bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Zoning for Transport Mode Choice Modeling
Authors: Hagen‐Zanker Alex , Jin Ying
Published: January 2013

Adaptive zoning is a recently introduced method for improving computer modeling of spatial interactions and movements in the transport network. Unlike traditional zoning, where geographic locations are defined by one single universal plan of discrete land parcels or ‘zones’ for the study area, adaptive zoning establishes a compendium of different zone plans, each of which is applicable to one journey origin or destination only. These adaptive zone plans are structured to represent strong spatial interactions in proportionately more detail than weaker ones. In recent articles, it has been shown that adaptive zoning improves, by a large margin, the scalability of models of spatial interaction and road traffic assignment. This article confronts the method of adaptive zoning with an application of the scale and complexity for which it was intended, namely an application of mode choice modeling that at the same time requires a large study area and a fine‐grained zone system. Our hypothesis is that adaptive zoning can significantly improve the accuracy of mode choice modeling because of its enhanced sensitivity to the geographic patterns and scales of spatial interaction. We test the hypothesis by investigating the performance of three alternative models: (1) a spatially highly detailed model that is permissible to the maximum extent by available data, but requires a high computational load that is generally out of reach for rapid turnaround of policy studies; (2) a mode choice model for the same area, but reducing the computational load by 90% by using a traditional zone system consisting of fewer zones; and (3) a mode choice model that also reduces the computational load by 90%, but based on adaptive zoning instead. The tests are carried out on the basis of a case study that uses the dataset from the London Area Transport Survey. Using the first model as a benchmark, it is found that for a given computational load, the model based on adaptive zoning contains about twice the amount of information of the traditional model, and model parameters on adaptive zoning principles are more accurate by a factor of six to eight. The findings suggest that adaptive zoning has a significant potential in enhancing the accuracy of mode choice modeling at the city or city‐region scale.
Measurement of Length of Hyperdense MCA Sign in Acute Ischemic Stroke Predicts Disappearance after IV tPA
Authors: Shobha Nandavar , Bal Simerpreet , Boyko Matthew , Kroshus Eric , Menon Bijoy K. , Bhatia Rohit , Sohn Sung‐Il , Kumarpillai Gopukumar , Kosior Jayme , Hill Michael D. , Demchuk Andrew M.
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND

We sought to assess the hypothesis that length and volumes of middle cerebral artery (MCA) thrombus were associated with disappearance of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) in acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of acute ischemic stroke patients with MCA occlusion admitted to the University Hospital in Canada. The length and volumes of the HMCAS was measured on the plain CT by placing CTA images (CTA source images or MIP images) side‐by‐side.

RESULTS

Seventy‐six patients with acute stroke having HMCAS on noncontrast CT (NCCT) with M1 MCA occlusion confirmed by CT angiography or digital subtraction angiography and received tPA. The treatments received were: IV tPA 41(53.9%) and endovascular treatment ± IV tPA 35 (46.1%). In the IV tPA group, the rate of disappearance varied depending on the baseline HMCAS length. Short length HMCAS (<10 mm) disappeared in 6/7 (85.7%) (P < .001). Medium length HMCAS (10‐20 mm) disappeared in 9/24 (37.5%). No cases of long length HMCAS (>20 mm) disappeared (0/10) (P = .05). Rate of disappearance of HMCAS was found to be volume dependent (P < .002).

CONCLUSION

HMCAS length >10 mm infrequently disappears with IV tPA suggesting a potential need for ancillary therapy in this group.
White Matter Alterations in Early Stages of Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Studies
Authors: Samartzis Lampros , Dima Danai , Fusar‐Poli Paolo , Kyriakopoulos Marinos
Published: January 2013

Several lines of evidence suggest that the normal integration of cerebral communication may be compromised in schizophrenia, with white matter (WM) abnormalities being integral to these functional deficits. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a neuroimaging technique which has increasingly been used to study WM through quantitative indices of its structural and orientational characteristics. Identifying the WM differences early in the course of schizophrenia may assist in prevention, early diagnosis and identification of treatment targets. In that respect, the aims of the present study were to (a) systematically review WM integrity in the early stages of schizophrenia as inferred by DTI and (b) specifically examine parameters that may affect WM: age, duration of illness and treatment. In summary, DTI studies in early schizophrenia suggest that structural dysconnectivity may be already present in recent‐onset and drug‐naïve patients, as well as in individuals clinically at high risk for developing schizophrenia. Although the pattern of WM differences is not totally consistent frontal, fronto‐temporal and fronto‐limbic connections, with tracts including the superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulum bundle, uncinate fasciculus and corpus callosum seem to be affected. These differences may depend on the developmental stage of the subjects, the duration of illness and exposure to antipsychotic medication.
FLAIR Distal Hyperintense Vessels as a Marker of Perfusion‐Diffusion Mismatch in Acute Stroke
Authors: Haussen Diogo C. , Koch Sebastian , Saraf‐Lavi Efrat , Shang Tiesong , Dharmadhikari Sushrut , Yavagal Dileep R.
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Distal hyperintense vessels (DHV) on MRI FLAIR sequences in acute brain ischemia are thought to represent leptomeningeal collateral flow. We hypothesized that DHV are more common in acute stroke patients with perfusion‐diffusion weighted mismatch (PDM) than in those without.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of consecutive anterior circulation stroke patients who underwent multimodal MRI within 8 hours of onset. We correlated DHV occurrence with the presence or absence of PDM, and analyzed DHV correlates when angiography was available.

RESULTS

Twenty‐one patients with PDM and 28 without were included. On univariate analysis, there was no significant difference regarding demographic variables between the two groups, with the exception of a higher frequency of atrial fibrillation (33% vs. 7%; P= .02) and intravenous tissue plasminogen activator use (57% vs 25%; P= .03) in the PDM patients. The PDM group more commonly had DHV (85% vs 25%; P < .001). On multivariate analysis, DHV presence (odds ratio, 6.01; 95% confidence‐interval, 1.08‐33.29; P= .04) and vessel occlusion site (odds ratio, 3.17; 95% confidence‐interval, 1.21‐8.31; P= .01) were the only variables independently associated with PDM. Conventional angiography was useful correlating DHV presence and collateral flow in a subset of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

DHV may be a surrogate marker for PDM in patients with hyperacute ischemic stroke.
Are Coil Compaction and Aneurysmal Growth Two Distinct Etiologies Leading to Recurrence Following Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysm?
Authors: Abdihalim Mohamed , Watanabe Masaki , Chaudhry Saqib A. , Jagadeesan Bharati , Suri M. Fareed K. , Qureshi Adnan I.
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND

Recurrence following endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysm is attributed to either coil compaction or aneurysm growth but these processes have not been studied as distinct processes.

METHODS

The pixel size of the coil mass and aneurysm sac, and the adjacent parent artery were measured and expressed as a ratio to the pixel size of the parent vessel diameter on immediate post‐procedure and follow‐up angiograms. Increase of aneurysm area or decrease in coil mass of 30% or greater on follow‐up angiogram was used to define “significant” aneurysm growth and coil compaction, respectively.

RESULTS

Eleven patients had coil compaction, 14 patients had significant aneurysm growth and 4 patients had small aneurysm regrowth. Retreatment was performed in the 14 patients with “significant” aneurysm regrowth and 8 of the 11 patients with coil compaction at mean follow of 11 months (range 5–20 months) following the initial procedure. There were no events of new aneurysmal rupture in either 11 patients with coil compaction or 14 patients with significant aneurysm regrowth over a mean follow‐up period of 22 months (range of 9–42 months).

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first studies to differentiate coil compaction and aneurysm growth as distinct etiologies for aneurysm recurrence.
On methods for the detection of reactive oxygen species generation by human spermatozoa: analysis of the cellular responses to catechol oestrogen, lipid aldehyde, menadione and arachidonic acid
Authors: Aitken R. J. , Smith T. B. , Lord T. , Kuczera L. , Koppers A. J. , Naumovski N. , Connaughton H. , Baker M. A. , De Iuliis G. N.
Published: January 2013

Oxidative stress is known to have a major impact on human sperm function and, as a result, there is a need to develop sensitive methods for measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by these cells. A variety of techniques have been developed for this purpose including chemiluminescence (luminol and lucigenin), flow cytometry (MitoSOX Red, dihydroethidium, 4,5‐diaminofluorescein diacetate and 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate) and spectrophotometry (nitroblue tetrazolium). The relative sensitivity of these assays and their comparative ability to detect ROS generated in different subcellular compartments of human spermatozoa, have not previously been investigated. To address this issue, we have compared the performance of these assays when ROS generation was triggered with a variety of reagents including 2‐hydroxyestradiol, menadione, 4‐hydroxynonenal and arachidonic acid. The results revealed that menadione predominantly induced release of ROS into the extracellular space where these metabolites could be readily detected by luminol‐peroxidase and, to a lesser extent, 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein. However, such sensitivity to extracellular ROS meant that these assays were particularly vulnerable to interference by leucocytes. The remaining reagents predominantly elicited ROS generation by the sperm mitochondria and could be optimally detected by MitoSOX Red and DHE. Examination of spontaneous ROS generation by defective human spermatozoa revealed that MitoSOX Red was the most effective indicator of oxidative stress, thereby emphasizing the general importance of mitochondrial dysregulation in the aetiology of defective sperm function.
Job demands and personal resources in their relations to indicators of job strain among nurses for older people
Authors: Schmidt Klaus‐Helmut , Diestel Stefan
Published: January 2013

Aims

To examine the role of two personal resources (active, problem‐focused coping; self‐efficacy beliefs) in the relation between job demands and strain.

Background

Evidence suggests that healthcare staff in general and nurses in particular, are at a high risk of suffering from high levels of job strain. In addition to often examined job‐related resources (such as control and social support), personal resources are expected to moderate (i.e. buffer) the relation between job demands and indicators of strain, particularly when there is a functional match between the type of demands and resources.

Design

Cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.

Method

A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was conducted (February–April 2010) among staff members of three nursing homes of a municipal organization for residential elderly care located in an urban area of Western Germany. A total of 145 of 251 employees responded to the invitation to participate in the study (57·8% participation rate). Data were analysed by hierarchical moderated regression analyses.

Results

Increasing job demands (quantitative and qualitative workload) had adverse effects on emotional exhaustion, psychosomatic complaints, and turnover intentions, whereas nurses’ self‐efficacy beliefs exerted beneficial effects on all outcomes. Furthermore, findings revealed that active, problem‐focused coping interacts with job demands in the prediction of job strain.

Conclusion

Both research and practice should focus on a closer match between personal resources and job demands to prevent nurses from being strained.
Attitudes of Primary Care Providers and Recommendations of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring—DocStyles, 2010
Authors: Tirabassi Jill , Fang Jing , Ayala Carma
Published: January 2013

To assess primary care providers' (PCPs) opinions related to recommending home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) for their hypertensive patients, the authors analyzed a Web‐based 2010 DocStyles survey, which included PCPs' demographics, health‐related behaviors, recommendations on HBPM, views of patient knowledge, and use of continuing medical education. Of the 1254 PCPs who responded, 539 were family practitioners, 461 were internists, and 254 were nurse practitioners; 32% recommended HBPM to ≥90% of their patients and 26% recommended it to ≤40% of their patients. Nurse practitioners were significantly more likely to recommend HBPM than were internists (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.78). The top reasons for not recommending HBPM were “patient can't afford it” and “patient doesn't need it.” A total of 20% of PCPs indicated that their patients were poor to lower middle class; these PCPs were less likely to recommend HBPM to their patients than were those PCPs with most patients in higher economic classes. Additional efforts are needed to provide education to providers, especially physicians, about the benefits of HBPM in improved and cost‐effective blood pressure control in the United States.
Low rates of X‐Y recombination, not turnovers, account for homomorphic sex chromosomes in several diploid species of Palearctic green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup)
Authors: Stöck M. , Savary R. , Betto‐Colliard C. , Biollay S. , Jourdan‐Pineau H. , Perrin N.
Published: January 2013

Contrasting with birds and mammals, most ectothermic vertebrates present homomorphic sex chromosomes, which might be due either to a high turnover rate or to occasional X‐Y recombination. We tested these two hypotheses in a group of Palearctic green toads that diverged some 3.3 million years ago. Using sibship analyses of sex‐linked markers, we show that all four species investigated share the same pair of sex chromosomes and a pattern of male heterogamety with drastically reduced X‐Y recombination in males. Phylogenetic analyses of sex‐linked sequences show that X and Y alleles cluster by species, not by gametolog. We conclude that X‐Y homomorphy and fine‐scale sequence similarity in these species do not stem from recent sex‐chromosome turnovers, but from occasional X‐Y recombination.
Adaptive morphological shifts to novel habitats in marine sculpin fishes
Authors: Knope M. L. , Scales J. A.
Published: January 2013

Sculpin fishes of the North American Pacific Coast provide an ideal opportunity to examine whether adaptive morphological character shifts have facilitated occupation of novel habitat types because of their well‐described phylogeny and ecology. In this group, the basal‐rooted species primarily occupy the subtidal habitat, whereas the species in the most distal clades are found in the intertidal. We tested multiple evolutionary models to determine whether changes in body size and changes in number of scales are adaptive for habitat use in sculpins. Based on a statistically robust, highly resolved molecular phylogeny of 26 species of sculpins, in combination with morphometric and habitat affinity data, our analyses show that an adaptive model based on habitat use best explains changes in body size and number of scales. The habitat model was statistically supported over models of neutral evolution, stabilizing selection across all habitats, and three clade‐based models. We suggest that loss of scales and reduction of body size in the intertidal may facilitate cutaneous breathing in air when tidepools become hypoxic during low tides. This study demonstrates how the combined use of phylogenetic, ecological and statistical approaches helps to identify traits that are likely adaptive to novel habitats.
Anxiolytic medication use is not associated with anxiety level and does not reduce complications after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Abed Mona A , Frazier Susan , Hall Lynne A , Moser Debra K
Published: January 2013

Aims and objectives

To examine the association of anxiety level and anxiolytic medication use with in‐hospital complications in patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background

There are conflicting data about the protective effect of anxiolytic medication used in patients after acute myocardial infarction. Examination of the interaction of anxiolytic medication and anxiety level may explain these disparate results.

Design

This was a secondary analysis of existing data from a multisite, prospective study of the impact of anxiety on in‐hospital complications in patients with AMI.

Methods

Patients were primarily men, Caucasians, with Killip class 1 or 2, from the USA and Australia (n = 156). Anxiety level in the emergency department and intensive care unit and in‐hospital complications were collected using self‐report measures and medical record review. Logistic regression analyses examined whether the use of anxiolytic medication influenced the relationship between anxiety and in‐hospital complications after controlling for demographic and clinical covariates.

Results

In the ED, 31% of participants were very or extremely anxious; anxiolytic medication was given to only 5%. In the intensive care unit, nearly half of participants received anxiolytic medication. There was no association between anxiety level and use of anxiolytic medication. Anxiety was an independent predictor of the probability of in‐hospital complications. The administration of anxiolytic medication did not alter the relationship between anxiety and in‐hospital complications.

Conclusion

Use of anxiolytics in patients with AMI was not associated with anxiety level and did not reduce the probability of in‐hospital complications.

Relevance to clinical practice

Clinicians need to regularly assess anxiety and treat it appropriately. Regular anxiety assessment may promote appropriate use of anxiolytic medication. Clinical guidelines for the management of patients with an AMI should address anxiety assessment and appropriate use of anxiolytic medication to improve patients' outcomes.
Organizational Performance Consequences of Age Diversity: Inspecting the Role of Diversity‐Friendly HR Policies and Top Managers’ Negative Age Stereotypes
Authors: Kunze Florian , Boehm Stephan , Bruch Heike
Published: January 2013

This paper seeks to advance the diversity literature by investigating organizational performance consequences of age diversity. Drawing from social‐identity and social‐categorization theory, we theoretically argue that, in age‐diverse companies, age‐based subgrouping processes occur, favouring a shared perception of a negative age‐discrimination climate. This perceived negative age‐discrimination climate in turn negatively relates to organizational performance. As the main contribution, top managers’ negative age‐related stereotypes and diversity‐friendly HR policies are introduced as organizational‐level moderators that increase and attenuate, respectively, the social categorization processes affecting performance in age‐diverse companies. We utilized structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses using a multisource dataset comprising 147 companies. The results supported all hypotheses, indicating that low negative top managers’ age stereotypes as well as high diversity‐friendly HR policies are potential organizational factors that can prevent the negative relation of age diversity with organizational performance transmitted through the negative age‐discrimination climate. These results are discussed in light of their contribution to the diversity literature and social‐categorization theory as well as their implication for practitioners.
Effects of antiviral therapy on hepatitis B virus reactivation and liver function after resection or chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lao Xiang‐Ming , Luo Guangyu , Ye Liang‐Tao , Luo Cheng , Shi Ming , Wang Dian , Guo Rongping , Chen Minshan , Li Shengping , Lin Xiaojun , Yuan Yunfei
Published: January 2013

Background

How hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection react to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment remains unclear, and the roles of anti‐HBV therapy were seldom reported in HCC.

Aims

To evaluate changes of HBV replication and liver function after hepatectomy or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for HCC, also the short‐term effects of anti‐viral therapy were analyzed.

Methods

Totally, 590 HBsAg (+) HCC patients were recruited into two groups: only surgical resection, and only TACE, and subgrouped according to anti‐HBV therapy or none. Clinical data were analyzed for statistical significance and risk factors for adverse events.

Results

In the no antiviral therapy groups, rates of HBV reactivation were 15.7% and 17.5% in patients who underwent hepatectomy and TACE, respectively, while the rates of deterioration of liver function were 4.1% and 8.1%, respectively. In contrast, in the antivirus group, the rates of reactivation were 0% and 1.5% after hepatectomy and TACE respectively, while the liver function deterioration rates were 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively. For patients who underwent hepatectomy, no antiviral therapy, and long hepatic inflow occlusion times increased the risk of HBV reactivation. For TACE, no antivirus and HBeAg negativity were the risk factors for reactivation. HBV reactivation was significantly correlated to liver function exacerbation after hepatectomy, while HBV reactivation, baseline ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and α‐fetoprotein levels were significantly correlated to liver function exacerbation after TACE.

Conclusions

HBV reactivation can occur after hepatectomy or TACE. Anti‐HBV therapy can reduce the risk of reactivation, thus reducing the risk of liver failure especially in patients undergoing TACE.
Randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of oral paricalcitol with oral calcitriol in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Ong Loke Meng , Narayanan Punithavathi , Goh Heong Keong , Manocha Anita Bhajan , Ghazali Ahmad , Omar Mahanim , Mohamad Sukeri , Goh Bak‐Leong , Shah Shahnaz , Seman Mohd Ramli , Vaithilingam Indralingam , Ghazalli Rozina , Rahmat Korina , Shaariah Wan , Ching Chen Hua ,   Oral Paricalcitol in ESRD Study Group
Published: January 2013

Aim

The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of oral paricalcitol with oral calcitriol for treating secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods

We conducted the first multicenter open‐labelled parallel group randomized controlled trial in 66 patients on dialysis. Patients were randomized to paricalcitol or calcitriol at a 3:1 dose ratio and adjusted to maintain intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level between 150–300 pg/mL, serum calcium ≤2.74 mmol/L and calcium‐phosphate product ≤5.63 mmol2/L2. The primary end point was the proportion of patients who achieved >30% reduction in iPTH.

Results

At 24 weeks, 22 (61.1%) patients in the paricalcitol and 22 (73.3%) in the calcitriol group had achieved the primary end‐point (P‐value = 0.29). The cumulative proportion of patients who achieved the end‐point at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks were 50%, 80.6% and 86.1%, respectively, in paricalcitol and 53.3%, 86.7% and 86.7%, respectively, in the calcitriol group (P‐value = 0.67). Median time to the end‐point was 6 weeks in both groups. There were no significant differences in iPTH level at any time during the study. The median reduction in iPTH at 24 weeks was 48.4% in the paricalcitol group and 41.9% in the calcitriol group (P‐value = 0.6). The median maximal iPTH reduction was 77.1% (paricalcitol) and 83.7% (calcitriol), P‐value = 0.3. Serum calcium and incidence of hypercalcaemia did not differ between groups. 16.7% of patients in both groups had at least one episode of hypercalcaemia (serum calcium >2.74 mmol/L). Other adverse events were similar between groups.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that oral paricalcitol has similar efficacy and safety to oral calcitriol.
New star on the stage: amount of ray parenchyma in tree rings shows a link to climate
Authors: Olano José Miguel , Arzac Alberto , García‐Cervigón Ana I. , von Arx Georg , Rozas Vicente
Published: January 2013

Tree‐ring anatomy reflects the year‐by‐year impact of environmental factors on tree growth. Up to now, research in this field has mainly focused on the hydraulic architecture, with ray parenchyma neglected despite the growing recognition of its relevance for xylem function. Our aim was to address this gap by exploring the potential of the annual patterns of xylem parenchyma as a climate proxy.

We constructed ring‐width and ray‐parenchyma chronologies from 1965 to 2004 for 20 Juniperus thurifera trees growing in a Mediterranean continental climate. Chronologies were related to climate records by means of correlation, multiple regression and partial correlation analyses.

Ray parenchyma responded to climatic conditions at critical stages during the xylogenetic process; namely, at the end of the previous year's xylogenesis (October) and at the onset of earlywood (May) and latewood formation (August).

Ray parenchyma‐based chronologies have potential to complement ring‐width chronologies as a tool for climate reconstructions. Furthermore, medium‐ and low‐frequency signals in the variation of ray parenchyma may improve our understanding of how trees respond to environmental fluctuations and to global change.
Constitutive and Relative Facultative Skin Pigmentation among Victorian Children Including Comparison of Two Visual Skin Charts for Determining Constitutive Melanin Density
Authors: Pezic Angela , Ponsonby Anne‐Louise , Cameron Fergus J , Rodda Christine , Ellis Justine A , Halliday Jane , Siero William , Lucas Robyn M , Dwyer Terence
Published: January 2013

Our aim was to examine the association between ethnicity, phenotype, sun behavior and other characteristics, and constitutive and relative facultative skin pigmentation. A total of 191 participants were recruited, with a mean age of 7.6 years (SD 3.4), during 2009–2011 from Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHC) and schools in Melbourne, Australia. Parental questionnaire data were obtained on sun behavior and examination consisted of noting the child's natural skin, hair and eye color, ethnicity, nevi count and spectrophotometric melanin density (MD). Constitutive skin pigmentation was estimated from buttock MD. Relative facultative skin pigmentation was estimated by hand compared with buttock absorption. Ethnicity, hair color and skin color were associated with constitutive and facultative skin pigmentation on univariate analysis. Higher ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the past month, greater freckling, greater nevi and increased sun exposure over the past year were related to darker facultative skin pigmentation. Sun exposure over the life course was not. The two skin charts accounted for 39.7% and 21.4% of buttock MD, respectively. Relative facultative skin pigmentation is associated with recent UVR levels, not life‐course sun exposure. Relative facultative skin pigmentation may not be a useful measure of sun exposure over the early life course. Skin color charts can be used to assess constitutive skin pigmentation if spectrophotometry is not available.
N200 and P300 as orthogonal and integrable indicators of distinct awareness and recognition processes in memory detection
Authors: Hu Xiaoqing , Pornpattananangkul Narun , Rosenfeld J. Peter
Published: January 2013

In an event‐related potential (ERP)‐based concealed information test (CIT), we investigated the effect of manipulated awareness of concealed information on the ERPs. Participants either committed a mock crime or not (guilty vs. innocent) before the CIT, and received feedback regarding either specific (high awareness) or general (low awareness) task performance during the CIT. We found that awareness and recognition of the crime‐relevant information differentially influenced the frontal‐central N200 and parietal P300: Probe elicited a larger N200 than irrelevant only when guilty participants were in the high awareness condition, whereas the P300 was mainly responsive to information recognition. No N200‐P300 correlation was found, allowing for a combined measure of both yielding the highest detection efficiency in the high awareness group (AUC = .91). Finally, a color‐naming Stroop task following the CIT revealed that guilty participants showed larger interference effects than innocent participants, suggesting that the former expended more attentional resources during the CIT.
Can Sisyphus Succeed? Getting U.S. High‐Level Nuclear Waste into a Geological Repository
Authors: North D. Warner
Published: January 2013

The U.S. government has the obligation of managing the high‐level radioactive waste from its defense activities and also, under existing law, from civilian nuclear power generation. This obligation is not being met. The January 2012 Final Report from the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future provides commendable guidance but little that is new. The author, who served on the federal Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board from 1989 to 1994 and subsequently on the Board on Radioactive Waste Management of the National Research Council from 1994 to 1999, provides a perspective both on the Commission's recommendations and a potential path toward progress in meeting the federal obligation. By analogy to Sisyphus of Greek mythology, our nation needs to find a way to roll the rock to the top of the hill and have it stay there, rather than continuing to roll back down again.
Bayesian Development of a Dose‐Response Model for Aspergillus fumigatus and Invasive Aspergillosis
Authors: Leleu Christopher , Menotti Jean , Meneceur Pascale , Choukri Firas , Sulahian Annie , Garin Yves Jean‐François , Denis Jean‐Baptiste , Derouin Francis
Published: January 2013

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major cause of mortality in immunocompromized hosts, most often consecutive to the inhalation of spores of Aspergillus. However, the relationship between Aspergillus concentration in the air and probability of IA is not quantitatively known. In this study, this relationship was examined in a murine model of IA. Immunosuppressed Balb/c mice were exposed for 60 minutes at day 0 to an aerosol of A. fumigatus spores (Af293 strain). At day 10, IA was assessed in mice by quantitative culture of the lungs and galactomannan dosage. Fifteen separate nebulizations with varying spore concentrations were performed. Rates of IA ranged from 0% to 100% according to spore concentrations. The dose‐response relationship between probability of infection and spore exposure was approximated using the exponential model and the more flexible beta‐Poisson model. Prior distributions of the parameters of the models were proposed then updated with data in a Bayesian framework. Both models yielded close median dose‐responses of the posterior distributions for the main parameter of the model, but with different dispersions, either when the exposure dose was the concentration in the nebulized suspension or was the estimated quantity of spores inhaled by a mouse during the experiment. The median quantity of inhaled spores that infected 50% of mice was estimated at 1.8 × 104 and 3.2 × 104 viable spores in the exponential and beta‐Poisson models, respectively. This study provides dose‐response parameters for quantitative assessment of the relationship between airborne exposure to the reference A. fumigatus strain and probability of IA in immunocompromized hosts.
Effects of short‐term nitrogen supply from livestock manures and cover crops on silage maize production and nitrate leaching
Authors: Schröder J. J. , de Visser W. , Assinck F. B. T. , Velthof G. L.
Published: January 2013

Resource use efficiency requires a correct appreciation of the nitrogen (N) fertilizer replacement value (NFRV, percentage of total N applied) of manures. We assessed the NFRVs of the liquid fraction originating from separated pig slurry (MC), untreated pig slurry (PS), untreated cattle slurry (CS), the solid fraction from separated pig slurry (SF) and solid farmyard manure from cattle (FYM) in two consecutive years in silage maize grown on a sandy soil. Maize yields responded positively to each of these N sources applied at rates up to 150 kg of mineral fertilizer equivalents per ha per year (i.e. NFRV × total N rate). The observed NFRVs, relative to calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer, amounted to 78% for MC, 82% for PS, 79% for CS, 56% for SF and 34% for FYM when averaged over both years. NFRVs were positively related to the ammonium‐N share in the total N content. Rye cover crop establishment after the harvest of maize reduced nitrate concentrations of the upper groundwater by, on average, 7.5 mg nitrate‐N/L in the first year and 10.9 mg/L in the second year, relative to a bare soil. Regardless of the presence of a cover crop, nitrate concentrations responded positively to the applied rate of effective N (total N × NFRV) but less to postharvest residual soil mineral N.
Sources of intravascular ATP during exercise in humans: critical role for skeletal muscle perfusion
Authors: Kirby Brett S. , Crecelius Anne R. , Richards Jennifer C. , Dinenno Frank A.
Published: January 2013

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Plasma ATP increases during exercise in humans, but whether ATP originates predominantly from extravascular (nerves and muscle) or intravascular sources (blood and endothelial cells) is unclear.

What is the main finding and its importance?

The collective observations indicate that neither sympathetic nerves nor active skeletal muscle are likely to be the origin of intravascular ATP during dynamic muscle contractions in humans. Furthermore, elevations in skeletal muscle perfusion are requisite to increase and maintain high plasma ATP during exercise, suggesting ATP release from an intravascular cell source.

Exercise hyperaemia is regulated by several factors, and one factor known to increase with exercise that evokes a powerful vasomotor action is extracellular ATP. The origin of ATP detected in plasma from exercising muscle of humans is, however, a matter of debate, and ATP has been suggested to arise from sympathetic nerves, blood sources (e.g. erythrocytes), endothelial cells and skeletal myocytes, among others. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that acute augmentation of sympathetic nervous system activity (SNA) results in elevated plasma ATP draining skeletal muscle, and that SNA superimposition during exercise increases ATP more than exercise alone. We showed that increased SNA via –40 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP) at rest did not increase plasma ATP (51 ± 8 nmol l−1 at rest versus 58 ± 7 nmol l−1 with LBNP), nor did it increase [ATP] above levels observed during rhythmic hand‐grip exercise (79 ± 11 nmol l−1 with exercise alone versus 71 ± 8 nmol l−1 with LBNP). Next, we tested the hypothesis that active perfusion of skeletal muscle is essential to observe increased plasma ATP during exercise. We showed that complete obstruction of blood flow to contracting muscle abolished exercise‐mediated increases in plasma ATP (from 90 ± 19 to 49 ± 12 nmol l−1), and that cessation of blood flow prior to exercise completely inhibited the typical rise in ATP (3 versus 61%, obstructed versus intact perfusion). The lack of change in ATP during occlusion occurred in the face of continued muscular work and elevated SNA, indicating that the rise of intravascular ATP did not result from these extravascular sources. Our collective observations indicated that the elevation in extracellular ATP observed in blood during exercise was unlikely to originate from sympathetic nerves or the contacting muscle itself, but rather was dependent on intact skeletal muscle perfusion. We conclude that an intravascular source for ATP is essential, which indicates an important role for blood sources (e.g. red blood cells) in augmenting and maintaining elevated plasma ATP during exercise.
Trivariant Lagrange Factor Polynomial for Discrete Rayleigh Distributed Reliability Analysis of Aeroengine Combustion Chamber Cylinder
Authors: Wong Chun Nam , Lu Yang
Published: January 2013

In most of the existing stress-strength interference (SSI) models, stress and strength are assumed to be independent structural variants. However, under severe thermal conditions, such as in aeroengine combustion chamber, this assumption may not hold. One structural variant, such as strength, may become unilateral dependent on another variant, such as stress or temperature. In addition, to evaluate the discrete reliability of structures using unilateral dependent structural variants, discrete SSI models were developed using not just linear polynomial or line segments, but higher order polynomials. These models are based on the trivariant Lagrange factor polynomial approach. Normal distributed temperature dependent stress and Rayleigh distributed thermal stress dependent strength are represented by discrete structural variants that possess unilateral dependent probability mean functions. Based on their dependence formulations, the trivariant Lagrange factor polynomial of the discrete SSI model was generated. Applicability of this method was validated by a specific aeroengine combustion chamber cylinder using different molding alloys. Meanwhile the application range of some existing SSI models is extended for interval shifted data. Comparing machinability, reliability, and economic factors, 1Cr11MoV was the most suitable alloy in the design.
Structural, surface, and thermomechanical properties of intrinsic and argon implanted tetrahedral amorphous carbon
Authors: Motta Edison F. , Viana Gustavo A. , Silva Douglas S. , Côrtes Andresa D. S. , Freire Fernando L. , Marques Francisco C.
Published: January 2013

The structural, surface, and thermomechanical properties of intrinsic and argon incorporated tetrahedral amorphous carbon films deposited using the filtered cathodic vacuum arc process are reported. Argon atoms were simultaneously incorporated during the deposition of the films using an argon ion gun in the energy range of 0–180 eV. Contact angle measurements revealed that all of the deposited films are hydrophobic, regardless of the substrate bias voltage that was applied during the depositions. Thermal desorption spectroscopy measurements revealed that high argon bombarding energy favors films that are structurally more compact and thermally more stable. An investigation unbinding the mechanism of argon effusion and intrinsic stress relief is presented.
Tailoring the composition of lead zirconate titanate by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Choi Ju H. , Zhang Feng , Perng Ya-Chuan , Chang Jane P.
Published: January 2013

The incubation time during atomic layer deposition (ALD) of lead oxide, zirconium oxide, and titanium oxide on each other was quantified in order to precisely control the composition of lead zirconate titanate (PZT). The desired stoichiometry of Pb:Zr:Ti=2:1:1, which yields the desired ferroelectricity, was found to depend strongly on the ALD sequence, the substrate of choice, as well as the postdeposition annealing temperature. With the desired stoichiometry, the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the PZT films were validated by polarization–voltage hysteresis loop and piezoresponse force microscopy, respectively, demonstrating that ALD method is a viable technique for ultra thin ferroelectric films for device applications.
Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 Survival in Soil and Translocation into Leeks (Allium porrum) as Influenced by an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (Glomus intraradices)
Authors: Gurtler Joshua B. , Douds David D. , Dirks Brian P. , Quinlan Jennifer J. , Nicholson April M. , Phillips John G. , Niemira Brendan A.
Published: January 2013

A study was conducted to determine the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on
Salmonella
and enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 (EHEC) in autoclaved soil and translocation into leek plants. Six-week-old leek plants (with [Myc+] or without [Myc−] AM fungi) were inoculated with composite suspensions of
Salmonella
or EHEC at ca. 8.2 log CFU/plant into soil. Soil, root, and shoot samples were analyzed for pathogens on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 postinoculation. Initial populations (day 1) were ca. 3.1 and 2.1 log CFU/root, ca. 2.0 and 1.5 log CFU/shoot, and ca. 5.5 and 5.1 CFU/g of soil for
Salmonella
and EHEC, respectively. Enrichments indicated that at days 8 and 22, only 31% of root samples were positive for EHEC, versus 73% positive for
Salmonella
. The mean
Salmonella
level in soil was 3.4 log CFU/g at day 22, while EHEC populations dropped to ≤0.75 log CFU/g by day 15. Overall,
Salmonella
survived in a greater number of shoot, root, and soil samples, compared with the survival of EHEC. EHEC was not present in Myc− shoots after day 8 (0/16 samples positive); however, EHEC persisted in higher numbers (
P
= 0.05) in Myc+ shoots (4/16 positive) at days 15 and 22.
Salmonella
, likewise, survived in statistically higher numbers of Myc+ shoot samples (8/8) at day 8, compared with survival in Myc− shoots (i.e., only 4/8). These results suggest that AM fungi may potentially enhance the survival of
E. coli
O157:H7 and
Salmonella
in the stems of growing leek plants.
The Human Fecal Microbiota Metabolizes Deoxynivalenol and Deoxynivalenol-3-Glucoside and May Be Responsible for Urinary Deepoxy-Deoxynivalenol
Authors: Gratz Silvia W. , Duncan Gary , Richardson Anthony J.
Published: January 2013

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a potent mycotoxin produced by
Fusarium
molds and affects intestinal nutrient absorption and barrier function in experimental and farm animals. Free DON and the plant metabolite DON-3-β-
d
-glucoside (D3G) are frequently found in wheat and maize. D3G is stable in the upper human gut, but some human intestinal bacteria release DON from D3G
in vitro
. Furthermore, some bacteria derived from animal digestive systems degrade DON to a less toxic metabolite, deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1). The metabolism of D3G and DON by the human microbiota has not been fully assessed. We therefore conducted
in vitro
batch culture experiments assessing the activity of the human fecal microbiota to release DON from D3G. We also studied detoxification of DON to DOM-1 by the microbiota and its potential effect on urinary DON excretion in humans. Fecal slurry from five volunteers was spiked with DON or D3G and incubated anaerobically (from 1 h to 7 days), and mycotoxins were extracted into acetonitrile. Mycotoxins were detected in fecal extracts and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The fecal microbiota released DON from D3G very efficiently, with hydrolysis peaking after 4 to 6 h. The fecal microbiota from one volunteer transformed DON to DOM-1. Urine from the same volunteer also contained DOM-1 (4.7% of DON), whereas DOM-1 was not detectable in urine from other volunteers. Our results confirm that the fecal microbiota releases DON from its glycosylated form, hence increasing the toxic burden in exposed individuals. Furthermore, this is first evidence that the human fecal microbiota of one volunteer detoxifies DON, resulting in the appearance of DOM-1 in urine.
Examination of Food Chain-Derived Listeria monocytogenes Strains of Different Serotypes Reveals Considerable Diversity in
inlA
Genotypes, Mutability, and Adaptation to Cold Temperatures
Authors: Kovacevic Jovana , Arguedas-Villa Carolina , Wozniak Anna , Tasara Taurai , Allen Kevin J.
Published: January 2013

Listeria monocytogenes
strains belonging to serotypes 1/2a and 4b are frequently linked to listeriosis. While
inlA
mutations leading to premature stop codons (PMSCs) and attenuated virulence are common in 1/2a, they are rare in serotype 4b. We observed PMSCs in 35% of
L. monocytogenes
isolates (
n
= 54) recovered from the British Columbia food supply, including serotypes 1/2a (30%), 1/2c (100%), and 3a (100%), and a 3-codon deletion (amino acid positions 738 to 740) seen in 57% of 4b isolates from fish-processing facilities. Caco-2 invasion assays showed that two isolates with the deletion were significantly more invasive than EGD-SmR (
P
< 0.0001) and were either as (FF19-1) or more (FE13-1) invasive than a clinical control strain (08-5578) (
P
= 0.006). To examine whether serotype 1/2a was more likely to acquire mutations than other serotypes, strains were plated on agar with rifampin, revealing 4b isolates to be significantly more mutable than 1/2a, 1/2c, and 3a serotypes (
P
= 0.0002). We also examined the ability of 33 strains to adapt to cold temperature following a downshift from 37ï¿½C to 4ï¿½C. Overall, three distinct cold-adapting groups (CAG) were observed: 46% were fast (<70 h), 39% were intermediate (70 to 200 h), and 15% were slow (>200 h) adaptors. Intermediate CAG strains (70%) more frequently possessed
inlA
PMSCs than did fast (20%) and slow (10%) CAGs; in contrast, 87% of fast adaptors lacked
inlA
PMSCs. In conclusion, we report food chain-derived 1/2a and 4b serotypes with a 3-codon deletion possessing invasive behavior and the novel association of
inlA
genotypes encoding a full-length InlA with fast cold-adaptation phenotypes.
Comparative Genomic and Functional Analysis of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strains Marketed as Probiotics
Authors: Douillard Franï¿½ois P. , Ribbera Angela , Jï¿½rvinen Hanna M. , Kant Ravi , Pietilï¿½ Taija E. , Randazzo Cinzia , Paulin Lars , Laine Pia K. , Caggia Cinzia , von Ossowski Ingemar , Reunanen Justus , Satokari Reetta , Salminen Seppo , Palva Airi , de Vos Willem M.
Published: January 2013

Four
Lactobacillus
strains were isolated from marketed probiotic products, including
L. rhamnosus
strains from Vifit (Friesland Campina) and Idoform (Ferrosan) and
L. casei
strains from Actimel (Danone) and Yakult (Yakult Honsa Co.). Their genomes and phenotypes were characterized and compared in detail with
L. casei
strain BL23 and
L. rhamnosus
strain GG. Phenotypic analysis of the new isolates indicated differences in carbohydrate utilization between
L. casei
and
L. rhamnosus
strains, which could be linked to their genotypes. The two isolated
L. rhamnosus
strains had genomes that were virtually identical to that of
L. rhamnosus
GG, testifying to their genomic stability and integrity in food products. The
L. casei
strains showed much greater genomic heterogeneity. Remarkably, all strains contained an intact
spaCBA
pilus gene cluster. However, only the
L. rhamnosus
strains produced mucus-binding SpaCBA pili under the conditions tested. Transcription initiation mapping demonstrated that the insertion of an
iso
-IS
30
element upstream of the pilus gene cluster in
L. rhamnosus
strains but absent in
L. casei
strains had constituted a functional promoter driving pilus gene expression. All
L. rhamnosus
strains triggered an NF-κB response via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in a reporter cell line, whereas the
L. casei
strains did not or did so to a much lesser extent. This study demonstrates that the two
L. rhamnosus
strains isolated from probiotic products are virtually identical to
L. rhamnosus
GG and further highlights the differences between these and
L. casei
strains widely marketed as probiotics, in terms of genome content, mucus-binding and metabolic capacities, and host signaling capabilities.