bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Disorder‐Related Autobiographical Memory in Acute Anorexia Nervosa Patients
Authors: Huber Julia , Salatsch Carmen , Ingenerf Katrin , Schmid Carolin , Maatouk Imad , Weisbrod Matthias , Herzog Wolfgang , Friederich Hans‐Christoph , Nikendei Christoph
Published: June 2015

Objective

First studies revealed overgeneral autobiographical memories in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate frequency, generalization and valence of autobiographical memories in AN patients in response to eating disorder‐related cue words.

Method

Autobiographical memory was examined in 21 AN patients and 21 healthy controls (HC) using a modified version of the Autobiographical Memory Test, incorporating body‐related, food‐related, perfectionism‐related, depression‐related and neutral cues.

Results

Anorexia nervosa patients recalled fewer and more general autobiographical memories compared with HC. For eating disorder‐related cues as against neutral ones, AN patients compared with HC showed fewer memories for food‐related and body‐related cues, an elevated overgeneralization for food‐related cues, while the valence of the retrieved memories was more negative in response to body‐related cues.

Discussion

This study detects disorder‐related autobiographical memory alterations in AN, which are intensified in response to symptom‐related cues. The findings are discussed with regard to their maladaptive function in emotion regulation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Immediate Effects of Body Checking Behaviour on Negative and Positive Emotions in Women with Eating Disorders: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Approach
Authors: Kraus Nicole , Lindenberg Julia , Zeeck Almut , Kosfelder Joachim , Vocks Silja
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Cognitive‐behavioural models of eating disorders state that body checking arises in response to negative emotions in order to reduce the aversive emotional state and is therefore negatively reinforced. This study empirically tests this assumption.

Methods

For a seven‐day period, women with eating disorders (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 29) were provided with a handheld computer for assessing occurring body checking strategies as well as negative and positive emotions. Serving as control condition, randomized computer‐emitted acoustic signals prompted reports on body checking and emotions.

Results

There was no difference in the intensity of negative emotions before body checking and in control situations across groups. However, from pre‐ to post‐body checking, an increase in negative emotions was found. This effect was more pronounced in women with eating disorders compared with healthy controls.

Discussion

Results are contradictory to the assumptions of the cognitive‐behavioural model, as body checking does not seem to reduce negative emotions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Weakening of gneiss surfaces colonized by endolithic lichens in the temperate climate area of northwest Italy
Authors: Favero‐Longo Sergio E. , Accattino Edoardo , Matteucci Enrica , Borghi Alessandro , Piervittori Rosanna
Published: June 2015

A role of lithobionts in geomorphological processes is increasingly argued, but the spatio‐temporal scale of their impact is largely unexplored in many ecosystems. This study first characterizes in the temperate zone (northwest Italy) the relationships between lithobiontic communities including endolithic lichens and the hardness of their siliceous rock substrate (Villarfocchiardo Gneiss). The communities are characterized, on humid and xeric quarry surfaces exposed for decades and natural outcrops exposed for centuries, in terms of lichen and microbial constituents, using a combined morphological and molecular approach, and with regard to their development on and within the gneiss.

A lichen species belonging to Acarosporaceae (Polysporina‐Sarcogyne‐Acarospora group, needing taxonomic revision) chasmoendolithically colonizes both the humid and xeric quarry surfaces, on which epilithic cyanobacterial biofilms and epilithic pioneer lichens respectively occur. Light and electron microscopic observations show the development of the endolithic thalli within rock microcracks and the hyphal penetration along crystal boundaries down to depths of 1 to 3 mm, more pronounced within the humid surfaces. Such colonization patterns are likely related to biogeophysical deterioration, while no chemical alteration characterizes minerals contacted by the endolithic lichen. By contrast, on natural outcrops, where the endolithic colonization is negligible, a reddish rind below epilithic lichens indicates chemical weathering processes.

Schmidt Hammer measurements highlight that the endolithic lichens deeply affect the hardness of the gneiss (down to −60% with respect to fresh controls and surfaces only colonized by cyanobacteria), exerting a significantly higher weakening effect with respect to the associated epilithic lithobionts. The phenomenon is more remarkable on humid than on xeric quarry surfaces and natural outcrops, where epilithic lichens are likely involved in long‐term hardening processes supporting surface stabilization.

Endolithic lichens are thus active biogeomorphological agents at the upper millimetric layer of siliceous rocks in temperate areas, exerting their weakening action during the early decade‐scaled stages of surface exposure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduced cadmium accumulation and toxicity in Daphnia magna under carbon nanotube exposure
Authors: Liu Jie , Wang Wen-Xiong
Published: June 2015

With increasing application and commercial production, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) will inevitably be released into aquatic environments and affect the transport and toxicity of toxic metals in ecosystems. The present study examined how CNTs affected the biokinetics and toxicity of a toxic metal, cadmium (Cd), in the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna. The authors quantified the dissolved uptake and the 50% lethal concentration (LC50, 48 h and 72 h) of Cd in daphnids in the presence of functionalized multiwalled nanotubes (F-CNTs) with different lengths (10–30 µm vs 0.5–2 µm) and concentrations (4 mg/L and 8 mg/L). Compared with the control treatment without CNTs, both CNTs slowed down the accumulation rate of Cd in D. magna over 8 h of exposure and further reduced the accumulation thereafter. Mechanisms for the reduced Cd uptake were mainly related to the influences of CNTs on the physiological activity of daphnids. The LC50 of D. magna in the presence of Cd and shorter CNTs was almost the same as that of the control group without CNTs. However, the LC50 of the groups with normal CNTs was significantly higher than that of the control group (i.e., F-CNTs decreased Cd toxicity significantly). Meanwhile, CNTs also decreased the tolerance of D. magna to Cd. The present study suggests that different physical properties of CNTs, such as length, need to be considered in the environmental risk assessment of CNTs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2824–2832. © 2015 SETAC
Toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of differently coated silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate in Enchytraeus crypticus upon aqueous exposure in an inert sand medium
Authors: Topuz Emel , van Gestel Cornelis A.M.
Published: June 2015

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Enchytraeus crypticus, applying a combined toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics approach to understand the relationship between survival and the development of internal Ag concentrations in the animals over time. Toxicity tests were conducted in medium composed of well-defined aqueous solutions added to inert quartz sand to avoid the complexity of soil conditions. Citrate-coated AgNPs (AgNP-Cit) and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (AgNP-PVP) were tested and compared with silver nitrate (AgNO3), which was used as a positive control for Ag ion effects. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values based on Ag concentrations in the solution phase of the test medium decreased over time and reached steady state after 7 d, with AgNO3 and AgNP-PVP being more toxic than AgNP-Cit. Slow dissolution may explain the low uptake kinetics and lower toxicity of AgNP-Cit compared with the other 2 Ag forms. The LC50 values based on internal Ag concentrations in the animals were almost stable over time, highlighting the importance of integrating toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics and relating survival with internal Ag concentrations. Neither survival-based elimination rates nor internal LC50s in the organisms showed any significant evidence of nano-specific effects for both AgNPs, although they suggested some uptake of particulate Ag for AgNP-Cit. The authors conclude that the toxicity of both types of AgNP probably is mainly attributable to the release of Ag ions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2816–2823. © 2015 SETAC
Dynamically adaptive tree grid modeling for simulation and visualization of rainwater overland flow
Authors: Busaman Anurak , Mekchay Khamron , Siripant Suchada , Chuai‐Aree Somporn
Published: June 2015

Modeling and visualization of a rainwater overland flow is an important tool for a risk assessment, preparation, evacuation planning, and real‐time forecasting of flood warning. The objective of this research is to develop a numerical software to visualize the rainwater overland flow based on a finite volume method for shallow water equations and in combination with the dynamically adaptive tree grid technique and the dynamic domain‐defining method. The obtained simulations for several experiments were tested and compared with results in literature, both theoretical and experimental results. The comparisons with non‐adaptive grids show that the developed algorithm for simulation is very efficient and has a potential for practical usages, in terms of computational times and accuracy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation on Electrocatalytic Activity and Stability of Pt/C Catalyst Prepared by Facile Solvothermal Synthesis for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
Authors: Zhang L. M. , Wang Z. B. , Zhang J. J. , Sui X. L. , Zhao L. , Han J. C.
Published: June 2015

Pt nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC‐72 carbon black have been synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The obtained Pt/C catalysts are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis to identify Pt mean size and Pt content. The results of electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the Pt/C catalyst prepared at the reaction temperature of 140 °C and the reaction time of 2 h shows the biggest initial electrochemical area with an initial electrochemically active specific surface area (ESA) of 70.6 m2gPt−1, the highest electrocatalytic stability with an ESA loss of 48.7% after 1,000 CV cycles, and the best electrocatalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) with a specific activity of 0.6 mA cm−2 and a retention rate (the ratio of the final current density to the maximum current density) after 3,600 s of 42.8%. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of homemade Pt/C catalyst is superior to that of commercial Pt/C catalyst, suggesting that the solvothermal synthesis is a promising method for preparing Pt based catalyst.
Magmatic source and metamorphic grade of metavolcanic rocks from the Granjeno Schist: was northeastern Mexico a part of Pangaea?
Authors: Torres Sánchez Sonia Alejandra , Augustsson Carita , Barboza Gudiño José Rafael , Jenchen Uwe , Ramírez Fernández Juan Alonso , Abratis Michael , Scherstén Anders
Published: June 2015

The geochemistry of the metavolcanic rocks from the Granjeno Schist in northeastern Mexico indicates an origin in different tectonic environments: mid‐ocean ridge and ocean island. High ratios of Hf/Th and Th/Nb (4.4–14 and 0.08–0.15), low ratios of LaN/YbN and LaN/SmN (0.74–1.7 and 0.60–1.4) and depleted LREE patterns in metabasalt display mid‐ocean ridge characteristics. In contrast, the pattern of trace‐element ratios and REEs in metabasalt and metapillow lava 60 km to the west indicates a magma source with ocean‐island basalt characteristics. Both areas were metamorphosed during the Late Carboniferous (300 ± 4 Ma). Estimated metamorphic conditions deduced from white mica and chlorite compositions, distinguish greenschist facies (350 °C and 4 kbar) for the mid‐ocean ridge basalt, and prehnite–pumpellyite facies (250 °C and 2.5 kbar) for the ocean‐island‐type basalt. This metamorphism took place at an active continental margin during Pennsylvanian time. Our new tectonic model, which differs from earlier models, suggests that the origin of the Granjeno Schist is related to a subduction zone located at the western margin of Pangaea, active after Laurentia–Gondwana collision. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal exposure to inflammatory conditions increases Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channel opening and activation of astrocytes in the offspring effect on neuronal survival
Authors: Avendaño Beatriz C. , Montero Trinidad D. , Chávez Carolina E. , von Bernhardi Rommy , Orellana Juan A.
Published: June 2015

Several epidemiological studies indicate that children born from mothers exposed to infections during gestation, have an increased risk to develop neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, autism and cerebral palsy. Given that it is unknown if astrocytes and their crosstalk with neurons participate in the above mentioned brain pathologies, the aim of this work was to address if astroglial paracrine signaling mediated by Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channels could be affected in the offspring of LPS‐exposed dams during pregnancy. Ethidium uptake experiments showed that prenatal LPS‐exposure increases the activity of astroglial Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channels in the offspring. Induction of unopposed channel opening by prenatal LPS exposure depended on intracellular Ca2+ levels, cytokine production and activation of p38 MAP kinase/iNOS pathway. Biochemical assays and Fura‐2AM/DAF‐FM time‐lapse fluorescence images revealed that astrocytes from the offspring of LPS‐exposed dams displayed increased spontaneous Ca2+ dynamics and NO production, whereas iNOS levels and release of IL‐1β/TNF‐α were also increased. Interestingly, we found that prenatal LPS exposure enhanced the release of ATP through astroglial Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channels in the offspring, resulting in an increased neuronal death mediated by the activation of neuronal P2X7 receptors and Panx1 channels. Altogether, this evidence suggests that astroglial Cx43 and Panx1 unopposed channel opening induced by prenatal LPS exposure depended on the inflammatory activation profile and the activation pattern of astrocytes. The understanding of the mechanism underlying astrocyte‐neuron crosstalk could contribute to the development of new strategies to ameliorate the brain abnormalities induced in the offspring by prenatal inflammation. GLIA 2015;63:2058–2072
Time‐resolved detection of stimulus/task‐related networks, via clustering of transient intersubject synchronization
Authors: Bordier Cécile , Macaluso Emiliano
Published: June 2015

Several methods are available for the identification of functional networks of brain areas using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time‐series. These typically assume a fixed relationship between the signal of the areas belonging to the same network during the entire time‐series (e.g., positive correlation between the areas belonging to the same network), or require a priori information about when this relationship may change (task‐dependent changes of connectivity). We present a fully data‐driven method that identifies transient network configurations that are triggered by the external input and that, therefore, include only regions involved in stimulus/task processing. Intersubject synchronization with short sliding time‐windows was used to identify if/when any area showed stimulus/task‐related responses. Next, a first clustering step grouped together areas that became engaged concurrently and repetitively during the time‐series (stimulus/task‐related networks). Finally, for each network, a second clustering step grouped together all the time‐windows with the same BOLD signal. The final output consists of a set of network configurations that show stimulus/task‐related activity at specific time‐points during the fMRI time‐series. We label these configurations: “brain modes” (bModes). The method was validated using simulated datasets and a real fMRI experiment with multiple tasks and conditions. Future applications include the investigation of brain functions using complex and naturalistic stimuli.Hum Brain Mapp 36:3404–3425, 2015. ©2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional connectivity associated with hand shape generation: Imitating novel hand postures and pantomiming tool grips challenge different nodes of a shared neural network
Authors: Vingerhoets Guy , Clauwaert Amanda
Published: June 2015

Clinical research suggests that imitating meaningless hand postures and pantomiming tool‐related hand shapes rely on different neuroanatomical substrates. We investigated the BOLD responses to different tasks of hand posture generation in 14 right handed volunteers. Conjunction and contrast analyses were applied to select regions that were either common or sensitive to imitation and/or pantomime tasks. The selection included bilateral areas of medial and lateral extrastriate cortex, superior and inferior regions of the lateral and medial parietal lobe, primary motor and somatosensory cortex, and left dorsolateral prefrontal, and ventral and dorsal premotor cortices. Functional connectivity analysis revealed that during hand shape generation the BOLD‐response of every region correlated significantly with every other area regardless of the hand posture task performed, although some regions were more involved in some hand postures tasks than others. Based on between‐task differences in functional connectivity we predict that imitation of novel hand postures would suffer most from left superior parietal disruption and that pantomiming hand postures for tools would be impaired following left frontal damage, whereas both tasks would be sensitive to inferior parietal dysfunction. We also unveiled that posterior temporal cortex is committed to pantomiming tool grips, but that the involvement of this region to the execution of hand postures in general appears limited. We conclude that the generation of hand postures is subserved by a highly interconnected task‐general neural network. Depending on task requirements some nodes/connections will be more engaged than others and these task‐sensitive findings are in general agreement with recent lesion studies. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3426–3440, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Persistency and flexibility of complex brain networks underlie dual‐task interference
Authors: Alavash Mohsen , Hilgetag Claus C. , Thiel Christiane M. , Gießing Carsten
Published: June 2015

Previous studies on multitasking suggest that performance decline during concurrent task processing arises from interfering brain modules. Here, we used graph‐theoretical network analysis to define functional brain modules and relate the modular organization of complex brain networks to behavioral dual‐task costs. Based on resting‐state and task fMRI we explored two organizational aspects potentially associated with behavioral interference when human subjects performed a visuospatial and speech task simultaneously: the topological overlap between persistent single‐task modules, and the flexibility of single‐task modules in adaptation to the dual‐task condition. Participants showed a significant decline in visuospatial accuracy in the dual‐task compared with single visuospatial task. Global analysis of topological similarity between modules revealed that the overlap between single‐task modules significantly correlated with the decline in visuospatial accuracy. Subjects with larger overlap between single‐task modules showed higher behavioral interference. Furthermore, lower flexible reconfiguration of single‐task modules in adaptation to the dual‐task condition significantly correlated with larger decline in visuospatial accuracy. Subjects with lower modular flexibility showed higher behavioral interference. At the regional level, higher overlap between single‐task modules and less modular flexibility in the somatomotor cortex positively correlated with the decline in visuospatial accuracy. Additionally, higher modular flexibility in cingulate and frontal control areas and lower flexibility in right‐lateralized nodes comprising the middle occipital and superior temporal gyri supported dual‐tasking. Our results suggest that persistency and flexibility of brain modules are important determinants of dual‐task costs. We conclude that efficient dual‐tasking benefits from a specific balance between flexibility and rigidity of functional brain modules. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3542–3562, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wavelet‐based regularity analysis reveals recurrent spatiotemporal behavior in resting‐state fMRI
Authors: Smith Robert X. , Jann Kay , Ances Beau , Wang Danny J.J.
Published: June 2015

One of the major findings from multimodal neuroimaging studies in the past decade is that the human brain is anatomically and functionally organized into large‐scale networks. In resting state fMRI (rs‐fMRI), spatial patterns emerge when temporal correlations between various brain regions are tallied, evidencing networks of ongoing intercortical cooperation. However, the dynamic structure governing the brain's spontaneous activity is far less understood due to the short and noisy nature of the rs‐fMRI signal. Here, we develop a wavelet‐based regularity analysis based on noise estimation capabilities of the wavelet transform to measure recurrent temporal pattern stability within the rs‐fMRI signal across multiple temporal scales. The method consists of performing a stationary wavelet transform to preserve signal structure, followed by construction of “lagged” subsequences to adjust for correlated features, and finally the calculation of sample entropy across wavelet scales based on an “objective” estimate of noise level at each scale. We found that the brain's default mode network (DMN) areas manifest a higher level of irregularity in rs‐fMRI time series than rest of the brain. In 25 aged subjects with mild cognitive impairment and 25 matched healthy controls, wavelet‐based regularity analysis showed improved sensitivity in detecting changes in the regularity of rs‐fMRI signals between the two groups within the DMN and executive control networks, compared with standard multiscale entropy analysis. Wavelet‐based regularity analysis based on noise estimation capabilities of the wavelet transform is a promising technique to characterize the dynamic structure of rs‐fMRI as well as other biological signals. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3603–3620, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reduced cerebellar gray matter is a neural signature of physical frailty
Authors: Chen Wei‐Ta , Chou Kun‐Hsien , Liu Li‐Kuo , Lee Pei‐Lin , Lee Wei‐Ju , Chen Liang‐Kung , Wang Pei‐Ning , Lin Ching‐Po
Published: June 2015

Physical frailty has been recognized as a clinical syndrome resulting from declines in various physiological systems; however, the role of the central nervous system in the pathophysiology of frailty remains unclear. The I‐Lan Longitudinal Aging Study randomly sampled community‐dwelling people aged 50 or older for a brain magnetic resonance imaging study. All participants were assessed for frailty status (robust, prefrail, and frail) based on the presence of five frailty components: slow walking speed, muscle weakness, low physical activity, exhaustion and weight loss (Fried criteria). Gray matter volume (GMV) changes associated with frailty status and individual frailty components were examined. Overall, 456 participants (64.0 ± 8.5 years, 47.6% women) were included in this study. The prefrail (n = 178, 39.0%) and frail (n = 19, 4.2%) subjects were grouped for analysis. The prefrail–frail group showed reduced GMV, compared to the robust group (n = 259, 56.8%), in the cerebellum, hippocampi, middle frontal gyri, and several other cerebral regions (corrected P < 0.05). Each frailty component was associated with GMV changes in functionally related brain areas. Hierarchical cluster analysis categorized these components into three subsets. Motor‐related components, including weakness, low activity, and slowness, comprised one subset with a common cerebellar involvement. Exhaustion and weight loss were the other two subsets without cerebellar changes. To conclude, physical frailty is associated with a decreased reserve in specific brain regions, especially cerebellum. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore if the cerebellum‐ and noncerebellum‐based frailty components reflect a distinctive future risk for developing frailty. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3666–3676, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of in‐painting on cortical thickness measurements in multiple sclerosis: A large cohort study
Authors: Govindarajan Koushik A. , Datta Sushmita , Hasan Khader M. , Choi Sangbum , Rahbar Mohammad H , Cofield Stacey S. , Cutter Gary R. , Lublin Fred D. , Wolinsky Jerry S. , Narayana Ponnada A. ,   MRI Analysis Center at Houston, The CombiRx Investigators Group
Published: June 2015

A comprehensive analysis of the effect of lesion in‐painting on the estimation of cortical thickness using magnetic resonance imaging was performed on a large cohort of 918 relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients who participated in a phase III multicenter clinical trial. An automatic lesion in‐painting algorithm was developed and implemented. Cortical thickness was measured using the FreeSurfer pipeline with and without in‐painting. The effect of in‐painting was evaluated using FreeSurfer's paired analysis pipeline. Multivariate regression analysis was also performed with field strength and lesion load as additional factors. Overall, the estimated cortical thickness was different with in‐painting than without. The effect of in‐painting was observed to be region dependent, more significant in the left hemisphere compared to the right, was more prominent at 1.5 T relative to 3 T, and was greater at higher lesion volumes. Our results show that even for data acquired at 1.5 T in patients with high lesion load, the mean cortical thickness difference with and without in‐painting is ∼2%. Based on these results, it appears that in‐painting has only a small effect on the estimated regional and global cortical thickness. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3749–3760, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroanatomical profiles of alexithymia dimensions and subtypes
Authors: Goerlich‐Dobre Katharina Sophia , Votinov Mikhail , Habel Ute , Pripfl Juergen , Lamm Claus
Published: June 2015

Alexithymia, a major risk factor for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, has been recognized to comprise two dimensions, a cognitive dimension (difficulties identifying, analyzing, and verbalizing feelings) and an affective one (difficulties emotionalizing and fantasizing). Based on these dimensions, the existence of four distinct alexithymia subtypes has been proposed, but never empirically tested. In this study, 125 participants were assigned to four groups corresponding to the proposed alexithymia subtypes: Type I (impairment on both dimensions), Type II (impairment on the cognitive, but not the affective dimension), Type III (impairment on the affective, but not the cognitive dimension), and Lexithymics (no impairment on either dimension). By means of voxel‐based morphometry, associations of the alexithymia dimensions and subtypes with gray and white matter volumes were analyzed. Type I and Type II alexithymia were characterized by gray matter volume reductions in the left amygdala and the thalamus. The cognitive dimension was further linked to volume reductions in the right amygdala, left posterior insula, precuneus, caudate, hippocampus, and parahippocampus. Type III alexithymia was marked by volume reduction in the MCC only, and the affective dimension was further characterized by larger sgACC volume. Moreover, individuals with the intermediate alexithymia Types II and III showed gray matter volume reductions in distinct regions, and had larger corpus callosum volumes compared to Lexithymics. These results substantiate the notion of a differential impact of the cognitive and affective alexithymia dimensions on brain morphology and provide evidence for separable neuroanatomical representations of the different alexithymia subtypes. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3805–3818, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Breaking The Link Between Legal Access To Alcohol And Motor Vehicle Accidents: Evidence From New South Wales
Authors: Lindo Jason M. , Siminski Peter , Yerokhin Oleg
Published: June 2015

A large literature has documented significant public health benefits associated with the minimum legal drinking age in the USA, particularly because of the resulting effects on motor vehicle accidents. These benefits form the primary basis for continued efforts to restrict youth access to alcohol. It is important to keep in mind that policymakers have a wide variety of alcohol‐control options available to them, and understanding how these policies may complement or substitute for one another can improve policy making moving forward. Towards this end, we propose that investigating the causal effects of the minimum legal drinking age in New South Wales, Australia, provides a particularly informative case study, because Australian states are among the world leaders in their efforts against drunk driving. Using an age‐based regression discontinuity design applied to restricted‐use data from several sources, we find no evidence that legal access to alcohol has effects on motor vehicle accidents of any type in New South Wales, despite having large effects on drinking and on hospitalizations due to alcohol abuse. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does Experience Rating Improve Obstetric Practices? Evidence from Italy
Authors: Amaral‐Garcia Sofia , Bertoli Paola , Grembi Veronica
Published: June 2015

Using inpatient discharge records from the Italian region of Piedmont, we estimate the impact of an increase in malpractice pressure brought about by experience‐rated liability insurance on obstetric practices. Our identification strategy exploits the exogenous location of public hospitals in court districts with and without schedules for noneconomic damages. We perform difference‐in‐differences analysis on the entire sample and on a subsample which only considers the nearest hospitals in the neighborhood of court district boundaries. We find that the increase in medical malpractice pressure is associated with a decrease in the probability of performing a C‐section from 2.3 to 3.7 percentage points (7–11.6%) with no consequences for medical complications or neonatal outcomes. The impact can be explained by a reduction in the discretion of obstetric decision‐making rather than by patient cream skimming. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating Form and Functionality of Pay‐for‐Performance Plans: The Relative Incentive and Sorting Effects of Merit Pay, Bonuses, and Long‐Term Incentives
Authors: Park Sanghee , Sturman Michael C.
Published: June 2015

Using two‐year longitudinal data from a large sample of US employees from a service‐related organization, the present study investigates the relative effects of three forms of pay‐for‐performance (PFP) plans on employees’ job performance (incentive effects) and voluntary turnover (sorting effects). The study differentiates between three forms of pay: merit pay, individual‐based bonuses, and long‐term incentives. By definition, these PFP plans have different structural elements that distinguish them from each other (i.e., pay plan form) and different characteristics (functionality), such as the degree to which pay and performance are linked and the size of the rewards, which can vary both within and across plan types. Our results provide evidence that merit raises have larger incentive and sorting effects than bonuses and long‐term incentives in multi‐PFP plan environments where the three PFP plans are operating simultaneously. Only merit pay has both incentive and sorting effects among the three PFP plans. The implications for the PFP‐related theory, as well as for the design and implementation of PFP plans, are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The response in floodplain respiration of an alpine river to experimental inundation under different temperature regimes
Authors: Simčič Tatjana , Mori Nataša , Hossli Christian , Robinson Christopher T. , Doering Michael
Published: June 2015

The respiratory potential [i.e. electron transport system activity (ETSA)] of soils and sediments from five floodplain habitats (channel, gravel, islands, riparian forest and grassland) of the Urbach River, Switzerland, and actual respiration rate (R) of the same samples exposed to experimental inundation were measured. Measurements were carried out at three incubation temperatures (4°C, 12°C and 20°C), and ETSA/R ratios (i.e. exploitation of the overall metabolic capacity) were investigated to better understand the effects of temperature and inundation on floodplain functional heterogeneity. Furthermore, ETSA/R ratios obtained during experimental inundation were compared with ETSA/R ratios from field measurements to investigate the exploitation in total metabolic potential at different conditions. Lowest ETSA and R were measured in samples from channel and gravel habitats, followed by those from islands. Substantially higher values were measured in soils from riparian forest and grassland. Both ETSA and R increased with increasing temperature in samples from all habitats, while the ETSA/R ratio decreased because of a rapid response in microbial community respiration to higher temperatures. The metabolic capacity exploitation (i.e. ETSA/R) during experimental inundation was lowest in predominantly terrestrial samples (riparian forest and grassland), indicating the weakest response to wetted conditions. Comparison of experimentally inundated and field conditions revealed that in rarely flooded soils, the metabolic capacity was less exploited during inundation than during non‐flooded conditions. The results suggest high sensitivity in floodplain respiration to changes in temperature and hydrological regime. ETSA/R ratios are considered good indicators of changes in metabolic activity of floodplain soils and sediments, and thus useful to estimate the impact of changes in hydrological regime or to evaluate success of floodplain restoration actions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of HPV RNA transcription, immune response‐related gene expression and disruptiveTP53mutations in diagnostic and prognostic profiling of head and neck cancer
Authors: Wichmann Gunnar , Rosolowski Maciej , Krohn Knut , Kreuz Markus , Boehm Andreas , Reiche Anett , Scharrer Ulrike , Halama Dirk , Bertolini Julia , Bauer Ulrike , Holzinger Dana , Pawlita Michael , Hess Jochen , Engel Christoph , Hasenclever Dirk , Scholz Markus , Ahnert Peter , Kirsten Holger , Hemprich Alexander , Wittekind Christian , Herbarth Olf , Horn Friedemann , Dietz Andreas , Loeffler Markus ,   for the Leipzig Head and Neck Group (LHNG)
Published: June 2015

Stratification of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) based on HPV16 DNA and RNA status, gene expression patterns, and mutated candidate genes may facilitate patient treatment decision. We characterize head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) with different HPV16 DNA and RNA (E6*I) status from 290 consecutively recruited patients by gene expression profiling and targeted sequencing of 50 genes. We show that tumors with transcriptionally inactive HPV16 (DNA+ RNA‐) are similar to HPV‐negative (DNA‐) tumors regarding gene expression and frequency ofTP53mutations (47%, 8/17 and 43%, 72/167, respectively). We also find that an immune response‐related gene expression cluster is associated with lymph node metastasis, independent of HPV16 status and that disruptiveTP53mutations are associated with lymph node metastasis in HPV16 DNA‐ tumors. We validate each of these associations in another large data set. Four gene expression clusters which we identify differ moderately but significantly in overall survival. Our findings underscore the importance of measuring the HPV16 RNA (E6*I) andTP53‐mutation status for patient stratification and identify associations of an immune response‐related gene expression cluster andTP53mutations with lymph node metastasis in HNSCC.
Targeting inhibitor of apoptosis proteins by Smac mimetic elicits cell death in poor prognostic subgroups of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Opel Daniela , Schnaiter Andrea , Dodier Dagmar , Jovanovic Marjana , Gerhardinger Andreas , Idler Irina , Mertens Daniel , Bullinger Lars , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Fulda Simone
Published: June 2015

Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are highly expressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and contribute to evasion of cell death and poor therapeutic response. Here, we report that Smac mimetic BV6 dose‐dependently induces cell death in 28 of 51 (54%) investigated CLL samples, while B‐cells from healthy donors are largely unaffected. Importantly, BV6 is significantly more effective in prognostic unfavorable cases with, e.g., non‐mutated VH status and TP53 mutation than samples with unknown or favorable prognosis. The majority of cases with 17p deletion (10/12) and Fludarabine refractory cases respond to BV6, indicating that BV6 acts independently of p53. BV6 also triggers cell death under survival conditions mimicking the microenvironment, e.g., by adding CD40 ligand or conditioned medium. Gene expression profiling identifies cell death, NF‐κB and redox signaling among the top pathways regulated by BV6 not only in CLL but also in core‐binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Consistently, BV6 stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are contributing to BV6‐induced cell death, since antioxidants reduce cell death. While BV6 causes degradation of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP)1 and cIAP2 and nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) pathway activation in primary CLL samples, BV6 induces cell death independently of caspase activity, receptor‐interacting protein (RIP)1 activity or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, as zVAD.fmk, necrostatin‐1 or TNFα‐blocking antibody Enbrel fail to inhibit cell death. Together, these novel insights into BV6‐regulated cell death in CLL have important implications for developing new therapeutic strategies to overcome cell death resistance especially in poor prognostic CLL subgroups.
Human papillomavirus prevalence and type‐distribution in cervical glandular neoplasias: Results from a European multinational epidemiological study
Authors: Holl Katsiaryna , Nowakowski Andrzej M. , Powell Ned , McCluggage W. Glenn , Pirog Edyta C. , Collas De Souza Sabrina , Tjalma Wiebren A. , Rosenlund Mats , Fiander Alison , Castro Sánchez Maria , Damaskou Vasileia , Joura Elmar A. , Kirschner Benny , Koiss Robert , O'Leary John , Quint Wim , Reich Olaf , Torné Aureli , Wells Michael , Rob Lukas , Kolomiets Larisa , Molijn Anco , Savicheva Alevtina , Shipitsyna Elena , Rosillon Dominique , Jenkins David
Published: June 2015

Cervical glandular neoplasias (CGN) present a challenge for cervical cancer prevention due to their complex histopathology and difficulties in detecting preinvasive stages with current screening practices. Reports of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and type‐distribution in CGN vary, providing uncertain evidence to support prophylactic vaccination and HPV screening. This study [108288/108290] assessed HPV prevalence and type‐distribution in women diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS, N = 49), adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC, N = 104), and various adenocarcinoma subtypes (ADC, N = 461) from 17 European countries, using centralised pathology review and sensitive HPV testing. The highest HPV‐positivity rates were observed in AIS (93.9%), ASC (85.6%), and usual‐type ADC (90.4%), with much lower rates in rarer ADC subtypes (clear‐cell: 27.6%; serous: 30.4%; endometrioid: 12.9%; gastric‐type: 0%). The most common HPV types were restricted to HPV16/18/45, accounting for 98.3% of all HPV‐positive ADC. There were variations in HPV prevalence and ADC type‐distribution by country. Age at diagnosis differed by ADC subtype, with usual‐type diagnosed in younger women (median: 43 years) compared to rarer subtypes (medians between 57 and 66 years). Moreover, HPV‐positive ADC cases were younger than HPV‐negative ADC. The six years difference in median age for women with AIS compared to those with usual‐type ADC suggests that cytological screening for AIS may be suboptimal. Since the great majority of CGN are HPV16/18/45‐positive, the incorporation of prophylactic vaccination and HPV testing in cervical cancer screening are important prevention strategies. Our results suggest that special attention should be given to certain rarer ADC subtypes as most appear to be unrelated to HPV.
The influence of mesh topology in the abdominal wall repair process
Authors: De Maria Carmelo , Burchielli Silvia , Salvadori Claudia , Santoro Vito , Montemurro Francesca , Orsi Gianni , Vozzi Giovanni
Published: June 2015

The tissue integration and the formation of adhesions in the repair of abdominal wall defects are principally led to the topology and the mechanical properties of implanted prosthesis. In this study we analyzed the influence of the topology of the meshes for abdominal wall repair, made of polypropylene (PP), evaluating its ability to prevent and to minimize the formation of adhesions, and to promote tissue ingrowth. Two series of in vivo studies were performed. In the first, two types of PP meshes, a lightweight macroporous mesh (LWM) and a heavyweight microporous mesh (HWM) were compared with determine the optimal porosity for tissue integration. In the second, a composite mesh, Clear Mesh Composite (CMC), made of a LWM sewn on a PP planar smooth film, was compared with a PP planar film, to demonstrate how two different topologies of same material are able to induce different tissue integration with the abdominal wall and different adhesion with internal organs. In both studies, the prostheses were implanted in Wistar rats and histological analysis and mechanical characterization of tissue coupled with the implants were performed. LWM showed better host tissue ingrowth in comparison to HWM. CMC prosthesis showed no adhesions to the viscera and no strong foreign body reaction, moreover its elasticity and anisotropy index were more similar to that of natural tissue. These results demonstrated that the surface morphology of PP surgical meshes allowed to modulate their repair ability. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1220–1228, 2016.
Visible light crosslinking of methacrylated hyaluronan hydrogels for injectable tissue repair
Authors: Fenn Spencer L. , Floreani Rachael
Published: June 2015

Tissue engineering hydrogels are primarily cured in situ using ultraviolet (UV) radiation which limits the use of hydrogels as drug or cell carriers. Visible green light activated crosslinking systems are presented as a safe alternative to UV photocrosslinked hydrogels, without compromising material properties such as viscosity and stiffness. The objective of this study was to fabricate and characterize photocrosslinked hydrogels with well‐regulated gelation kinetics and mechanical properties for the repair or replacement of soft tissue. An anhydrous methacrylation of hyaluronan (HA) was performed to control the degree of modification (DOM) of HA, verified by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. UV‐activated crosslinking was compared to visible green light activated crosslinking. While the different photocrosslinking techniques resulted in varied crosslinking times, comparable mechanical properties of UV and green light activated crosslinked hydrogels were achieved using each photocrosslinking method by adjusting time of light exposure. Methacrylated HA (HA‐MA) hydrogels of varying molecular weight, DOM, and concentration exhibited compressive moduli ranging from 1 kPa to 116 kPa, for UV crosslinking, and 3 kPa to 146 kPa, for green light crosslinking. HA‐MA molecular weight and concentration were found to significantly influence moduli values. HA‐MA hydrogels did not exhibit any significant cytotoxic effects toward human mesenchymal stem cells. Green light activated crosslinking systems are presented as a viable method to form natural‐based hydrogels in situ. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1229–1236, 2016.
Conditional Deletion of Indian Hedgehog in Limb Mesenchyme Results in Complete Loss of Growth Plate Formation but Allows Mature Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Amano Katsuhiko , Densmore Michael J , Lanske Beate
Published: June 2015

Indian hedgehog (Ihh) is widely recognized as an essential factor for proper skeletal development. Previous in vivo studies using mutant Ihh mouse models were limited by perinatal lethality or carried out after a growth plate formed. Thus the important role of Ihh in mesenchymal cell differentiation has not been investigated. In this study, we established Prx1-Cre;Ihhfl/fl mice to ablate Ihh specifically in limb mesenchyme to allow us to observe the phenotype continuously from prenatal development to 3 weeks of age. Mutant mice displayed severe limb abnormalities characterized by complete lack of secondary ossification center and growth plate, indicating an essential role for Ihh in the development of these structures. Interestingly, we discovered that osteoblast differentiation and bone formation could occur in conditions of deficient Ihh. This is a novel finding that has not been observed because of the early lethality of previous Ihh mutants. Mature osteoblasts expressing osteocalcin could be detected in the center of mutant bones at postnatal day 10 (P10). Osteoclasts and blood vessel formation were also present, suggesting active bone remodeling. Histomorphometric analyses show a significant increase in osteoclast number with no major changes in bone formation rate at 3 weeks of age. Mutant long bones in the limbs were deformed, with cortices comprised of irregular woven bone. Also, there was a marked decrease in gene expression of osteoblastic and osteocytic markers. Moreover, mutant long bones displayed bone dysplasia in which we observed increased osteoclast activity and partially reduced osteoblastic and osteocytic differentiation that lead ultimately to loss of bone structures at 3 weeks of age. In summary, our data show for the first time, the presence of mature osteoblasts in long bones of the limbs despite the complete loss of growth plate formation due to Ihh deficiency. These data indicate an important function for Ihh in regulating limb mesenchymal cell differentiation. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.