bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrograde ureteric stent insertion in the management of infected obstructed kidneys
Authors: Flukes Stephanie , Hayne Dickon , Kuan Melvyn , Wallace Michael , McMillan Kevin , Rukin Nicholas J.
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To quantify the outcomes of retrograde ureteric stenting in the setting of infected hydronephrosis secondary to ureteric calculi.

Patients and Methods

Prospective analysis of all patients over a 15‐month period admitted with infected obstructed kidneys secondary to ureteric calculi. Inclusion criteria were based on clinical evidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and radiological evidence of obstructing ureteric calculi. Outcome measures included success of procedure, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), length of hospital stay, morbidity, and all‐cause mortality during hospital admission.

Results

In all, 52 patients were included. Success of retrograde ureteric stenting was 98%. In all, 17% of patients required an ICU admission, with a post ureteric instrumentation ICU admissions rate of 6%. The mean white cell count and serum creatinine improved significantly after the procedure. Major complication rate included septic shock 6%, but there were no episodes of major haemorrhage and no deaths.

Conclusion

Retrograde ureteric stenting is safe and effective in infected obstructed kidneys with results comparable to percutaneous nephrostomy tube insertion. Post instrumentation ICU admissions occur in 6% of retrograde stentings.
P2Y receptors in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Erb Laurie , Cao Chen , Ajit Deepa , Weisman Gary A.
Published: September 2014

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 10% of people over the age of 65. Age is the greatest risk factor for AD, although a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors also contribute to disease development. Common features of AD are the formation of plaques composed of beta‐amyloid peptides (Aβ) and neuronal death in brain regions involved in learning and memory. Although Aβ is neurotoxic, the primary mechanisms by which Aβ affects AD development remain uncertain and controversial. Mouse models overexpressing amyloid precursor protein and Aβ have revealed that Aβ has potent effects on neuroinflammation and cerebral blood flow that contribute to AD progression. Therefore, it is important to consider how endogenous signalling in the brain responds to Aβ and contributes to AD pathology. In recent years, Aβ has been shown to affect ATP release from brain and blood cells and alter the expression of G protein‐coupled P2Y receptors that respond to ATP and other nucleotides. Accumulating evidence reveals a prominent role for P2Y receptors in AD pathology, including Aβ production and elimination, neuroinflammation, neuronal function and cerebral blood flow.
The non‐peptide GLP‐1 receptor agonist WB4‐24 blocks inflammatory nociception by stimulating β‐endorphin release from spinal microglia
Authors: Fan Hui , Gong Nian , Li Teng‐Fei , Ma Ai‐Niu , Wu Xiao‐Yan , Wang Ming‐Wei , Wang Yong‐Xiang
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose

Two peptide agonists of the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor, exenatide and GLP‐1 itself, exert anti‐hypersensitive effects in neuropathic, cancer and diabetic pain. In this study, we have assessed the anti‐allodynic and anti‐hyperalgesic effects of the non‐peptide agonist WB4‐24 in inflammatory nociception and the possible involvement of microglial β‐endorphin and pro‐inflammatory cytokines.

Experimental Approach

We used rat models of inflammatory nociception induced by formalin, carrageenan or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), to test mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Expression of β‐endorphin and pro‐inflammatory cytokines was measured using real‐time quantitative PCR and fluorescent immunoassays.

Key Results

WB4‐24 displaced the specific binding of exendin (9–39) in microglia. Single intrathecal injection of WB4‐24 (0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 μg) exerted dose‐dependent, specific, anti‐hypersensitive effects in acute and chronic inflammatory nociception induced by formalin, carrageenan and CFA, with a maximal inhibition of 60–80%. Spinal WB4‐24 was not effective in altering nociceptive pain. Subcutaneous injection of WB4‐24 was also antinociceptive in CFA‐treated rats. WB4‐24 evoked β‐endorphin release but did not inhibit expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in either the spinal cord of CFA‐treated rats or cultured microglia stimulated by LPS. WB4‐24 anti‐allodynia was prevented by a microglial inhibitor, β‐endorphin antiserum and a μ‐opioid receptor antagonist.

Conclusions and Implications

Our results suggest that WB4‐24 inhibits inflammatory nociception by releasing analgesic β‐endorphin rather than inhibiting the expression of proalgesic pro‐inflammatory cytokines in spinal microglia, and that the spinal GLP‐1 receptor is a potential target molecule for the treatment of pain hypersensitivity including inflammatory nociception.
Auto‐inhibition at a ligand‐gated ion channel: a cross‐talk between orthosteric and allosteric sites
Authors: Hu Xiang‐Qun
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose

A ligand is believed to produce either positive or negative responses, or to block both of them. However, an indole compound was found to promote both positive and negative effects at the 5‐HT3AB receptor, which displays a low level of spontaneous activity. The present study attempted to delineate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.

Experimental Approach

The spontaneously active V291S 5‐HT3A receptor was used to explore the properties of 5‐hydroxyindole (5‐HoI) and 5‐methoxyindole (5‐MoI), structural analogues of 5‐HT, either alone or in combination with orthosteric probes.

Key Results

Two types of efficacy switching were initiated by altering ligand structure and concentration. At lower concentrations, a subtle structural change at position 5 of the indole molecule resulted in opposite effects. 5‐HoI apparently elicited partial allosteric inverse agonism, whereas 5‐MoI induced allosteric agonism. Interestingly, at a higher concentration, these indoles produced distinct auto‐inhibition, manifested as a switch from positive to negative effects. 5‐HoI induced a transition from orthosteric agonism to allosteric inverse agonism, whereas 5‐MoI produced a shift from allosteric agonism to orthosteric inverse agonism. The auto‐inhibition appears to involve communication between orthosteric and allosteric sites of the active receptor conformation and/or between inactive and active conformations. An additive effect of orthosteric and allosteric inverse agonism and insensitivity of allosteric agonism to orthosteric antagonism were also demonstrated.

Conclusions and Implications

Together, the results suggest that the moiety at position 5 of the indole structure is a critical determinant of a ligand's properties at the 5‐HT3A receptor, providing new insights into understanding ligand–receptor interactions.
Hypoxia‐mediated CD24 expression is correlated with gastric cancer aggressiveness by promoting cell migration and invasion
Authors: Fujikuni Nobuaki , Yamamoto Hideki , Tanabe Kazuaki , Naito Yutaka , Sakamoto Naoya , Tanaka Yuka , Yanagihara Kazuyoshi , Oue Naohide , Yasui Wataru , Ohdan Hideki
Published: September 2014

CD24 is a heavily glycosylated cell surface protein that is expressed in putative stem cells and is overexpressed in various human malignancies, yet the significant roles of CD24 in gastric cancer development are still elusive. We investigated the involvement of CD24 in gastric cancer aggressiveness, which is attributed to its heterogeneity. Cultured gastric cancer cells showed diverse expression patterns in CD24, whereas other defined cell surface markers, such as CD44 and CD133, were homogenous. Purely sorted CD24‐negative gastric cancer cells showed strong alteration into the CD24‐positive cell type in an autochthonous manner, and reached to steady expression levels. Our clinicopathological study revealed that CD24 positivity was an independent prognostic factor in both intestinal and diffuse types of gastric cancer. CD24 expression was correlated with the advanced stages, invasiveness, and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. Silencing of CD24 in cultured cells significantly decreased cell migration and invasion. Hypoxic treatment upregulated CD24 expression, and simultaneously induced cell motility and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Hypoxic treatment‐induced CD24 expression was significantly attenuated by knockdown of hypoxia‐inducible transcription factors. These data suggest that CD24‐negative cells are capable of gaining cell motility and invasiveness through the induction of CD24, which is mediated by hypoxia. CD24 would be an attractive marker to define not only the heterogeneity but also the aggressiveness of gastric cancer cells. The mechanisms by which hypoxia induces CD24 expression would also be a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Dentists’ decisions to conduct caries risk assessment in a Dental Practice‐Based Research Network
Authors: Kakudate Naoki , Sumida Futoshi , Matsumoto Yuki , Yokoyama Yoko , Riley Joseph L. , Gilbert Gregg H. , Gordan Valeria V.
Published: September 2014

Objectives

(i) To quantify the importance that dentists place on caries risk factors when developing a caries treatment plan and (ii) to test the hypothesis that the ratings of importance for specific factors are significantly associated with whether or not the dentist performs caries risk assessment (CRA).

Methods

This study used a cross‐sectional study design consisting of a questionnaire survey. The study queried dentists who worked in outpatient dental practices who were affiliated with the Dental Practice‐Based Research Network Japan (JDPBRN), which seeks to engage dentists in investigating research questions and sharing experiences and expertise (n = 282). Participants (n = 189) were asked to rate the importance of caries risk factors when developing a caries treatment plan in both adult and pediatric patients.

Results

Oral hygiene status was rated as the most important risk factor when developing a treatment plan in both adult and pediatric patients, whereas the use of fluorides was rated as the least important. Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratios for the decision to perform CRA in the adult patient for past caries experience and use of fluorides were 2.61 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–5.29) and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.12–3.04), respectively, whereas that for oral hygiene was 3.84 (95% CI: 1.15–12.79) and use of fluorides 1.79 (95% CI: 1.06–3.03) in the pediatric patient.

Conclusions

These results suggest that enhancing dentists’ concept of the importance of current use of fluorides when developing a treatment plan may increase the percentage of dentists who conduct CRA in both adult and pediatric patients (clinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT01680848).
The effects of aerobic exercise training on serum osteocalcin, adipocytokines and insulin resistance on obese young males
Authors: Kim Yu‐Sik , Nam Ji Sun , Yeo Dong‐Wook , Kim Kyung Rae , Suh Sang‐Hoon , Ahn Chul Woo
Published: September 2014

Objective

Osteocalcin has been proposed to be a novel link between bone and energy metabolism. Previous studies showed its relations to exercise, body fat and glucose metabolism, but their interrelationship remains inconslusive. We evaluated the changes in osteocalcin level following 8‐week exercise programme and assessed how they are related to concomitant changes in body fat composition, insulin resistance and various adipocytokines in a single centre, randomized and prospective design.

Study design and Methods

A total of 39 young obese, otherwise healthy males were randomly assigned to control (n = 10) and exercise (n = 29) groups. Subjects in Exercise group were on 8‐week supervised exercise training programme of four sessions per week. Body fat compositions were analysed using whole body bone mineral density, various metabolic parameters, osteocalcin and adipocytokines were assessed from fasting blood samples before and after 8‐week exercise programme.

Results

Body fat reduction following exercise significantly increased serum total (1·51 ± 0·36 vs 1·69 ± 0·39 mmol/l, P = 0·01, baseline vs postexercise) and undercarboxylated osteocalcin level (0·44 ± 0·14 vs 0·64 ± 0·26 mmol/l, P < 0·01), and the increase in osteocalcin was in negative correlations with changes in body weight, BMI and body fat percentage as well as HOMA‐IR and leptin (all P < 0·05). The changes in osteocalcin and leptin were not independent predictors of changes in insulin resistance and osteocalcin, respectively.

Conclusions

In a physiological axis of bone‐fat‐energy metabolism, exercise‐induced body fat reduction and improved insulin sensitivity were accompanied by an increase in serum osteocalcin and leptin levels, but other factors also seem to be involved in this interrelationship.
Microdeletion 2q23.3q24.1: Exploring genotype‐phenotype correlations
Authors: Milani Donatella , Sabatini Caterina , Manzoni Francesca Maria Paola , Ajmone Paola Francesca , Rigamonti Claudia , Malacarne Michela , Pierluigi Mauro , Cavani Simona , Costantino Maria Antonella
Published: September 2014

We report a case of a 13‐year‐old girl with a 5.4Mb de novo deletion, encompassing bands 2q23.3q24.1, identified by array‐comparative genomic hybridization. She presented with minor facial and digital anomalies, mild developmental delay during infancy, and behavioral disorders. Few of the reported cases overlap this deletion and all only partially. We tried to compare the clinical features of the patient with the other cases, even though not all of them were molecularly characterized in detail. Considering the neuropsychiatric involvement of the proband and the clinical descriptions of other similar cases, we attempted to identify the genes more probably involved in neurological development and function in the deleted region, particularly GALNT13, KCNJ3 and NR4A2, which are expressed in neuronal cells.
Impact of abutment microstructure and insertion depth on crestal bone changes at nonsubmerged titanium implants with platform switch
Authors: Schwarz Frank , Mihatovic Ilja , Golubovich Vladimir , Schär Alex , Sager Martin , Becker Jürgen
Published: August 2014

Objectives

To assess the impact of microgrooved abutments and the insertion depth on crestal bone changes at titanium implants with platform switch.

Materials and Methods

A total of n = 3 titanium implants (conical abutment connection) were inserted in each hemimandible of n = 6 foxhounds with the implant shoulder (IS) located at either epicrestal, supracrestal (+1 mm), or subcrestal (−1 mm) positions and randomly (split‐mouth design) connected with machined or partially microgrooved healing abutments. At 20 weeks, tissue biopsies were processed for histological (primary outcome: net bone loss – NET) analyses.

Results

Subcrestal positioning of IS tended to be associated with higher mean NET values (mm) at both machined (subcrestal [−0.72 ± 0.32] > epicrestal [−0.34 ± 0.21] > supracrestal [+0.20 ± 0.64]) and microgrooved (subcrestal [−0.48 ± 0.25] > epicrestal [−0.13 ± 0.54] > supracrestal [+0.33 ± 0.58]) abutments. However, these differences failed to reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

The insertion depth may have a direct influence on crestal bone‐level changes at both types of abutments investigated.
Combined endorectal ultrasonography and strain elastography for the staging of early rectal cancer
Authors: Waage J. E. R. , Bach S. P. , Pfeffer F. , Leh S. , Havre R. F. , Ødegaard S. , Baatrup G.
Published: September 2014

Aim

Strain elastography is a novel approach to rectal tumour evaluation. The primary aim of this study was to correlate elastography to pT stages of rectal tumours and to assess the ability of the method to differentiate rectal adenomas (pT0) from early rectal cancer (pT1–2). Secondary aims were to compare elastography with endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) and to propose a combined strain elastography and ERUS staging algorithm.

Method

In all, 120 consecutive patients with a suspected rectal tumour were examined in this staging study. Patients receiving surgery without neoadjuvant radiotherapy were included (n = 59). All patients were examined with ERUS and elastography. Treatment decisions were made by multidisciplinary team (MDT) assessment, without considering the strain elastography examination.

Results

Histopathology identified 21 adenomas, 13 pT1, 9 pT2, 15 pT3 and one pT4. Mean elastography strain ratios were predictive of T stage (P = 0.01). Differentiation of adenomas from early rectal cancer (pT1–2) had sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 0.82, 0.86 and 0.84 for elastography and 0.82, 0.62 and 0.72 for ERUS. A combined staging algorithm was developed to identify tumours eligible for local resection. Based on MDT evaluation 32% of tumours later identified as pT0 or pT1 were treated with total mesorectal excision, even though a local excision might have sufficed. Combined ERUS and elastography evaluation would have significantly reduced this number to 9% (P = 0.008).

Conclusion

Elastography may improve the staging of adenomas and early rectal cancer compared with ERUS alone. Combined ERUS and elastography assessment is likely to further improve the selection of patients for local resection.
The geography of human‐mediated dispersal
Authors: Auffret Alistair G. , Berg Johan , Cousins Sara A.O.
Published: September 2014

Dispersal is a key process in determining the survival of plant species following habitat fragmentation and climate change, as well as driving the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in new regions. Due to its passive nature, seed dispersal is particularly complex, and the rare long‐distance events relevant for plant species' responses to environmental change are a barrier to its understanding. Attempts to simplify the seed dispersal process often ignore dispersal by humans, despite the huge influence humans have over ecological systems throughout the world. In this Biodiversity Viewpoint, we describe how the movement patterns of humans and human‐mediated dispersal vectors can be useful for understanding potential patterns of dispersal at multiple spatial scales. Humans and their associated dispersal vectors such as livestock and motor vehicles can disperse huge numbers of seeds of many plant species very long distances. Their relationships with the physical environment affect their movement, and therefore the movement of the seeds which they can potentially disperse. Therefore, we believe that a geographical approach can be useful at a time where understanding and managing pathways of dispersal are of direct relevance to the challenges faced by plant species and communities.
The impact of culture on physiological processes of emotion regulation: a comparison of US and Chinese preschoolers
Authors: Grabell Adam S. , Olson Sheryl L. , Miller Alison L. , Kessler Daniel A. , Felt Barbara , Kaciroti Niko , Wang Li , Tardif Twila
Published: September 2014

Cognitive determinants of emotion regulation, such as effortful control, have been hypothesized to modulate young children's physiological response to emotional stress. It is unknown, however, whether this model of emotion regulation generalizes across Western and non‐Western cultures. The current study examined the relation between both behavioral and questionnaire measures of effortful control and densely sampled, stress‐induced cortisol trajectories in U.S. and Chinese preschoolers. Participants were 3‐ to 5‐ year‐old children recruited from the United States (N = 57) and Beijing, China (N = 60). Consistent with our hypothesis, U.S. children showed a significant negative relation between maternal‐rated inhibitory control and both cortisol reactivity and recovery. However, this was not replicated in the Chinese sample. Children in China showed a significant positive relation between maternal‐rated attentional focusing and cortisol reactivity that was not seen in the U.S. Results suggest that children who reside in Western and non‐Western cultures have different predictors of their emotion‐related stress response.
Gender, age and risk of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Kytö Ville , Sipilä Jussi , Rautava Päivi
Published: September 2014

Background

Exact associations of gender and age with occurrence of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction are inadequately known.

Design

Gender and age differences in frequency and incidence of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI were studied using a nationwide, population‐based (26 723 956 person‐years) registry of hospital admissions in patients aged ≥ 30 during 2001–2008 in Finland. Data were collected from all 22 hospitals with a coronary angiolaboratory nationwide.

Results

The study period included 27 993 STEMI admissions. Of these patients, 65·9% were men and 34·1% women, RR 2·37 (95% CI 2·05–2·74, P < 0·0001). Women were significantly older than men (74·3 ± 11·7 vs. 64·7 ± 12·4 years, P < 0·0001). Standardized incidence rate of STEMI was 113·0/100 000 person‐years overall, 170·9/100 000 in men and 66·6/100 000 in women. Men had a 3·03 (95% CI 2·86–3·21; P < 0·0001)‐fold age‐adjusted relative risk of STEMI compared with women with highest risk difference in population under the age of 55 years (RR 5·94; 95% CI 5·36–6·58, P < 0·0001). Incidence increased with age up to 90 years old, with estimated gender‐adjusted increase rate of 41% (95% CI 40–42%; P < 0·0001) per 5‐year increase in age. Incidence rate had a slowly declining trend (−2·2%; 95% CI −3·4 to −1·0% per year, P < 0·001) during the study period.

Conclusions

Men have a tripled overall risk of STEMI compared with women with highest relative risk in younger adults. Incidence rate of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction increases by estimated 41% per 5‐year increase in age.
TRANSPARENCY IN MARKETS FOR EXPERIENCE GOODS: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE
Authors: Henze Bastian , Schuett Florian , Sluijs Jasper P.
Published: September 2014

We propose an experimental design to investigate the role of information disclosure in the market for an experience good. The market is served by a duopoly of firms that choose both the quality and the price of their product. Consumers differ in their taste for quality and choose from which firm to buy. We compare four different treatments in which we vary the degree to which consumers are informed about quality. Contrary to theoretical predictions, firms do not differentiate quality under full information. Rather, both tend to offer products of similar, high quality, entailing more intense price competition than predicted by theory. Under no information, we observe a “lemons” outcome where quality is low. At the same time, firms manage to maintain prices substantially above marginal cost. In two intermediate treatments, quality is significantly higher than the no‐information level, and there is evidence that prices become better predictors of quality. Taken together these findings suggest that information disclosure is a more effective tool to raise welfare and consumer surplus than theory would lead one to expect.(JELL15,C91,D82)
Variation in host plant has no effect on the performance and fitness‐related traits of the specialist herbivore Pareuchaetes insulata
Authors: Uyi Osariyekemwen O. , Hill Martin P. , Zachariades Costas
Published: September 2014

The effect of host plant dissimilarity on insect preference and performance was tested using two morphological forms of Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson (Asteraceae) (one from Florida, USA, another from South Africa), and a specialist herbivore, Pareuchaetes insulata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) from Florida, USA, that was introduced as a biological control agent in South Africa. Although this insect did establish at one site, of some 21 sites at which over 800 000 individuals were released, its population level in the field has remained low after an initial outbreak in 2006. To explain the poor performance of P. insulata, we hypothesised that P. insulata larvae prefer Floridian C. odorata to the southern African C. odorata, which is morphologically and probably genetically distinct, and that larvae reared on Floridian C. odorata should have higher fitness and performance. We tested this by comparing insect performance metrics on each of the two plant forms in laboratory experiments. Apart from pupal mass, which was significantly greater on southern African C. odorata, P. insulata performance metrics were similar on both plant forms; there were no significant differences in total leaf area consumed, egg and larval development, immature survival rates, feeding index, host suitability index, growth index, and fecundity between the Floridian and southern African C. odorata plants. In sum, we could not demonstrate that differences in plant forms in C. odorata are responsible for the poor performance of P. insulata in South Africa.
Spontaneous local alpha oscillations predict motion‐induced blindness
Authors: Händel Barbara F. , Jensen Ole
Published: September 2014

Bistable visual illusions are well suited for exploring the neuronal states of the brain underlying changes in perception. In this study, we investigated oscillatory activity associated with ‘motion‐induced blindness’ (MIB), which denotes the perceptual disappearance of salient target stimuli when a moving pattern is superimposed on them (Bonneh et al., ). We applied an MIB paradigm in which illusory target disappearances would occur independently in the left and right hemifields. Both illusory and real target disappearance were followed by an alpha lateralization with weaker contralateral than ipsilateral alpha activity (~10 Hz). However, only the illusion showed early alpha lateralization in the opposite direction, which preceded the alpha effect present for both conditions and coincided with the estimated onset of the illusion. The duration of the illusory disappearance was further predicted by the magnitude of this early lateralization when considered over subjects. In the gamma band (60–80 Hz), we found an increase in activity contralateral relative to ipsilateral only after a real disappearance. Whereas early alpha activity was predictive of onset and length of the illusory percept, gamma activity showed no modulation in relation to the illusion. Our study demonstrates that the spontaneous changes in visual alpha activity have perceptual consequences.
Nerve ultrasound findings in neuropathy associated with anti‐myelin‐associated glycoprotein antibodies
Authors: Lucchetta M. , Padua L. , Granata G. , Luigetti M. , Campagnolo M. , Dalla Torre C. , Coraci D. , Sabatelli M. , Briani C.
Published: September 2014

Background and purpose

No systematic nerve ultrasound (US) studies on patients with neuropathy and anti‐myelin‐associated glycoprotein (anti‐MAG) antibodies are available.

Patients and methods

Twenty‐eight patients (18 men, 10 women, mean age 69.2 ± 10.9 years; mean disease duration 6.9 years) with anti‐MAG neuropathy underwent nerve US. Echotexture, nerve cross‐sectional area (CSA) and intra‐nerve and inter‐nerve CSA variability were assessed. The frequency (number of nerves with enlarged CSA, ‘enlarged nerves sum score’) and distribution (proximal versus distal, arms versus legs, symmetry) of US abnormalities were considered. Controls included two groups: four patients with immunoglobulin M (IgM) paraproteinaemic neuropathy without anti‐MAG antibodies and five with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) associated with IgM paraprotein.

Results

In all, 26/28 patients had increased CSA (23 with at least one nerve outside entrapment sites). Intra‐nerve CSA variability was abnormal in 21/28 patients (in 14 for increased nerve CSA outside entrapment sites). Inter‐nerve CSA variability was abnormal in 16 patients (of whom half for CSA increase out of entrapment sites). The enlarged nerves sum score in anti‐MAG neuropathy patients was greater than in MAG‐negative paraproteinaemic neuropathies and lower than in CIDP. Intra‐nerve variability appeared instead similar in anti‐MAG and controls. No correlation was found between US findings and Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment Group (INCAT) disability score or disease duration.

Discussion

Amongst the different measures to assess the US pattern (symmetry/asymmetry, proximal/distal distribution and sum score), the enlarged nerves sum score was the most useful for differentiating the three groups of patients with demyelinating neuropathies and may contribute to diagnosis in a typical cases.
CD97 inhibits cell migration in human fibrosarcoma cells by modulating TIMP‐2/MT1‐ MMP/MMP‐2 activity – role of GPS autoproteolysis and functional cooperation between the N‐ and C‐terminal fragments
Authors: Hsiao Cheng‐Chih , Wang Wen‐Chih , Kuo Wan‐Lin , Chen Hsin‐Yi , Chen Tse‐Ching , Hamann Jörg , Lin Hsi‐Hsien
Published: September 2014

CD97 is a tumor‐associated adhesion‐class G‐protein‐coupled receptor involved in modulating cell migration. Adhesion‐class G‐protein‐coupled receptors are characterized by proteolytic cleavage at a G‐protein‐coupled receptor proteolysis site (GPS) into an N‐terminal fragment (NTF) and a C‐terminal fragment (CTF), which remain associated noncovalently. The molecular mechanism and the role of GPS proteolysis in CD97‐modulated cell migration are not completely understood. We report here that CD97 expression in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells enhanced tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐2 secretion, leading to reduced membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase 2 activities. This, in turn, impaired cell migration and invasion in vitro and lung macrometastasis in vivo. CD97 expression also upregulated the expression of integrins, promoting cell adhesion. Importantly, these cellular functions absolutely required the presence of both the NTF and the CTF of CD97, confirming functional cooperation between the two receptor subunits. CD97 gene knockdown reversed these phenotypic changes. We conclude that GPS proteolysis and the functional interplay between the NTF and the CTF are indispensible for CD97 to inhibit HT1080 cell migration by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase activity.
Temperature tracking by North Sea benthic invertebrates in response to climate change
Authors: Hiddink Jan G. , Burrows Michael T. , García Molinos Jorge
Published: September 2014

Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity and distributions shifts are one of the most significant threats to global warming, but the extent to which these shifts keep pace with a changing climate is yet uncertain. Understanding the factors governing range shifts is crucial for conservation management to anticipate patterns of biodiversity distribution under future anthropogenic climate change. Soft‐sediment invertebrates are a key faunal group because of their role in marine biogeochemistry and as a food source for commercial fish species. However, little information exists on their response to climate change. Here, we evaluate changes in the distribution of 65 North Sea benthic invertebrate species between 1986 and 2000 by examining their geographic, bathymetric and thermal niche shifts and test whether species are tracking their thermal niche as defined by minimum, mean or maximum sea bottom (SBT) and surface (SST) temperatures. Temperatures increased in the whole North Sea with many benthic invertebrates showing north‐westerly range shifts (leading/trailing edges as well as distribution centroids) and deepening. Nevertheless, distribution shifts for most species (3.8–7.3 km yr−1 interquantile range) lagged behind shifts in both SBT and SST (mean 8.1 km yr−1), resulting in many species experiencing increasing temperatures. The velocity of climate change (VoCC) of mean SST accurately predicted both the direction and magnitude of distribution centroid shifts, while maximum SST did the same for contraction of the trailing edge. The VoCC of SBT was not a good predictor of range shifts. No good predictor of expansions of the leading edge was found. Our results show that invertebrates need to shift at different rates and directions to track the climate velocities of different temperature measures, and are therefore lagging behind most temperature measures. If these species cannot withstand a change in thermal habitat, this could ultimately lead to a drop in benthic biodiversity.
Direct nitrous oxide emissions from oilseed rape cropping – a meta‐analysis
Authors: Walter Katja , Don Axel , Fuß Roland , Kern Jürgen , Drewer Julia , Flessa Heinz
Published: September 2014

Oilseed rape is one of the leading feedstocks for biofuel production in Europe. The climate change mitigation effect of rape methyl ester (RME) is particularly challenged by the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during crop production, mainly as nitrous oxide (N2O) from soils. Oilseed rape requires high nitrogen fertilization and crop residues are rich in nitrogen, both potentially causing enhanced N2O emissions. However, GHG emissions of oilseed rape production are often estimated using emission factors that account for crop‐type specifics only with respect to crop residues. This meta‐analysis therefore aimed to assess annual N2O emissions from winter oilseed rape, to compare them to those of cereals and to explore the underlying reasons for differences. For the identification of the most important factors, linear mixed effects models were fitted with 43 N2O emission data points deriving from 12 different field sites. N2O emissions increased exponentially with N‐fertilization rates, but interyear and site‐specific variability were high and climate variables or soil parameters did not improve the prediction model. Annual N2O emissions from winter oilseed rape were 22% higher than those from winter cereals fertilized at the same rate. At a common fertilization rate of 200 kg N ha−1 yr−1, the mean fraction of fertilizer N that was lost as N2O‐N was 1.27% for oilseed rape compared to 1.04% for cereals. The risk of high yield‐scaled N2O emissions increased after a critical N surplus of about 80 kg N ha−1 yr−1. The difference in N2O emissions between oilseed rape and cereal cultivation was especially high after harvest due to the high N contents in oilseed rape's crop residues. However, annual N2O emissions of winter oilseed rape were still lower than predicted by the Stehfest and Bouwman model. Hence, the assignment of oilseed rape to the crop‐type classes of cereals or other crops should be reconsidered.
On Geocomputational Determinants of Entropic Variations for Urban Dynamics Studies
Authors: Leibovici Didier G. , Birkin Mark H.
Published: September 2014

Monitoring population characteristics and their patterns of spatial evolution are fundamental components for urban management and policy decision‐making. Societal issues such as health, transport, or crime are often explored using a range of models describing the urban dynamics of population attributes at specific scales that can be seen as complementary. Using and simulating data at different scales of aggregation asks for the need to analyze and compare spatiotemporal variations in order to better understand the model behaviors and emerging properties of the geosimulation. This article analyzes the uses of the entropy measure in the literature and constraining factors needed for its potential extension to explore the variations in geographic and time scales. In particular, the article discusses the need for a truly spatial entropy that takes into account the spatial contiguities of the observations usually aggregated within a zoning system of areal units. Two generic solutions are exposed for the various geometries and attribute structures used for census‐related analyses; they are based on existing measures for point data using (i) co‐occurrences of observations and (ii) discriminant ratios of distances between groups of observations. Their extensions to areal compositional data are articulated around their conceptual changes and geocomputational challenges. A revisited and new version of the entropy decomposition theorem, encompassing a spatiality concept semantically related to correlation, is also presented as efficiently reusing the constrained hierarchical zoning system of administrative units to enable discovery of emerging spatial pattern features from the geosimulation. A comparison of the results between the classical use of entropy and the spatial entropy framework devised shows the flexibility and added capabilities of the approach for new types of analyses, thus allowing new insight into studies of population dynamics.
Introduction to devolution and the geographies of policy
Authors: Clifford Ben , Morphet Janice
Published: September 2014

In this introductory essay, we outline how recent events have generated considerable debate and discussion surrounding the future constitutional status of Scotland and the current devolutionary settlement in the UK, and how the aim of this collection of papers is to evaluate UK devolution and the policy mobilities surrounding it. We argue that there has been a tendency for scholars to concentrate on the detail of the constitutional and administrative structures and a reluctance to theorise devolution, and suggest geographers can offer a particular contribution here through an understanding of devolution as fundamentally about the interaction of politics, culture and territory. We discuss the value of considering the particular geographies of policy at work, and the role of the everyday work of civil servants in creating and sustaining the creation of new state spaces. We then briefly highlight the main findings of each of the papers in this special collection and show how, together, they add to our understanding of the geographies of devolution and of policy at a critical juncture in the devolution story. We conclude that whatever the particular future for the United Kingdom, the policy interactions between territories will continue to have an important role in their governance.
Induced Groundwater Flux by Increases in the Aquifer's Total Stress
Authors: Chang Ching‐Min , Yeh Hund‐Der
Published: September 2014

Fluid‐filled granular soils experience changes in total stress because of earth and oceanic tides, earthquakes, erosion, sedimentation, and changes in atmospheric pressure. The pore volume may deform in response to the changes in stress and this may lead to changes in pore fluid pressure. The transient fluid flow can therefore be induced by the gradient in excess pressure in a fluid‐saturated porous medium. This work demonstrates the use of stochastic methodology in prediction of induced one‐dimensional field‐scale groundwater flow through a heterogeneous aquifer. A closed‐form of mean groundwater flux is developed to quantify the induced field‐scale mean behavior of groundwater flow and analyze the impacts of the spatial correlation length scale of log hydraulic conductivity and the pore compressibility. The findings provided here could be useful for the rational planning and management of groundwater resources in aquifers that contain lenses with large vertical aquifer matrix compressibility values.
Predictors of unstructured antiretroviral treatment interruption and resumption among HIV‐positive individuals in Canada
Authors: Samji H , Taha TE , Moore D , Burchell AN , Cescon A , Cooper C , Raboud JM , Klein MB , Loutfy MR , Machouf N , Tsoukas CM , Montaner JSG , Hogg RS ,   Canadian Observational Cohort (CANOC) Collaboration
Published: September 2014

Objectives

Sustained optimal use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been shown to decrease morbidity, mortality and HIV transmission. However, incomplete adherence and treatment interruption (TI) remain challenges to the full realization of the promise of cART. We estimated trends and predictors of treatment interruption and resumption among individuals in the Canadian Observational Cohort (CANOC) collaboration.

Methods

cART‐naïve individuals ≥ 18 years of age who initiated cART between 2000 and 2011 were included in the study. We defined TIs as ≥ 90 consecutive days off cART. We used descriptive analyses to study TI trends over time and Cox regression to identify factors predicting time to first TI and time to treatment resumption after a first TI.

Results

A total of 7633 participants were eligible for inclusion in the study, of whom 1860 (24.5%) experienced a TI. The prevalence of TI in the first calendar year of cART decreased by half over the study period. Our analyses highlighted a higher risk of TI among women [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33–1.92], younger individuals (aHR 1.27; 95% CI 1.15–1.37 per decade increase), earlier treatment initiators (CD4 count ≥ 350 vs. < 200 cells/μL: aHR 1.46; 95% CI 1.17–1.81), Aboriginal participants (aHR 1.67; 95% CI 1.27–2.20), injecting drug users (aHR 1.43; 95% CI 1.09–1.89) and users of zidovudine vs. tenofovir in the initial cART regimen (aHR 2.47; 95% CI 1.92–3.20). Conversely, factors predicting treatment resumption were male sex, older age, and a CD4 cell count < 200 cells/μL at cART initiation.

Conclusions

Despite significant improvements in cART since its advent, our results demonstrate that TIs remain relatively prevalent. Strategies to support continuous HIV treatment are needed to maximize the benefits of cART.
Migration of dendritic cells: physical principles, molecular mechanisms, and functional implications
Authors: Heuzé Mélina L. , Vargas Pablo , Chabaud Mélanie , Le Berre Maël , Liu Yan‐Jun , Collin Olivier , Solanes Paola , Voituriez Raphaël , Piel Matthieu , Lennon‐Duménil Ana‐Maria
Published: August 2014

Dendritic cells (DCs) constitute a complex cell population that resides in both peripheral tissues and lymphoid organs. Their major function in tissues is to patrol their environment in search of danger‐associated antigens to transport to lymph nodes and present to T lymphocytes. This process constitutes the first step of the adaptive immune response and relies on specific DC properties, including a high endocytic capacity as well as efficient motility in confined three‐dimensional environments. Although cell motility has been widely studied, little is known on how the geometric characteristics of the environment influence DC migration and function. In this review, we give an overview of the basic physical principles and molecular mechanisms that control DC migration under confinement and discuss how such mechanisms impact the environment‐patrolling capacity of DCs.
Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein – dynamic regulation of actin homeostasis: from activation through function and signal termination in T lymphocytes
Authors: Matalon Omri , Reicher Barak , Barda‐Saad Mira
Published: August 2014

The actin cytoskeleton network forms a key link between T‐cell antigen receptor (TCR) stimulation and T‐cell effector functions, providing a structural basis for T‐cell morphological changes and signal transduction. Accumulating evidence positions the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp), a scaffolding protein that promotes actin polymerization, at the center of actin cytoskeleton‐dependent T‐cell function. During the past decade, we and others have utilized multidisciplinary technologies, including live‐cell imaging, biochemical, and biophysical analyses, to gain insight into the mechanisms by which WASp and other cytoskeletal proteins control actin homeostasis. Following TCR engagement, WASp is rapidly activated and recruited to TCR microclusters, as part of multiprotein complexes, where it promotes actin remodeling. Late in the activation process, WASp is internalized and eventually degraded. In this review, we describe the dynamic interactions of WASp with signaling proteins, which regulate its activation and recruitment to the TCR and to actin‐rich sites. Finally, we present the molecular mechanism of WASp downregulation. Some of the signaling proteins that mediate WASp activation eventually lead to its degradation. Thus, we focus here on the regulation of WASp expression and function and the mechanisms whereby they control actin machinery and T‐cell effector functions.
Foreign Object Damage by Spherical Steel Projectiles in an N720/Alumina Oxide/Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite
Authors: Choi Sung R. , Faucett D. Calvin , Alexander Donald J.
Published: September 2014

Foreign object‐damage (FOD) phenomena of an N720/alumina oxide/oxide ceramic matrix composite (CMC), impacted by 1.59‐mm spherical chrome steel projectiles up to Mach 1, were assessed at ambient temperature at a normal incidence angle in both partial and full supports. The impact damage was in the form of craters, matrix/fiber tow breakage, compaction of the material, delamination and cone cracks, and their occurrence and degree depended on both impact velocity and type of target supports. The partial support resulted in significant damage with increasing impact velocity, accompanying substantial strength degradation. The presence of tensile stress and presumably stress wave interaction at the backside of a target could have been responsible for greater impact damage in partial support. Although the CMC targets impacted at 340 m/s were on the verge of being penetrated, the targets still survived catastrophic failure retaining about 68% of the as‐received strength, indicative of relatively superior FOD resistance as compared to monolithic ceramic counterparts. A quasi‐static analysis of impact force prediction was made based on the energy balance principle and was validated indirectly using the experimental data on frontal impact damage size.
Thickness Dependence of Dielectric, Leakage, and Ferroelectric Properties of Bi6Fe2Ti3O18 Thin Films Derived by Chemical Solution Deposition
Authors: Song Dongpo , Tang Xianwu , Yuan Bin , Zuo Xuzhong , Yang Jie , Chen Li , Song Wenhai , Zhu Xuebin , Sun Yuping
Published: September 2014

We prepared Bi6Fe2Ti3O18 thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates with thickness ranging from ∼300 to ∼900 nm by using a chemical solution deposition route and investigated the thickness effects on the microstructure, dielectric, leakage, and ferroelectric properties of Bi6Fe2Ti3O18 thin films. Increasing thickness improves the surface morphology, dielectric, and leakage properties of Bi6Fe2Ti3O18 thin films and a well‐defined ferroelectric hysteresis loops can form for the thin films with the thickness above 400 nm. Moreover, the thickness dependence of saturation polarization is insignificant, whereas the remnant polarization decreases slightly with increasing thickness and it possesses a maximal value of ∼20 μC/cm2 for the 500 nm‐thick thin films. The mechanisms of the thickness dependence of microstructure, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties are discussed in detail. The results will provide a guidance to optimize the ferroelectric properties in Bi6Fe2Ti3O18 thin films by chemical solution deposition, which is important to further explore single‐phase multiferroics in the n = 5 Aurivillius thin films.
Tantalum Enrichment in Tantalum‐Doped Titanium Dioxide
Authors: Sheppard Leigh R. , Holik John , Liu Rong , Macartney Sam , Wuhrer Richard
Published: September 2014

This investigation has assessed the behavior of Ta enrichment in Ta‐doped TiO2 under various conditions of controlled oxygen activity and temperature. The aim has been to establish the relationships between specific processing conditions and the resulting compositional variation within the surface and near‐surface region. Under the application of oxidizing conditions [p(O2) = 101 kPa], it has been observed that Ta will strongly enrich the surface of Ta‐doped TiO2 irrespective of the annealing temperature (over the range of 1173–1523 K). However, under reducing conditions [p(O2) in the vicinity of 10−10 Pa], Ta enrichment is observed at 1173 K, but Ta depletion from the surface and near‐surface is observed at 1348 and 1523 K. This is attributed to an apparent lack of stability of the surface phase, which could possibly be TiTa2O7. The results for the investigation contribute to the engineering of TiO2‐based photoelectrode materials that possess improved charge separation properties.