bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling electromagnetic resonance of two‐dimensional ordered nanoparticle arrays with a dipole‐coupling model
Authors: Chang Sheng Hsiung , Lin Bang‐Yan , Cheng Tian‐You , Wang Juen‐Kai
Published: July 2010

The authors report the development of a dipole‐coupling model to reveal the localized and propagating plasmon waves of two‐dimensional ordered nanoparticle arrays. Such model accurately predicts the distinct optical behaviours of the arrays arranged in square and hexagonal lattices, which would not be possible with traditional effective‐medium models. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Rhodiola‐induced inhibition of adipogenesis involves antioxidant enzyme response associated with pentose phosphate pathway
Authors: Lee Ok‐Hwan , Kwon Young‐In , Apostolidis Emmanouil , Shetty Kalidas , Kim Young‐Cheul
Published: July 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate whether Rhodiola crenulata extract and tyrosol, a major bioactive phenolic compound present in Rhodiola, change the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzyme response (AER) and energy pathways linked to proline‐mediated pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) during adipogenesis. Treatment with Rhodiola extracts inhibited the activities of proline dehydrogenase (PDH) and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) as well as lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The inhibition of PDH and G6PDH activities by Rhodiola likely prevented proline oxidation required for critical ATP generation that is coupled to AER via the PPP, leading to inhibition of adipogenesis. Rhodiola extracts dose‐dependently increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, resulting in a reduced ROS level during adipogenesis. Moreover, the effects of tyrosol, a major bioactive compound in Rhodiola species, were directly correlated with all observed effects by Rhodiola extracts. These results indicate that the antiadipogenic effects of Rhodiola extracts can be attributed to a phenolic tyrosol that may potentially disrupt proline‐mediated energy generation and AER via PPP, resulting in the suppression of adipogenesis and lipid accumulation. This further provides a biochemical rationale to identify the roles of phenolics that modulate the cellular redox environment and therefore have relevance for obesity management. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Representing turbulent mixing of non‐conservative values in Eulerian and Lagrangian cloud models
Authors: Pinsky Mark , Khain Alexander , Magaritz Leehi
Published: July 2010

In many explicit microphysics cloud models the description of turbulent mixing of droplet size distributions (DSDs) treats them as conservative quantities, which leads to changes in DSDs for adiabatic profiles of liquid water. A new approach representing turbulent diffusion of DSD in Eulerian and Lagrangian cloud models is proposed. The approach is an extension of the classical K‐theory (used for calculation of turbulent fluxes) to the mixing of non‐conservative quantities. The proposed approach takes into account the growth/evaporation of drops as well as nucleation/denucleation in the course of the turbulent mixing. Implementation of the method is illustrated by the analysis of mixing between several different pairs of adjacent Lagrangian parcels: two cloudy parcels, a cloudy parcel with a drop‐free one, and two drop‐free parcels. The initial values of DSD and other parameters of the parcels are taken from simulations of stratocumulus clouds using the Lagrangian trajectory ensemble model. It is shown that taking into account the non‐conservativity of DSD makes the rate and the results of mixing strongly dependent on the mutual locations of the parcels. The effects of mixing increase with the deviation of the vertical profile of liquid water content (LWC) from the adiabatic one. If the upper parcel contains a larger LWC, the effect of mixing on the DSD is significantly weaker than for lower LWC in the upper parcel. The mixing near cloud base and cloud top is more intense. The standard method underestimates the rate of mixing near cloud top and overestimates it near cloud base.

The proposed approach can serve as an efficient tool for investigating the role of mixing in Eulerian and Lagrangian models of stratocumulus and cumulus clouds. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
The ECMWF model climate: recent progress through improved physical parametrizations
Authors: Jung T. , Balsamo G. , Bechtold P. , Beljaars A. C. M. , Köhler M. , Miller M. J. , Morcrette J.‐J. , Orr A. , Rodwell M. J. , Tompkins A. M.
Published: July 2010

The progress achieved since 2005 in simulating today's climate with the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model through improved physical parametrizations is described. Results are based on climate integrations at an intermediate horizontal resolution (TL159) using major model versions employed operationally at ECMWF since June 2005. Recent improvements to the physical parametrization package are shown to substantially reduce long‐standing systematic model deficiencies in the tropical precipitation, convectively coupled tropical waves, and circulation features in the Northern Hemisphere Extratropics including synoptic‐scale variability and Euro‐Atlantic blocking. The climate integrations are augmented by a set of monthly forecast experiments. By considering the atmospheric response in a seamless sense, i.e. from time‐scales of hours to many months, an attempt is made to understand the impact of changes to the convection and radiation schemes. Overall, the largest and mostly beneficial impact results from the introduction of a major revision to the convection scheme made in November 2007. This is true for systematic errors in the Tropics and Extratropics over a wide range of time‐scales as well as for the short‐range and medium‐range deterministic forecast skill over the Northern Hemisphere. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Comparing methods of measurement: Extending the LoA by regression
Authors: Carstensen Bendix
Published: July 2010

Method comparison studies are usually analyzed by computing limits of agreement (LoA). If only one measurement by each method is taken on each person, and the difference across the range is not constant, it has been suggested (Stat. Methods Med. Res. 1999; 8:136–160) to regress the differences on the averages and use the resulting equation to construct LoA.

LoA can be converted to a prediction foumula for one method given a measurement by the other. The meaning of the regression of differences on means is clarified in the framework of a proper model and prediction equations linking one method to another are devised. The performance of this model based method is evaluated against the simple approach proposed earlier and against the Deming regression. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simplified computation of the multivariate permutation test for arbitrarily censored survival data
Authors: Marcuson Richard
Published: July 2010

This paper points out that the permutational covariance matrix of the multivariate generalization1,2 of Gehan's test3 on censored survival data enjoys the useful property that a generalized inverse may be explicitly computed. This leads to an exceedingly simple formula for the test statistic. The ease of the resulting calculations is displayed with a brief example from exercise stress testing.
Statistical analysis of gait patterns of persons with cerebral palsy
Authors: Wong M. Anthony , Simon Sheldon , Olshen Richard A.
Published: July 2010

Patients at Boston's Children's Hospital diagnosed as having cerebral palsy were filmed walking. These films were digitized and translated into measurements associated with leg motion. In this paper we use the gait measurements of 128 such patients to illustrate that the kth nearest neighbour clustering procedure results in a gait typology for patients with cerebral palsy. The procedure identifies four subpopulations from the sample data; the membership of a patient within this typology is mostly determined by the patient's motor control. The developed typology differs from the present diagnostic system which classifies a cerebral palsy patient as either quadriplegic, diaplegic or hemiplegic.
Cautions on the use of medical databases
Authors: Mantel Nathan
Published: July 2010

The use of medical databases is tied in with the conduct of epidemiologic and clinical investigations. I expound the thesis that investigative results are frequently ambiguous and subject to a multiplicity of interpretations, some even diametrically opposed, and describe examples of such situations. For instance, the very fact that an agent is particularly safe may make it seem dangerous—the agent becomes the one of choice for high risk patients. Other topics include the use of models, including regression models, Cox's proportional hazard model, the search for epidemiologic interactions, ratio measures, and grouping effects.
Predicted mortality patterns in cohort study populations exposed to different types of hazard: Can SMRS show a dose‐response?
Authors: Bell C. M. Janine , Coleman Derek A.
Published: July 2010

The analysis of data from cohort studies by duration of exposure and time since first exposure (latent interval) has been investigated using a simulation approach. These two analyses are often performed when the estimator of risk, commonly the O/E ratio or SMR, shows evidence of a raised risk. Two measures of risk were tested in the detailed analyses: the O/E ratio and the excess death rate. The latter was found to reflect the ‘dose‐response’ relationship more accurately for a variety of hazard types. Attention is drawn to possible biases and to the importance of adjustment for age in these analyses.
Parameters of mortality in human populations with widely varying life spans
Authors: Siler William
Published: July 2010

A three‐component, competing‐risk mortality model, developed for animal survival data, fits human life table data for all ages over a range of mean life spans from 16 to 74 years. The competing risks are a novel exponentially‐decreasing hazard, dominant during immaturity; a constant hazard, dominant during adulthood; and an exponentially increasing Gompertzian hazard, dominant during senescence. By fitting the model to a specific life table using non‐linear techniques, estimates of the five model parameters and their standard errors obtain; the proportion of deaths expected from each hazard alone may then be calculated. Preliminary analysis of 13 life tables indicates that for human populations under heavy stress, with very short mean life spans of about 20 years, the three hazard components account for roughly equal numbers of deaths; for modern populations, with mean life spans of about 75 years, nearly all deaths are due to the hazard of senescence. Factor analysis of the correlation matrix of parameter values for the 13 populations shows a two‐factor structure. One factor involves only the multiplicative constants (initial values) of the three hazards, but not the hazard rates of change; the second factor involves only the parameters of the immaturity hazard and the rate of acceleration of the senescence hazard, but not the constant hazard nor the multiplicative constant (initial value) of the senescence hazard.
Age differences in strain and emotional reactivity to stressors in professional careers
Authors: Rauschenbach Cornelia , Hertel Guido
Published: July 2010

While age differences of workers gain increasing importance because of demographic changes in most industrialized countries, age differences in stress experience and resistance have been rarely addressed. In this initial empirical study, we explore the general relationship of age and strain as a function of three processes: (1) older workers might experience less strain because of better coping strategies; (2) older workers might experience more strain because of higher vulnerability; or (3) age and strain might be curvilinearly related with highest strain reported by middle‐age workers. Using both general and experience‐based measures, strain and emotional reactivity to stressful job events were reported by 274 workers aged between 18 and 65 years. Results showed an inverted U‐shaped relationship between age and strain experience. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Traumatic reactions from antiquity to the 16th century: was there a common denominator?
Authors: Ben‐Ezra Menachem
Published: July 2010

The history of psychological trauma is neglected in the psychiatric literature in comparison with other mental diseases. Most mental disorders have a long documented history (e.g. depressive disorders and anxiety disorders), and boast scores of medical sources since ancient times. Although scarce, there is evidence of psychological trauma in historical, literal, mythical and medical manuscripts. These fragments provide us with hints of psychological trauma throughout human history, shedding a bit of light on the concept of psychological trauma. The author presents evidence of psychological trauma from antiquity to the Renaissance era. The paper has four parts. Each part corresponds to a different historical period. The four periods in human history are: antiquity, ancient Greece and Rome, the dark and medieval ages and the European Renaissance era until the 16th century. The author inquires as to why psychological trauma was neglected and remained obscure for centuries, and whether there was a common denominator of psychological trauma that is beyond culture, race, gender and time. The paper aimed to address these inquires. In conclusion, these aspects in the history of psychological trauma are of scholastic and practical importance, and may also contribute to the broader understanding of modern psychotraumatology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aptatag‐Based Multiplexed Assay for Protein Detection by Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Fabris Laura , Schierhorn Martin , Moskovits Martin , Bazan Guillermo C.
Published: July 2010

Silver‐nanoparticle dimers held together by a Raman reporter, capped with DNA aptamers and stabilized by polyethylene glycol chains, can be used to develop a multiplexed heterogeneous bioassay for protein detection with high sensitivity and selectivity.
A behavioral and molecular analysis of ketamine in zebrafish
Authors: Zakhary Sherry M. , Ayubcha Diana , Ansari Farah , Kamran Kiran , Karim Mehwish , Leheste Joerg R. , Horowitz Judith M. , Torres German
Published: July 2010

Ketamine exerts powerful anesthetic, psychotic, and antidepressant effects in both healthy volunteers and clinically depressed patients. Although ketamine targets particular glutamate receptors, there is a dearth of evidence for additional, alternative molecular substrates for the behavioral actions of this N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist drug. Here, we provide behavioral and molecular evidence for the actions of ketamine using a new vertebrate model for psychiatric disorders: the zebrafish. Subanesthetic doses of ketamine produced a variety of abnormal behaviors in zebrafish that were qualitatively analogous to those previously measured in humans and rodents treated with drugs that produce transient psychosis. In addition, we revealed that the transcription factor Phox2b is a molecular substrate for the actions of ketamine, particularly during periods of hypoxic stress. Finally, we also show that SIRT1, a histone deacetylase widely recognized for its link to cell survival is also affected by hypoxia crises. These results establish a relevant assay system in which the effects of psychotomimetic drugs can rapidly be assessed, and provide a plausible and novel neuronal mechanism through which ketamine affects critical sensory circuits that monitor breathing behavior. Synapse, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protection of epidermal growth factor against clivorine‐induced mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis in hepatocytes
Authors: Ji Lili , Liu Tianyu , Wang Zhengtao
Published: July 2010

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are well‐known natural hepatotoxins. In this study, we investigated the protection of epidermal growth factor (EGF) against the hepatotoxicity of clivorine, which is an otonecine‐type PA from traditional Chinese medicine Ligularia hodgsonii Hook. Cell viability assay and cell morphology observation showed that EGF (1 ng/mL) reversed clivorine‐induced cytotoxicity on human normal liver L‐02 cells. EGF (1 ng/mL) also inhibited clivorine‐induced DNA fragmentation and caspase‐3 cleavage. Our previous study has showed that antiapoptotic Bcl‐xL degradation and mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis was involved in clivorine‐induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, we found that EGF (1 ng/mL) inhibited clivorine‐induced antiapoptotic Bcl‐xL protein decrease, caspase‐9 activation, and release of cytosolic cytochrome C. We further investigated the effects of vascular epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 on clivorine‐induced cytotoxicity, and there is no significant protection observed. Our results suggest that EGF exerts its protective effects against clivorine‐induced hepatotoxicity probably by modulating mitochondrial‐mediated apoptotic signal pathway. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.
Semantics and cognition
Authors: Goddard Cliff , Wierzbicka Anna
Published: July 2010

The words and grammar of any language encode a vast array of complex prepackaged concepts, most of them language‐specific and culture‐related. These concepts are manipulated routinely in almost every waking hour of most people's lives. They are largely acquired in infancy and they are intersubjectively shared among members of the speech community. It is hard to imagine such elaborate and variable representation systemsnothaving a substantial role to play in ordinary cognition, and yet the language‐and‐thought question continues to be a contested one across the various disciplines and sub‐disciplines of cognitive science. This article provides an overview from the vantage point of linguistic semantics.WIREs Cogni Sci2011 2 125–135 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.101

This article is categorized under:

Linguistics > Language in Mind and Brain
Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block Combined with General Anesthesia Administered in Thyroid Operations
Authors: Shih Ming‐Lang , Duh Quan‐Yang , Hsieh Chung‐Bao , Liu Yao‐Chi , Lu Chueng‐He , Wong Chih‐Shung , Yu Jyh‐Cherng , Yeh Chun‐Chang
Published: July 2010

Background

We investigated the analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block in patients undergoing thyroidectomy and to determine whether it reduces the adverse effects of general anesthesia.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 162 patients who underwent elective thyroid operations from March 2006 to October 2007. They were randomly assigned to receive a bilateral superficial cervical block (12 ml per side) with isotonic saline (group A; n = 56), bupivacaine 0.5% (group B; n = 52), or levobupivacaine 0.5% (group C; n = 54) after induction of general anesthesia. The analgesic efficacy of the block was assessed with: intraoperative anesthetics (desflurane), numbers of patients needing postoperative analgesics, the time to the first analgesics required, and pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS). Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) for 24 h were also assessed by the “PONV grade.” We also compared hospital stay, operative time, and discomfort in swallowing.

Results

There were no significant differences in patient characteristics. Each average end‐tidal desflurane concentration was 5.8, 3.9, and 3.8% in groups A, B, and C, respectively (p < 0.001). Fewer patients in groups B and C required analgesics (A: B: C = 33:8:7; p < 0.001), and it took longer before the first analgesic dose was needed postoperatively (group A: B: C = 82.1:360.8:410.1 min; p < 0.001). Postoperative pain VAS were lower in groups B and C for the first 24 h postoperatively (p < 0.001). Incidences of overall and severe PONV were lower, however, there were not sufficient numbers of patients to detect differences in PONV among the three groups. Hospital stay was shorter in group B and group C (p = 0.011). There was no significant difference in operative time and postoperative swallowing pain among the three groups.

Conclusions

Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block reduces general anesthetics required during thyroidectomy. It also significantly lowers the severity of postoperative pain during the first 24 h and shortens the hospital stay.
Development and validation of the Arizona Cognitive Test Battery for Down syndrome
Authors: Edgin Jamie O. , Mason Gina M. , Allman Melissa J. , Capone George T. , DeLeon Iser , Maslen Cheryl , Reeves Roger H. , Sherman Stephanie L. , Nadel Lynn
Published: July 2010

Neurocognitive assessment in individuals with intellectual disabilities requires a well-validated test battery. To meet this need, the Arizona Cognitive Test Battery (ACTB) has been developed specifically to assess the cognitive phenotype in Down syndrome (DS). The ACTB includes neuropsychological assessments chosen to 1) assess a range of skills, 2) be non-verbal so as to not confound the neuropsychological assessment with language demands, 3) have distributional properties appropriate for research studies to identify genetic modifiers of variation, 4) show sensitivity to within and between sample differences, 5) have specific correlates with brain function, and 6) be applicable to a wide age range and across contexts. The ACTB includes tests of general cognitive ability and prefrontal, hippocampal and cerebellar function. These tasks were drawn from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB) and other established paradigms. Alongside the cognitive testing battery we administered benchmark and parent-report assessments of cognition and behavior. Individuals with DS (n = 74, ages 7–38 years) and mental age (MA) matched controls (n = 50, ages 3–8 years) were tested across 3 sites. A subsample of these groups were used for between-group comparisons, including 55 individuals with DS and 36 mental age matched controls. The ACTB allows for low floor performance levels and participant loss. Floor effects were greater in younger children. Individuals with DS were impaired on a number ACTB tests in comparison to a MA-matched sample, with some areas of spared ability, particularly on tests requiring extensive motor coordination. Battery measures correlated with parent report of behavior and development. The ACTB provided consistent results across contexts, including home vs. lab visits, cross-site, and among individuals with a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and differences in ethnicity. The ACTB will be useful in a range of outcome studies, including clinical trials and the identification of important genetic components of cognitive disability.
Percutaneous Excision: A Viable Alternative to Manage Benign Breast Lesions
Authors: Slanetz Priscilla J. , Wu Shieh-Pei , Mendel Jeffrey B.
Published: July 2010

Objective

Benign breast masses, such as fibroadenomas, are common, and their management is variable, depending on symptoms and patient concerns. We undertook this study to determine the safety, efficacy, and patient acceptance of percutaneous excision of benign breast masses by using a hand-held vacuum-assisted device.

Methods

By using sonographic guidance, percutaneous removal was performed in 40 patients with 42 lesions by using a 9-gauge ( n = 13) or 12-gauge ( n = 29) probe (ATEC; Suros Surgical). Technical success, procedural complications, and patient experience were recorded at the time of excision and at 48 hours. Clinical, imaging, and/or surgical follow-up was obtained for 39 of 42 lesions (93%). Three of 42 lesions (7%) were lost to follow-up.

Results

Of 42 lesions, maximal diameters ranged from 0.6–4.0 cm (mean 1.6 cm), with lesion volumes between 0.05 and 11.2 mL (mean [SD] 1.4 ± 2.1 mL, median 7 mL). The procedure was well tolerated by all patients, and no residual mass was visible in any case at the conclusion of the procedure. All the patients preferred this approach to open surgical biopsy. After percutaneous excision, surgery was performed on 3 of 42 lesions (7%) for atypia ( n = 2) or malignancy ( n = 1), with a residual mass found only for the malignant case. Of the 26 of 42 lesions (62%) with imaging follow-up, 24 (92%) had no lesion recurrence. Overall, the procedure either completely removed the mass and/or relieved the patient's symptoms of a mass in 36 of 39 lesions (92%) for which clinical, imaging, and/or surgical follow-up was available. Three lesions were lost to follow-up.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous excision of benign breast masses is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated minimally invasive procedure for the diagnosis and removal of benign breast masses. It may serve as an alternative to surgical excision for women with a known benign or probably benign breast mass who desire excision but prefer to avoid surgery or who are poor surgical candidates.
Insular cortex lesion diminishes neuropathic and inflammatory pain‐like behaviours
Authors: Coffeenl Ulises , Ortega‐Legaspil J. Manuel , López‐Muñozl Francisco J. , Simón‐Arceol Karina , Jaimesl Orlando , Pellicerl Francisco
Published: July 2010

Injury to the insular cortex in humans produces a lack of appropriate response to pain. Also, there is controversial evidence on the lateralization of pain modulation. The aim of this study was to test the effect of insular cortex lesions in three models of pain in the rat. An ipsilateral, contralateral or bilateral radiofrequency lesion of the rostral agranular insular cortex (RAIC) was performed 48 h prior to acute, inflammatory or neuropathic pain models in all the experimental groups. Acute pain was tested with paw withdrawal latency (PWL) after thermal stimulation. Inflammation was induced with carrageenan injected in the paw and PWL was tested 1 h and 24 h afterwards. Neuropathic pain was tested after ligature of the sciatic nerve by measuring mechanical nociceptive response after stimulation with the von Frey filaments. Another model of neuropathy consisted of thermo stimulation followed by right sciatic neurectomy prior to the recording of autotomy behaviour. Acute pain was not modified by the RAIC lesion. All the RAIC lesion groups showed diminished pain‐related behaviours in inflammatory (increased PWL) and neuropathic models (diminished mechanical nociceptive response and autotomy score). The lesion of the RAIC produces a significant decrease in pain‐related behaviours, regardless of the side of the lesion. This is a clear evidence that the RAIC plays an important role in the modulation of both inflammatory and neuropathic—but not acute—pain.
German Validation of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales–self-report (CAARS-S) I: Factor Structure and Normative Data
Authors: Christiansen H. , Kis B. , Hirsch O. , Philipsen A. , Henneck M. , Panczuk A. , Pietrowsky R. , Hebebrand J. , Schimmelmann B.G.
Published: July 2010

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood. Instruments for diagnosing ADHD in childhood are well validated and reliable, but diagnosis of ADHD in adults remains problematic. Attempts have been made to develop criteria specific for adult ADHD, resulting in the development of self-report and observer-rated questionnaires. To date, the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) are the international standard for questionnaire assessment of ADHD. The current study evaluates a German version of the CAARS self-report (CAARS-S).

Methods

Eight hundred and fifty healthy German control subjects were recruited to fill out the CAARS-S and to answer questions on sociodemographic variables. Explorative and confirmative factor analyses were conducted to obtain the factor structure for the German model and to replicate the factor structure of the original American model. Analyses on gender, age, and education level were calculated for normative data.

Results

The explorative factor analysis of the German sample results in a six-factor solution that explained 52% of the variance. A confirmative analysis that was based on the 42 items of the original American model showed a high model-fit. Analyses of normative data showed significant influences of age, gender, and education level on the emerging subscales.

Conclusion

Even though the explorative factor analysis yields a solution different from the American original, the confirmative factor analysis results in such a high model-fit that use of the American version is justified with respect to international multicenter studies, for which this instrument will be highly valuable.
Effects of inorganic selenium administration in methylmercury‐induced neurotoxicity in mouse cerebral cortex
Authors: Glaser Viviane , Nazari Evelise Maria , Müller Yara Maria Rauh , Feksa Luciane , Wannmacher Clóvis Milton Duval , Rocha João Batista Teixeira , de Bem Andreza Fabro , Farina Marcelo , Latini Alexandra
Published: July 2010

Selenium can counteract methylmercury (MeHg) neurotoxicity. However, data about the neuroprotective effects of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on the activity of mitochondrial complexes and creatine kinase (mtCK) are scarce. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of the chronic exposure to Na2SeO3 on brain energy metabolism and oxidative stress parameters in MeHg‐poisoned mice. Adult male mice were orally treated with MeHg (40 mg L−1 in drinking water, ad libitum) during 21 days and simultaneously administrated with daily subcutaneous injections of Na2SeO3 (5 μmol kg−1), a potential neuroprotectant. Mitochondrial complexes I to IV and mtCK activities were measured in cerebral cortex mitochondria. The cerebro‐cortical tissue was also used to evaluate the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, as well as lipid peroxidation. Metal deposition was followed autometalographically (AMG). Na2SeO3 partially prevented MeHg‐induced inhibition of complexes II–III, IV and mtCK activities; however, it was unable to prevent MeHg‐induced complex I and II inhibition. MeHg increased lipid peroxidation, GR activity and decreased GPx activity in the cerebral cortex; however, Na2SeO3 did not modify such events. Furthermore, Na2SeO3per se inhibited complexes I, II–III and IV and mtCK activities and increased GPx and GR activities and lipid peroxidation. These data show that inorganic selenium was ineffective in preventing most of the MeHg‐induced brain biochemical alterations. However, the most prominent finding was the selenium‐induced reduction of cells labelled for metal deposition. Although, the literature supports the beneficial effects of selenium against mercury toxicity, the toxic effects elicited by Na2SeO3, alone or in combination with mercury, should be considered when this compound is proposed as a potential protective therapy for MeHg poisoning.
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)-Marketing der deutschen Pharmaindustrie: Nutzen und Grenzen
Authors: Röthele Sebastian
Published: July 2010

Einleitung

Insbesondere Patienten mit chronischen Erkrankungen haben häufig das Bedürfnis sich unabhängig von ihrem behandelnden Arzt über ihre Indikation sowie alternative Therapieformen und Arzneimittel zu informieren. Sie vertrauen nicht mehr allein auf den Rat der Ärzte, sondern nehmen Einfluss auf die Wahl der Therapie und die Verschreibung bestimmter Medikamente. Für den Arzneimittelhersteller ergeben sich somit neue Möglichkeiten, die Emanzipation des Patienten durch eine direkte Ansprache und die Vermittlung relevanter Informationen zu unterstützen.
Supplementation of iron alone and combined with vitamins improves haematological status, erythrocyte membrane fluidity and oxidative stress in anaemic pregnant women
Authors: Guo Ma Ai , Schouten Evert G. , Ye Sun Yong , Yang Fang , Xia Han Xiu , Zhi Zhang Feng , Chen Jiang Dian , Kok Frans J.
Published: July 2010

Pregnancy is a condition exhibiting increased susceptibility to oxidative stress, and Fe plays a central role in generating harmful oxygen species. The objective of the present study is to investigate the changes in haematological status, oxidative stress and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in anaemic pregnant women after Fe supplementation with and without combined vitamins. The study was a 2 months double-blind, randomised trial. Pregnant women (n 164) were allocated to four groups: group C was the placebo control group; group I was supplemented daily with 60 mg Fe (ferrous sulphate) daily; group IF was supplemented daily with Fe plus 400 μg folic acid; group IM was supplemented daily with Fe plus 2 mg retinol and 1 mg riboflavin, respectively. After the 2-month trial, Hb significantly increased by 15·8, 17·3 and 21·8 g/l, and ferritin by 2·8, 3·6 and 11·0 μg/l, in the I, IF and IM groups compared with placebo. Polarisation (ρ) and microviscosity (η) decreased significantly in other groups compared with placebo, indicating an increase in membrane fluidity. Significant decreases of ρ and η values compared with group C were 0·033 and 0·959 for group I, 0·037 and 1·074 for group IF and 0·064 and 1·865 for group IM, respectively. In addition, significant increases of glutathione peroxidase activities and decreases of malondialdehyde were shown in all treated groups, as well as increases of plasma retinol and urine riboflavin in group IM. The findings show that supplementation with Fe and particularly in combination with vitamins could improve the haematological status as well as oxidative stress and erythrocyte membrane fluidity.
A computed tomography scan application to evaluate adiposity in a minipig model of human obesity
Authors: Val-Laillet D. , Blat S. , Louveau I. , Malbert C. H.
Published: July 2010

The aim of the present study was to describe and validate a computed tomography (CT) method to analyse adiposity distribution in Göttingen minipigs. Adiposity was evaluated in two groups of minipigs. In group 1 (n8), measurements were performed before and after the induction of obesity. In group 2 (n7), animals were fed rations designed to obtain heterogeneous adiposity before analyses. CT acquisitions were associated with anatomical, ultrasonography and body chemical measurements. Our CT method was based on acquisition of a single slice at a fixed anatomical landmark, calculation of individual X-ray density ranges for CT values and delineation of the three main adipose compartments (subcutaneous adipose tissue, SAT; retroperitoneal adipose tissue, RAT; and visceral adipose tissue, VAT). Our validation measures showed that the CT-scan method was accurate, sensitive and reliable. The CT data were found to be correlated with body weight, abdominal perimeter, ultrasonography, anatomical measurements and body chemical composition (fromr0·84 to 0·93,P < 0·001 for all), with a pitfall concerning the precise estimation of VAT. With increased body weight, the amount of adipose tissue increased and the relative proportion of SAT increased, whereas the relative proportion of RAT and VAT decreased (P < 0·001 for all). Adiposity measured by CT, and especially SAT, was found to be negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r0·54,P < 0·05). In conclusion, a precise evaluation of the adipose compartments in minipigs was done by CT. Therefore, the use of Göttingen minipigs is relevant to further investigate the relationship between the different adipose tissues and obesity.
Stability of pressure-driven flow in a deformable neo-Hookean channel
Authors: GAURAV  , SHANKAR V.
Published: July 2010

The stability of pressure-driven flow in a rectangular channel with deformable neo-Hookean viscoelastic solid walls is analysed for a wide range of Reynolds numbers (from Re ≪ 1 to Re ≫ 1) by considering both sinuous and varicose modes for the perturbations. Pseudospectral numerical and asymptotic methods are employed to uncover the various unstable modes, and their stability boundaries are determined in terms of the solid elasticity parameter Γ = Vη/(ER) and the Reynolds number Re = RV ρ/η; here V is the maximum velocity of the laminar flow, R is the channel half-width, η and ρ are respectively the viscosity and density of the fluid and E is the shear modulus of the solid layer. We show that for small departures from a rigid solid, wall deformability could have a destabilizing or stabilizing effect on the Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) instability (a sinuous mode) depending on the solid-layer thickness. Upon further increase in solid deformability, the TS mode coalesces with another unstable mode (absent in rigid channels) giving rise to a single unstable mode which extends to very low Reynolds number (<1) for highly deformable walls. There are other types of instabilities that exist only due to wall deformability. In the absence of inertia (Re = 0), there is a short-wave instability of both sinuous and varicose modes arising due to the discontinuity of the first normal stress difference across the fluid–solid interface. For both sinuous and varicose modes, it is shown that inclusion of inertia is important even for Re ≪ 1, wherein a new class of long-wavelength unstable modes are predicted which are absent at Re = 0. These unstable modes are a type of shear waves in an elastic solid which are destabilized by the flow. These long- and short-wave instabilities are absent if a simple linear elastic model is used for the solid. At intermediate and high Re, upstream and downstream travelling waves of both sinuous and varicose modes become unstable. We show that sinuous and varicose modes become critical in different parameter regimes, thereby demonstrating the importance of capturing all the unstable modes. Inclusion of dissipative effects in the neo-Hookean model is generally shown to play a stabilizing role on the instabilities due to both sinuous and varicose modes. The predicted instabilities will be important for the flow of liquids (with viscosity ≥ 10−3 Pa s) in deformable channels of width ≤1 mm, and with shear modulus ≤ 105 Pa.
European integration as colonial discourse
Authors: POLAT NECATI
Published: July 2010

A not infrequent musing on the growing European integration is that the process may signal a historic discontinuity with the logic and functioning of the modern state, forming an alternative to the Westphalian order. This article takes issue with this notion, holding that, more accurately, the interaction in Europe between the currents of post-national integration and the nation-state may have reduced the integrated Europe to a mere parody of the nation-state. In articulating this argument, the article draws on the ‘hybrid’ anxiety placed by Homi Bhabha at the heart of the encounter between the coloniser and the colonised – a binary perversely reproduced, the article claims, in the dichotomy between the European integration and the European nation-state. Next, through a discussion of ‘catachresis’ and ‘time-lag’, strategies of reversal introduced by Gayatri Spivak and Bhabha, respectively, the article rehearses ideas as to whether or not something of a post-Westphalian order can still be salvaged from the ongoing process of integration. Throughout, the article seeks to rely on the later Wittgenstein on meaning, especially his privileging of what is conventionally treated as secondary in meaning formation; namely appearances, difference, absence, mimesis, and the burlesque, as opposed to a transcendental essence, presence, or identity.
Incorporating verbal feedback into a robot-assisted rehabilitation system
Authors: Barkana Duygun Erol , Das Jadav , Wang Furui , Groomes Thomas E. , Sarkar Nilanjan
Published: July 2010

This paper presents a control architecture, which has the potential to monitor the task and safety issues, to provide assessment of the progress and alter the task parameters, and to incorporate patient's feedback in order to make the necessary modifications to impart effective therapy during the execution of the task in an automated manner. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed control architecture.
Transformations of logic programs on infinite lists
Authors: PETTOROSSI ALBERTO , PROIETTI MAURIZIO , SENNI VALERIO
Published: July 2010

We consider an extension of logic programs, called ω-programs, that can be used to define predicates overinfinite lists. ω-programs allow us to specify properties of the infinite behavior of reactive systems and, in general, properties of infinite sequences of events. The semantics of ω-programs is an extension of the perfect model semantics. We present variants of the familiar unfold/fold rules which can be used for transforming ω-programs. We show that these new rules are correct, that is, their application preserves the perfect model semantics. Then we outline a general methodology based on program transformation for verifying properties of ω-programs. We demonstrate the power of our transformation-based verification methodology by proving some properties of Büchi automata and ω-regular languages.
Threads and or-parallelism unified
Authors: SANTOS COSTA VíTOR , DUTRA INÊS , ROCHA RICARDO
Published: July 2010

One of the main advantages of Logic Programming (LP) is that it provides an excellent framework for the parallel execution of programs. In this work we investigate novel techniques to efficiently exploit parallelism from real-world applications in low cost multi-core architectures. To achieve these goals, we revive and redesign the YapOr system to exploit or-parallelism based on a multi-threaded implementation. Our new approach takes full advantage of the state-of-the-art fast and optimized YAP Prolog engine and shares the underlying execution environment, scheduler and most of the data structures used to support YapOr's model. Initial experiments with our new approach consistently achieve almost linear speedups for most of the applications, proving itself as a good alternative for exploiting implicit parallelism in the currently available low cost multi-core architectures.
CHR(PRISM)-based probabilistic logic learning
Authors: SNEYERS JON , MEERT WANNES , VENNEKENS JOOST , KAMEYA YOSHITAKA , SATO TAISUKE
Published: July 2010

PRISM is an extension of Prolog with probabilistic predicates and built-in support for expectation-maximization learning. Constraint Handling Rules (CHR) is a high-level programming language based on multi-headed multiset rewrite rules.

In this paper, we introduce a new probabilistic logic formalism, called CHRiSM, based on a combination of CHR and PRISM. It can be used for high-level rapid prototyping of complex statistical models by means of “chance rules”. The underlying PRISM system can then be used for several probabilistic inference tasks, including probability computation and parameter learning. We define the CHRiSM language in terms of syntax and operational semantics, and illustrate it with examples. We define the notion of ambiguous programs and define a distribution semantics for unambiguous programs. Next, we describe an implementation of CHRiSM, based on CHR(PRISM). We discuss the relation between CHRiSM and other probabilistic logic programming languages, in particular PCHR. Finally, we identify potential application domains.
Disjunctive ASP with functions: Decidable queries and effective computation
Authors: ALVIANO MARIO , FABER WOLFGANG , LEONE NICOLA
Published: July 2010

Querying over disjunctive ASP with functions is a highly undecidable task in general. In this paper we focus on disjunctive logic programs with stratified negation and functions under the stable model semantics (ASPfs). We show that query answering in this setting is decidable, if the query is finitely recursive (ASPfsfr). Our proof yields also an effective method for query evaluation. It is done by extending the magic set technique to ASPfsfr. We show that the magic-set rewritten program is query equivalent to the original one (under both brave and cautious reasoning). Moreover, we prove that the rewritten program is also finitely ground, implying that it is decidable. Importantly, finitely ground programs are evaluable using existing ASP solvers, making the class of ASPfsfr queries usable in practice.
Loop formulas for description logic programs
Authors: WANG YISONG , YOU JIA-HUAI , YUAN LI YAN , SHEN YI-DONG
Published: July 2010

Description Logic Programs (dl-programs) proposed by Eiter et al. constitute an elegant yet powerful formalism for the integration of answer set programming with description logics, for the Semantic Web. In this paper, we generalize the notions of completion and loop formulas of logic programs to description logic programs and show that the answer sets of a dl-program can be precisely captured by the models of its completion and loop formulas. Furthermore, we propose a new, alternative semantics for dl-programs, called the canonical answer set semantics, which is defined by the models of completion that satisfy what are called canonical loop formulas. A desirable property of canonical answer sets is that they are free of circular justifications. Some properties of canonical answer sets are also explored.
A program-level approach to revising logic programs under the answer set semantics
Authors: DELGRANDE JAMES P.
Published: July 2010

An approach to the revision of logic programs under the answer set semantics is presented. For programs P and Q, the goal is to determine the answer sets that correspond to the revision of P by Q, denoted P * Q. A fundamental principle of classical (AGM) revision, and the one that guides the approach here, is the success postulate. In AGM revision, this stipulates that α ∈ K * α. By analogy with the success postulate, for programs P and Q, this means that the answer sets of Q will in some sense be contained in those of P * Q. The essential idea is that for P * Q, a three-valued answer set for Q, consisting of positive and negative literals, is first determined. The positive literals constitute a regular answer set, while the negated literals make up a minimal set of naf literals required to produce the answer set from Q. These literals are propagated to the program P, along with those rules of Q that are not decided by these literals. The approach differs from work in update logic programs in two main respects. First, we ensure that the revising logic program has higher priority, and so we satisfy the success postulate; second, for the preference implicit in a revision P * Q, the program Q as a whole takes precedence over P, unlike update logic programs, since answer sets of Q are propagated to P. We show that a core group of the AGM postulates are satisfied, as are the postulates that have been proposed for update logic programs.
FO(FD): Extending classical logic with rule-based fixpoint definitions
Authors: HOU PING , DE CAT BROES , DENECKER MARC
Published: July 2010

We introduce fixpoint definitions, a rule-based reformulation of fixpoint constructs. The logic FO(FD), an extension of classical logic with fixpoint definitions, is defined. We illustrate the relation between FO(FD) and FO(ID), which is developed as an integration of two knowledge representation paradigms. The satisfiability problem for FO(FD) is investigated by first reducing FO(FD) to difference logic and then using solvers for difference logic. These reductions are evaluated in the computation of models for FO(FD) theories representing fairness conditions and we provide potential applications of FO(FD).
A complete and terminating execution model for Constraint Handling Rules
Authors: BETZ HARIOLF , RAISER FRANK , FRÜHWIRTH THOM
Published: July 2010

We observe that the various formulations of the operational semantics of Constraint Handling Rules proposed over the years fall into a spectrum ranging from the analytical to the pragmatic. While existing analytical formulations facilitate program analysis and formal proofs of program properties, they cannot be implemented as is. We propose a novel operational semantics ω!, which has a strong analytical foundation, while featuring a terminating execution model. We prove its soundness and completeness with respect to existing analytical formulations and we provide an implementation in the form of a source-to-source transformation to CHR with rule priorities.