bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of l‐Cysteine on Reinstatement of Ethanol‐Seeking Behavior and on Reinstatement‐Elicited Extracellular Signal–Regulated Kinase Phosphorylation in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens Shell
Authors: Peana Alessandra T. , Giugliano Valentina , Rosas Michela , Sabariego Marta , Acquas Elio
Published: July 2012

Background

Alcoholism is a neuroadaptive disorder, and the understanding of the mechanisms of the high rates of relapse, which characterize it, represents one of the most demanding challenges in alcoholism and addiction research. The extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) is an intracellular kinase, critical for neuroplasticity in the adult brain that is suggested to play a fundamental role in the molecular mechanisms underlying drug addiction and relapse. We previously observed that a nonessential amino acid, l‐cysteine, significantly decreases oral ethanol (EtOH) self‐administration, reinstatement of EtOH‐drinking behavior, and EtOH self‐administration break point.

Methods

Here, we tested whether l‐cysteine can affect the ability of EtOH priming to induce reinstatement of EtOH‐seeking behavior. In addition, we determined the ability of EtOH priming to induce ERK phosphorylation as well as the ability of l‐cysteine to affect reinstatement‐elicited ERK activation. To these purposes, Wistar rats were trained to nose‐poke for a 10% v/v EtOH solution. After stable drug‐taking behavior was obtained, nose‐poking for EtOH was extinguished, and reinstatement of drug seeking, as well as reinstatement‐elicited pERK, was determined after an oral, noncontingent, priming of EtOH (0.08 g/kg). Rats were pretreated with either saline or l‐cysteine (80 to 120 mg/kg) 30 minutes before testing for reinstatement.

Results

The findings of this study confirm that the noncontingent delivery of a nonpharmacologically active dose of EtOH to rats, whose previous self‐administration behavior had been extinguished, results in significant reinstatement into EtOH‐seeking behavior. In addition, the results indicate that reinstatement selectively activates ERK phosphorylation in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (Acb) and that pretreatment with l‐cysteine reduces either reinstatement of EtOH seeking and reinstatement‐elicited pERK in the AcbSh.

Conclusions

Altogether, these results indicate that l‐cysteine could be an effective pharmacological agent for the prevention of behavioral and molecular correlates of EtOH‐primed reinstatement of EtOH seeking and that the shell of the Acb represents a critical neural substrate for priming‐elicited reinstatement mechanisms involving ERK phosphorylation.
Treatment Utilization and Unmet Treatment Need Among Hispanics Following Brief Intervention
Authors: Field Craig A. , Cochran Gerald , Caetano Raul
Published: July 2012

Background

In a large randomized trial examining ethnic differences in response to a brief alcohol intervention following an alcohol‐related injury, we showed that Hispanics, but not non‐Hispanics, were more likely to reduce alcohol intake in comparison with treatment as usual (Addiction 105:62, 2010). The current study evaluates whether the observed improvements in drinking outcomes previously reported among Hispanics following brief intervention might be related to prior or subsequent treatment utilization.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized clinical trial that evaluated ethnic differences in the effect of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) on alcohol use among medical inpatients admitted for alcohol‐related injury. For this study, statistical analyses were carried out to compare alcohol use, alcohol problems, treatment utilization, and unmet treatment need between Hispanic (n = 537) and non‐Hispanic White (n = 668) inpatients. In addition, we examined the relationship between prior treatment utilization and unmet treatment need and alcohol use outcomes following brief intervention and the impact of brief intervention on subsequent treatment utilization and unmet treatment need.

Results

In comparison with non‐Hispanic Whites, Hispanics at baseline reported heavier drinking, more alcohol problems, greater unmet treatment need, and lower rates of treatment utilization. Among Hispanics, multilevel analyses showed that prior treatment utilization or unmet treatment need did not moderate the effect of BMI on alcohol outcomes. Furthermore, BMI did not significantly impact subsequent treatment utilization or unmet treatment need among Hispanics. Finally, treatment utilization and unmet treatment need at 6 months were not significant mediators between BMI and alcohol use outcomes at follow‐up.

Conclusions

The benefits of brief intervention among Hispanics do not appear to be better explained by subsequent engagement in mutual help groups or formal substance abuse treatment. Prior history of treatment, regardless of the severity of alcohol problems, does not appear to influence the impact of brief intervention on alcohol use among Hispanics. These findings support prior results reporting the benefits of brief intervention among Hispanics and demonstrate that these improvements are not related to prior or subsequent treatment utilization.
A Novel Framework to Eliminate the Effects of Casting Distortion when Fabricating a Fixed, Detachable Screw‐Retained Prosthesis
Authors: Hatjigiorgis Costas , Urquiola Javier , Iommazzo Silvestro
Published: July 2012

The ideal fixed, detachable framework sits passively on the implants and does not introduce any stress. Several techniques in the literature compensate for an ill‐fitting framework. These techniques require extra visits, chairtime, and laboratory time and only mitigate the stress; the stress is not eliminated. A framework is presented here that eliminates the stress transmitted to the implants by encircling the abutment cylinders and not directly incorporating them into the framework. Furthermore, the framework mitigates the stress from the polymerization distortion of acrylic when processing the acrylic onto the prosthesis.
Three‐Dimensional Location of the Retaining Screw Axis for a Cemented Single Tooth Implant Restoration
Authors: Wicks Russell , Shintaku Werner H. , Johnson Andrew
Published: July 2012

Retrievability is a major concern with cemented versus screw‐retained implant restorations. This article describes the use of cone beam radiography to help target and create a precise screw access opening for a loosened implant‐supported single crown retained by cement to its abutment.
The Application of Rapid Prototyping in Prosthodontics
Authors: Sun Jian , Zhang Fu‐Qiang
Published: July 2012

Dentists have used rapid prototyping (RP) techniques in the fields of oral maxillofacial surgery simulation and implantology. With new research emerging for molding materials and the forming process of RP techniques, this method is becoming more attractive in dental prosthesis fabrication; however, few researchers have published material on the RP technology of prosthesis pattern fabrication. This article reviews and discusses the application of RP techniques for prosthodontics including: (1) fabrication of wax pattern for the dental prosthesis, (2) dental (facial) prosthesis mold (shell) fabrication, (3) dental metal prosthesis fabrication, and (4) zirconia prosthesis fabrication. Many people could benefit from this new technology through various forms of dental prosthesis production. Traditional prosthodontic practices could also be changed by RP techniques in the near future.
Thoracic Epidural Catheter Placement Using a Paramedian Approach with Cephalad Angulation in Three Dogs
Authors: Franci Paolo , Leece Elizabeth A. , Corletto Federico
Published: July 2012

Objective

To describe a technique for insertion of a thoracic epidural catheter.

Study Design

Clinical report.

Animals

Dogs (n = 3) undergoing thoracic wall resection and thoracotomy.

Methods

A paramedian approach with cephalic angulation was used to place a 24‐g epidural catheter in 3 dogs. Dogs 1 and 2 had left caudal thoracic wall resection and dog 3 had left thoracotomy. In dog 1, the epidural catheter was inserted at L2–L3 intervertebral space and the tip of the catheter advanced to the level of T13 vertebral body. In dog 2, the epidural catheter was inserted at T12–T13 intervertebral space and the tip of the catheter was advanced to the level of T8 vertebral body. In dog 3, the epidural catheter was inserted at T13–L1 intervertebral space and its tip advanced until reaching the vertebral body of T10. All dogs were administered a combination of bupivacaine and morphine through the epidural catheter to provide intra‐ and postoperative analgesia.

Results

The peridural space was identified and the tip of the catheter was positioned where intended in all dogs. Dog 1 developed transient Horner's syndrome and dog 3 required intraoperative fentanyl during the first part of the procedure.

Conclusion

Paramedian approach with cephalad angulation is a suitable technique to place thoracic epidural catheters in dogs.
Effect of External Rotational Humeral Osteotomy on the Contact Mechanics of the Canine Elbow Joint
Authors: Gutbrod Andreas , Guerrero Tomás G.
Published: July 2012

Objective

To evaluate the effect of 15° external rotational humeral osteotomy (ERHO) on canine elbow joint contact mechanics.

Study Design

Ex vivo biomechanical study.

Sample Population

Unpaired cadaveric canine thoracic limbs (n = 8)

Methods

Digital pressure sensors placed in a subchondral osteotomy distal to the elbow joint were used to measure contact area, peak and mean contact pressure, peak pressure location, center of pressure, and total force in the subchondral bone of the radius and the ulna. Measurements were taken in the following sequence: (i) neutral and (ii) after 15° external rotation. The distal aspect of the humerus was externally rotated by a middiaphyseal osteotomy and stabilized with an internal fixator. Data were normalized and analyzed using paired t‐tests;P≤ .05 was considered significant.

Results

Peak pressure location and center of pressure shifted 37.5 ± 15.9% and 21.5 ± 6.8% laterally afterERHO(P< .001 for both). Both were situated over the subchondral bone of the ulna in neutral position and over the radius after rotation in all 8 specimens (P< .001). Pressure measured in the ulnar part of the osteotomy was reduced from 58.7 ± 9.1% to 27.1% afterERHO(P< .001). Contact area, peak and mean contact pressure, and total force did not vary significantly between conditions.

Conclusion

ERHOshifts the peak pressure location and the center of pressure laterally, toward the radial head and reduced the pressure acting on the ulna. The lateral shift of peak pressure may be beneficial in dogs with medial compartment disease.
Scrotal Flap for Closure of Perineal Skin Defects in Dogs
Authors: Grigoropoulou Virginia A. , Prassinos Nikitas N. , Papazoglou Lysimachos G. , Galatos Apostolos D. , Pourlis Aris F.
Published: July 2012

Objective

To describe the use of a scrotal flap for covering perineal skin defects in dogs.

Study Design

Experimental study.

Animals

Male Beagles (n = 5).

Methods

A scrotal flap was created by making aU‐shaped incision around the scrotum, with the base of the flap at its rostral border. Orchiectomy was performed through this incision and the scrotum was undermined from the underlying tissue. A small median longitudinal incision in the caudal aspect of the scrotum eliminated its curvature. A skin defect, comparable to the size of the scrotal flap, was created in the perineum extending from the caudal side of the scrotum toward the anus. The scrotal flap covered the defect and was sutured in place.

Results

By 5–7 days, all flaps had ∼27% necrosis on their caudal border. The necrotic area was surgically excised and the defect was covered completely again by the remaining healthy flap. One year after surgery, wound healing was normal and flap survival was complete, providing full coverage of the perineal skin defect.

Conclusion

A scrotal flap can be used to reconstruct perineal skin defects ventral to the anus.
Factors Associated With Resident Aggression Toward Caregivers in Nursing Homes
Authors: Zeller Adelheid , Dassen Theo , Kok Gerjo , Needham Ian , Halfens Ruud J.G.
Published: July 2012

Purpose: Caregivers in nursing homes often experience aggressive behavior of residents. The aim of this study was to explore the caregivers’ experiences with aggressive behavior from residents and to identify environmental factors as well as caregiver and resident characteristics related to aggressive behavior in Swiss nursing homes.

Design: A retrospective cross‐sectional survey was conducted between November 2010 and April 2011 with a sample of caregivers working in various nursing homes in the German‐speaking part of Switzerland. In total, 814 caregivers (response rate 51.8%) of 21 nursing homes participated in the study.

Methods: Data were collected using the German version of the Survey of Violence Experienced by Staff (SOVES‐G‐R). Standard descriptive statistics were used to describe and summarize the date. To identify risk factors related to the experience of aggression by residents, multilevel logistic regression analysis was applied.

Findings: The prevalence of participants reporting an aggressive incident during the 12‐month period prior to data collection was 81.6%. Of these, 76.5% had experienced verbal aggression, 27.6% threats, and 54.0% physical aggression. The predictive variables in the multiple regression model for physical aggression were: staff education level (odds ratio [OR]= 1.82), gender (OR = 1.82), age (< 30 years vs. 30–45 years: OR = 1.46; < 30 years vs. > 45 years: OR = 2.13), and confidence in managing physical aggression (OR = 1.49). The predictive variables for threatening behavior were staff education level (registered nurses vs. non‐registered nurses: OR = 1.70; nonstudent vs. student: OR = 1.89) and age (< 30 years vs. 30–45 years: OR = 2.00; < 30 years vs. > 45 years: OR = 2.04).

Conclusions: Caregivers in nursing homes are at high risk for experiencing aggressive behavior. The identified risk factors are in line with earlier investigations, but some contradictory results also were observed.

Clinical Relevance: The high risk for registered nurses exposed to aggressive behavior and the increased risk for caregivers who feel confident in managing aggressive behavior cast a critical light on the content and aim on present programs for management of aggressive behavior. Caregivers in nursing homes should be qualified in understanding resident aggression in a comprehensive way. A critical point in this topic seems to be the interaction between caregiver and resident during basic care activities. This topic should be investigated in further research projects.
A Facile Solvothermal Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of MnFe2O4 Spheres with Tunable Sizes
Authors: Chen Gen , Wang Jingying , Zhou Libin , Ma Wei , Zhang Dan , Ren Fenlian , Yan Hailong , Qiu Guanzhou , Liu Xiaohe
Published: July 2012

We demonstrated that MnFe2O4 spheres could be successfully prepared in large‐scale via a facile solvothermal process. The average size of final products over a wide range from 40 to 420 nm was remarkably influenced by the experimental parameters, such as reaction duration, surfactants, and initial concentration of reagents. The structure, size, morphology, and magnetic properties of final products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic properties of final products varied with the change of experimental conditions. Preliminary results revealed that this approach could be successfully extended to the preparation of other ferrite compounds.
Phase Transformation of Lead Tungstate at Normal Temperature from Tetragonal Structure to Monoclinic Structure
Authors: Yang Xiaolong , Huang Jianhua
Published: July 2012

Monoclinic raspite PbWO4 nanobelts were synthesized at 30°C via the precipitation reaction of Na2WO4 and Pb(NO3)2 in aqueous solution without any additives. The starting molar ratio (r) and the aging time were found to play crucial roles in the phase control of PbWO4 crystals. Tetragonal stolzite PbWO4 nanoparticles were formed at r ≤ 1, whereas monoclinic raspite PbWO4 nanobelts were obtained at r > 1. The formation mechanism of raspite PbWO4 nanobelts was explored in detail by monitoring the morphology and structure evolution via SEM, XRD, and Raman measurements. It was found that monoclinic raspite PbWO4 nanobelts were formed through a phase transformation of tetragonal stolzite PbWO4 nanoparticles and a subsequent oriented growth in the aging process. In addition, the photoluminescence properties of these two kinds of PbWO4 were studied.
Sintering of 3D‐Printed Glass/HAp Composites
Authors: Winkel Alexander , Meszaros Robert , Reinsch Stefan , Müller Ralf , Travitzky Nahum , Fey Tobias , Greil Peter , Wondraczek Lothar
Published: July 2012

We report the sintering of 3D‐printed composites of 13‐93 bioactive glass and hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders. The sintering process is characterized on conventionally produced powder compacts with varying HAp content. A numeric approximation of the densification kinetics is then obtained on the basis of Frenkel, Mackenzie–Shuttleworth, and Einstein–Roscoe models, and optimized sintering conditions for 3D‐printed structures are derived. Fully isotropic sintering of complex cellular composites is obtained by continuous heating to 750°C at a rate of 2 K/min for a HAp content of 40 wt%. The approach can readily be generalized for printing and sintering of similar glass‐ceramic composites.
Dissolution Kinetics of a Bioactive Glass by Continuous Measurement
Authors: Fagerlund Susanne , Ek Paul , Hupa Leena , Hupa Mikko
Published: July 2012

Understanding the detailed dissolution behavior is of importance when novel glasses are designed for different clinical applications. The goal of this work was to develop a sensitive on‐line analysis method to study the dissolution of bioactive glasses. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer together with a flow‐through microvolume pH electrode were utilized to continuously measure the concentration profile of the ions dissolving from glass particles into aqueous solutions. The method was tested with the bioactive glass 1‐98 consisting of seven oxides: 6Na2O, 11K2O, 5MgO, 22CaO, 1B2O3, 2P2O5, and 53SiO2 (wt%). The influence of flow rate and temperature on the dissolution profile and kinetics of 1‐98 was studied in ultrapure water. In addition, the influence of the solution composition was studied using ultrapure water and with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) buffer. The strength of the method is that the initial dissolution can be accurately determined simultaneously both qualitatively and quantitatively. When using the highest flow rates, the dissolution rate changed from a diffusion‐controlled toward a surface‐controlled mechanism. As a result of the temperature increase, the overall dissolution increased according to Arrhenian behavior and led more rapidly to steady‐state dissolution. The change of solution from unbuffered (ultrapure water) to TRIS changed the dissolution mechanism from uniform to preferential. In addition, higher concentrations of all ions were measured in TRIS than in pure water. The method develop is promising for fast screening of the dissolution mechanism of glasses in different experimental conditions.
The Extent of Perfusion Deficit Does Not Relate to the Visibility of Acute Ischemic Lesions on Fluid‐Attenuated Inversion Recovery Imaging
Authors: Cheng Bastian , Rosenkranz Michael , Krützelmann Anna , Fiehler Jens , Forkert Nils D , Gerloff Christian , Thomalla Götz
Published: July 2012

OBJECTIVES

Fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery imaging (FLAIR) has been suggested as a surrogate marker of lesion age in acute ischemic stroke. In a subgroup analysis, we evaluated whether the extent of perfusion deficit influences FLAIR lesion visibility and thus plays a role as a confounding variable in the interpretation of FLAIR images.

METHODS

A subgroup of patients from a previous study evaluating the use of FLAIR imaging as a surrogate marker of lesion age within the first 6 hours of ischemic stroke were examined to determine the influence of the amount of perfusion deficit on FLAIR lesion visibility.

RESULTS

N= 48 patients were included into the analysis. In positive and negative FLAIR lesion cases the extent of perfusion deficits did not differ significantly (150 mL vs. 197 mL, P= .730) nor influenced FLAIR visibility independently. In contrast, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) lesion volumes were larger (34 mL vs. 14 mL, P= .008) and time from symptom onset longer (180 vs. 120 minute, P= .071) in FLAIR‐positive cases.

CONCLUSION

Visibility of FLAIR lesions in acute stroke imaging is influenced by lesion size and time from symptom onset to MRI, but not by the amount of perfusion deficit calculated by time‐to‐peak (TTP) measurements.
The relationship between male moth density and female mating success in invading populations of Lymantria dispar
Authors: Tobin Patrick C. , Onufrieva Ksenia S. , Thorpe Kevin W.
Published: July 2012

The successful establishment of non‐native species in new areas can be affected by many factors including the initial size of the founder population. Populations comprised of fewer individuals tend to be subject to stochastic forces and Allee effects (positive‐density dependence), which can challenge the ability of small founder populations to establish in a new area. Although the conceptual relationship between initial colony size and establishment success has been previously documented, it is not trivial to estimate precisely the colony size needed to ensure colony persistence. Over the last 40 years, there have been many studies on the probability of mating success of female Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in the USA related to background male moth densities. We were motivated by this wealth of data and sought to combine the results from these prior studies with the goal of estimating a robust measure of the male moth density required to achieve varying levels of female mating success. Although the data are specific to L. dispar, the pheromone communication system in L. dispar is not unique and thus the results of this analysis could be broadly applicable to our general understanding of Lepidoptera mating behavior.
Trisomy 8 in myeloid leukemia cutis confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis
Authors: Shvartsbeyn Marianna , Meehan Shane M. , Gu Ping , Nierodzik Mary Lynn , Perle Mary Ann
Published: July 2012

We present a case of a 64‐year‐old man with refractory acute myeloid leukemia and trisomy 8 who developed leukemia cutis. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on a paraffin‐embedded skin section. FISH confirmed a population of cells with trisomy 8 in the blastic infiltrates involving the skin. This case illustrates a novel application of interphase FISH to confirm the diagnosis of leukemia cutis.
MicroRNA155 in the growth and invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Liu Liu , Hu Yongjie , Fu Jingye , Yang Xihu , Zhang Zhiyuan
Published: July 2012

J Oral Pathol Med (2013)42: 140–147

Background:  The carcinogenesis mechanism of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary gland is poorly understood. MicroRNA155 (miRNA155) has been involved in the carcinogenesis of many malignant tumors. The present study aims to examine the role of miRNA155 in tumor growth and invasion of ACC.

Methods:  MiRNA155 expression was determined in ACC specimens along with normal salivary glands by quantitative PCR. Using ACC‐2 cells as a model for ACC, cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay after knocking down miRNA155 expression, and cell cycle analysis was performed. Invasive capacity of ACC‐2 cells was examined by a Transwell culture assay. The effect of miRNA155 on tumor growth was also examined in vivo using mouse models. The effect of miRNA155 on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/NF‐κB was studied by quantitative PCR and electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Results:  MiRNA155 was over‐expressed in ACC. Proliferation of ACC‐2 cells was markedly inhibited by knocking down miRNA155, resulting from a blockade of cell cycle in the G1 phase. Inhibition of miRNA155 significantly suppressed the invasive capacity of ACC‐2 cells. In vivo growth of ACC‐2 cell‐derived tumors was significantly slower by inhibition of miRNA155. Inhibition of miRNA155 also resulted in decreased expression of EGFR and RelA (NF‐κB).

Conclusion:  The results suggest that miRNA155 facilitates cell cycle progression and promotes invasion in ACC and that the EGFR/NF‐κB pathway might participate in mediating the effects of miRNA155. This study has provided insights into the carcinogenic mechanisms of ACC and identified new targets for intervention of salivary ACC.
CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ Cells Increased in the Peritoneal Fluid of Patients with Endometriosis
Authors: Podgaec Sergio , Rizzo Luiz Vicente , Fernandes Luiz Flavio Cordeiro , Baracat Edmund Chada , Abrao Mauricio Simoes
Published: July 2012

Problem

To evaluate CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ cells and IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐17, and TGF‐β in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.

Method of study

A total of ninety‐eight patients were studied: endometriosis (n = 70) and control (n = 28). First, peritoneal fluid lymphocytes were isolated, and CD4+CD25high cells were identified using flow cytometry. Then, RT‐PCR was performed to verify Foxp3 expression in these cells. Also, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐17, and TGF‐β concentration was determined.

Results

Of all the lymphocytes in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, 36.5% (median) were CD4+CD25high compared to only 1.15% (median) in the control group (P < 0.001). Foxp3 expression was similarly elevated in patients with the disease compared to those without (median, 50 versus 5; P < 0.001). IL‐6 and TGF‐β were higher in endometriosis group (IL‐6: 327.5 pg/mL versus 195.5 pg/mL; TGF‐β: 340 pg/mL versus 171.5 pg/mL; both P < 0.001). IL‐10 and IL‐17 showed no significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusion

The peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis had a higher percentage of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ cells and also higher levels of IL‐6 and TGF‐β compared to women without the disease. These findings suggest that CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Four years of simulated climate change reduces above‐ground productivity and alters functional diversity in a grassland ecosystem
Authors: Cantarel Amélie A. M. , Bloor Juliette M. G. , Soussana Jean‐François
Published: July 2012

Questions

How does above‐ground grassland biomass production respond to change in multiple climate drivers over a 4‐yr period? Can climate‐induced patterns of biomass response be explained by shifts in plant community structure? Does sustained climate change affect the relationships between abundance of functional groups, community‐scale leaf traits and above‐ground production?

Location

Perennial grassland in the French Massif Central.

Methods

Monoliths extracted from the study grassland were exposed to a simulated climate change corresponding to the air temperature, atmospheric
CO

2 and summer rainfall conditions projected for 2080. We examined impacts of climate treatments on above‐ground biomass and community structure for 4 yr, and investigated the relationship between biomass production, species diversity and three key functional traits: specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content and leaf
N
content.

Results

Both warming and simultaneous application of warming, summer drought and elevated
CO

2 were associated with an increase in annual above‐ground biomass at the start of the study, but biomass responses became progressively negative over the course of the experiment. Decreases in vegetation
N
exports were also observed over time, possibly due to reduced soil
N
availability under climate change. Taxonomic diversity showed no response to climate treatments, but the relative abundance of grasses decreased under both warming and simultaneous application of warming, summer drought and elevated
CO

2 after 3 yr. In parallel, legume relative abundance increased in all warmed treatments. Functional diversity responses varied depending on climate treatment and leaf trait. In the control treatment, patterns of variation in annual plant biomass were best explained by functional diversity during the study period. However, in warmed treatments, variation in annual plant biomass was more closely linked to the functional traits of dominant species.

Conclusions

Continuous, multi‐year exposure to projected climate conditions has a negative impact on above‐ground biomass in our grassland study system. Our data suggest that climate‐induced decreases in above‐ground biomass may be driven by changes in the relative abundance of plant functional groups, and could also reflect changes in soil nutrient availability. Unlike species diversity, community‐level leaf traits and functional diversity appear to play an important role for above‐ground biomass production, and may have indirect effects on ecosystem stability in changing climates.
“…If we were cavemen we'd be fine”: Facebook as a catalyst for critical literacy learning by dyslexic sixth‐form students
Authors: Barden Owen
Published: July 2012

This article is derived from a study of the use of Facebook as an educational resource by five dyslexic students at a sixth form college in north‐west England. Through a project in which teacher‐researcher and student‐participants co‐constructed a group Facebook page about the students’ scaffolded research into dyslexia, the study examined the educational affordances of a digitally mediated social network. An innovative, flexible, experiential methodology combining action research and case study with an ethnographic approach was devised. This enabled the use of multiple mixed methods, capturing much of the rich complexity of the students’ online and offline interactions with each other and with digital media as they contributed to the group and co‐constructed their group Facebook page. Social perspectives on dyslexia and multiliteracies were used to help interpret the students’ engagement with the social network and thereby deduce its educational potential. The research concludes that as a digitally mediated social network, Facebook engages the students in active, critical learning about and through literacies in a rich and complex semiotic domain. Offline dialogue plays a crucial role. This learning is reciprocally shaped by the students’ developing identities as both dyslexic students and able learners. The findings suggest that social media can have advantageous applications for literacy learning in the classroom. In prompting learning yet remaining unchanged by it, Facebook can be likened to a catalyst.
Differential expression of miR‐21, miR‐125b and miR‐191 in breast cancer tissue
Authors: MAR‐AGUILAR Fermín , LUNA‐AGUIRRE Claudia M. , MORENO‐ROCHA J. Claudio , ARAIZA‐CHÁVEZ Juan , TREVINO Victor , RODRÍGUEZ‐PADILLA Cristina , RESÉNDEZ‐PÉREZ Diana
Published: July 2012

Aims:  To develop new biomarkers for early detection and to inform effective clinical management of breast cancer.

Methods:  Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used to profile microRNA (miRNA) in tumor tissue from 50 breast cancer patients using non‐tumor breast tissue from each patient as a control. We have focussed on three miRNA; miR‐21, miR‐125b and miR‐191, all of which have been implicated in breast cancer with either proven or predicted target genes involved in critical cancer‐associated cellular pathways.

Results:  Upregulation of miR‐21 and miR‐191 and downregulation of miR‐125b, was found in breast cancer tissue. Combined expression analysis of miR‐125b/miR‐191 increased sensitivity to 100% and specificity to 94% while miR‐21/miR‐191 increased to 92% and 100%, respectively. Therefore, combination of two miRNA gives a better prediction than individual miRNA.

Conclusions:  We could differentiate between breast cancer and adjacent non‐tumor breast tissue as a control with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity in the Mexican population using a combined expression analysis of only two miRNA. These observations, although a proof of principle finding at this time, show that a combined expression profile of two miRNA (miR‐125b/miR‐191 and miR‐21/miR‐191) can discriminate between breast cancer and non‐tumor tissue with high specificity and sensitivity.
Using dung beetles to evaluate the effects of urbanization on Atlantic Forest biodiversity
Authors: Korasaki Vanesca , Lopes José , Gardner Brown George , Louzada Julio
Published: July 2012

We used dung beetles to evaluate the impact of urbanization on insect biodiversity in three Atlantic Forest fragments in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of urbanization on richness, abundance, composition and guild structure of dung beetle communities from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We evaluated the community aspects (abundance, richness, composition and food guilds) of dung beetles in fragments with different degrees of immersion in the urban matrix using pitfall traps with four alternative baits (rotten meat, rotten fish, pig dung and decaying banana). A total of 1 719 individuals were collected, belonging to 29 species from 11 genera and six Scarabaeinae tribes. The most urban‐immersed fragment showed a higher species dominance and the beetle community captured on dung presented the greatest evenness. The beetle communities were distinct with respect to the fragments and feeding habits. Except for the dung beetle assemblage in the most urbanized forest fragment, all others exhibited contrasting differences in species composition attracted to each bait type. Our results clearly show that the degree of urbanization affects Atlantic Forest dung beetle communities and that the preservation of forest fragments inside the cities, even small ones, can provide refuges for Scarabaeinae.
Influence of Pressure Change During Hydraulic Tests on Fracture Aperture
Authors: Ji Sung‐Hoon , Koh Yong‐Kwon , Kuhlman Kristopher L. , Lee Moo Yul , Choi Jong Won
Published: July 2012

In a series of field experiments, we evaluate the influence of a small water pressure change on fracture aperture during a hydraulic test. An experimental borehole is instrumented at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Underground Research Tunnel (KURT). The target fracture for testing was found from the analyses of borehole logging and hydraulic tests. A double packer system was developed and installed in the test borehole to directly observe the aperture change due to water pressure change. Using this packer system, both aperture and flow rate are directly observed under various water pressures. Results indicate a slight change in fracture hydraulic head leads to an observable change in aperture. This suggests that aperture change should be considered when analyzing hydraulic test data from a sparsely fractured rock aquifer.
Toward a Unified Theory of Intellectual Property: The Differentiating Capacity (and Function) as the Thread That Unites All its Components
Authors: Pires de Carvalho Nuno
Published: July 2012

The absence of a reliable and coherent theory of intellectual property has given rise to conceptual misunderstandings and, in particular, has led policy makers to make poor choices as regards the formulation of decisions on its protection and enforcement. This article proposes a new approach to the definition of intellectual property. Basically, it suggests that, contrary to the general view, there is a thread that unites all the components of intellectual property. That thread consists of the differentiating capacity and function of those components, in addition to their intangible nature and susceptibility of use in activities of an economic nature. It is therefore purported that intellectual property is about differentiation, whether it deals with invention and creation or not. Once it is accepted that intellectual property is not necessarily an incoherent bundle of rights in intangible assets of many sorts, its intrinsically pro‐competitive nature becomes a matter of course. The crucially important notion that intellectual property is part of the social fabric of free and organized societies becomes also an almost self‐evident matter.
Advance Market Commitments for R&D in Diseases That Disproportionately Affect Low‐Income Countries
Authors: Kwabena Tetteh Ebenezer
Published: July 2012

There has been a growing focus on finding ways to increase the availability of beneficial health technologies for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, elimination and eradication of neglected diseases that disproportionately affect low‐income countries. A number of interventions have been suggested but one mechanism that appears to have gained favour is advanced market commitments (AMCs), which has been piloted with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. AMCs aim to inflate and reduce the uncertainty around the stream of expected quasi‐rents provided by (uninsured) healthcare demands in low‐income countries to encourage private pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms to undertake the desired R&D investments. This paper evaluates the potential of AMCs to increase the supply of new molecular entities (NMEs) for neglected diseases and notes that AMCs are the appropriate instruments as long as the global community relies (wholly or in part) on private firms to make systematic rather than piecemeal public service or philanthropic investments. It calls for a review of World Trade Organization (WTO)'s Trade‐Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement to explicitly recognize the inadequacies of intellectual property rights (IPR) and patent protection in stimulating innovation and access to health technologies for neglected diseases.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation on the modulation of gamma oscillations in schizophrenia
Authors: Farzan Faranak , Barr Mera S. , Sun Yinming , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Daskalakis Zafiris J.
Published: July 2012

Cognitive dysfunction is suggested to be the best predictor of functional outcome in schizophrenia. Therefore, new diagnostic and treatment strategies are needed to both ascertain the biological underpinning of cognitive deficits and to restore them. Modulation of gamma oscillations (30–50 Hz) has been associated with cognitive performance, particularly in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In this manuscript, we review evidence for gamma modulation deficits during cognitive performance in schizophrenia. We demonstrate that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) combined with electroencephalography (EEG) is a reliable method that permits systematic quantification of gamma modulation in the cortex. Using TMS–EEG, we show that patients with schizophrenia have selective gamma inhibition deficits in the DLPFC. Finally, we demonstrate that repetitive TMS therapy over the DLPFC can normalize excessive gamma oscillations and ultimately cognitive performance in patients. We suggest that restoring gamma impairments in the DLPFC may be a potential strategy for improving cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
Challenges to deep brain stimulation: a pragmatic response to ethical, fiscal, and regulatory concerns
Authors: Fins Joseph J. , Dorfman Gary S. , Pancrazio Joseph J.
Published: July 2012

In response to the early success of deep brain stimulation, we offer some common‐sense strategies to sustain the work, addressing the need to do so in a fiscally workable, ethically transparent, and scientifically informed manner. After delineating major threats, we will suggest reforms in both the legislative and regulatory spheres that might remediate these challenges. We will recommend (1) revisions to the Bayh–Dole Act of 1980, which governs intellectual property exchange resulting from federally funded research; (2) revisions to the Association of American Medical Colleges recommendations concerning the management of conflicts of interest when scientists with an intellectual property interest participate in clinical research in tandem; (3) revisions to the Food and Drug Administration's pre‐market approval process for new devices, including a proposal for a mini‐investigational device exemption; and (4) the establishment of a public–private partnership to build ethical and sustainable synergies between the scientific community, industry, and government that would foster discovery and innovation.
Cellular and molecular players in the atherosclerotic plaque progression
Authors: Businaro Rita , Tagliani Angela , Buttari Brigitta , Profumo Elisabetta , Ippoliti Flora , Di Cristofano Claudio , Capoano Raffaele , Salvati Bruno , Riganò Rachele
Published: July 2012

Atherosclerosis initiation and progression is controlled by inflammatory molecular and cellular mediators. Cells of innate immunity, stimulated by various endogenous molecules that have undergone a transformation following an oxidative stress or nonenzymatic glycation processes, activate cells of the adaptive immunity, found at the borders of atheromas. In this way, an immune response against endogenous modified antigens takes place and gives rise to chronic low‐level inflammation leading to the slow development of complex atherosclerotic plaques. These lesions will occasionally ulcerate, thus ending with fatal clinical events. Plaque macrophages represent the majority of leukocytes in the atherosclerotic lesions, and their secretory activity, including proinflammatory cytokines and matrix‐degrading proteases, may be related to the fragilization of the fibrous cap and then to the rupture of the plaque. A considerable amount of work is currently focused on the identification of locally released proinflammatory factors that influence the evolution of the plaque to an unstable phenotype. A better understanding of these molecular processes may contribute to new treatment strategies. Mediators released by the immune system and associated with the development of carotid atherosclerosis are discussed.
17α‐androstenediol‐mediated oncophagy of tumor cells by different mechanisms is determined by the target tumor
Authors: Loria Roger M. , Graf Martin R.
Published: July 2012

Δ5‐androstene‐3β,17α‐diol (17α‐AED) mediates oncophagy of human myeloid, glioma, and breast tumor cells by apoptotic‐ and autophagic‐programmed cell death pathways, whereas the 17β‐epimer does not. In hematologically derived myeloid tumor cells, 17α‐AED induced apoptosis, as determined by TUNEL staining, caspase, PARP activation, and electron microscopy. In contrast, 17α‐AED treatment of glioma cells of neuroectodermal lineaged induced autophagy, evident by the presence of acidic vesicular organelles, LC3 processing, and upregulation of beclin‐1. Proliferation inhibition studies on primary and established glioma cells demonstrated that the IC‐50 of the steroid is ∼15 μM. In the case of breast cancer cells, the bioactivity of 17α–AED is independent of the expression of estrogen or androgen receptors. Collectively, oncophagy is induced by 17α‐AED treatment in human tumor cells and proceeds by the induction of either autophagy or apoptosis. The neoplastic cell determines which oncophagic pathway is utilized.
Deep brain stimulation for movement and other neurologic disorders
Authors: DeLong Mahlon , Wichmann Thomas
Published: July 2012

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) was introduced as a treatment for patients with parkinsonism and other movement disorders in the early 1990s. The technique rapidly became the treatment of choice for these conditions, and is now also being explored for other diseases, including Tourette syndrome, gait disorders, epilepsy, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, and depression. Although the mechanism of action of DBS remains unclear, it is recognized that DBS works through focal modulation of functionally specific circuits. The fact that the same DBS parameters and targets can be used in multiple diseases suggests that DBS does not counteract the pathophysiology of any specific disorder, but acts to replace pathologic activities in disease‐affected brain circuits with activity that is more easily tolerated. Despite the progress made in the use of DBS, much remains to be done to fully realize the potential of this therapy. We describe some of the most active areas of research in this field, both in terms of exploration of new targets and stimulation parameters, and in terms of new electrode or stimulator designs.
Biological memory of childhood maltreatment: current knowledge and recommendations for future research
Authors: Schury Katharina , Kolassa Iris‐Tatjana
Published: July 2012

Child maltreatment (CM) not only has detrimental and lifelong psychological consequences, but also can lead to lasting alterations in core physiological systems—a biological memory of CM. Furthermore, some of these alterations might even be transmitted to the next generation. This article describes current knowledge about the effects of CM on the stress system (i.e., the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis), on cellular aging (i.e., telomere length and telomerase activity), and on the immune system. Furthermore, we want to initiate research on the question of transmission of the described physiological alterations subsequent to CM to the next generation—possibly through epigenetic imprinting. As diverse neurobiological factors and epigenetics are closely linked, these different research fields should join forces to gain a deeper understanding of the biological determinants and sequelae of CM and its transmission.
Glucocorticoid–catecholamine interplay within the composite thymopoietic regulatory network
Authors: Pilipović Ivan , Radojević Katarina , Perišić Milica , Leposavić Gordana
Published: July 2012

This paper highlights the multiple putative thymic and extrathymic points of intersection and interaction between glucocorticoids (GCs) and catecholamines (CAs)—the end‐point mediators of the major routes of communication between the brain and the immune system—in the context of intricate thymic T cell–developmental tuning. More specifically, we discuss in detail findings indicating that adrenal GCs can influence thymopoiesis by adjusting directly and/or indirectly (through modulation of pituitary and local ACTH synthesis) not only thymic GC synthesis, in a cell type–specific manner, but also thymic CA bioavailability (via altering CA outflow from sympathetic nerve endings and local CA synthesis), β and α1‐adrenoceptor (AR) expression, and/or AR‐mediated intracellular signal transduction in thymic cells. In addition, this short review points to GC‐ and CA‐sensitive stages along the multistep T cell–developmental journey and the possible effects of altered GC, and consequently CA signaling, on thymopoietic efficiency.
Extrathymic CD4+CD8+ lymphocytes in Chagas disease: possible relationship with an immunoendocrine imbalance
Authors: Pérez Ana R. , Morrot Alexandre , Berbert Luiz R. , Terra‐Granado Eugenia , Savino Wilson
Published: July 2012

Double‐positive (DP) CD4+CD8+ T cells normally represent a thymic subpopulation that is developed in the thymus as a precursor of CD4+ or CD8+ single‐positive T cells. Recent evidence has shown that DP cells with an activated phenotype can be tracked in secondary lymph organs. The detection of an activated DP population in the periphery, a population that expresses T cell receptors unselected during thymic negative selection in murine models of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and in humans with Chagas disease, raise new questions about the relevance of this population in the pathogenesis of this major parasitic disease and its possible link with immunoendocrine alterations.