bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early intervention in thyroidectomy scars: demographics, symptoms, and prevention
Authors: Shin J.U. , Park J.H. , Oh S.H. , Jeong J.J. , Kang S. , Nam K. , Chung W.Y. , Lee J.H.
Published: April 2015

Objective:

Although hypertrophic scars are cosmetically problematic for patients following thyroidectomy, the associated risk factors are not well defined. Our objective was to determine the factors associated with hypertrophic scar development following thyroidectomy.

Method:

A retrospective chart review was performed collecting data on sex, age, body mass index (BMI), operation site, skin characteristics (pigmentation, erythema, elasticity, and hydration), and clinical scar characteristics (itching, tightening, induration, adhesion, and oedema). It was also noted if the patient had early scar intervention with intralesional steroid injection or non-ablative fractional laser irradiation, and preventive topical treatment agents. The effects of these factors were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:

Data from 1141 patients showed the incidence of hypertrophic scars was 13.9%. Significant variables in univariate analysis were combined for multivariate analysis. Young age, high BMI, itching, tightening, induration, and adhesion were associated with hypertrophic scar formation. Early scar intervention, as well as the use of preventive topical agents, were associated with decreased hypertrophic scar formation.

Conclusion:

Based on our results, we suggest that dermatologists consider using non-ablative fractional laser, intralesional steroid injection, and topical preventive agents to lower the incidence of hypertrophic scars, especially in young patients or those with high BMI and/or clinical symptoms such as itching, tightening, induration, and adhesion.

Declaration of interest:

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. The authors have no conflict of interest. This study was supported by a faculty research grant of Yonsei University College of Medicine for 2007 (6-2007-0142). This research was also supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (7-2010-0285, 7-2011-0203).
Prologue: Transformational healing solutions
Authors: Harding Keith
Published: April 2015

In recent years, the provision of wound care for patients has dramatically improved through the development of new therapeutic options, allowing for a wide range of wound care therapy choices. In June 2014, an educational International Surgical Wound Forum (ISWF) was held to present current options in wound care to a multidisciplinary group of healthcare providers. Topics included negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d), surgical incision management (SIM), use of NPWT in the management of the open abdomen, epidermal skin harvesting, and advanced wound dressings. This supplement provides in-depth discussion of some of the topics covered at the 2014 ISWF.
The role of video game experience in spatial learning and memory
Authors: de Castell Suzanne , Larios Hector , Jenson Jennifer , Smith David Harris
Published: April 2015

Video game playing has been associated with improvements in cognitive abilities that predict success in STEM fields, and therefore understanding this relationship is important. In two experiments, we used a virtual Morris Water Maze (VMWM) with and without proximal cues to measure spatial learning as a total of 82 video game experts and novices completed a search task across several trials. We measured the participants’ path lengths and tested their mental rotation abilities. The results showed that proximal cues improved overall performance. With no visible cues, experts exhibited better performance than novices when their memory for the general location of the platform was probed. With visible cues, video game experts travelled shorter path lengths than novices to the exact location of the hidden platform. Mental rotation ability correlated with overall maze performance only when no cues were visible, and only novices’ scores correlated with path length in this condition. These studies showed that the VMWM is a useful paradigm in examining how past video game experience influences human spatial cognition.
Game platforms and the evolution of cheating practices: An exploratory study
Authors: Consalvo Mia , Vazquez Irene Serrano
Published: April 2015

This article explores how Facebook as a game platform influences players’ gameplay, arguing that platforms shape play as well as cheating behaviours. Based on a player survey and follow-up qualitative interviews, it asks how players theorize cheating in such games relative to their existing social networks, Facebook’s Terms of Service, and the specific types of games prevalent on Facebook. It explores how these features shape players’ understandings of what constitutes cheating. It finds that platforms do influence how players define or imagine cheating in several ways, including the normalization of new payment models and gameplay mechanics, differences in how cheating is conceptualized by strangers versus friends and family, and how different terms of service can frame what counts as cheating.
Platão, Aristótelese a influência pitagórica no tratado Sobre a Música, de Plutarco
Authors: Rocha Roosevelt
Published: April 2015

In his treatise On Music, Plutarch cites and discusses excerpts from works of Plato and Aristotle in which these authors deal with issues relevant to the harmonic theory. In these passages, we see that the sources used by Plutarch have a strong influence of the Pythagorean school, under which the study of musical scales was developed focusing on the mathematical relationships that exist between the notes and intervals. This indicates that Plutarch or not directly read the texts of Plato and Aristotle, or read, but using some other source, a commentator of Pythagorean extraction, who we can not identify.
Música e iconografia entre os assírios
Authors: Pozzer Katia Maria Paim , Silva Simone Silva da , Cerqueira Fábio Vergara
Published: April 2015

The sources about music in ancient Mesopotamia are numerous, there are hundreds of cuneiform tablets in Sumerian and Akkadian language, and also iconic representations of material culture have been rescued by archeology. The texts of varied nature show myths, staves and musical theories, displaying speci?c vocabulary about the act of musical performance, on musicians and musical instruments. In these documents, the rich iconography of war among the Assyrians is also revealing of musical practice, including in military contexts. There is evidence of foreign musicians within the Assyrian royal courts in the cuneiform tablets, in the stone
Ouvir e dançar ritmos: Experimentos com metros da tragédia grega
Authors: Mota Marcus
Published: April 2015

This paper presents some possible usus of the metrical information from Athenian dramatic texts. After metric scansion, these data are transformed into sound ?le. Then sound ?les are interpreted by dancers. By doing this, it's noticeable that how complex is performing ancient tragic texts when physical issues are connected to philological material. All textual exemples come from Aeschylus'Supplices.
Máscaras acústicas e dimensões sonoras do Teatro grego antigo
Authors: Vovolis Thanos
Published: April 2015

It is impossible to imagine the ancient Greek theatre without the mask, whether it is tragedy, comedy or satyr plays. All theatrical forms that developed in Athens during the 6th and 5th centuries BC were forms of masked drama. The mask was an organic element in this new form called theatre because the mask is the medium per excellence for the embodiment of the Other and participates in the creation of the stage as a site of the dialogue between the Self andthe Other. But the mask was an organic element of the theatre because in ancient Greek theatre the mask is organically connected through its facial appearance to the ecstatic cries found in the dramatic texts and to the theatre space through its acoustical form. Acoustics permeated all aspects of the ancient Greek theatre and was a way to create even better participation for the audience enhancing its acoustico-visual and synaesthetic experience.
Molecular structure of azobenzene-containing systems from classical MD simulations
Authors: Guskova Olga , Toshchevikov Vladimir , Ilnytskyi Jaroslav , Saphiannikova Marina
Published: April 2015

Azobenzene-containing side chain polymers [1,2] and molecular glasses based on propeller-like C3-symmetric azobenzene mesogenes [3] are investigated in classical molecular dynamics simulations. Two length scales are considered: (i) the molecular level with atomistic resolution, where reversible conformational changes of azobenzene chromophores upon light illumination lead to contractions/extensions of low amplitudes due to a limited size of mesogene groups, and (ii) the mesoscopic level, where light-induced molecular movements are observed over larger distances, comparable with the gyration radius of polymer chains. The influence of isomerization and orientation mechanisms on molecular structure and light-induced deformation is elucidated.

[1] J. Ilnytskyi et al., J. Chem. Phys. 135, 044901 (2011).

[2] M Saphiannikova et al., Proceedings of SPIE "Optical Materials and Biomaterials in Security and Defence Systems Technology X", 8901, 890138 (2013).

[3] N.S. Jadavalli et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 051601 (2014).
Dinge in Bewegung - zum Rollenwandel materieller Objekte
Authors: Depner Anamaria
Published: April 2015

Warum bauen Menschen zu Dingen eine Beziehung auf? Einen Beitrag zur Klärung dieser Frage bietet Anamaria Depners ethnologische Betrachtung des Umzugsprozesses ins Altenheim. Hierbei überrascht der Umgang mit den eigenen Sachen - nicht zuletzt, weil er mitunter destruktiv ist. Die Analyse der Beobachtungen zum situativen Bedeutungswechsel der Dinge und der Emotionen, die Menschen ihnen entgegenbringen, bilden die Grundlage für eine allgemeine Objekttheorie, die zeigt: Der Mensch-Ding-Beziehung liegt weniger die sogenannte Agency der Dinge zu Grunde als vielmehr ihre physisch-materielle Präsenz. Die Untersuchung liefert ein empirisch fundiertes, theoretisches Modell für die Material Culture Studies sowie unterschiedliche Anknüpfungspunkte für gerontologische Forschung.
Von der Vernunft zum Wert
Authors: Eichler Martin
Published: April 2015

Was sind die individuellen und methodischen Voraussetzungen der Marx'schen ökonomischen Theorie? Martin Eichler untersucht Marx' Schriften im Lichte seiner emanzipatorischen Absichten und unterstreicht so ihren kohärenten Zusammenhang. Darüber hinaus stellt er den Wertbegriff als methodisches und inhaltliches Zentrum der Marx'schen ökonomischen Theorie vor und hebt die Bedeutung des geldvermittelten Tausches für die Konstitution der kapitalistischen Wirtschaftsweise hervor. Die Studie begreift die ökonomische Theorie als Geisteswissenschaft auf empirischer Grundlage und liefert so einen wertvollen Beitrag zur neuen Marx-Lektüre.
Beobachtbare Sprachen
Authors: Kohlrausch Jonathan
Published: April 2015

Seit den 1740er Jahren präsentierten hörende Gelehrte der französischen gelehrten und gebildeten Öffentlichkeit vermeintlich zum Sprechen, Lesen, Schreiben und Gebärden erzogene Gehörlose. Diese Inszenierungen regten einen neuartigen pädagogisch-anthropologischen Diskurs über die sourds de naissance an, an dem sich auch taube Autoren beteiligten. Jonathan Kohlrausch untersucht das so entstandene Wissen anhand eines Ensembles von hörenden und tauben Lehrern, Schülern und Gelehrten, dessen Interaktionen er bis in die 1780er Jahre nachvollzieht. Im Spannungsfeld von Wissensgeschichte, Dis/ability History und Deaf Studies fragt er nach der Interdependenz von Subjekten und Objekten des Wissens. Dabei erschließt er den Zusammenhang von Sprache, persönlicher Glaubwürdigkeit und Autorität und kann so aufzeigen, wie das Sprechen über Gehörlose zum Sprechen für Gehörlose (Dirksen Bauman) wurde.
Pegida
Authors: Geiges Lars , Marg Stine , Walter Franz
Published: April 2015

Sie spazieren gegen die »Islamisierung des Abendlandes«, skandieren »Wir sind das Volk« und schimpfen auf die »Lügenpresse«: Die Demonstrationen von Pegida bewegten 2014/15 ganz Deutschland. Nicht nur (aber vor allem) in Dresden, wo Pegida ihren Anfang nahm, wurden Zehntausende mobilisiert. Medien und Politik rätselten: Was ist Pegida? Woher kommt die Bewegung? Was macht sie aus und was treibt ihre Aktiven an? Dieses Buch liefert erste Erkenntnisse. Das Göttinger Autorenteam hat Pegida-Demonstrationen beobachtet und Interviews, Gruppendiskussionen sowie eine Onlineumfrage durchgeführt. So konnte ein tiefer Einblick in die Einstellungen und Überzeugungen der Pegida-Anhängerschaft gewonnen werden. Auch die Gegendemonstranten von NoPegida wurden vom Göttinger Institut für Demokratieforschung untersucht: Inwiefern unterscheiden sich die Lager? Entstanden ist eine facettenreiche Studie, die erste Auskünfte gibt über Pegida sowie über die Verfassung der deutschen Gesellschaft im Jahr 2015 insgesamt.
Assessment of the Turkish Local e-Governments: An empirical study
Authors: Arslan Aykut
Published: April 2015

In this research, we first evaluated the current practices of the Turkish local e-governments.  Then, building upon an earlier study of local e-governments in Europe (Key Elements for Electronic Local Authorities’ Networks [KEeLAN], 2002), we compared the Turkish local e-government stages with their European counterparts to give a broader perspective. The basic framework focuses on the evaluation of current practices on the supply side (government), rather than the demand side (citizen). The emphasis of this research is on the evaluation of each web site in terms of nine basic public services (additional sub-services available) comprised of policy making, economic development, personal documents, credit and loans/financial support, education, building permits, environment, culture and leisure, and information dissemination. It is assumed that at least four of those services (randomly) are supplied in a local context among the Member Countries, including Turkey. We suggest the results might provide a deeper understanding of local e-governments in Turkey and lend support to advances in this under-researched area.
The effect of socio-economic and demographic factors of Turkish provincies on the number of active customers using internet banking
Authors: Arslan Aykut
Published: April 2015

Despite the recent improvements in Internet Banking or Online Banking, there are still some constraints, mainly security related issues and some other factors, which contribute to the hesitations of individuals’ Internet Banking adoption. Instead of widely used behaviorist models our study utilizes panel data and explores why Internet Banking is very common in some Turkish provinces but not in the others. To investigate the relationship among the data we employed correlation statistics and to study the differences better in Internet Banking adoption among the provinces we used Mann-Whitney U non-parametric statistical analyses.
Microdistributions of stoneflies of the High Tatra
montane streams
Authors: Krno Iľja , Ciceková Jana , Rúfusová Andrea
Published: April 2015

Stonefly samples were collected from disturbed
and undisturbed tributaries of the Tatra Mountains streams
(the West Carpathians). In the autumn, at stable low
discharge, the total density of stoneflies was significantly
higher in the undisturbed streams. Microhabitats such as
macrolithal (boulders), mesolithal (stones) and moss had
higher stonefly density. Taxa of different species or genera
have different demands for microhabitats. Very narrow
spatial niches were found for the genera Rhabdiopteryx,
Protonemura and Perlodes. The spatial niche overlap was
low between the genera Rhabdiopteryx and Brachyptera,
but was high between species of the Protonemura and
Leucra genera. The highest biodiversity of stoneflies was
on coarser substrata (except boulders) and moss, the
lowest biodiversity was on the finer substrata. Among
the organic substrata, a significantly lower coefficient
of stonefly α-diversity variation was recorded in mosses
compared to submerged wood and roots.
Photochemical oxidation of N,N-bis- (tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazine derivatives
Authors: Tan Hong-bo , Song Xiu-qing , Yan Hong
Published: April 2015

The photochemical oxidation of N,N-Bis-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazines was investigated by irradiation using a medium-pressure mercury lamp. The main products were isolated, and their structures were determined by spectral methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Photooxygenation is suggested to be a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of oxygen to the double bond.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Scarre Chris
Published: April 2015

In December 2014 the International Monetary Fund announced that a long-anticipated milestone had been passed and that China had overtaken the USA to become the world's largest economy. Given the size of the Chinese population, numbering 1.4 billion people (or almost 20% of all those alive today) that is perhaps not a surprise, and in terms of individual living standards, China has some way to go before its citizens achieve the same average income level as those of western Europe or North America. The growth of the Chinese economy has been echoed in the expansion of its archaeology, and articles on the prehistory and early historic societies of China have featured regularly in recent issues of Antiquity. The current issue is no exception, and in particular includes an article about one of the rather puzzling episodes in the Chinese past: the overseas voyages of the Ming admiral Zheng He (see below pp. 417–32). Between 1403 and 1433, Zheng He led seven imperially sponsored missions, each of them on a massive scale, around the coasts of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, reaching as far afield as Aden and East Africa.
α-Synuclein-Independent Histopathological and Motor Deficits in Mice Lacking the Endolysosomal Parkinsonism Protein Atp13a2
Authors: Kett Lauren R. , Stiller Barbara , Bernath Megan M. , Tasset Inmaculada , Blesa Javier , Jackson-Lewis Vernice , Chan Robin B. , Zhou Bowen , Di Paolo Gilbert , Przedborski Serge , Cuervo Ana Maria , Dauer William T.
Published: April 2015

Accumulating evidence from genetic and biochemical studies implicates dysfunction of the autophagic-lysosomal pathway as a key feature in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Most studies have focused on accumulation of neurotoxic α-synuclein secondary to defects in autophagy as the cause of neurodegeneration, but abnormalities of the autophagic-lysosomal system likely mediate toxicity through multiple mechanisms. To further explore how endolysosomal dysfunction causes PD-related neurodegeneration, we generated a murine model of Kufor–Rakeb syndrome (KRS), characterized by early-onset Parkinsonism with additional neurological features. KRS is caused by recessive loss-of-function mutations in theATP13A2gene encoding the endolysosomal ATPase ATP13A2. We show that loss of ATP13A2 causes a specific protein trafficking defect, and thatAtp13a2null mice develop age-related motor dysfunction that is preceded by neuropathological changes, including gliosis, accumulation of ubiquitinated protein aggregates, lipofuscinosis, and endolysosomal abnormalities. Contrary to predictions fromin vitrodata,in vivomouse genetic studies demonstrate that these phenotypes are α-synuclein independent. Our findings indicate that endolysosomal dysfunction and abnormalities of α-synuclein homeostasis are not synonymous, even in the context of an endolysosomal genetic defect linked to Parkinsonism, and highlight the presence of α-synuclein-independent neurotoxicity consequent to endolysosomal dysfunction.
Miro's N-Terminal GTPase Domain Is Required for Transport of Mitochondria into Axons and Dendrites
Authors: Babic Milos , Russo Gary J. , Wellington Andrea J. , Sangston Ryan M. , Gonzalez Migdalia , Zinsmaier Konrad E.
Published: April 2015

Mitochondria are dynamically transported in and out of neuronal processes to maintain neuronal excitability and synaptic function. In higher eukaryotes, the mitochondrial GTPase Miro binds Milton/TRAK adaptor proteins linking microtubule motors to mitochondria. Here we show thatDrosophilaMiro (dMiro), which has previously been shown to be required for kinesin-driven axonal transport, is also critically required for the dynein-driven distribution of mitochondria into dendrites. In addition, we used the loss-of-function mutations dMiroT25N and dMiroT460N to determine the significance of dMiro's N-terminal and C-terminal GTPase domains, respectively. Expression of dMiroT25N in the absence of endogenous dMiro caused premature lethality and arrested development at a pupal stage. dMiroT25N accumulated mitochondria in the soma of larval motor and sensory neurons, and prevented their kinesin-dependent and dynein-dependent distribution into axons and dendrites, respectively. dMiroT25N mutant mitochondria also were severely fragmented and exhibited reduced kinesin and dynein motility in axons. In contrast, dMiroT460N did not impair viability, mitochondrial size, or the distribution of mitochondria. However, dMiroT460N reduced dynein motility during retrograde mitochondrial transport in axons. Finally, we show that substitutions analogous to the constitutively active Ras-G12V mutation in dMiro's N-terminal and C-terminal GTPase domains cause neomorphic phenotypic effects that are likely unrelated to the normal function of each GTPase domain. Overall, our analysis indicates that dMiro's N-terminal GTPase domain is critically required for viability, mitochondrial size, and the distribution of mitochondria out of the neuronal soma regardless of the employed motor, likely by promoting the transition from a stationary to a motile state.
A Distinct Class of Slow (∼0.2–2 Hz) Intrinsically Bursting Layer 5 Pyramidal Neurons Determines UP/DOWN State Dynamics in the Neocortex
Authors: Lőrincz Magor L. , Gunner David , Bao Ying , Connelly William M. , Isaac John T.R. , Hughes Stuart W. , Crunelli Vincenzo
Published: April 2015

During sleep and anesthesia, neocortical neurons exhibit rhythmic UP/DOWN membrane potential states. Although UP states are maintained by synaptic activity, the mechanisms that underlie the initiation and robust rhythmicity of UP states are unknown. Using a physiologically validated model of UP/DOWN state generation in mouse neocortical slices whereby the cholinergic tone presentin vivois reinstated, we show that the regular initiation of UP states is driven by an electrophysiologically distinct subset of morphologically identified layer 5 neurons, which exhibit intrinsic rhythmic low-frequency burst firing at ∼0.2–2 Hz. This low-frequency bursting is resistant to block of glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission but is absent when slices are maintained in a low Ca2+medium (an alternative, widely used model of cortical UP/DOWN states), thus explaining the lack of rhythmic UP states and abnormally prolonged DOWN states in this condition. We also characterized the activity of various other pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons during UP/DOWN states and found that an electrophysiologically distinct subset of layer 5 regular spiking pyramidal neurons fires earlier during the onset of network oscillations compared with all other types of neurons recorded. This study, therefore, identifies an important role for cell-type-specific neuronal activity in driving neocortical UP states.
Neuromodulatory Effect of Gαs- or Gαq-Coupled G-Protein-Coupled Receptor on NMDA Receptor Selectively Activates the NMDA Receptor/Ca2+/Calcineurin/cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein-Regulated Transcriptional Coactivator 1 Pathway to Effectively Induce Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Neurons
Authors: Fukuchi Mamoru , Tabuchi Akiko , Kuwana Yuki , Watanabe Shinjiro , Inoue Minami , Takasaki Ichiro , Izumi Hironori , Tanaka Ayumi , Inoue Ran , Mori Hisashi , Komatsu Hidetoshi , Takemori Hiroshi , Okuno Hiroyuki , Bito Haruhiko , Tsuda Masaaki
Published: April 2015

Although coordinated molecular signaling through excitatory and modulatory neurotransmissions is critical for the induction of immediate early genes (IEGs), which lead to effective changes in synaptic plasticity, the intracellular mechanisms responsible remain obscure. Here we measured the expression of IEGs and used bioluminescence imaging to visualize the expression ofBdnfwhen GPCRs, major neuromodulator receptors, were stimulated. Stimulation of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-specific receptor (PAC1), a Gαs/q-protein-coupled GPCR, with PACAP selectively activated the calcineurin (CN) pathway that is controlled by calcium signals evoked via NMDAR. This signaling pathway then induced the expression ofBdnfand CN-dependent IEGs through the nuclear translocation of CREB-regulated transcriptional coactivator 1 (CRTC1). Intracerebroventricular injection of PACAP and intraperitoneal administration of MK801 in mice demonstrated that functional interactions between PAC1 and NMDAR induced the expression ofBdnfin the brain. Coactivation of NMDAR and PAC1 synergistically induced the expression ofBdnfattributable to selective activation of the CN pathway. This CN pathway-controlled expression ofBdnfwas also induced by stimulating other Gαs- or Gαq-coupled GPCRs, such as dopamine D1, adrenaline β, CRF, and neurotensin receptors, either with their cognate agonists or by direct stimulation of the protein kinase A (PKA)/PKC pathway with chemical activators. Thus, the GPCR-induced expression of IEGs in coordination with NMDAR might occur via the selective activation of the CN/CRTC1/CREB pathway under simultaneous excitatory and modulatory synaptic transmissions in neurons if either the Gαs/adenylate cyclase/PKA or Gαq/PLC/PKC-mediated pathway is activated.
The Increased Sensitivity of Irregular Peripheral Canal and Otolith Vestibular Afferents Optimizes their Encoding of Natural Stimuli
Authors: Schneider Adam D. , Jamali Mohsen , Carriot Jerome , Chacron Maurice J. , Cullen Kathleen E.
Published: April 2015

Efficient processing of incoming sensory input is essential for an organism's survival. A growing body of evidence suggests that sensory systems have developed coding strategies that are constrained by the statistics of the natural environment. Consequently, it is necessary to first characterize neural responses to natural stimuli to uncover the coding strategies used by a given sensory system. Here we report for the first time the statistics of vestibular rotational and translational stimuli experienced by rhesus monkeys during natural (e.g., walking, grooming) behaviors. We find that these stimuli can reach intensities as high as 1500 deg/s and 8 G. Recordings from afferents during naturalistic rotational and linear motion further revealed strongly nonlinear responses in the form of rectification and saturation, which could not be accurately predicted by traditional linear models of vestibular processing. Accordingly, we used linear–nonlinear cascade models and found that these could accurately predict responses to naturalistic stimuli. Finally, we tested whether the statistics of natural vestibular signals constrain the neural coding strategies used by peripheral afferents. We found that both irregular otolith and semicircular canal afferents, because of their higher sensitivities, were more optimized for processing natural vestibular stimuli as compared with their regular counterparts. Our results therefore provide the first evidence supporting the hypothesis that the neural coding strategies used by the vestibular system are matched to the statistics of natural stimuli.
A Structural Role for the Synaptobrevin 2 Transmembrane Domain in Dense-Core Vesicle Fusion Pores
Authors: Chang Che-Wei , Hui Enfu , Bai Jihong , Bruns Dieter , Chapman Edwin R. , Jackson Meyer B.
Published: April 2015

Ca2+-triggered release of neurotransmitters and hormones depends on solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) to drive the fusion of the vesicle and plasma membranes. The formation of the SNARE complex by the vesicle SNARE synaptobrevin 2 (syb2) and the two plasma membrane SNAREs syntaxin (syx) and SNAP-25 draws the two membranes together, but the events that follow membrane juxtaposition, and the ways that SNAREs remodel lipid membranes remain poorly understood. The SNAREs syx and syb2 have transmembrane domains (TMDs) that can exert force directly on the lipid bilayers. The TMD of syx influences fusion pore flux in a manner that suggests it lines the nascent fusion pore through the plasma membrane. The TMD of syb2 traverses the vesicle membrane and is the most likely partner to syx in completing a proteinaceous fusion pore through the vesicle membrane, but the role of this vesicle SNARE in fusion pores has yet to be tested. Here amperometry and conductance measurements were performed to probe the function of the syb2 TMD in fusion pores formed during catecholamine exocytosis in mouse chromaffin cells. Fusion pore flux was sensitive to the size and charge of TMD residues near the N terminus; fusion pore conductance was altered by substitutions at these sites. Unlike syx, the syb2 residues that influence fusion pore permeation fell along two α-helical faces of its TMD, rather than one. These results indicate a role for the syb2 TMD in nascent fusion pores, but in a very different structural arrangement from that of the syx TMD.
The Role of the Posterior Cerebellum in Saccadic Adaptation: A Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Study
Authors: Panouillères Muriel T.N. , Miall R. Chris , Jenkinson Ned
Published: April 2015

The posterior vermis of the cerebellum is considered to be critically involved in saccadic adaptation. However, recent evidence suggests that the adaptive decrease (backward adaptation) and the adaptive increase (forward adaptation) of saccade amplitude rely on partially separate neural substrates. We investigated whether the posterior cerebellum could be differentially involved in backward and forward adaptation by using transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS). To do so, participants' saccades were adapted backward or forward while they received anodal, cathodal, or sham TDCS. In two extra groups, subjects underwent a nonadaptation session while receiving anodal or cathodal TDCS to control for the direct effects of TDCS on saccadic execution. Surprisingly, cathodal stimulation tended to increase the extent of both forward and backward adaptations, while anodal TDCS strongly impaired forward adaptation and, to a smaller extent, backward adaptation. Forward adaptation was accompanied by a greater increase in velocity with cathodal stimulation, and reduced duration of change for anodal stimulation. In contrast, the expected velocity decrease in backward adaptation was noticeably weaker with anodal stimulation. Stimulation applied during nonadaptation sessions did not affect saccadic gain, velocity, or duration, demonstrating that the reported effects are not due to direct effects of the stimulation on the generation of eye movements. Our results demonstrate that cerebellar excitability is critical for saccadic adaptation. Based on our results and the growing evidence from studies of vestibulo-ocular reflex and saccadic adaptation, we conclude that the plasticity at the level of the oculomotor vermis is more fundamentally important for forward adaptation than for backward adaptation.
Prenatal Drug Exposure Affects Neonatal Brain Functional Connectivity
Authors: Salzwedel Andrew P. , Grewen Karen M. , Vachet Clement , Gerig Guido , Lin Weili , Gao Wei
Published: April 2015

Prenatal drug exposure, particularly prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE), incurs great public and scientific interest because of its associated neurodevelopmental consequences. However, the neural underpinnings of PCE remain essentially uncharted, and existing studies in school-aged children and adolescents are confounded greatly by postnatal environmental factors. In this study, leveraging a large neonate sample (N= 152) and non-invasive resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we compared human infants with PCE comorbid with other drugs (such as nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, and antidepressant) with infants with similar non-cocaine poly drug exposure and drug-free controls. We aimed to characterize the neural correlates of PCE based on functional connectivity measurements of the amygdala and insula at the earliest stage of development. Our results revealed common drug exposure-related connectivity disruptions within the amygdala–frontal, insula–frontal, and insula–sensorimotor circuits. Moreover, a cocaine-specific effect was detected within a subregion of the amygdala–frontal network. This pathway is thought to play an important role in arousal regulation, which has been shown to be irregular in PCE infants and adolescents. These novel results provide the earliest human-based functional delineations of the neural-developmental consequences of prenatal drug exposure and thus open a new window for the advancement of effective strategies aimed at early risk identification and intervention.
Social and clinical aspects of oncological patients of a chemotherapy service
Authors: Leite Marilia Aparecida Carvalho , Nogueira Denismar Alves , Terra Fábio De Souza
Published: April 2015

Objective: to identify the social and clinical aspects of oncological patients undergoing chemotherapy in a health clinic.Methods: it is an epidemiological cross-sectional research. A semi-structured script was used, applied to 156 patients.Results: there was a larger proportion of men (51.9%); age range between 51 to 60 years (30.8%); married (30.8%);incomplete and complete grade school (61.6%); retired/pensioners (57.0%); catholic (80.8%); nonsmokers (80.1%); nonalcoholic beverages, users (60.9%) and sedentary (75.6%). The larger proportion of cancer was breast cancer (19.9%) and37.2% in stages 3 and 4. The diagnosis and the treatment occurred in a period equal or inferior to six months. Most of thepatients did not show chronical diseases (51.9%) and without the continuous use of medicine (51.9%). Conclusion: theknowledge of the social and clinical aspects of the patients under chemotherapy allows the nurse the planning assistance tothe specific demands aiming at the biopsychosocial maintenance.
Roy Adaptation Model: integrative review of studies conducted in the light of the theory
Authors: Medeiros Lays Pinheiro de , Souza Mayara Beatriz da Costa , Sena Julliana Fernandes de , Melo Marjorie Dantas Medeiros , Costa Jéssika Wanessa Soares , Costa Isabelle Katherinne Fernandes
Published: April 2015

Objective: to identify the scientific evidence about the components of the Roy Adaptation Model in the population studiedin the light of this theory. Methods: this is an integrative literature review in databases of the Latin-American and CaribbeanCenter on Health Sciences Information, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Spanish Bibliographic Indexon Health Sciences, Nursing Database, PubMed Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web ofScience, and SciVerse Scopus. The sample consists of 20 articles published between 2005 and 2013. Results: the three typesof stimuli, 38 of 82 adaptive problems, the four adaptive modes, and the six steps of the nursing process were identified.Conclusion: there is need for further studies on this theory and that address the entire nursing process, culminating in theincrease in specific nursing knowledge and affirmation of this science in health.
Primary hyperparathyroidism and Klinefelter's syndrome in a young man
Authors: Castellano E , Pellegrino M , Attanasio R , Guarnieri V , Maffè A , Borretta G
Published: April 2015

We report the association of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) in a 22-year-old male complaining of worsening fatigue. PHPT was asymptomatic at the diagnosis, but the patient had worsening hypercalcemia and osteoporosis, and developed acute renal colic. He then underwent parathyroidectomy with resection of a single adenoma and normalization of calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. Clinical and therapeutic implications of this rare association are discussed.

Learning points

The coexistence of KS and PHPT is very uncommon.

Patients with mild PHPT often have nonspecific symptoms that may be confused and superimposed with those of hypogonadism.

KS patients, especially when young and already osteoporotic at diagnosis, should be screened for other causes of secondary osteoporosis, in particular PHPT.
What Do You Mean, “Epigenetic”?
Authors: Deans Carrie , Maggert Keith A
Published: April 2015

Interest in the field of epigenetics has increased rapidly over the last decade, with the term becoming more identifiable in biomedical research, scientific fields outside of the molecular sciences, such as ecology and physiology, and even mainstream culture. It has become increasingly clear, however, that different investigators ascribe different definitions to the term. Some employ epigenetics to explain changes in gene expression, others use it to refer to transgenerational effects and/or inherited expression states. This disagreement on a clear definition has made communication difficult, synthesis of epigenetic research across fields nearly impossible, and has in many ways biased methodologies and interpretations. This article discusses the history behind the multitude of definitions that have been employed since the conception of epigenetics, analyzes the components of these definitions, and offers solutions for clarifying the field and mitigating the problems that have arisen due to these definitional ambiguities.
The Genomic and Genetic Toolbox of the Teleost Medaka (Oryzias latipes)
Authors: Kirchmaier Stephan , Naruse Kiyoshi , Wittbrodt Joachim , Loosli Felix
Published: April 2015

The Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes, is a vertebrate teleost model with a long history of genetic research. A number of unique features and established resources distinguish medaka from other vertebrate model systems. A large number of laboratory strains from different locations are available. Due to a high tolerance to inbreeding, many highly inbred strains have been established, thus providing a rich resource for genetic studies. Furthermore, closely related species native to different habitats in Southeast Asia permit comparative evolutionary studies. The transparency of embryos, larvae, and juveniles allows a detailed in vivo analysis of development. New tools to study diverse aspects of medaka biology are constantly being generated. Thus, medaka has become an important vertebrate model organism to study development, behavior, and physiology. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of established genetic and molecular-genetic tools that render medaka fish a full-fledged vertebrate system.
Reconstructing Past Admixture Processes from Local Genomic Ancestry Using Wavelet Transformation
Authors: Sanderson Jean , Sudoyo Herawati , Karafet Tatiana M , Hammer Michael F , Cox Murray P
Published: April 2015

Admixture between long-separated populations is a defining feature of the genomes of many species. The mosaic block structure of admixed genomes can provide information about past contact events, including the time and extent of admixture. Here, we describe an improved wavelet-based technique that better characterizes ancestry block structure from observed genomic patterns. principal components analysis is first applied to genomic data to identify the primary population structure, followed by wavelet decomposition to develop a new characterization of local ancestry information along the chromosomes. For testing purposes, this method is applied to human genome-wide genotype data from Indonesia, as well as virtual genetic data generated using genome-scale sequential coalescent simulations under a wide range of admixture scenarios. Time of admixture is inferred using an approximate Bayesian computation framework, providing robust estimates of both admixture times and their associated levels of uncertainty. Crucially, we demonstrate that this revised wavelet approach, which we have released as the R package adwave, provides improved statistical power over existing wavelet-based techniques and can be used to address a broad range of admixture questions.
Role of nanocrystalline domain size on the electrochemical double-layer capacitance of high edge density carbon nanostructures
Authors: Ubnoske Stephen M. , Raut Akshay S. , Parker Charles B. , Glass Jeffrey T. , Stoner Brian R.
Published: April 2015

Nanostructured carbon materials, especially activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, have been widely studied for supercapacitor applications. To maximize the efficacy of these materials for electrochemical energy storage, a detailed understanding of the relationship between the nanostructure of these materials and their performance as supercapacitors is required. A fundamental structural parameter obtained from the Raman spectra of these materials, the in-plane correlation length or nanocrystalline domain size, is found to correlate with the electrochemical capacitance, regardless of other morphological features. This correlation for a common nanostructural characteristic is believed to be the first result of its kind to span several distinct nanostructured carbon morphologies, including graphene–carbon nanotubes hybrid materials, and may allow more effective nanoscale engineering of supercapacitor electrode materials.
Solution Composition Effects on the Dissolution of a CeO2 analogue for UO2 and ThO2 nuclear fuels
Authors: Corkhill Claire L. , Stennett Martin C. , Hyatt Neil C.
Published: April 2015

This study investigates the dissolution of CeO2, an isostructural analogue for UO2 and ThO2, which was synthesized to closely approximate the microstructure of a spent nuclear fuel matrix. Dissolution of CeO2 particles was performed in simplified solutions representative of saline, near-neutral and alkaline ground waters that may be encountered in geological disposal scenarios, and in acidic medium for comparison. The normalized mass loss of cerium was found to be significantly influenced by the formation of colloidal particles, especially in the near-neutral and alkaline solutions investigated. The normalized dissolution rate, RL(Ce), k (g m-2 d-1), in these two solutions was found to be similar, but significantly lower than in a nitric acid medium. The activation energies based on the normalized release rate of cerium, at 40°C, 70°C and 90°C in each solution, were in the range of 24 ± 3 kJ mol-1 to 27 ± 7 kJ mol-1, indicative of a surface-mediated dissolution mechanism. The mechanism of dissolution was postulated to be similar in each of the solutions investigated, and further work is proposed to investigate the role of carbonate on the CeO2 dissolution mechanism.
Pore and mineral structure of rock using nano-tomographic imaging
Authors: Kuva Jukka , Voutilainen Mikko , Lindberg Antero , Parkkonen Joni , Siitari-Kauppi Marja , Timonen Jussi
Published: April 2015

In order to better understand the micrometer-scale structure of rock and its transport properties which arise from it, seven monomineral samples from two sites (Olkiluoto and Sievi, Finland) were studied with micro- and nanotomography and scanning electron microscopy. From the veined gneiss of Olkiluoto we studied biotite, potassium feldspar, plagioclase (composition of oligoclase) and cordierite, and from Sievi tonalite biotite and two grains of plagioclase (albite). These minerals were the main minerals of these samples. Samples were carefully separated and selected using heavy liquid separation and stereomicroscopy, their three dimensional structure was imaged using X-ray tomography, and their precise mineral composition was determined using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The micrometer-scale mineral structure of these samples was observed together with their pores and fissures, and alteration effects were identified whenever applicable. Nanotomography combined with SEM analysis was concluded to be a good tool for analyzing effects of alteration in monomineral samples.
Effects of CO2 on Carbon Nanotube Formation from Thermal Decomposition of Ethylene
Authors: Zhuo Chuanwei , Khanshan Fariba , West Richard , Richter Henning , Levendis Yiannis A.
Published: April 2015

Catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a popular method to synthesize carbon nanotubes (CNTs). At the presence of catalysts (usually trasition metals), the hydrocarbon feedstock decomposes controllably at elevated temperatures and can form tubular structures. It has been suggested that trace amounts of weak gas-phase oxidants, such as CO2, can enhance the CNT synthesis by extending the catatlyst life. It is not clear, however, how such additives affect the CVD reaction environment. In this study, ethylene gas was introduced to a preheated furnace/CVD reactor where meshes of stainless steel were placed. Therein ethylene was thermally decomposed in nitrogen mixed with different amounts of carbon dioxide. The meshes served as catalytic substrates for the CNT growth. The compositions of the ethylene pyrolyzates were analysed both with and without the presence of catalysts, to explore the possible contributions of CO2 addition to the CNT formation. The latter compositions were compared with kinetic model predictions of the thermal decomposition of ethylene. Both experimental and simulation results indicated that 1,3-butadiene (C4H6) was the most abundant hydrocarbon species of ethylene decomposition (at 800 °C) and that decomposition was inhibitted at the presence of CO2. A commesurate effect on CNT formation was observed experimentally, whereas the quality of CNTs got improved.
Directed self-assembly lithography for half-pitch sub-15 nm pattern fabrication process
Authors: Sato Hironobu , Seino Yuriko , Kihara Naoko , Kasahara Yusuke , Kobayashi Katsutoshi , Kodera Katsuyoshi , Kanai Hideki , Kawamonzen Yoshiaki , Minegishi Shinya , Miyagi Ken , Tobana Toshikatsu , Hirayanagi Noriyuki , Fujiwara Tomoharu , Azuma Tsukasa , Hayakawa Teruaki
Published: April 2015

This paper introduces a fabrication method to achieve sub-15 nm line-and-space (L/S) patterns by combining grapho- and chemo-epitaxy using poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) copolymer (PS-b-PMMA). The fabrication method is simple, since it eliminates photoresist stripping and also does not require any special materials to form pinning patterns. In this process, the ridges formed on spin-on-glass (SOG) surface work as physical guides and the photoresists on them are utilized as a pinning layer. Fine PS-b-PMMA L/S patterns were obtained in sufficient critical dimension (CD) range of the guide patterns that corresponded to the 15% dose margin using ArF immersion lithography. 3-dimensional grid defects were found to be the origin of the short defects. The half-pitch (hp) 15 nm L/S patterns were transferred successfully to SOG/spin-on-carbon (SOC) stacked substrate.

We also describe fabrication of sub-10 nm L/S patterns using a high-chi block copolymer (BCP).