bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Surgical Patients with Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hu Chaur‐Jong , Liao Chien‐Chang , Chang Chuen‐Chau , Wu Chih‐Hsiung , Chen Ta‐Liang
Published: April 2012

Background

Dementia patients often present with coexisting medical conditions and potentially face higher risk of complications during hospitalization. Because the general features of postoperative adverse outcomes among surgical patients with dementia are unknown, we conducted a nationwide, retrospective cohort study to characterize surgical complications among dementia patients compared with sex‐ and age‐matched nondementia controls.

Methods

Reimbursement claims from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were studied. A total of 18,923 surgical patients were enrolled with preoperative diagnosis of dementia for 207,693 persons aged 60 years or older who received inpatient major surgeries between 2004 and 2007. Their preoperative comorbidities were adjusted and risks for major surgical complications were analyzed.

Results

Dementia patients who underwent surgery had a significantly higher overall postoperative complication rate, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.79 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.72–1.86), with higher medical resources use, and in‐hospital expenditures. Compared with controls, dementia patients had a higher incidence of certain postoperative complications that are less likely to be identified in their initial stage, such as: acute renal failure, OR = 1.32 (1.19–1.47); pneumonia, OR = 2.18 (2.06–2.31); septicemia, OR = 1.8 (1.69–1.92); stroke, OR = 1.51 (1.43–1.6); and urinary tract infection, OR = 1.62 (1.5–1.74).

Conclusions

These findings have specific implications for postoperative care of dementia patients regarding complications that are difficult to diagnose in their initial stages. Acute renal failure, pneumonia, septicemia, stroke, and urinary tract infection are the top priorities for prevention, early recognition, and intervention of postoperative complications among surgical patients with dementia. Further efforts are needed to determine specific protocols for health care teams serving this population.
Suppression of cellular invasion by glybenclamide through inhibited secretion of platelet‐derived growth factor in ovarian clear cell carcinoma ES‐2 cells
Authors: Yasukagawa Tamami , Niwa Yuki , Simizu Siro , Umezawa Kazuo
Published: April 2012

It has been demonstrated that potassium channels (K+ channels) play significant roles in some malignant phenotypes. Here, we provide the first evidence that treatment with glybenclamide, an ATP‐sensitive K+ channel blocker, inhibited cell migration in an ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell line, ES‐2. Treatment with glybenclamide or knockdown by siRNA targeted against K+ channel subunits demonstrated the suppression of ovarian cancer cell invasion, which occurred via inhibition of PDGF‐AA secretion. Therefore, our findings suggest that K+ channel blockers may be useful chemotherapeutic drugs for blocking the invasiveness of ovarian cancers.
Atherosclerotic calcification relates to cognitive function and to brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Bos Daniel , Vernooij Meike W. , Elias-Smale Suzette E. , Verhaaren Benjamin F.J. , Vrooman Henri A. , Hofman Albert , Niessen Wiro J. , Witteman Jacqueline C.M. , van der Lugt Aad , Ikram M. Arfan
Published: April 2012

Background

Increasing evidence suggests a role of atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and dementia. Calcification volume measured with computed tomography (CT) is a valid marker of atherosclerosis. This study investigates associations of atherosclerosis (measured using CT) at four locations with cognition and brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

To quantify calcification volume, 2414 nondemented people from the Rotterdam Study underwent CT of the coronary arteries, aortic arch, extracranial carotid arteries, and intracranial carotid arteries. To assess global cognition and performance on memory, executive function, information processing speed, and motor speed, they also underwent neuropsychological tests. In a random subgroup of 844 participants, brain MRI was performed. Automated segmentation and quantification of brain MRI scans yielded brain tissue volumes in milliliters. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to measure the microstructural integrity of the white matter. Relationships of atherosclerotic calcification with cognition, brain tissue volumes, and diffusion tensor imaging measures were assessed with linear regression models and adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results

With larger calcification volumes, lower cognitive scores were observed. When calcification volumes were larger, total brain volumes were also smaller. Specifically, larger coronary artery calcification volumes related to smaller gray matter volumes, and extracranial and intracranial carotid calcification volumes related to smaller white matter volumes. Larger calcification volume in all vessel beds was accompanied by worse microstructural integrity of the white matter.

Conclusions

Larger calcification volume is associated with worse cognitive performance. It also relates to smaller brain tissue volumes and worse white matter microstructural integrity, revealing possible mechanisms through which atherosclerosis may lead to poorer cognition.
The antecedents of anticipatory purchase: Reconciling the two routes to optimism
Authors: Chan Elaine , Sengupta Jaideep , Mukhopadhyay Anirban
Published: April 2012

Consumers often behave optimistically, purchasing products that they are unable to use at the time of purchase, but anticipate being able to use in the future. This research investigates such anticipatory purchase behavior, and demonstrates that optimism exerts its influence on anticipatory purchase via two distinct routes. One is driven by the perceived ease of the process required to achieve a given outcome and prevails when sufficient cognitive resources are available, while the other is driven directly by the perceived favorability of the outcome itself and holds when cognitive resources are constrained. Within each route, the focus of thought (process vs. outcome‐focus) moderates the influence of optimism, and the two routes converge on enhanced motivation. Multiple experiments provide support for predictions derived from this framework, illuminating the substantive domain of anticipatory purchasing and providing theoretical insights into the nature of optimism.
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting on Atol das Rocas, north-eastern Brazil, 1990–2008
Authors: Bellini Claudio , Santos Armando J.B. , Grossman Alice , Marcovaldi Maria A. , Barata Paulo C. R.
Published: April 2012

In this paper, information is presented on green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting on Atol das Rocas (Rocas Atoll), north-eastern Brazil. The temporal distribution of nesting events per season, annual number of nests, carapace length of nesting females, clutch size, hatching success, incubation period, internesting interval, clutch frequency, observed reproductive lifespan, and remigration period are reported. The study period included the nesting seasons from 1990 to 2008, but no regular beach monitoring was carried out in 1998 and 1999. Two sorts of methods were applied to the estimation of the annual number of nests in some seasons. Taking into account the estimated annual numbers of nests, the mean annual number of nests in the study period, excluding 1998–1999, was 335 (standard deviation = 139, range = 136–563, N = 17). An analysis of the available data indicates that the average nesting levels at the beginning of the study period (the first five seasons) and at its end (the last five seasons) were roughly the same. The mean curved carapace length of the nesting turtles decreased significantly during the study period, from 115.9 cm in 1990–1992 to 112.9 cm in 2006–2008. Atol das Rocas was established as a federal biological reserve in 1979, but regular sea turtle conservation activities actually started there in 1990. Since that year, the killing of nesting turtles has ceased, nesting activity by the turtles can proceed in an undisturbed fashion, and their clutches can incubate in a protected environment.
Ionospheric plasma transport and loss in auroral downward current regions
Authors: Zettergren M. , Semeter J.
Published: April 2012

A detailed study of the effects of auroral current systems on thermal ionospheric plasma transport and loss is conducted using a new ionospheric model. The mathematical formulation of the model is a variation on the 5‐moment approximation which describes the temporal evolution of density, drift, and temperature for five different ion species in two spatial dimensions. The fluid system is closed through a 2‐D electrostatic treatment of the auroral currents. This model is used to examine the interplay between ion heating, perpendicular transport, molecular ion generation, and type‐1 ion upflows in a self‐consistent way for the first time. Simulations confirm that the depletion of E‐region plasma due to current closure occurs on extremely fast time scales (5–30 s), and that it is dependent on current system scale size. Near the F‐region peak, the loss is mostly due to enhanced recombination from the conversion of the plasma to molecular ions. The F‐region loss process is fairly slow (120–300 s) by comparison to lower altitude processes and is highly electric field dependent. On similar time scales, transient ion upflows from frictional heating move plasma from the near topside ionosphere (∼500 km) to higher regions, leaving depletions and enhancing plasma densities at very high altitudes. Results indicate the existence of large molecular ion upflows near the F‐region peak and may shed some light on ionospheric source regions for outflowing molecular ions. Neutral atmospheric winds and densities are also shown to play an important role in modulating molecular ion densities, frictional heating, and currents.
Mitochondrial stress causes increased succination of proteins in adipocytes in response to glucotoxicity
Authors: Frizzell Norma , Thomas Sonia A. , Carson James A. , Baynes John W.
Published: April 2012

2SC [S-(2-succino)-cysteine] is a chemical modification formed by a Michael addition reaction of fumarate with cysteine residues in proteins. Formation of 2SC, termed ‘succination’ of proteins, increases in adipocytes grown in high-glucose medium and in adipose tissues of Type 2 diabetic mice. However, the metabolic mechanisms leading to increased fumarate and succination of protein in the adipocyte are unknown. Treatment of 3T3 cells with high glucose (30 mM compared with 5 mM) caused a significant increase in cellular ATP/ADP, NADH/NAD+ and Δψm (mitochondrial membrane potential). There was also a significant increase in the cellular fumarate concentration and succination of proteins, which may be attributed to the increase in NADH/NAD+ and subsequent inhibition of tricarboxylic acid cycle NAD+-dependent dehydrogenases. Chemical uncouplers, which dissipated Δψm and reduced the NADH/NAD+ ratio, also decreased the fumarate concentration and protein succination. High glucose plus metformin, an inhibitor of complex I in the electron transport chain, caused an increase in fumarate and succination of protein. Thus excess fuel supply (glucotoxicity) appears to create a pseudohypoxic environment (high NADH/NAD+ without hypoxia), which drives the increase in succination of protein. We propose that increased succination of proteins is an early marker of glucotoxicity and mitochondrial stress in adipose tissue in diabetes.
A gantry-based tri-modality system for bioluminescence tomography
Authors: Yan Han , Lin Yuting , Barber William C. , Unlu Mehmet Burcin , Gulsen Gultekin
Published: April 2012

A gantry-based tri-modality system that combines bioluminescence (BLT), diffuse optical (DOT), and x-ray computed tomography (XCT) into the same setting is presented here. The purpose of this system is to perform bioluminescence tomography using a multi-modality imaging approach. As parts of this hybrid system, XCT and DOT provide anatomical information and background optical property maps. This structural and functional a priori information is used to guide and restrain bioluminescence reconstruction algorithm and ultimately improve the BLT results. The performance of the combined system is evaluated using multi-modality phantoms. In particular, a cylindrical heterogeneous multi-modality phantom that contains regions with higher optical absorption and x-ray attenuation is constructed. We showed that a 1.5 mm diameter bioluminescence inclusion can be localized accurately with the functional a priori information while its source strength can be recovered more accurately using both structural and the functional a priori information.
A rigid, monolithic but still scannable cavity ring-down spectroscopy cell
Authors: Tang Yongxin , Yang Shaoyue L. , Lehmann Kevin K.
Published: April 2012

A novel cell for continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (cw-CRDS) is described and tested. The cell is monolithic and maintains a rigid alignment of the two cavity mirrors. Two high-resolution and high-force piezoelectric transducers are used to sweep the length of the cell by elastic deformation of the 2.86 cm outer diameter stainless steel tube that makes up the body of the cell. The cavity length is scanned more than 1/2 wavelength of the near-IR light used, which ensures that at least one TEM00 mode of the cavity will pass through resonance with the laser. This allows the use of a frequency-locked-laser cw-CRDS technique, which increases the precision of the measurements compared to the alternative of sweeping the laser more than one free spectral range of the cavity. The performance of the cell is demonstrated by using it to detect the absorption spectrum of methane (CH4) at the wavenumber regions of around 6051.8–6057.7 cm−1.
Inactive excitations in Mukherjee's state-specific multireference coupled cluster theory treated with internal contraction: Development and applications
Authors: Das Sanghamitra , Pathak Shubhrodeep , Datta Dipayan , Mukherjee Debashis
Published: April 2012

One generic difficulty of most state-specific many-body formalisms using the Jeziorski-Monkhorst ansatz: ψ = ∑μexp (Tμ)|ϕμ⟩cμ for the wave-operators is the large number of redundant cluster amplitudes. The number of cluster amplitudes up to a given rank is many more in number compared to the dimension of the Hilbert Space spanned by the virtual functions of up to the same rank of excitations. At the same time, all inactive excitations – though linearly independent – are far too numerous. It is well known from the success of the contracted multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI(SD)) that, at least for the inactive double excitations, their model space dependence (μ-dependence) is weak. Considerable simplifications can thus be obtained by using a partially internally contracted description, which uses the physically appealing approximation of taking the inactive excitations Ti to be independent of the model space labels (μ-independent). We propose and implement in this paper such a formalism with internal contractions for inactive excitations (ICI) within Mukherjee's state-specific multi-reference coupled cluster theory (SS-MRCC) framework (referred to from now on as the ICI-SS-MRCC). To the extent the μ-independence of Ti is valid, we expect the ICI-SS-MRCC to retain the conceptual advantages of size-extensivity yet using a drastically reduced number of cluster amplitudes without sacrificing accuracy. Moreover, greater coupling is achieved between the virtual functions reached by inactive excitations as a result of the internal contraction while retaining the original coupling term for the μ-dependent excitations akin to the parent theory. Another major advantage of the ICI-SS-MRCC, unlike the other analogous internally contracted theories, such as IC-MRCISD, CASPT2, or MRMP2, is that it can use relaxed coefficients for the model functions. However, at the same time it employs projection manifolds for the virtuals obtained from inactive n hole-n particle (nh-np) excitations on the entire reference function containing relaxed model space coefficients. The performance of the method has been assessed by applying it to compute the potential energy surfaces of the prototypical H4; to the torsional potential energy barrier for the cis-trans isomerism in C2H4 as well as that of N2H2, automerization of cyclobutadiene, single point energy calculation of CH2, SiH2, and comparing them against the SS-MRCC results, benchmark full CI results, wherever available and those from the allied MR formalisms. Our findings are very much reminiscent of the experience gained from the IC-MRCISD method.
Nanosecond simulations of the dynamics of C60 excited by intense near-infrared laser pulses: Impulsive Raman excitation, rearrangement, and fragmentation
Authors: Niitsu Naoyuki , Kikuchi Miyu , Ikeda Hayato , Yamazaki Kaoru , Kanno Manabu , Kono Hirohiko , Mitsuke Koichiro , Toda Mikito , Nakai Katsunori
Published: April 2012

Impulsive Raman excitation of C60 by single or double pulses of near-infrared wavelength λ = 1800 nm was investigated by using a time-dependent adiabatic state approach combined with the density functional theory method. We confirmed that the vibrational energy stored in a Raman active mode of C60 is maximized when Tp ∼ Tvib/2 in the case of a single pulse, where Tp is the pulse length and Tvib is the vibrational period of the mode. In the case of a double pulse, mode selective excitation can be achieved by adjusting the pulse interval τ. The energy of a Raman active mode is maximized if τ is chosen to equal an integer multiple of Tvib and it is minimized if τ is equal to a half-integer multiple of Tvib. We also investigated the subsequent picosecond or nanosecond dynamics of Stone-Wales rearrangement (SWR) and fragmentation by using the density-functional based tight-binding semiempirical method. We present how SWRs are caused by the flow of vibrational kinetic energy on the carbon bond network of C60. In the case where the hg(1) prolate-oblate mode is initially excited, the number of SWRs before fragmentation is larger than in the case of ag(1) mode excitation for the same excess vibrational energy. Fragmentation by C2 ejection C60 → C58 + C2 is found to occur from strained, fused pentagon/pentagon defects produced by a preceding SWR, which confirms the earliest mechanistic speculations of Smalley et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 88, 220 (1988)]. The fragmentation rate of C2 ejection in the case of hg(1) mode excitation does not follow a statistical description as employed for instance in the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel (RRK) theory, whereas the rate for ag(1) mode excitation does follow the prediction by RRK. We also found for the hg(1) mode excitation that the nonstatistical nature affects the distribution of barycentric velocities of fragments C58 and C2. This result suggests that it is possible to control rearrangement and subsequent bond breaking in a “nonstatistical” way by initial selective mode excitation.
Observation of negative contact resistances in graphene field-effect transistors
Authors: Nouchi Ryo , Saito Tatsuya , Tanigaki Katsumi
Published: April 2012

The gate-voltage (VG) dependence of the contact resistance (RC) in graphene field-effect transistors is characterized by the transmission line model. The RC-VG characteristics of Ag, Cu, and Au contacts display a dip around the charge neutrality point and become even negative with Ag contacts. The dip structure is well reproduced by a model calculation that considers a metal-contact-induced potential variation near the metal contact edges. The apparently negative RC originates with the carrier doping from the metal contacts to the graphene channel and appears when the doping effect is more substantial than the actual contact resistance precisely at the contacts. The negative RC can appear at the metal contacts to Dirac-cone systems such as graphene.
Optical and structural studies of homoepitaxially grown m-plane GaN
Authors: Khromov S. , Monemar B. , Avrutin V. , Li Xing , Morkoç H. , Hultman L. , Pozina G.
Published: April 2012

Cathodoluminescence (CL) and transmission electron microscopy studies of homoepitaxially grown m-plane Mg-doped GaN layers are reported. Layers contain basal plane and prismatic stacking faults (SFs) with ∼106 cm−1 density. Broad emission peaks commonly ascribed to SFs were found to be insignificant in these samples. A set of quite strong, sharp lines were detected in the same spectral region of 3.36–3.42 eV. The observed peaks are tentatively explained as excitons bound to some impurity defects, which can also be related to SFs. Donor-acceptor pair (DAP) recombination involving Si or O and Mg was ruled out by fitting DAP energies and CL mapping.
RNA unwinding by the Trf4/Air2/Mtr4 polyadenylation (TRAMP) complex
Authors: Jia Huijue , Wang Xuying , Anderson James T. , Jankowsky Eckhard
Published: April 2012

Many RNA-processing events in the cell nucleus involve the Trf4/Air2/Mtr4 polyadenylation (TRAMP) complex, which contains the poly(A) polymerase Trf4p, the Zn-knuckle protein Air2p, and the RNA helicase Mtr4p. TRAMP polyadenylates RNAs designated for processing by the nuclear exosome. In addition, TRAMP functions as an exosome cofactor during RNA degradation, and it has been speculated that this role involves disruption of RNA secondary structure. However, it is unknown whether TRAMP displays RNA unwinding activity. It is also not clear how unwinding would be coordinated with polyadenylation and the function of the RNA helicase Mtr4p in modulating poly(A) addition. Here, we show that TRAMP robustly unwinds RNA duplexes. The unwinding activity of Mtr4p is significantly stimulated by Trf4p/Air2p, but the stimulation of Mtr4p does not depend on ongoing polyadenylation. Nonetheless, polyadenylation enables TRAMP to unwind RNA substrates that it otherwise cannot separate. Moreover, TRAMP displays optimal unwinding activity on substrates with a minimal Mtr4p binding site comprised of adenylates. Our results suggest a model for coordination between unwinding and polyadenylation activities by TRAMP that reveals remarkable synergy between helicase and poly(A) polymerase.
Electron kinetics in dc argon microplasmas
Authors: Chang Hyonu , Ryu Chang-Mo , Yoo Suk Jae , Kim Seong Bong , You Shin Jae
Published: April 2012

We carried out one-dimensional particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo collisional simulations of argon dc microplasmas. It is found that argon dc microplasmas have quite different electron kinetics from those of conventional low-pressure argon dc plasmas or helium dc microplasmas. The electron energy probability functions (EEPFs) of the argon dc microplasma are bi-Maxwellian for pressures exceeding 100 Torr, whereas it shows a convex-shaped profile for 10 Torr. The different EEPFs at high pressures come from the fact that, as the pressure is increased, elastic and inelastic electron–neutral collisions increase, because the cathode fall length decreases more slowly than the electron–neutral collisional mean free paths.
The use of acoustic inversion to estimate the bubble size distribution in pipelines
Authors: Leighton Timothy G. , Baik Kyungmin , Jiang Jian
Published: April 2012

The most popular technique for estimating the gas bubble size distribution (BSD) in liquids is through the inversion of measured attenuation and/or sound speed of a travelling wave. The model inherent in such inversions never exactly matches the conditions of the measurement, and the size of the resulting error (which could well be small in quasi-free field conditions) cannot be quantified if only a free field code exists. Users may be unaware of errors because, with sufficient regularization, such inversions can always be made to produce an answer, the accuracy of which is unknown unless independent (e.g. optical) measurements are made. This study was commissioned to assess the size of this error for the mercury-filled steel pipelines of the target test facility (TTF) of the spallation neutron source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN, USA. Large errors in estimating the BSD (greater than 1000% overcounts/undercounts) are predicted. A new inversion technique appropriate for pipelines such as TTF gives good BSD estimations if the frequency range is sufficiently broad. However, it also shows that implementation of the planned reduction in frequency bandwidth for the TTF bubble sensor would make even this inversion insufficient to obtain an accurate BSD in TTF.
What conservationists need to know about farming
Authors: Balmford Andrew , Green Rhys , Phalan Ben
Published: April 2012

Farming is the basis of our civilization yet is more damaging to wild nature than any other sector of human activity. Here, we propose that in order to limit its impact into the future, conservation researchers and practitioners need to address several big topics—about the scale of future demand, about which crops and livestock to study, about whether low-yield or high-yield farming has the potential to be least harmful to nature, about the environmental performance of new and existing farming methods, and about the measures needed to enable promising approaches and techniques to deliver on their potential. Tackling these issues requires conservationists to explore the many consequences that decisions about agriculture have beyond the farm, to think broadly and imaginatively about the scale and scope of what is required to halt biodiversity loss, and to be brave enough to test and when necessary support counterintuitive measures.
Spirituality as a Positive Youth Development Construct: A Conceptual Review
Authors: Shek Daniel T. L.
Published: April 2012

The concept of spirituality as a positive youth development construct is reviewed in this paper. Both broad and narrow definitions of spirituality are examined and a working definition of spirituality is proposed. Regarding theories of spirituality, different models pertinent to spiritual development and the relationship between spirituality and positive youth development are highlighted. Different ecological factors, particularly family and peer influences, were found to influence spirituality. Research on the influence of spirituality on adolescent developmental outcomes is examined. Finally, ways to promote adolescent spirituality are discussed.
Analysis of geometric parameters and packing considerations for triphenylboroxine derivatives, with tris(pentafluorophenyl)boroxine as an example
Authors: Tillmann Jan , Lerner Hans-Wolfram , Sinke Tanja , Bolte Michael
Published: April 2012

Molecules of the title compound [systematic name: 2,4,6-(pentafluorophenyl)-1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriborinane], C18B3F15O3, are located on crystallographic twofold rotation axes which run through the boroxine and one of the pentafluorophenyl rings. The boroxine ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.027 Å) and the pentafluorophenyl rings (r.m.s. deviations = 0.004 and 0.001 Å) are essentially planar. The dihedral angles between the boroxine and the two symmetry-independent benzene rings are 8.64 (10) and 8.74 (12)°. The two benzene rings are mutually coparallel [dihedral angle = 0.80 (11)°]. The packing shows planes of molecules parallel to (\overline{2}01), with an interplanar spacing of 2.99 Å. Within these planes, all the molecules are oriented in the same direction, whereas in neighbouring planes the direction is inverted. Short B...F contacts of 3.040 (2) and 3.1624 (12) Å occur between planes. The geometric parameters of the boroxine ring in the title compound agree well with those of comparable boroxine structures, while the packing reveals some striking similarities and differences.
Urinary mannose-binding lectin is a biomarker for predicting the progression of immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy
Authors: Liu L-L , Jiang Y , Wang L-N , Liu N
Published: April 2012

Complement system activation is associated with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) activity and progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of urinary mannose-binding lectin (MBL), at the time of renal biopsy, for evaluating disease severity and predicting the progression of IgAN. A total of 162 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN were enrolled and 50 healthy individuals were selected as normal controls. Urinary MBL was measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and normalized for urinary creatinine concentration. Urinary MBL was significantly higher in IgAN patients than that in normal controls, and elevated as histopathological phenotypes upgraded. Urinary MBL was correlated significantly with the well-known clinical predictors for the prognosis of IgAN; that is, renal function (represented by serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate), proteinuria and arterial hypertension. Urinary MBL was demonstrated to be correlated with the histopathological parameters which have independent value in predicting renal outcome of IgAN according to the Oxford classification; that is, mesangial hypercellularity, segmental glomerulosclerosis, endocapillary hypercellularity and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis. More importantly, non-remission patients at the end of follow-up had significantly higher levels of urinary MBL compared with patients in remission. In conclusion, urinary MBL can be a reliable non-invasive biomarker for evaluating disease severity and predicting the prognosis of IgAN. This is the first report on this issue. However, our conclusions should be verified further in large-scale studies with long-term follow-up.
A reappraisal of the medical therapy with steroidogenesis inhibitors in Cushing's syndrome
Authors: Valassi Elena , Crespo Iris , Gich Ignasi , Rodríguez José , Webb Susan M.
Published: April 2012

Objective

To evaluate the outcome of preoperative therapy with ketoconazole (KTZ) and/or metyrapone (MTP) in previously untreated patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS).

Design and patients

Sixty‐two patients with CS (85% ACTH dependent), treated with steroidogenesis inhibitors prior to surgery between 1983 and 2010, were retrospectively studied. T0 and t1 defined baseline and end of preoperative medical treatment.

Results

Outcomes were based upon clinical and biochemical (normal UFC) control of hypercortisolism at t1: group CO (controlled) included 20 patients (32%) with eucortisolism and significant clinical improvement; group NC (not controlled) 30 (48%) with persistent hypercortisolism and no control of symptoms; and group PC (partially controlled) 12 patients (19%) who despite eucortisolism had no real clinical improvement. Median duration of treatment was 4 months (range: 1–30·7), and median cumulative dose of KTZ and MTP was 57 g (range: 3·6–240) and 120 g (range: 7·5–1215). CO patients were treated more with KTZ alone than the other groups (P < 0·05). MTP alone was administered more in PC than in CO patients (P < 0·01). No clinical differences were observed between groups at baseline. Systolic blood pressure at t1 was higher in PC than in NC patients (P < 0·05). Hypertension persisted more in PC patients than in the other groups (P < 0·05) after a median postsurgery follow‐up of 108 months (range: 4–276).

Conclusions

Preoperative administration of KTZ, MTP or both normalized UFC in 52% of patients with CS, but concomitant clinical improvement did not always follow. Larger, multicentre studies are needed to individualize preoperative medical treatment and improve outcome in patients with CS.
Continuous infusion in haemophilia: current practice in Europe
Authors: BATOROVA A. , HOLME P. , GRINGERI A. , RICHARDS M. , HERMANS C. , ALTISENT C. , LOPEZ‐FERNÁNDEZ M. , FIJNVANDRAAT K. ,   ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN HAEMOPHILIA TREATMENT STANDARDISATION BOARD
Published: April 2012

Summary.Continuous infusion (CI) of factor VIII (FVIII) is an effective method for replacement therapy in haemophilia. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding association of CI with the development of inhibitors. The aim of this study was to gain information on the current practices in Europe regarding CI and the true inhibitor incidence after this mode of therapy. In a cross sectional study performed in 22 Comprehensive Care Centres (CCCs), we evaluated CI techniques, treatment protocols, efficacy, safety and complications of CI including inhibitors. Thirteen (59%) CCCs reported a total of 1079 CI treatments, given peri‐operatively or for major bleeds, in 742 patients. Most centres used ‘adjusted dose’ CI aimed at median target FVIII level of 0.8 IU mL‐1. CI was haemostatically very effective with a low incidence of complications: median incidence of postoperative bleeding was 1.8%, six centres observed phlebitis in 2–11% of CI treatments. Only nine (1.2%) patients developed inhibitors (0.45% of 659 severe and 7.2% of 83 mild haemophilia patients). Additional analysis of inhibitor patients revealed several confounding factors (low number of prior FVIII exposure days, high steady‐state factor levels during CI, high‐risk genotype). In this unprecedentedly large cohort, CI treatment appears to be an effective and safe treatment that does not increase the risk of inhibitor development in patients with severe haemophilia. Thus, previous small case series reports suggesting that CI may increase inhibitorsb cannot be confirmed. Inhibitor risk in mild haemophilia could not be evaluated as the influence of other, potentially confounding, risk factors could not be excluded.
Automatic and controlled cognitive responses to intergroup threat as assessed using the process dissociation procedure: A study of a low‐status group from China
Authors: XIANG LING , ZHAO YUFANG
Published: April 2012

Xiang, L. & Zhao, Y. (2012). Automatic and controlled cognitive responses to intergroup threat as assessed using the process dissociation procedure: A study of a low‐status group from China.Scandinavian Journal of Psychology53, 280–285.

Explicit and implicit methods are typically employed to investigate the respective controlled and automatic cognitive responses to intergroup threat. However, these may not be “process pure” measures of automatic or controlled responses. The present study used the process dissociation procedure to investigate the relative contributions of automatic and controlled cognitive responses to intergroup threat. Following exposure to a threat/no threat manipulation, fifty Chinese rural undergraduates who were regarded as low‐status group members completed a recognition memory task, in which they were asked to identify all or select “old” (previously presented) trait words relating to an urban outgroup. The results showed that compared to the non‐threat group, when rural members perceived threat from an urban group, their automatic response was a decrease in favoritism for this outgroup, but was not derogative, whereas the controlled response was neither positive nor negative. These findings are inconsistent with previous research using explicit and implicit methods. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
Understanding the origins and prevalence of AIDS conspiracy beliefs in the United States and South Africa
Authors: Nattrass Nicoli
Published: April 2012

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) originated from cross‐species transmission of the simian immunodeficiency virus from primates to humans. Yet a significant minority of people in the United States (US) and South Africa believe that HIV was deliberately created by scientists as a bioweapon. Scholars in the humanities emphasise the historical context, socially situated character and psycho‐social dimensions of such aetiological narratives. This is important, but so is the role of individual agents participating in the cultic milieu in which oppositional ideas such as HIV conspiracy theories are borrowed across national, ideological and political divides. This article discusses the origins of the legend of ‘HIV as bioweapon’ and summarises the available evidence on the prevalence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) conspiracy beliefs in the US and South Africa. This is followed by a discussion of the history of biowarfare and racial oppression which renders the legend (and its local South African variants) believable for many people. The article then moves beyond socio‐historical analysis to argue that analytical space needs to be created to critique the political leaders who promoted AIDS conspiracy beliefs.
IL‐33 and HMGB1 alarmins: sensors of cellular death and their involvement in liver pathology
Authors: Arshad Muhammad I. , Piquet‐Pellorce Claire , Samson Michel
Published: April 2012

‘Alarmins’ are a group of proteins or molecules that are released from cells during cellular demise to alert the host immune system. Two of them, Interleukin‐33 (IL‐33) and high‐mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1), share many similarities of cellular localization, functions and involvement in various inflammatory pathologies including hepatitis. The expressions of IL‐33 and HMGB1, and their receptors ST2 and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), are substantially up‐regulated during acute and chronic hepatitis. Recent data evidence a possible protective role of IL‐33/ST2 axis during liver injury. A contrast in expression of IL‐33 and HMGB1 alarmins were associated with type of hepatocellular death mediated by immune cells or hepato‐toxic agents. The massive release of active form of IL‐33 from hepatocytes may affect the recruitment and activation of its ST2‐positive target immune cells in the liver to confer its alarmin functions. This review highlights the emerging roles of alarmin proteins in various liver pathologies, by focusing on classical HMGB1 and a newly discovered alarmin, the IL‐33.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Associated With Migraine and Vascular Biomarkers
Authors: Tietjen Gretchen E. , Khubchandani Jagdish , Herial Nabeel A. , Shah Kavit
Published: April 2012

Objectives.— Migraine is a risk factor for stroke in young women. Biomarker studies implicate endothelial activation as a possible mechanism. Emerging relationships of childhood adversity with migraine, and with inflammation, a component of endothelial activation, suggest that it may play a role in the migraine–stroke association. Our objective is to evaluate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), migraine, and vascular biomarker levels in premenopausal women.

Methods.— Vascular and metabolic biomarkers from women 18‐50 years, including 125 with migraine (interictal) and 50 without migraine, were evaluated. An ACE questionnaire was later collected by mail (response rate 80.6%, 100 migraineurs, 41 controls).

Results.— Migraineurs and controls were demographically similar. Migraineurs reported adversity more commonly than controls (71% vs 46%, odds ratio [OR] = 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.07‐2.17). Average ACE scores were elevated in migraineurs as compared with controls (2.4 vs 0.76, P < .001). ACE scores correlated with headache frequency (0.37, P = .001) and younger age of headache onset (−0.22, P = .04). It also correlated with body mass index (r = 0.43, P = .0001), von Willebrand factor activity (r = 0.21, P = .009), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (r = 0.28, P = .004), prothrombin activation fragment (r = 0.36, P = .001), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (r = 0.98, P = .0001), transforming growth factor‐beta1 (r = 0.28, P = .003), tissue necrosis factor‐alpha (r = 0.20, P = .03), interleukin‐6 (r = 0.22, P = .03), adiponectin (r = −0.29, P = .003), and nitrate/nitrite concentration (r = −314, P = .001). Logistic regression analyses (adjusted for vascular risk factors and migraine) demonstrated an association of childhood adversity with inflammatory factors (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, and tissue necrosis factor‐alpha).

Conclusions.— In young women, adverse childhood events are associated with migraine, particularly chronic and transformed migraine, and with vascular biomarkers, especially inflammatory biomarkers. These findings implicate early life stress as a link between migraine and endothelial activation.
Sudden Termination Auctions—An Experimental Study
Authors: Füllbrunn Sascha , Sadrieh Abdolkarim
Published: April 2012

The design of online markets has become a major issue due to the capability of operators to implement almost any set of market rules overnight. With this study we contribute to the literature of auction market design by presenting a theoretical and experimental analysis of sudden termination auctions. Our main focus is on the candle auction that has a positive termination probability at any time in the course of the auction. Candle auctions prove to be a much faster, but equally efficient alternative to standard hard close auctions.
Pregnancy Planning and Diabetes: A Qualitative Exploration of Women's Attitudes Toward Preconception Care
Authors: McCorry Noleen K. , Hughes Clare , Spence Dale , Holmes Valerie A. , Harper Roy
Published: April 2012

Introduction: Seeking preconception care is recognized as an important health behavior for women with preexisting diabetes. Yet many women with diabetes do not seek care or advice until after they are pregnant, and many enter pregnancy with suboptimal glycemic control. This study explored the attitudes about pregnancy and preconception care seeking in a group of nonpregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: In‐depth semistructured interviews were completed with 14 nonpregnant women with type 1 diabetes.

Results: Analysis of the interview data revealed 4 main themes: 1) the emotional complexity of childbearing decisions, 2) preferences for information related to pregnancy, 3) the importance of being known by your health professional, and 4) frustrations with the medical model of care.

Discussion: These findings raise questions about how preconception care should be provided to women with diabetes and highlight the pivotal importance of supportive, familiar relationships between health professionals and women with diabetes in the provision of individualized care and advice. By improving the quality of relationships and communication between health care providers and patients, we will be better able to provide care and advice that is perceived as relevant to the individual, whatever her stage of family planning.
Electrophysiological characterization of sodium‐activated potassium channels in NG108‐15 and NSC‐34 motor neuron‐like cells
Authors: Wu S.‐N. , Yeh C.‐C. , Huang H.‐C. , So E. C. , Lo Y.‐C.
Published: April 2012

Aims

The electrical properties of Na+‐activated K+ current (IK(Na)) and its contribution to spike firing has not been characterized in motor neurons.

Methods

We evaluated how activation of voltage‐gated K+ current (IK) at the cellular level could be coupled to Na+ influx through voltage‐gated Na+ current (INa) in two motor neuron‐like cells (NG108‐15 and NSC‐34 cells).

Results

Increasing stimulation frequency altered the amplitudes of both INa and IK simultaneously. With changes in stimulation frequency, the kinetics of both INa inactivation and IK activation were well correlated at the same cell. Addition of tetrodotoxin or ranolazine reduced the amplitudes of both INa and IK simultaneously. Tefluthrin (Tef) increased the amplitudes of both INa and IK throughout the voltages ranging from −30 to + 10 mV. In cell‐attached recordings, single‐channel conductance from a linear current‐voltage relation was 94 ± 3 pS (n = 7). Tef (10 μm) enhanced channel activity with no change in single‐channel conductance. Tef increased spike firing accompanied by enhanced facilitation of spike‐frequency adaptation. Riluzole (10 μm) reversed Tef‐stimulated activity of KNa channels. In motor neuron‐like NSC‐34 cells, increasing stimulation frequency altered the kinetics of both INa and IK. Modelling studies of motor neurons were simulated to demonstrate that the magnitude of IK(Na) modulates AP firing.

Conclusions

There is a direct association of Na+ and KNa channels which can provide the rapid activation of KNa channels required to regulate AP firing occurring in motor neurons.
Design of a Spherically Actuated Human Interaction Robot Head
Authors: Hanumara Nevan C. , Slocum Alexander H. , Mitamura Takeshi
Published: April 2012

This paper presents the development of a mechanism for actuating a sphere holonomically about 3 degrees of freedom (DOF). The target application is a robot head for mounting inside a vehicle to provide a driver with companionship, location specific information, and other assistance, via head motions in conjunction with auditory communication. Prior art is reviewed and two designs are presented: One mechanism is located below the sphere and provides an unlimited range of motion (ROM), and the other is contained entirely within the sphere but has a limited range of motion. The latter is stable and easily mounted, provides a clean appearance, and is particularly suited to human interaction applications.
Rave: A Computational Framework to Facilitate Research in Design Decision Support
Authors: Daskilewicz Matthew J. , German Brian J.
Published: April 2012

The cognitive challenges in the design of complex engineered systems include the scale and scope of decision problems, nonlinearity of the trade space, subjectivity of the problem formulation, and the need for rapid decision making. These challenges have motivated an active area of research in design decision-support methods and the development of commercial and openly available design frameworks. Although these frameworks are extremely capable, most are limiting as a basis for research relating to design decision support because they offer little user flexibility for incorporating and evaluating new features or techniques. This paper describes Rave (www.rave.gatech.edu), a computational framework designed specifically as a research platform for design decision-support methods. Rave has been structured to be flexible and adaptable, handle data with systematic data structures and descriptive metadata, facilitate a wide spectrum of visualization types, provide features to enable user interactivity and linking of graphics, and incorporate surrogate modeling and optimization as enabling capabilities. This framework is envisioned to provide the research and industrial communities an easily expandable and customizable baseline capability to facilitate investigation of further design decision-support advancements.
Pelvic floor complaints in gastroenterology practice: results of a survey in the netherlands
Authors: Nicolai Melianthe P J , Fidder Herma H , Bekker Milou D , Putter Hein , Pelger Rob C M , Elzevier Henk W
Published: April 2012

Objective

The pelvic floor is an integrated structure; dysfunctions may lead to a wide range of symptoms, involving voiding, defecation and sexual functioning (SF). Functional symptoms such as constipation and lower abdominal pain are often caused by pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), and they highly impact the quality of life. Multiple specialists are responsible for a specific part of the pelvic floor, but its treatment asks for a holistic approach. The authors are still unaware of gastroenterologists' knowledge on PFD or whether they are addressing pelvic floor complaints in their daily practice.

Design

A 42-itemed anonymous questionnaire was mailed to all 402 members of the Dutch Society of Gastroenterology (gastroenterologists and residents-in-training).

Results

169 (42%) questionnaires were analysed. Most gastroenterologists address lower urinary tract symptoms in their history-taking, 92% in female patients and 84% in male patients. When patients indicate irritable bowel syndrome-like complaints, more than 60% of the physicians inquire about SF to their female patients, compared with 38% inquiries to male patients (p<0.001). A reason not to inquire about SF is a lack of knowledge about female and male sexuality (19% and 23%, respectively). Forty-six per cent of the respondents regard it rather important to receive more training on PFD in male patients versus 61% in female patients.

Conclusion

Awareness of PFD is not yet routinely integrated into the history taken by gastroenterologists.