bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toddlers recognize words in an unfamiliar accent after brief exposure
Authors: Schmale Rachel , Cristia Alejandrina , Seidl Amanda
Published: August 2012

Both subjective impressions and previous research with monolingual listeners suggest that a foreign accent interferes with word recognition in infants, young children, and adults. However, because being exposed to multiple accents is likely to be an everyday occurrence in many societies, it is unexpected that such non‐standard pronunciations would significantly impede language processing once the listener has experience with the relevant accent. Indeed, we report that 24‐month‐olds successfully accommodate an unfamiliar accent in rapid word learning after less than 2 minutes of accent exposure. These results underline the robustness of our speech perception mechanisms, which allow listeners to adapt even in the absence of extensive lexical knowledge and clear known‐word referents.

A video abstract of this article can be viewed at http: ⁄ ⁄www.youtube.com ⁄watch?v=bYnaZkMyKtY&feature=youtu.be
Industrial Relations Reform: Chasing a Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow?
Authors: Borland Jeff
Published: August 2012

This article reviews the economy‐wide effects of the Work Choices and Fair Work reforms to Australia's industrial relations system. Outcomes examined are wages growth and earnings inequality, labour market adjustment, labour productivity growth and industrial disputes. Little evidence is found of an effect from the industrial relations reforms made in the 2000s. I argue that this is consistent with the nature of the reforms, being primarily oriented to distributive rather than efficiency goals. I finish by describing how private interest can explain current lobbying for further reform to Australia's industrial relations system.
Geodesic Polar Coordinates on Polygonal Meshes
Authors: Melvær Eivind Lyche , Reimers Martin
Published: August 2012

Geodesic Polar Coordinates (GPCs) on a smooth surface

S
 are local surface coordinates that relates a surface point to a planar parameter point by the length and direction of a corresponding geodesic curve onS. They are intrinsic to the surface and represent a natural local parameterization with useful properties. We present a simple and efficient algorithm to approximate GPCs on both triangle and general polygonal meshes. Our approach, named DGPC, is based on extending an existing algorithm for computing geodesic distance. We compare our approach with previous methods, both with respect to efficiency, accuracy and visual qualities when used for local mesh texturing. As a further application we show how the resulting coordinates can be used for vector space methods like local remeshing at interactive frame‐rates even for large meshes.
The return of the city‐state: urban governance and the New York City H1N1 pandemic
Authors: Hoffman Lily M.
Published: August 2012

This article examines New York City’s response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in the context of the post‐9/11 US security regime. While the federal level ‘all‐hazards’ approach made for greater depth of support, it also generated unrealistic assumptions at odds with an effective local response. The combination of structurally induced opportunity and actor specific strengths (size, expertise) made for effective local governance by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. By underlining the importance of locality as a first line of defence and linking defence function to policy initiative in regard to health governance, this study illustrates the continuing relevance of Weber’s insight into the institutional structure of the city.
Application of generally weighted moving average method to tracking signal state space model
Authors: Lin Cheng‐Yi , Sheu Shey‐Huei , Hsu Tsung‐Shin , Chen Yan‐Chun
Published: August 2012

In predicting time series, if a trend includes a structural break, then a state space model can be applied to revise the predictive method. Some scholars suggest that restricted damped trend models yield excellent prediction results by automatically revising unforeseen structural break factors in the prediction process. Restricted damped trend models add a smoothed error statistic to a local‐level model and use the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) method to make corrections. This paper applies the generally weighted moving average (GWMA) concept and method to a restricted damped trend model that changes the smoothed error statistic from the EWMA form to the GWMA form and adds the correction parameter λ, which distinguishes three situations , , and . The original restricted damped trend model applies only to , enabling the model to capture situations in which and increases its generality. This paper also compares the effect of various parameter values on the predictive model and finds the range of parameter settings that optimize the model.
Developing a tool for intellectual capital assessment: an individual‐level perspective
Authors: Mura Matteo , Longo Mariolina
Published: August 2012

This paper aims to develop a model for assessing and valuing the intellectual capital of an organization by gathering data from individual employees. Also, the paper empirically investigates the relationship between intellectual capital and a specific dimension of employees’ performance. Two surveys were conducted on employees of a leading company in the Italian food product market. The sample analysed comprises 1117 observations. A structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology was used to define the measurement model and to determine the relations between intellectual capital and employees’ performance. The model for intellectual capital assessment developed in this paper may integrate already existing intellectual capital frameworks. The three dimensions of intellectual capital identified mutually affect and have a positive effect on employees’ performance. Our findings contribute to the discussion in the promising research stream of intellectual capital management. As limitations, this study focuses on a single company, and it exclusively adopts individual‐level perceptual indicators. These elements make it difficult for any inter‐company comparison.
Transient ischaemic attacks clinics provide equivalent and more efficient care than early in‐hospital assessment
Authors: Martínez‐Martínez M. M. , Martínez‐Sánchez P. , Fuentes B. , Cazorla‐García R. , Ruiz‐Ares G. , Correas‐Callero E. , Lara‐Lara M. , Díez‐Tejedor E.
Published: August 2012

Background and purpose

Clinics for early management of transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) have been developed in some stroke centres, resulting in reduced recurrence rates compared to appointment‐based outpatient management, thus saving on hospitalization. We analysed the care process, recurrence rates and economic impact of the first year of work in our early‐management TIA clinic and compared these with our previous in‐hospital study protocols for low‐ and moderate‐risk TIA patients.

Methods

This was a prospective evaluation of the management of low‐ to moderate‐risk TIA patients, comparing a new TIA clinic model (2010) with a previous hospitalization model (2009). Demographic data, vascular risk factor profiles, diagnostic test performance, secondary prevention measures, final aetiological diagnoses and cerebrovascular recurrences at 7 and 90 days were compared between in‐hospital and TIA clinic assessed patients. We also carried out an economic comparison of the costs of each model's process.

Results

Two hundred and eleven low‐ to moderate‐risk TIA patients were included, of whom 40.8% were hospitalized. There were no differences between the TIA clinic assessed and in‐hospital assessed patients in terms of risk factor diagnosis and secondary prevention measures. The stroke recurrence rate (2.4% vs. 1.2%; P = 0.65) was low and similar for both groups (CI 95%, 0.214–20.436; P = 0.52). Cost per patient was €393.28 for clinic versus €1931.18 for in‐hospital management. Outpatient management resulted in a 77.8% reduction in hospitalizations.

Conclusion

Transient ischaemic attacks clinics are efficient for the early management of low‐ to moderate‐risk TIA patients compared to in‐hospital assessment, with no higher recurrence rates and at almost one‐fifth the cost.
MicroR828 regulates lignin and H2O2 accumulation in sweet potato on wounding
Authors: Lin Jeng‐Shane , Lin Chih‐Ching , Lin Hsin‐Hung , Chen Yu‐Chi , Jeng Shih‐Tong
Published: August 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs which post‐transcriptionally regulate gene expression by directing mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. miRNAs play multiple roles in the growth, development and stress responses in plants. However, little is known of the wounding‐responsive miRNAs and their regulation.

Here, we investigated the expression patterns of microR828 (miR828) on wounding in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv Tainung 57). The expression of miR828 was only detected in leaves, and was induced by wounding rather than by ethylene, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methyl jasmonate or nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was necessary for miR828 accumulation in leaves on wounding.

Two miR828 target candidates, named IbMYB and IbTLD, were obtained by cDNA cloning, and their mRNA cleavage caused by miR828 was confirmed by cleavage site mapping, agro‐infiltration and transgenics studies. The reduction in IbMYB and IbTLD expression coincided with the induction of miR828, demonstrating that IbMYB and IbTLD might be miR828 targets. Furthermore, transgenic sweet potato overexpressing miR828 precursor affected lignin and H2O2 contents.

These results showed that cGMP could regulate wounding‐responsive miR828, which repressed the expression of IbMYB and IbTLD. Subsequently, lignin and H2O2 were accumulated to participate in defense mechanisms.
Habitat filtering and niche differentiation jointly explain species relative abundance within grassland communities along fertility and disturbance gradients
Authors: Maire Vincent , Gross Nicolas , Börger Luca , Proulx Raphaël , Wirth Christian , Pontes Laíse da Silveira , Soussana Jean‐François , Louault Frédérique
Published: August 2012

Deterministic niche‐based processes have been proposed to explain species relative abundance within communities but lead to different predictions: habitat filtering (HF) predicts dominant species to exhibit similar traits while niche differentiation (ND) requires that species have dissimilar traits to coexist.

Using a multiple trait‐based approach, we evaluated the relative roles of HF and ND in determining species abundances in productive grasslands. Four dimensions of the functional niche of 12 co‐occurring grass species were identified using 28 plant functional traits. Using this description of the species niche, we investigated patterns of functional similarity and dissimilarity and linked them to abundance in randomly assembled six‐species communities subjected to fertilization/disturbance treatments.

Our results suggest that HF and ND jointly determined species abundance by acting on contrasting niche dimensions. The effect of HF decreased relative to ND with increasing disturbance and decreasing fertilization. Dominant species exhibited similar traits in communities whereas dissimilarity favored the coexistence of rare species with dominants by decreasing inter‐specific competition. This stabilizing effect on diversity was suggested by a negative relationship between species over‐yielding and relative abundance.

We discuss the importance of considering independent dimensions of functional niche to better understand species abundance and coexistence within communities.
Factors Associated With Growth in Daily Smoking Among Indigenous Adolescents
Authors: Whitbeck Les B. , Sittner Hartshorn Kelley J. , McQuillan Julia , Crawford Devan M.
Published: August 2012

North American Indigenous adolescents smoke earlier, smoke more, and are more likely to become regular smokers as adults than youth from any other ethnic group, yet we know very little about their early smoking trajectories. We use multilevel growth modeling across five waves of data from Indigenous adolescents (aged 10–13 years at Wave 1) to investigate factors associated with becoming a daily smoker. Several factors, including number of peers who smoked at Wave 1 and meeting diagnostic criteria for major depressive episode and conduct disorder, were associated with early daily smoking. Only age and increases in the number of smoking peers were associated with increased odds of becoming a daily smoker.
Characterization of In Vitro Metabolites of CP 47,497, a Synthetic Cannabinoid, in Human Liver Microsomes by LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Jin Ming J. , Lee Jaeick , In Moon K. , Yoo Hye H.
Published: August 2012

CP 47,497, a potent cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonist, is the main active ingredient in the herbal mixture “Spice” sold in European countries. The illegal use of “Spice” for its psychoactive effects has become a social issue. In this study, the in vitro metabolism of CP 47,497 was investigated in human liver microsomes to characterize the metabolic fate of CP 47,497. CP 47,497 was incubated with human liver microsomes, and the reaction mixture was analyzed using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. A total of eight metabolites were detected in human liver microsomes and structurally characterized based on mass spectral data. The main metabolic pathways involved hydroxylations or oxygenations. The identified metabolites were mono‐oxygenated metabolites (M1 and M4), mono‐hydroxylated metabolites (M3, M5, M6, M7, and M8), and a di‐oxygenated metabolite (M2). The detection of these metabolites could confirm the presence of CP 47,497 in biological samples; therefore, collectively, they would be excellent indicators of “Spice” drug abuse.
Tropical forest biomass estimation and the fallacy of misplaced concreteness
Authors: Clark David B. , Kellner James R.
Published: August 2012

Despite the importance of measuring tropical forest biomass, the accuracy of biomass estimates is poorly constrained due to fundamental weaknesses in the design and implementation of field studies. We identify these issues and propose a radical paradigm shift to advance tropical forest biomass research to a firmer theoretical and empirical basis.
Inter‐specific and intra‐specific trait variation along short environmental gradients in an old‐growth temperate forest
Authors: Auger Sébastien , Shipley Bill
Published: August 2012

Question

When can we assume that inter‐specific trait variation is higher than intra‐specific trait variation in plant community ecology?

Location

Old‐growth deciduous forest in the Gault Nature Reserve, Mount St. Hilaire (Quebec, Canada,45′32.957″ N, 73′08.884″ W), with a shorter environmental gradient than normally exists in community studies.

Methods

We measured 15 functional traits on all tree saplings occurring in 39 (5–7‐m radius) sample plots. Using variance decomposition from mixed models and from sums of squares of community‐weighted traits, we determined the relative importance of temporal, spatial, inter‐specific, intra‐specific and intra‐individual variation in each trait. In total, we collected trait information on 3317 leaves from 786 twigs sampled on 422 saplings.

Results

For 12 of 15 traits, over 50% of the total variance existed between species and inter‐specific variation was always the most important source of variation. However for 14 traits, intra‐specific and environmental variation represented up to 28% of the total variation. Variation in community‐weighted trait means was mostly generated by changes in species composition, but intra‐specific trait variation was the dominate cause for leaf nitrogen, specific leaf area and tree branching. The intra‐individual and temporal sources of variation were not important.

Conclusions

Trait variation should be dominated by inter‐specific differences in most studies since they involve systems with more pronounced environmental gradients, higher species richness and more β‐diversity than used here. However, in studies with short gradients, or when using more plastic traits, it will be necessary to measure trait values for each site. It is important to quantify the β‐diversity of the environmental gradients in question in order to compare results across studies.
Effects and modelling of ultrasonic waste‐activated sludge disintegration
Authors: Şahinkaya Serkan , Sevimli Mehmet Faik
Published: August 2012

Sonication is a well‐known sludge pretreatment technique with the advantages of simple operation and high efficiency. However, it is an energy‐intensive process. Hence, it is very important to predetermine its sludge disintegration efficiency at varying pretreatment conditions in order to minimize the ultrasonic energy consumption. In this study, it was found that the ultrasonic sludge disintegration occurred in two stages: rapid and subsequent slow disintegration stages. For this reason, it was aimed to develop a simple and accurate mathematical model to describe the two‐stage sludge disintegration as a function of pretreatment conditions. Sludge concentration and ultrasonic density along with sonication period were involved in this model as independent variables. It was determined that the mathematical model can predict accurately the degree of sludge disintegration. Thus, the proposed model was seen to be very useful for evaluating the disintegration efficiency and/or for process design using the operating parameters under different conditions.
Impact of human activities on chimpanzee ground use and parasitism (Pan troglodytes)
Authors: Zommers Zinta , Macdonald David W. , Johnson Paul J. , Gillespie Thomas R.
Published: August 2012

The potential of human activities, including research, to alter parasite transmission ecology in wildlife is unknown. We examined gastrointestinal parasitism in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Budongo Forest, Uganda. Trail use and time spent on the ground was recorded during 10 months of observations in four sites with differing human disturbance. Disturbance was quantified using transect plots (n = 320). Fecal (n = 435) samples were examined for helminth eggs, larvae, and for protozoan cysts. Individuals that spent more time on the ground had more infections and higher intensity infections. Prevalence of 13 parasite species was similar across sites, but percentage of multiple infections and infection intensity differed, as did ground use. Chimpanzees at the long‐term research site spent more time on the ground or on human trails. We hypothesize that researcher presence and trail creation may influence ground use, and thereby parasite burden, by altering trade‐offs between foraging and predation risk.
Assessment of methodological quality and outcome measures of acute stroke randomized controlled trials in China in recent 15 years
Authors: He Sha , Wu Simiao , Zeng Quantao , Zhang Shihong , Lin Sen , Zhang Canfei , Cui Xiaoyang , Liu Ming
Published: August 2012

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the most important evidence to guide clinical practice in the treatment of acute stroke. This study aims to evaluate the changes of quantity and methodological quality of acute stroke RCTs in Mainland China published in recent 15 years.

Method: We included un‐confounded RCTs on acute stroke from eight databases published in Chinese or English from 1996 to 2010. General characteristics, design methodology, and outcome measures of studies were assessed.

Results: Totally, 9061 RCTs were identified. The number of acute stroke RCTs had increased by years, the total of trials published in 2010 was 20 times of that published in 1996. Three thousand four hundred eighty‐eight trials (38.5%) used western drugs in the treatment, 3026 (33.4%) trials used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and 1933 (22.0%) trials used physical therapy. Ischemic stroke was the most common research subject among all trials (65.1%, 5,989). There were 541 (6.0%) RCTs using adequate randomization methods, 34 (0.4%) RCTs using adequate allocation concealment, and 195 (2.2%) using adequate blinding methods. Thirty‐three (0.4%) RCTs adopted both adequate randomization methods and allocation concealment. Only 23 (0.3%) trials used all three methods of adequate randomization methods, allocation concealment, and blinding. During the 15 years, only the number of trials using adequate randomized methods and reporting adverse events had significantly increased (both P < 0.001). As for these RCTs, only the number of trials using adequate blinding method in pharmaceutical intervention was statistical differences compared with that of nondrug intervention trials (P = 0.043). Outcomes were assessed blindly in 72 trials. Death was reported by 14.2% of trials, impairment by 85.1%, disability by 22.5%, and handicap or quality of life by 0.4%. 99.7% trials reported positive results. Larger trials were more likely to use adequate randomized methods, allocation concealment and blinding methods, as well as to measure disability. Only 14 large‐sample high‐quality RCTs were found.

Conclusion: During 15 years, the number of acute stroke RCTs has increased dramatically, but the quality of trials improves slowly. Most acute stroke trials used inadequate outcome measures in terms of their content, reliability, validity, blinding assessment.
Adjunctive antidepressant prescriptions for hospitalized patients with schizophrenia in Asia (2001–2009)
Authors: Xiang Yu‐Tao , Ungvari Gabor S. , Wang Chuan‐Yue , Si Tian‐Mei , Lee Edwin H.M. , Chiu Helen F.K. , Lai Kelly Y.C. , He Yan‐Ling , Yang Shu‐Yu , Chong Mian‐Yoon , Tan Chay‐Hoon , Kua Ee‐Heok , Fujii Senta , Sim Kang , Yong Michael K.H. , Trivedi Jitendra K. , Chung Eun‐Kee , Udomratn Pichet , Chee Kok‐Yoon , Sartorius Norman , Shinfuku Naotaka
Published: August 2012

Introduction

Little is known about the prescription patterns of adjunctive antidepressants in Asian schizophrenia patients. This study aimed to examine trends in the use of antidepressants and their demographic and clinical correlates in the treatment of schizophrenia in Asia between 2001 and 2009.

Methods

A total of 6,761 hospitalized schizophrenia patients in nine Asian countries and territories were examined: 2,399 in 2001, 2,136 in 2004 and 2,226 in 2009. Patients' socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics and prescriptions of psychotropic drugs were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure.

Results

The proportion of antidepressant prescription was 6.8% in the whole sample; 5.3% in 2001, 6.5% in 2004 and 8.7% in 2009. There were wide inter‐country variations at each survey ranging from 0.9% in Hong Kong to 15.3% in Singapore in 2001; from 1.9% in Korea to 15.4% in Singapore in 2004; and from 2.7% in Japan to 22.0% in Singapore in 2009. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample revealed that patients on antidepressants were younger, more likely to receive benzodiazepines and have significant extrapyramidal side‐effects and less likely to have significant positive symptoms.

Discussion

Unlike findings in Western countries, adjunctive antidepressant prescription for schizophrenia was not common in Asia. The frequency of antidepressant prescription varied among countries and territories, suggesting that a host of clinical and socio‐cultural factors played a role in determining antidepressant use in Asia.
Child/Adolescent Abuse and Suicidal Behavior: Are They Sex Related?
Authors: Gal Gilad , Levav Itzhak , Gross Raz
Published: August 2012

The association between childhood and adolescent abuse and suicidal behavior, and the possible contribution of abuse to sex differences in non lethal suicidal behavior, was investigated. Data were extracted from the Israel‐based component of the WHO World Mental Health Survey (Kessler & Utsun, 2008a). Increased risk for ideation, plan, and suicidal attempt were associated with childhood abuse, and increased risk for attempt was associated also with abuse at adolescence. No associations with sex or sex by abuse interactions were observed. The higher frequency of childhood abuse among women could account in part for their higher rates of suicidal attempts as compared to men.
Cognitive impairment in diabetic patients: Can diabetic control prevent cognitive decline?
Authors: Kawamura Takahiko , Umemura Toshitaka , Hotta Nigishi
Published: August 2012

It is well recognized that the prevalence of dementia is higher in diabetic patients than non‐diabetic subjects. The incidence of diabetes has been increasing because of dramatic changes in lifestyles, and combined with longer lifespans as a result of advances in medical technology, this has brought about an increase in the number of elderly diabetic patients. Together, aging and diabetes have contributed to dementia becoming a serious problem. Progression to dementia reduces quality of life, and imposes a burden on both patients themselves and the families supporting them. Therefore, preventing the complication of dementia will become more and more important in the future. Although many mechanisms have been considered for an association between diabetes and cognitive dysfunction, glucose metabolism abnormalities such as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, and insulin action abnormalities such as insulin deficiency and insulin resistance can be causes of cognitive impairment. Recent large‐scale longitudinal studies have found an association between glycemic control and cognitive decline, although it is still unclear how cognitive decline might be prevented by good glycemic control. However, at an early stage, it is necessary to detect moderate cognitive dysfunction and try to reduce the risk factors for it, which should result in prevention of dementia, as well as vascular events. In the present review, in addition to outlining an association between diabetes and cognitive function, we discuss how glycemic control and cognitive decline are related.
Conscious Sedation and Anesthesia in the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory
Authors: LÜ FEI , LIN JUN , BENDITT DAVID G.
Published: August 2012

Conscious Sedation and Anesthesia. Adequate anesthesia is important for performing EP procedures such as catheter ablation and implantation of cardiac devices. A wide range of anesthesia options are available, and all can be safely administered in EP laboratory with proper monitoring, drug selection, airway management equipment, and trained personnel. In addition to knowing the patient's clinical status, a thorough understanding of the clinical pharmacology of each anesthetic agent is essential in order to select appropriate drug among a variety of available anesthetics, to monitor for adverse effects, and to ensure adequate sedation and anesthesia for a comfortable, safe, and successful procedure. After a general strategy of anesthesia is planned, an individual anesthetic agent or combination of agents can be selected based on their pharmacological properties while keeping in mind the desired sedation/anesthesia requirements. Since anesthetics are often used in combination, the synergistic interaction of several anesthetic agents (infiltrative, parenteral, and/or inhaled) needs to be considered. Further attention also needs to be paid to the interaction between anesthetics and other existing medications. Finally, all care providers should work collaboratively and communicate frequently to provide a safe and effective anesthesia. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 237‐245, February 2013)
Paired‐pulse facilitation of multivesicular release and intersynaptic spillover of glutamate at rat cerebellar granule cell–interneurone synapses
Authors: Satake Shin’Ichiro , Inoue Tsuyoshi , Imoto Keiji
Published: August 2012

Key points

Paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF) is a widely observed form of presynaptically originated short‐term plasticity.

Here, we report that, in rat cerebellar cortex, paired‐pulse activation of glutamatergic granule cell axon fibres causes not only a facilitation in the peak amplitude (PPFamp) but also a prolongation in the decay‐time constant (PPPdecay) of the EPSCs recorded from molecular‐layer interneurones (INs).

PPFamp is elicited, in part, by an increase in the number of released vesicles (that is, multivesicular release), whereas PPPdecay results from extrasynaptic spillover of the transmitter glutamate and its intersynaptic pooling among active synapses, as well as from delayed release as has been explained.

PPFamp and PPPdecay play unique roles in determining excitability of the INs.

These findings help us understand the mechanisms underlying encoding and processing of the neuronal information in the cerebellar cortex.

Abstract  A simple form of presynaptic plasticity, paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF), has been explained as a transient increase in the probability of vesicular release. Using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique to record synaptic activity in rat cerebellar slices, we found different forms of presynaptically originated short‐term plasticity during glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission from granule cells (GCs) to molecular‐layer interneurones (INs). Paired‐pulse activation of GC axons at short intervals (30–100 ms) elicited not only a facilitation in the peak amplitude (PPFamp), but also a prolongation in the decay‐time constant (PPPdecay) of the EPSCs recorded from INs. The results of pharmacological tests and kinetics analyses suggest that the mechanisms underlying the respective types of short‐term plasticity were different. PPFamp was elicited by a transient increase in the number of released vesicles. On the other hand, PPPdecay was caused not only by delayed release as has been reported but also by extrasynaptic spillover of the GC transmitter and the subsequent intersynaptic pooling. Both PPFamp and PPPdecay closely rely on repetitive‐activation‐induced multivesicular release. Using a dynamic clamp technique, we further examined the physiological significance of different presynaptic plasticity, and found that PPFamp and PPPdecay can differentially encode and process neuronal information by influencing the total synaptic charge transferred to postsynaptic INs to reflect activation frequency of the presynaptic GCs.
Neurogliaform cells of amygdala: a source of slow phasic inhibition in the basolateral complex
Authors: Mańko Mirosława , Bienvenu Thomas C.M. , Dalezios Yannis , Capogna Marco
Published: August 2012

Key points

The amygdala is a key brain structure implicated in processing emotions and is thought to underlie anxiety‐related behaviours.

Interneurons of the basolateral amygdala provide constant silencing of principal cells, and are proven to be active cellular elements during emotional processing.

We report here a novel interneuron type of the amygdala, termed neurogliaform cell (NGFC), and study its function by a combination of in vivo and in vitro techniques.

NGFCs provide a peculiar cell‐to‐cell form of communication via volume transmission of GABA.

In‐depth analysis of specific neuron type is likely to improve the understanding of amygdala circuits in health and disease.

Abstract  Synaptic inhibition in the amygdala actively participates in processing emotional information. To improve the understanding of interneurons in amygdala networks it is necessary to characterize the GABAergic cell types, their connectivity and physiological roles. We used a mouse line expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the neuropeptide Y (NPY) promoter. Paired recordings between presynaptic NPY‐GFP‐expressing (+) cells and postsynaptic principal neurons (PNs) of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were performed. The NPY‐GFP+ neurons displayed small somata and short dendrites embedded in a cloud of highly arborized axon, suggesting a neurogliaform cell (NGFC) type. We discovered that a NPY‐GFP+ cell evoked a GABAA receptor‐mediated slow inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) in a PN and an autaptic IPSC. The slow kinetics of these IPSCs was likely caused by the low concentration and spillover of extracellular GABA. We also report that NGFCs of the BLA fired action potentials phase‐locked to hippocampal theta oscillations in anaesthetized rats. When this firing was re‐played in NPY+‐NGFCs in vitro, it evoked a transient depression of the IPSCs. Presynaptic GABAB receptors and functional depletion of synaptic vesicles determined this short‐term plasticity. Synaptic contacts made by recorded NGFCs showed close appositions, and rarely identifiable classical synaptic structures. Thus, we report here a novel interneuron type of the amygdala that generates volume transmission of GABA. The peculiar functional mode of NGFCs makes them unique amongst all GABAergic cell types of the amygdala identified so far.
Activation of IGF‐2R stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in the late gestation sheep fetus
Authors: Wang Kimberley C. W. , Brooks Doug A. , Thornburg Kent L. , Morrison Janna L.
Published: August 2012

Key points

This study investigates the impact that insulin‐like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF‐2R) activation has on the fetal heart, by infusing Leu27IGF‐2 into the left circumflex coronary artery of the sheep fetus, to specifically activate IGF‐2R and it's downstream signalling pathway.

Activation of cardiac IGF‐2R resulted in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, but with no changes in heart weight, cardiomyocyte proliferation, binucleation or apoptosis. This hypertrophy was mediated via protein kinase A activation.

Infusion of Leu27IGF‐2 increases atrial natriuretic peptide abundance, a marker of cardiac pathological hypertrophy.

Cardiac IGF‐2R activation may alter important regulators of cardiac contractility and relaxation by decreasing sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase and phospho‐troponin I abundance.

This study places the interaction between the IGF‐2R and Gαs signalling pathway as a potential mechanism that can contribute to cardiomyocyte growth in fetal life, but which may result in pathological cardiac hypertrophy in postnatal life.

Abstract In vitro studies using rat and fetal sheep cardiomyocytes indicate that, in addition to its role as a clearance receptor, the insulin‐like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF‐2R) can induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In the present study, we have determined the effect of specific activation of the IGF‐2R in the heart of the late gestation fetus on cardiomyocyte development. Leu27IGF‐2, an IGF‐2R agonist, was infused into the fetal left circumflex coronary artery for 4 days beginning at 128.1 ± 0.4 days gestation. Ewes were humanely killed at 132.2 ± 1.2 days gestation (term, 150 days). Fetuses were delivered and hearts dissected to isolate the cardiomyocytes and to collect and snap‐freeze tissue. Leu27IGF‐2 infusion into the left circumflex coronary artery of fetal sheep increased the area of binucleated cardiomyocytes in the left, but not the right, ventricle. However, this infusion of Leu27IGF‐2 did not change fetal weight, heart weight, blood pressure, blood gases or cardiomyocyte proliferation/binucleation. The increase in cardiomyocyte size in the Leu27IGF‐2‐infused group was associated with increased expression of proteins in the Gαs, but not the Gαq, signalling pathway. We concluded that infusion of Leu27IGF‐2 into the left circumflex coronary artery causes cardiac IGF‐2R activation in the left ventricle of the heart, and this stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a Gαs‐dependent manner.
Ag and Pt Particles Sputtered on β-Fe2O3: An XPS Investigation
Authors: Carraro Giorgio , Barreca Davide , Gasparotto Alberto , Maccato Chiara
Published: August 2012

Supported β-Fe2O3 systems were grown and functionalized with Ag or Pt nanoparticles (NPs) adopting a two-step synthetic strategy. Iron oxide matrices (host) were initially deposited by thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) using Fe(hfa)2⋅TMEDA (hfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate; TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) as precursor, at a growth temperature of 400 °C and total pressure of 3.0 mbar. Subsequently, Ag or Pt (guest) were deposited on β-Fe2O3 by means of Radio Frequency (RF)-sputtering under mild conditions (Ar plasmas; total pressure = 0.3 mbar; substrate temperature = 60 °C; RF-power = 5 W). A thorough structural and morphological characterization performed on these systems highlighted the dispersion of NPs over the host oxide. To this regard, x-ray Photoelectron and x-ray Excited Auger Electron Spectroscopies (XPS and XE-AES) analyses provided valuable information on the system chemical composition, with special focus on NPs surface interaction with iron(III) oxide matrices. At variance with platinum, which retained its metallic state, an appreciable Ag surface oxidation was observed, an important issue in view of possible functional applications in photocatalysis and gas sensing.
Differences in predicted and actually absorbed doses in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy
Authors: Kletting Peter , Müller Berthold , Erentok Bahar , Schmaljohann Jörn , Behrendt Florian F. , Reske Sven N. , Mottaghy Felix M. , Glatting Gerhard
Published: August 2012

Purpose:

An important assumption in dosimetry prior to radionuclide therapy is the equivalence of pretherapeutic and therapeutic biodistribution. In this study the authors investigate if this assumption is justified in sst2‐receptor targeting peptide therapy, as unequal amounts of peptide and different peptides for pretherapeutic measurements and therapy are commonly used.

Methods:

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models were developed. Gamma camera and serum measurements of ten patients with metastasizing neuroendocrine tumors were conducted using111In‐DTPAOC. The most suitable model was selected using the corrected Akaike information criterion. Based on that model and the estimated individual parameters, predicted and measured 90Y‐DOTATATE excretions during therapy were compared. The residence times for the pretherapeutic (measured) and therapeutic scenarios (simulated) were calculated.

Results:

Predicted and measured therapeutic excretion differed in three patients by 10%, 31%, and 7%. The measured pretherapeutic and therapeutic excretion differed by 53%, 56%, and 52%. The simulated therapeutic residence times of kidney and tumor were 3.1 ± 0.6 and 2.5 ± 1.2 fold higher than the measured pretherapeutic ones.

Conclusions:

To avoid the introduction of unnecessary inaccuracy in dosimetry, using the same substance along with the same amount for pretherapeutic measurements and therapy is recommended.
Comment on “Intensifying Weathering and Land Use in Iron Age Central Africa”
Authors: Maley Jean , Giresse Pierre , Doumenge Charles , Favier Charly
Published: August 2012

Bayon
et al
. (Reports, 9 March 2012, p. 1219) claim that the “rainforest crisis” in Central Africa centered around 2500 years before the present “was not triggered by natural climatic factors” and that it was caused by widespread deforestation resulting from the arrival of the Bantu colonists. However, there is a consensus among palaeoecologists that this landscape change and the related physical erosion it caused was due mainly to a shift to more seasonal rainfall regime.
Beyond Oil and Water—Phase Transitions in Cells
Authors: Hyman Anthony A. , Simons Kai
Published: August 2012

The organization of cellular compartments may be driven by liquid phase separations and the collective low-affinity interactions of macromolecules.
Mitochondrial Dynamics and Apoptosis—the ER Connection
Authors: Hoppins Suzanne , Nunnari Jodi
Published: August 2012

Microdomains formed by the association of the ER with mitochondria during mitochondrial division may also be used to regulate cell death.
A Dense Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Coating Improves Penetration of Large Polymeric Nanoparticles Within Brain Tissue
Authors: Nance Elizabeth A. , Woodworth Graeme F. , Sailor Kurt A. , Shih Ting-Yu , Xu Qingguo , Swaminathan Ganesh , Xiang Dennis , Eberhart Charles , Hanes Justin
Published: August 2012

Nanoparticles densely coated with poly(ethylene glycol) rapidly penetrate within mouse, rat, and human brain parenchyma.
Designing a Public Square for Research Computing
Authors: Masys Daniel R. , Harris Paul A. , Fearn Paul A. , Kohane Isaac S.
Published: August 2012

Use of a set of principles when designing research computing applications can increase the likelihood of successful adoption by researchers.
Clonal Evolution of Preleukemic Hematopoietic Stem Cells Precedes Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Jan Max , Snyder Thomas M. , Corces-Zimmerman M. Ryan , Vyas Paresh , Weissman Irving L. , Quake Stephen R. , Majeti Ravindra
Published: August 2012

Exome sequencing and single-cell analysis reveals that a clonal progression of mutations in hematopoietic stem cells precedes human acute myeloid leukemia.
Comment on “Characterization of Circulating Endothelial Cells in Acute Myocardial Infarction”
Authors: Vendrell Jean-françois , Cezar Renaud , Lobotesis Kyriakos , Vendrell Jean-Pierre
Published: August 2012

The circulating endothelial cell population characterized by Damani
et al
. might be contaminated by endothelium damage after femoral catheterization.
Intranasal Vaccination with Replication-Defective Adenovirus Type 5 Encoding Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Elicits Protective Immunity to Homologous Challenge and Partial Protection to Heterologous Challenge in Pigs
Authors: Braucher Douglas R. , Henningson Jamie N. , Loving Crystal L. , Vincent Amy L. , Kim Eun , Steitz Julia , Gambotto Andrea A. , Kehrli Marcus E.
Published: August 2012

Influenza A virus (IAV) is widely circulating in the swine population and causes significant economic losses. To combat IAV infection, the swine industry utilizes adjuvanted whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines, using a prime-boost strategy. These vaccines can provide sterilizing immunity toward homologous virus but often have limited efficacy against a heterologous infection. There is a need for vaccine platforms that induce mucosal and cell-mediated immunity that is cross-reactive to heterologous viruses and can be produced in a short time frame. Nonreplicating adenovirus 5 vector (Ad5) vaccines are one option, as they can be produced rapidly and given intranasally to induce local immunity. Thus, we compared the immunogenicity and efficacy of a single intranasal dose of an Ad5-vectored hemagglutinin (Ad5-HA) vaccine to those of a traditional intramuscular administration of WIV vaccine. Ad5-HA vaccination induced a mucosal IgA response toward homologous IAV and primed an antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response against both challenge viruses. The Ad5-HA vaccine provided protective immunity to homologous challenge and partial protection against heterologous challenge, unlike the WIV vaccine. Nasal shedding was significantly reduced and virus was cleared from the lung by day 5 postinfection following heterologous challenge of Ad5-HA-vaccinated pigs. However, the WIV-vaccinated pigs displayed vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD) following heterologous challenge, characterized by enhanced macroscopic lung lesions. This study demonstrates that a single intranasal vaccination with an Ad5-HA construct can provide complete protection from homologous challenge and partial protection from heterologous challenge, as opposed to VAERD, which can occur with adjuvanted WIV vaccines.
Draft Genome Sequence of Aspergillus oryzae Strain 3.042
Authors: Zhao Guozhong , Yao Yunping , Qi Wei , Wang Chunling , Hou Lihua , Zeng Bin , Cao Xiaohong
Published: August 2012

Aspergillus oryzae
is the most important fungus for the traditional fermentation in China and is particularly important in soy sauce fermentation. We report the 36,547,279-bp draft genome sequence of
A. oryzae
3.042 and compared it to the published genome sequence of
A. oryzae
RIB40.
Peritonitis and Technique Failure Caused by Roseomonas mucosa in an Adolescent Infected with HIV on Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Boyd Mary Adetinuke , Laurens Matthew B. , Fiorella Paul D. , Mendley Susan R.
Published: August 2012

We report the first case of peritonitis caused by
Roseomonas mucosa
which led to technique failure in an adolescent patient with HIV receiving peritoneal dialysis. Identification of the causative organism by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis is described.
Fast Assessment of Resistance to Carbapenems and Ciprofloxacin of Clinical Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Bou Germán , Otero Fátima María , Santiso Rebeca , Tamayo María , Fernández María del Carmen , Tomás María , Gosálvez Jaime , Fernández José Luis
Published: August 2012

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
constitute a major life-threatening problem worldwide, and early adequate antibiotic therapy is decisive for success. For these reasons, rapid detection of antibiotic susceptibility in this pathogen is a clinical challenge. Two variants of the Micromax kit were evaluated for a rapid detection
in situ
of susceptibility or resistance to meropenem or ciprofloxacin, separately, in 322 clinical isolates. Release of the nucleoid is the criterion of susceptibility to the beta-lactams (carbapenems), whereas diffusion of DNA fragments emerging from the nucleoid characterizes the quinolone activity. All the susceptible and resistant strains were correctly categorized in 100 min according to the MIC results and CLSI criteria. Thus, our technology is a promising tool for rapid identification of carbapenem and quinolone resistance of
A. baumannii
strains in hospital settings.
The Human Metapneumovirus Fusion Protein Mediates Entry via an Interaction with RGD-Binding Integrins
Authors: Cox Reagan G. , Livesay S. Brent , Johnson Monika , Ohi Melanie D. , Williams John V.
Published: August 2012

Paramyxoviruses use a specialized fusion protein to merge the viral envelope with cell membranes and initiate infection. Most paramyxoviruses require the interaction of two viral proteins to enter cells; an attachment protein binds cell surface receptors, leading to the activation of a fusion (F) protein that fuses the viral envelope and host cell plasma membrane. In contrast, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) expressing only the F protein is replication competent, suggesting a primary role for HMPV F in attachment and fusion. We previously identified an invariant arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) motif in the HMPV F protein and showed that the RGD-binding integrin αVβ1-promoted HMPV infection. Here we show that both HMPV F-mediated binding and virus entry depend upon multiple RGD-binding integrins and that HMPV F can mediate binding and fusion in the absence of the viral attachment (G) protein. The invariant F-RGD motif is critical for infection, as an F-RAE virus was profoundly impaired. Further, F-integrin binding is required for productive viral RNA transcription, indicating that RGD-binding integrins serve as receptors for the HMPV fusion protein. Thus, HMPV F is triggered to induce virus-cell fusion by interactions with cellular receptors in a manner that is independent of the viral G protein. These results suggest a stepwise mechanism of HMPV entry mediated by the F protein through its interactions with cellular receptors, including RGD-binding integrins.
Modification of One Epitope-Flanking Amino Acid Allows for the Induction of Friend Retrovirus-Specific CD8+T Cells by Adenovirus-Based Immunization
Authors: Gödel Philipp , Windmann Sonja , Dietze Kirsten K. , Dittmer Ulf , Bayer Wibke
Published: August 2012

While Friend retrovirus-infected mice readily mount a vigorous CD8+T cell response to the leader-gag-derived peptide GagL85–93, no GagL85–93-specific T cells were detectable in mice immunized against Friend virus (FV) with viral vectors or DNA vaccines. By exchanging one epitope-flanking amino acid or using a scaffold protein we were able to demonstrate for the first time the induction of GagL85–93-specific CD8+T cells by genetic vaccination and show their high protective effect against FV challenge infection.