bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The FEeding Support Team (FEST) randomised, controlled feasibility trial of proactive and reactive telephone support for breastfeeding women living in disadvantaged areas
Authors: Hoddinott Pat , Craig Leone , Maclennan Graeme , Boyers Dwayne , Vale Luke
Published: April 2012

Objective

To assess the feasibility of implementing a dedicated feeding support team on a postnatal ward and pilot the potential effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of team (proactive) and woman-initiated (reactive) telephone support after discharge.

Design

Randomised controlled trial embedded within a before-and-after study. Participatory approach and mixed-method process evaluation.

Setting

A postnatal ward in Scotland.

Sample

Women living in disadvantaged areas initiating breast feeding.

Methods

Eligible women were recruited to a before-and-after intervention study, a proportion of whom were independently randomised after hospital discharge to intervention: daily proactive and reactive telephone calls for ≤14 days or control: reactive telephone calls ≤ day 14. Intention-to-treat analysis compared the randomised groups on cases with complete outcomes at follow-up.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome: any breast feeding at 6–8 weeks assessed by a telephone call from a researcher blind to group allocation. Secondary outcomes: exclusive breast feeding, satisfaction with care, NHS costs and cost per additional woman breast feeding.

Results

There was no difference in feeding outcomes for women initiating breast feeding before the intervention (n=413) and after (n=388). 69 women were randomised to telephone support: 35 intervention (32 complete cases) and 34 control (26 complete cases). 22 intervention women compared with 12 control women were giving their baby some breast milk (RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.92 to 2.40) and 17 intervention women compared with eight control women were exclusively breast feeding (RR 1.73, 95% CI 0.88 to 3.37) at 6–8 weeks after birth. The incremental cost of providing proactive calls was £87 per additional woman breast feeding and £91 per additional woman exclusively breast feeding at 6–8 weeks; costs were sensitive to service organisation.

Conclusions

Proactive telephone care delivered by a dedicated feeding team shows promise as a cost-effective intervention for improving breastfeeding outcomes. Integrating the FEeding Support Team (FEST) intervention into routine postnatal care was feasible.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN27207603. The study protocol and final report are available on request.
Inclusion criteria provide heterogeneity in baseline profiles of patients with mild cognitive impairment: comparison of two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Kawashima Shoji , Ito Kengo , Kato Takashi ,   the SEAD-J Study Group
Published: April 2012

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to represent a transitional stage between ageing and Alzheimer's disease (AD). To aim at identifying neuroimaging measures associated with cognitive changes in healthy elderly and MCI patients, longitudinal multicentre studies are ongoing in several countries. The patient profiles of each study are based on unique inclusion criteria.

Objectives

The purpose of the study is to clarify differences in baseline profiles of MCI patients between Studies on Diagnosis of Early Alzheimer's Disease—Japan (SEAD-J) and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and to examine the association between baseline profiles and risk of early conversion to AD.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

SEAD-J recruited 114 patients from nine facilities in Japan. A total of 200 patients in ADNI with fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) were enrolled from the USA.

Methods

Baseline profiles were statistically analysed. For FDG-PET at a time of inclusion, associations between each profile and cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (CMRgl) were examined using SPM5 software. In each study, the ratio of conversion to AD within the 1-year and 2-year period after inclusion was investigated and differences in baseline profiles between AD converters and non-converters were analysed.

Results

SEAD-J included MCI patients with more severe verbal memory deficits and extracted patients with higher depressive tendencies. These differences were likely to be associated with criteria. SEAD-J exhibited a higher rate of conversion within 1 year compared with ADNI (24.5% vs 13.5%). In FDG-PET analyses of SEAD-J, AD converters within 1 year showed more severe decrease of FDG uptake in bilateral inferior parietal regions compared with non-converters.

Conclusions

Different inclusion criteria provided differences in baseline profiles. The severity of memory deficit might cause increase of the AD conversion within 1 year. Clinical outcomes of multicentre studies for early diagnosis of AD should be interpreted carefully considering profiles of patients.
Process evaluation for the FEeding Support Team (FEST) randomised controlled feasibility trial of proactive and reactive telephone support for breastfeeding women living in disadvantaged areas
Authors: Hoddinott Pat , Craig Leone , MacLennan Graeme , Boyers Dwayne , Vale Luke
Published: April 2012

Objective

To assess the feasibility, acceptability and fidelity of a feeding team intervention with an embedded randomised controlled trial of team-initiated (proactive) and woman-initiated (reactive) telephone support after hospital discharge.

Design

Participatory approach to the design and implementation of a pilot trial embedded within a before-and-after study, with mixed-method process evaluation.

Setting

A postnatal ward in Scotland.

Sample

Women initiating breast feeding and living in disadvantaged areas.

Methods

Quantitative data: telephone call log and workload diaries. Qualitative data: interviews with women (n=40) with follow-up (n=11) and staff (n=17); ward observations 2 weeks before and after the intervention; recorded telephone calls (n=16) and steering group meetings (n=9); trial case notes (n=69); open question in a telephone interview (n=372). The Framework approach to analysis was applied to mixed-method data.

Main outcome measures

Quantitative: telephone call characteristics (number, frequency, duration); workload activity. Qualitative: experiences and perspectives of women and staff.

Results

A median of eight proactive calls per woman (n=35) with a median duration of 5 min occurred in the 14 days following hospital discharge. Only one of 34 control women initiated a call to the feeding team, with women undervaluing their own needs compared to others, and breast feeding as a reason to call. Proactive calls providing continuity of care increased women's confidence and were highly valued. Data demonstrated intervention fidelity for woman-centred care; however, observing an entire breast feed was not well implemented due to short hospital stays, ward routines and staff–team–woman communication issues. Staff pragmatically recognised that dedicated feeding teams help meet women's breastfeeding support needs in the context of overstretched and variable postnatal services.

Conclusions

Implementing and integrating the FEeding Support Team (FEST) trial within routine postnatal care was feasible and acceptable to women and staff from a research and practice perspective and shows promise for addressing health inequalities.

Trial registration

ISRCTN27207603. The study protocol and final report is available on request.
Physical and mechanical properties of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) wood grown in Belgium
Authors: Pollet C. , Verheyen C. , Hébert J. , Jourez B.
Published: April 2012

The objective of this study was to characterize black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.) wood on the basis of its physical and mechanical properties. The results are compared with those reported in the literature for English oak ( Quercus robur L.), teak ( Tectona grandis L. f.), and afzelia ( Afzelia sp.), since black locust is likely to be used for the same purposes as the former species. The variations between sites, trees, and radial positions in the trunk were also studied. The physical and mechanical properties of black locust wood were evaluated on clear wood specimens taken from 27 trees distributed over five sites in Wallonia (Belgium) according to Belgian and French standards. Most of the black locust’s mechanical properties are higher than those of oak and teak. The black locust is classified as a “mid-heavy” (734 kg·m–3) and “half-hard” (5.22) wood type with very high resilience (17.2 J·cm–2), modulus of elasticity (15 700 MPa), and tensile strength in static bending (138 MPa). Its resilience is exceptional, higher than that of teak and afzelia, while its modulus of elasticity and bending strength, which surpass those of teak, are comparable with those of afzelia. Black locust shows high total volumetric shrinkage (16%), placing it in the “nervous” class, average tangential (8.8%) and radial shrinkage (5.5%) as well as average axial compressive (63 MPa) and splitting strength (17.8 N·mm–1). No technological incompatibilities would prevent the use of this wood for many value-added purposes (floor, deck, exterior woodwork, and furniture); however, significant shrinkage makes it necessary to condition the wood to its service moisture.
Incorporating field wind data into FIRETEC simulations of the International Crown Fire Modeling Experiment (ICFME): preliminary lessons learned
Authors: Linn Rodman , Anderson Kerry , Winterkamp Judith , Brooks Alyssa , Wotton Michael , Dupuy Jean-Luc , Pimont François , Edminster Carleton
Published: April 2012

Field experiments are one way to develop or validate wildland fire-behavior models. It is important to consider the implications of assumptions relating to the locality of measurements with respect to the fire, the temporal frequency of the measured data, and the changes to local winds that might be caused by the experimental configuration. Twenty FIRETEC simulations of International Crown Fire Modeling Experiment (ICFME) plot 1 and plot 6 fires were performed using horizontally homogenized fuels. These simulations enable exploration of the sensitivity of model results to specific aspects of the interpretation and use of the locally measured wind data from this experiment. By shifting ignition times with respect to dynamic measured tower wind data by up to 2 min, FIRETEC simulations are used to examine possible ramifications of treating the measured tower winds as if they were precisely the same as those present at the location of the fire, as well as possible implications of temporal averaging of winds or undersampling. Model results suggest that careful consideration should be paid to the relative time scales of the wind fluctuations, duration of the fires, and data collection rates when using experimentally derived winds as inputs for fire models.
Bending strength and stiffness of in-grade Douglas-fir and southern pine No. 2 2 × 4 lumber
Authors: Dahlen Joseph , Jones P. David , Seale R. Daniel , Shmulsky Rubin
Published: April 2012

Douglas-fir ( Psuedotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) (DF) and southern pine ( Pinus spp.) (SP) trees are increasingly grown on intensively managed plantation forests that yield excellent growth. Lumber cut from these trees often contains a large percentage of juvenile wood, which negatively impacts its strength and stiffness. Design values of lumber must accurately reflect the available forest resource, and because the design values were determined over 25 years ago, questions exist whether wood quality has declined. To help address this, 1488 samples of commercial-grade No. 2 2 × 4 DF and SP lumber were destructively tested in edgewise bending. Mean stiffness of DF and SP was 11.51 and 10.89 GPa, respectively, comparing favorably with the 11.02 GPa mean design values; however, variation for SP was higher than in previous studies. The nonparametric 5th percentile bending strengths for DF and SP were 8.30 and 9.06 MPa, respectively. Both DF and SP tested at less than their design values, 9.3 and 10.34 MPa, respectively. Stiffness explained 66% and 52%, respectively, of the variability in strength for DF and SP. Because this relationship seems only moderately predictive, it may be prudent to couple stiffness with additional measures of quality when predicting bending strength.
The influence of bigleaf maple on chemical properties of throughfall, stemflow, and forest floor in coniferous forest in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Hamdan Khaled , Schmidt Margaret
Published: April 2012

It is predicted that bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum Pursh) will almost double in frequency in British Columbia by 2085 due to climate change. We address whether its frequency increase could influence chemical properties of throughfall, stemflow, and forest floor due to species-specific effects. Eight plots with a single bigleaf maple tree in the centre of conifers were paired with eight Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plots without bigleaf maple. Compared with conifer plots, bigleaf maple throughfall and stemflow had higher pH and K concentration. The under-canopy and near-trunk forest floor associated with bigleaf maple showed higher pH, total exchangeable bases, cation-exchange capacity, and concentrations of exchangeable Ca and Mg. In addition, the near-trunk forest floor had higher base saturation and concentrations and contents of NO3-N and contents of total N and S. Throughfall and stemflow beneath bigleaf maple appear to contribute to higher pH and N availability in the forest floor. The results suggest that there is a soil microsite around bigleaf maple stems that is influenced by stemflow. These enriched microsites proximal to bigleaf maple trunks would allow bigleaf maple to have legacy effects on soil fertility and promote conifer productivity later in succession following bigleaf maple mortality.
Spatially random mortality in old-growth red pine forests of northern Minnesota
Authors: Aakala Tuomas , Fraver Shawn , Palik Brian J. , D’Amato Anthony W.
Published: April 2012

Characterizing the spatial distribution of tree mortality is critical to understanding forest dynamics, but empirical studies on these patterns under old-growth conditions are rare. This rarity is due in part to low mortality rates in old-growth forests, the study of which necessitates long observation periods, and the confounding influence of tree in-growth during such time spans. Here, we studied mortality of red pine ( Pinus resinosa Ait.) in five old-growth stands in Minnesota, USA, demonstrating the use of preexisting information of cohort age structures to account for in-growth after the most recent cohort establishment. Analyses of spatial point patterns, using both Ripley’s K-function and the pair correlation function, showed that tree mortality was essentially a random process, without evidence of contagious mortality patterns that are often expected for old-growth forests. Our analyses further demonstrated in practice that the distribution of dead trees may differ from that of the tree mortality events, which are constrained to occur within the initial distribution, and how mortality patterns can shape the spatial distribution of mature living trees, often attributed to aggregated regeneration patterns. These findings emphasize the need to disentangle the influence of the initial distribution of trees from that of actual tree mortality events.
Climate–growth relationships at different stem heights in silver fir and Norway spruce
Authors: van der Maaten-Theunissen Marieke , Bouriaud Olivier
Published: April 2012

We investigated the effect of climate on variations in annual ring-area increment along the stem of dominant silver fir ( Abies alba Mill.) and Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees in the Black Forest, southwestern Germany, to test the hypothesis that growth allocation changes as a result of climate fluctuations. Stem discs were taken at three different stem heights: 1.30, 11.50, and 16.70 m. For each site and stem height, average annual ring-area increment chronologies were computed. In addition, we calculated ratios between ring-area increment of the upper stem discs and the disc at breast height to compare growth variations along the stem. Pearson correlation coefficients revealed a highly similar growth pattern at different stem heights, where the two upper discs were most similar. Bootstrapped correlation coefficients between the ring-area increment chronologies, ratios, and monthly temperature, precipitation, and self-calibrated Palmer drought sensitivity index data were calculated to analyze differences in climate response. High temperatures in early summer were found to reduce growth of high-altitude fir in the upper stem parts, whereas high temperatures in summer limit growth of high-altitude fir and spruce, especially at breast height. For low-altitude trees, high temperatures as well as low precipitation amounts during summer were found to reduce growth at all stem heights, but more strongly at breast height. Growth at breast height seems to be biased, as it over- or underestimates annual ring-area increments along the stem (and thereby volume increment), particularly during warm and dry climate conditions.
Effects of elevated temperature and [CO2] on photosynthesis, leaf respiration, and biomass accumulation of Pinus taeda seedlings at a cool and a warm site within the species’ current range
Authors: Wertin Timothy M. , McGuire Mary Anne , van Iersel Marc , Ruter John M. , Teskey Robert O.
Published: April 2012

We examined the influence of elevated temperature (ambient +2 °C) and atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) (700 µmol·mol–1), applied singly and in combination, on biomass accumulation and the temperature response of net photosynthesis (Anet) and leaf respiration (Rd) of loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) seedlings grown simultaneously at a northern and a southern site within the species’ range. We used this experimental approach to determine if the response to future climate conditions would differ between a warm and cool location within a species’ range. Seedling biomass accumulation and the temperature responses of Anet and Rd were measured throughout the growing season. Biomass accumulation was substantially greater at the warmer site compared with the cooler site regardless of treatment. At each site, biomass accumulation was greater in the elevated temperature treatment compared with the ambient treatment. There was substantial acclimation of Rd, but not Anet, to site and to temperature treatment at each site. Elevated [CO2] increased biomass accumulation and Anet at both sites and in both temperature treatments. Our study provides an indication that future projected increases in [CO2] and air temperature of 700 µmol·mol–1 and +2 °C, respectively, are likely to increase loblolly pine growth in most, if not all, of its current range.
GEOMETRIC INVARIANTS CONSTRUCTION FOR SEMANTIC SCENE UNDERSTANDING FROM MULTIPLE VIEWS INSPIRED BY THE HUMAN VISUAL SYSTEM
Authors: FAN N. , JIN CHENG
Published: April 2012

Semantic scene understanding is one of the several significant goals of robotics. In this paper, we propose a framework that is able to construct geometric invariants for simultaneous object detection and segmentation using a simple pairwise interactive context term, for the sake of achieving a preliminary milestone of Semantic scene understanding. The context is incorporated as pairwise interactions between pixels, imposing a prior on the labeling. Our model formulates the multi-class image segmentation task as an energy minimization problem and finds a globally optimal solution using belief propagation and neural network. We experimentally evaluate the proposed method on three publicly available datasets: the MSRC-1, the CorelB datasets, and the PASCAL VOC database. Results show the applicability and efficacy of the proposed method to the multi-class segmentation problem.
IMAGE RESTORATION BASED ON SMOOTH GRAY-LEVEL DETECTION AND LINE PREDICTION METHOD FOR LARGE MISSING REGIONS
Authors: YANG SHIUENG-BIEN , LIANG TING-WEN
Published: April 2012

Although many image restoration methods have been proposed recently, they do not result in a good reconstructed image when the missing region is large or contains lines and edges, because the direction of lines is not easy to predict. This paper proposes a line prediction method to predict the lines and edges in the missing regions. Furthermore, gray levels of pixels are usually smooth in images. Thus, smooth gray-level detection is proposed to restore the missing regions using the surrounded existing regions according to the smoothness of pixels in the image. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel image restoration method based on smooth gray-level detection, and a line prediction method. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method outperforms other methods.
AN EFFICIENT THIRD-ORDER SCHEME FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL HYPERBOLIC CONSERVATION LAWS
Authors: CAI LI , FENG JIAN-HU , NIE YU-FENG , XIE WEN-XIAN
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we present a third-order central weighted essentially nonoscillatory (CWENO) reconstruction for computations of hyperbolic conservation laws in three space dimensions. Simultaneously, as a Godunov-type central scheme, the CWENO-type central-upwind scheme, i.e., the semi-discrete central-upwind scheme based on our third-order CWENO reconstruction, is developed straightforwardly to solve 3D systems by the so-called componentwise and dimensional-by-dimensional technologies. The high resolution, the efficiency and the nonoscillatory property of the scheme can be verified by solving several numerical experiments.
Acute and long-term effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on glucose metabolism in subjects with Type 2 diabetes and normal glucose tolerance
Authors: Jørgensen N. B. , Jacobsen S. H. , Dirksen C. , Bojsen-Møller K. N. , Naver L. , Hvolris L. , Clausen T. R. , Wulff B. S. , Worm D. , Lindqvist Hansen D. , Madsbad S. , Holst J. J.
Published: April 2012

Our aim was to study the potential mechanisms responsible for the improvement in glucose control in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) within days after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Thirteen obese subjects with T2D and twelve matched subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were examined during a liquid meal before (Pre), 1 wk, 3 mo, and 1 yr after RYGB. Glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent-insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon concentrations were measured. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), β-cell glucose sensitivity (β-GS), and disposition index (Dβ-GS: β-GS × 1/HOMA-IR) were calculated. Within the first week after RYGB, fasting glucose [T2D Pre: 8.8 ± 2.3, 1 wk: 7.0 ± 1.2 ( P < 0.001)], and insulin concentrations decreased significantly in both groups. At 129 min, glucose concentrations decreased in T2D [Pre: 11.4 ± 3, 1 wk: 8.2 ± 2 ( P = 0.003)] but not in NGT. HOMA-IR decreased by 50% in both groups. β-GS increased in T2D [Pre: 1.03 ± 0.49, 1 wk: 1.70 ± 1.2, ( P = 0.012)] but did not change in NGT. The increase in DIβ-GSwas 3-fold in T2D and 1.5-fold in NGT. After RYGB, glucagon secretion was increased in response to the meal. GIP secretion was unchanged, while GLP-1 secretion increased more than 10-fold in both groups. The changes induced by RYGB were sustained or further enhanced 3 mo and 1 yr after surgery. Improvement in glycemic control in T2D after RYGB occurs within days after surgery and is associated with increased insulin sensitivity and improved β-cell function, the latter of which may be explained by dramatic increases in GLP-1 secretion.
Lack of Smad3 signaling leads to impaired skeletal muscle regeneration
Authors: Ge Xiaojia , Vajjala Anuradha , McFarlane Craig , Wahli Walter , Sharma Mridula , Kambadur Ravi
Published: April 2012

Smad3 is a key intracellular signaling mediator for both transforming growth factor-β and myostatin, two major regulators of skeletal muscle growth. Previous published work has revealed pronounced muscle atrophy together with impaired satellite cell functionality in Smad3-null muscles. In the present study, we have further validated a role for Smad3 signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration. Here, we show that Smad3-null mice had incomplete recovery of muscle weight and myofiber size after muscle injury. Histological/immunohistochemical analysis suggested impaired inflammatory response and reduced number of activated myoblasts during the early stages of muscle regeneration in the tibialis anterior muscle of Smad3-null mice. Nascent myofibers formed after muscle injury were also reduced in number. Moreover, Smad3-null regenerated muscle had decreased oxidative enzyme activity and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis, evident by the downregulation of the gene encoding mitochondrial transcription factor A, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. Consistent with known Smad3 function, reduced fibrotic tissue formation was also seen in regenerated Smad3-null muscle. In conclusion, Smad3 deficiency leads to impaired muscle regeneration, which underscores an essential role of Smad3 in postnatal myogenesis. Given the negative role of myostatin during muscle regeneration, the increased expression of myostatin observed in Smad3-null muscle may contribute to the regeneration defects.
Apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide inhibits atherosclerosis by altering plasma metabolites in hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Ou Zhi-Jun , Li Li , Liao Xiao-Long , Wang Yi-Ming , Hu Xiao-Xia , Zhang Qing-Li , Wang Zhi-Ping , Yu Huan , Zhang Xi , Hu Ping , Xu Ying-Qi , Liang Qiong-Lin , Ou Jing-Song , Luo Guoan
Published: April 2012

An apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide, D-4F, has been shown to improve vasodilation and inhibit atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic low-density lipoprotein receptor-null (LDLr−/−) mice. To study the metabolic variations of D-4F ininhibiting atherosclerosis, metabonomics, a novel system biological strategy to investigate the pathogenesis, was developed. Female LDLr−/−mice were fed a Western diet and injected with or without D-4F intraperitoneally. Atherosclerotic lesion formation was measured, whereas plasma metabolic profiling was obtained on the basis of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography in tandem with time-of-flight mass spectrometry operating in both positive and negative ion modes. Data were processed by multivariate statistical analysis to graphically demonstrate metabolic changes. The partial least-squares discriminate analysis model was validated with cross-validation and permutation tests to ensure the model's reliability. D-4F significantly inhibited the formation of atherosclerosis in a time-dependent manner. The metabolic profiling was altered dramatically in hypercholesterolemic LDLr−/−mice, and a significant metabolic profiling change in response to D-4F treatment was observed in both positive and negative ion modes. Thirty-six significantly changed metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers. A series of phospholipid metabolites, including lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin (SM), and diacylglycerol (DG), particularly the long-chain LysoPC, was elevated dramatically in hypercholesterolemic LDLr−/−mice but reduced by D-4F in a time-dependent manner. Quantitative analysis of LysoPC, LysoPE, PC, and DG using HPLC was chosen to validate the variation of these potential biomarkers, and the results were consistent with the metabonomics findings. Our findings demonstrated that D-4F may inhibit atherosclerosis by regulating phospholipid metabolites specifically by decreasing plasma long-chain LysoPC.
Urinary bladder function in conscious rat pups: a developmental study
Authors: Zvarova Katarina , Zvara Peter
Published: April 2012

Cystometric studies of bladder function in anesthetized neonatal rats have suggested specific changes in urodynamic parameters that coincide with the development of a mature bladder-to-bladder micturition reflex. Here, we used a conscious cystometry model that avoids the potentially confounding effects of anesthesia to characterize voiding patterns and urodynamic parameters during early postnatal development in healthy rat pups. Cystometry was performed on postnatal day (P)0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 rats with continuous intravesical instillation of NaCl via a bladder catheter. Micturition cycles were analyzed with respect to voiding pattern, nonvoiding contractions, infused volume, and basal, filling, threshold, and micturition pressures. Reproducible micturition patterns were obtained from all age groups. The time from stimulation to contraction was significantly longer ( P ≤ 0.001) in ≤1-wk-old rats (∼10 s) than that in older rats (∼3 s). An interrupted voiding pattern was observed in ≤10-day-old subgroups. Micturition pressure progressively increased with age (from 21.77 ± 1.92 cmH2O at P0 to 35.47 ± 1.28 cmH2O at P21, P ≤ 0.001), as did bladder capacity. Nonvoiding contractions were prominent in the P3 age group (amplitude: 4.6 ± 1.3 cmH2O, frequency: ∼4.0 events/100 s). At P7, the pattern of spontaneous contractions became altered, acquiring a volume-related character that persisted in a less prominent manner through P21. Bladder compliance increased with age, i.e., maturation. In conclusion, conscious cystometry in rat pups resulted in reproducible micturition cycles that yielded consistent data. Our results revealed immature voiding and prolonged micturition contractions during the first 10 neonatal days and provide evidence for age-related changes in urodynamic parameters.
The human brain representation of odor identification
Authors: Kjelvik Grete , Evensmoen Hallvard R. , Brezova Veronika , Håberg Asta K.
Published: April 2012

Odor identification (OI) tests are increasingly used clinically as biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to directly compare the neuronal correlates to identified odors vs. nonidentified odors. Seventeen females with normal olfactory function underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment with postscanning assessment of spontaneous uncued OI. An event-related analysis was performed to compare within-subject activity to spontaneously identified vs. nonidentified odors at the whole brain level, and in anatomic and functional regions of interest (ROIs) in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). Parameter estimate values and blood oxygenated level—dependent (BOLD) signal curves for correctly identified and nonidentified odors were derived from functional ROIs in hippocampus, entorhinal, piriform, and orbitofrontal cortices. Number of activated voxels and max parameter estimate values were obtained from anatomic ROIs in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex. At the whole brain level the correct OI gave rise to increased activity in the left entorhinal cortex and secondary olfactory structures, including the orbitofrontal cortex. Increased activation was also observed in fusiform, primary visual, and auditory cortices, inferior frontal plus inferior temporal gyri. The anatomic MTL ROI analysis showed increased activation in the left entorhinal cortex, right hippocampus, and posterior parahippocampal gyri in correct OI. In the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus the BOLD signal increased specifically in response to identified odors and decreased for nonidentified odors. In orbitofrontal and piriform cortices both identified and nonidentified odors gave rise to an increased BOLD signal, but the response to identified odors was significantly greater than that for nonidentified odors. These results support a specific role for entorhinal cortex and hippocampus in OI, whereas piriform and orbitofrontal cortices are active in both smelling and OI. Moreover, episodic as well as semantic memory systems appeared to support OI.
Multiplexed digital quantification of binge-like alcohol-mediated alterations in maternal uterine angiogenic mRNA transcriptome
Authors: Ramadoss Jayanth , Magness Ronald R.
Published: April 2012

Genomic studies on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have utilized either genome-wide microarrays/bioinformatics or targeted real-time PCR (RT-PCR). We utilized herein for the first time a novel digital approach with high throughput as well as the capability to focus on one physiological system. The aim of the present study was to investigate alcohol-induced alterations in uterine angiogenesis-related mRNA abundance using digital mRNA technology. Four biological and three technical replicates of uterine arterial endothelial cells from third-trimester ewes were fluorescence-activated cell sorted, validated, and treated without or with binge-like alcohol. A capture probe covalently bound to an oligonucleotide containing biotin and a color-coded reporter probe were designed for 85 angiogenesis-related genes and analyzed with the Nanostring nCounter system. Twenty genes were downregulated (↓) and two upregulated (↑), including angiogenic growth factors/receptors (↓placental growth factor), adhesion molecules (↓angiopoietin-like-3; ↓collagen-18A1; ↓endoglin), proteases/matrix proteins/inhibitors (↓alanyl aminopeptidase; ↓collagen-4A3; ↓heparanase; ↓plasminogen, ↑plasminogen activator urokinase; ↓platelet factor-4; ↓plexin domain containing-1; ↓tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3), transcription/signaling molecules (↓heart and neural crest derivatives-2; ↓DNA-binding protein inhibitor; ↓NOTCH-4; ↓ribosomal protein-L13a1; ↓ribosomal protein large-P1), cytokines/chemokines (↓interleukin-1B), and miscellaneous growth factors (↓leptin; ↓platelet-derived growth factor-α); ↓transforming growth factor (TGF-α; ↑TGF-β receptor-1). These novel data show significant detrimental alcohol effects on genes controlling angiogenesis supporting a mechanistic role for abnormal uteroplacental vascular development in FASD. The tripartite digital gene expression system is therefore a valuable tool to answer many additional questions about FASD from both mechanistic as well as ameliorative perspectives.
Post-Radical-Prostatectomy Urinary Incontinence: The Management of Concomitant Bladder Neck Contracture
Authors: King Thomas , Almallah Y. Zaki
Published: April 2012

Urinary incontinence postradical prostatectomy is a common problem which adversely affects quality of life. Concomitant bladder neck contracture in the setting of postprostatectomy incontinence represents a challenging clinical problem. Postprostatectomy bladder neck contracture is frequently recurrent and makes surgical management of incontinence difficult. The aetiology of bladder neck contracture and what constitutes the optimum management strategy are controversial. Here we review the literature and also present our approach.
Nanostructured Multifilamentary Carbon‐Copper Composites: Fabrication, Microstructural Characterization, and Properties
Authors: Yama Nzoma Evarice , Guillet Alain , Pareige Philippe
Published: April 2012

This work is part of research on the emerging techniques to produce bulk nanostructured composites materials by severe plastic deformation and their characterization. Based on the Levi work, we present a new method to synthesize a composite wire‐containing carbon‐nanosized filaments (graphite and C60 fullerenes) embedded in a copper matrix. The originality of this process is using powder media as fiber. Microstructures and electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties are presented.
Networked Control System for the Guidance of a Four-Wheel Steering Agricultural Robotic Platform
Authors: Godoy Eduardo Paciência , Tangerino Giovana Tangerino , Tabile Rubens André , Inamasu Ricardo Yassushi , Porto Arthur José Vieira
Published: April 2012

A current trend in the agricultural area is the development of mobile robots and autonomous vehicles for precision agriculture (PA). One of the major challenges in the design of these robots is the development of the electronic architecture for the control of the devices. In a joint project among research institutions and a private company in Brazil a multifunctional robotic platform for information acquisition in PA is being designed. This platform has as main characteristics four-wheel propulsion and independent steering, adjustable width, span of 1,80 m in height, diesel engine, hydraulic system, and a CAN-based networked control system (NCS). This paper presents a NCS solution for the platform guidance by the four-wheel hydraulic steering distributed control. The control strategy, centered on the robot manipulators control theory, is based on the difference between the desired and actual position and considering the angular speed of the wheels. The results demonstrate that the NCS was simple and efficient, providing suitable steering performance for the platform guidance. Even though the simplicity of the NCS solution developed, it also overcame some verified control challenges in the robot guidance system design such as the hydraulic system delay, nonlinearities in the steering actuators, and inertia in the steering system due the friction of different terrains.
Hamiltonian Paths in Some Classes of Grid Graphs
Authors: Keshavarz-Kohjerdi Fatemeh , Bagheri Alireza
Published: April 2012

The Hamiltonian path problem for general grid graphs is known to be NP‐complete. In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of Hamiltonian paths in L‐alphabet, C‐alphabet, F‐alphabet, and E‐alphabet grid graphs. We also present linear‐time algorithms for finding Hamiltonian paths in these graphs.
“Malignant” Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasm: Risk Stratification and Treatment Strategies
Authors: Bleeker Jonathan S. , Quevedo J. Fernando , Folpe Andrew L.
Published: April 2012

Purpose. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are a rare collection of tumors characterized by a myomelanocytic phenotype, and PEComas occurring in “nonclassic” anatomic distributions are known as perivascular epithelioid cell tumor not otherwise specified (PEComa-NOS). This review aims to compile and analyze cases of PEComa-NOS in an effort to better define their natural history.Design. We evaluated all 234 cases of PEComa-NOS reported in the English literature, extracting information regarding diagnostic features, treatment approaches, and outcomes. Multivariate analysis of a number of variables evaluable on pathologic review was performed to refine preexisting risk stratification criteria. Outcomes for patients receiving nonsurgical treatment are also reported.Results. Primary tumor size ≥5 cm (P=0.02) and a high (1/50 HPF) mitotic rate (P<0.0001) were the only factors significantly associated with recurrence following surgical resection. Cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy have shown little benefit in treating PEComa-NOS; mTOR inhibition is emerging as a treatment option.Conclusion. Progress has been made in understanding the natural history and molecular biology of PEComa-NOS. This review further clarifies risk of recurrence in this disease, allowing clinicians to better risk stratify patients. Further work should focus on applying this knowledge to making treatment decisions for patients with this disease.
A Method for Identifying Japanese Shop and Company Names by Spatiotemporal Cleaning of Eccentrically Located Frequently Appearing Words
Authors: Akiyama Yuki , Shibasaki Ryosuke
Published: April 2012

We have developed a method for spatiotemporally integrating databases of shop and company information, such as from a digital telephone directory, spatiotemporally, in order to monitor dynamic urban transformations in a detailed manner. To realize this, an additional method is necessary to verify the identicalness of different instances of Japanese shop and company names that might contain fluctuations of description. In this paper, we discuss a method that utilizes an n-gram model for comparing and identifying Japanese words. The processing accuracy was improved through developing various kinds of libraries for frequently appearing words, and using these libraries to clean shop and company names. In addition, the accuracy was greatly and novelty improved through the detection of those frequently appearing words that appear eccentrically across both space and time. By utilizing natural language processing (NLP), our method incorporates a novel technique for the advanced processing of spatial and temporal data.
Numerical Treatment of Singularly Perturbed Two‐Point Boundary Value Problems by Using Differential Transformation Method
Authors: Doğan Nurettin , Ertürk Vedat Suat , Akın Ömer
Published: April 2012

Differential transform method is adopted, for the first time, for solving linear singularly perturbed two‐point boundary value problems. Four numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present method. Results show that the numerical scheme is very effective and convenient for solving a large number of linear singularly perturbed two‐point boundary value problems with high accuracy.
Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Failure due to Rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Maggi G. , Quinteros Hinojosa F. , Villagran M. J. , Guasch Arévalo E. , Gilsanz Rodríguez F.
Published: April 2012

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome caused by skeletal muscle cells destruction which can occur for many reasons, including prolonged immobilization. The main complication of the syndrome is the development of acute renal failure. Rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria are responsible for approximately 5% of all causes of acute renal failure in the USA. The cause of rhabdomyolysis is often multifactorial, and approximately 8–20% of such patients develop myoglobinuric acute renal failure.
Agroforestry and the Improvement of Soil Fertility: A View from Amazonia
Authors: Pinho Rachel C. , Miller Robert P. , Alfaia Sonia S.
Published: April 2012

This paper discusses the effects of trees on soil fertility, with a focus on agricultural systems in Amazonia. Relevant literature concerning the effects of trees on soil physical and chemical properties in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions is reviewed, covering both natural ecosystems and agroecosystems. Soil carbon, in the form of organic matter, is considered as an indicator of biological activity as well as in relation to policy issues such as carbon sequestration and climate change. In the case of tropical soils and Amazonia, information on the effects of trees on soils is discussed in the context of traditional agriculture systems, as well as in regard to the development of more sustainable agricultural alternatives for the region. Lastly, attention is given to a case study in the savanna region of Roraima, northern Brazil, where a chronosequence of indigenous homegarden agroforestry systems showed clear effects of management practices involving trees on soil fertility. The use of diverse tree species and other practices employed in agroforestry systems can represent alternative forms of increasing soil fertility and maintaining agricultural production, with important practical applications for the sustainability of tropical agriculture.
Simultaneous Realization of Wavelength Conversion, 2R Regeneration, and All-Optical Multiple Logic Gates with OR, NOR, XOR, and XNOR Functions Based on Self-Polarization Rotation in a Single SOA: An Experimental Approach
Authors: Said Youssef , Rezig Houria
Published: April 2012

We highlight the feasibility of experimental implementation of both inverted and noninverted wavelength conversion, 2R regeneration, and all-optical logic functions, such as OR, NOR, XOR, and XNOR optical gates by exploiting the self-polarization rotation in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) device without changing the setup configuration. Switching between each optical function is done by only adjusting the input optical power level. In order to allow optimum control and preserve the polarization state of the injected and collected signals, the polarimetric measures have been carried out in free space.
Rhynchophylline Protects Cultured Rat Neurons against Methamphetamine Cytotoxicity
Authors: Xu Dan Dan , Hoeven Robin , Rong Rong , Cho William Chi-Shing
Published: April 2012

Rhynchophylline (Rhy) is an active component isolated from species of the genusUncariawhich has been used for the treatment of ailments to the central nervous system in traditional Chinese medicine. Besides acting as a calcium channel blocker, Rhy was also reported to be able to protect against glutamate-induced neuronal death. We thus hypothesize that Rhy may have neuroprotective activity against methamphetamine (MA). The primary neurons were cultured directly from the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats, acting asin vitromodel in the present study. The neurotoxicity of MA and the protective effect of Rhy were evaluated by MTT assay. The effects of MA, Rhy or their combination on intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were determined in individual neocortical neurons by the Fluo-3/AM tracing method. The MTT assay demonstrated that MA has a dose-dependent neurotoxicity in neuronal cultures. The addition of Rhy prior to the exposure to MA prevented neuronal death. Time course studies with the Fluo-3/AM probe showed that Rhy significantly decreased neuronal [Ca2+]iwhich was elevated by the exposure to MA. Our results suggested that Rhy can protect the neuronal cultures against MA exposure and promptly attenuate intracellular calcium overload triggered by MA challenge. This is the first report demonstrating an inhibitory effect of Rhy against MA impairment in cultured neuronsin vitro.
Liposome‐Based Delivery Systems in Plant Polysaccharides
Authors: Chen Meiwan , Zhou Yanfang , Huang Jingjing , Zhu Ping , Peng Xinsheng , Wang Yitao
Published: April 2012

Plant polysaccharides consist of many monosaccharide by α‐ or β‐glycosidic bond which can be extracted by the water, alcohol, lipophile liquid from a variety of plants including Cordyceps sinensis, astragalus, and mushrooms. Recently, many evidences illustrate that natural plant polysaccharides possess various biological activities including strengthening immunity, lowering blood sugar, regulating lipid metabolism, antioxidation, antiaging, and antitumour. Plant polysaccharides have been widely used in the medical field due to their special features and low toxicity. As an important drug delivery system, liposomes can not only encapsulate small‐molecule compound but also big‐molecule drug; therefore, they present great promise for the application of plant polysaccharides with unique physical and chemical properties and make remarkable successes. This paper summarized the current progress in plant polysaccharides liposomes, gave an overview on their experiment design method, preparation, and formulation, characterization and quality control, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies. Moreover, the potential application of plant polysaccharides liposomes was prospected as well.
Modeling of Coaxial Slot Waveguides Using Analytical and Numerical Approaches: Revisited
Authors: You Kok Yeow , Salleh Jamaliah , Abd Malek Mohd Fareq , Abbas Zulkifly , Ee Meng Cheng , Kim Yee Lee
Published: April 2012

Our reviews of analytical methods and numerical methods for coaxial slot waveguides are presented. The theories, background, and physical principles related to frequency-domain electromagnetic equations for coaxial waveguides are reassessed. Comparisons of the accuracies of various types of admittance and impedance equations and numerical simulations are made, and the fringing field at the aperture sensor, which is represented by the lumped capacitance circuit, is evaluated. The accuracy and limitations of the analytical equations are explained in detail. The reasons for the replacement of analytical methods by numerical methods are outlined.