bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The pattern of ATP‐sensitive K+ channel subunits, Kir6.2 and SUR1 mRNA expressions in DG region is different from those in CA1‐3 regions of chronic epilepsy induced by picrotoxin in rats
Authors: Jiang Kewen , Yu Zhongsheng , Shui Quanxiang
Published: September 2007

ATP‐sensitive K+ (KATP) channel's function is a key determinant of both excitability and viability of neurons. In the present report, in situ hybridization histochemistry and Western blot were used to examine whether picrotoxin (PTX)‐kindling convulsions involved the changes in distribution of KATP channels. The data demonstrated that the formation of kindling state was associated with a decreased amount of Kir6.2 mRNAs and proteins both in cerebral cortex and dentate gyrus (DG) as well as with a decreased amount of (regulatory subunit) SUR 1 mRNAs in DG. In contrast, resulting from a PTX re‐induced seizure insult, both subunits were transiently up‐modulated but not exactly paralleled between them and among different regions. In DG, Kir6.2 mRNAs increased toward normal levels at 12 h, followed a gradual decrease from 1 day to 3 days, being distinct from that detected in CA1‐3 regions in which no significant change was shown. Further, SUR1 mRNAs markedly increased at 12 h, decreased significantly at 1 day, and even went down to a faint level at 3 days which was similar to that of CA1‐3 regions, and there was no significant change in CA1‐3 regions of SUR1 mRNAs. Also, at 7 days after a PTX re‐treatment, Kir6.2 proteins increased significantly in the cortex, CA1, CA3 and DG (increasing 49.52%, 39.36%, 33.41%, and 54.79%, respectively) as well, SUR1 proteins increased significantly in DG (increasing 3.42 times), as compared with kindling rats without PTX retreatments (P < 0.05). These results indicated that KATP channels in brain particularly in DG are likely related to enhanced seizure susceptibility and dynamic controls of seizure propagation of chronic epilepsy induced by PTX in rats.
Multiple system atrophy: α‐synuclein and neuronal degeneration
Authors: Yoshida Mari
Published: September 2007

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic neurodegenerative disorder that encompasses olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), striatonigral degeneration (SND) and Shy–Drager syndrome (SDS). The histopathological hallmark is the formation of α‐synuclein‐positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) in oligodendroglia. α‐synuclein aggregation is also found in glial nuclear inclusions, neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs), neuronal nuclear inclusions (NNIs) and dystrophic neurites. We evaluated the pathological features of 102 MSA cases, and presented the pathological spectrum of MSA and initial features of α‐synuclein accumulation. We found that 39% of the 102 cases showed equivalent SND and OPCA pathologies, 33% showed OPCA‐ and 22% showed SND‐predominant pathology, whereas 6% showed extremely mild changes. Our pathological analysis indicated that OPCA‐type was relatively more frequent and SND‐type was less frequent in Japanese MSA cases, compared to the relatively high frequency of SND‐type in Western countries, suggesting that different phenotypic patterns of MSA may exist between races. In the early stage, in addition to GCIs, NNIs and diffuse homogenous α‐synuclein staining in neuronal nuclei and cytoplasm were observed in lesions in the pontine nuclei, putamen, substantia nigra, locus ceruleus, inferior olivary nucleus, intermediolateral column of thoracic spinal cord, lower motor neurons and cortical pyramidal neurons. A subgroup of MSA cases with severe temporal atrophy showed numerous NCIs, particularly in the limbic system. These findings suggest that primary non‐fibrillar and fibrillar α‐synuclein aggregation also occur in neurons. The oligo‐myelin‐axon‐neuron complex mechanism, along with the direct involvement of neurons themselves, may synergistically accelerate the degenerative process of MSA.
The properties of reticular thalamic neuron GABAA IPSCs of absence epilepsy rats lead to enhanced network excitability
Authors: Tóth T. I. , Bessaïh T. , Leresche N. , Crunelli V.
Published: September 2007

Both human investigations and studies in animal models have suggested that abnormalities in GABAA receptor function have a potential role in the pathophysiology of absence seizures. Recently we showed that, prior to seizure onset, GABAA IPSCs in thalamic reticular (NRT) neurons of genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) had a 25% larger amplitude, a 40% faster decay and a 45% smaller paired‐pulse depression than those of nonepileptic control (NEC) rats. By means of a novel mathematical description, the properties of both GAERS and NEC GABAergic synapses can be mimicked. These model synapses were then used in an NRT network model in order to investigate their potential impact on the neuronal firing patterns. Compared to NEC, GAERS NRT neurons show an overall increase in excitability and a higher frequency and regularity of firing in response to periodic input signals. Moreover, in response to randomly distributed stimuli, the GAERS but not the NEC model produces resonance between 7 and 9 Hz, the frequency range of spike–wave discharges in GAERS. The implications of these results for the epileptogenesis of absence seizures are discussed.
Disruption of maternal behaviour by acute conspecific interaction induces selective activation of the lateral periaqueductal grey
Authors: Pavesi Elolsa , Enck Michelle Cabral , De Toledo Claudio Antonio Barbosa , Terenzi Mariana Graciela
Published: September 2007

Maternal behaviour is sensitive to stress and opioidergic activation. The periaqueductal grey (PAG) is involved in coping strategies to stress, whereas morphine inhibition of maternal behaviour depends on the activation of the PAG. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PAG is activated by disrupting maternal behaviour. Lactating Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: C (control); E1 (acute exposure to a male rat); E2 (daily 2‐h exposure to another lactating female and a male rat from Day 3 to 6 of lactation); and E1 + 2 (treated first as E2 and, on Day 9, as E1). Maternal behaviour was recorded on Day 9 of lactation and analysed for 1 h. The E1 group spent more time retrieving their pups, took longer to initiate nursing, had shorter nursing bouts and spent more time in non‐maternal activities compared with control. Rats submitted to E2 or E1 + 2 did not differ from the control. In another experiment, lactating rats were treated as above, except that 90 min after the end of the observation period the rats were killed and their brains were processed for immunohistochemical detection of Fos protein in the PAG. Fos increased in the lateral PAG only in the E1 group. We also observed that neurons activated by acute conspecific interaction in the PAG could be responsible for an opioid‐dependent decrease in maternal behaviour as this effect was reversed by a microinjection of naltrexone, nor‐binaltorphimine or naloxonazine into the lateral PAG. Chronic conspecific interaction alters the way this circuitry responds to acute conspecific interaction.
GABAergic neurosteroids mediate the effects of ethanol on long‐term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices
Authors: Izumi Yukitoshi , Murayama Kenki , Tokuda Kazuhiro , Krishnan Kathiresan , Covey Douglas F. , Zorumski Charles F.
Published: September 2007

We previously found that ethanol has complex effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity, inhibiting long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression by different mechanisms. The block of long‐term depression appears to be mediated by effects on N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors, whereas the block of LTP involves augmented inhibition via γ‐aminobutyric acid‐A receptors (GABAARs). To pursue factors contributing to effects on LTP, we examined the ability of various concentrations of ethanol to block LTP in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. Complete LTP block required 60 mm ethanol. LTP block was enhanced at lower ethanol concentrations in the presence of (3α5α)‐3‐hydroxypregnan‐20‐one, a GABAAR‐potentiating neurosteroid, suggesting that neurosteroids may be important contributors to the effects of ethanol on LTP. Consistent with this, we found that block of LTP by 60 mm ethanol was overcome by coadministration of a cyclodextrin that binds and removes lipophilic neurosteroids. More specifically, treatment of slices with finasteride, an agent that inhibits the synthesis of 5α‐reduced neurosteroids, or with an agent that inhibits the effects of 5α‐reduced neurosteroids on GABAARs overcame the effects of 60 mm ethanol on LTP. Taken together, these results indicate that acute production of GABAAR‐enhancing neurosteroids plays a key role in mediating the effects of ethanol on LTP.
Non‐motor behavioural impairments in parkin‐deficient mice
Authors: Zhu Xin‐Ran , Maskri Lyutha , Herold Christina , Bader Verian , Stichel Christine C. , Güntürkün Onur , Lübbert Hermann
Published: September 2007

Mutations in the parkin gene are the major cause of early‐onset familial Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously reported the generation and analysis of a knockout mouse carrying a deletion of exon 3 in the parkin gene. F1 hybridpa+/– mice were backcrossed to wild‐type C57Bl/6 for three more generations to establish apa–/–(F4) mouse line. The appearance of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive neurons was normal in young and agedpa–/– (F4) animals. Loss of parkin function in mice did not enhance vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons to 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. However, thepa–/– (F4) mice displayed impaired exploration and habituation to a new environment and exhibited thigmotaxis behaviour in the open field and Morris water maze. Abnormal anxiety‐related behaviour ofpa–/– (F4) mice was also observed in the light/dark exploration test paradigm. Dopamine metabolism was enhanced in the striatum ofpa–/– (F4) mice, as revealed by increased homovanillic acid (HVA) content and a reduced ratio of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)/HVA. The alterations found in the dopaminergic system could be responsible for the behavioural impairments ofpa–/– (F4) mice. Consistent with a recent observation of cognitive dysfunction in parkin‐linked patients with PD, our findings provide evidence of a physiological role of parkin in non‐motor behaviour, possibly representing a disease stage that precedes dopaminergic neuron loss.
BDNF/ TrkB interaction regulates migration of SVZ precursor cells via PI3‐K and MAP‐K signalling pathways
Authors: Chiaramello S. , Dalmasso G. , Bezin L. , Marcel D. , Jourdan F. , Peretto P. , Fasolo A. , De Marchis S.
Published: September 2007

Neuroblasts born in the subventricular zone (SVZ) migrate along the rostral migratory stream, reaching the olfactory bulb (OB) where they differentiate into local interneurons. Several extracellular factors have been suggested to control specific steps of this process. The brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been demonstrated to promote morphological differentiation and survival of OB interneurons. Here we show that BDNF and its receptor TrkB are expressed in vivo throughout the migratory pathway, implying that BDNF might also mediate migratory signals. By using in vitro models we demonstrate that BDNF promotes migration of SVZ neuroblasts, acting both as inducer and attractant through TrkB activation. We show that BDNF induces cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) activation in migrating neuroblasts via phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3‐K) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAP‐K) signalling. Pharmacological blockade of these pathways on SVZ explants significantly reduces CREB activation and impairs neuronal migration. This study identifies a function of BDNF in the SVZ system, which involves multiple protein kinase pathways leading to neuroblast migration.
Enhanced production and dendritic growth of new dentate granule cells in the middle‐aged hippocampus following intracerebroventricular FGF‐2 infusions
Authors: Rai Kiranmai S. , Hattiangady Bharathi , Shetty Ashok K.
Published: September 2007

Declined production and diminished dendritic growth of new dentate granule cells in the middle‐aged and aged hippocampus are correlated with diminished concentration of fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2). This study examined whether increased FGF‐2 concentration in the milieu boosts both production and dendritic growth of new dentate granule cells in the middle‐aged hippocampus. The FGF‐2 or vehicle was infused into the posterior lateral ventricle of middle‐aged Fischer (F)344 rats for 2 weeks using osmotic minipumps. New cells born during the first 12 days of infusions were labeled via daily intraperitoneal injections of 5′‐bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and analysed at 10 days after the last BrdU injection. Measurement of BrdU+ cells revealed a considerably enhanced number of new cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and granule cell layer (GCL) of the dentate gyrus (DG) ipsilateral to FGF‐2 infusions. Characterization of β‐III tubulin+ neurons among newly born cells suggested an increased addition of new neurons to the SGZ/GCL ipsilateral to FGF‐2 infusions. Quantification of DG neurogenesis at 8 days post‐infusions via doublecortin (DCX) immunostaining also revealed the presence of an enhanced DG neurogenesis ipsilateral to FGF‐2 infusions. Furthermore, DCX+ neurons in FGF‐2‐infused rats exhibited enhanced dendritic growth compared with their counterparts in vehicle‐infused rats. Thus, subchronic infusion of FGF‐2 is efficacious for stimulating an enhanced DG neurogenesis from neural stem/progenitor cells in the middle‐aged hippocampus. As dentate neurogenesis is important for hippocampal‐dependent learning and memory and DG long‐term potentiation, strategies that maintain increased FGF‐2 concentration during ageing may be beneficial for thwarting some of the age‐related cognitive impairments.
Time, transients and elasticity
Authors: Haridas C. V. , Tuljapurkar Shripad
Published: September 2007

How does life history affects the short‐term elasticities of population growth rate? We decompose short‐term elasticity as a sum of (i) the effect of the perturbation in rates on the unperturbed population structure and (ii) the effect of the original vital rates on the difference in structure between the original and the perturbed population. We provide exact analytical formulas for these components. In a population at its stable stage distribution (SSD), short‐term elasticity is determined mainly by the SSD and reproductive value. In a non‐stable population, short‐term elasticity depends also on the projection of initial structure on the SSD, equal to population momentum. Non‐stable stage structures matter most to elasticity if stages are missing that take time to fill in. We show how the demographic damping rate of the original population determines the rate at which short‐term elasticity converges to its limiting values.
Oscillating trophic control induces community reorganization in a marine ecosystem
Authors: Litzow Michael A. , Ciannelli Lorenzo
Published: September 2007

Understanding how climate regulates trophic control may help to elucidate the causes of transitions between alternate ecosystem states following climate regime shifts. We used a 34‐year time series of the abundance of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) and five prey species to show that the nature of trophic control in a North Pacific ecosystem depends on climate state. Rapid warming in the 1970s caused an oscillation between bottom–up and top–down control. This shift to top–down control apparently contributed to the transition from an initial, prey‐rich ecosystem state to the final, prey‐poor state. However, top–down control could not be detected in the final state without reference to the initial state and transition period. Complete understanding of trophic control in ecosystems capable of transitions between alternate states may therefore require observations spanning more than one state.
Hydrogenase‐ and outer membrane c‐type cytochrome‐facilitated reduction of technetium(VII) by Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1
Authors: Marshall Matthew J. , Plymale Andrew E. , Kennedy David W. , Shi Liang , Wang Zheming , Reed Samantha B. , Dohnalkova Alice C. , Simonson Cody J. , Liu Chongxuan , Saffarini Daad A. , Romine Margaret F. , Zachara John M. , Beliaev Alexander S. , Fredrickson James K.
Published: September 2007

Pertechnetate, 99Tc(VII)O4–, is a highly mobile radionuclide contaminant at US Department of Energy sites that can be enzymatically reduced by a range of anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms, including Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, to poorly soluble Tc(IV)O2(s). In other microorganisms, Tc(VII)O4– reduction is generally considered to be catalysed by hydrogenase. Here, we provide evidence that although the NiFe hydrogenase of MR‐1 was involved in the H2‐driven reduction of Tc(VII)O4–[presumably through a direct coupling of H2 oxidation and Tc(VII) reduction], the deletion of both hydrogenase genes did not completely eliminate the ability of MR‐1 to reduce Tc(VII). With lactate as the electron donor, mutants lacking the outer membrane c‐type cytochromes MtrC and OmcA or the proteins required for the maturation of c‐type cytochromes were defective in reducing Tc(VII) to nanoparticulate TcO2·nH2O(s) relative to MR‐1 or a NiFe hydrogenase mutant. In addition, reduced MtrC and OmcA were oxidized by Tc(VII)O4–, confirming the capacity for direct electron transfer from these OMCs to TcO4–. c‐Type cytochrome‐catalysed Tc(VII) reduction could be a potentially important mechanism in environments where organic electron donor concentrations are sufficient to allow this reaction to dominate.
Morpho‐anatomy of the lobopod Magadictyon cf. haikouensis from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, South China
Authors: Liu Jianni , Shu Degan , Han Jian , Zhang Zhifei , Zhang Xingliang
Published: September 2007

Magadictyon haikouensis (Luo and Hu, 1999) from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, an incomplete specimen of a large lobopod with strong appendages, has been regarded as related to the lobopods Microdictyon and Onychodictyon. Newly discovered complete specimens of Magadictyon cf. haikouensis (found by the Early Life Institute field team) show that the taxon, in addition to its strong appendages with appendicules, also had a head bearing similar caecum‐like structures to those of the arthropod Naraoia and Chelicerate, ‘Peytoia’‐like mouthparts and frontal appendages. Because of their similarity, the caecum‐like structures of Magadictyon cf. haikouensis are considered to be homologous with those of stem‐group arthropods. The ‘Peytoia’‐like mouthparts and the frontal appendages are similar to those of the AOPK (Anomalocaris–Opabinia–Pambdelurion–Kerygmachela) group. In addition, the appendages with appendicules show that Magadictyon cf. haikouensis is closely related to Onychodictyon. Therefore, Magadictyon cf. haikouensis is regarded here as a rare transitional form between lobopods and arthropods. Besides, together with other lobopods, the morphology of Magadictyon cf. haikouensis demonstrates that the Cambrian lobopods appear to have been diverse and not particularly closely related to one another, and do not seem to represent a monophyletic clade.
Comparative histology of the vaginal–cloacal region in Squamata and its phylogenetic implications
Authors: Sánchez‐Martínez Paola María , Ramírez‐Pinilla Martha Patricia , Miranda‐Esquivel Daniel Rafael
Published: September 2007

We described the histology and morphology of the vaginal–cloacal region in 18 species from 12 Squamata families. This comparative study revealed a wide variation in the cloacal morphology. Fifteen morphological characters were considered to be primary homology hypotheses and were optimized over the topology derived from the parsimony analysis of the available soft morphological evidence, including the characters described in this study. The synapomorphies optimized for Squamata are bifid urodaeum, common urodaeal cavity with similar histological features of the urodaeal horns, and presence of glands in the anterior urodaeum; for Scleroglossa the synapomorphy is the lateral position of the vaginal intrusion into the anterior urodaeal chamber, for Nyctisaura + Scincomorpha the synapomorphy is the presence of a bifid posterior urodaeum; and for Xantusidae + Annulata it is the presence of simple glands in the anterior urodaeum. The central position of the vaginal intrusion into the urodaeal chamber and the intraepithelial position of the glandular unit in the anterior urodaeum behave as autapomorphies for Iguanidae. This study contributes evidence that defines the relationships within Scleroglossa. Cloacal features provide interesting information that is useful as a source of morphological characters for phylogenetic studies in Squamata.
The first cytogenetic report of fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) from Brazilian fauna
Authors: Dias Carolina M. , Schneider Marielle C. , Rosa Simone P. , Costa Cleide , Cella Doralice M.
Published: September 2007

The first cytogenetic analysis of fireflies from Brazilian fauna was carried out in this work. The investigation of two species of the subfamily Lampyrinae, Aspisoma maculatum and Photinus sp. (aff. pyralis), showed the diploid number 2n = 19 and an X0 sex determination system in males. These observations are similar to those already described for all the Lampyrinae species previously studied. In contrast, Bicellonycha lividipennis (Photurinae) revealed the karyotype 2n = 16 + neoXY, which has not yet been registered for any firefly species. The neoXY sex determination system encountered in this species probably arose through fusion between an ancestral X sex chromosome, belonging to the X0 system, and an autosomal element. This event also reduced the diploid number from 2n = 19, which is more frequent in the family Lampyridae, to 2n = 18 in B. lividipennis. The analysis of meiotic cells showed that the neoXY sexual bivalent of B. lividipennis exhibited a prominent terminal chiasma, indicating that the sex chromosomes are not wholly differentiated and still retain a region of homology. A review of the cytogenetic data known for the family Lampyridae was also documented in this work, as well as a discussion on the main trends of chromosomal evolution that seem to have occurred in this group.
A mathematical approach to defining clade names, with potential applications to computer storage and processing
Authors: Keesey T. Michael
Published: September 2007

Clade names may be objectively defined based on conditions of phylogeny. Definitions usually take one of three forms — node‐, branch‐ or apomorphy‐based — but other forms and complex permutations of these forms are also possible. Some database projects have attempted to store definitions of clade names in a manner accessible to computer applications, but, so far, they have only provided ways of storing the most common types of definition. To create a more extensible system, I have taken a mathematical approach to defining clade names. To render definitions accessible to computer storage and analysis, I propose using Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) with extensions. Since the mathematical approach is granular to the level of the organism, not to fuzzy higher levels such as population or species, it sheds light on some theoretical difficulties with defining clade names. For example, some definitions do not resolve to a single organism as the ancestor, but to sets of organisms which are not ancestral to each other and share common descendants. I term such sets ‘cladogenetic sets’.
Common Cultural Relationships in Corporate Governance across Developed and Emerging Financial Markets
Authors: Chan Alex W.H. , Cheung Hoi Yan
Published: September 2007

This study investigates the corporate governance (CG) practice of business organisations in 43 countries with developed and emerging financial markets from the perspective of cross‐cultural psychology. We find significant relationships between CG practice and Hofstede's cultural dimensions, and discover that the cultural dimensions of power distance and uncertainty avoidance significantly explain the development of CG practice. These two cultural dimensions fully capture the power of stock market history to explain the development of CG practice across developed and emerging financial markets, which indicates that cultural factors are more important than the length of stock market history in the development of CG.

Cette étude se propose d’étudier, dans une perspective de psychologie inter‐culturelle, la pratique de la gouvernance d’entreprise dans des organismes d’affaire de 43 pays différents dont les marchés financiers sont développés ou émergents. Nous trouvons une relation significative entre la pratique de la gouvernance d’entreprise et les dimensions culturelles de Hofstede. Nous montrons que les dimensions culturelles de distance du pouvoir et d’évitement de l’incertitude expliquent le développement de la pratique de la gouvernance d’entreprise. Ces deux dimensions culturelles déterminent totalement la puissance de l’histoire du marché boursier pour expliquer le développement de la pratique de la gouvernance d’entreprise sur des marchés financiers développés ou émergents. Les facteurs culturels ont donc plus de poids que la durée de l’histoire du marché boursier dans le développement de la pratique de la gouvernance d’entreprise.
When Thinking Rationally Increases Biases: The Role of Rational Thinking Style in Escalation of Commitment
Authors: Wong Kin Fai Ellick , Kwong Jessica Yuk Yee , Ng Carmen K.
Published: September 2007

This paper reports three studies examining the relationship between the rational thinking style (RTS, i.e. individual differences in relying on a conscious, analytical, and relatively affect‐free information processing system) and decision quality in an escalation situation. In contrast to conventional wisdom that rational thinking increases decision quality, but consistent with the predictions derived from the cognitive dissonance theory, results of Studies 1 and 2 revealed that high scorers in Pacini and Epstein's (1999) rationality inventory were more likely to have escalation bias than were low scorers. The results further showed that only the ability component of rationality, not the engagement component, was positively correlated with escalating commitment. Similar patterns of results were obtained for situations when participants were personally responsible for prior decisions (Study 1) and when they were not (Study 2). Results of Study 3 showed that the underlying process responsible for the effect of RTS on the escalating tendency is that RTS increases beliefs in prior decisions, which in turn increases escalation. Implications for our understanding of escalation of commitment, rationality theory, and managerial practices are discussed.

Cet article rend compte de 3 études examinant la relation entre le style de pensée rationnelle (RTS i.e. les différences individuelles reposent sur un système de traitement de l’information consciente, analytique et relativement libre d’affects) et la qualité de la décision dans une situation d’escalade d’engagement. Contrairement à l’opinion communément admise pour laquelle la pensée rationnelle accroît la qualité de la décision, mais consistante avec les prédictions découlant de la théorie de la dissonance cognitive, les résultats des études 1 et 2 indiquent que des personnes obtenant un score élevéà l’Inventaire Rationnel‐Expérientiel de Pacini et Esptein (1999) sont plus enclines à tomber dans le piège de l’escalade d’engagement que celles dont le score est bas. D’autres résultats montrent que la capacitéà la rationalité, non celle à l’engagement, est positivement corrélée avec l’escalade d’engagement. Des résultats semblables sont obtenus lors de situations où les participants sont personnellement responsables de leurs décisions antérieures (Etude 1) ou non (Etude 2). Les résultats de l’étude 3 montrent que le processus responsable de l’effet du RTS sur la tendance à s’engager est le suivant: il accroît les croyances dans les décisions antérieures qui augmentent à leur tour l’engagement. Ces résultats nous permettent de mieux comprendre l’escalade d’engagement, la théorie rationnelle et les pratiques managériales.
Bioluminescence imaging to monitor bladder cancer cell adhesion in vivo: a new approach to optimize a syngeneic, orthotopic, murine bladder cancer model
Authors: Jurczok Andreas , Fornara Paolo , Söling Ariane
Published: September 2007

OBJECTIVE

To improve the orthotopic murine bladder cancer model by using bioluminescent (BL) MB49 tumour cells for noninvasive in vivo monitoring of tumour growth and to examine the efficacy of integrin receptor‐blocking oligopeptides on preventing tumour cell adhesion in this improved bladder cancer model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The capacity of oligopeptide combinations to interfere with tumour cell adhesion was assessed in vivo in a syngeneic, orthotopic, murine bladder cancer model. Tumour outgrowth was monitored noninvasively by bioluminescence imaging (BLI) after administration of luciferase‐expressing MB49LUC bladder cancer cells. The presence of tumour cells was verified histologically and immunohistochemically on paraffin wax‐embedded sections of excised bladders.

RESULTS

Anti‐adhesive oligopeptides effectively inhibited tumour outgrowth. BLI detected tumour cells at an early stage when there were no clinical signs of cancer in any of the mice. The technique has high sensitivity in detecting tumour cell implantation, but is less reliable in assessing tumour volume in advanced‐stage disease due to light attenuation in large tumours.

CONCLUSIONS

Peptides targeting adhesion molecules prevent attachment of bladder cancer cells to the injured bladder wall. BLI is a sensitive method for detecting luminescent bladder cancer cells in an orthotopic mouse model.
Robotic vs open radical cystectomy: prospective comparison of perioperative outcomes and pathological measures of early oncological efficacy
Authors: Wang Gerald J. , Barocas Daniel A. , Raman Jay D. , Scherr Douglas S.
Published: September 2007

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively compare perioperative and pathological outcomes in a consecutive series of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion by the open or the robotic approach.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From February 2006 to April 2007, 54 consecutive patients underwent RC by one surgeon at our institution. Twenty‐one were open, while 33 utilized the da Vinci robotic system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Data was collected prospectively, including patient demographics, operative and postoperative variables, and pathological outcomes.

RESULTS

The robotic cohort had decreased blood loss (400 vs 750 mL, P = 0.002) and transfusion requirement (2.0 vs 0.5 units, P = 0.007), but increased operative duration (390 vs 300 min, P = 0.03). The time to resumption of a regular diet (4 vs 5 days, P = 0.002) and the hospital stay (5 vs 8 days, P = 0.007) were decreased in the robotic group. Overall the complication rates were similar (24% open, 21% robotic, P = 0.3). The open cohort had more patients with extravesical disease (57 vs 28%, P = 0.03) and nodal metastasis (34 vs 19%, P = 0.04). There were three patients in the open group and two in the robotic with positive margins (P = 0.2). The median number of lymph nodes removed was similar in the open and robotic cohorts (20 vs 17, P = 0.6).

CONCLUSION

Robotic‐assisted RC appears to offer some operative and perioperative benefits compared with the open approach without compromising pathological measures of early oncological efficacy, such as lymph node yield and margin status. Larger, randomized studies with long‐term follow‐up are required to confirm these findings and establish oncological equivalence.
Chronic daily tadalafil prevents the corporal fibrosis and veno‐occlusive dysfunction that occurs after cavernosal nerve resection
Authors: Kovanecz Istvan , Rambhatla Amarnath , Ferrini Monica G. , Vernet Dolores , Sanchez Sandra , Rajfer Jacob , Gonzalez‐Cadavid Nestor
Published: September 2007

Associate Editor

Michael G. Wyllie

Editorial Board

Ian Eardley, UK

Jean Fourcroy, USA

Sidney Glina, Brazil

Julia Heiman, USA

Chris McMahon, Australia

Bob Millar, UK

Alvaro Morales, Canada

Michael Perelman, USA

Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether a long‐term single daily oral dose of a longer half‐life phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE5) inhibitor, tadalafil, has a similar effect to that of the shorter half‐life PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil and vardenafil, and can prevent the fibrosis and resultant corporal veno‐occlusive dysfunction (CVOD) occurring after cavernosal nerve (CN) injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male rats (10 per group) had either a sham operation, unilateral CN resection (CNR) or bilateral CNR, and were left untreated or given retrolingually 5 mg/kg per day of tadalafil. After 45 days, CVOD was assessed via cavernosometry, and the underlying corporal tissue changes were examined by immunohistochemistry and histochemistry (followed by quantitative image analysis), Western blots, and ad hoc methods.

RESULTS

Tadalafil treatment normalized the low response to papaverine and high drop rate in the intracavernosal pressure measured by cavernosometry after CNR compared with sham‐operated rats. Tadalafil also normalized the increase in penile shaft collagen content, and the reduction in corporal smooth muscle cell (SMC) content, SMC/collagen, and replication index, and improved the lower collagen III/I ratio and the increase in apoptotic index, caused by CNR, compared with sham operation. There were no effects of tadalafil on increased transforming growth factor β1, inducible nitric oxide synthase and xanthine oxidoreductase levels.

CONCLUSIONS

A long‐term single daily dose of tadalafil prevented CVOD and the underlying corporal fibrosis in the rat caused by CN damage, as effectively as the previously reported continuous treatment with vardenafil or sildenafil, through a cGMP‐related mechanism that appears to be independent of inducible nitric oxide synthase induction.
Patients’ perceived burden of cystoscopic and urinary surveillance of bladder cancer: a randomized comparison
Authors: Van Der Aa Madelon N.M. , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Sen E. Fatma , Zwarthoff Ellen C. , Kirkels Wim J. , Van Der Kwast Theo H. , Essink‐Bot Marie‐Louise
Published: September 2007

OBJECTIVE

To compare, in patients with non‐muscle‐invasive low‐grade (pTa/pT1, G1/G2) urothelial cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, the perceived burden of flexible cystoscopy or surveillance by microsatellite analysis (MA) in voided urine, as such patients are normally recommended to adhere to regular cysto‐urethroscopic surveillance (CUS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 220 participants of a randomized trial comparing CUS and surveillance by MA were asked to complete questionnaires 1 week after cystoscopy or urine sample collection. We assessed the discomfort and pain reported during CUS, experiences with MA, and physical symptoms, medical consumption and general functioning in the week after CUS/urine sampling.

RESULTS

We analysed data from 732 questionnaires (197 patients) completed after CUS and 184 (67 patients) after collecting urine. The introduction of the cystoscope was reported to cause discomfort in 39% and pain in 35% of the responses to the questionnaires; the waiting time for the results of MA was reported as burdensome in 19%. Painful micturition was significantly more frequent in the week after CUS than after MA (30% and 12%, respectively). The frequency of fever (1% and 2%) and haematuria (7% and 6%) was similar in both groups. Older patients reported significantly less pain and discomfort from cystoscopy, and this was not related to having more previous cystoscopies.

CONCLUSION

CUS caused pain and discomfort in about a third of patients. The burden of MA appeared fully attributable to the waiting time for the test result. The present results are a further motivation in the search for less invasive surveillance tests.
Mother‐ and Father‐Reported Reactions to Children’s Negative Emotions: Relations to Young Children’s Emotional Understanding and Friendship Quality
Authors: McElwain Nancy L. , Halberstadt Amy G. , Volling Brenda L.
Published: September 2007

Mother‐ and father‐reported reactions to children’s negative emotions were examined as correlates of emotional understanding (Study 1, N = 55, 5‐ to 6‐year‐olds) and friendship quality (Study 2, N = 49, 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds). Mothers’ and fathers’ supportive reactions together contributed to greater child–friend coordinated play during a sharing task. Further, when one parent reported low support, greater support by the other parent was related to better understanding of emotions and less intense conflict with friends (for boys only). When one parent reported high support, however, greater support by the other parent was associated with less optimal functioning on these outcomes. Results partially support the notion that children benefit when parents differ in their reactions to children’s emotions.
“So Big”: The Development of Body Self‐Awareness in Toddlers
Authors: Brownell Celia A. , Zerwas Stephanie , Ramani Geetha B.
Published: September 2007

Early development of body self‐awareness was examined in 57 children at 18, 22, or 26 months of age, using tasks designed to require objective representation of one’s own body. All children made at least one body representation error, with approximately 2.5 errors per task on average. Errors declined with age. Children’s performance on comparison tasks that required them to reason about the relative size of objects and about objects as obstacles, without considering their own bodies, was unrelated to performance on the body awareness tasks. Thus, the ability to represent and reflect on one’s own body explicitly and objectively may be a unique dimension of early development, a distinct component of objective self‐awareness that emerges in this age period.
Language, Social Behavior, and the Quality of Friendships in Adolescents With and Without a History of Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Durkin Kevin , Conti‐Ramsden Gina
Published: September 2007

Language is drawn on extensively in friendships but has received scant attention in the developmental literature. This study compared friendship quality in 16‐year‐old adolescents with and without specific language impairment (SLI), testing the extent it is predicted by individual differences in social behaviors and language ability. Participants were 120 adolescents with SLI and 118 typically developing (TD) adolescents. After considering the effects of nonverbal IQ and prosocial and difficult behavior, language measures were found to be associated with friendship quality. The TD participants enjoyed normal friendships, whereas the participants with SLI were more likely to exhibit poorer quality (although 60% experienced good quality of friendships). Longitudinal analyses identified early language difficulties as predictive of poorer friendship quality in adolescence.
Young Children’s Knowledge About Printed Names
Authors: Treiman Rebecca , Cohen Jeremy , Mulqueeny Kevin , Kessler Brett , Schechtman Suzanne
Published: September 2007

Four experiments examined young children’s knowledge about the visual characteristics of writing, specifically personal names. Children younger than 4 years of age, even those who could read no simple words, showed some knowledge about the horizontal orientation of English names, the Latin letters that make them up, and their left‐to‐right directionality. Preschoolers also had some familiarity with the shapes of the letters in their own first name, especially the leftmost letter. Knowledge of the conventional capitalization pattern for English names emerged later, after a period during which children preferred names in all uppercase letters. When tested with personal names, the kind of word they know best, young children are surprisingly knowledgeable about the visual characteristics of writing.
The Development of Temporal Metamemory
Authors: Friedman William J.
Published: September 2007

In two studies of knowledge about the properties and processes of memory for the times of past events, 178 children from 5 through 13 years of age and 40 adults answered questions about how they would remember times on different scales, how temporal memory is affected by retention interval, and the usefulness of different methods. The adults showed quite accurate knowledge about the main properties of memory for time and the processes that underlie it. Different properties and processes were first understood at ages ranging from 8 years to 12 years or later. Knowledge of the roles of reconstruction and impressions of temporal distances appear well after children use them to remember the times of events.
Thinking About the Future Because of the Past: Young Children’s Knowledge About the Causes of Worry and Preventative Decisions
Authors: Lagattuta Kristin Hansen
Published: September 2007

Two studies investigated 3‐ to 6‐year‐olds’ and adults’ (N= 128) knowledge about emotions and behaviors caused by thinking about the future because of the past. Participants listened to stories featuring characters that experienced negative events, and then, many days later, felt worried or changed their behaviors upon seeing an entity associated with the prior harm. Results revealed a significant increase between 3 and 5 years in the frequency that participants explained characters’ reactions as caused by anticipating the reoccurrence of a negative past event. Across age, females more often marked future events as uncertain, as well as predicted that people in ambiguous risk situations would feel worried due to past‐to‐future connections.
Using Speech Sounds to Guide Word Learning: The Case of Bilingual Infants
Authors: Fennell Christopher T. , Byers‐Heinlein Krista , Werker Janet F.
Published: September 2007

Despite the prevalence of bilingualism, language acquisition research has focused on monolingual infants. Monolinguals cannot learn minimally different words (e.g., “bih” and “dih”) in a laboratory task until 17 months of age (J. F. Werker, C. T. Fennell, K. M. Corcoran, & C. L. Stager, 2002). This study was extended to 14‐ to 20‐month‐old bilingual infants: a heterogeneous sample (English and another language;N= 48) and two homogeneous samples (28 English–Chinese and 25 English–French infants). In all samples, bilinguals did not learn similar‐sounding words until 20 months, indicating that they use relevant language sounds (i.e., consonants) to direct word learning developmentally later than monolinguals, possibly due to the increased cognitive load of learning two languages. However, this developmental pattern may be adaptive for bilingual word learning.
The Development of Interpersonal Aggression During Adolescence: The Importance of Parents, Siblings, and Family Economics
Authors: Williams Shannon Tierney , Conger Katherine Jewsbury , Blozis Shelley A.
Published: September 2007

Latent growth curve modeling employed data from a longitudinal study of 451 sibling families to examine parents, siblings, and family economics as factors in individual differences in the developmental course of interpersonal aggression during adolescence. Findings suggest that individual change in interpersonal aggression during adolescence can be predicted by the gender and aggression of one’s sibling; predictions varied by the gender composition of the sibling dyad. Rates of parental hostility predicted levels of interpersonal aggression for both older (mean age = 12 years) and younger siblings (mean age = 15), and growth in aggression for younger siblings. Family economic pressure predicted interpersonal aggression of both siblings indirectly through parental hostility. Implications for future research and preventive interventions are discussed.
Components of Young Children’s Trait Understanding: Behavior‐to‐Trait Inferences and Trait‐to‐Behavior Predictions
Authors: Liu David , Gelman Susan A. , Wellman Henry M.
Published: September 2007

Trait attribution is central to people’s naïve theories of people and their actions. Previous developmental research indicates that young children are poor at predicting behaviors from past trait‐relevant behaviors. We propose that the cognitive process of behavior‐to‐behavior predictions consists of two component processes: (1) behavior‐to‐trait inferences and (2) trait‐to‐behavior predictions. Experiment 1 demonstrates that 4‐, 5‐, 7‐, and 9‐year‐olds can infer trait labels from behaviors. Experiment 2 demonstrates that 4‐, 5‐, and 7‐year‐olds can predict behaviors from trait labels but not from past behaviors. Experiment 3 demonstrates that 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds understand traits as predictiveandstable over time. Taken together, these three studies show that young children, in possessing component trait‐reasoning processes, have a nascent understanding of traits.
Location, Location, Location: Development of Spatiotemporal Sequence Learning in Infancy
Authors: Kirkham Natasha Z. , Slemmer Jonathan A. , Richardson Daniel C. , Johnson Scott P.
Published: September 2007

We investigated infants’ sensitivity to spatiotemporal structure. In Experiment 1, circles appeared in a statistically defined spatial pattern. At test 11‐month‐olds, but not 8‐month‐olds, looked longer at a novel spatial sequence. Experiment 2 presented different color/shape stimuli, but only the location sequence was violated during test; 8‐month‐olds preferred the novel spatial structure, but 5‐month‐olds did not. In Experiment 3, the locations but not color/shape pairings were constant at test; 5‐month‐olds showed a novelty preference. Experiment 4 examined “online learning”: We recorded eye movements of 8‐month‐olds watching a spatiotemporal sequence. Saccade latencies to predictable locations decreased. We argue that temporal order statistics involving informative spatial relations become available to infants during the first year after birth, assisted by multiple cues.
Contextual Influences on Children’s Mental Health and School Performance: The Moderating Effects of Family Immigrant Status
Authors: Georgiades Katholiki , Boyle Michael H. , Duku Eric
Published: September 2007

Data from a nationally representative sample of 13,470 children aged 4–11 years were used to study contextual influences on children’s mental health and school performance, the moderating effects of family immigrant status and underlying family processes that might explain these relationships. Despite greater socioeconomic disadvantage, children living in recent immigrant families had lower levels of emotional–behavioral problems and higher levels of school performance. Living in a neighborhood characterized with higher concentration of immigrants was associated with lower levels of emotional–behavioral problems among children living in immigrant families; the reverse was true for children living in nonimmigrant families. These differences are partially explained by family process variables. The implications of these findings for future research and policy are discussed.
The Role of Parents’ Control in Early Adolescents’ Psychological Functioning: A Longitudinal Investigation in the United States and China
Authors: Wang Qian , Pomerantz Eva M. , Chen Huichang
Published: September 2007

This research compared the effects over time of parents’ control and autonomy support on children’s functioning in the United States and China. American and Chinese (N = 806) seventh graders (mean age = 12.73 years) participated in a 6‐month longitudinal study. Children reported on their parents’ psychological control, psychological autonomy support, behavioral control, and their own emotional and academic functioning. Children’s grades were obtained. Supporting cultural similarities, in both countries over time, parents’ psychological control predicted children’s dampened emotional functioning, parents’ psychological autonomy support predicted children’s enhanced emotional and academic functioning, and parents’ behavioral control predicted children’s enhanced academic functioning. Supporting cultural differences, the beneficial effects of parents’ psychological autonomy support were generally stronger in the United States than in China.