bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Huntington's Disease (HD): Neurodegeneration of Brodmann's Primary Visual Area 17 (BA17)
Authors: Rüb Udo , Seidel Kay , Vonsattel Jean Paul , Lange Herwig W. , Eisenmenger Wolfgang , Götz Monika , Del Turco Domenico , Bouzrou Mohamed , Korf Horst‐Werner , Heinsen Helmut
Published: December 2014

Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal dominantly inherited polyglutamine or CAG repeat disease along with somatomotor, oculomotor, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms, presents clinically with impairments of elementary and complex visual functions as well as altered visual‐evoked potentials (VEPs). Previous volumetric and pathoanatomical post‐mortem investigations pointed to an involvement of Brodmann's primary visual area 17 (BA17) in HD. Because the involvement of BA17 could be interpreted as an early onset brain neurodegeneration, we further characterized this potential primary cortical site of HD‐related neurodegeneration neuropathologically and performed an unbiased estimation of the absolute nerve cell number in thick gallocyanin‐stained frontoparallel tissue sections through the striate area of seven control individuals and seven HD patients using Cavalieri's principle for volume and the optical disector for nerve and glial cell density estimations. This investigation showed a reduction of the estimated absolute nerve cell number of BA17 in the HD patients (71 044 037 ± 12 740 515 nerve cells) of 32% in comparison with the control individuals (104 075 067 ± 9 424 491 nerve cells) (Mann–Whitney U‐test; P < 0.001). Additional pathoanatomical studies showed that nerve cell loss was most prominent in the outer pyramidal layer III, the inner granular layers IVa and IVc as well as in the multiform layer VI of BA17 of the HD patients. Our neuropathological results in BA17 confirm and extend previous post‐mortem, biochemical and in vivo neuroradiological HD findings and offer suitable explanations for the elementary and complex visual dysfunctions, as well as for the altered VEP observed in HD patients.
Evolving structure of governments: Portfolio adoption across the Canadian provinces from 1867–2012
Authors: Lawlor Andrea , Lewis J.P.
Published: December 2014

Based on work by Moon and Sayers on the assignment of ministerial portfolios in Australia, we use a new dataset on portfolio adoption across all ten Canadian provinces and the federal government from 1867–2012. This data set when analyzed shows four distinct patterns of portfolio adoption that point to key motivations behind the development of new portfolios. We show that much of the common wisdom fails to explain portfolio creation but that patterns of development may be better explained by a new typology. The work attempts to fill a gap in the understudied area of Canadian ministerial portfolios and comparative provincial politics.
Asymmetric decentralization of the administration of public safety in the Canadian federal political system
Authors: Hataley Todd , Leuprecht Christian
Published: December 2014

Canada's federal political system has to reconcile differences over the balance between shared rule and self‐rule concerning two bedrock principles of the constitutional government: the rule of law and democratic oversight of the exercise of the power of the state to ensure that it is not usurped. The hallmark of the administration of multilevel security governance in Canada is horizontal and vertical differentiation of diverse territorial and non‐territorial community values, preferences, interests and values has given rise to the asymmetric decentralization. This article maps the historical and constitutional roots, and then draws on examples in a survey of its institutional structure across three levels of government. It concludes by discussing the governance challenges that shared sovereignty and mismatched jurisdictional authorities pose for the effective and efficient provision of public safety in Canada.
Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy and obstructive sleep apnoea: the effects and outcomes of continuous positive airway pressure therapy
Authors: Ali Mohammad J , Psaltis Alkis J , Murphy Jae , Wormald Peter John
Published: December 2014

Background

This study aims to assess the effects and outcomes of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in patients who have undergone endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).

Design

Retrospective series in a university setting.

Participants

A total of 205 consecutive patients were included in this study.

Methods

A 10‐year retrospective review was performed of 205 consecutive patients who had undergone powered endoscopic DCR for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Patient notes were reviewed for demographic, clinical and surgical information. In addition, all patients were contacted and asked to complete a standardized telephone survey relating to OSA, CPAP use and associated symptoms.

Main Outcome Measure

Effects of CPAP following DCR.

Results

Ten of the 205 patients undergoing DCR were identified to use CPAP for obstructive sleep apnoea. Eight patients were initiated on a nasal device, while two used a full‐face mask. The mean CPAP pressures were 8 cm H20 (range: 6–10 cm H20). Eighty per cent (8/10) of patients complained of symptoms from the use of their CPAP following DCR. The most commonly described symptom was that of air regurgitation in 70% of patients followed by ophthalmic symptoms in 60% (6/10). 50% (5/10) of patients discontinued their CPAP as a consequence of their symptoms with 20% (2/10) discontinuing because of intolerable ophthalmic symptoms.

Conclusion

Symptoms from CPAP use post‐endoscopic DCR are a common occurrence and may contribute to poor compliance with CPAP therapy. Detailed preoperative counseling with regards to CPAP use and its effects should be mandatory in known or at risk OSA patients undergoing DCR.
Adventures in Infrastructure: Making an African Hub in Paris
Authors: KLEINMAN JULIE
Published: December 2014

Based on ethnographic research at one of the largest transit hubs in the world—Paris's Gare du Nord railway station—this article examines how the practices of West African migrants transform the French urban environment. I argue that migrants create social ties outside of kin and village networks by rerouting and combining the channels of two types of infrastructures: French transportation systems and West African systems of exchange and obligation. While this infrastructural practice relies on a shared cultural repertoire, it also helps create new channels that circumvent the pathways for social becoming prescribed by either the French state or their home communities. The Gare du Nord as a social environment shapes these practices but is also reshaped by them, a process I illuminate by examining how the station becomes an African hub: not an enclave of “Little Africa” but rather a node of communication and exchange. This process sheds light on how strategies for creating relations across difference and through infrastructure form transnational communities in urban spaces. [West Africa, Paris, migration, railway, transnationalism]
Kriolu Scenes in Lisbon: Where Migration Experiences and Housing Policy Meet
Authors: PARDUE DEREK
Published: December 2014

Since the early 1990s, the Lisbon housing authorities have targeted “improvised” neighborhoods (e.g., poorly serviced neighborhoods with limited infrastructure) for removal or renewal into housing projects called “social” neighborhoods. Many of the neighborhoods undergoing transition are inhabited by Kriolu‐speaking Portuguese of Cape Verdean descent. I analyze residents' responses to these changes, particularly the responses of young male rappers. My analysis reveals that rap music in these transforming neighborhoods is a means for making “Kriolu scenes”—expressions highlighting Cape Verdeans' experiences of Portuguese colonialism, postcolonialism, marginalization due to language and race, and now urban displacement. They are also expressions of belonging and cultural citizenship, and exercises of emplacement within the changing city. Kriolu scenes highlight an important but underappreciated role that language plays in shaping urban space. Methodologically, I draw from archival research, fieldwork in Lisbon neighborhoods, and interviews with local rappers of Cape Verdean descent.
Impact of placement and restoration timing on single‐implant esthetic outcome – a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Rieder Dominik , Eggert Jochen , Krafft Tim , Weber Hans‐Peter , Wichmann Manfred G. , Heckmann Siegfried M.
Published: December 2014

Aim

The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to investigate the influence of the time of implant placement (immediate vs. early) and the time of restoration (immediate vs. early) on esthetic outcome in maxillary anterior single implants.

Material and methods

Forty‐eight patients with a single failing incisor in the maxilla and a natural contralateral site were randomly distributed into four groups. Treatment variations affected the time of implant placement (immediate or early) as well as the time of restoration (immediate or early) – in detail, group 1a with immediate implant placement and immediate temporary restoration, group 1b with immediate implant placement and early restoration, group 2a with early implant placement and immediate temporary restoration, and group 2b with early implant placement and early restoration. All patients received the final prosthetic restoration 10–12 weeks after implant placement. Standardized photographs were taken eight months after tooth extraction. Five competent observers analyzed the esthetic outcome according to the PES after Fürhauser. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn's post hoc test were applied. Interobserver reliability was evaluated by Krippendorff's alpha.

Results

The overall scores of the four treatment groups revealed PES values of 8.47 (SD 2.08, group 1a), 7.93 (SD 3.21, group 1b), 6.62 (SD 3.24, group 2a), and 8.10 (SD 3.25, group 2b). The differences between groups 2a and 1a and between groups 2a and 2b were statistically significant (P = 0.015 and P = 0.047). The single parameter analysis displayed a certain range of fluctuation and heterogeneity.

Conclusions

Immediate implant placement and restoration appear to be a viable alternative to early implant placement if an experienced surgeon is entrusted with the implantation procedure.
Riluzole is a Promising Pharmacological Inhibitor of Bilirubin‐Induced Excitotoxicity in the Ventral Cochlear Nucleus
Authors: Han Guo‐Ying , Li Chun‐Yan , Shi Hai‐Bo , Wang Ji‐Ping , Su Kai‐Ming , Yin Xin‐Lu , Yin Shan‐Kai
Published: December 2014

Background and purpose

Bilirubin encephalopathy as a result of hyperbilirubinemia is a devastating neurological disorder that occurs mostly in the neonatal period. To date, no effective drug treatment is available. Glutamate‐mediated excitotoxicity is likely an important factor causing bilirubin encephalopathy. Thus, drugs suppressing the overrelease of glutamate may protect the brain against bilirubin excitotoxicity. Riluzole is a prescription drug known for its antiglutamatergic function. This study was conducted in the rat's ventral cochlear nucleus, a structure highly sensitive to bilirubin toxicity, to find whether riluzole can be used to inhibit bilirubin toxicity.

Experimental approach

Electrophysiology changes were detected by perforated patch clamp technique. Calcium imaging using Rhod‐2‐AM as an indicator was used to study the intracellular calcium. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were measured by PI/Hoechst staining.

Key results

In the absence of bilirubin, riluzole effectively decreased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and suppressed neuronal firing but did not change the amplitude of sEPSC and glutamate‐activated currents (IGlu). Moreover, riluzole inhibited bilirubin‐induced increases in the frequency of sEPSC and neuronal firing. Riluzole could prevent the bilirubin‐induced increase in intracellular calcium, mediated by AMPA and NMDA receptors. Furthermore, riluzole significantly reduced bilirubin‐induced cell death.

Conclusions and implications

These data suggest that riluzole can protect neurons in the ventral cochlear nucleus from bilirubin‐induced hyperexcitation and excitotoxicity through reducing presynaptic glutamate release.
Emergency management of traumatic dental injuries in 42 countries
Authors: Alnaggar Doaa , Andersson Lars
Published: December 2014

Availability and quality of emergency services for traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are important as the prognosis of TDI is decided at the place of accident or during the first hours after the injury has occurred.

Aim

To report how emergency services for TDI are provided in some places around the world.

Subjects and methods

This is a preliminary observational study of descriptive character. One‐hundred and three participants from 83 cities in 42 countries described the emergency services in their city by answering a questionnaire related to: (1) availability of advice per telephone at the place of the accident; (2) availability of emergency treatment resources at different times of the day; and; (3) assessment of competence level of the person carrying out the service. Answers and comments were scored with regard to availability and level of competence.

Results

62% of the participants were not satisfied with their current emergency services. 50% reported organized emergency telephone service always available. 43% of the advice given by phone was from professionals with dental training. An organized on‐call 24/7 service was available in 33%. Treatment of TDI within the first hour was available in 53%. A competent dentist was available in 40%. 56% reported compromised competency outside office hours. Places with a well‐organized system built on a well‐developed first‐line care managed by trauma‐trained general dentists, ideally on a 24/7 basis, supported by on‐call specialists outside office working hours, achieved the highest scores.

Conclusions

With all the limitations of a preliminary questionnaire study, we can conclude that there is a need to perform more comprehensive well‐designed studies in this field to understand more of the varying quality of emergency services worldwide. The major problem today seems to be related to limited availability and competence, especially outside office working hours.
A meta‐analysis of leaf‐cutting ant nest effects on soil fertility and plant performance
Authors: FARJI‐BRENER ALEJANDRO G. , WERENKRAUT VICTORIA
Published: December 2014

1. Leaf‐cutting ants (LCAs) are considered as one of the most important agents of soil disturbances that affect vegetation patterns, but these assertions are based on isolated studies or anecdotal data. In this study, meta‐analysis techniques were used to quantitatively analyse the generality of these effects and determine some of their sources of variation.

2. The results reveal the following: (i) LCA nest sites showed higher levels of soil fertility than control sites, but the key source of these nutrients is the refuse material rather than the nest soil itself; (ii) refuse material from external piles tended to be richer in nutrient content than refuse material from internal refuse chambers; (iii) nest sites from temperate habitats showed higher cation content than those located in tropical/subtropical habitats; and (iv) nest sites showed higher plant growth than adjacent non‐nest sites (especially if plants have access to the refuse) but similar plant density and plant richness.

3. As LCAs improve nutrient availability in nest sites through the accumulation of refuse material, the location of the refuse will have a relevant role affecting vegetation. LCA species with external refuse dumps could benefit herbs, early vegetation stages and short‐living plants, whereas those with internal refuse chambers could benefit long‐living, large trees. However, the positive effect on individual plants does not extend to population and community levels. The foraging preferences of ants and the changes in microclimatic conditions around nests could act as selective ecological filters.

4. As refuse material from external piles and nest sites in temperate habitats tend to show higher fertility than refuse material from internal nest chambers and nest sites in tropical/subtropical habitats, LCA species with external refuse dumps in temperate regions could be of particular relevance for nutrient cycling and vegetation patterns.
Small spermatophore size and reduced female fitness in an isolated butterfly population
Authors: DUPLOUY ANNE , HANSKI ILKKA
Published: December 2014

1. The Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxiaL.) has a small population (Ne∼ 100) on the small island of Pikku Tytärsaari (PT) in the Gulf of Finland. The population has remained completely isolated for ∼100 generations, which has resulted in greatly reduced genetic variation and high genetic load (low fitness). In particular, females lay small egg clutches with a low egg‐hatching rate in comparison with a large reference population in the Åland Islands (ÅL).

2. In the present study, to what extent egg clutch size and egg‐hatching rate are influenced by male population and spermatophore size was analysed.

3. Spermatophore size increases with male body size, is smaller after the first mating, and is smaller in the small PT population. In the ÅL population but not in the PT population, the egg‐hatching rate increases with spermatophore size. The egg‐hatching rate of PT females is higher when mated with ÅL males than when mated with PT males (heterosis), but there is no such effect on clutch size. The clutch size of ÅL females is, however, reduced when mated with PT males.

4. These results indicate that both male and female traits contribute to reduced reproductive fitness in the small isolated population.
A transcranial magnetic stimulation study on response activation and selection in spatial conflict
Authors: Bardi Lara , Schiff Sami , Basso Demis , Mapelli Daniela
Published: December 2014

In choice reaction tasks, subjects typically respond faster when the relative spatial positions of stimulus and response correspond than when they do not, even when spatial information is irrelevant to the task (e.g. in the Simon task). Cognitive models attribute the Simon effect to automatic response activation elicited by spatial information, which facilitates or competes with the controlled selection of the correct response as required by task demands. In the present study, we investigated the role of the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) in response activation and selection during spatial conflict. We applied single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the PMd of the right and left hemispheres during the execution of a Simon task, at different times after the onset of the visual stimulus. The results showed that TMS produced a different effect on subjects' performance in two separate time windows. When TMS was applied at an early time [160‐ms stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA)], we observed suppression of the Simon effect, resulting from a delay of corresponding trials. When TMS was applied at a late time (220 and 250‐ms SOA), we observed an increase in the Simon effect, resulting from a delay of non‐corresponding trials. These outcomes revealed that the PMd is involved both in the activation of the spatially triggered response and in response selection during spatial conflict.
Genetic differentiation and recombination among geographic populations of the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum truncatum from chili peppers in China
Authors: Diao Yongzhao , Zhang Can , Xu Jianping , Lin Dong , Liu Li , Mtung'e Olivo G. , Liu Xili
Published: December 2014

Colletotrichum truncatum is an extremely important fungal pathogen. It can cause diseases both in humans and in over 460 plant species. However, little is known about its genetic diversity within and among populations. One of the major plant hosts of C. truncatum is pepper, and China is one of the main pepper‐producing countries in the world. Here, we propose the hypotheses that geography has a major influence on the relationships among populations of C. truncatum in China and that infections in different populations need to be managed differently. To test these hypotheses, we obtained and analyzed 266 C. truncatum isolates from 13 regions representing the main pepper‐growing areas throughout China. The analysis based on nine microsatellite markers identified high intrapopulation genetic diversity, evidence of sexual recombination, and geographic differentiation. The genetic differentiation was positively correlated with geographic distance, with the southern and northern China populations grouped in two distinct clusters. Interestingly, isolates collected from the pepper‐breeding center harbored the most private alleles. The results suggest that the geographic populations of C. truncatum on peppers in China are genetically differentiated and should be managed accordingly. Our study also provides a solid foundation from which to further explore the global genetic epidemiology of C. truncatum in both plants and humans.
Epidermal polymeric immunoglobulin receptors: leads from intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis‐type IgA pemphigus
Authors: Tsuchisaka Atsunari , Ishii Norito , Hamada Takahiro , Teye Kwesi , Sogame Ryosuke , Koga Hiroshi , Tsuruta Daisuke , Ohata Chika , Furumura Minao , Hashimoto Takashi
Published: December 2014

In this study, we attempted to identify unknown autoantigen for intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis‐type IgA pemphigus by novel IgA‐specific immunoprecipitation. Mass‐spectrometry study identified polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) as the candidate protein, and we confirmed that PIGR expressed in both epidermis and cultured keratinocytes. Eukaryotic recombinant protein of PIGR expressed in COS7 cells was reacted with both patient and normal sera, indicating that PIGR binds physiologically to IgA. To detect antigen‐specific binding by IgA autoantibodies, we performed several experiments using deglycosylated PIGR and F(ab)2 fragments from patient sera. However, these analyses suggested that patient IgA bound physiologically, but not immunologically, to PIGR. Nevertheless, our study provided two important insights. Newly developed IgA‐immunoprecipitation system should be a useful tool in the future study of identification of antigens for IgA autoantibodies. Detection of epidermal PIGR in this study confirmed previous results and indicated possible immunological role of PIGR in epidermis.
Estrogen induces estrogen receptor alpha expression and hepatocyte proliferation in the livers of male mice
Authors: Uebi Tatsuya , Umeda Makoto , Imai Takeshi
Published: December 2014

Estrogens play pivotal roles in sexual development, growth, reproduction, and sex differentiation and have been implicated in a number of physiological processes in various tissues. Most of the effects of estrogens are mediated by the estrogen receptors alpha (ERα), beta (ERβ), and G protein‐coupled receptor 30 (GPR30). The liver is known to be a target tissue for estrogen signaling, but the physiological role of this signaling is not well characterized. Through analyses of an estradiol (E2)‐treated hepatocyte cell line and mice, we showed that E2 signaling controls hepatocyte proliferation. Importantly, our data showed that the E2 signaling that is mediated through ERα is crucial for efficient liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH). PH rapidly induced marked increases in circulating E2 and ERα transcripts in periportal hepatocytes, well before the onset of hepatocyte proliferation. Taken together, our results indicate that increased E2 is one of the initiating signals that trigger liver regeneration. We suggest that E2 treatment could be beneficial for stimulating liver regeneration in humans.
The role of input flood and input enhancement in EFL learners' acquisition of collocations
Authors: Szudarski Paweł , Carter Ronald
Published: December 2014

The study investigated L2 learners' acquisition of verb‐noun and adjective‐noun collocations following two kinds of instruction: input flood only and input flood plus input enhancement (in the form of underlining). L1 Polish learners of English as a foreign language were exposed to infrequent collocations embedded in stories that were read during three consecutive weeks. Their collocational competence was subsequently assessed in a battery of delayed tests tapping into productive and receptive levels of collocational mastery. Input flood plus input enhancement resulted in the acquisition of collocations but only at the level of form recall and form recognition. The findings are discussed with reference to the complexity of acquiring and measuring L2 collocational knowledge. The article concludes with implications for instructed second language acquisition.
Comprehensive dietary education in treated gout patients does not further improve serum urate
Authors: Holland R. , McGill N. W.
Published: December 2014

Background/Aim

This study aims to investigate the influence of dietary education in patients with gout on a stable dose of urate‐lowering therapy (ULT).

Methods

Males and females aged >18 years with a history of gout, receiving an appropriate and stable dose of ULT, were recruited from two tertiary hospitals and randomised into two groups. The control group received basic advice regarding the importance of compliance with therapy and the benefit of weight loss. The intervention group received comprehensive dietary advice based on the British Society of Rheumatology Guidelines. Both groups received education at baseline and 3 months. Serum urate was measured at baseline, 3 months and 6 months, and a questionnaire was completed at baseline and at 6 months. The primary outcome of the study was to compare the change in serum urate between groups.

Results

Thirty patients were recruited into the study. There was no difference in serum urate between the control and intervention group at 6 months (0.29 mmol/L vs 0.29 mmol/L at baseline and 0.27 mmol/L vs 0.30 mmol/L at 6 months). The intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in knowledge (8/13 in control group at baseline to 9/13 at 6 months vs 8/13 in intervention group at baseline to 12/13 at 6 months, P < 0.05) and self‐reported dietary modification (1 in control vs 7 in intervention P < 0.05) at 6 months.

Conclusion

This randomised controlled trial shows that in patients on ULT, providing education on diet does not lead to any clinically significant difference in serum urate at 6 months.
Cambodia's Fertility Transition: The Dynamics of Contemporary Childbearing
Authors: Hukin Eleanor
Published: December 2014

Cambodia is undergoing a fertility transition, with the total fertility rate falling from 6.7 before 1970 to 3.0 in 2010. This study is the first to examine the contemporary context of childbearing in Cambodia and the drivers of this transition, analyzing the articulations of men and women and the rationales behind their fertility intentions and behavior. Findings are derived from 21 months of ethnographic fieldwork in urban and rural settings in Siem Reap. The article explains how patterns of reproduction are shaped by the specific context and social organization, the political economy, gender relations, and kinship system. In Cambodia, changes in employment conditions, agricultural systems, and living arrangements create new motivations that in turn affect fertility decisions. In post‐conflict Cambodia rationales related to lineage continuation and the effects of the Khmer Rouge period also emerge as important influences.
Annual Research Review: Secular trends in child and adolescent mental health
Authors: Collishaw Stephan
Published: December 2014

Background

Child and adolescent mental health problems are common, associated with wide‐ranging functional impairments, and show substantial continuities into adult life. It is therefore important to understand the extent to which the prevalence of mental health problems has changed over time, and to identify reasons behind any trends in mental health.

Scope and Methodology

This review evaluates evidence on whether the population prevalence of child and adolescent mental health problems has changed. The primary focus of the review is on epidemiological cross‐cohort comparisons identified by a systematic search of the literature (using the Web of Knowledge database).

Findings

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders increased over recent decades. Epidemiological comparisons of unselected population cohorts using equivalent assessments of mental health have found little evidence of an increased rate ofADHD, but cross‐cohort comparisons of rates ofASDare lacking at this time. Findings do suggest substantial secular change in emotional problems and antisocial behaviour in high‐income countries, including periods of increase and decrease in symptom prevalence. Evidence from low‐ and middle‐income countries is very limited. Possible explanations for trends in child and adolescent mental health are discussed. The review also addresses how cross‐cohort comparisons can provide valuable complementary information on the aetiology of mental illness.
Patient satisfaction after the treatment of glabellar lines with Botulinum toxin type A (Speywood Unit): a multi‐centre European observational study
Authors: Molina B. , Grangier Y. , Mole B. , Ribe N. , Martín Diaz L. , Prager W. , Paliargues F. , Kerrouche N.
Published: December 2014

Background

Whilst the efficacy and safety of glabella complex treatment with botulinum toxin type A (Speywood Unit) [BoNT‐A (s.U)] has been comprehensively studied, there are very few trials on patient‐reported outcomes and patient satisfaction associated with this treatment.

Objective

To assess the level of patient satisfaction 3 weeks and 4 months after the treatment of glabellar lines with BoNT‐A (s.U).

Methods

This is a multi‐centre, prospective, non‐interventional observational study carried out in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Subjects were eligible if the investigator had already decided to prescribe BoNT‐A (s.U), according to the labelling. Subjects completed a questionnaire at both 3 weeks and 4 months after treatment.

Results

About 533 subjects completed at least one of the two questionnaires. About half of the subjects (47.9%) were naive to BoNT‐A treatment of the glabella, while 50.6% had previously received another product. A high level of satisfaction was observed after the treatment, with 94.7% and 89.6% of subjects being satisfied or very satisfied with the aesthetic outcome at week 3 and month 4, respectively. Treatment was safe and well tolerated, as directly determined in the survey. Major reasons for satisfaction included the positive aesthetic outcome, a natural appearance, a rested look and comfort of injection. Most subjects felt the treatment brought them ‘harmony’, ‘self‐esteem/confidence’ or ‘youth’. Of the subjects who had previously been treated with another product, 51.2% considered the results obtained in the present study with BoNT‐A (s.U) were better.

Conclusion

Treatment of the glabellar lines with BoNT‐A (s.U) led to a high level of patient satisfaction and a more positive self‐perception up to 4 months after the treatment, regardless of whether the patients were naive or not to BoNT‐A treatment.
Hot and not‐so‐hot females: reproductive state and thermal preferences of female Arizona Bark Scorpions (Centruroides sculpturatus)
Authors: Webber M. M. , Gibbs A. G. , Rodríguez‐Robles J. A.
Published: December 2014

For ectotherms, environmental temperatures influence numerous life history characteristics, and the body temperatures (Tb) selected by individuals can affect offspring fitness and parental survival. Reproductive trade‐offs may therefore ensue for gravid females, because temperatures conducive to embryonic development may compromise females' body condition. We tested whether reproduction influenced thermoregulation in female Arizona Bark Scorpions (Centruroides sculpturatus). We predicted that gravid females select higher Tb and thermoregulate more precisely than nonreproductive females. Gravid C. sculpturatus gain body mass throughout gestation, which exposes larger portions of their pleural membrane, possibly increasing their rates of transcuticular water loss in arid environments. Accordingly, we tested whether gravid C. sculpturatus lose water faster than nonreproductive females. We determined the preferred Tb of female scorpions in a thermal gradient and measured water loss rates using flow‐through respirometry. Gravid females preferred significantly higher Tb than nonreproductive females, suggesting that gravid C. sculpturatus alter their thermoregulatory behaviour to promote offspring fitness. However, all scorpions thermoregulated with equal precision, perhaps because arid conditions create selective pressure on all females to thermoregulate effectively. Gravid females lost water faster than nonreproductive animals, indicating that greater exposure of the pleural membrane during gestation enhances the desiccation risk of reproductive females. Our findings suggest that gravid C. sculpturatus experience a trade‐off, whereby selection of higher Tb and increased mass during gestation increase females' susceptibility to water loss, and thus their mortality risk. Elucidating the mechanisms that influence thermal preferences may reveal how reproductive trade‐offs shape the life history of ectotherms in arid environments.
Skin temperature changes during a footbath in patients who had had a stroke with consequent sensory impairment
Authors: Toki Kazue , Yamai Terumi , Fukai Kiyoko
Published: December 2014

Aim

The objectives of this study were to examine skin temperature changes on the unaffected and affected sides as well as changes in perceived temperature and comfort during a footbath in patients who had had a stroke with consequent sensory impairment.

Methods

The study used a quasi‐experimental design in which the results of intervention for patients who had had a stroke and healthy adults were compared. The subjects were 20 patients who had had a stroke with consequent sensory impairment and 20 healthy adults.

Results

Before the footbath, the skin temperature of the dorsum of the foot on the affected side of the patient who had had a stroke was lower than that of the foot on the unaffected side. Five minutes after the start of the footbath, however, the relationship reversed, with the skin temperature on the affected side increasing in parallel with the water temperature. After the footbath, the dorsum skin temperature on the affected side was again lower than that on the unaffected side. In healthy adults, a difference was found in dorsum skin temperature between the left and right feet. In contrast with patients who had had a stroke, no reversal of the sides was found with the lower and higher temperature.

Conclusion

Unlike in the healthy adults, the skin temperature of the patients who had had a stroke with consequent sensory impairment was susceptible to changes in the external environment. However, no significant changes in the physiological indices were seen, while perceived temperature and comfort remained at high levels after the footbath.
The Dive and Disruption of Successful Current Products: Measures, Global Patterns, and Predictive Model
Authors: Palacios Fenech Javier , Tellis Gerard J.
Published: December 2014

This study examines the diffusion of pairs of substitute products (current versus new) in five categories across 86 countries between 1977 and 2011. The study finds that current products reach a peak at about 56% of market penetration. Subsequently, they suffer a dramatic decrease in penetration of 286%, which we call the dive. A dive occurs in 96% of current products in five categories across 86 countries between 1977 and 2011. On average, the time from takeoff of new product to a peak in penetration of the current product is 6.6 years and to the dive of the current product is 8.4 years. The total time‐to‐dive includes a hidden discontinuance period (10.4 years), from the introduction of the new product to the peak of the current product, plus an overt time‐to‐dive (1.8 years), from the peak to the dive of the current product. The hidden discontinuance period and the overt time‐to‐dive are shorter, and the dive is steeper in emerging markets than in developed ones. A discrete‐time hazard model shows that the introduction of the new product, prior penetration of the current product, the population density of the country, and prior dives in other countries predict intercountry the hazard of a peak. Subsequently, takeoff of the new product, relative percentage growth in penetration of the current product prior to a peak, the length of the hidden discontinuance period, and prior dives in other countries predict the hazard of a dive. The models can predict the occurrence of a peak with true positive rate of 62% and a true negative rate of 87%, and a dive with a true positive rate of 82% and a true negative rate of 61%.
Roles for both FtsA and the FtsBLQ subcomplex in FtsN‐stimulated cell constriction in Escherichia coli
Authors: Liu Bing , Persons Logan , Lee Lynda , de Boer Piet A. J.
Published: December 2014

Escherichia coli FtsN is a bitopic membrane protein that is essential for triggering active cell constriction. A small periplasmic subdomain (EFtsN) is required and sufficient for function, but its mechanism of action is unclear. We isolated extragenic EFtsN*‐suppressing mutations that restore division in cells producing otherwise non‐functional variants of FtsN. These mapped to the IC domain of FtsA in the cytoplasm and to small subdomains of the FtsB and FtsL proteins in the periplasm. All FtsB and FtsL variants allowed survival without EFtsN, but many then imposed a new requirement for interaction between the cytoplasmic domain of FtsN (NFtsN) and FtsA. Alternatively, variants of FtsA, FtsB or FtsL acted synergistically to allow cell division in the complete absence of FtsN. Strikingly, moreover, substitution of a single residue in FtsB (E56) proved sufficient to rescue ΔftsN cells as well. In FtsN+ cells, EFtsN*‐suppressing mutations promoted cell fission at an abnormally small cell size, and caused cell shape and integrity defects under certain conditions. This and additional evidence support a model in which FtsN acts on either side of the membrane to induce a conformational switch in both FtsA and the FtsBLQ subcomplex to de‐repress septal peptidoglycan synthesis and membrane invagination.
Autopsy case of spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 with severe dementia at the terminal stage
Authors: Adachi Tadashi , Kitayama Michio , Nakano Toshiya , Adachi Yoshiki , Kato Shinsuke , Nakashima Kenji
Published: December 2014

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia commonly observed in Japan. However, few neuropathological examinations have been conducted. Here we report the case of a 76‐year‐old Japanese male SCA31 patient. He noticed dysarthria and difficulty walking at 65 years old. His symptoms subsequently deteriorated, although he could still walk with assistance at 70 years. At 73 years, when he could no longer walk, he was admitted to our hospital. He showed severe limb and truncal ataxia. His father and older brother had shown the same symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebellar atrophy of the anterior lobe and white matter hyperintensities. He was diagnosed with SCA31 by genetic analysis. Gradually, his cognitive functions and ability to communicate declined. He died of respiratory failure at the age of 76. Neuropathological examination revealed severe Purkinje cell loss that was accentuated in the anterior lobe of the cerebellum. Furthermore, the remaining Purkinje cells showed abnormal processes (that is, halo‐like amorphous materials), as has been reported previously. Severe deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau‐positive neurites, many senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy were observed in the neocortex. Our findings suggest that in SCA31, accelerated tau and amyloid pathology in the neocortex might induce dementia at the terminal stage.
Truncated dunes as evidence of the 2004 tsunami in North Sumatra and environmental recovery post‐tsunami
Authors: Kain Claire , Gomez Christopher , Wassmer Patrick , Lavigne Franck , Hart Deirdre
Published: December 2014

The 2004 tsunami transformed the coast of Indonesia. This research investigates a sand dune area in Lampuuk, Sumatra, that was scoured by tsunami flow. We assessed geomorphology one‐year post‐event and examine the timescale of vegetation recovery. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) evidence shows an eroded succession of thin dipping units, overlain by aeolian layers 0 to 50 cm thick. Incipient dunes were absent, indicating limited dune rebuilding at one‐year post‐tsunami, possibly resulting from channelised airflow and the absence of vegetation. Recolonisation by vegetation was initially limited but progressed rapidly between 2005 and 2011, highlighting the temporal non‐linearity of recovery processes.
Filling the gap: The geospatial skills shortage in New Zealand
Authors: de Róiste Mairéad
Published: December 2014

Geospatial technologies span governmental, academic and private commercial sectors, and their potential for growth is considerable. The USA and Australia have trouble meeting demand for geospatial skills. This paper reports on a national survey of 157 organisations that identified a similar geospatial shortage in New Zealand. The paper also details dimensions of the shortage and the current frameworks for meeting the shortfall of skilled professionals. Arising from this skills gap, key challenges facing both the geography and geospatial communities are identified and discussed: raising student numbers, gaining experience, up‐skilling current professionals and raising awareness of the value of the geospatial skillset.
Quantitative trait loci mapping and transcriptome analysis reveal candidate genes regulating the response to ozone in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: XU ENJUN , VAAHTERA LAURI , HÕRAK HANNA , HINCHA DIRK K. , HEYER ARND G. , BROSCHÉ MIKAEL
Published: December 2014

As multifaceted molecules, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to accumulate in response to various stresses. Ozone (O3) is an air pollutant with detrimental effect on plants and O3 can also be used as a tool to study the role of ROS in signalling. Genetic variation of O3 sensitivity in different Arabidopsis accessions highlights the complex genetic architecture of plant responses to ROS. To investigate the genetic basis of O3 sensitivity, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population between two Arabidopsis accessions with distinct O3 sensitivity, C24 (O3 tolerant) and Te (O3 sensitive) was used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. Through analysis of QTL mapping combined with transcriptome changes in response to O3, we identified three causal QTLs and several potential candidate genes regulating the response to O3. Based on gene expression data, water loss and stomatal conductance measurement, we found that a combination of relatively low stomatal conductance and constitutive activation of salicylic acid (SA)‐mediated defence signalling were responsible for the O3 tolerance in C24. Application of exogenous SA prior to O3 exposure can mimic the constitutive SA signalling in C24 and could attenuate O3‐induced leaf damage in the sensitive Arabidopsis accessions Te and Cvi‐0.
Conversion of psychological stress into cellular stress response: Roles of the sigma‐1 receptor in the process
Authors: Hayashi Teruo
Published: December 2014

Psychiatrists empirically recognize that excessive or chronic psychological stress can result in long‐lasting impairments of brain functions that partly involve neuronal cell damage. Recent studies begin to elucidate the molecular pathways activated/inhibited by psychological stress. Activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis under psychological stress causes inflammatory oxidative stresses in the brain, in part due to elevation of cytokines. Psychological stress or neuropathological conditions (e.g., accumulation of β‐amyloids) trigger ‘cellular stress responses’, which promote upregulation of molecular chaperones to protect macromolecules from degradation. The unfolded protein response, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐specific cellular stress response, has been recently implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders and the pharmacology of certain clinically used drugs. The sigma‐1 receptor is an ER protein whose ligands are shown to exert antidepressant‐like and neuroprotective actions. Recent studies found that the sigma‐1 receptor is a novel ligand‐operated ER chaperone that regulates bioenergetics, free radical generation, oxidative stress, unfolded protein response and cytokine signaling. The sigma‐1 receptor also regulates morphogenesis of neuronal cells, such as neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and myelination, which can be perturbed by cellular stress. The sigma‐1 receptor may thus contribute to a cellular defense system that protects nervous systems against chronic psychological stress. Findings from sigma receptor research imply that not only cell surface monoamine effectors but also intracellular molecules, especially those at the ER, may provide novel therapeutic targets for future drug developments.
Overexpression ofSpWRKY1promotes resistance toPhytophthora nicotianaeand tolerance to salt and drought stress in transgenic tobacco
Authors: Li Jing‐bin , Luan Yu‐shi , Liu Zhen
Published: December 2014

WRKYtranscription factors are key regulatory components of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.SpWRKY1, a pathogen‐inducedWRKYgene, was isolated from tomato (Solanum pimpinellifoliumL3708) using in silico cloning and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) methods.SpWRKY1expression was significantly induced following oomycete pathogen infection and treatment with salt, drought, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Overexpression ofSpWRKY1in tobacco conferred greater resistance toPhytophthora nicotianaeinfection, as evidenced by lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content; relative electrolyte leakage (REL); higher chlorophyll content; and higher peroxidase (POD,EC1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD,EC1.15.1.1) and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL,EC4.3.1.24) activities. This resistance was also coupled with enhanced expression ofSA‐ andJA‐associated genes (NtPR1,NtPR2,NtPR4,NtPR5andNtPDF1.2), as well as of various defense‐related genes (NtPOD,NtSODandNtPAL). In addition, transgenic tobacco plants also displayed an enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses, mainly demonstrated by the transgenic lines exhibiting lower accumulation ofMDAcontent and higherPOD(EC1.11.1.7),SOD(EC1.15.1.1) activities, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, accompanied by enhanced expression of defense‐related genes (NtPOD,NtSOD,NtLEA5,NtP5CSandNtNCED1) under salt and drought stresses. Overall, these findings suggest thatSpWRKY1acts as a positive regulator involved in tobacco defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Current perspective of the impact of smoking on the progression and treatment of periodontitis
Authors: Nociti Francisco H. , Casati Marcio Z. , Duarte Poliana Mendes
Published: December 2014

This literature review provides an overview of the current scenario regarding the impact of smoking on the progression and treatment of periodontitis; clinical, microbiological and immunological data from studies from our and other groups are presented. In general, preclinical and clinical data are unanimous in demonstrating that smokers present increased susceptibility, greater severity and faster progression of periodontal disease compared with nonsmokers. The evidence further demonstrates that smokers lose more teeth and have a less favorable response to therapy than do nonsmokers. Although it is well established that smoking significantly impacts on the onset, progression and outcome of periodontal disease, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. More importantly, some of the reported deleterious effects of smoking on periodontal tissues have been reported to be reversible upon participation in smoking‐cessation programs. Therefore, clinicians should strongly advise smokers to enroll in cessation strategies, even temporarily, in order to improve the overall outcome.