLS ROBERT
Published: October 2011

The Lion and the Eunuch challenges the failures of British politicians to adequately understand the complexities, and the subtleties, of British national identity, and goes on to define it for them. It also explains reasons for our current confusions over who we are in the world. In 1940 Orwell wrote The Lion and the Unicorn as a rallying cry for a richly identifying country that was still able to imagine itself, and re‐imagine itself, as the need arose. This essay suggests that without a radical change of government policy and thought, that power will continue to decline with far reaching consequences for the peoples of these islands.
Tradition and Change: Four People A Response to the Politics of Paradox
Authors: GOODMAN HELEN
Published: October 2011

Helen Goodman, the Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland has responded to the Blue Labour Publication The Politics of Paradox, with Tradition and Change: Four People. Blue Labour's thesis is that a return to the ideas and practices prevalent at the foundation of the Labour Party—solidarity and reciprocity, can form the basis of significant social change. Helen views the thesis from the perspective of two communities—first the hill farmers of Teesdale, a paradigmatic community whose rights and way of life on the Commons have existed for over 600 years. Then she looks at the Durham Miners’ Gala and the needs of the former coalfields. Helen argues that in both cases, only government can take the national and international action they need. Secondly she looks at the stories of a mother and a priest. The importance of the welfare state in providing security and opportunities becomes clear. Helen confronts Blue Labour's criticism of women's independence and prays in aid the Archbishop of Canterbury on the need for a feminist analysis. She accuses Blue Labour of ‘drum and trumpet jingoism’.
How can ‘Britishness’ be Re‐made?
Authors: GRUBE DENNIS
Published: October 2011

Modern Britishness is widely seen to be based on shared values like ‘fair play’, ‘tolerance’, and respect for ‘diversity’. Can such a ‘values‐based Britishness’ be effective as a national binding agent in an era of devolution and globalisation? The idea that a uniquely ‘British’ character is based on shared values of some kind is not new. The contemporary debate is framed by decisions made over a century ago in the Victorian era—when the decisive shift occurred from a British identity based on religious difference to one based on shared moral values. Through political rhetoric, legislation, and the courts, Victorian governments shaped and changed the character of Britishness. The same tools remain available to contemporary lawmakers in shaping a twenty‐first century Britishness that embraces modern universal values, but also defines some more uniquely British emotional connection points around which national identity can be built.
The Limits of Transparency
Authors: MOORE MARTIN
Published: October 2011

Few would disagree that more transparency is generally a good thing for democracy. Indeed so few would disagree that an unthinking consensus has developed where transparency appears to have become the political tonic to cure all ills. Political unaccountability? Let's have more transparency. Economic inefficiency? More transparency. Too close a relationship between politicians and the press? We need more transparency. These six essays by Andrew Murray, John Lloyd, Helen Margetts, Sean Maguire, Aleks Krotosky and Kevin Marsh question the sometimes unthinking consensus about the benefits of transparency. They question it from a legal perspective, from a journalistic perspective, from a governance perspective, from a technological perspective, from practical perspective, and from a civic perspective.
Tariff (De‐) Escalation with Successive Oligopoly
Authors: McCorriston Steve , Sheldon Ian
Published: October 2011

This paper explores the issue of a simultaneous reduction in tariffs at different stages of a vertically related market where each stage is oligopolistic. When vertically related markets are characterized as a successive oligopoly, reducing tariffs by an equivalent amount on upstream and downstream imports will have a differential effect on market access and hence profits at each stage as a result of a combination of horizontal and vertical effects. These differential effects have implications for the tariff structure post‐trade reform.
Trade Liberalization and Antidumping: Is There a Substitution Effect?
Authors: Moore Michael O. , Zanardi Maurizio
Published: October 2011

Many nations have undergone significant trade liberalization even as they have increased their use of contingent protection measures. This raises the question of whether some of the trade liberalization efforts, at times accomplished through painful reforms, have been undone through a substitution from tariffs to non‐tariff barriers. Among the new forms of protection, antidumping is the most relevant. This paper examines whether the use of antidumping is systematically influenced by the reduction of applied sectoral tariffs in a sample of 29 developing and six developed countries from 1991 through 2002. Evidence is found of a substitution effect only for a small set of heavy users of antidumping among developing countries. There is no similar statistically significant result for other developing countries or developed countries. Robust evidence is also found of retaliation and deflection effects as determinant of antidumping filings across all subsamples.
Welfare Effects of Immigration Policies in the Presence of Skilled, Unskilled Labor and Capital Mobility
Authors: Michael Michael S.
Published: October 2011

This paper investigates the welfare consequences of immigration policies in a model with two types of labor, skilled and unskilled, and international capital mobility. The paper examines the effect of government policies, which change the immigration cost and cause immigration of one type of labor, on the welfare of natives, when the other types of labor and/or capital are also mobile. It is shown, for example, in the absence of capital mobility, if skilled and unskilled labor are highly complementary in production, then a decrease in the immigration cost of the net fiscal contributor skilled labor that causes its immigration, decreases the welfare of natives.
Business Cycle Synchronization in the Proposed East African Monetary Union: An Unobserved Component Approach
Authors: Kishor Narayan K. , Ssozi John
Published: October 2011

This paper uses the business cycle synchronization criteria of the theory of optimum currency area (OCA) to examine the feasibility of the East African Community (EAC) as a monetary union. We also investigate whether the degree of business cycle synchronization has increased after the 1999 EAC Treaty. We use an unobserved component model to measure business cycle synchronization as the proportion of structural shocks that are common across different countries, and a time‐varying parameter model to examine the dynamics of synchronization over time. We find that although the degree of synchronization has increased since 2000 when the EAC Treaty came into force, the proportion of shocks that is common across different countries is still small implying weak synchronization. This evidence casts doubt on the feasibility of a monetary union for the EAC as scheduled by 2012.
Changes in Wages, Wage Inequality and the Return to Human Capital Skills in Kenya: 1977–2005
Authors: Agesa Richard U. , Agesa Jacqueline , Dabalen Andrew
Published: October 2011

The conventional literature on wage inequality in Kenya has two drawbacks: first, by focusing on manufacturing sector wages, overlooking wages in other sectors, the results may be biased. Second, previous studies emphasize wage determination solely at the conditional mean rather than resort to wage determination across the entire earnings distribution. We remedy these weaknesses and add a new layer of research previously unexamined. Particularly, we consider wage changes during periods of wide GDP fluctuations from 1977 to 1986, 1986 to 1999, and 1999 to 2005 and explore if prices of measured human capital skills moved in tandem with changes in the dispersion of unmeasured human capital skills as is postulated by human capital theory. Our results support human capital theory: we find higher wages and higher residual wage dispersion during periods of rising GDP (1999–2005) but find lower wages and lower residual wage dispersion during periods of falling GDP (1977–86 and 1986–99).
The Short‐term Determinants of Capital Flows for a Small Open Economy: The Case of Greece
Authors: Pappas Anastasios P.
Published: October 2011

This paper presents the factors driving capital flows inwards and outwards of a small open economy such as Greece during the period 1983–2009. Apart from the determinants of capital flows the possibility of speculative attacks is also considered. Applying the ordinary least squares (OLS) method it is found that variables linked to external factors such as the differential of domestic and foreign interest rates and financial crises, such as the Asian and Russian financial turmoil of 1997 and 1998 respectively, are the main factors influencing capital inflows and outflows in Greece during the period 1983–2009. Additionally the results of probit analysis support that the same factors are significant in determining the probability of speculative attacks to the Greek economy.
Monetary Policy Rules for Transition Economies: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Ghatak Subrata , Moore Tomoe
Published: October 2011

In this paper, we investigate the monetary policy reaction functions for the new European Union member states. We find interesting differences when looking at both interest rates (the Taylor rule) and monetary base (the McCallum rule) as monetary policy rules. Monetary aggregate is more likely to react to the deviation of inflation from its target, while short‐term interest rates are highly sensitive to the deviation of exchange rates in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. For Hungary and Romania, both interest rates and money are responsive to inflation. In empirical literature, much attention is paid to the use of the Taylor‐type rule for developed economies. However, our empirical results raise questions on the reliance of this rule for these transition economies.
Bootstrap HAC Tests for Ordinary Least Squares Regression*
Authors: Bravo Francesco , Godfrey Leslie G.
Published: October 2011

There is a need for tests that are derived from the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimators of regression coefficients and are useful in the presence of unspecified forms of heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation. A method that uses the moving block bootstrap and quasi‐estimators in order to derive a consistent estimator of the asymptotic covariance matrix for the OLS estimators and robust significance tests is proposed. The method is shown to be asymptotically valid and Monte Carlo evidence indicates that it is capable of providing good control of significance levels in finite samples and good power compared with two other bootstrap tests.
Skin benefits of a myconoside‐rich extract from resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis
Authors: Dell’Acqua G. , Schweikert K.
Published: October 2011

Synopsis

Resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis develops molecules to survive drought stress. These molecules allow the plant to resurge from a desiccation state. We have extracted a specific fraction from the plant (Haberlea extract) and found it rich, among other molecules, of a caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycoside called myconoside, a molecule extremely abundant in the plant with a potential role in survival. Peroxide‐stressed normal human dermal fibroblasts treated with the Haberlea extract, showed increased collagen VI (+822%), collagen XVI (+928%) and elastin (+144%) mRNA synthesis, measured by RT‐qPCR. This effect was superior to those obtained with benchmarks retinoic acid and retinol. When used at 3% in human skin biopsies, Haberlea extract protected against UV‐induced dermis oxidation by 100% (P < 0.01), as evidenced by immunohistochemistry. Finally, when tested in human volunteers (n = 20) at 3% in a cream against a placebo, Haberlea extract increased skin elasticity (3× placebo, P < 0.0002) and skin radiance (4× placebo, P < 0.05) after only 15 days of treatment, with the effect sustained after 30 and 60 days of treatment. We demonstrated that by using Haberlea extract (particularly rich in glycoside myconoside), it is possible to strongly stimulate antioxidant skin defences and extracellular matrix protein synthesis. This effect, in turn, will further stimulate skin elasticity and skin radiance significantly in human volunteers. The extract can be suggested for anti‐ageing treatments, intended for claims such as protection from oxidation, increased skin elasticity and enhanced skin radiance.
Vection can be induced without explicit motion signal using backscroll illusion
Authors: SENO TAKEHARU , SATO TAKAO
Published: November 2011

We demonstrated that vection is induced by a motion stimuli that does not have an explicit, bottom‐up motion component. The stimulus motion used in this experiment was animation movie clips of walking people, with no positional changes within the stimulus field. There were no low‐level motion signals in the direction of gait. The results indicate that strong vection was observed under optimal stimuli conditions, that is, large visual field and multiple walkers. These results suggest that vection can be elicited solely by motion signals extracted at relatively higher levels within the visual system. This is the first report that a pure high‐level motion related to “implied motion” induces vection.
Physical exercise attenuates age‐associated reduction in endothelium‐reparative capacity of endothelial progenitor cells by increasing CXCR4/JAK‐2 signaling in healthy men
Authors: Xia Wen‐Hao , Li Jing , Su Chen , Yang Zhen , Chen Long , Wu Fang , Zhang Yuan‐Yuan , Yu Bing‐Bo , Qiu Yan‐Xia , Wang Shen‐Ming , Tao Jun
Published: October 2011

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in repairing endothelial injury. Aging is associated with EPC dysfunction. Physical exercise has a beneficial impact on EPC activity. However, whether physical exercise can enhance the endothelial repair capacity of EPCs in healthy men with aging is not clear. Here, we investigated the effects of physical exercise on reendothelialization capacity and CXC chemokine receptor four (CXCR4) signaling in human EPCs. Before and after 12‐week exercise, EPCs were isolated from elderly and young men. In vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs in a mouse model of carotid artery injury were measured. The expression of CXCR4 and its downstream signaling target Janus kinase‐2 (JAK‐2) were determined. Before exercise, in vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs were significantly reduced in elderly men compared with young men. After exercise intervention, in vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs from elderly men were markedly enhanced. Physical exercise increased a higher CXCR4 protein expression and higher JAK‐2 phosphorylation levels of EPCs. The augmentation in reendothelialization capacity of EPCs was closely correlated with the upregulation of CXCR4/JAK‐2 signaling and improvement of endothelial function. This study demonstrates for the first time that physical exercise attenuates age‐associated reduction in endothelium‐reparative capacity of EPCs by increasing CXCR4/JAK‐2 signaling. Our findings provide insight into the novel mechanisms of physical exercise as a lifestyle intervention strategy to promote vascular health in aging population.
Triphasic blood pressure responses to cannabinoids: do we understand the mechanism?
Authors: Malinowska Barbara , Baranowska‐Kuczko Marta , Schlicker Eberhard
Published: October 2011

The cannabinoids comprise three major classes of substances, including compounds derived from the cannabis plant (e.g. Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and the chemically related substances CP55940 and HU210), endogenously formed (e.g. anandamide) and synthetic compounds (e.g. WIN55212‐2). Beyond their psychotropic effects, cannabinoids have complex effects on blood pressure, including biphasic changes of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and WIN55212‐2 and an even triphasic effect of anandamide. The differing pattern of blood pressure changes displayed by the three types of compounds is not really surprising since, although they share an agonistic effect at cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, some compounds have additional effects. In particular, anandamide is known for its pleiotropic effects, and there is overwhelming evidence that anandamide influences blood pressure via (i) CB1 receptors, (ii) TRPV1 receptors, (iii) endothelial cannabinoid receptors and (iv) degradation products. This review is dedicated to the description of the effects of externally added cannabinoids on cardiovascular parameters in vivo. First, the cardiovascular effects of cannabinoids in anaesthetized animals will be highlighted since most data have been generated in experiments of that type. The text will follow the three phases of anandamide on blood pressure, and we will check to which extent cardiovascular changes elicited by other cannabinoids show overlap with those effects or differ. The second part will be dedicated to the cardiovascular effects of the cannabinoids in conscious animals. In the third part, cardiovascular effects in humans will be discussed, and similarities and differences with respect to the data from animals will be examined.
Mothers' experiences of a stay in an ICU after a complicated childbirth
Authors: Engström Åsa , Lindberg Inger
Published: October 2011

Background: To be cared for in an intensive care unit (ICU) after a complicated childbirth is often an unplanned and transforming experience, and there is lack of studies describing mothers' experiences of this phenomenon.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of becoming a mother after a complicated delivery and a stay in an ICU.

Methods: Qualitative personal interviews were conducted with eight mothers. The interview texts were subjected to qualitative thematic content analysis.

Findings: The analysis resulted in one theme; wishing to be in control and together as a family, and six categories; being or not being prepared, feeling afraid, not being as ill as the others, knowing about the baby, worrying about the father and having someone to talk to. The findings highlight the need to receive continual information about what is happening, especially with the baby, and the need to be together as a family.

Conclusion and relevance to clinical practice: The mothers need support and encouragement from the staff throughout their hospital stay, and sometimes afterwards. There is a need to receive information, especially about the baby, and to have one's family close by, when in an ICU despite illness severity. How the new family is met by the staff is of great importance.
Family Check Up Effects on Adolescent Arrest Trajectories: Variation by Developmental Subtype
Authors: Connell Arin M. , Klostermann Susan , Dishion Thomas J.
Published: October 2011

This study examines the effect of the Family Check Up (FCU) intervention on the probability of arrests from age 12 to 17 years for youth following heterogeneous developmental trajectories of antisocial behavior. Latent Growth Mixture Modeling results supported the presence of three developmental trajectories of arrests, including a large group of youth with few police contacts, a smaller group of youth showing early‐onset and chronic arrests, and a group with Adolescent‐Onset arrests. In line with hypotheses, effects of intervention were seen within the Adolescent‐Onset group, but not in the early‐onset chronic arrest trajectory group, or in those youth with little police contact. The trajectory groups were differentiated by peer, family, behavioral, and academic risk variables at age 11.
Youth Organizers as Young Adults: Their Commitments and Contributions
Authors: Conner Jerusha O.
Published: October 2011

Nationally, youth organizing programs are growing in popularity. Although research has found positive short‐term effects associated with participation, little work has examined longer‐term implications. This study explores how alumni from one organizing group describe its influence on their subsequent developmental trajectories. Their descriptions highlight perceived effects in academic, professional, relational, and sociopolitical arenas. Although most respondents remain committed to the issues they came to care about as youth organizers, they express these commitments in various ways, including through traditional and nontraditional forms of civic engagement. They also credit a diverse set of programmatic factors with having influenced them. The findings introduce the various process and outcome factors that the participants find salient, raising implications for future longitudinal or survey research.
Allogeneic donor peripheral blood “stem cell” apheresis: prospective comparison of two apheresis systems
Authors: Brauninger Susanne , Bialleck Heike , Thorausch Kristin , Felt Tom , Seifried Erhard , Bonig Halvard
Published: November 2011

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor–mobilized peripheral blood stem cells, collected by white blood cell apheresis, are used for more than 80% of allogeneic and most autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. Optimal donor and recipient outcomes require maximized stem cell collection efficiency and minimized non–target cell contamination. Therefore, improved apheresis technology is desirable. The safety and feasibility of apheresis collections with the novel, electronics‐assisted apheresis system Spectra Optia v.5.0 (CaridianBCT) were recently demonstrated. An unpublished optimization trial had furthermore determined that different settings than manufacturer‐installed default might result in improved apheresis yields.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The first prospective comparison of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell apheresis with the Spectra Optia versus the COBE Spectra (CaridianBCT) mononuclear cell (MNC) in a routine clinical setting is reported here; “optimized” machine settings were used. Assessed variables included collection efficiency, product characteristics, donor outcomes, and frequency of operator interventions. Outcomes were additionally compared with historical data from the Spectra Optia in default mode.

RESULTS: The mean CD34+ cell collection efficiency CE1 was 7.9% greater with the Spectra Optia than with the COBE Spectra MNC. Variability of outcomes was equally great. Reduced platelet (PLT) attrition necessitated 90% fewer autologous PLT reinfusions. Spectra Optia products contained 50% fewer red blood cells, but 50% more granulocytic lineage cells. Less operator input was required, although 26% of Spectra Optia apheresis procedures required triggering of the first chamber flush. Apheresis yield and collection efficiency were also markedly greater than in default‐mode Spectra Optia collections.

CONCLUSION: Using optimized machine settings, peripheral blood stem cell apheresis outcomes with the automated apheresis system Spectra Optia exceed results with the COBE Spectra MNC or the Spectra Optia in the default mode.
A survey on education in cariology for undergraduate dental students in Europe
Authors: Schulte A. G. , Buchalla W. , Huysmans M.‐C. D. N. J. M. , Amaechi B. T. , Sampaio F. , Vougiouklakis G. , Pitts N. B.
Published: October 2011

The aim of the survey was to collect relevant information about education in cariology for dental undergraduate students in Europe. The ORCA/ADEE cariology curriculum group prepared a questionnaire that was mailed in 2009 to 179 European dental schools. One hundred and twenty‐three dental schools (72%) from 32 countries completed and returned the questionnaires. In most of these schools, education in cariology is delivered by at least two different units. The units mainly involved are Paediatric Dentistry, Conservative Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry or Operative Dentistry. Theoretical education in cariology is delivered by practically all responding dental schools, and in 96% of these schools, it starts within the first 3 years. Pre‐clinical exercises are offered by 98% of the schools starting mainly in the third or fourth year. In 97% of the schools, clinical exercises are carried out, and this occurs mainly in the fourth and fifth year. In nearly all dental schools (88%), education in cariology comprises not only caries but also dental erosion and non‐erosive wear. The vast majority of the responding dental schools (89%) supported the idea of developing a European Core Curriculum in Cariology.
Caries risk assessment, diagnosis and synthesis in the context of a European Core Curriculum in Cariology
Authors: Pitts N. , Melo P. , Martignon S. , Ekstrand K. , Ismail A.
Published: October 2011

This paper is part of a series outlining a European Core Curriculum in Cariology for undergraduate dental students. The European Core Curriculum in Cariology is the outcome of a process starting in 2006 and culminating in a joint workshop of the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) together with the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), held in Berlin from 27 to 30 June 2010. For the areas of risk assessment, diagnosis, detection, activity, monitoring and synthesis Cariology, the present paper outlines the key competencies required and the related areas in which knowledge of and familiarity with are needed for dentists graduating at the beginning of 21st century. Three major competencies were identified: Risk Assessment– competent at identifying and estimating the probability for a patient of developing new caries lesions or progression of existing lesions during a specified period of time; Diagnosis– competent through collecting, analysing and integrating data on signs and symptoms of dental caries and assess activity status of a lesion on a tooth surface to arrive at an identification of past or present occurrence of the disease caries; and Synthesis– competent at synthesising all relevant information by combining and interpreting findings from: risk assessment and diagnostic processes; from patients’ needs, preferences and best interests; and from monitoring, review and re‐assessment findings, when available. Similar competencies were identified for erosion and non‐erosive wear. Issues that were felt by the working group panel to be important in this field are discussed, as are approaches to aid curriculum implementation.
Decision‐making and treatment with respect to surgical intervention in the context of a European Core Curriculum in Cariology
Authors: Buchalla W. , Wiegand A. , Hall A.
Published: October 2011

This paper is part of a series of papers towards a European Core Curriculum in Cariology for undergraduate dental students. The European Core Curriculum in Cariology is the outcome of a process starting in 2006 and culminating in a joint workshop of the European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) together with the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) which was held in Berlin from 27 to 30 June 2010. The present paper covers decision‐making and treatment with respect to surgical intervention. In particular, it will provide some background information on this part of the European Core Curriculum. Undergraduate dental education should enable the student to become a competent, skilful and caring dentist who is able, upon graduation, to take professional responsibility for diagnosis, as well as effective safe, and long‐lasting care in the best interests of the patient. With respect to decision‐making around surgical intervention for dental caries, several factors have to be considered. These include, patient needs, preventive strategies, tooth preservation, caries management success and failure rates, as well as short‐term and long‐term treatment costs. With respect to surgical intervention, manual skills at a high level are required. This is of crucial importance for the graduating dentist allowed to practise denistry in many EU countries.
Evidence‐based cariology in clinical and public health practice as part of the European Core Curriculum in Cariology
Authors: Splieth Ch. H. , Innes N. , Söhnel A.
Published: October 2011

This paper is part of a series of papers contributing towards a European Core Curriculum in Cariology for undergraduate dental students. The European Core Curriculum in Cariology is the outcome of a process starting in 2006 and culminating in a joint workshop of the European Organization for Caries Research together with the Association for Dental Education in Europe, which was held in Berlin from 27 to 30 June 2010. The scope of this paper is to present the evidence‐based cariology in clinical and public health section of the European Core Curriculum in Cariology. This section was developed on the basis of international consensus on the current and future educational needs in the fields of cariology and disorders of dental hard tissues. The paper will deal with the core skills of evidence‐based dental practice within the undergraduate curriculum underpinning the dual facets of clinical cariology (relating particularly to individuals) and public health cariology (relating particularly to groups/societies). Core competencies in evidence‐based dentistry, which are generic to the undergraduate curriculum as a whole and not only cariology, are integral to lifelong learning skills within dentistry. As the clinical cariology competencies in assessment and management of caries for the individual patient are dealt with within other sections of the European Core Curriculum in Cariology, only a few relevant examples will be presented here, but for Public Health Cariology, the competencies will be explored within this document and their relationship to the principles of evidence‐based dentistry discussed.
Tacit knowledge in dental clinical teaching
Authors: Fugill M.
Published: October 2011

The term ‘tacit’ is used to describe knowledge that is not necessarily understood in words. We frequently make use of such knowledge without conscious awareness that we are doing so. This article explores two different conceptions of tacit knowledge and considers their implications for the clinical teaching of dentistry. It recognises the communication barrier that clinical dependence on tacit knowledge creates between teacher and student. It identifies the ability to surface tacit clinical knowledge for the student as one of the most significant skills of the clinical teacher. Finally, the article examines the potential for conflict between the evidence‐based practice paradigm, with its dependence on codified, explicit knowledge and the notion of clinical practice, which is at least partly experiential and tacit.