bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alkaloid profiles and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Fumaria species from Bulgaria
Authors: Vrancheva Radka Z. , Ivanov Ivan G. , Aneva Ina Y. , Dincheva Ivayla N. , Badjakov Ilian K. , Pavlov Atanas I.
Published: January 2016

GC-MS analysis of alkaloid profiles of five Fumaria species, naturally grown in Bulgaria (F. officinalis, F. thuretii, F. kralikii, F. rostellata and F. schrammii) and analysis of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of alkaloid extracts were performed. Fourteen isoquinoline alkaloids were identified, with the principle ones being protopine, cryptopine, sinactine, parfumine, fumariline, fumarophycine, and fumaritine. Protopine contents, defined by HPLC analysis varied between 210.6 ± 8.8 μg/g DW (F. schrammii) and 334.5 ± 7.1 μg/g DW. (F. rostellata). While all of the investigated alkaloid extracts significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity, the F. kralikii demonstrated the highest level of inhibition (IC50 0.13 ± 0.01 mg extract/mL).
Solid State Structure Prediction Through DFT Calculations and 13C NMR Measurements: Case Study of Spiro-2,4-dithiohydantoins
Authors: Antonov Vladislav , Nedyalkova Miroslava , Tzvetkova Pavleta , Ahmedova Anife
Published: January 2016

We present a DFT approach for precise estimation of the intermolecular
effects on the experimental and calculated 13C NMR shifts
for a series of 5-spiro-2,4-dithiohydantoins
(1–5), both in solid state and in solution. It has
been found that the used B3LYP/6-31+ G** method gives very
good agreement with the experimental structural and the NMR
parameters, provided the intermolecular hydrogen bonds are properly
considered. For correct description of the experimental NMR shifts in
solid state we have initially used the isolated-molecule and the
cluster approaches for GIAO calculations of the NMR shifts, followed
by periodic boundary condition calculations of the structure and the
nuclear magnetic shielding constants by the GIPAW method implemented
in the Quantum Espresso code. The best agreement with the experimental
solid state data is obtained for the optimized small cluster (a trimer
of molecules) in the calculations using the atom-centered
orbitals. Excellent agreement between the 13C CPMAS NMR
and the GIPAW calculated shift is obtained for fully relaxed bulk
structures of compounds 1–5. This has been used as
a final verification of the proposed solid state structure of compound
5 whose crystal structure is unknown yet.
Assessing Accuracy of Exchange-Correlation Functionals for the Description of Atomic Excited States
Authors: Makowski Marcin , Hanas Martyna
Published: January 2016

The performance of exchange-correlation functionals for the
description of atomic excitations is investigated. A benchmark set of
excited states is constructed and experimental data is compared to
Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) calculations. The
benchmark results show that for the selected group of functionals good
accuracy may be achieved and the quality of predictions provided is
competitive to computationally more demanding coupled-cluster
approaches. Apart from testing the standard TDDFT approaches, also
the role of self-interaction error plaguing DFT calculations and the
adiabatic approximation to the exchange-correlation kernels is given
some insight.
Intensive Atomization Energy: Re-Thinking a Metric for Electronic Structure Theory Methods
Authors: Perdew John P. , Sun Jianwei , Garza Alejandro J. , Scuseria Gustavo E.
Published: January 2016

The errors in atomization energies (AE) of molecules have long been used to measure the
errors of wavefunction or density functional methods for electronic structure
calculations. In particular, the G3 set of Pople and collaborators (for sp-bonded
molecules from the first rows of the periodic table) has become a standard benchmark for
such methods. But the mean absolute error of AE tends to increase with increasing number
N
at of atoms in a molecule. In fact, AE is an extensive variable, which
diverges as N
at →∞. Here, as did Savin and Johnson 2015, we define an
intensive atomization energy, IAE = AE/N
at or atomization energy per atom, which
tends to the finite cohesive energy (per atom) of a large cluster or solid (N
at →∞). We find that the mean absolute error of the G3 molecular IAE from
accurate density functionals remains close to 1 kcal/mol as the average molecular
size increases. This makes it possible to estimate in advance the magnitude of the error in
AE for a molecule similar to most of those in the G3 set. It also allows us identify the
G3 “outlying molecules”, and to more directly compare the accuracy of a given functional
for different kinds of molecules (such as those containing transition-metal atoms) to that
for G3-type molecules, by removing the otherwise-uncontrolled size factor. Finally, we point
out that the familiar concept of “chemical accuracy” needs to be qualified.
Embodying Others in Immersive Virtual Reality: Electro-Cortical Signatures of Monitoring the Errors in the Actions of an Avatar Seen from a First-Person Perspective
Authors: Pavone Enea Francesco , Tieri Gaetano , Rizza Giulia , Tidoni Emmanuele , Grisoni Luigi , Aglioti Salvatore Maria
Published: January 2016

Brain monitoring of errors in one's own and other's actions is crucial for a variety of processes, ranging from the fine-tuning of motor skill learning to important social functions, such as reading out and anticipating the intentions of others. Here, we combined immersive virtual reality and EEG recording to explore whether embodying the errors of an avatar by seeing it from a first-person perspective may activate the error monitoring system in the brain of an onlooker. We asked healthy participants to observe, from a first- or third-person perspective, an avatar performing a correct or an incorrect reach-to-grasp movement toward one of two virtual mugs placed on a table. At the end of each trial, participants reported verbally how much they embodied the avatar's arm. Ratings were maximal in first-person perspective, indicating that immersive virtual reality can be a powerful tool to induce embodiment of an artificial agent, even through mere visual perception and in the absence of any cross-modal boosting. Observation of erroneous grasping from a first-person perspective enhanced error-related negativity and medial–frontal theta power in the trials where human onlookers embodied the virtual character, hinting at the tight link between early, automatic coding of error detection and sense of embodiment. Error positivity was similar in 1PP and 3PP, suggesting that conscious coding of errors is similar for self and other. Thus, embodiment plays an important role in activating specific components of the action monitoring system when others' errors are coded as if they are one's own errors.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDetecting errors in other's actions is crucial for social functions, such as reading out and anticipating the intentions of others. Using immersive virtual reality and EEG recording, we explored how the brain of an onlooker reacted to the errors of an avatar seen from a first-person perspective. We found that mere observation of erroneous actions enhances electrocortical markers of error detection in the trials where human onlookers embodied the virtual character. Thus, the cerebral system for action monitoring is maximally activated when others' errors are coded as if they are one's own errors. The results have important implications for understanding how the brain can control the external world and thus creating new brain–computer interfaces.
Decentralized Multisensory Information Integration in Neural Systems
Authors: Zhang Wen-hao , Chen Aihua , Rasch Malte J. , Wu Si
Published: January 2016

How multiple sensory cues are integrated in neural circuitry remains a challenge. The common hypothesis is that information integration might be accomplished in a dedicated multisensory integration area receiving feedforward inputs from the modalities. However, recent experimental evidence suggests that it is not a single multisensory brain area, but rather many multisensory brain areas that are simultaneously involved in the integration of information. Why many mutually connected areas should be needed for information integration is puzzling. Here, we investigated theoretically how information integration could be achieved in a distributed fashion within a network of interconnected multisensory areas. Using biologically realistic neural network models, we developed a decentralized information integration system that comprises multiple interconnected integration areas. Studying an example of combining visual and vestibular cues to infer heading direction, we show that such a decentralized system is in good agreement with anatomical evidence and experimental observations. In particular, we show that this decentralized system can integrate information optimally. The decentralized system predicts that optimally integrated information should emerge locally from the dynamics of the communication between brain areas and sheds new light on the interpretation of the connectivity between multisensory brain areas.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTo extract information reliably from ambiguous environments, the brain integrates multiple sensory cues, which provide different aspects of information about the same entity of interest. Here, we propose a decentralized architecture for multisensory integration. In such a system, no processor is in the center of the network topology and information integration is achieved in a distributed manner through reciprocally connected local processors. Through studying the inference of heading direction with visual and vestibular cues, we show that the decentralized system can integrate information optimally, with the reciprocal connections between processers determining the extent of cue integration. Our model reproduces known multisensory integration behaviors observed in experiments and sheds new light on our understanding of how information is integrated in the brain.
Normal Molecular Specification and Neurodegenerative Disease-Like Death of Spinal Neurons Lacking the SNARE-Associated Synaptic Protein Munc18-1
Authors: Law Chris , Schaan Profes Marcos , Levesque Martin , Kaltschmidt Julia A. , Verhage Matthijs , Kania Artur
Published: January 2016

The role of synaptic activity during early formation of neural circuits is a topic of some debate; genetic ablation of neurotransmitter release by deletion of theMunc18-1gene provides an excellent model to answer the question of whether such activity is required for early circuit formation. Previous analysis ofMunc18-1−/−mouse mutants documented their grossly normal nervous system, but its molecular differentiation has not been assessed.Munc18-1deletion in mice also results in widespread neurodegeneration that remains poorly characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that the early stages of spinal motor circuit formation, including motor neuron specification, axon growth and pathfinding, and mRNA expression, are unaffected inMunc18-1−/−mice, demonstrating that synaptic activity is dispensable for early nervous system development. Furthermore, we show that the neurodegeneration caused by Munc18-1 loss is cell autonomous, consistent with apparently normal expression of several neurotrophic factors and normal GDNF signaling. Consistent with cell-autonomous degeneration, we demonstrate defects in the trafficking of the synaptic proteins Syntaxin1a and PSD-95 and the TrkB and DCC receptors inMunc18-1−/−neurons; these defects do not appear to cause ER stress, suggesting other mechanisms for degeneration. Finally, we demonstrate pathological similarities to Alzheimer's disease, such as altered Tau phosphorylation, neurofibrillary tangles, and accumulation of insoluble protein plaques. Together, our results shed new light upon the neurodegeneration observed inMunc18-1−/−mice and argue that this phenomenon shares parallels with neurodegenerative diseases.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn this work, we demonstrate the absence of a requirement for regulated neurotransmitter release in the assembly of early neuronal circuits by assaying transcriptional identity, axon growth and guidance, and mRNA expression in Munc18-1-null mice. Furthermore, we characterize the neurodegeneration observed inMunc18-1mutants and demonstrate that this cell-autonomous process does not appear to be a result of defects in growth factor signaling or ER stress caused by protein trafficking defects. However, we find the presence of various pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease that suggest parallels between the degeneration in these mutants and neurodegenerative conditions.
Somatosensory Temporal Discrimination Threshold Involves Inhibitory Mechanisms in the Primary Somatosensory Area
Authors: Rocchi Lorenzo , Casula Elias , Tocco Pierluigi , Berardelli Alfredo , Rothwell John
Published: January 2016

Somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT) is defined as the shortest time interval necessary for a pair of tactile stimuli to be perceived as separate. Although STDT is altered in several neurological disorders, its neural bases are not entirely clear. We used continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to condition the excitability of the primary somatosensory cortex in healthy humans to examine its possible contribution to STDT. Excitability was assessed using the recovery cycle of the N20 component of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and the area of high-frequency oscillations (HFO). cTBS increased STDT and reduced inhibition in the N20 recovery cycle at an interstimulus interval of 5 ms. It also reduced the amplitude of late HFO. All three effects were correlated. There was no effect of cTBS over the secondary somatosensory cortex on STDT, although it reduced the N120 component of the SEP. STDT is assessed conventionally with a simple ascending method. To increase insight into the effect of cTBS, we measured temporal discrimination with a psychophysical method. cTBS reduced the slope of the discrimination curve, consistent with a reduction of the quality of sensory information caused by an increase in noise. We hypothesize that cTBS reduces the effectiveness of inhibitory interactions normally used to sharpen temporal processing of sensory inputs. This reduction in discriminability of sensory input is equivalent to adding neural noise to the signal.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPrecise timing of sensory information is crucial for nearly every aspect of human perception and behavior. One way to assess the ability to analyze temporal information in the somatosensory domain is to measure the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT), defined as the shortest time interval necessary for a pair of tactile stimuli to be perceived as separate. In this study, we found that STDT depends on inhibitory mechanisms within the primary somatosensory area (S1). This finding helps interpret the sensory processing deficits in neurological diseases, such as focal dystonia and Parkinson's disease, and possibly prompts future studies using neurostimulation techniques over S1 for therapeutic purposes in dystonic patients.
Context-Dependent Modulation of GABAAR-Mediated Tonic Currents
Authors: Patel Bijal , Bright Damian P. , Mortensen Martin , Frølund Bente , Smart Trevor G.
Published: January 2016

Tonic GABA currents mediated by high-affinity extrasynaptic GABAAreceptors, are increasingly recognized as important regulators of cell and neuronal network excitability. Dysfunctional GABAAreceptor signaling that results in modified tonic GABA currents is associated with a number of neurological disorders. Consequently, developing compounds to selectively modulate the activity of extrasynaptic GABAAreceptors underlying tonic inhibition is likely to prove therapeutically useful. Here, we examine the GABAAreceptor subtype selectivity of the weak partial agonist, 5-(4-piperidyl)isoxazol-3-ol (4-PIOL), as a potential mechanism for modulating extrasynaptic GABAAreceptor-mediated tonic currents. By using recombinant GABAAreceptors expressed in HEK293 cells, and native GABAAreceptors of cerebellar granule cells, hippocampal neurons, and thalamic relay neurons, 4-PIOL evidently displayed differential agonist and antagonist-type profiles, depending on the extrasynaptic GABAAreceptor isoforms targeted. For neurons, this resulted in differential modulation of GABA tonic currents, depending on the cell type studied, their respective GABAAreceptor subunit compositions, and critically, on the ambient GABA levels. Unexpectedly, 4-PIOL revealed a significant population of relatively low-affinity γ2 subunit-containing GABAAreceptors in the thalamus, which can contribute to tonic inhibition under specific conditions when GABA levels are raised. Together, these data indicate that partial agonists, such as 4-PIOL, may be useful for modulating GABAAreceptor-mediated tonic currents, but the direction and extent of this modulation is strongly dependent on relative expression levels of different extrasynaptic GABAAreceptor subtypes, and on the ambient GABA levels.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTA background level of inhibition (tonic) is important in the brain for controlling neuronal excitability. Increased levels of tonic inhibition are associated with some neurological disorders but there are no specific ligands capable of selectively reducing tonic inhibition. Here we explore the use of a GABA partial agonist as a selective chemical tool in three different brain regions. We discover that the activity of a partial agonist is heavily dependent upon the GABAAreceptor subunit composition underpinning tonic inhibition, and on the ambient levels of GABA in the brain.
Dissociations and Associations between Shape and Category Representations in the Two Visual Pathways
Authors: Bracci Stefania , Op de Beeck Hans
Published: January 2016

The dorsal and ventral visual pathways represent both visual and conceptual object properties. Yet the relative contribution of these two factors in the representational content of visual areas is unclear. Indeed, research investigating brain category representations rarely dissociate visual and semantic properties of objects. We present a human event-related fMRI study with a two-factorial stimulus set with 54 images that explicitly dissociates shape from category to investigate their independent contribution as well as their interactions through representational similarity analyses. Results reveal a contribution from each dimension in both streams, with a transition from shape to category along the posterior-to-anterior anatomical axis. The nature of category representations differs in the two pathways: ventral areas represent object animacy and dorsal areas represent object action properties. Furthermore, information about shape evolved from low-level pixel-based to high-level perceived shape following a posterior-to-anterior gradient similar to the shape-to-category emergence. To conclude, results show that representations of shape and category independently coexist, but at the same time they are closely related throughout the visual hierarchy.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTResearch investigating visual cortex conceptual category representations rarely takes into account visual properties of objects. In this report, we explicitly dissociate shape from category and investigate independent contributions and interactions of these two highly correlated dimensions.
Incorporating Midbrain Adaptation to Mean Sound Level Improves Models of Auditory Cortical Processing
Authors: Willmore Ben D.B. , Schoppe Oliver , King Andrew J. , Schnupp Jan W.H. , Harper Nicol S.
Published: January 2016

Adaptation to stimulus statistics, such as the mean level and contrast of recently heard sounds, has been demonstrated at various levels of the auditory pathway. It allows the nervous system to operate over the wide range of intensities and contrasts found in the natural world. Yet current standard models of the response properties of auditory neurons do not incorporate such adaptation. Here we present a model of neural responses in the ferret auditory cortex (the IC Adaptation model), which takes into account adaptation to mean sound level at a lower level of processing: the inferior colliculus (IC). The model performs high-pass filtering with frequency-dependent time constants on the sound spectrogram, followed by half-wave rectification, and passes the output to a standard linear–nonlinear (LN) model. We find that the IC Adaptation model consistently predicts cortical responses better than the standard LN model for a range of synthetic and natural stimuli. The IC Adaptation model introduces no extra free parameters, so it improves predictions without sacrificing parsimony. Furthermore, the time constants of adaptation in the IC appear to be matched to the statistics of natural sounds, suggesting that neurons in the auditory midbrain predict the mean level of future sounds and adapt their responses appropriately.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAn ability to accurately predict how sensory neurons respond to novel stimuli is critical if we are to fully characterize their response properties. Attempts to model these responses have had a distinguished history, but it has proven difficult to improve their predictive power significantly beyond that of simple, mostly linear receptive field models. Here we show that auditory cortex receptive field models benefit from a nonlinear preprocessing stage that replicates known adaptation properties of the auditory midbrain. This improves their predictive power across a wide range of stimuli but keeps model complexity low as it introduces no new free parameters. Incorporating the adaptive coding properties of neurons will likely improve receptive field models in other sensory modalities too.
Attenuation of β-Amyloid Deposition and Neurotoxicity by Chemogenetic Modulation of Neural Activity
Authors: Yuan Peng , Grutzendler Jaime
Published: January 2016

Aberrant neural hyperactivity has been observed in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be a driving force in the progression of amyloid pathology. Evidence for this includes the findings that neural activity may modulate β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide secretion and experimental stimulation of neural activity can increase amyloid deposition. However, whether long-term attenuation of neural activity prevents the buildup of amyloid plaques and associated neural pathologies remains unknown. Using viral-mediated delivery of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), we show in two AD-like mouse models that chronic intermittent increases or reductions of activity have opposite effects on Aβ deposition. Neural activity reduction markedly decreases Aβ aggregation in regions containing axons or dendrites of DREADD-expressing neurons, suggesting the involvement of synaptic and nonsynaptic Aβ release mechanisms. Importantly, activity attenuation is associated with a reduction in axonal dystrophy and synaptic loss around amyloid plaques. Thus, modulation of neural activity could constitute a potential therapeutic strategy for ameliorating amyloid-induced pathology in AD.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTA novel chemogenetic approach to upregulate and downregulate neuronal activity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice was implemented. This led to the first demonstration that chronic intermittent attenuation of neuronal activityin vivosignificantly reduces amyloid deposition. The study also demonstrates that modulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) release can occur at both axonal and dendritic fields, suggesting the involvement of synaptic and nonsynaptic Aβ release mechanisms. Activity reductions also led to attenuation of the synaptic pathology associated with amyloid plaques. Therefore, chronic attenuation of neuronal activity could constitute a novel therapeutic approach for AD.
Disrupted Prediction Error Links Excessive Amygdala Activation to Excessive Fear
Authors: Sengupta Auntora , Winters Bryony , Bagley Elena E. , McNally Gavan P.
Published: January 2016

Basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical for fear learning, and its heightened activation is widely thought to underpin a variety of anxiety disorders. Here we used chemogenetic techniques in rats to study the consequences of heightened BLA activation for fear learning and memory, and to specifically identify a mechanism linking increased activity of BLA glutamatergic neurons to aberrant fear. We expressed the excitatory hM3Dq DREADD in rat BLA glutamatergic neurons and showed that CNO acted selectively to increase their activity, depolarizing these neurons and increasing their firing rates. This chemogenetic excitation of BLA glutamatergic neurons had no effect on the acquisition of simple fear learning, regardless of whether this learning led to a weak or strong fear memory. However, in an associative blocking task, chemogenetic excitation of BLA glutamatergic neurons yielded significant learning to a blocked conditioned stimulus, which otherwise should not have been learned about. Moreover, in an overexpectation task, chemogenetic manipulation of BLA glutamatergic neurons prevented use of negative prediction error to reduce fear learning, leading to significant impairments in fear inhibition. These effects were not attributable to the chemogenetic manipulation enhancing arousal, increasing asymptotic levels of fear learning or fear memory consolidation. Instead, chemogenetic excitation of BLA glutamatergic neurons disrupted use of prediction error to regulate fear learning.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSeveral neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized by heightened activation of the amygdala. This heightened activation has been hypothesized to underlie increased emotional reactivity, fear over generalization, and deficits in fear inhibition. Yet the mechanisms linking heightened amygdala activation to heightened emotional learning are elusive. Here we combined chemogenetic excitation of rat basolateral amygdala glutamatergic neurons with a variety of behavioral approaches to show that, although simple fear learning is unaffected, the use of prediction error to regulate this learning is profoundly disrupted, leading to formation of inappropriate fear associations and impaired fear inhibition.
Testosterone replacement in 49,XXXXY syndrome: andrological, metabolic and neurological aspects
Authors: Mazzilli Rossella , Delfino Michele , Elia Jlenia , Benedetti Francesco , Alesi Laura , Chessa Luciana , Mazzilli Fernando
Published: January 2016

We report the case of a 19-year-old boy, presenting several congenital malformations (facial dysmorphisms, cardiac and musculoskeletal abnormalities), mental retardation, recurrent respiratory infections during growth and delayed puberty. Although previously hospitalised in other medical centres, only psychological support had been recommended for this patient. In our department, genetic, biochemical/hormonal and ultrasound examinations were undertaken. The karyotype was 49,XXXXY, a rare aneuploidy with an incidence of 1/85 000–100 000, characterised by the presence of three extra X chromosomes in phenotypically male subjects. The hormonal/biochemical profile showed hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, insulin resistance and vitamin D deficiency. The patient was then treated with testosterone replacement therapy. After 12 months of treatment, we observed the normalisation of testosterone levels. There was also an increase in pubic hair growth, testicular volume and penis size, weight loss, homeostatic model assessment index reduction and the normalisation of vitamin D values. Moreover, the patient showed greater interaction with the social environment and context.

Learning points

In cases of plurimalformative syndrome, cognitive impairment, recurrent infections during growth and, primarily, delayed puberty, it is necessary to ascertain as soon as possible whether the patient is suffering from hypogonadism or metabolic disorders due to genetic causes. In our case, the diagnosis of hypogonadism, and then of 49,XXXXY syndrome, was unfortunately made only at the age of 19 years.

The testosterone replacement treatment, even though delayed, induced positive effects on: i) development of the reproductive system, ii) regulation of the metabolic profile and iii) interaction with the social environment and context.

However, earlier and timely hormonal replacement treatment could probably have improved the quality of life of this subject and his family.
Adiponectin, markers of subclinical inflammation and nerve conduction in individuals with recently diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Authors: Schamarek Imke , Herder Christian , Nowotny Bettina , Carstensen-Kirberg Maren , Straßburger Klaus , Nowotny Peter , Strom Alexander , Püttgen Sonja , Müssig Karsten , Szendroedi Julia , Roden Michael , Ziegler Dan , _ _
Published: January 2016

Objective

Subclinical inflammation has been implicated in the development of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN), but studies using electrophysiological assessment as outcomes are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to investigate associations of biomarkers reflecting different aspects of subclinical inflammation with motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in individuals with diabetes.

Design and methods

Motor and sensory NCV was assessed in individuals with recently diagnosed type 2 (n=352) or type 1 diabetes (n=161) from the baseline cohort of the observational German Diabetes Study. NCV sum scores were calculated for median, ulnar and peroneal motor as well as median, ulnar and sural sensory nerves. Associations between inflammation-related biomarkers, DSPN and NCV sum scores were estimated using multiple regression models.

Results

In type 2 diabetes, high serum interleukin (IL)-6 was associated with the presence of DSPN and reduced motor NCV. Moreover, higher levels of high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, total adiponectin and their ratio were associated with prevalent DSPN and both diminished motor and sensory NCV, whereas no consistent associations were observed for C-reactive protein, IL18, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin. In type 1 diabetes, only HMW and total adiponectin showed positive associations with motor NCV.

Conclusions

Our results point to a link between IL6 and both DSPN and slowed motor NCV in recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. The reverse associations between adiponectin and NCV in type 1 and type 2 diabetes are intriguing, and further studies should explore whether they may reflect differences in the pathogenesis of DSPN in both diabetes types.
Effects of vitamin D binding protein phenotypes and vitamin D supplementation on serum total 25(OH)D and directly measured free 25(OH)D
Authors: Sollid Stina T , Hutchinson Moira Y S , Berg Vivian , Fuskevåg Ole M , Figenschau Yngve , Thorsby Per M , Jorde Rolf
Published: January 2016

Objective

To determine the relationship between serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), directly measured free 25(OH)D and calculated free 25(OH)D with regard to vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) phenotypes, sex, BMI, age and season, and their interrelationship to vitamin D supplementation.

Design, patients and interventions

A randomized controlled trial with 20 000 IU of vitamin D3per week or placebo for 12 months was designed. A total of 472 subjects, 236 in each of the intervention groups, were included in the analyses.

Main outcome measures

Baseline serum concentrations and increases in serum total 25(OH)D, directly measured free 25(OH)D, calculated free 25(OH)D and DBP.

Results

Serum total 25(OH)D and DBP concentrations were significantly lower in subjects with the phenotype Gc2/Gc2 compared to phenotypes with the Gc1S allele, and lower in males compared to females. When using directly measured free 25(OH)D, the differences related to DBP phenotypes and sexes were clearly diminished. All calculated free 25(OH)D concentrations were overestimated compared to the directly measured free 25(OH)D. Serum parathyroid hormone showed an inverse correlation with all vitamin D parameters analyzed. The increases after 12 months of vitamin D supplementation were not significantly different for any of the vitamin D parameters regardless of DBP phenotype, sex or age. Supplementation with vitamin D did not affect serum DBP.

Conclusion

Direct measurements of free 25(OH)D reduce the differences seen in total 25(OH)D between DBP phenotype groups and sexes, probably caused by differences in DBP concentrations. With conditions affecting serum DBP concentrations, direct measurements of free 25(OH)D should be considered.
Outcomes From Polyhydramnios With Normal Ultrasound
Authors: Yefet Enav , Daniel-Spiegel Etty
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the short- and long-term outcomes of children from pregnancies complicated with polyhydramnios, defined as amniotic fluid index (AFI) >24 cm, and with a normal detailed ultrasound examination.

METHODS:

This retrospective cohort study examined 134 children aged 4 to 9 years with polyhydramnios and normal detailed ultrasound examination during pregnancy compared with 268 controls with normal AFI and normal detailed ultrasound examination matched for maternal age, year of delivery, gestational week at delivery, and presence or absence of diabetes. The primary outcome was the rate of malformations diagnosed postnatally. Additional outcomes were obstetrics outcomes, genetic syndromes, and neurodevelopment.

RESULTS:

Polyhydramnios was associated with increased risk for cesarean delivery (CD) and birth weight >90th percentile. This elevation in CD was attributed to increased rate of elective CD due to suspected macrosomia. Polyhydramnios was associated with increased risk for congenital malformations (n = 25 [19%] compared with 27 [10%], respectively; P = .016) without a statistically significant increase in the rate of major malformations (11 [8%] vs. 10 [4%]; P = .057). Genetic syndromes were more prevalent in the polyhydramnios group (5 [3.7%] vs. 2 [0.75%]; P = .043), as were neurologic disorders and developmental delay (9.7% vs. 3%; P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite a normal detailed ultrasound examination, polyhydramnios is associated with increased rate of fetal malformations, genetic syndromes, neurologic disorders, and developmental delay, which may be diagnosed only after birth.
Prevalence and Determinants of Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Middle and High School Students
Authors: Agaku Israel T. , Singh Tushar , Rolle Italia , Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf , King Brian A.
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND:

Secondhand smoke (SHS) causes disease and death among nonsmokers. Private settings are major sources of exposure for children. We assessed prevalence and determinants of self-reported SHS exposure in homes and vehicles, as well as school, work, and indoor/outdoor public areas, among US students in grades 6 through 12.

METHODS:

Data were from the 2013 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 18 406). Self-reported SHS exposure within the past 7 days was assessed overall and by extent of smoke-free home and vehicle rules among never users of 10 tobacco product types. Descriptive statistics were used to compare estimates, and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated to assess determinants of SHS exposure.

RESULTS:

Among never tobacco users, 48.0% reported SHS exposure in 1 or more locations, including 15.5% in the home, 14.7% in a vehicle, 16.8% at school, 27.1% at work, and 35.2% in an indoor/outdoor public area. Home exposure was 8.5%, 55.3%, and 79.4% among never tobacco users with complete, partial, or no smoke-free home rules, respectively (P < .05). Vehicle exposure was 7.1%, 44.8%, and 70.2% among never tobacco users with complete, partial, or no smoke-free vehicle rules, respectively (P < .05). Factors associated with higher prevalence ratio of SHS exposure included current tobacco use, truant behavior, and having tobacco using household members/friends

CONCLUSIONS:

Approximately half of US students in grades 6 through 12 reported exposure to SHS in 2013. Smoke-free home and vehicle rules, coupled with intensified implementation and enforcement of comprehensive smoke-free laws, could help protect youth from this preventable health hazard.
Central and Eastern Europe: Trapped in integration?
Authors: Podkaminer Leon
Published: January 2016

The Central and Eastern European new Member States of the European Union (CEECs) went through the transition process following the commandments of the Washington Consensus, which gradually evolved into the “integrative growth model”. External liberalisation exposed the CEECs to recurring problems over external imbalances, bubbles driven by capital inflows, and resulting growth instabilities. Large foreign direct investment inflows attracted by repressed wages and low taxes do not accelerate growth. Arguably, real convergence would be much faster under a system with built-in limitations to free trade, free capital movements – and with more scope for traditional industrial, trade, incomes, and fiscal policies.
Income-contingent repayment scheme for non-performing mortgage loans in Hungary
Authors: Berlinger Edina , Walter György
Published: January 2016

At the end of 2014, more than 23% of the foreign currency denominated mortgage portfolio in Hungary was overdue; about 20% was classified as non-performing and the tendency is worsening. In this paper, we propose a solution to effectively reduce the credit and systemic risk inherent to this portfolio – the proposed model can be applied to other mortgage portfolios in trouble as well. The main element of our proposal is income-contingent repayment complemented with effective incentives to motivate debtors to repay their debt. We demonstrate that the proposed scheme is attractive for both the debtors and the lenders; therefore, contrary to some recent policy measures, in this case there is no need for direct state intervention to force modifications to the existing legal contracts. In order to evaluate the possible effects, we simulated a realistic population of borrowers with different age, debt, loan-to-value, and income. Then we calculated the expected income paths, the repayments of the borrowers as well as the profit of the lenders on the basis of the non-performing FX mortgage portfolio. The results underpin that the proposed scheme creates significant value added and, most importantly, that it can effectively reduce the vulnerability of the entire economy to future shocks.
Effects of Market Orientation and Breakthrough Innovation on Organizational Performance of International Enterprises
Authors: Zhang Zaixu , Jin Chunqing
Published: January 2016

In the economic growth process when China joined in WTO, internationalized operation has become an inevitable issue. Under the new normal economic condition, including the cut offtariffs on imported goods, businesses in China have realized the importance of enhancing the overall brand image, quality of products and services, and the international compatibility. Businesses of China need to develop creative and high-value-added products, and shall be able to rapidly change to satisfy market requirements to distinguish themselves from other products. It is the way of creating a new pattern of upgrading. It is the market-orientated development that is a primary condition for enterprises to adapt to the rapidly changing environment, keeping growth and attracting customers, acquiring competitive advantages, and creating excellent value for customers. It reveals the fact that in the future, businesses must change the focus from product to market needs. It is the marketorientation which could generate the competitive strength to resist competitors.

The research involves in total 45 international enterprises, which are distributed with the questionnaires. There are totally 124 and 107 copies of questionnaires retrieved from manufacturing industry and service industry, with valid retrieval rates of 54% and 46%, respectively. The research results show that: 1. there is positive effect of market orientation on breakthrough innovation, 2. there is positive effect of breakthrough innovation on organizational performance, and 3. there is positive effect of market orientation on organizational performance. Based upon the results, some suggestions are proposed in this study, expecting to help international enterprises develop market orientation, enhance breakthrough innovation, and improve organizational performance.
A Relationship Study on Marketing Strategy Management towards Customer Relationship Management and Perceived Value
Authors: Yang Qiong , Hu Zen-hua
Published: January 2016

With the promotion of economic liberalization and internationalization, consumer demands have become complex and diversified. Businesses have to actively promote themselves and bring forth new marketing tactics to attract buying and cope with fierce competition so as to enhance the global competitiveness and implement the idea of sustainable operation. This study aims to investigate the relationship between marketing strategy management, customer relationship management, and perceived value.

Aiming at Suzhou Industrial Park, the executives and employees of the manufacturers are distributed 500 copies of questionnaire for this study, and 367 valid copies are retrieved, with the retrieval rate 73%. The research results show the significant correlations between 1. marketing strategy management and customer relationship management, 2. customer relationship management and perceived value, and 3. marketing strategy management and perceived value. Aiming at above results, suggestions are proposed to create better organizational performance for a business.
Development of Slow Tourism Challenge and Operation Architecture: A Case Study on Green Island, Taiwan
Authors: Chao Ren-Fang
Published: January 2016

Slow tourism, a sustainable tourism pattern gradually emphasized over the past years, stresses on experiencing tourism campaigns with slow and recreational attitudes to create value for life and enhance well-being. Although the concept of slow tourism presents certain consensus in academic studies, it still encounters a lot of operational challenges, which could be properly solved through the educational training of operators and consumers and the economic value chain formed by industry alliances. In terms of the practical operation, the slow tourism promotion architecture is developed for promoting slow tourism in Green Island, Taiwan. The architecture is divided into two stages. The preparation stage focuses on communication, training, and the improvement of industrial environment to form the slow tourism industry alliance for cross-selling and importing visitors. The operational stage tends to form the overall image of the destination by maintaining the quality of slow tourism through review and innovation and gradually extend the slow tourism industry alliance. The key role in the promotion architecture is local intermediary organizations which integrate internal and external resources to have slow tourism present the maximal benefits.
Analysis of Tourist Flow from the US to Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yen-Hsun , Kang Hsin-Hong
Published: January 2016

It is important for Taiwanese policy makers to understand how economic factors affect US tourists’ decision to travel to Taiwan. For the long-run analysis, Johansen’s cointegration test reveals that three cointegration vectors exist among the model variables, indicating a long-run relationship. To conduct a short-run analysis, this paper employs vector auto regression (VAR) to estimate the responses of US tourists in Taiwan to the shocks of changes to personal disposable income, cost of living, and substitute price. The short-run equilibrium adjustment processes are discussed in terms of generalized impulse response. The results show an immediate and significant response of changes in tourist arrivals to their own impacts, changes in the cost of living, and changes in the substitute price. In addition, the price, income, and cross-elasticity of tourism demand are all positive at the beginning of the responses, implying that the tourism products can be attributed to normal and substitute goods.
An Indexation System for Assessing Emerging Chinese Bank Competitiveness: The Case of Huaxia Bank
Authors: Zhang Long , Shwiff Steven , Xu Qun
Published: January 2016

A 2010 banking survey of 42 foreign bank executives by Price Waterhouse Coopers ranked competition from “domestic” Chinese banks as their primary concern. This outranked the “regulatory environment” which had been number one for the previous two years. Several reasons were cited by foreign bank managers but three stand out: (1) declining market share for foreign banks due to reduced number of multinationals doing business in China, (2) foreign banks reluctance to lend locally due to the global economic slowdown, (3) the aggressive lending strategies of Chinese banks. This paper focuses on the new reality of contemporary Chinese banking practice. We believe Chinese banks are learning and adapting. They are gaining expertise in a wide array of bank operations such as asset management, branching, securities, leasing and many more. To better understand the nature and context of growing Chinese bank competitiveness, we introduce and apply the concept financial “econiche”. Financial econiche refers to the learning and adapting that takes place in a specific financial “ecological” surrounding with attention paid to the macroeconomic need for harmonious development. Econiche theory borrows heavily from similar ideas in the natural world. We construct an evaluation indexation system based on the econiche theory, and use Huaxia bank as a case study.
Változások a pajzsmirigybetegségek radiojódkezelésében
Authors: Konrády András
Published: January 2016

Radioiodine therapy for benign and malignant thyroid diseases was introduced about 70 years ago, however, there is still a lack of consensus regarding indications, doses and procedure. This review covers treatment results in immunogenic hyperthyroidism including the problem of orbitopathy. Radioiodine therapy for toxic and non-toxic multinodular goiter is also discussed with striking possibility of enhanching the radioiodine uptake. In this respect the recombinant human thyrotropin should be mentioned. Thyroid cancer treatment protocol has changed, too, due to ineffectivity in low-risk patients. More attention is needed to the carcinogenecity of radioiodine. The numerous problems mentioned above require large and well-designed prospective trials to resolve the fundamental questions. The author emphasizes that radioiodine dose should be administered in doses as low as reasonably achievable. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(3), 83–88.
Usar ou não o hijab no Brasil? Uma análise da religiosidade islâmica em um contexto minoritário
Authors: Castro Cristina Maria de
Published: January 2016

Resumo Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a religiosidade islâmica no contexto minoritário brasileiro, a partir da observação da prática do hijab no país. A princípio, será realizada uma breve apresentação histórica sobre a presença muçulmana no Brasil, abrangendo desde o tráfico negreiro e a imigração árabe até a conversão de brasileiros ao Islã. A seguir, são apresentados relatos de muçulmanas que nos permitem compreender como elas se sentem percebidas pelos brasileiros não muçulmanos ao trajarem o véu. Por fim, serão examinadas as práticas do hijab por parte de muçulmanas em diversas regiões do país, como São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis e Brasília, com o intuito de entender como muçulmanas negociam e adaptam suas crenças e práticas religiosas no contexto nacional.