bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiographic and MRI characteristics of lumbar disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis and spondylosis deformans in dogs
Authors: Togni A. , Kranenburg H. J. C. , Morgan J. P. , Steffen F.
Published: April 2014

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate clinical signs, describe lesions and differences in the magnetic resonance imaging appearance of spinal new bone formations classified as disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis and/or spondylosis deformans on radiographs and compare degeneration status of the intervertebral discs using the Pfirrmann scale.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 18 dogs presented with spinal disorders using information from radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging examinations.

RESULTS

All dogs were found to be affected with both disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis and spondylosis deformans. Neurological signs due to foraminal stenosis associated with disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis were found in two dogs. Spondylosis deformans was associated with foraminal stenosis and/or disc protrusion in 15 cases.

The Pfirrmann score on magnetic resonance imaging was significantly higher in spondylosis deformans compared with disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis and signal intensity of new bone due to disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis was significantly higher compared to spondylosis deformans.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Differences between disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis and spondylosis deformans found on magnetic resonance imaging contribute to an increased differentiation between the two entities. Clinically relevant lesions in association with disseminated idiopathic spinal hyperostosis were rare compared to those seen with spondylosis deformans.
Global DNA methylation: uncommon event in oral lichenoid disease
Authors: Bediaga NG , Marichalar‐Mendia X , Aguirre‐Urizar JM , Calvo B , Echebarria‐Goicouria MA , de Pancorbo MM , Acha‐Sagredo A
Published: April 2014

Objectives

Accumulating evidence indicates that aberrant DNA methylation is closely related to oral carcinogenesis, and it has been shown that methylation changes might be used as prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oral lichenoid disease (OLD) is the most common oral potentially malignant disorder in our region. The aim of this study was to perform the first wide DNA methylation study in OLD in order to investigate the relevance of DNA methylation changes in this premalignant disorder.

Materials and Methods

Two different Illumina microarray platforms, namely the GoldenGate Cancer Panel I and the HumanMethylation27 DNA Analysis BeadChip, were utilized in the discovery phase to interrogate the methylation profile of 59 OLD cases and 9 healthy individuals. Top‐ranked genes were further validated by pyrosequencing in a second sample set consisting of 160 OLD and 65 controls.

Results

Our results show that the frequency of aberrant DNA methylation is rare in OLD, and this finding was further corroborated by pyrosequencing in the biological validation.

Conclusions

These findings reinforce the notion that molecular alterations associated with oral carcinogenesis do not seem to be common events in OLD, which in turn might explain the low rate of malignization of this disorder.
Theβ2‐adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline recovers rat pharyngeal dilator muscle force decline during severe hypoxia
Authors: McDonald FB , Skelly JR , O'Halloran KD
Published: April 2014

Rationale

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a debilitating condition characterized by recurrent occlusions of the pharyngeal airway during sleep accompanied by arterial hypoxaemia. Upper airway muscle dysfunction is implicated in the pathophysiology ofOSAS. Pharmacological agents that improve muscle contractile and endurance properties may have therapeutic value.

Aim

We tested the hypothesis that theβ2‐adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline improves rat sternohyoid muscle performance especially during hypoxic stress.

Methods

Isometric contractile and endurance properties were examinedex vivoin Krebs solution at 35°C. Muscles were incubated in tissue baths under hyperoxic (95% O2/5%CO2) conditions in the absence (control) or presence of theβ2‐adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline (1 μM). In additional experiments under hypoxic (95% N2/5%CO2) conditions, the effects of terbutaline were examined in the presence of theβ‐adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (1 μM).

Results

Hypoxia significantly impaired sternohyoid force production. Terbutaline completely recovered hypoxic depression of force, an effect that was blocked by co‐application with propranolol.

Conclusion

Theβ2‐adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline completely recovers hypoxic depression of upper airway muscle force.β2‐adrenoceptor agonists warrant investigation in animal models ofOSASreporting upper airway and diaphragm muscle dysfunction.
Erythropoietin protects newborn rat against sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity
Authors: Pellegrini Lionel , Bennis Youssef , Velly Lionel , Grandvuillemin Isabelle , Pisano Pascale , Bruder Nicolas , Guillet Benjamin
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Recent data on newborn animals exposed to anesthetics have raised safety concerns regarding anesthesia practices in young children. Indeed, studies on rodents have demonstrated a widespread increase in brain apoptosis shortly after exposure to sevoflurane, followed by long‐term neurologic impairment. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the protective effect of rh‐EPO, a potent neuroprotective agent, in rat pups exposed to sevoflurane.

Material and Methods

At postnatal day 7, 75 rat pups were allocated into three groups: SEVO + EPO (n = 27) exposed to sevoflurane 2 vol% (0.5 MAC) for 6 h in an air/O2 mixture (60/40) + 5000 UI.kg−1rh‐EPO IP; SEVO (n = 27) exposed to sevoflurane + vehicle IP; and CONTROL (n = 21) exposed to the mixture without sevoflurane + vehicle IP. Three days after anesthesia (D10), apoptosis was quantified on brain extract with TUNEL method and caspase 3. NGF and BDNF expression was determined by Western blotting. Rats reaching adulthood were evaluated in terms of exploration capacities (object exploration duration) together with spatial and object learning (water maze and novel object test).

Results

Sevoflurane exposure impaired normal behavior in adult rats by reducing the exploratory capacities during the novel object test and impaired both spatial and object learning capacities in adult rats (water maze, ratio time to find platform 3rd trial/1st trial: 1.1 ± 0.2 vs 0.4 ± 0.1; n = 9, SEVO vs CONTROL; P = 0.01). Rh‐EPO reduced sevoflurane‐induced behavior and learning abnormalities in adult rats (water maze, ratio time to find platform 3rd trial/1st trial: 0.3 ± 0.1 vs 1.1 ± 0.2; n = 9, SEVO + EPO vs SEVO; P = 0.01). Three days after anesthesia, rh‐EPO prevented sevoflurane‐induced brain apoptosis (5 ± 3 vs 35 ± 6 apoptotic cells·mm−2; n = 6, SEVO + EPO vs SEVO; P = 0.01) and elevation of caspase three level and significantly increased the brain expression of BDNF and NGF (n = 6, SEVO + EPO vs SEVO; P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Six hours of sevoflurane anesthesia in newborn rats induces significant long‐term cognitive impairment. A single administration of rh‐EPO immediately after postnatal exposure to sevoflurane reduces both early activation of apoptotic phenomenon and late onset of neurologic disorders.
Intraoperative blood pressure and cerebral perfusion: strategies to clarify hemodynamic goals
Authors: Williams Monica , Lee Jennifer K.
Published: April 2014

Blood pressure can vary considerably during anesthesia. If blood pressure falls outside the limits of cerebrovascular autoregulation, children can become at risk of cerebral ischemic or hyperemic injury. However, the blood pressure limits of autoregulation are unclear in infants and children, and these limits can shift after brain injury. This article will review autoregulation, considerations for the hemodynamic management of children with brain injuries, and research on autoregulation monitoring techniques.
Endoscopic pediatric neurosurgery: implications for anesthesia
Authors: Meier Petra M. , Guzman Raphael , Erb Thomas O.
Published: April 2014

Endoscopic surgery is increasingly utilized in neurosurgery for all pediatric age groups. Endoscopic intraventricular neurosurgery represents a unique approach to intracranial pathology but may cause a unique set of limitations and potential complications. Important endoscopic neurosurgical techniques and their indications, perioperative anesthesia management, complications, and success rates are reviewed with special emphasis on endoscopic third ventriculostomy and endoscopic‐assisted strip craniectomy in early infancy. Despite encouraging short‐ and long‐term results of early pediatric endoscopic neurosurgery, multicenter randomized studies will be needed to further determine safety and the effect on cognitive development and quality of life.
Patient‐Controlled Remifentanil Analgesia as Alternative for Pethidine with Midazolam During Oocyte Retrieval in IVF/ICSI Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lier Marit C. , Douwenga Wieteke M. , Yilmaz Fatos , Schats Roel , Hompes Peter G. , Boer Christa , Mijatovic Velja
Published: April 2014

Background

Pethidine with midazolam‐induced conscious sedation for pain relief during transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures is associated with residual pain and oversedation. Patient‐controlled analgesia (PCA) with remifentanil may serve as an alternative for pethidine. We investigated whether PCA remifentanil with diclofenac was associated with improved periprocedural pain relief than pethidine analgesia during IVF/ICSI procedures, with sedation scores, safety profiles, and patient satisfaction as secondary endpoints.

Methods

Seventy‐six women were randomized to receive pethidine (2 mg/kg i.m.) and midazolam (7.5 mg)‐induced conscious sedation (n = 40) or PCA with remifentanil and diclofenac (50 mg; n = 36). The Numeric Rating Scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Ramsey Sedation Scale, and a 5‐day pain‐and‐discomfort diary were used to evaluate pain and sedation levels.

Results

There were no differences in baseline characteristics and reproductive outcomes between both groups. Periprocedural pain scores were comparable for remifentanil and pethidine groups (4 [3 to 7] vs. 6 [4 to 8]; P = 0.13). Pain scores in the pethidine group were significantly lower at 30 minutes after the procedure (1 [0 to 3] vs. 2 [1 to 5]; P = 0.016), but at cost of higher sedation levels when compared to remifentanil (4 [2 to 4] vs. 2 [2 to 2]; P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was higher, and MPQ scores were lower in the remifentanil group. There were no differences in safety profiles between both analgesics.

Conclusions

Patient‐controlled analgesia with remifentanil showed a similar reduction in pain scores than pethidine with midazolam during oocyte retrieval, while pethidine induced the highest pain relief after the procedure. However, PCA remifentanil was associated with less sedation and a better patient satisfaction profile than pethidine.
Successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II
Authors: Unal Sule , Russo Roberta , Gumruk Fatma , Kuskonmaz Baris , Cetin Mualla , Sayli Tulin , Tavil Betul , Langella Concetta , Iolascon Achille , Uckan Cetinkaya Duygu
Published: April 2014

CDA are a group of inherited, rare diseases that are characterized by dyserythropoiesis and ineffective erythropoiesis associated with transfusion dependency in approximately 10% of cases. For these latter patients, the only curative treatment is HSCT. There are very limited data on HSCT experience in this rare disease. Herein, we report a five‐yr six‐month‐old girl with compound heterozygous mutations in SEC23B gene, who was diagnosed to have CDA type II and underwent successful HSCT from her matched sibling donor.
Central pontine myelinolysis following pediatric living donor liver transplantation: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Uchida Hajime , Sakamoto Seisuke , Sasaki Kengo , Hamano Ikumi , Shigeta Takanobu , Kanazawa Hiroyuki , Fukuda Akinari , Nosaka Shunsuke , Kubota Masaya , Kasahara Mureo
Published: April 2014

CPM is one of the most serious neurological complications that can occur after OLT and is characterized by symmetrical demyelinization in the basis pontis. The etiology of CPM remains unclear, although the rapid correction of the serum sodium and CNI concentrations may be associated with the development of CPM. With recent advances in MRI technology, early diagnosis of CPM has become possible. Here, we present the case of a five‐yr‐old female who developed CNI‐associated CPM after undergoing LDLT. A decreased level of consciousness and dysphasia was noted one wk after LDLT, and MRI revealed findings compatible with a diagnosis of CPM. The patient fully recovered from the neurological deficits related to CPM following the switch from the CNI to sirolimus. We propose MRI to be promptly considered for patients with abnormal neurological findings, together with the substitution of CNI with an mTOR inhibitor as a management regimen for CNI‐related CPM.
Polymyxin use as a risk factor for colonization or infection with polymyxin‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii after liver transplantation
Authors: Freire M.P. , Van Der Heijden I.M. , do Prado G.V.B. , Cavalcante L.S. , Boszczowski I. , Bonazzi P.R. , Rossi F. , Guimarães T. , D'Albuquerque L.A.C. , Costa S.F. , Abdala E.
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Acinetobacter baumannii is a leading agent of healthcare‐associated infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate cases of colonization or infection with polymyxin‐resistant A. baumannii (PRAB) in liver transplant recipients and to identify the risk factors for the acquisition of PRAB.

Methods

We evaluated all patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) between January and November of 2011. The exclusion criterion was death within the first 72 h after transplant. Patients were screened for PRAB through weekly rectal and inguinal swabs during their stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and at ICU discharge. Patients who came from other hospitals or had been treated in the emergency room for >72 h were screened at ICU admission. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for polymyxins were determined by broth microdilution, and clonality was determined by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. The stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors related to acquisition of PRAB, and Cox forward regression used to identify risk factors for 60‐day mortality.

Results

We evaluated 65 patients submitted to LT, among whom PRAB was isolated in 7, 4 of whom developed infection. The MICs for polymyxin E ranged from 16 to 128 mg/mL. All patients with PRAB required dialysis. The median time of polymyxin use before PRAB isolation was 21 days. These 4 included 1 case of primary bloodstream infection (BSI), which was treated with the carbapenem‐polymyxin combination; 1 case of surgical site infection, which was treated with gentamicin, polymyxin, ampicillin‐sulbactam, and tigecycline; and 2 cases of pneumonia, treated with the combination of carbapenem‐polymyxin. In the case of BSI and in 1 of the cases of pneumonia, the treatment was considered successful. Mortality was 71% among the cases, compared with 33% among the non‐cases.

Conclusion

In the final model of the survival analysis, PRAB colonization or infection after LT was independently associated with mortality. One predominant clone was identified. The only risk factor identified in the multivariate analysis was polymyxin use. PRAB was an agent with high mortality, and the most important risk factor associated with colonization or infection for such bacterium was polymyxin use.
Central fatigue contributes to the greater reductions in explosive than maximal strength with high‐intensity fatigue
Authors: Buckthorpe Matthew , Pain Matthew T. G. , Folland Jonathan P.
Published: April 2014

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Repeated high‐force contractions of skeletal muscle cause a decline in the force‐generating capacity, referred to as muscle fatigue. The influence of fatigue on explosive strength and the associated contractile and neural mechanisms responsible is not known.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Fatigue exerts a more pronounced influence on explosive force production than on maximal voluntary force production. Contractile and neural mechanisms were considered responsible.

The study aimed to assess the influence of fatigue induced by repeated high‐force explosive contractions on explosive and maximal isometric strength of the human knee extensors and to examine the neural and contractile mechanisms for the expected decrement. Eleven healthy untrained males completed 10 sets of voluntary maximal explosive contractions (five times 3 s, interspersed with 2 s rest). Sets were separated by 5 s, during which supramaximal twitch and octet contractions [eight pulses at 300 Hz that elicit the contractile peak rate of force development (pRFD)] were evoked. Explosive force, at specific time points, and pRFD were assessed for voluntary and evoked efforts, expressed in absolute terms and normalized to maximal/peak force. Maximal voluntary contraction force (MVCF) and peak evoked forces were also determined. Surface EMG amplitude was measured from three superficial agonists and normalized to maximal compound action potential area. By set 10, explosive force (47–52%,P < 0.001) and MVCF (42%,P < 0.001) had declined markedly. Explosive force declined more rapidly than MVCF, with lower normalized explosive force at 50 ms (29%,P = 0.038) that resulted in reduced normalized explosive force from 0 to 150 ms (11–29%,P ≤ 0.038). Neural efficacy declined by 34%, whilst there was a 15–28% reduction in quadriceps EMG amplitude during voluntary efforts (allP ≤ 0.03). There was demonstrable contractile fatigue (pRFD: octet, 27%; twitch, 66%; bothP < 0.001). Fatigue reduced normalized pRFD for the twitch (21%,P = 0.001) but not the octet (P = 0.803). Fatigue exerted a more rapid and pronounced effect on explosive force than on MVCF, particularly during the initial 50 ms of contraction, which may explain the greater incidence of injuries associated with fatigue. Both neural and contractile fatigue mechanisms appeared to contribute to impaired explosive voluntary performance.
Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of silicon dioxide films using plasma-activated triisopropylsilane as a precursor
Authors: Jeon Ki-Moon , Shin Jae-Su , Yun Ju-Young , Jun Lee Sang , Kang Sang-Woo
Published: April 2014

The plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) process was developed as a growth technique of SiO2 thin films using a plasma-activated triisopropylsilane [TIPS, ((iPr)3SiH)] precursor. TIPS was activated by an argon plasma at the precursor injection stage of the process. Using the activated TIPS, it was possible to control the growth rate per cycle of the deposited films by adjusting the plasma ignition time. The PEALD technique allowed deposition of SiO2 films at temperatures as low as 50 °C without carbon impurities. In addition, films obtained with plasma ignition times of 3 s and 10 s had similar values of root-mean-square surface roughness. In order to evaluate the suitability of TIPS as a precursor for low-temperature deposition of SiO2 films, the vapor pressure of TIPS was measured. The thermal stability and the reactivity of the gas-phase TIPS with respect to water vapor were also investigated by analyzing the intensity changes of the C–H and Si–H peaks in the Fourier-transform infrared spectrum of TIPS.
Influence and interactions of laryngeal adductors and cricothyroid muscles on fundamental frequency and glottal posture control
Authors: Chhetri Dinesh K. , Neubauer Juergen , Sofer Elazar , Berry David A.
Published: April 2014

The interactions of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILMs) in controlling fundamental frequency (F0) and glottal posture remain unclear. In an in vivo canine model, three sets of intrinsic laryngeal muscles—the thyroarytenoid (TA), cricothyroid (CT), and lateral cricoarytenoid plus interarytenoid (LCA/IA) muscle complex—were independently and accurately stimulated in a graded manner using distal laryngeal nerve stimulation. Graded neuromuscular stimulation was used to independently activate these paired intrinsic laryngeal muscles over a range from threshold to maximal activation, to produce 320 distinct laryngeal phonatory postures. At phonation onset these activation conditions were evaluated in terms of their vocal fold strain, glottal width at the vocal processes, fundamental frequency (F0), subglottic pressure, and airflow. F0 ranged from 69 to 772 Hz and clustered into chest-like and falsetto-like groups. CT activation was always required to raise F0, but could also lower F0 at low TA and LCA/IA activation levels. Increasing TA activation first increased then decreased F0 in all CT and LCA/IA activation conditions. Increasing TA activation also facilitated production of high F0 at a lower onset pressure. Independent control of membranous (TA) and cartilaginous (LCA/IA) glottal closure enabled multiple pathways for F0 control via changes in glottal posture.
Flow-noise and turbulence in two tidal channels
Authors: Bassett Christopher , Thomson Jim , Dahl Peter H. , Polagye Brian
Published: April 2014

Flow-noise resulting from oceanic turbulence and interactions with pressure-sensitive transducers can interfere with ambient noise measurements. This noise source is particularly important in low-frequency measurements (f < 100 Hz) and in highly turbulent environments such as tidal channels. This work presents measurements made in the Chacao Channel, Chile, and in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, WA. In both environments, peak currents exceed 3 m/s and pressure spectral densities attributed to flow-noise are observed at frequencies up to 500 Hz. At 20 Hz, flow-noise exceeds mean slack noise levels by more than 50 dB. Two semi-empirical flow-noise models are developed and applied to predict flow-noise at frequencies from 20 to 500 Hz using measurements of current velocity and turbulence. The first model directly applies mean velocity and turbulence spectra while the second model relies on scaling arguments that relate turbulent dissipation to the mean velocity. Both models, based on prior formulations for infrasonic (f < 20 Hz) flow-noise, agree well with observations in Chacao Channel. In Admiralty Inlet, good agreement is shown only with the model that applies mean velocity and turbulence spectra, as the measured turbulence violates the scaling assumption in the second model.
The impact of reference tones on the adjustment of interaural cues
Authors: Ignaz Alina , Lang Albert-Georg , Buchner Axel
Published: April 2014

In the time-intensity trading paradigm, trading ratios are inconsistent in that they differ as a function of which cue is to be adjusted by the listener. Two explanations have been offered: First, the regression model assumes a regression to the interaural parameters of a reference tone played in alternation with the test tone to cause the phenomenon of inconsistent trading ratios. The second explanation is based on an inflated perceptual weighting of the to-be-adjusted cue. The perceptual-weight explanation has been supported by experimental results showing that the phenomenon of inconsistent trading ratios appears even in the absence of a reference tone. Those findings render regression as the sole explanation for inconsistent trading ratios implausible. The experiments presented in this paper address the question whether regression to the parameters of a reference tone plays a role if a reference tone is presented. Three experiments were conducted in which trials with and without reference tone were compared directly. Both within- and between-subject comparisons showed that a reference tone affects trading ratios and location judgments if present. Although regression cannot be the sole explanation for the phenomenon of inconsistent trading ratios it seems to play a role if a reference tone is presented.
Perception of degraded speech sounds differs in chinchilla and human listeners
Authors: Shofner William P.
Published: April 2014

The behavioral responses of chinchillas to noise-vocoded versions of naturally spoken speech sounds were measured using stimulus generalization and operant conditioning. Behavioral performance for speech generalization by chinchillas is compared to recognition by a group of human listeners for the identical speech sounds. The ability of chinchillas to generalize the vocoded versions as tokens of the natural speech sounds is far less than recognition by human listeners. In many cases, responses of chinchillas to noise-vocoded speech sounds were more similar to responses to band limited noise than to the responses to natural speech sounds. Chinchillas were also tested with a middle C musical note as played on a piano. Comparison of the responses of chinchillas for the middle C condition to the responses obtained for the speech conditions suggest that chinchillas may be more influenced by fundamental frequency than by formant structure. The differences between vocoded speech perception in chinchillas and human listeners may reflect differences in their abilities to resolve the formants along the cochlea. It is argued that lengthening of the cochlea during human evolution may have provided one of the auditory mechanisms that influenced the evolution of speech-specific mechanisms.
Acoustic detection, tracking, and characterization of three tornadoes
Authors: Frazier William Garth , Talmadge Carrick , Park Joseph , Waxler Roger , Assink Jelle
Published: April 2014

Acoustic data recorded at 1000 samples per second by two sensor arrays located at ranges of 1–113 km from three tornadoes that occurred on 24 May 2011 in Oklahoma are analyzed. Accurate bearings to the tornadoes have been obtained using beamforming methods applied to the data at infrasonic frequencies. Beamforming was not viable at audio frequencies, but the data demonstrate the ability to detect significant changes in the shape of the estimated power spectral density in the band encompassing 10 Hz to approximately 100 Hz at distances of practical value from the sensors. This suggests that arrays of more closely spaced sensors might provide better bearing accuracy at practically useful distances from a tornado. Additionally, a mathematical model, based on established relationships of aeroacoustic turbulence, is demonstrated to provide good agreement to the estimated power spectra produced by the tornadoes at different times and distances from the sensors. The results of this analysis indicate that, qualitatively, an inverse relationship appears to exist between the frequency of an observed peak of the power spectral density and the reported tornado intensity.
Distortion-product otoacoustic emission reflection-component delays and cochlear tuning: Estimates from across the human lifespan
Authors: Abdala Carolina , Guérit François , Luo Ping , Shera Christopher A.
Published: April 2014

A consistent relationship between reflection-emission delay and cochlear tuning has been demonstrated in a variety of mammalian species, as predicted by filter theory and models of otoacoustic emission (OAE) generation. As a step toward the goal of studying cochlear tuning throughout the human lifespan, this paper exploits the relationship and explores two strategies for estimating delay trends—energy weighting and peak picking—both of which emphasize data at the peaks of the magnitude fine structure. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at 2f1−f2 were recorded, and their reflection components were extracted in 184 subjects ranging in age from prematurely born neonates to elderly adults. DPOAEs were measured from 0.5–4 kHz in all age groups and extended to 8 kHz in young adults. Delay trends were effectively estimated using either energy weighting or peak picking, with the former method yielding slightly shorter delays and the latter somewhat smaller confidence intervals. Delay and tuning estimates from young adults roughly match those obtained from SFOAEs. Although the match is imperfect, reflection-component delays showed the expected bend (apical-basal transition) near 1 kHz, consistent with a break in cochlear scaling. Consistent with other measures of tuning, the term newborn group showed the longest delays and sharpest tuning over much of the frequency range.
Perception of prosody in normal and whispered French
Authors: Heeren Willemijn F. L. , Lorenzi Christian
Published: April 2014

The current study explored perception of prosody in normal and whispered speech using a two-interval, two-alternative forced-choice psychophysical task where listeners discriminated between French noun phrases pronounced as declaratives or interrogatives. Stimuli were either presented between 50 and 8000 Hz or filtered into one of three broad frequency regions, corresponding to harmonic-resolvability regions for normal speech (resolved, partially resolved, unresolved harmonics). Normal speech was presented against a speech-shaped noise masker, whereas whispered speech was presented in quiet. The results showed that discrimination performance was differentially affected by filtering for normal and whispered speech, suggesting that cues to prosody differ between speech modes. For whispered speech, evidence was mainly derived from the high-frequency region, whereas for normal speech, evidence was mainly derived from the low-frequency (resolved harmonics) region. Modeling of the early stages of auditory processing confirmed that for whispered speech, perception of prosody was not based on temporal auditory cues and suggests that listeners may rely on place of excitation (spectral) cues that are, in contrast with suggestions made by earlier work, distributed across the spectrum.
Adaptation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions predicts susceptibility to acoustic over-exposure in alert rabbits
Authors: Luebke Anne E. , Stagner Barden B. , Martin Glen K. , Lonsbury-Martin Brenda L.
Published: April 2014

A noninvasive test was developed in rabbits based on fast adaptation measures for 2f1-f2 distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The goal was to evaluate the effective reflex activation, i.e., “functional strength,” of both the descending medial olivocochlear efferent reflex (MOC-R) and the middle-ear muscle reflex (MEM-R) through sound activation. Classically, it is assumed that both reflexes contribute toward protecting the inner ear from cochlear damage caused by noise exposure. The DP-gram method described here evaluated the MOC-R effect on DPOAE levels over a two-octave (oct) frequency range. To estimate the related activation of the middle-ear muscles (MEMs), the MEM-R was measured by monitoring the level of the f1-primary tone throughout its duration. Following baseline measures, rabbits were subjected to noise over-exposure. A main finding was that the measured adaptive activity was highly variable between rabbits but less so between the ears of the same animal. Also, together, the MOC-R and MEM-R tests showed that, on average, DPOAE adaptation consisted of a combined contribution from both systems. Despite this shared involvement, the amount of DPOAE adaptation measured for a particular animal's ear predicted that ear's subsequent susceptibility to the noise over-exposure for alert but not for deeply anesthetized rabbits.
Acoustic streaming induced by an ultrasonically oscillating endodontic file
Authors: Verhaagen B. , Boutsioukis C. , van der Sluis L. W. M. , Versluis M.
Published: April 2014

Ultrasonically activated irrigation is an advanced dental technique for irrigation of the root canal system during a root canal treatment. The basic cleaning mechanism is a result of acoustic streaming induced by an oscillating file, leading to mixing of the irrigant and pressure and shear stresses on the walls of the root canal. Here the induced acoustic streaming, pressure, and shear stress are investigated in a two-dimensional cross-section of the root canal, using a combination of theory, numerical predictions, and experimental validation through high-speed particle tracking velocimetry. Acoustic streaming theory describes very well the flow induced by an ultrasonically oscillating endodontic file. It consists of an oscillatory component, which is dominant near the file, and a steady component, or jet, along the axis of oscillation. The importance of the oscillatory component for both the pressure and the shear stress is apparent, as it is two to three orders of magnitude higher than the steady component. A confinement affects the formation of the steady jets; meanwhile the oscillatory velocities and associated pressure and shear stress are increased. Previous work considering only the steady component of the flow therefore, underestimated the hydrodynamic effects induced by ultrasonic files.
Effective medium theory of thin-plate acoustic metamaterials
Authors: Li Pei , Yao Shanshan , Zhou Xiaoming , Huang Guoliang , Hu Gengkai
Published: April 2014

Effective dynamic properties of acoustic metamaterials made of multilayered flexible thin-plates with periodically attached mass-spring resonators are studied. By using the transfer matrix method, the thin-plate acoustic metamaterial under the plane wave incidence is characterized by a homogeneous effective medium with anisotropic mass density. An approximate analytic expression of effective mass density is derived for a single-layer metamaterial in the normally incident case, and it is shown that the effective mass density can follow either Lorentz or Drude medium models. For the obliquely incident case, it is found that effective mass density is dependent on the lateral wave number of incident waves. Such spatial dispersion comes from the coincidence effect between the incident acoustic wave and flexural wave in the thin plate, and it occurs at much lower frequencies than that for a uniform plate without resonators. Based on the observed spatial dispersion, an acoustic device made of thin-plate metamaterials is designed for frequency-controlled acoustic directive radiation in the low-frequency regime.
Time-domain separation of interfering waves in cancellous bone using bandlimited deconvolution: Simulation and phantom study
Authors: Wear Keith A.
Published: April 2014

In through-transmission interrogation of cancellous bone, two longitudinal pulses (“fast” and “slow” waves) may be generated. Fast and slow wave properties convey information about material and micro-architectural characteristics of bone. However, these properties can be difficult to assess when fast and slow wave pulses overlap in time and frequency domains. In this paper, two methods are applied to decompose signals into fast and slow waves: bandlimited deconvolution and modified least-squares Prony's method with curve-fitting (MLSP + CF). The methods were tested in plastic and Zerdine® samples that provided fast and slow wave velocities commensurate with velocities for cancellous bone. Phase velocity estimates were accurate to within 6 m/s (0.4%) (slow wave with both methods and fast wave with MLSP + CF) and 26 m/s (1.2%) (fast wave with bandlimited deconvolution). Midband signal loss estimates were accurate to within 0.2 dB (1.7%) (fast wave with both methods), and 1.0 dB (3.7%) (slow wave with both methods). Similar accuracies were found for simulations based on fast and slow wave parameter values published for cancellous bone. These methods provide sufficient accuracy and precision for many applications in cancellous bone such that experimental error is likely to be a greater limiting factor than estimation error.
Binaural spectral resolution as a function of interaural masker correlation
Authors: Verhey Jesko L. , Nitschmann Marc
Published: April 2014

Thresholds for an antiphasic 500-Hz sinusoid (Sπ) were measured in the presence of a notched-noise masker for three different interaural masker correlations: −1 (Nπ), 1 (N0), and 0.87. The difference between thresholds for the three masker correlations was largest for a notch width of zero and decreased continuously with increasing notch width. The bandwidth of a gammatone filter fitted to the data was 85 Hz for the interaural masker correlation of −1 (NπSπ) and 182 Hz for the interaural masker correlation of 1 (N0Sπ). For the intermediate correlation (0.87) the effective filter width was 134 Hz. This result is at odds with corresponding literature results of a bandwidening experiment where an effectively larger binaural bandwidth is only found with extreme interaural disparities of signal and masker, such as N0Sπ. The notched-noise thresholds were predicted if a detrimental across-channel process was included in the model. This approach failed to predict the effect of masker correlation in the bandwidening experiments. A beneficial across-channel process successfully used in the literature to simulate bandwidening data with extreme binaural parameters also failed to predict this effect. The effect may be due to interaural parameter fluctuations currently not used in the model framework.
Long-Term Monitoring of Waterborne Pathogens and Microbial Source Tracking Markers in Paired Agricultural Watersheds under Controlled and Conventional Tile Drainage Management
Authors: Wilkes Graham , Brassard Julie , Edge Thomas A. , Gannon Victor , Gottschall Natalie , Jokinen Cassandra C. , Jones Tineke H. , Khan Izhar U. H. , Marti Romain , Sunohara Mark D. , Topp Edward , Lapen David R.
Published: April 2014

Surface waters from paired agricultural watersheds under controlled tile drainage (CTD) and uncontrolled tile drainage (UCTD) were monitored over 7 years in order to determine if there was an effect of CTD (imposed during the growing season) on occurrences and loadings of bacterial and viral pathogens, coliphages, and microbial source tracking markers. There were significantly lower occurrences of human, ruminant, and livestock (ruminant plus pig)
Bacteroidales
markers in the CTD watershed in relation to the UCTD watershed. As for pathogens, there were significantly lower occurrences of
Salmonella
spp. and
Arcobacter
spp. in the CTD watershed. There were no instances where there were significantly higher quantitative loadings of any microbial target in the CTD watershed, except for F-specific DNA (F-DNA) and F-RNA coliphages, perhaps as a result of fecal inputs from a hobby farm independent of the drainage practice treatments. There was lower loading of the ruminant marker in the CTD watershed in relation to the UCTD system, and results were significant at the level
P
= 0.06. The odds of
Salmonella
spp. occurring increased when a ruminant marker was present relative to when the ruminant marker was absent, yet for
Arcobacter
spp., the odds of this pathogen occurring significantly decreased when a ruminant marker was present relative to when the ruminant marker was absent (but increased when a wildlife marker was present relative to when the wildlife marker was absent). Interestingly, the odds of norovirus GII (associated with human and swine) occurring in water increased significantly when a ruminant marker was present relative to when a ruminant marker was absent. Overall, this study suggests that fecal pollution from tile-drained fields to stream could be reduced by CTD utilization.
Brine Assemblages of Ultrasmall Microbial Cells within the Ice Cover of Lake Vida, Antarctica
Authors: Kuhn Emanuele , Ichimura Andrew S. , Peng Vivian , Fritsen Christian H. , Trubl Gareth , Doran Peter T. , Murray Alison E.
Published: April 2014

The anoxic and freezing brine that permeates Lake Vida's perennial ice below 16 m contains an abundance of very small (≤0.2-μm) particles mixed with a less abundant population of microbial cells ranging from >0.2 to 1.5 μm in length. Fluorescent DNA staining, electron microscopy (EM) observations, elemental analysis, and extraction of high-molecular-weight genomic DNA indicated that a significant portion of these ultrasmall particles are cells. A continuous electron-dense layer surrounding a less electron-dense region was observed by EM, indicating the presence of a biological membrane surrounding a cytoplasm. The ultrasmall cells are 0.192 ± 0.065 μm, with morphology characteristic of coccoid and diplococcic bacterial cells, often surrounded by iron-rich capsular structures. EM observations also detected the presence of smaller unidentified nanoparticles of 0.020 to 0.140 μm among the brine cells. A 16S rRNA gene clone library from the brine 0.1- to 0.2-μm-size fraction revealed a relatively low-diversity assemblage of
Bacteria
sequences distinct from the previously reported >0.2-μm-cell-size Lake Vida brine assemblage. The brine 0.1- to 0.2-μm-size fraction was dominated by the
Proteobacteria
-affiliated genera
Herbaspirillum
,
Pseudoalteromonas
, and
Marinobacter
. Cultivation efforts of the 0.1- to 0.2-μm-size fraction led to the isolation of
Actinobacteria
-affiliated genera
Microbacterium
and
Kocuria
. Based on phylogenetic relatedness and microscopic observations, we hypothesize that the ultrasmall cells in Lake Vida brine are ultramicrocells that are likely in a reduced size state as a result of environmental stress or life cycle-related conditions.
Production of Proteasome Inhibitor Syringolin A by the Endophyte Rhizobium sp. Strain AP16
Authors: Dudnik Alexey , Bigler Laurent , Dudler Robert
Published: April 2014

Syringolin A, the product of a mixed nonribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthase encoded by the
syl
gene cluster, is a virulence factor secreted by certain
Pseudomonas syringae
strains. Together with the glidobactins produced by a number of beta- and gammaproteobacterial human and animal pathogens, it belongs to the syrbactins, a structurally novel class of proteasome inhibitors. In plants, proteasome inhibition by syringolin A-producing
P. syringae
strains leads to the suppression of host defense pathways requiring proteasome activity, such as the ones mediated by salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Here we report the discovery of a
syl
-like gene cluster with some unusual features in the alphaproteobacterial endophyte
Rhizobium
sp. strain AP16 that encodes a putative syringolin A-like synthetase whose components share 55% to 65% sequence identity (72% to 79% similarity) at the amino acid level. As revealed by average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculations, this strain likely belongs to the same species as biocontrol strain
R. rhizogenes
K84 (formely known as
Agrobacterium radiobacter
K84), which, however, carries a nonfunctional deletion remnant of the
syl
-like gene cluster. Here we present a functional analysis of the
syl
-like gene cluster of
Rhizobium
sp. strain AP16 and demonstrate that this endophyte synthesizes syringolin A and some related minor variants, suggesting that proteasome inhibition by syrbactin production can be important not only for pathogens but also for endophytic bacteria in the interaction with their hosts.
In SituAnalysis of Metabolic Characteristics Reveals the Key Yeast in the Spontaneous and Solid-State Fermentation Process of Chinese Light-Style Liquor
Authors: Kong Yu , Wu Qun , Zhang Yan , Xu Yan
Published: April 2014

Thein situmetabolic characteristics of the yeasts involved in spontaneous fermentation process of Chinese light-style liquor are poorly understood. The covariation between metabolic profiles and yeast communities in Chinese light-style liquor was modeled using the partial least square (PLS) regression method. The diversity of yeast species was evaluated by sequence analysis of the 26S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) D1/D2 domains of cultivable yeasts, and the volatile compounds in fermented grains were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). Eight yeast species and 58 volatile compounds were identified, respectively. The modulation of 16 of these volatile compounds was associated with variations in the yeast population (goodness of prediction [Q2] > 20%). The results showed thatPichia anomalawas responsible for the characteristic aroma of Chinese liquor, through the regulation of several important volatile compounds, such as ethyl lactate, octanoic acid, and ethyl tetradecanoate. Correspondingly, almost all of the compounds associated withP. anomalawere detected in a pure culture of this yeast. In contrast to the PLS regression results, however, ethyl lactate and ethyl isobutyrate were not detected in the same pure culture, which indicated that some metabolites could be generated byP. anomalaonly when it existed in a community with other yeast species. Furthermore, different yeast communities provided different volatile patterns in the fermented grains, which resulted in distinct flavor profiles in the resulting liquors. This study could help identify the key yeast species involved in spontaneous fermentation and provide a deeper understanding of the role of individual yeast species in the community.
The Basic Leucine Zipper Domain Transcription Factor Atf1 Directly Controls Cdc13 Expression and Regulates Mitotic Entry Independently of Wee1 and Cdc25 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Sushobhana , Dey Isha , Suresh Megalakshmi , Sundaram Geetanjali
Published: April 2014

Progression into mitosis is a major point of regulation in the
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
cell cycle, and its proper control is essential for maintenance of genomic stability. Investigation of the G
2
/M progression event in
S. pombe
has revealed the existence of a complex regulatory process that is responsible for making the decision to enter mitosis. Newer aspects of this regulation are still being revealed. In this paper, we report the discovery of a novel mode of regulation of G
2
/M progression in
S. pombe
. We show that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-regulated transcription factor Atf1 is a regulator of Cdc13 (mitotic cyclin) transcription and is therefore a prominent player in the regulation of mitosis in
S. pombe
. We have used genetic approaches to study the effect of overexpression or deletion of Atf1 on the cell length and G
2
/M progression of
S. pombe
cells. Our results clearly show that Atf1 overexpression accelerates mitosis, leading to an accumulation of cells with shorter lengths. The previously known major regulators of entry into mitosis are the Cdc25 phosphatase and the Wee1 kinase, which modulate cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. The significantly striking aspect of our discovery is that Atf1-mediated G
2
/M progression is independent of both Cdc25 and Wee1. We have shown that Atf1 binds to the Cdc13 promoter, leading to activation of Cdc13 expression. This leads to enhanced nuclear localization of CDK Cdc2, thereby promoting the G
2
/M transition.
Invisibility of moving objects: a core symptom of motion blindness
Authors: Otsuka-Hirota Nobuko , Yamamoto Haruko , Miyashita Kotaro , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki
Published: April 2014

Although the higher brain mechanisms of seeing moving objects have been deeply investigated, motion blindness remains a rare and enigmatic symptom. Very few case reports well describe the detailed symptoms and the lesions. We report a case of a patient who presented with invisibility of moving objects, that is, motion blindness resulting from a unilateral right hemispheric lesion. This man, in his 60s, suffered persistent motion blindness from a unilateral right temporoparietal subcortical haemorrhage. He could not see the moving objects, just felt the objects ‘disapper’ when they began moving. The symptom was observed not only in his daily life but also during investigations in the hospital. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient who showed persistent motion blindness with a right unilateral lesion, and only the second one with clinically apparent motion blindness, whose symptoms were similar to those of the first reported case.
Recurrent fevers in children: TRAPS for young players
Authors: Hodgson Kate Alison , Crawford Nigel W , Akikusa Jonathan D
Published: April 2014

We present the case of an 11-month-old girl who presented with recurrent febrile episodes and was found to have tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome due to a novel mutation in the TNFRSF1A gene. The concept of autoinflammatory diseases is discussed and the management of this condition reviewed.