bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ischaemic preconditioning in the rat brain: effect on the activity of several initiation factors, Akt and extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase phosphorylation, and GRP78 and GADD34 expression
Authors: García Lidia , Burda Jozef , Hrehorovská Milina , Burda Rastislav , Martín M. Elena , Salinas Matilde
Published: July 2010

Translational repression induced during reperfusion of the ischaemic brain is significantly attenuated by ischaemic preconditioning. The present work was undertaken to identify the components of the translational machinery involved and to determine whether translational attenuation selectively modifies protein expression patterns during reperfusion. Wistar rats were preconditioned by 5‐min sublethal ischaemia and 2 days later, 30‐min lethal ischaemia was induced. Several parameters were studied after lethal ischaemia and reperfusion in rats with and without acquired ischaemic tolerance (IT). The phosphorylation pattern of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) in rats with IT was exactly the same as in rats without IT, reaching a peak after 30 min reperfusion and returning to control values within 4 h in both the cortex and hippocampus. The levels of phosphorylated eIF4E‐binding protein after lethal ischaemia and eIF4E at 30 min reperfusion were higher in rats with IT, notably in the hippocampus. eIF4G levels diminished slightly after ischaemia and reperfusion, paralleling calpain‐mediated α‐spectrin proteolysis in rats with and without IT, but they did not show any further decrease after 30 min reperfusion in rats with IT. The phosphorylated levels of eIF4G, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase‐protein B (Akt) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERKs) were very low after lethal ischaemia and increased following reperfusion. Ischaemic preconditioning did not modify the observed changes in eIF4G phosphorylation. All these results support that translation attenuation may occur through multiple targets. The levels of the glucose‐regulated protein (78 kDa) remained unchanged in rats with and without IT. Conversely, our data establish a novel finding that ischaemia induces strong translation of growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34 (GADD34) after 4 h of reperfusion. GADD34 protein was slightly up‐regulated after preconditioning, besides, as in rats without IT, GADD34 levels underwent a further clear‐cut increase during reperfusion, this time as earlier as 30 min and coincident with translation attenuation.
Epilepsy Care in Developing Countries: Part I of II
Authors: Birbeck Gretchen L.
Published: July 2010

Although 80% of people with epilepsy reside in resource poor, developing countries, epilepsy care in these regions remains limited and the majority of epilepsy patients go untreated. Cost-effective, sustainable epilepsy care services, delivering first-line antiepileptic drugs through established primary health care facilities, are needed to decrease these treatment gaps. Neurologists with local experience and knowledge of the culture, who are willing to serve as educators, policy advisors, and advocates, can make a difference. This is Part I of a two-part article. Part I reviews the burden of epilepsy and the current state of resources for treatment in developing countries, while Part II (to be published in Epilepsy Currents issue 10.5) will provide an “Overview of Care” in these countries.
Operating in the Dark … to See is to Cure
Authors: Worrell Gregory A.
Published: July 2010

Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of Patients with Refractory Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Negative Epilepsies. Bien CG, Szinay M, Wagner J, Clusmann H, Becker AJ, Urbach H. Arch Neurol 2009;66(12):1491–1499.

Objective

To explore several characteristics of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy without distinct lesions on magnetic resonance images (MRI-), who account for a relevant proportion of presurgical patient cohorts.

Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

University epilepsy center.

Patients

A cohort of 1200 patients who had comprehensive presurgical assessment from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006. Main Outcome Measures Frequency of MRI- patients in the total presurgical cohort, seizure-free outcome rates in patients who had surgery and those who did not, outcome predictors, and spatial properties of epileptogenic areas in MRI- patients with epilepsy. All MRI- patients were retrospectively analyzed. Presurgical MRIs were reevaluated for subtle cortical dysplasias by postprocessing and visual reassessment.

Results

One-hundred ninety MRI- patients were identified (16% of all presurgical candidates); 29 (15%) had surgery. Eleven (38%) became seizure free (including those with auras only; 45%). Surgical therapy was more frequently offered to MRI+ patients (76%; P < .001), and their outcome was also superior (66% seizure free; P = .001). The seizure-free rate of 16% in MRI- patients who did not have surgery was, however, inferior to that of the MRI-patients who did ( P = .008). Nine MRI- patients who had surgery had distinct histopathological lesions, 8 of which turned out to be retrospectively detectable on presurgical MRI. Seven of the MRI- but histopathologically lesional patients became seizure free compared with only 4 of 20 patients without histopathological lesions ( P = .003). Three-fifths of the histopathologically nonlesional patients had multifocal or extensive epileptogenic areas.

Conclusions

Patients with epilepsy who are MRI- can be successfully treated with surgery. Improved sensitivity of MRI will improve the outcomes of presurgically studied patients. Surgical failures in patients without histopathological lesions mostly result from extensive epileptogenic areas.
Is Neuronal Death Necessary for Acquired Epileptogenesis in the Immature Brain?
Authors: Dudek F. Edward , Ekstrand Jeffrey J. , Staley Kevin J.
Published: July 2010

A central question concerning acquired epileptogenesis in the immature brain is whether neuronal death is required for the development of epilepsy after a brain insult. Results from three different animal models of brain injury during early development have been used to develop the hypothesis that status epilepticus, prolonged febrile seizures, or hypoxia-induced seizures can lead to chronic epilepsy without the occurrence of neuronal death. This brief review will summarize the evidence supporting the hypothesis in each model and then critique the data and published interpretations. A case will be made that the evidence to date neither rules out the occurrence of neuronal death nor demonstrates that epileptogenesis (i.e., spontaneous recurrent seizures) has actually occurred in these animal models of acquired pediatric epilepsy. We also review evidence for the opposing hypothesis: acquired epileptogenesis in the immature brain requires, or at least often involves, neuronal death.
Evaluation of Regional Myocardial Function by Doppler Tissue Imaging in Univentricular Heart after Successful Fontan Repair
Authors: Bassareo Pier Paolo , Tumbarello Roberto , Piras Alessandra , Mercuro Giuseppe
Published: July 2010

Background: The univentricular heart (UVH) corrected by Fontan repair is characterized by a single dilated pumping chamber, which is both hypertrophic and hypocontractile. The complex geometrical distortion and asynchronous contraction of this organ prevents assessment of systolic and diastolic function by traditional echocardiographic procedures. Methods: Sixteen children (10 males, 6 females) aged 12–31 years, who had undergone UVH Fontan repair were enrolled in the study. A transthoracic echocardiography was performed. Twelve different myocardial wall segments from single ventricles were studied by Doppler tissue imaging to measure peak systolic velocity (S), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), and E′/A′ ratio. Results: S and E′/A′ ratio were significantly lower in the UVH group than in controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). IRT and ICT were significantly longer in UVH than in controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005, respectively). In the UVH, both systolic and diastolic deficits were generally registered in the apical segments and also randomly distributed between the basal and middle segments of the single ventricle. Conclusions: It is an acknowledged fact that compared to normal children ventricular function is impaired in patients with UVH. Tissue Doppler imaging at multiple points of the single ventricle provides a complete, accurate assessment of systolic and diastolic function after Fontan repair, overcoming problems posed by geometrical distortion and limitations of conventional echocardiographic methods. (Echocardiography 2010;27:702‐708)
The Prognostic Value of Combined Fractional Flow Reserve and TIMI Frame Count Measurements in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris and Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: ESEN ALI M. , ACAR GOKSEL , ESEN OZLEM , EMIROGLU YUNUS , AKCAKOYUN MUSTAFA , PALA SELCUK , KARAPINAR HEKIM , KARGIN RAMAZAN , BARUTCU IRFAN , TURKMEN MUHSIN
Published: July 2010

Background:
 The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of different fractional flow reserve (FFR) cutoff values and corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame (TIMI) count (CTFC) measurements in a series of consecutive patients with moderate coronary lesions, including patients with unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and/or positive noninvasive functional test findings.

Methods:
 We included 162 consecutive coronary patients in whom revascularization of a moderate coronary lesion was deferred based on a FFR value ≥0.75. Patients were divided according to the results of the intracoronary pressure and flow measurements into four groups: group A: 0.75 ≤ FFR ≤ 0.85 and CTFC > 28 (n=22), group B: 0.75 ≤ FFR ≤ 0.85 and CTFC ≤ 28 (n = 55), group C: 0.85 < FFR and CTFC > 28 (n = 19), and group D: 0.85 < FFR and CTFC ≤ 28 (n = 66). Adverse cardiac events and the presence of angina were evaluated at follow‐up.

Results:
 At a mean follow‐up of 18 ± 10 months, cardiac event rate in patients with 0.75 ≤ FFR ≤ 0.85 and FFR > 0.85 were 22% and 9%, respectively (P = 0.026) and also, a trend was observed toward a higher cardiac event rate in case of an abnormal CTFC (CTFC > 28) compared to a normal CTFC (24% vs 12%, P = 0.066). Furthermore, a significantly higher cardiac event rate was observed when group A was compared to group D (31.8% vs 7.6%, respectively, P = 0.004).

Conclusion:
 Patients with potential microvascular dysfunction and borderline FFR values should be interpreted with caution, and management strategies should be guided not only by pressure measurement, but also by possibly supplementary clinical risk stratification and noninvasive tests. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:421–428)
Effects of Implementation Intentions Linking Suppression of Alcohol Consumption to Socializing Goals on Alcohol‐Related Decisions
Authors: Chatzisarantis Nikos L. D. , Hagger Martin S.
Published: July 2010

This article investigates the effects of implementation intentions that connect the suppression of alcohol consumption to socializing goals on the decision to accept an offer of a free alcoholic drink. Participants were university students (N = 48) who were randomly assigned to an implementation intention condition or a control condition. The results show that participants who formed implementation intentions were less likely to accept the offer of a free alcoholic drink than were participants who did not form implementation intentions. In addition, the results demonstrate that the implementation intention effect held among habitual alcohol drinkers. The results of the present study suggest that implementation exercises can successfully suppress habitual alcohol consumption.
“You'll Face Discrimination Wherever You Go”: Student Athletes’ Intentions to Enter the Coaching Profession
Authors: Cunningham George B. , Singer John N.
Published: July 2010

We conducted 2 studies to examine student athletes’ intentions to enter the coaching profession. In Study 1, participants responded to a questionnaire designed to assess the major constructs from social cognitive career theory. Results indicate that although racial minorities, relative to Whites, expected more positive outcomes with being a coach and had greater intentions to pursue that profession, they also anticipated more barriers associated with coaching. To clarify this relationship, we conducted a focus group interview (Study 2) with 6 male athletes of color. Participants indicated that prejudice and discrimination were expected across their potential vocational choices, not just coaching. Thus, given the many positives associated with coaching, they preferred to encounter those barriers in the coaching context.
An Expectancy/Value Perspective on the Demotivating Effects of Prejudice
Authors: Eccleston Collette P. , Major Brenda
Published: July 2010

This study examined whether expecting prejudice is demotivating. Women were led to believe they were being evaluated for a co‐manager position. They were randomly assigned to receive information that the evaluator held negative attitudes toward women or that he did not. We hypothesized that compared to women led to believe that the evaluator was unprejudiced, women led to believe the evaluator was prejudiced would: (a) have lower expectations for being chosen as co‐manager; (b) place less value on being chosen as co‐manager; and (c) be less motivated to perform a task that would influence selection as co‐manager. We predicted that the effect of prejudice on motivation would be mediated by expectations and valuing of success. Results were consistent with predictions.
Effects of bird predation on arthropod abundance and tree growth across an elevational gradient
Authors: Schwenk W. Scott , Strong Allan M. , Sillett T. Scott
Published: July 2010

Considerable uncertainty surrounds the conditions under which birds can cause trophic cascades. In a three‐year experiment, we studied the direct and indirect effects of insectivorous birds on arthropod abundance, herbivory, and growth of striped maple Acer pensylvanicum saplings in a northern hardwood forest of central New Hampshire, USA. We manipulated bird predation by erecting exclosures around saplings and directly manipulated herbivory by removing herbivores. We also examined how climate modifies these interactions by replicating the experiment at three locations along an elevational gradient. Effects of bird predation were variable. Overall, mean arthropod biomass was 20% greater on saplings within bird exclosures than on controls (p<0.05). The mean biomass of leaf‐chewing herbivores, primarily Lepidoptera larvae, was 25% greater within exclosures but not statistically different from controls. To a lesser degree, mean herbivore damage to foliage within exclosures exceeded that of controls but differences were not significant. We also did not detect significant treatment effects on sapling shoot growth. The high understory vegetation density relative to bird abundance, and low rate of herbivory during the study (mean 5% leaf area removed, controls), may have limited the ability of birds to affect sapling growth. Climate effects operated at multiple scales, resulting in a complex interplay of interactions within the food web. Regional synchrony of climatic conditions resulted in annual fluctuations in herbivore abundance and tree growth that were shared across elevations. At the same time, local environmental variation resulted in site differences in the plant, herbivore, and bird communities. These patterns resulted in a mosaic of top–down strengths across time and space, suggesting an overall pattern of limited effects of birds on plant growth, possibly interspersed with hotspots of trophic cascades.
Variation in singing style use in the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus: influencing factors and possible functions
Authors: Brunner Patrick , Pasinelli Gilberto
Published: July 2010

The two main functions of bird song are territory defence and mate attraction. Considerable progress has been made in understanding how species adjust the use of songs to serve these and other (presumed) functions of bird song, but the striking variety of singing behavior observable in wild birds remains enigmatic. Some species make do with simple songs and small repertoires, while others show large, complex repertoires and still others have evolved several distinct singing styles. In most species with distinct singing styles, however, the functions of singing styles are poorly understood. Two distinct singing styles (type I and II, respectively) have long been known in the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, while a new third one has recently been reported to exist. We first quantitatively investigated the evidence for the existence of three singing styles. Then, we tested predictions of the mate attraction hypothesis, the mate guarding hypothesis and the territory defence hypothesis by examining the relations between singing style use with social and temporal factors. Cluster and discriminant analyses supported the existence of three (instead of two) singing styles, which could be differentiated based on four variables referring to song structure and complexity. Use of singing styles was related to male mating status (consistent with the mate attraction hypothesis), but not to female breeding stage (no support for the mate guarding hypothesis). Finally, use of singing styles differed in relation to time of day, with the dawn chorus of paired reed buntings consisting almost exclusively of songs of the recently discovered type III singing style and daytime singing primarily consisting of songs of long‐known type I (in unpaired males) or II singing styles (in paired males). Our findings suggest that one singing style (type I) primarily serves to attract a social mate, although an additional territorial function of this singing style cannot be dismissed. The function(s) of the other two singing styles, both only sung by paired males, are not related to attraction of a social mate or to the own female's fertility, but appear to be important in the context of territory defence and extra‐pair matings.
Genetic and ecological differentiation in the endemic avifauna of Tiburón Island
Authors: Rojas‐Soto Octavio R. , Westberg Michael , Navarro‐Sigüenza Adolfo G. , Zink Robert M.
Published: July 2010

Tiburón Island is a land‐bridge island in the Gulf of California, separated from mainland Sonora by 3 km. The shallow channel (13 m) separating the island and mainland is thought to have formed 10 000 years ago. Although the majority of avian resident species are not taxonomically differentiated, six species are represented by endemic subspecies (cactus wren, gila woodpecker, black‐tailed gnatcatcher, Gambel's quail, canyon towhee, northern cardinal), of which all but one (black‐tailed gnatcatcher) possess a pallid, ash‐gray coloration compared to those on the mainland. We compared mtDNA sequences of five of the endemic subspecies (we lacked samples of northern cardinal) and one more widespread subspecies (verdin) present on the island from sequences previously published for mainland populations. For most populations, we discovered no genetic differentiation between the island and the mainland, thus questioning the taxonomic validity of the endemic subspecies. The canyon towhee and the verdin showed significant mitochondrial DNA differentiation, although neither was reciprocally monophyletic. We modeled the ecological niche for the mainland populations of the study species (plus the curve‐billed thrasher, which was studied earlier) and determined if species’ occurrence on the island was predicted. We found no ecological differences for the four species that showed no genetic differences and one of the species that did (verdin). In contrast, some ecological differentiation was detected for the canyon towhee and the curve‐billed thrasher. We conclude that the ecological differences leading to paler plumages in Tiburón Island endemics are sufficiently subtle as to not be discovered in our ecological models, although they are likely influenced by variation in rainfall, temperature and the vegetation. In addition, the black‐tailed gnatcatcher is not paler, and therefore might respond to different ecological variables. We simulated sequence data and showed that if the populations on Tiburón Island have been isolated for 10 000 years, there ought to be greater differences than we observed for black‐tailed gnatcatcher, Gambel's quail, cactus wren, and gila woodpecker, suggesting that there has been gene flow connecting the mainland and island populations. If so, then the paler coloration of these Tiburón Island subspecies (excluding black‐tailed gnatcatcher) has been maintained by natural selection despite gene flow. In any case, the pale coloration apparently evolved within the past 10 000 years.
Does competition for nests affect genetic monogamy in Cory's shearwaterCalonectris diomedea?
Authors: Bried Joël , Dubois Marie‐Pierre , Jarne Philippe , Jouventin Pierre , Santos Ricardo S.
Published: July 2010

Most bird species are socially monogamous. However, extra‐pair copulations (EPCs), resulting in extra‐pair paternity (EPP), commonly occur. EPCs should allow females to adjust social mate choice and allow males that fail to obtain a nest a chance to avoid missing a breeding season, especially when poor nest supply constrains social mate choice. Procellariiformes (albatrosses and petrels) are socially monogamous seabirds which seldom divorce, even when nest availability constrains social mate choice. In Cory's shearwaterCalonectris diomedea, a burrow‐nesting petrel, two studies conducted in the Mediterranean, where competition for nests is weak, detected no EPP. EPP remains to be investigated at localities where competition for nests is much stronger, such as Vila islet, Azores archipelago, Atlantic Ocean. We conducted a genetic (microsatellites) study over two successive years on Vila, involving the breeding pairs of the same 65 nests each year and their single chick. EPPs occurred each year, the overall rate being 11.6%. Coupling genetic analyses to a 7‐year demographic survey provided additional data on pair bonds and competition for nests. Overall, cuckoldry was unrelated to divorce, nest density and inbreeding avoidance, but was more frequent when the social male was small. Nest changes were more costly for males than for females, and some apparently unpaired males attempted to dislodge social males during within‐pair copulations. These results are compatible with the existence of a link between poor nest availability and EPP and confirm that even species considered strongly monogamous can adopt flexible mating strategies.
Discovery of a breeding area of the enigmatic large‐billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus
Authors: Ayé Raffael , Hertwig Stefan T. , Schweizer Manuel
Published: July 2010

The present study reports the discovery of the hitherto unknown breeding grounds of the large‐billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus in the Badakhshan region of Tajikistan. A total of eight adult individuals were caught at three riverine woodland sites and breeding was confirmed at one locality. The identity of the birds was confirmed on the basis of partial sequences of the cytochrome b gene. Even among individuals sampled at the same locality, genetic diversity was surprisingly high. This was interpreted as the result of secondary contact between previously isolated or fragmented populations. The breeding range of the large‐billed reed warbler is likely small and the species’ habitat is under intense pressure from the collection of firewood and fodder. Consequently, the large‐billed reed warbler remains of considerable conservation concern.
Prey handling in raptors in relation to their morphology and feeding niches
Authors: Slagsvold Tore , Sonerud Geir A. , Grønlien Helge E. , Stige Leif C.
Published: July 2010

Most raptors take large prey for their size compared to other birds, but tear the prey apart into small morsels before swallowing. Little is known about how the efficiency of this prey handling varies among raptors, and how it relates to their feeding niches, diets and gape dimensions. We offered 202 mammalian and 224 avian prey items to 37 wild raptors kept temporarily in captivity, representing ten species and three orders. Feeding efficiency was measured as the proportion of a prey item that was ingested. The proportion of a prey item ingested was larger for mammalian than for avian prey, declined with prey size, increased with raptor size, and was larger for typical vole feeders (with shorter and wider bills) than typical bird feeders (with longer and narrower bills). The proportion of a prey item ingested was not related to raptor sex when controlling for focal raptor body mass. The probability that the head of a prey was ingested was higher if the prey was a mammal than if it was a bird, whereas the opposite was the case for the entrails of a prey. The results suggest that the traditional use of prey remains to estimate raptor diets may lead to severe biases, the magnitude of which would depend on prey type and size, raptor sex, species and order, and raptor feeding niche. Failure to correct for uneaten remains of a prey would lead to overestimating the profitability of large prey, and in particular of large avian prey. The results are consistent with the idea that vole feeders can afford to have a well‐developed digestive tract, and thus swallow prey in large pieces, because they pounce on prey from above. Bird feeders, however, must ingest food in smaller pieces because they have smaller guts as a result of selection to keep the body mass low to capture agile prey.
The Sound of Silence: Listening to the Villagers to Learn about Orangutans
Authors: Mengersen Kerrie
Published: July 2010

Orangutans, those shy and gentle primates of Borneo and Sumatra, are iconic of species under threat. Efforts to conserve them have met with little success. But Kerrie Mengersen and her colleagues have brought statistics to bear to provide practical guidance towards saving the creature whose name means “old man of the forests”.
Is Doing a Good Deed Equal to Having a Good Lunch?
Authors: Lai Aaron
Published: July 2010

Since the meltdown banks have cut back on consumer lending – but do we need big banks for small loans? Aaron Lai looks at new sources of finance – and at the interest rates that friends can charge.
George Box: A Model Statistician
Authors: Wasserstein Ron
Published: July 2010

George Box is the Grand Old Man of Anglo-American statistics. Ron Wasserstein heard him deliver an anniversary speech.
Do Premarital Education Programs Really Work? A Meta‐analytic Study
Authors: Fawcett Elizabeth B. , Hawkins Alan J. , Blanchard Victoria L. , Carroll Jason S.
Published: July 2010

Previous studies (J. S. Carroll & W. J. Doherty, 2003) have asserted that premarital education programs have a positive effect on program participants. Using meta‐analytic methods of current best practices to look across the entire body of published and unpublished evaluation research on premarital education, we found a more complex pattern of results. We coded 47 studies and found that premarital education programs do not improve relationship quality/satisfaction when unpublished studies are included in the analysis, although studies that follow couples past the honeymoon stage to detect prevention effects are rare. In contrast, premarital education programs appear to be effective at improving couple communication, with studies that employed observational measures rather than self‐report measures producing large effects. Still, given the mixed, modest results, there is ample room and a real need to improve the practice of premarital education.
Long‐Term Effects of Child Death on Parents' Health‐Related Quality of Life: A Dyadic Analysis
Authors: Song Jieun , Floyd Frank J. , Seltzer Marsha Mailick , Greenberg Jan S. , Hong Jinkuk
Published: July 2010

This study examines the long‐term effects of child death on bereaved parents' health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we compared 233 bereaved couples and 229 comparison couples (mean age = 65.11 years) and examined the life course effects of child death on parents' HRQoL. Variations in bereavement effects were examined by gender and for different causes of death. Bereaved parents had significantly worse HRQoL than comparison group parents, and there was no evidence of gender differences for this effect. With respect to the cause of a child's death, bereaved parents whose child died in violent circumstances had particularly low levels of HRQoL. Multilevel models indicated that marital closeness mitigated the negative effects of bereavement.
Parents' Experiences of Discrimination and Family Relationship Qualities: The Role of Gender
Authors: Riina Elizabeth M. , McHale Susan M.
Published: July 2010

Mothers and fathers in 156 African American families reported on racial discrimination experiences, gendered traits, and warmth and conflict in family relationships. Discrimination was linked with relationship quality, but links differed for mothers and fathers. More expressive parents and less instrumental fathers had more positive relationships in the face of discrimination, but for more instrumental fathers, discrimination‐relationship quality links were negative. Findings imply consideration of sociocultural and individual characteristics for family relationships.
Maternity Leave in Taiwan
Authors: Feng Joyce Yen , Han Wen‐Jui
Published: July 2010

Using the first nationally representative birth cohort study in Taiwan, this paper examines the role that maternity leave policy in Taiwan plays in the timing of mothers returning to work after giving birth, as well as the extent to which this timing is linked to the amount of time mothers spend with their children and their use of breast milk versus formula. We found that the time when mothers returned to work coincided with the duration of guaranteed leave. In particular, mothers with a labor pension plan resumed work significantly earlier than mothers with no pension plan, and mothers with no pension plan returned to work significantly later than those with pension plans. The short leave of absence guaranteed under existing policies translated into mothers spending less time with their children and being more likely to exclusively use formula by 6 months after birth. In contrast, mothers who resumed work later than 6 months after birth were more likely to have not worked before birth or to have quit their jobs during pregnancy. Implications and recommendations for parental leave policy in Taiwan are discussed.
Gender Effects of Acute Malathion or Zinc Exposure on the Antioxidant Response of Rat Hippocampus and Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Maris Angelica Francesca , Franco Jeferson Luis , Mitozo Péricles Aruda , Paviani Gislaine , Borowski Cristina , Trevisan Rafael , Uliano‐Silva Marcela , Farina Marcelo , Dafre Alcir Luiz
Published: July 2010

Abstract:  Gender is one of the most important factors in mammalian development and response to exogenous agents. Although there is increasing evidence that health effects of toxic xenobiotics differ in prevalence or are manifested differently in male and female, the molecular mechanisms related to these events remain unclear. In order to investigate the possible influence of gender, male and female Wistar rats from the same litter were exposed to zinc chloride (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or malathion (250 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 hr prior to the analyses of biochemical parameters related to the cholinergic and glutathione‐antioxidant systems in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. After treatments, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was reduced in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of male and female rats treated with malathion, but the effect was more pronounced in the male group. Glutathione reductase (GR) and γ‐glutamyl‐transpeptidase activities were reduced in the hippocampus of males and females and a gender‐specific effect of malathion was seen for glutathione S‐transferase (GST), which was decreased only in male hippocampus and cortex, and for male cortical GR. Zinc chloride treatment decreased AChE activity in male and female cerebral cortex, with no obvious effect in the hippocampus. Male‐specific antioxidant‐related enzyme activity reductions were seen after zinc treatment for cortical GR, GST, glutathione peroxidase and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase; and hippocampal GR. These results clearly demonstrate a greater detrimental effect on antioxidant‐related enzyme activities in male hippocampus and cerebral cortex when rats were acutely exposed to malathion and zinc, demonstrating that the research on gender‐related differences in health effects caused by xenobiotic and/or essential elements requires further attention.
Genomic signatures of fifth autotrophic carbon assimilation pathway in bathypelagic Crenarchaeota
Authors: La Cono Violetta , Smedile Francesco , Ferrer Manuel , Golyshin Peter N. , Giuliano Laura , Yakimov Michail M.
Published: July 2010

Marine Crenarchaeota, ubiquitous and abundant organisms in the oceans worldwide, remain metabolically uncharacterized, largely due to their low cultivability. Identification of candidate genes for bicarbonate fixation pathway in the Cenarchaeum symbiosum A was an initial step in understanding the physiology and ecology of marine Crenarchaeota. Recent cultivation and genome sequencing of obligate chemoautotrophic Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 were a major breakthrough towards understanding of their functioning and provide a valuable model for experimental validation of genomic data. Here we present the identification of multiple key components of 3‐hydroxipropionate/4‐hydroxybutyrate cycle, the fifth pathway in carbon fixation, found in data sets of environmental sequences representing uncultivated superficial and bathypelagic Crenarchaeota from Sargasso sea (GOS data set) and KM3 (Mediterranean Sea) and ALOHA (Atlantic ocean) stations. These organisms are likely to use acetyl‐CoA/propionyl‐CoA carboxylase(s) as CO2‐fixing enzyme(s) to form succinyl‐CoA, from which one molecule of acetyl‐CoA is regenerated via 4‐hydroxybutyrate cleavage and another acetyl‐CoA to be the pathway product. The genetic distinctiveness and matching sympatric abundance imply that marine crenarchaeal genotypes from the three different geographic sites share similar ecophysiological properties, and therefore may represent fundamental units of marine ecosystem functioning. To couple results of sequence comparison with the dark ocean primary production, dissolved inorganic carbon fixation rates were measured at KM3 Station (3000 m depth, Eastern Mediterranean Sea), i.e. at the same site and depth used for metagenomic library construction.
Correlation of glycated albumin but not hemoglobin A1c with endogenous insulin secretion in fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Koga Masafumi , Murai Jun , Saito Hiroshi , Kasayama Soji , Kobayashi Tetsuro , Imagawa Akihisa , Hanafusa Toshiaki ,   the Members of the Japan Diabetes Society’s Committee on Research on Type 1 Diabetes
Published: July 2010

Aims/Introduction:  Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) develops as a result of very rapid and almost complete pancreatic β‐cell destruction. We hypothesized that in patients with FT1DM who have less endogenous insulin secretion, disease progression is more rapid, and thus glycated albumin (GA) levels are lower. This study was designed to prove this hypothesis.

Materials and Methods:  The present study included 42 patients with FT1DM (24 men, 18 women) in whom glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), GA and daily urinary C‐peptide (CPR) were measured at the time of diagnosis. Patients with complications, such as liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, or who were pregnant were excluded.

Results:  Urinary CPR (log transformed) was not correlated with HbA1c (R = 0.168, P = 0.287), but was positively correlated with GA (R = 0.336, P = 0.030). It was weakly, but not significantly, correlated with GA/HbA1c ratio (R = 0.281, P = 0.072). In patients with GA < 24.0%, urinary CPR was significantly lower than in patients with GA ≥ 24.0%. In addition, in patients with GA/HbA1c ratio <3.8, urinary CPR was significantly lower than in patients with GA/HbA1c ratio ≥ 3.8.

Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that in patients with FT1DM, GA at the time of diagnosis was correlated with endogenous insulin secretion. GA < 24.0% at the time of diagnosis is predictive for less endogenous insulin secretion in patients with FT1DM. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2010.00050.x, 2010)
Trichotillomania in children: the occult truth
Authors: Anegundi Rajesh T. , Shetty Sheetal D. , Yavagal Chandrashekhar , Pandurangi Anand
Published: July 2010

A major emphasis of modern‐day pediatric dental care is a holistic approach to children and the importance of treating them as individuals and not merely as patients with mouth diseases. We should not restrict ourselves to the oral cavity alone, but also explore the mind of an individual, for in it lays the hidden clue to successful management. In order to achieve this, we need to meet the mind of the child before meeting the mouth. Surmounting pressure on today’s children builds a lot of anxiety in them, and this in turn is the foundation for various psychological problems. One such rare but important psychological disorder is “trichotillomania.” The present study is an attempt to provide an insight into this intriguing disorder based on a case report. The signs and symptoms of trichotillomania are discussed, and various management options are outlined.
Linear dimensional accuracy of a polyvinyl siloxane of varying viscosities using different impression techniques
Authors: Mishra Sunil , Chowdhary Ramesh
Published: July 2010

Abstract Aim:  The present study is an in vitro study to evaluate the linear dimensional accuracy of commercially available polyvinyl siloxanes of varying viscosities using different impression techniques.

Methods:  Different impression techniques used were: (a) putty wash, with a two‐step technique with polyethylene spacer, using a stock tray; (b) putty wash, with a one‐step technique, using a stock tray; (c) single‐mix technique, utilizing medium viscosity in a custom tray; and (d) multiple‐mix technique, utilizing a heavy‐ and low‐viscosity combination in a custom tray. For each technique, 10 impressions were made of a metallic maxillary dentulous master model.

Results:  The result of this study dictates that a heavy‐ and low‐viscosity combination, double‐mix technique in a custom tray produced an accurate result in all dimensions, followed by the single‐mix technique, utilizing medium viscosity in a custom tray, and the putty wash two‐step technique with polyethylene spacer, using a stock tray. Group 2 putty wash, one‐step, simultaneous technique produced the least accurate result in all dimensions.

Conclusion:  The putty wash two‐step techniques were found to be as accurate as the multiple‐mix technique, utilizing a heavy‐ and low‐viscosity combination in a custom tray, and the single‐mix technique, utilizing medium viscosity in a custom tray. Making custom trays is time consuming and costly.
A method for measuring the relative information content of data from different monitoring protocols
Authors: Munson M. Arthur , Caruana Rich , Fink Daniel , Hochachka Wesley M. , Iliff Marshall , Rosenberg Kenneth V. , Sheldon Daniel , Sullivan Brian L. , Wood Christopher , Kelling Steve
Published: July 2010

1. Species monitoring is an essential component of assessing conservation status, predicting effects of habitat change and establishing management and conservation priorities. The pervasive access to the Internet has led to the development of several extensive monitoring projects that engage massive networks of volunteers who provide observations following relatively unstructured protocols. However, the value of these data is largely unknown. 2. We develop a novel cross‐data validation method for measuring the value of survey data from one source (e.g. an Internet checklist program) relative to a second, benchmark data source. The method fits a model to the data of interest and validates the model using benchmark data, allowing us to isolate the training data's information content from its biases. We also define a data efficiency ratio to quantify the relative efficiency of the data sources. 3. We apply our cross‐data validation method to quantify the value of data collected in eBird – a western hemisphere, year‐round citizen science bird checklist project – relative to data from the highly standardized North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). The results show that eBird data contain information similar in quality to that in BBS data, while the information per BBS datum is higher. 4. We suggest that these methods have more general use in evaluating the suitability of sources of data for addressing specific questions for taxa of interest.
Structural Basis for Broad and Potent Neutralization of HIV-1 by Antibody VRC01
Authors: Zhou Tongqing , Georgiev Ivelin , Wu Xueling , Yang Zhi-Yong , Dai Kaifan , Finzi Andrés , Do Kwon Young , Scheid Johannes F. , Shi Wei , Xu Ling , Yang Yongping , Zhu Jiang , Nussenzweig Michel C. , Sodroski Joseph , Shapiro Lawrence , Nabel Gary J. , Mascola John R. , Kwong Peter D.
Published: July 2010

Designer Anti-HIV

Developing a protective HIV vaccine remains a top global health priority. One strategy to identify potential vaccine candidates is to isolate broadly neutralizing antibodies from infected individuals and then attempt to elicit the same antibody response through vaccination (see the Perspective by

Burton and Weiss

).

Wu
et al.

(p.
856
, published online 8 July) now report the identification of three broadly neutralizing antibodies, isolated from an HIV-1–infected individual, that exhibited great breadth and potency of neutralization and were specific for the co-receptor CD4-binding site of the glycoprotein 120 (gp120), part of the viral Env spike.

Zhou
et al.

(p.
811
, published online 8 July) analyzed the crystal structure for one of these antibodies, VRC01, in complex with an HIV-1 gp120. VRC01 focuses its binding onto a conformationally invariant domain that is the site of initial CD4 attachment, which allows the antibody to overcome the glycan and conformational masking that diminishes the neutralization potency of most CD4-binding-site antibodies. The epitopes recognized by these antibodies suggest potential immunogens that can inform vaccine design.
THE TWISTED TWIN OF THE GRIGORCHUK GROUP
Authors: BARTHOLDI LAURENT , SIEGENTHALER OLIVIER
Published: July 2010

We study a twisted version of Grigorchuk's first group, and stress its similarities and differences to its model.

In particular, we show that it admits a finite endomorphic presentation, has infinite-rank multiplier, and does not have the congruence property.
THE ${\mathcal R}$- AND ${\mathcal L}$-ORDERS OF THE THOMPSON–HIGMAN MONOID Mk, 1 AND THEIR COMPLEXITY
Authors: BIRGET JEAN-CAMILLE
Published: July 2010

We study the monoid generalization Mk, 1 of the Thompson–Higman groups, and we characterize the [Formula: see text]- and the [Formula: see text]-order of Mk, 1. Although Mk, 1 has only one nonzero [Formula: see text]-class and k-1 nonzero [Formula: see text]-classes, the [Formula: see text]- and the [Formula: see text]-order are complicated; in particular, [Formula: see text] is dense (even within an [Formula: see text]-class), and [Formula: see text] is dense (even within an [Formula: see text]-class).

We study the computational complexity of the [Formula: see text]- and the [Formula: see text]-order. When inputs are given by words over a finite generating set of Mk, 1, the [Formula: see text]- and the [Formula: see text]-order decision problems are in P. However, over a "circuit-like" generating set the [Formula: see text]-order decision problem of Mk, 1 is [Formula: see text]-complete, whereas the [Formula: see text]-order decision problem is coNP-complete. Similarly, for acyclic circuits the surjectiveness problem is [Formula: see text]-complete, whereas the injectiveness problem is coNP-complete.
TABULATING AND DISTINGUISHING MUTANTS
Authors: STOIMENOW A.
Published: July 2010

We explain progress in computing the cabled Jones, HOMFLY and Kauffman polynomial. This is applied, first, in combination with some group theoretic considerations, to the tabulation of low-crossing mutants. Then we study the distinction of mutants, with particular regard to the symmetric mutants. We discuss the determination of braid index as another application of our computational methods.
PARTICLE METHODS FOR THE ESTIMATION OF CREDIT PORTFOLIO LOSS DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: CARMONA RENÉ , CRÉPEY STÉPHANE
Published: July 2010

The goal of the paper is the numerical analysis of the performance of Monte Carlo simulation based methods for the computation of credit-portfolio loss-distributions in the context of Markovian intensity models of credit risk. We concentrate on two of the most frequently touted methods of variance reduction in the case of stochastic processes: importance sampling (IS) and interacting particle systems (IPS) based algorithms. Because the subtle differences between these methods are often misunderstood, as IPS is often regarded as a mere particular case of IP, we describe in detail the two kinds of algorithms, and we highlight their fundamental differences. We then proceed to a detailed comparative case study based on benchmark numerical experiments chosen for their popularity in the quantitative finance circles.
CORPORATE LIQUIDITY, DIVIDEND POLICY AND DEFAULT RISK: OPTIMAL FINANCIAL POLICY AND AGENCY COSTS
Authors: BRAOUEZEC YANN , LEHALLE CHARLES-ALBERT
Published: July 2010

We study the simplest discrete-time finite-maturity model in which default arises when the firm is not able to pay its debt obligation using the current cash-flow plus the corporate liquidity. An important distinction is made between liquidity and solvency of the firm. The corporate financial policy is simultaneously defined by the dividend policy, and the leverage policy (the coupon and the principal of the bond). When the corporate financial policy implies no default risk and no taxes, we show that the corporate financial policy is irrelevant and this irrelevance result holds for any probability measure. When the corporate financial policy implies now some default risk, we show that the value of the firm is a piecewise decreasing function of the dividend policy for any leverage policy, so that dividend policy affects the value of the firm. However, shareholders may not always have the incentives to implement this optimal dividend policy. We show that when the value of the assets is low, shareholders have an incentive to deviate from this optimal dividend policy, and we also study the resulting agency costs. We finally compare the resulting quantities of our model to the base case suggested by Huang and Huang (2003).
REMARKS ON THE FREE RELATIVE ENTROPY AND THE FREE FISHER INFORMATION DISTANCE
Authors: YOSHIDA HIROAKI
Published: July 2010

In this paper, we shall introduce the free Fisher information distance which is inspired by the estimation-theoretic representation of the free relative entropy investigated by Verdú. We shall see the free analogue of the logarithmic Sobolev inequality with respect to a centered semicircle law and also the semicircular approximation of the free Poisson law.
AN EMPIRICAL MODEL FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS TO CONFERENCES
Authors: FLANDRIN PATRICK
Published: July 2010

Electronic submission to a conference is a process that is known to evolve nonlinearly in time, with a dramatic increase when approaching the deadline. A model has recently been proposed by Alfi et al. (Nature Physics, 2007) for such a process, and the question of its universality has been raised. This problem is revisited here from a data analysis and modeling point of view, on the basis of a larger data set. A new model is proposed that better describes the total evolution of the process (including saturation) and allows for a running prediction of the total number of submissions.