bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severe CMV complication following maintenance therapy with rituximab
Authors: Le Clech Lenaïg , Ianotto Jean-Christophe , Quintin-Roue Isabelle , Tempescul Adrian
Published: January 2013

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis is a rare infection that immunodeficient patients, mainly where HIV-positive, may suffer from. Several cases were described when complications with the treatment with monoclonal antibodies, like rituximab, for malignant lymphomas. We will describe here the case of a patient, who has developed CMV gastritis, then CMV encephalitis after the treatment of a CLL with a chemotherapy and maintenance therapy with rituximab.
Gallbladder agenesis with choledochal cyst—a rare association: a case report and review of possible genetic or embryological links
Authors: Bedi Nishant , Bond-smith Giles , Kumar Senthil , Hutchins Robert
Published: January 2013

Gallbladder agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly. Choledochal cysts are uncommon. The combination of both these entities in a 56-year-old woman is reported. A previously fit and well woman, presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of abdominal pain. Preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings confirmed gallbladder agenesis and a type I choledochal cyst. There were no other anomalies. She underwent a resection of the choledochal cyst and reconstruction by hepaticojejunostomy.
Fulminant hepatitis following chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer
Authors: Shoushtari Ali Hakim , Shaw Robert A
Published: January 2013

A woman in her early 50s was admitted to the intensive care unit with nausea, altered mental status and hepatic failure. She had a history of asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B and recently received chemotherapy for breast cancer. A diagnosis of hepatitis B reactivation (HBR) was made, but unfortunately she died of liver failure. Controversies around testing for hepatitis B prior to giving immunosuppressive treatments and the use of prophylactic antiviral therapy to prevent HBR are discussed.
Nominal dysphasia and euphoria caused by EBV encephalitis
Authors: Carman Kursat Bora , Yakut Ayten , Ekici Arzu , Isikay Sedat
Published: January 2013

Encephalitis is an uncommon neurological complication of Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and usually presents with confusion, decreased level of consciousness, fever, epileptic seizure, emotional instability and chorea. We present a patient with EBV encephalitis, characterised by nominal dysphasia, euphoria and personality changes.
An unusual bronchial obstruction in a fit young man
Authors: Freeman Anna , Weeden David , Wilkinson Jane , Kurukulaaratchy Ramesh J
Published: January 2013

We describe the case of a previously well young man who presented acutely to hospital with a history of progressive chest symptoms and systemic upset. At admission, clinical evidence of left upper lobe collapse on respiratory examination and chest x-ray gave rise to significant clinical concern. Initial assessment by CT suggested a possible aspirated foreign body in the left upper lobe bronchus with distal left upper lobe collapse. Subsequent rigid bronchoscopy identified a solid abnormality totally occluding the left upper lobe bronchus, which did not appear to be a foreign body. The patient became progressively more unwell with clinical signs of chest sepsis and failed to settle with medical therapy. A decision was made to undertake a lobectomy to remove the collapsed lobe and obstructing endobronchial lesion. Histology confirmed that the cause of bronchial obstruction was a mesenchymoma (pulmonary hamartoma).
Effectiveness of the PLAYgrounds programme on PA levels during recess in 6-year-old to 12-year-old children
Authors: Janssen Mirka , Twisk Jos W R , Toussaint Huub M , van Mechelen Willem , Verhagen Evert A L M
Published: January 2013

Aims

Worldwide levels of daily physical activity (PA) in children are low. This has negative health consequences. Schools have been recognised as key settings to promote PA. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the playground programme PLAYgrounds on increasing PA.

Methods

PLAYgrounds was evaluated by a controlled trial, with a follow-up during one school year (10 months). Accelerometer data were collected on 1500 children in total, divided over 19 sampling moments (every 2 weeks). SOPLAY data were collected at nine sampling moments (once a month). Four intervention and four control schools were matched for playground size, number of pupils and PA levels at baseline. The intervention consisted of restructuring the playground by playground markings and by encouragement of the active use of the playground, through the provision of play equipment and educational measures such as adult encouragement and supporting physical education classes. Multilevel regression analyses were performed to analyse the effects of the intervention.

Results

PA levels in the intervention group (moderate PA) were significantly different (p<0.001) from the control group (light PA). During the intervention on an average 77.3% of the children engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the intervention group and 38.7% in the control group. The effect of the intervention was significantly stronger for girls than for boys (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The PLAYgrounds programme was effective in increasing PA levels in children during recess over the course of one school year. Thus, the programme could be used to provide structured PA promotion.
Individual perception of recovery is related to subsequent sprint performance
Authors: Cook Christian J , Beaven Chris Martyn
Published: January 2013

Background

Training recovery is vital for adaptation and performance, and to avoid cumulative fatigue and symptoms associated with overtraining. The use of cold-water immersion (CWI) as a recovery strategy is common; however, the physiological and biochemical rationale behind its use remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between body temperature responses to water immersion and individual perception of recovery, with subsequent exercise performance.

Methods

Twelve male rugby players participated in a 3-week cross-over trial where an intense 60 min conditioning session was followed immediately by 15 min of either 14°C CWI, 30°C warm-water immersion (WWI) or passive control (CON) recovery intervention. Postexercise body temperatures and subjective ratings of the recovery intervention were recorded and subsequently related to performance in a 5×40 m repeated sprint protocol undertaken 24 h later.

Results

CWI induced large reductions in core body temperature postimmersion (effect size (ES) range 1.05–3.21) and improved subsequent sprint performance compared to WWI (ES 1.04±0.84) and CON (ES 1.44±0.84). Both the degree of temperature decrease at 60 min postimmersion (r=0.6948; p=0.0121) and the subjective rating of the recovery intervention (r=0.5886; p=0.0441) were related to subsequent sprint performance. A very strong linear correlation was observed when these two factors were integrated (r=0.7743; p=0.0031).

Conclusion

A combination of physiological and psychological indices provides an improved indication of subsequent performance and suggests an important role of individual perception in enhancing training recovery.
Attention to principles of exercise training: a review of exercise studies for survivors of cancers other than breast
Authors: Winters-Stone Kerri M , Neil Sarah E , Campbell Kristin L
Published: January 2013

Objectives

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can evaluate how well a particular exercise programme reduces cancer treatment-related side effects. Adequate design and reporting of the exercise prescription employed in RCTs is central to interpreting study findings and translating effective interventions into practice. Our previous review on the quality and reporting of exercise prescriptions in RCTs in breast cancer survivors revealed several inadequacies. This review similarly evaluates exercise prescriptions used in RCTs in patients with cancers other than the breast.

Methods

The literature was searched for RCTs in persons diagnosed with a cancer other than breast. Data were extracted to evaluate the attention to the principles of exercise training in the study design and the reporting of and adherence to the exercise prescription used for the intervention.

Results

Of the 33 studies reviewed, none attended to all of the exercise training principles. Specificity was applied by 89%, progression by 26%, overload by 37%, initial values by 26%, diminishing returns by 9% and reversibility by 3%. Only 2 of 33 studies (6%) reported both the exercise prescription in full and adherence to each individual component of the prescription.

Conclusions

Application of the principles of training in exercise RCTs of non-breast cancer survivors was incomplete and inconsistent. Given these observations, interpretation of findings from the reviewed studies should consider potential shortcomings in intervention design. Though the prescribed exercise programme was often described, adherence to the entire prescription was rarely reported providing a less accurate picture of dose–response and challenges in translating programmes to community settings.
Evidence of cardiac functional reserve upon exhaustion during incremental exercise to determine VO2max
Authors: Elliott Adrian D , Skowno Justin , Prabhu Mahesh , Noakes Timothy David , Ansley Les
Published: January 2013

Background

There remains considerable debate regarding the limiting factor(s) for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Previous studies have shown that the central circulation may be the primary limiting factor for VO2maxand that cardiac work increases beyond VO2max.

Aim

We sought to evaluate whether the work of the heart limits VO2maxduring upright incremental cycle exercise to exhaustion.

Methods

Eight trained men completed two incremental exercise trials, each terminating with exercise at two different rates of work eliciting VO2max(MAX and SUPRAMAX). During each exercise trial we continuously recorded cardiac output using pulse-contour analysis calibrated with a lithium dilution method. Intra-arterial pressure was recorded from the radial artery while pulmonary gas exchange was measured continuously for an assessment of oxygen uptake.

Results

The workload during SUPRAMAX (mean±SD: 346.5±43.2 W) was 10% greater than that achieved during MAX (315±39.3 W). There was no significant difference between MAX and SUPRAMAX for Q (28.7 vs 29.4 L/min) or VO2(4.3 vs 4.3 L/min). Mean arterial pressure was significantly higher during SUPRAMAX, corresponding to a higher cardiac power output (8.1 vs 8.5 W; p<0.06).

Conclusions

Despite similar VO2and Q, the greater cardiac work during SUPRAMAX supports the view that the heart is working submaximally at exhaustion during an incremental exercise test (MAX).
Concordance in diabetic foot ulcer infection
Authors: Nelson E Andrea , Backhouse Michael Ross , Bhogal Moninder S , Wright-Hughes Alexandra , Lipsky Benjamin A , Nixon Jane , Brown Sarah , Gray Janine
Published: January 2013

Introduction

Accurate identification of pathogens, rather than colonising bacteria, is a prerequisite for targeted antibiotic therapy to ensure optimal patient outcome in wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers. Wound swabs are the easiest and most commonly used sampling technique but most published guidelines recommend instead removal of a tissue sample from the wound bed, which is a more complex process. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance between culture results from wound swabs and tissue samples in patients with suspected diabetic foot infection.

Methods and analysis

Patients with a diabetic foot ulcer that is thought to be infected are being recruited from 25 sites across England in a cross-sectional study. The coprimary endpoints for the study are agreement between the two sampling techniques for three microbiological parameters: reported presence of likely isolates identified by the UK Health Protection Agency; resistance of isolates to usual antibiotic agents; and, the number of isolates reported per specimen. Secondary endpoints include appropriateness of the empiric antibiotic therapy prescribed and adverse events. Enrolling 400 patients will provide 80% power to detect a difference of 3% in the reported presence of an organism, assuming organism prevalence of 10%, discordance of 5% and a two-sided test at the 5% level of significance. Assumed overall prevalence is based on relatively uncommon organisms such asPseudomonas. We will define acceptable agreement as κ>0.6.

Ethics and dissemination

Concordance in diabetic foot ulcer infection (CODIFI) will produce robust data to evaluate the two most commonly used sampling techniques employed for patients with a diabetic foot infection. This will help determine whether or not it is important that clinicians take tissue samples rather than swabs in infected ulcers. This study has been approved by the Sheffield NRES Committee (Ref: 11/YH/0078) and all sites have obtained local approvals prior starting recruitment.

Study registration

NRES Ref: 11/YH/0078, UKCRN ID: 10440, ISRCTN: 52608451
Changes in adverse event rates in hospitals over time: a longitudinal retrospective patient record review study
Authors: Baines Rebecca J , Langelaan Maaike , de Bruijne Martine C , Asscheman Henk , Spreeuwenberg Peter , van de Steeg Lotte , Siemerink Kitty M , van Rosse Floor , Broekens Maren , Wagner Cordula
Published: January 2013

Objective

To determine the change in adverse event (AE) rates and preventable AE rates over time, identify certain patient risk groups and discuss factors influencing the outcome.

Design

Longitudinal retrospective patient record review study.

Setting and participants

A random sample of 21 hospitals in The Netherlands in 2004, and 20 hospitals in 2008. In each hospital, 400 patient admissions were included in 2004, and 200 in 2008.

Main outcome measures

AEs and preventable AEs.

Results

Multilevel analyses of 11 883 patient records (7.887 in 2004, 3.996 in 2008) showed that the rate of patients experiencing an AE increased from 4.1% (95% CI 3.3% to 5.1%) in 2004 to 6.2% (95% CI 5.0% to 7.6%) in 2008. The preventable AE rate remained relatively stable at 1.8% (95% CI 1.3% to 2.4%) in 2004 and 1.6% (95% CI 1.2% to 2.3%) in 2008. The risk of experiencing a preventable AE was increasingly higher for patients admitted to a surgical unit (OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.16) in 2004 and 3.32 (95% CI 2.17 to 5.07)) in 2008. More than 50% of all AEs were related to surgery. Indications were found that differences in the risk of experiencing a preventable AE between hospital departments were larger in 2008 than in 2004, while differences between hospitals themselves were smaller.

Conclusions

Patient harm related to healthcare is a persistent problem that is hard to influence. Measuring AEs over time stresses the continuing urgency, and also identifies possible areas for improvement.
Extracellular hyperosmotic stress stimulates glucose uptake in incubated fast-twitch rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Farlinger Chris M. , Lui Adrian J. , Harrison Rose C. , LeBlanc Paul J. , Peters Sandra J. , Roy Brian D.
Published: January 2013

The influence of hyperosmotic stress on glucose uptake, handling, and signaling processes remains unclear in mammalian skeletal muscle. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate alterations in glucose uptake and handling during extracellular hyperosmotic stress in isolated fast-twitch mammalian skeletal muscle. Using an established in vitro isolated whole-muscle model, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were dissected from male rats (4–6 weeks of age) and incubated (30–60 min) in an organ bath, containing Sigma Medium-199 with 8 mmol·L−1D-glucose, and mannitol was added to the targeted osmolalities (ISO, iso-osmotic, 290 mmol·kg−1; HYPER, hyperosmotic, 400 mmol·kg−1). Results demonstrate that relative water content decreased in HYPER. HYPER resulted in significant alterations in muscle metabolite concentrations (lower glycogen, elevated lactate, and glucose-6-phosphate), suggesting a decrease in energy charge. Glucose uptake was also found to be higher in HYPER, and AS160 (implicated in insulin- and contraction-mediated glucose uptake) was found to be significantly more phosphorylated in HYPER than in ISO after 30 min. In conclusion, glucose uptake and handling is altered with hyperosmotic extracellular stress in the fast-twitch EDL. The increases in glucose uptake might be facilitated through alterations in AS160 signaling after 30 to 60 min of osmotic stress.
PERCEPTUAL SUPPRESSION REVEALED BY ADAPTIVE MULTI-SCALE ENTROPY ANALYSIS OF LOCAL FIELD POTENTIAL IN MONKEY VISUAL CORTEX
Authors: HU MENG , LIANG HUALOU
Published: January 2013

Generalized flash suppression (GFS), in which a salient visual stimulus can be rendered invisible despite continuous retinal input, provides a rare opportunity to directly study the neural mechanism of visual perception. Previous work based on linear methods, such as spectral analysis, on local field potential (LFP) during GFS has shown that the LFP power at distinctive frequency bands are differentially modulated by perceptual suppression. Yet, the linear method alone may be insufficient for the full assessment of neural dynamic due to the fundamentally nonlinear nature of neural signals. In this study, we set forth to analyze the LFP data collected from multiple visual areas in V1, V2 and V4 of macaque monkeys while performing the GFS task using a nonlinear method — adaptive multi-scale entropy (AME) — to reveal the neural dynamic of perceptual suppression. In addition, we propose a new cross-entropy measure at multiple scales, namely adaptive multi-scale cross-entropy (AMCE), to assess the nonlinear functional connectivity between two cortical areas. We show that: (1) multi-scale entropy exhibits percept-related changes in all three areas, with higher entropy observed during perceptual suppression; (2) the magnitude of the perception-related entropy changes increases systematically over successive hierarchical stages (i.e. from lower areas V1 to V2, up to higher area V4); and (3) cross-entropy between any two cortical areas reveals higher degree of asynchrony or dissimilarity during perceptual suppression, indicating a decreased functional connectivity between cortical areas. These results, taken together, suggest that perceptual suppression is related to a reduced functional connectivity and increased uncertainty of neural responses, and the modulation of perceptual suppression is more effective at higher visual cortical areas. AME is demonstrated to be a useful technique in revealing the underlying dynamic of nonlinear/nonstationary neural signal.
CORRELATORS AND DESCENDANTS OF SUBCRITICAL STEIN MANIFOLDS
Authors: HE JIAN
Published: January 2013

We determine the contact homology algebra of a subcritical Stein-fillable contact manifold whose first Chern class vanishes. We also compute the genus-0 one point correlators and gravitational descendants of compactly supported closed forms on their subcritical Stein fillings. This is a step towards determining the full potential function of the filling as defined in [Y. Eliashberg, A. Givental and H. Hofer. Introduction to symplectic field theory, Geom. Funct. Anal.Special Volume (2000) 560–673]. These invariants also give a canonical presentation of the cylindrical contact homology. With respect to this presentation, we determine the degree-2 differential in the Bourgeois–Oancea exact sequence of [F. Bourgeois and A. Oancea. An exact sequence for contact and symplectic homology, Invent. Math.175(3) (2009) 611–680]. As a further application, we proved that if a Kähler manifold M2n admits a subcritical polarization and c1 vanishes in the subcritical complement, then M is uniruled.
SOME REMARKS ON PSEUDO-TRACE FUNCTIONS FOR ORBIFOLD MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPLECTIC FERMIONS
Authors: ARIKE YUSUKE , NAGATOMO KIYOKAZU
Published: January 2013

We propose a method to give pseudo-trace functions for vertex operator algebras satisfying Zhu's finiteness condition and apply our method to the ℤ2-orbifold model associated with d-pairs of symplectic fermions. Pseudo-trace functions are defined by using symmetric linear functions on (higher) Zhu's algebras. But our approach does not use such algebras. For d = 1, we determine the dimension of the space of one-point functions, that is, the one of the triplet [Formula: see text]-algebra. For d > 1, we construct 22d-1 + 3 linearly independent one-point functions and study their values at the vacuum vector.
CONGRUENCE SCHEMES
Authors: DEITMAR ANTON
Published: January 2013

A new category of algebro-geometric objects is defined which contains the category of monoid schemes, or schemes over 𝔽1, and the category of Grothendieck schemes as subcategories.
ADAPTIVE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BASED ON LOW-POWER MICROCONTROLLER WITH ENERGY HARVESTING AT MAXIMUM POWER
Authors: HEO SEWAN , YANG YIL SUK , LEE SANG-KYUN , KWON JONG-KEE
Published: January 2013

This paper describes an energy management system and an algorithm for an energy-aware operation. The system obtains energy from an energy harvester and manages the energy adaptively according to the monitored energy status. Based on a low-power microcontroller, the system controls the energy harvester so that it always harvests energy at maximum power and tracks it when the operating condition changes. It also controls the power consumption of all parts of the system so that they are adjusted dynamically for the management of harvested or stored energy. To manage the energy transfer to a battery, a DC–DC converter, called the energy management IC, is optimized for the operating voltage control of the harvester. In an experiment using an energy harvester and a battery modified for the system, the energy management IC fabricated in a 0.18 μm process maximizes the energy transfer power with a simple, low-power algorithm. The proposed system is verified to be more efficient for low-energy harvesting by the adaptive energy and power management.
TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: STEENHUIS HARM-JAN , DE BRUIJN ERIK J.
Published: January 2013

Technology is considered as a key factor for economic development. Many authors in the field of technology management mention this impact on economic development as a motivator for their technology oriented study. What is this relationship between technology and economic development? In most studies, the relationship between technology and economy remains implicit. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between technology and the economy. Four literature streams are discussed which each provide insight into this relationship. The paper contributes to the management of technology field by summarizing different views that relate to technology and economy.
SQUAREFULL NUMBERS IN ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS
Authors: CHAN TSZ HO , TSANG KAI MAN
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we study squarefull numbers in arithmetic progressions. We find the least such squarefull number by Dirichlet's hyperbola method as well as Burgess bound on character sums. We also obtain a best possible almost all result via a large sieve inequality of Heath-Brown on real characters.
ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF INTEGERS WITH DIVISORS IN TWO CONSECUTIVE INTERVALS
Authors: HU YONG
Published: January 2013

We investigate a new problem related to the multiplicative structure of integers. We introduce a new function H1, 1(x, y, z1, z2), the number of positive integers n ≤ x having exactly one divisor in interval (y, z1] and one in (z1, z2]. Our aim is to estimate its order of magnitude under some general conditions on y, z1 and z2.
ELECTRONICALLY CROSS-LINKED PbS QUANTUM DOT NETWORKS USING POLYMERS AS SURFACE LIGANDS
Authors: LÜ WEI , YANG YUE , YAMAKATA AKIRA , KAMIYA ITARU
Published: January 2013

Bilayer structures of colloidal PbS quantum dots (QDs) with different sizes are fabricated by two methods: chemical bond anchoring and electrostatic adsorption. Unlike the sample prepared by chemical bond anchoring, we find that the electronic connection between different layers is suppressed in the samples prepared by electrostatic adsorption with charged polyelectrolytes. To clarify the electronic coupling between the QDs and the polyelectrolytes, QDs directly stabilized by charged polyelectrolytes were synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy investigation shows that cross-linked QD networks are formed. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements indicate that the carrier lifetimes of QDs in networks were greatly reduced. The photoluminescence peak energy increases with a third root of the excitation power. All these observations can be consistently explained considering spatially separated photoexcited carriers in a type-II band alignment. The abnormal behaviors of electrostatic adsorption sample are discussed based on these results.
A HIGH EFFICIENCY DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL WITH NANO-TiO2 SECONDARY STRUCTURE IN THE PHOTOANODE
Authors: LAN ZHANG , WU JIHUAI , LIN JIANMING , HUANG MIAOLIANG
Published: January 2013

A high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) with nanocrystallite TiO2 (nano- TiO2 ) secondary structure in the photoanode was successfully fabricated via a simple one step doctor blade printing method with a special nano- TiO2 paste containing micro-sized nano- TiO2 aggregates formed in situ. The special secondary structure in the photoanode shows improved optical absorption, increased light scattering ability, and enhanced electron transport and collection efficiency, resulting in high power conversion efficiency of 7.30% with 6 μm thin nano- TiO2 film in the photoanode, and the highest value of 9.28% by increasing the thickness of the nano- TiO2 film to 11 μm.
ON FINITE RANK DEFORMATIONS OF WIGNER MATRICES II: DELOCALIZED PERTURBATIONS
Authors: RENFREW DAVID , SOSHNIKOV ALEXANDER
Published: January 2013

We study the distribution of the outliers in the spectrum of finite rank deformations of Wigner random matrices. We assume that the matrix entries have finite fourth moment and extend the results by Capitaine, Donati-Martin, and Féral for perturbations whose eigenvectors are delocalized.
LARGE DEVIATIONS FOR A NON-CENTERED WISHART MATRIX
Authors: HARDY ADRIEN , KUIJLAARS ARNO B. J.
Published: January 2013

We investigate an additive perturbation of a complex Wishart random matrix and prove that a large deviation principle holds for the spectral measures. The rate function is associated to a vector equilibrium problem coming from logarithmic potential theory, which in our case is a quadratic map involving the logarithmic energies, or Voiculescu's entropies, of two measures in the presence of an external field and an upper constraint. The proof is based on a two type particles Coulomb gas representation for the eigenvalue distribution, which gives a new insight on why such variational problems should describe the limiting spectral distribution. This representation is available because of a Nikishin structure satisfied by the weights of the multiple orthogonal polynomials hidden in the background.
Effect of altered arterial perfusion pressure on vascular conductance and muscle blood flow dynamic response during exercise in humans
Authors: Villar Rodrigo , Hughson Richard L.
Published: January 2013

Changes in vascular conductance (VC) are required to counter changes in muscle perfusion pressure (MPP) to maintain muscle blood flow (MBF) during exercise. We investigated the recruitment of VC as a function of peak VC measured in three body positions at two different work rates to test the hypothesis that adaptations in VC compensated changes in MPP at low-power output (LPO), but not at high-power output (HPO). Eleven healthy volunteers exercised at LPO and HPO (repeated plantar flexion contractions at 20–30% maximal voluntary contraction, respectively) in horizontal (HOR), 35° head-down tilt (HDT), and 45° head-up tilt (HUT). Muscle blood flow velocity and popliteal diameter were measured by ultrasound to determine MBF, and VC was estimated by dividing MBF flow by MPP. Peak VC was unaffected by body position. The rates of increase in MBF and VC were significantly faster in HUT and slower in HDT than HOR, and rates were faster in LPO than HPO. During LPO exercise, the increase in, and steady-state values of, MBF were less for HUT and HDT than HOR; the increase in VC was less in HUT than HOR and HDT. During HPO exercise, MBF in the HDT was reduced compared with HOR and HUT, even though VC reached 92% VC peak, which was greater than HOR, which was, in turn, greater than HUT. Reduced MBF during HPO HDT exercise had the functional consequence of a significant increase in muscle electromyographic index, revealing the effects of MPP on O2 delivery during exercise.
Plasma Treatment Maintains Surface Energy of the Implant Surface and Enhances Osseointegration
Authors: Guastaldi Fernando P. S. , Yoo Daniel , Marin Charles , Jimbo Ryo , Tovar Nick , Zanetta-Barbosa Darceny , Coelho Paulo G.
Published: January 2013

The surface energy of the implant surface has an impact on osseointegration. In this study, 2 surfaces: nonwashed resorbable blasting media (NWRBM; control) and Ar-based nonthermal plasma 30 days (Plasma 30 days; experimental), were investigated with a focus on the surface energy. The surface energy was characterized by the Owens-Wendt-Rabel-Kaelble method and the chemistry by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Five adult beagle dogs received 8 implants (n=2per surface, per tibia). After 2 weeks, the animals were euthanized, and half of the implants (n=20) were removal torqued and the other half were histologically processed (n=20). The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) were evaluated on the histologic sections. The XPS analysis showed peaks of C, Ca, O, and P for the control and experimental surfaces. While no significant difference was observed for BIC parameter (P>0.75), a higher level for torque (P<0.02) and BAFO parameter (P<0.01) was observed for the experimental group. The surface elemental chemistry was modified by the plasma and lasted for 30 days after treatment resulting in improved biomechanical fixation and bone formation at 2 weeks compared to the control group.
An Emerging Role of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 in Preventing Advanced-Glycation-End-Product-Mediated Damages in Diabetes
Authors: Puddu Alessandra , Mach François , Nencioni Alessio , Viviani Giorgio Luciano , Montecucco Fabrizio
Published: January 2013

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut hormone produced in the intestinal epithelial endocrine L cells by differential processing of the proglucagon gene. Released in response to the nutrient ingestion, GLP-1 plays an important role in maintaining glucose homeostasis. GLP-1 has been shown to regulate blood glucose levels by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon secretion, gastric emptying, and food intake. These antidiabetic activities highlight GLP-1 as a potential therapeutic molecule in the clinical management of type 2 diabetes, (a disease characterized by progressive decline of beta-cell function and mass, increased insulin resistance, and final hyperglycemia). Since chronic hyperglycemia contributed to the acceleration of the formation of Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs, a heterogeneous group of compounds derived from the nonenzymatic reaction of reducing sugars with free amino groups of proteins implicated in vascular diabetic complications), the administration of GLP-1 might directly counteract diabetes pathophysiological processes (such as pancreaticβ-cell dysfunction). This paper outlines evidence on the protective role of GLP-1 in preventing the deleterious effects mediated by AGEs in type 2 diabetes.
Chorioamnionitis and Lung Injury in Preterm Newborns
Authors: Rocha Gustavo
Published: January 2013

There is a strong evidence that histologic chorioamnionitis is associated with a reduction of incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Short-term maturational effects on the lungs of extremely premature infants seem to be, however, accompanied by a greater susceptibility of the lung, eventually contributing to an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Genetic susceptibility to BPD is an evolving area of research and several studies have directly related the risk of BPD to genomic variants. There is a substantial heterogeneity across the studies in the magnitude of the association between chorioamnionitis and BPD, and whether or not the association is statistically significant. Considerable variation is largely dependent on differences of inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as on clinical and histopathological definitions. The presence of significant publication bias may exaggerate the magnitude of the association. Controlling for publication bias may conduct to adjusted results that are no longer significant. Recent studies generally seem to confirm the effect of chorioamnionitis on RDS incidence, while no effect on BPD is seen. Recent data suggest susceptibility for subsequent asthma to be increased on long-term followup. Additional research on this field is needed.
Subdividing the Trefoil by Origami
Authors: Langer Joel C. , Singer David A.
Published: January 2013

In 2005, David Cox and Jerry Shurman proved that the curves they call -clovers can be subdivided into equal lengths (for certain values of ) by origami, in the cases where , 2, 3, and 4. In this paper, we expand their work to include the 6-clover.
Caveolin-1–LRP6 Signaling Module Stimulates Aerobic Glycolysis in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Tahir Salahaldin A. , Yang Guang , Goltsov Alexei , Song Ki-Duk , Ren Chengzhen , Wang Jianxiang , Chang Wenjun , Thompson Timothy C.
Published: January 2013

Caveolin 1 (Cav-1) is a plasma membrane–associated protein with the capacity to modulate signaling activities in a context-dependent fashion. Interactions between Cav-1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 6 (LRP6) were reported to be important for the regulation of Wnt-β-catenin (β-cat) signaling. Cav-1 also interacts with insulin and IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR/IR) and can stimulate IR kinase activities. We found positive correlation between Cav-1 and LRP6 expression in both human primary prostate cancer and metastasis tissues and in PC-3 cells. Cav-1 stimulation of Wnt–β-cat signaling and c-Myc levels was positively associated with LRP6 expression in LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145 prostate cancer cells. Importantly, LRP6 and, to a lesser extent, Cav-1 were found to stimulate aerobic glycolysis. These activities were positively associated with the expression of HK2 and Glut3 and shown to be dependent on Akt signaling by both gene knockdown and chemical inhibition methods. We further showed that Cav-1 and LRP6 exert their effects on Akt and glycolytic activities by stimulating IGF-IR/IR signaling. Overall, our results show that Cav-1 interacts with LRP6 to generate an integrated signaling module that leads to the activation of IGF-IR/IR and results in stimulation of Akt–mTORC1 signaling and aerobic glycolysis in prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 73(6); 1900–11. ©2012 AACR.
Towards a Neural Implementation of Causal Inference in Cue Combination
Authors: Ma Wei Ji , Rahmati Masih
Published: January 2013

Causal inference in sensory cue combination is the process of determining whether multiple sensory cues have the same cause or different causes. Psychophysical evidence indicates that humans closely follow the predictions of a Bayesian causal inference model. Here, we explore how Bayesian causal inference could be implemented using probabilistic population coding and plausible neural operations, but conclude that the resulting architecture is unrealistic.
Generalizations of the Race Model Inequality
Authors: Gondan Matthias , Blurton Steven P.
Published: January 2013

In redundant signals tasks, participants respond in the same way to two different stimuli which are presented either alone or in combination (redundant stimuli). Responses to redundant stimuli are typically faster than responses to single stimuli. Different explanations account for such redundancy gains, including race models and coactivation models. Race models predict that the cumulative response time distribution for the redundant stimuli never exceeds the summed distributions of the single stimuli (race model inequality, RMI, Miller, 1982). Based on work by Townsend and Nozawa (1995) we demonstrate that the RMI is a special case of a more general interaction contrast of response time distributions for stimuli of different intensity, or stimuli presented with onset asynchrony. The generalization of the RMI is, thus, suited for a much wider class of experiments than the standard setup in which response times for single stimuli are compared to those for double stimuli. Moreover, predictions can be derived not only for the race model, but for serial, parallel, and coactive processing modes with different stopping rules. Compared to the standard RMI, statistical power of these interaction contrasts is satisfactory, even for small onset asynchronies.
Mutual Influences of Intermodal Visual/Tactile Apparent Motion and Auditory Motion with Uncrossed and Crossed Arms
Authors: Jiang Yushi , Chen Lihan
Published: January 2013

Intra-modal apparent motion has been shown to be affected or ‘captured’ by information from another, task-irrelevant modality, as shown in cross-modal dynamic capture effect. Here we created inter-modal apparent motion between visual and tactile stimuli and investigated whether there are mutual influences between auditory apparent motion and inter-modal visual/tactile apparent motion. Moreover, we examined whether and how the spatial remapping between somatotopic and external reference frames of tactile events affect the cross-modal capture between auditory apparent motion and inter-modal visual/tactile apparent motion, by introducing two arm postures: arms-uncrossed and arms-crossed. In Experiment 1, we used auditory stimuli (auditory apparent motion) as distractors and inter-modal visual/tactile stimuli (inter-modal apparent motion) as targets while in Experiment 2 we reversed the distractors and targets. In Experiment 1, we found a general detrimental influence of arms-crossed posture in the task of discrimination of direction in visual/tactile stream, but in Experiment 2, the influence of arms-uncrossed posture played a significant role in modulating the inter-modal visual/tactile stimuli capturing over auditory apparent motion. In both Experiments, the synchronously presented motion streams led to noticeable directional congruency effect in judging the target motion. Among the different modality combinations, tactile to tactile apparent motion (TT) and visual to visual apparent motion (VV) are two signatures revealing the asymmetric congruency effects. When the auditory stimuli were targets, the congruency effect was largest with VV distractors, lowest with TT distractors; the pattern was reversed when the auditory stimuli were distractors. In addition, across both experiments the congruency effect in visual to tactile (VT) and tactile to visual (TV) apparent motion was intermediate between the effect-sizes in VV and TT. We replicated the above findings with a block-wise design (Experiment 3). In Experiment 4, we introduced static distractor events (visual or tactile stimulus), and found the modulation of spatial remapping of distractors upon AA motion is reduced. These findings suggest that there are mutual but a robust asymmetric influence between intra-modal auditory apparent motion and intermodal visual/tactile apparent motion. We proposed that relative reliabilities in directional information between distractor and target streams, summed over a remapping process between two spatial reference frames, determined this asymmetric influence.
Early Interaction between Vision and Touch during Binocular Rivalry
Authors: Lunghi Claudia , Morrone M. Concetta
Published: January 2013

Multisensory integration is known to occur at high neural levels, but there is also growing evidence that cross-modal signals can be integrated at the first stages of sensory processing. We investigated whether touch specifically affected vision during binocular rivalry, a particular type of visual bistability that engages neural competition in early visual cortices. We found that tactile signals interact with visual signals outside of awareness, when the visual stimulus congruent with the tactile one is perceptually suppressed during binocular rivalry and when the interaction is strictly tuned for matched visuo-tactile spatial frequencies. We also found that voluntary action does not play a leading role in mediating the effect, since the interaction was observed also when tactile stimulation was passively delivered to the finger. However, simultaneous presentation of visual and tactile stimuli is necessary to elicit the interaction, and an asynchronous priming touch stimulus is not affecting the onset of rivalry. These results point to a very early cross-modal interaction site, probably V1. By showing that spatial proximity between visual and tactile stimuli is a necessary condition for the interaction, we also suggest that the two sensory spatial maps are aligned according to retinotopic coordinates, corroborating the hypothesis of a very early interaction between visual and tactile signals during binocular rivalry.
Reduced Vision Selectively Impairs Spatial Updating in Fall-prone Older Adults
Authors: Barrett Maeve M. , Doheny Emer P. , Setti Annalisa , Maguinness Corrina , Foran Timothy G. , Kenny Rose Anne , Newell Fiona N.
Published: January 2013

The current study examined the role of vision in spatial updating and its potential contribution to an increased risk of falls in older adults. Spatial updating was assessed using a path integration task in fall-prone and healthy older adults. Specifically, participants conducted a triangle completion task in which they were guided along two sides of a triangular route and were then required to return, unguided, to the starting point. During the task, participants could either clearly view their surroundings (full vision) or visuo-spatial information was reduced by means of translucent goggles (reduced vision). Path integration performance was measured by calculating the distance and angular deviation from the participant’s return point relative to the starting point. Gait parameters for the unguided walk were also recorded. We found equivalent performance across groups on all measures in the full vision condition. In contrast, in the reduced vision condition, where participants had to rely on interoceptive cues to spatially update their position, fall-prone older adults made significantly larger distance errors relative to healthy older adults. However, there were no other performance differences between fall-prone and healthy older adults. These findings suggest that fall-prone older adults, compared to healthy older adults, have greater difficulty in reweighting other sensory cues for spatial updating when visual information is unreliable.
Revalidation of Pyxicephalus angusticeps Parry, 1982 (Anura: Natatanura: Pyxicephalidae), a bullfrog endemic to the lowlands of eastern Africa
Authors: SCOTT ELIZABETH , VISSER JOHN D. , YETMAN CAROLINE A. , YETMAN CAROLINE A. , OLIVER LAUREN , BROADLEY DONALD G.
Published: January 2013

Pyxicephalus currently contains three recognized species, viz. P. adspersus, P. edulis and P. obbianus, the former two of which have a long history of confusion. Parry (1982) described P. adspersus angusticeps from Beira, Mozambique, which was synonymized with P. edulis. We re-examine the taxonomic status of Pyxicephalus taxa from Mozambique, examining the types and contrasting them to congeners throughout Africa. Morphological characters previously used to delimit species in Pyxicephalus are examined, and problems with some identified. Additional diagnostic characters and their variation in Pyxicephalus are discussed, and a revised key is provided. Confusion among species in the genus, type localities, literature and folklore led to P. adspersus angusticeps being incorrectly synonymized with P. edulis. We formally revalidate P. angusticeps, and designate a lectotype for P. edulis. The identity of voucher specimens from previous work suggests that the breeding ecology of P. angusticeps is distinct from that of P. adspersus and P. edulis, and that the advertisement call of P. angusticeps was used as part of the evidence for elevating P. edulis out of synonymy with P. adspersus. The previous confusion of P. adspersus and P. edulis does not affect the recognition of P. angusticeps. The wider implication of the previous misidentification of P. angusticeps as P. edulis is that most of the museum material labeled as P. adspersus from East Africa is P. edulis, and most of the museum material labeled as P. edulis from East Africa is P. angusticeps. This conclusion has been confirmed from East African museum material thus far examined.
Larval taxonomy of Macrothemis Hagen, 1868 (Odonata: Libellulidae), with descriptions of four larvae and a key to the fourteen known species
Authors: SALGADO LUIZ GUSTAVO VARGAS , CARVALHO ALCIMAR DO LAGO , PINTO ÂNGELO PARISE
Published: January 2013

The ultimate larval stadia of Macrothemis declivata, M. hemichlora, M. imitans imitans and M. tenuis are described and illustrated for the first time, based on material from Brazil. Six of the most used keys to larvae of libellulid genera of the New World are evaluated with respect to the correct identification of the 27 known larvae of Macrothemis, Brechmorhoga, Gynothemis and Scapanea. Macrothemis species were wrongly identified in more than 50% of the trials, being keyed as Brechmorhoga, Gynothemis and even Dythemis. The genus Macrothemis and its relatives need to be revaluated and adequately diagnosed based on larvae. A key to the 14 known larvae of species currently included in Macrothemis is presented.
A new species of the genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Vietnam
Authors: HARTMANN TIMO , GEISSLER PETER , POYARKOV NIKOLAY Jr. A. , IHLOW FLORA , GALOYAN EDUARD A. , RÖDDER DENNIS , BÖHME WOLFGANG
Published: January 2013

We describe a new species of the agamid genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817 from southern Vietnam, which is most similar to Calotes mystaceus Duméril & Bibron, 1837, but can be distinguished from the latter and its other congeners by genetic and morphological differences. We discuss the current distribution of the new species and its sister species C. mystaceus in Mainland Southeast Asia.
New species of the spider genus Exocora Millidge, 1991 (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from Brazil
Authors: LEMOS YUJI , BRESCOVIT ANTONIO D.
Published: January 2013

The genus Exocora Millidge, 1991 is recorded from Brazil for the first time. Six new species herein are described and illustrated, all presenting male and female, from Atlantic Forest area. Exocora phoenix n. sp. is recorded in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Santa Catarina, E. girotii n. sp. in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Santa Catarina, E. ribeiroi n. sp. in São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, E. medonho n. sp. in Rio de Janeiro, E. nogueirai n. sp. in São Paulo and E. una n. sp. in Bahia.
The Phlaeothrips-lineage of fungus feeding thrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Iran with a new species of Hindsiothrips
Authors: MINAEI KAMBIZ
Published: January 2013

Hindsiothrips sisakhti sp. n. is described from leaf litter in Iran, this being the first record of the genus from this country. A key is provided to the seven Phlaeothripinae genera recorded from Iran that are considered members of the Phlaeothrips-lineage, in which most species are fungus feeding: Aleurodothrips, Hindsiothrips, Hoplandrothrips, Hoplothrips, Idiothrips, Phlaeothrips and Stictothrips. Structural variation in the group is discussed briefly, and Idiothrips ficus Bhatti is considered a new synonym of Idiothrips bellus Faure.