bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intradiploic Orbital Roof Meningioma with Pneumosinus Dilatans in a Child: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Khalatbari Mahmoud Reza , Borghei-Razavi Hamid , Moharamzad Yashar
Published: August 2011

Intradiploic meningioma of the orbital roof is a type of intraosseous meningioma. It is very rare in children, and only 7 cases have been reported in the pediatric age group. We report a case of a 14-year-old female who presented with progressive exophthalmos, diplopia and pain involving the right eye. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an intradiploic orbital roof tumor with diploe expansion and pneumosinus dilatans. The tumor was completely removed surgically. The histopathological diagnosis was transitional meningioma. The clinical and radiological findings of intadiploic meningioma are discussed with a review of the relevant literature.
Pediatric Epidural Tumors of the Spine – Experience of a Decade from the Kashmir Valley
Authors: Khursheed N. , Rumana M. , Ramzan A. , Zahoor S. , Nisar S. , Sarbjit C. , Abrar W. , Basharat M. , Mohsin R. , Kirmani A. , Bhat R.
Published: August 2011

We present our experience after analyzing retrospectively the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical approaches, immediate and long-term postoperative complications and survival outcome of pediatric spinal epidural tumors treated over a period of 10 years from 2000 to 2009 in a tertiary-care hospital. Our study included benign and malignant tumors. The majority of our patients were boys (14:8). The duration of symptoms was longer in benign lesions. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was the commonest malignant tumor and aneurysmal bone cyst was the commonest benign tumor. The mean duration of follow-up was 19 months (range 3–48 months). Most of the patients improved in their neurological grade after surgery; however, the degree of excision had no bearing on the length of survival for malignant lesions.
Clinical Outcome after Mechanical Recanalization as Mono- or Adjunctive Therapy in Acute Stroke: Importance of Time to Recanalization
Authors: Becktepe Jos S. , You Se-Jong , Berkefeld Joachim , Neumann-Haefelin Tobias , Singer Oliver C.
Published: August 2011

Background: The clinical benefit of mechanical recanalization procedures for acute stroke is still a matter of debate. We report the clinical and imaging results of 34 consecutive patients, focusing on time aspects (i.e. vessel occlusion time and procedure duration). Methods: During a 3-year period, 34 stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion (anterior circulation, n = 19; posterior circulation, n = 15) were treated with several mechanical recanalization devices with (n = 17) or without prior intravenous thrombolysis. Clinical and imaging data before (NIHSS) and after treatment [(mRS) 3 and 6–30 months] were analyzed. The angiographic outcome (TIMI score), complication rates, and procedural issues (i.e. procedure duration and vessel occlusion time) were assessed. Results: The median NIHSS on admission was 17. Successful recanalization (TIMI 2 and 3) was achieved in 23 (68%) patients. The median time from symptom onset to recanalization was 330 min, and the median time from angiography to recanalization was 101 min. Six (18%) patients had a good clinical outcome (3-month mRS ≤2), and 10 (29%) died. The vessel occlusion time was significantly shorter in patients with a good compared to poor clinical outcome (247 vs. 348 min, p = 0.024). In the subgroup of anterior circulation stroke, successful recanalization, and no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (n = 11), there was a strong correlation between vessel occlusion time and clinical outcome (r = 0.711, p = 0.014). Conclusions: The rate of vessel recanalization with endovascular therapy is promising. Nevertheless, the long-term clinical outcome is still disadvantageous in the majority of patients, presumably due to too long vessel occlusion times. Better strategies for patient selection and optimization of recanalization strategies (i.e. shorter time intervals to vessel patency) are warranted.
Maximal Aerobic Power versus Performance in Two Aerobic Endurance Tests among Young and Old Adults
Authors: Andersson Eva A. , Lundahl Gunilla , Wecke Liliane , Lindblom Ida , Nilsson Johnny
Published: August 2011

Background: Aerobic fitness is of great value for reducing risk of mortality and cardiovascular diseases. Objective: This study evaluated the performance in and correlations between a new test (five-minute pyramid test, 5MPT), the six-minute walk-test (6MWT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) among old and young adults. Methods: Forty-four habitually active adults (females and males), 23 old (64–79 years) and 21 young (20–32 years) participated. In the 5MPT, the participants moved back and forth along a short walkway (5.5 m) over boxes (height: ‘old people’ 0.42 m, ‘young people’ 0.62 m) arranged like an elongated step pyramid for 5 min. Power in the pyramid test (5MPTpower) was calculated as the product of numbers of laps, body weight, gravity and highest box level divided by time. A 6MWT and a maximal cycle ergometer test for direct measurements of VO2max were also performed. In all tests heart rate, with on-line electrocardiography, and perceived exertion were recorded. Results: There was a strong correlation between the 5MPTpower and VO2max for the entire group studied (r = 0.98), and each of the four subgroups old and young females and males separately (r = 0.78–0.98). Contrary to several earlier studies, especially involving people with various diseases, the present data showed that 6MWT cannot be used to predict VO2max among old females and young adults. The correlation with VO2max was weaker for the 6MWT than for the 5MPTpower. The relative performance values for the old compared to the young (ratio old/young × 100) were considerably lower in 5MPTpower and VO2max (47–55%) than in distance and ‘work’ in the 6MWT (82–86%). Conclusions: The results, with age and gender variations, can be valuable information in health-fitness contexts, since measuring physical aerobic capacity is very significant in connection with risk evaluations of mortality and various diseases. The 5MPT is a rapid, functional, easy and inexpensive tool for predicting assessed maximal aerobic power.
Does Perfusion Computed Tomography Facilitate Clinical Decision Making for Thrombolysis in Unselected Acute Patients with Suspected Ischaemic Stroke?
Authors: Agarwal S. , Jones P.S. , Alawneh J.A. , Antoun N.M. , Barry P.J. , Carrera E. , Cotter P.E. , O’Brien E.W. , Salih I. , Scoffings D.J. , Baron J.-C. , Warburton E.A.
Published: August 2011

Background: Despite use in clinical practice and major positive trials of thrombolysis, non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is not sensitive for identifying penumbral tissue in acute stroke. This study evaluated how physiological imaging using CT perfusion (CTP) could add to the diagnostic utility of an NCCT and inform clinical decisions regarding thrombolysis. Methods: Forty imaging datasets containing NCCT and CTP were retrospectively identified from a cohort of consecutive acute stroke patients. Two sets of observers (n = 6) and a neuroradiologist evaluated the images without knowledge of clinical symptoms. Inter-observer agreement was calculated using the ĸ statistic for identifying acute ischaemic change on NCCT: perfusion abnormalities (namely cerebral blood volume, cerebral blood flow and time to peak), and penumbral tissue on perfusion maps obtained by two image processing algorithms. Results: Inter-rater agreement was moderate (ĸ = 0.54) for early ischaemic change on NCCT. Perfusion maps improved this to substantial for cerebral blood volume (ĸ = 0.67) and to almost perfect for time to peak (ĸ = 0.87) and cerebral blood flow (ĸ = 0.87). The agreement for qualitative assessment of penumbral tissue was substantial to perfect for images obtained using the two different perfusion algorithms. Overall, there was a high rate of decision to thrombolyse based on NCCT (81.25%). CTP strengthened the decision to thrombolyse based on NCCT in 38.3% of cases. It negatively influenced the decision in 14.6% of cases, this being significantly more common in experienced observers (p = 0.02). Conclusions: We demonstrate that the qualitative evaluation of CTP produces near perfect inter-observer agreement, regardless of the post-processing method used. CTP is a reliable, accessible and practical imaging modality that improves confidence in reaching the appropriate diagnosis. It is particularly useful for less experienced clinicians, to arrive at a physiologically informed treatment decision.
Temporal Distribution and Magnitude of the Vulnerability Period around Stroke Depend on Stroke Subtype
Authors: Ntaios G. , Michel P.
Published: August 2011

Background: We aimed to analyze the rate and time distribution of pre- and post-morbid cerebrovascular events in a single ischemic stroke population, and whether these depend on the etiology of the index stroke. Methods: In 2,203 consecutive patients admitted to a single stroke center registry (ASTRAL), the ischemic stroke that led to admission was considered the index event. Frequency distribution and cumulative relative distribution graphs of the most recent and first recurrent event (ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, intracranial or subarachnoid hemorrhage) were drawn in weekly and daily intervals for all strokes and for all stroke types. Results: The frequency of events at identical time points before and after the index stroke was mostly reduced in the first week after (vs. before) stroke (1.0 vs. 4.2%, p < 0.001) and the first month (2.7 vs. 7.4%, p < 0.001), and then ebbed over the first year (8.4 vs. 13.1%, p < 0.001). On daily basis, the peak frequency was noticed at day –1 (1.6%) with a reduction to 0.7% on the index day and 0.17% 24 h after. The event rate in patients with atherosclerotic stroke was particularly high around the index event, but 1-year cumulative recurrence rate was similar in all stroke types. Conclusions: We confirm a short window of increased vulnerability in ischemic stroke and show a 4-, 3- and 2-fold reduction in post-stroke events at 1 week, 1 month and 1 year, respectively, compared to identical pre-stroke periods. This break in the ‘stroke wave’ is particularly striking after atherosclerotic and lacunar strokes.
Incidence and Clinical Features of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Møre and Romsdal County, Norway
Authors: Gundersen M.D. , Yaseen R. , Midgard R.
Published: August 2011

Background: To determine the annual incidence rate and clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Møre and Romsdal County, Norway, in the 20-year period from 1988 to 2007. Methods: We recruited ALS patients retrospectively from the patient database of the two neurological departments in Møre and Romsdal County, Norway. The patients were identified by use of the international classification code for diseases. We recorded gender, age, municipality, symptoms, clinical signs, time from onset to diagnosis and death. Results: 105 patients met the inclusion criteria. The crude annual incidence was 2.17 per 100,000 for the period 1988–2007. Gender-specific incidence for men was 2.32 per 100,000, and for women 2.03 per 100,000. Mean age at symptom onset was 66.8 ± 10.5 years. Mean interval from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 13.5 ± 11.0 months, and mean survival time from diagnosis was 18.0 ± 22.0 months. Prevalence rate estimated on December 31, 2007 was 4.06 per 100,000. Conclusion: The present study shows an annual incidence of ALS of similar magnitude to the previous studies from the Nordic countries during the past years. The short survival time corroborates prior studies, and is stable throughout the two studied decades.
Cervical Spine Instability following Resection of Benign Intradural Extramedullary Tumours in Children
Authors: Furtado Sunil V. , Murthy Ganesh K. , Hegde Alangar S.
Published: August 2011

Background: Benign intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumours in children are usually neural sheath derivatives or are dura based. Total resection of these benign tumours is the primary surgical goal. A management issue related to their occurrence in the growing paediatric spine is a higher propensity for the development of postlaminectomy kyphosis, especially in the upper cervical spine, than what is seen in adults. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 22 patients to analyse the incidence, presentation and management of postoperative kyphotic deformities in children who underwent laminotomy and tumour excision for benign cervical IDEM tumours. Results: The incidence of postoperative kyphosis was 13%. All these patients underwent subsequent posterior fusion following reduction of the deformity with good results. Conclusion: Following excision of cervical intradural lesions, paediatric patients need to be followed up regularly to rule out the development of postsurgical deformities especially in the upper cervical spine region. Various biomechanical, surgical and tumour-related factors which influence the development of deformities are reviewed.
Constitutional Advancement of Growth Is Associated with Early Puberty in Girls
Authors: Papadimitriou Anastasios , Kanakis George , Douros Konstantinos , Papadimitriou Dimitrios T. , Boutsiadis Anastasios H. , Nicolaidou Polyxeni , Fretzayas Andreas
Published: August 2011

Background: Constitutional advancement of growth (CAG) is the growth pattern of early growth acceleration that has been shown to be characteristic in girls with idiopathic precocious puberty (IPP). The aim of this study was to examine the growth pattern of girls with early puberty compared to girls with IPP. Methods: We studied the growth pattern, from birth to presentation, of 61 girls with early puberty, of 40 girls with IPP and of 100 healthy girls with normal pubertal onset that served as controls. Results: Height SDS (HSDS) at presentation was significantly different among the 3 groups (p < 0.001). Girls with early puberty were shorter than girls with IPP (HSDS 0.63 ± 1.09 vs. 0.98 ± 0.95, respectively, p < 0.001) and taller than control girls (HSDS 0.05 ± 0.94, p < 0.05). By comparing the linear growth pattern from birth to presentation, pairwise comparisons showed that it differed significantly between early puberty and control (p < 0.001) as well as between IPP and control girls (p < 0.001), whereas the difference between girls with IPP and early puberty was not significant (p = 0.09). Conclusion:Girls with early puberty present the pattern of CAG suggesting that IPP lies at the extreme of the distribution of the normal timing of puberty onset.
Defects in Ankyrin-Based Membrane Protein Targeting Pathways Underlie Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Cunha Shane R. , Hund Thomas J. , Hashemi Seyed , Voigt Niels , Li Na , Wright Patrick , Koval Olha , Li Jingdong , Gudmundsson Hjalti , Gumina Richard J. , Karck Matthias , Schott Jean-Jacques , Probst Vincent , Le Marec Herve , Anderson Mark E. , Dobrev Dobromir , Wehrens Xander H.T. , Mohler Peter J.
Published: August 2011

Background—

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting >2 million patients in the United States alone. Despite decades of research, surprisingly little is known regarding the molecular pathways underlying the pathogenesis of AF.
ANK2
encodes ankyrin-B, a multifunctional adapter molecule implicated in membrane targeting of ion channels, transporters, and signaling molecules in excitable cells.

Methods and Results—

In the present study, we report early-onset AF in patients harboring loss-of-function mutations in
ANK2
. In mice, we show that ankyrin-B deficiency results in atrial electrophysiological dysfunction and increased susceptibility to AF. Moreover, ankyrin-B
+/−
atrial myocytes display shortened action potentials, consistent with human AF. Ankyrin-B is expressed in atrial myocytes, and we demonstrate its requirement for the membrane targeting and function of a subgroup of voltage-gated Ca
2+
channels (Ca
v
1.3) responsible for low voltage-activated L-type Ca
2+
current. Ankyrin-B is associated directly with Ca
v
1.3, and this interaction is regulated by a short, highly conserved motif specific to Ca
v
1.3. Moreover, loss of ankyrin-B in atrial myocytes results in decreased Ca
v
1.3 expression, membrane localization, and function sufficient to produce shortened atrial action potentials and arrhythmias. Finally, we demonstrate reduced ankyrin-B expression in atrial samples of patients with documented AF, further supporting an association between ankyrin-B and AF.

Conclusions—

These findings support that reduced ankyrin-B expression or mutations in
ANK2
are associated with AF. Additionally, our data demonstrate a novel pathway for ankyrin-B–dependent regulation of Ca
v
1.3 channel membrane targeting and regulation in atrial myocytes.
Acetylcysteine for Prevention of Renal Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Angiography
Authors:   ACT Investigators*
Published: August 2011

Background—

It remains uncertain whether acetylcysteine prevents contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

Methods and Results—

We randomly assigned 2308 patients undergoing an intravascular angiographic procedure with at least 1 risk factor for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (age >70 years, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or hypotension) to acetylcysteine 1200 mg or placebo. The study drugs were administered orally twice daily for 2 doses before and 2 doses after the procedure. The allocation was concealed (central Web-based randomization). All analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle. The incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (primary end point) was 12.7% in the acetylcysteine group and 12.7% in the control group (relative risk, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.81 to 1.25;
P
=0.97). A combined end point of mortality or need for dialysis at 30 days was also similar in both groups (2.2% and 2.3%, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 1.69;
P
=0.92). Consistent effects were observed in all subgroups analyzed, including those with renal impairment.

Conclusions—

In this large randomized trial, we found that acetylcysteine does not reduce the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury or other clinically relevant outcomes in at-risk patients undergoing coronary and peripheral vascular angiography.

Clinical Trial Registration—

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00736866.
Superoxide Modulates Myogenic Contractions of Mouse Afferent Arterioles
Authors: Lai En Yin , Wellstein Anton , Welch William J. , Wilcox Christopher S.
Published: August 2011

Reactive oxygen species enhance or impair autoregulation. Because superoxide is a vasoconstrictor, we tested the hypothesis that stretch generates superoxide that mediates myogenic responses. Increasing perfusion pressure of mouse isolated perfused renal afferent arterioles from 40 to 80 mm Hg reduced their diameter by 13.3±1.8% (
P
<0.001) and increased reactive oxygen species (ethidium: dihydroethidium fluorescence) by 9.8±2.3% (
P
<0.05). Stretch-induced fluorescence was reduced significantly (
P
<0.05) by incubation with Tempol (3.7±0.8%), pegylated superoxide dismutase (3.2±1.0%), or apocynin (3.5±0.9%) but not by pegylated catalase,
l
-nitroarginine methylester, or Ca
2+
-free medium, relating it to Ca
2+
-independent vascular superoxide. Compared with vehicle, basal tone and myogenic contractions were reduced significantly (
P
<0.05) by pegylated superoxide dismutase (5.4±0.8), Tempol (4.1±1.0%), apocynin (1.0±1.3%), and diphenyleneiodinium (3.9±0.9%) but not by pegylated catalase (10.1±1.6%).
l
-Nitroarginine methylester enhanced basal tone, but neither it (15.8±3.3%) nor endothelial NO synthase knockout (10.2±1.8%) significantly changed myogenic contractions. Tempol had no further effect after superoxide dismutase but remained effective after catalase. H
2
O
2
>50 μmol/L caused contractions but at 25 μmol/L inhibited myogenic responses (7.4±0.8%;
P
<0.01). In conclusion, increasing the pressure within afferent arterioles led to Ca
2+
-independent increased vascular superoxide production from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, which enhanced myogenic contractions largely independent of NO, whereas H
2
O
2
impaired pressure-induced contractions but was not implicated in the normal myogenic response.
Role of Complement Component C1q in the Onset of Preeclampsia in Mice
Authors: Singh Jameel , Ahmed Abdulwahab , Girardi Guillermina
Published: August 2011

Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening, pregnancy-induced disease and a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite considerable research, the causes of PE remain unclear, and there is no effective treatment. Studies in animal models that resemble this complex pregnancy-related disorder may help to identify possible therapies for PE. Complement component C1q has an important role in trophoblast migration, spiral arteries remodeling, and normal placentation. Here we show that pregnant C1q-deficient (C1q
−/−
) mice recapitulate the key features of human PE: hypertension, albuminuria, endotheliosis, decreased placental vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and elevated levels of soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) that correlate with increased fetal death. In addition, decreased blood flow and increased oxidative stress are observed in placentas from C1q
−/−
mice. Treatment of C1q
−/−
mice with pravastatin restored trophoblast invasiveness, placental blood flow, and angiogenic balance and, thus, prevented the onset of PE. Serum-soluble receptors for VEGF-1 levels were reduced and placental VEGF levels were significantly increased in C1q
−/−
mice treated with pravastatin compared with untreated C1q
−/−
mice (VEGF: 1067±171 versus 419±194 pg/mL;
P
<0.01). Pravastatin treatment reduced hypertension (change in mean arterial pressure: 1±1 versus 18±3 mm Hg in C1q
−/−
untreated mice), and albuminuria (of creatinine) was reduced from 820±175 to 117±45 μg/mg (both
P
<0.01). Renal damage and endothelial dysfunction were significantly attenuated with pravastatin. This model that highlights the causative role of impaired trophoblast invasion in the pathogenesis of PE allowed us to identify pravastatin as a good therapeutic option to prevent PE.
School Finance Reform: Do Equalized Expenditures Imply Equalized Teacher Salaries?
Authors: Streams Meg , Butler J. S. , Cowen Joshua , Fowles Jacob , Toma Eugenia F.
Published: August 2011

Kentucky is a poor, relatively rural state that contrasts greatly with the relatively urban and wealthy states typically the subject of education studies employing large-scale administrative data. For this reason, Kentucky's experience of major school finance and curricular reform is highly salient for understanding teacher labor market dynamics. This study examines the time path of teacher salaries in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky using a novel teacher-level administrative data set. Our results suggest that the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) provided a salary boost for all Appalachian teachers, resulting in a wage premium for teachers of low and medium experience and equalizing pay across Appalachian and non-Appalachian districts for teachers of high experience. However, we find that Appalachian salaries fell back to the level of non-Appalachian teachers roughly a decade following reform, at which point the pre-KERA remuneration patterns re-emerge.
The Effects of Aging on the Neural Basis of Implicit Associative Learning in a Probabilistic Triplets Learning Task
Authors: Simon Jessica R. , Vaidya Chandan J. , Howard James H. , Howard Darlene V.
Published: August 2011

Few studies have investigated how aging influences the neural basis of implicit associative learning, and available evidence is inconclusive. One emerging behavioral pattern is that age differences increase with practice, perhaps reflecting the involvement of different brain regions with training. Many studies report hippocampal involvement early on with learning becoming increasingly dependent on the caudate with practice. We tested the hypothesis that the contribution of these regions to learning changes with age because of differential age-related declines in the striatum and hippocampi. We assessed age-related differences in brain activation during implicit associative learning using the Triplets Learning Task. Over three event-related fMRI runs, 11 younger and 12 healthy older adults responded to only the third (target) stimulus in sequences of three stimuli (“triplets”) by corresponding key press. Unbeknown to participants, the first stimulus' location predicted one target location for 80% of trials and another target location for 20% of trials. Both age groups learned associative regularities but differences in favor of the younger adults emerged with practice. The neural basis of learning (response to predictability) was examined by identifying regions that showed a greater response to triplets that occurred more frequently. Both age groups recruited the hippocampus early, but with training, the younger adults recruited their caudate whereas the older adults continued to rely on their hippocampus. This pattern enables older adults to maintain near-young levels of performance early in training, but not later, and adds to evidence that implicit associative learning is supported by different brain networks in younger and older adults.
Depth of Conceptual Knowledge Modulates Visual Processes during Word Reading
Authors: Rabovsky Milena , Sommer Werner , Abdel Rahman Rasha
Published: August 2011

Recent evidence suggests that conceptual knowledge modulates early visual stages of object recognition. The present study investigated whether similar modulations can be observed also for the recognition of object names, that is, for symbolic representations with only arbitrary relationships between their visual features and the corresponding conceptual knowledge. In a learning paradigm, we manipulated the amount of information provided about initially unfamiliar visual objects while controlling for perceptual stimulus properties and exposure. In a subsequent test session with electroencephalographic recordings, participants performed several tasks on either the objects or their written names. For objects as well as names, knowledge effects were observed as early as about 120 msec in the P1 component of the ERP, reflecting perceptual processing in extrastriate visual cortex. These knowledge-dependent modulations of early stages of visual word recognition suggest that information about word meanings may modulate the perception of arbitrarily related visual features surprisingly early.
Explicit and Implicit Second Language Training Differentially Affect the Achievement of Native-like Brain Activation Patterns
Authors: Morgan-Short Kara , Steinhauer Karsten , Sanz Cristina , Ullman Michael T.
Published: August 2011

It is widely believed that adults cannot learn a foreign language in the same way that children learn a first language. However, recent evidence suggests that adult learners of a foreign language can come to rely on native-like language brain mechanisms. Here, we show that the type of language training crucially impacts this outcome. We used an artificial language paradigm to examine longitudinally whether explicit training (that approximates traditional grammar-focused classroom settings) and implicit training (that approximates immersion settings) differentially affect neural (electrophysiological) and behavioral (performance) measures of syntactic processing. Results showed that performance of explicitly and implicitly trained groups did not differ at either low or high proficiency. In contrast, electrophysiological (ERP) measures revealed striking differences between the groups' neural activity at both proficiency levels in response to syntactic violations. Implicit training yielded an N400 at low proficiency, whereas at high proficiency, it elicited a pattern typical of native speakers: an anterior negativity followed by a P600 accompanied by a late anterior negativity. Explicit training, by contrast, yielded no significant effects at low proficiency and only an anterior positivity followed by a P600 at high proficiency. Although the P600 is reminiscent of native-like processing, this response pattern as a whole is not. Thus, only implicit training led to an electrophysiological signature typical of native speakers. Overall, the results suggest that adult foreign language learners can come to rely on native-like language brain mechanisms, but that the conditions under which the language is learned may be crucial in attaining this goal.
Distinct Contributions of the Magnocellular and Parvocellular Visual Streams to Perceptual Selection
Authors: Denison Rachel N. , Silver Michael A.
Published: August 2011

During binocular rivalry, conflicting images presented to the two eyes compete for perceptual dominance, but the neural basis of this competition is disputed. In interocular switch rivalry, rival images periodically exchanged between the two eyes generate one of two types of perceptual alternation: (1) a fast, regular alternation between the images that is time-locked to the stimulus switches and has been proposed to arise from competition at lower levels of the visual processing hierarchy or (2) a slow, irregular alternation spanning multiple stimulus switches that has been associated with higher levels of the visual system. The existence of these two types of perceptual alternation has been influential in establishing the view that rivalry may be resolved at multiple hierarchical levels of the visual system. We varied the spatial, temporal, and luminance properties of interocular switch rivalry gratings and found, instead, an association between fast, regular perceptual alternations and processing by the magnocellular stream and between slow, irregular alternations and processing by the parvocellular stream. The magnocellular and parvocellular streams are two early visual pathways that are specialized for the processing of motion and form, respectively. These results provide a new framework for understanding the neural substrates of binocular rivalry that emphasizes the importance of parallel visual processing streams, and not only hierarchical organization, in the perceptual resolution of ambiguities in the visual environment.
Dissociable Neural Activations of Conscious Visibility and Attention
Authors: Tsubomi Hiroyuki , Ikeda Takashi , Hanakawa Takashi , Hirose Nobuyuki , Fukuyama Hidenao , Osaka Naoyuki
Published: August 2011

Recent neuroimaging evidence indicates that visual consciousness of objects is reflected by the activation in the lateral occipital cortex as well as in the frontal and parietal cortex. However, most previous studies used behavioral paradigms in which attention raised or enhanced visual consciousness (visibility or recognition performance). This co-occurrence made it difficult to reveal whether an observed cortical activation is related to visual consciousness or attention. The present fMRI study investigated the dissociability of neural activations underlying these two cognitive phenomena. Toward this aim, we used a visual backward masking paradigm in which directing attention could either enhance or reduce the object visibility. The participants' task was to report the level of subjective visibility for a briefly presented target object. The target was presented in the center with four flankers, which was followed by the same number of masks. Behavioral results showed that attention to the flankers enhanced the target visibility, whereas attention to the masks attenuated it. The fMRI results showed that the occipito-temporal sulcus increased activation in the attend flankers condition compared with the attend masks condition, and occipito-temporal sulcus activation levels positively correlated with the target visibility in both attentional conditions. On the other hand, the inferior frontal gyrus and the intraparietal sulcus increased activation in both the attend flankers and attend masks compared with an attend neither condition, and these activation levels were independent of target visibility. Taken together, present results showed a clear dissociation in neural activities between conscious visibility and attention.
Early Human Visual Cortex Encodes Surface Brightness Induced by Dynamic Context
Authors: van de Ven Vincent , Jans Bert , Goebel Rainer , De Weerd Peter
Published: August 2011

Visual scene perception owes greatly to surface features such as color and brightness. Yet, early visual cortical areas predominantly encode surface boundaries rather than surface interiors. Whether human early visual cortex may nevertheless carry a small signal relevant for surface perception is a topic of debate. We induced brightness changes in a physically constant surface by temporally modulating the luminance of surrounding surfaces in seven human participants. We found that fMRI activity in the V2 representation of the constant surface was in antiphase to luminance changes of surrounding surfaces (i.e., activity was in-phase with perceived brightness changes). Moreover, the amplitude of the antiphase fMRI activity in V2 predicted the strength of illusory brightness perception. We interpret our findings as evidence for a surface-related signal in early visual cortex and discuss the neural mechanisms that may underlie that signal in concurrence with its possible interaction with the properties of the fMRI signal.
Is Corophium Multisetosum Stock, 1952 an Exotic Invasive Species in Europe? Distribution, Habitat, and Recent Observations in the Netherlands
Authors: Wijnhoven Sander , Van Der Velde Gerard , Hummel Herman
Published: August 2011

Corophium multisetosum Stock, 1952 has been found in several estuaries and water bodies in Europe ranging from fresh and brackish to salt water. The species appeared to be distributed over a wide geographic range from the Iberian Peninsula to the southern Baltic region and is recently found in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico, showing remarkable differences in ecology between populations. The recorded observations of the species in the Netherlands, however, remained restricted to a few smaller waters, and were published in grey literature. Recently, the species has been observed in a variety of waters in the southwestern part of the Netherlands and appears to be relatively common. The current study gives an overview of the recordings of C. multisetosum within its geographic range and its habitat preferences.

The recent observations on distribution and habitat preferences of C. multisetosum in the Netherlands are compared with the findings in other parts of Europe. Seeming discontinuities in recorded ecology of the species in the Netherlands and over Europe are discussed. C. multisetosum appears to be very flexible in its behaviour and appears to tolerate a broad range of environmental conditions. Local environmental conditions (e.g., salinity and substrate) and related communities (in the Netherlands particularly the presence of the seemingly competing species Corophium volutator (Pallas, 1766) and Chelicorophium curvispinum (G. O. Sars, 1895)) determine the presence of C. multisetosum and the local behaviour and abundance of the species in the system. As the species shows a typical distribution pattern with many recent recordings, its origin and possible dispersal routes are discussed.
Artificial Settlement of Sea Lice, Caligus Rogercresseyi Boxshall & Bravo, 2000 (copepoda, Caligidae), on Tissues of Fish Used As Substrate
Authors: Torrealba Debora A. , Toledo Ximena E. , Gallardo José A.
Published: August 2011

Caligus rogercresseyi is the main ectoparasitic copepod affecting salmon and trout farming in Chile. The aim of this study was to evaluate under laboratory conditions the ability of copepodids of C. rogercresseyi to settle on fin, scale, and skin tissues taken from a wild host, the rock cod (Eleginops maclovinus) and an exotic host (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and evaluate the effects of inductors, such as conditioned water and fish mucus, on the process. The assessment was carried out simultaneously for each host and inductor, using a single pool of larvae (N = 1800). Three replicates per treatment were done and the settlement as well as the development stage of the frontal filament were recorded after 24 h. A total of 341 copepodids were able to settle on the different tissues and hosts. The host showing the higher settlement was E. maclovinus (N = 215; 23.9%) compared to O. mykiss (N = 126; 14%); the tissue showing the higher number of settled copepodids was the skin (N = 126; 48.4%), followed by fin (N = 140; 41.1%) and scales (N = 36; 10.5%). Regarding inductors, neither conditioned water (N = 112; 32.8%) nor mucus (N = 113; 33.1%) showed significant differences with the control without inductor (N = 116; 34%). Inductors did not have a significant effect on the development of the frontal filament, neither for E. maclovinus, nor for O. mykiss tissues, thus suggesting the tissues used were able to induce a positive response on these processes. This is the first work reporting a successful settlement of a species of sea louse in tissue extracted from fish.
Freshwater Prawns of the Genus Macrobrachium (decapoda, Palaemonidae) with Abbreviated Development from the Papaloapan River Basin, Veracruz, Mexico: Distribution and New Species
Authors: Mejía-Ortíz Luis M. , López-Mejía Marilú
Published: August 2011

In the Papaloapan River two freshwater prawns with abbreviated development have been recorded: Macrobrachium villalobosi (a stygobitic species) and Macrobrachium totonacum (an epigeal species). In this paper we describe four new species from this genus, and the distribution of these six species along the river basin. M. oaxacae nov. sp. occurs in the River La Junta, and together with M. cosolapaense nov. sp. is geographically close to the stygobitic species and M. totonacum, but differs from these in the following aspects: pigmentation, the number of rostral spines, and the relative proportions of the articles of the second pereiopod, of appendix masculina and appendix interna, and the number of spines on the appendix masculina. Macrobrachium mazatecum nov. sp. lives in two streams in Veracruz: the first close to Tierra Blanca Veracruz and the second on the Zapotal Veracruz near Mpio. Lerdo de Tejada. This species was also recorded in two springs near Valle Nacional Oaxaca, and differs from M. oaxacae nov. sp. and M. cosolapaense nov. sp. in the number of rostral spines, and the relative proportions on the articles of second pereiopod, of appendix masculina and appendix interna, and of the spines on the appendix masculina. Finally, Macrobrachium jacatepecense nov. sp. occurs only in a spring near Jacatepec, Oaxaca. This species differs from the other species in the relative proportions of the articles of the second pereiopod: however, it is very close to Macrobrachium oaxacae nov. sp. in the number of rostral spines, but based on the geographical distribution of both species and other features, it is clearly a different species. In this Papaloapan River basin, the distribution of this complex of species is very limited, because the various populations live in very restricted areas associated with springs or small streams, and without direct interconnections. All these new species are comparable with the epigeal Macrobrachium species in the southeast of Mexico that have abbreviated larval development.
Victims' Eligibility before the International Criminal Court in Historical and Comparative Context
Authors: Bachvarova Tatiana
Published: August 2011

This article analyzes the eligibility criteria for victims before the International Criminal Court delineated in Rule 85 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence. The paper outlines the most complicated matters ensuing from the application and interpretation of the provision as a whole, as well as of each of the four requirements. The study focuses on multifarious and/or contentious issues which have either already emerged in practice or need yet to be addressed by the ICC, such as: the identification requirements for victim-applicants; the recognition of deceased persons as victims; the problem of disappeared individuals; the implications of the introduction of certain legal entities as victims; the notion, substance and compass of the relevant harm depending on the group of victims (natural or legal persons); interpretation and application of the requirement for a causal link between the harm suffered and the alleged crime(s). In addition to the objective to unfold and elucidate major concerns arising from the victims' eligibility criteria, the article suggests a juxtaposition of the ideas underpinning these requirements with the legal regime and practice of other international(ized) (quasi)adjudicative institutions. The conclusion is advanced for the need that the will of the founders be properly construed so that a balance is achieved between victims' participation and expeditiousness of the proceedings before the first permanent international criminal court.
Provisional Release in International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law
Authors: Doran Kate
Published: August 2011

This article is a review of the jurisprudence on provisional release and an analysis of how such a mechanism operates under the Statute of the International Criminal Court. It examines how pretrial release is dealt with in international human rights law while focusing on the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. It goes on to evaluate the position of the ad hoc tribunals regarding the issue of pre-trial release and seeks to articulate how and why the ad hoc tribunals have moved away from customary international law. It also seeks to evaluate the actual reach of the presumption of innocence in provisional release cases at the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Formen Yugoslavia. Finally, the article considers the recent jurisprudence of the ICC regarding interim release.
Using a Legal Lens to Better Understand and Frame Issues Shaping the Employment Environment of Non-Tenure Track Faculty Members
Authors: Hutchens Neal H.
Published: August 2011

This article provides an overview and analysis of legal standards helping to shape the employment environment of non–tenure track faculty members. Familiarity with the significant differences in the types of employment arrangements for non–tenure track faculty and the resulting legal protections is of potential value to scholars seeking to better understand issues related to these faculty members. Many non–tenure track faculty members possess limited legal protections related to their employment, but a minority work under multiyear appointments with an expectation of renewal. The presence or absence of collective bargaining rights may also result in meaningful differences in the employment environment of non–tenure track faculty members. Additionally, the article examines the potential impact on non–tenure track faculty of legal uncertainty over First Amendment protection for individual academic freedom and other forms of professorial speech.
Intervening in Partner Violence Against Women
Authors: Latta Rachel E. , Goodman Lisa A.
Published: August 2011

A large body of cross-sectional and longitudinal research demonstrates the important contribution of informal social networks to the well-being and safety of female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Most survivors turn to family and friends before, during, and after their involvement with formal services; and many rely solely on informal forms of support. Yet surprisingly little research exists on the subjective experiences of informal network members themselves. This study used grounded theory to represent the dynamic and fluid process through which network members become aware of the violence in their friend or family member’s intimate relationship, make meaning of the violence, develop a narrative regarding their own role in the situation, and use that narrative to guide subsequent decision making about whether and how to engage with the survivor and/or abusive partner. The authors discuss implications of this model for developing a range of network-oriented intervention and prevention strategies.
Perspectives of Social Justice Activists
Authors: Steinfeldt Jesse A. , Foltz Brad D. , LaFollette Julie R. , White Mattie R. , Wong Y. Joel , Steinfeldt Matthew Clint
Published: August 2011

This study investigated perspectives of social justice activists who directly advocate for eliminating Native-themed mascots, nicknames, and logos. Using consensual qualitative research methodology, the research team analyzed transcripts of interviews conducted with 11 social justice activists to generate themes, categories, and domains within the data. The five domains included (a) deleterious impact of Native-themed mascots, nicknames, and logos; (b) reasons why members of mainstream society might support Native-themed mascots, nicknames, and logos; (c) reasons why some American Indians might support Native-themed mascots, nicknames, and logos; (d) frontline advocacy efforts; and (e) coping strategies for advocates. Results provided insights into the sociopsychological processes that allow the misappropriation of American Indian culture, symbols, and imagery in sport to continue to exist in society. Findings can help counseling psychologists understand the experiences of social justice activists while also highlighting ways that the field can support efforts to eliminate race-based mascots, nicknames, and logos.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Changing Nature of African Politics: The Case of the CSO–Government Relationship in Malawi
Authors: Makuwira Jonathan
Published: August 2011

The aim of this article is to analyze critically the implications of Malawi’s changing nature of politics on civil society organizations (CSOs). The article seeks to clarify whether or not the social, political and economic engagement of civil society organizations has contributed to a strengthened relationship between Malawi’ government and its own development agenda, given the CSOs’ dependence on ‘Northern’ aid agencies and/or international NGOs. The article argues that while the change from dictatorial regimes to a multiparty political system has enhanced civil society participation in Malawi’s social, economic and political issues, the CSO–government relationship is still fraught with suspicion and mistrust.
Initial and Over-Time Effects of Fluency Interventions for Students With or At Risk for Disabilities
Authors: Morgan Paul L. , Sideridis Georgios , Hua Youjia
Published: August 2011

The authors sought to (a) identify interventions that immediately increased the oral reading fluency of students with or at risk for disabilities, (b) estimate to what extent these gains maintained over time, and (c) evaluate whether particular characteristics of students (e.g., gender, disability status) predicted their response to fluency interventions. We used multilevel modeling to meta-analyze results from 44 single-participant studies involving 290 students. Results indicated that goal setting immediately increased fluency, and this gain continued over time. Word-level training was largely ineffective. Students with some types of disabilities (i.e., those with behavioral disorders or autism) responded significantly less well to interventions targeting fluency than did students with other types of disabilities (i.e., those with learning disabilities or visual impairments) and so may require more intensive and individualized fluency interventions.
A time stamp reduction method for state space exploration using colored Petri nets
Authors: Narciso Mercedes E. , Piera Miquel A. , Guasch Antoni
Published: August 2011

In this paper we present a state space exploration method implemented as part of a Decision Support Tool designed to improve the performance of logistics and production systems. An efficient depth-first search strategy, together with a reduction method known as the ‘Old Node Method’, is introduced to improve the descendant path choice by means of an evaluation function that allows the selection of the most promising node to be expanded at any level of the path. The sub-set of the state space representing the most promising scenarios holds a set of feasible and quasi-optimal solutions.