bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Criteria for liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: what is an acceptable outcome?
Authors: Belghiti Jacques , Durand François
Published: January 2011

The incidence of hepato cellular carcinoma (HCC) and the shortage of grafts restrict liver transplantation (LT) in HCC patients with a low risk of recurrence. The risk of recurrence is mainly related to the presence of vascular invasion which increases in parallel with tumour size and number of nodules. A favourable post‐transplant outcome has been observed in patients who meet the empirically defined Milan criteria, namely, a single nodule < 5 cm or two or three nodules each < 3 cm in the absence of macroscopic vascular invasion, based on pre‐transplant imaging. These criteria were felt to be too restrictive, leading several centers to propose expanded criteria for LT. However, increasing both the size and number of nodules resulted in an increased risk of recurrence. It has not been demonstrated that loco‐regional treatment in HCC patients listed for LT (bridging therapies) improve post‐transplant survival. More precise predictors of negative prognostic factors including elevated α‐feto protein level, poor differentiation and molecular techniques should be considered in order to optimize the use of grafts and achieve zero recurrence.
Family members' satisfaction with critical care: a pilot study
Authors: Karlsson Christina , Tisell Anna , Engström Åsa , Andershed Birgitta
Published: January 2011

Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to describe family members' satisfaction with the care provided in a Swedish intensive care unit (ICU) based on the following needs: assurance, information, proximity, support, and comfort, which are all included in the Critical Care Family Satisfaction Survey (CCFSS).

Background: Knowledge concerning satisfaction with care among family members with a critically ill relative in an ICU is important if the family is to be met professionally.

Design: The study design was descriptive and retrospective, with a consecutive selection of family members of critically ill people cared for in an ICU. In total 35 family members participated.

Method: Quantitative analyses based on 20 questions, and a qualitative analysis, based on two open questions was used. The median, average value and percent were computed for every question. The open questions were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: The family members had a high level of satisfaction regarding all groups of needs. They were especially satisfied with flexible visiting hours and the high quality of treatment that the ill person received. The shortcomings that emerged were that family members wanted the physician to be more available for regular talks, the room for relatives was felt to be uncomfortable; and it was felt there were deficiencies in the preparations before the patient's transferral to a ward.

Relevance to clinical practice: The results highlight the family members' need for regular information and the need to improve the environment in the waiting rooms for family members. The ICU staff's competence and their way of encountering the ill person and their family seem to be important for family members' satisfaction with the care.
Antiepileptic drugs, sex hormones, and PCOS
Authors: Verrotti Alberto , D’Egidio Claudia , Mohn Angelika , Coppola Giangennaro , Parisi Pasquale , Chiarelli Francesco
Published: January 2011

Reproductive endocrine dysfunction in women with epilepsy is an important issue, and in recent years there is growing evidence to support the effect on sex hormones of both epilepsy per se and various antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Focal epileptic discharges from the temporal lobe may have a direct influence on the function of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, thereby altering the release of sex steroid hormones. The role of laterality and severity of epilepsy is still conflicting. The use of the liver enzyme–inducing AEDs—such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine—can increase serum sex hormone–binding globulin concentrations, leading to diminished bioactivity of testosterone (T) and estradiol. Valproic acid, an enzyme inhibitor, has been associated with the occurrence of reproductive endocrine disorders characterized by high serum T, free androgen index, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations, and with polycystic changes in ovaries and menstrual disorders. A better understanding of the effects of AEDs on sex hormones is key to selecting the appropriate AEDs and is crucial for reproductive health in female patients.
The EL mouse: A natural model of autism and epilepsy
Authors: Meidenbauer Joshua J. , Mantis John G. , Seyfried Thomas N.
Published: January 2011

Purpose:  Autism is a multifactorial disorder that involves impairments in social interactions and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors. About 30% of individuals with autism develop epilepsy by adulthood. The EL mouse has long been studied as a natural model of multifactorial idiopathic generalized epilepsy with complex partial seizures. Because epilepsy is a comorbid trait of autism, we evaluated the EL mouse for behaviors associated with autism.

Methods:  We compared the behavior of EL mice to age‐matched control DDY mice, a genetically related nonepileptic strain. The mice were compared in the open field and in the light–dark compartment tests to measure activity, exploratory behavior, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. The social transmission of food preference test was employed to evaluate social communication. Home‐cage behavior was also evaluated in EL and DDY mice as a measure of repetitive activity.

Key Findings:  We found that EL mice displayed several behavioral abnormalities characteristic of autism. Impairments in social interaction and restricted patterns of interest were evident in EL mice. Activity, exploratory behavior, and restricted behavior were significantly greater in EL mice than in DDY mice. EL mice exhibited impairment in the social transmission of food preference assay. In addition, a stereotypic myoclonic jumping behavior was observed in EL mice, but was not seen in DDY mice. It is of interest to note that seizure activity within 24 h of testing exacerbated the autistic behavioral abnormalities found in EL mice.

Significance:  These findings suggest that the EL mouse expresses behavioral abnormalities similar to those seen in persons with autism. We propose that the EL mouse can be utilized as a natural model of autism and epilepsy.
Kozhevnikov epilepsy: The disease and its eponym
Authors: Vein Alla A. , van Emde Boas Walter
Published: January 2011

Eponyms continue to have their place in medicine but there are pitfalls associated with their use. “Priorities” may be debatable, misattributions are not uncommon, and knowledge of the original papers is often insufficient. A. Ya. Kozhevnikov (1836–1902) is considered to be the founder of the Russian neurology, best known in the West for his work on epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), published in 1894. Kozhevnikov considered various natures for this disorder but thought chronic infectious etiology to be the most probable. Shortly the eponym Kozhevnikov epilepsy was coined and used in clinical practice and writing. Thirty‐five years after Kozhevnikov’s death, in 1937, a new form of viral encephalitis, Russian spring‐summer tick‐borne encephalitis (RTBE), was discovered, which was strongly associated with EPC and at times incorrectly attributed to Kozhevnikov by Russian (Soviet) and West‐European scientists, although he never specifically identified or even could have recognized this disease entity. When, in 1958, Canadian scientists published about persisting focal epilepsy due to chronic focal encephalitis in children, a new disease was proclaimed: Rasmussen syndrome or Rasmussen chronic encephalitis. The only reference to Kozhevnikov in the Canadian papers was the incorrect suggestion that Kozhevnikov himself described EPC in RTBE. This historical error resulted in continuing misquotations of Kozhevnikov in the current literature and controversies concerning the place of Kozhevnikov epilepsy in the Classification Scheme of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). The history of Kozhevnikov epilepsy thereby offers an illustrative example of the successive misunderstandings, errors, and controversies that arise due to insufficient knowledge or understanding of the original publications, questionable post hoc interpretations of earlier findings, misquoting of secondary papers, or a combination of all these.
Epilepsy, cognition, and behavior: The clinical picture
Authors: Berg Anne T.
Published: January 2011

Although epilepsy is defined by the occurrence of spontaneous epileptic seizures, a large body of evidence indicates that epilepsy is linked to a spectrum of behavioral, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders as well as to sudden death. Explanations for these associations include the following: (1) The effects of structural lesions that may impair the functions subserved by the regions of the brain involved in the lesion. (2) The effects of seizure activity that may begin well before a clinical seizure occurs and may persist long after it is over, raising questions about what truly constitutes “interictal.” In addition, encephalopathic effects of epilepsy in infancy during critical periods in development may be particularly severe and potentially irreversible. (3) Shared mechanisms underlying seizures as well as these other disorders in the absence of structural lesions or separate diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Epidemiologic and clinical studies demonstrate the elevated risk of cognitive, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders not just during but also prior to the onset of epilepsy (seizures) itself. These may outlast the active phase of epilepsy as well. The mounting evidence argues strongly for the recognition of epilepsy as part of a spectrum of disorders and against the notion that even uncomplicated epilepsy can a priori be considered benign.
Molecular mechanisms of cognitive and behavioral comorbidities of epilepsy in children
Authors: Brooks‐Kayal Amy
Published: January 2011

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) such as autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) and epilepsies are heterogeneous disorders that have diverse etiologies and pathophysiologies. The high rate of co‐occurrence of these disorders, however, suggests potentially shared underlying mechanisms. A number of well‐known genetic disorders share epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism as prominent phenotypic features, including tuberous sclerosis complex, Rett syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. In addition, mutations of several genes involved in neurodevelopment, including ARX, DCX, neuroligins, and neuropilin 2 have been identified in children with epilepsy, IDDs, ASDs, or a combination of thereof. Finally, in animal models, early life seizures can result in cellular and molecular changes that could contribute to learning and behavioral disabilities. Increased understanding of the common genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of IDDs, ASDs, and epilepsy may provide insight into their underlying pathophysiology and elucidate new therapeutic approaches for these conditions.
The serotonin axis: Shared mechanisms in seizures, depression, and SUDEP
Authors: Richerson George B. , Buchanan Gordon F.
Published: January 2011

There is a growing appreciation that patients with seizures are also affected by a number of comorbid conditions, including an increase in prevalence of depression (Kanner, 2009), sleep apnea (Chihorek et al., 2007), and sudden death (Ryvlin et al., 2006; Tomson et al., 2008). The mechanisms responsible for these associations are unclear. Herein we discuss the possibility that underlying pathology in the serotonin (5‐HT) system of patients with epilepsy lowers the threshold for seizures, while also increasing the risk of depression and sudden death. We propose that postictal dysfunction of 5‐HT neurons causes depression of breathing and arousal in some epilepsy patients, and this can lead to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We further draw parallels between SUDEP and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which may share pathophysiologic mechanisms, and which have both been linked to defects in the 5‐HT system.
Evaluation of Strength at the Acrylic–Pin Interface for Variably Treated External Skeletal Fixator Pins
Authors: Brad Case Joseph , Egger Erick L.
Published: January 2011

Objective:To report pullout force to failure at the acrylic–pin interface for variably treated 3.2 mm external skeletal fixator pins.

Study Design:In vitro biomechanical evaluation.

Sample Population:3.2 mm external skeletal fixator pins in polymethylmethacrylate bars.

Methods:3.2 mm external skeletal fixator pins were used for each of 5 treatment groups: polished, unpolished, 3 notched, 5 notched, and machine knurled. Each pin was seated into a 2‐cm‐diameter acrylic connecting bar and tested in pullout force to failure. Each group consisted of 6 pins. The force required to remove the pins from the acrylic bar was measured and compared between groups.

Results:Significant differences between treatment groups were determined (P<.05). Within a construct group failure mode was consistent. Fracture of the acrylic bar was only seen with knurled pin ends.

Conclusions:When using 2 cm acrylic bars in external skeletal fixation (ESF), a knurled pin shaft or a pin surface with 5 notches should be considered to improve the overall stability of the ESF construct.
Vascular Distribution in Ruptured Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Hayashi Kei , Bhandal Jitender , Rodriguez, Jr. Carlos O. , Kim Sun Young , Entwistle Rachel , Naydan Diane , Kapatkin Amy , Stover Susan M.
Published: January 2011

Objective:To (1) determine the microanatomic vascular distribution in ruptured canine cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL) using specific vascular immunohistochemical techniques, and (2) compare vessel density between ruptured and intact canine CCL and between different areas of interest in ruptured CCL using histomorphometric analysis.

Study Design:In vitro study.

Animals:Dogs (n=41) admitted for surgical treatment of ruptured CCL and 19 dogs euthanatized for nonorthopedic conditions.

Methods:Diseased (variable CCL rupture) and intact (normal control) CCL were processed for immunohistochemical staining specific to vessels (factor VIII, laminin). Mean vascular density was assessed and compared in areas of interest (torn end versus remaining core regions of CCL, proximal femoral versus distal tibial core CCL regions).

Results:Ruptured CCL was more vascular than intact CCL; however there was no difference in vascular density between the torn end and the remaining core area of the ruptured CCL. Ruptured CCL was vascularized to a greater degree at the proximal portion than the distal portion of the CCL. Partially ruptured CCLs had a higher vessel density than completely ruptured CCLs.

Conclusions:Vascular density is increased in diseased CCL compared with intact CCL. It remains to be determined whether this finding is associated with the cause of CCL rupture or is a result of CCL degeneration and rupture.
Molecular analysis of the York antigen of the Knops blood group system
Authors: Veldhuisen Barbera , Ligthart Peter C. , Vidarsson Gestur , Roels Ingrid , Folman Claudia C. , van der Schoot C. Ellen , de Haas Masja
Published: January 2011

BACKGROUND: Antigens of the Knops blood group system are present on complement component (3b/4b) receptor 1 (CR1/CD35), which is a transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by the CR1 gene. Eight of the nine known antigens of this system are linked to polymorphisms in Exon 29. The molecular background of one antigen, York (Yka), has not yet been described.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We aimed to identify a polymorphism associated with the absence of Yka to enable molecular typing. Yka‐negative individuals were identified by serologic typing. Their CR1 gene was partially sequenced and compared to that of Yka‐positive individuals. Loss of Yka antigen was investigated by expressing the SCR22/23 domain of both wild‐type and mutated CR1 as a GPI‐linked protein on HEK293 cells.

RESULTS: We observed that absence of the Yka antigen is caused by a mutation in Exon 26 of the CR1 gene. This 4223C>T mutation results in a 1408T>M change at the protein level. Ten of 117 donors (8.5%) were homozygous TT, confirming the Caucasian frequency of 8% Yka‐negative individuals. Serologically, these TT donors showed a Yka‐negative phenotype, while CC/CT individuals were Yka‐positive. While the Yka antigen was present on HEK293 cells expressing wild‐type constructs, cells expressing the 4223C>T variant were Yka negative.

CONCLUSION: We identified a 4223C>T sequence variation in the CR1 gene causing absence of the Yka antigen of the Knops blood group system. With this finding, all polymorphisms of the known Knops blood group antigens have been revealed, enabling molecular testing to contribute to red blood cell alloantibody identification procedures.
Transmission of sporadic Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease by blood transfusion: risk factor or possible biases
Authors: Puopolo Maria , Ladogana Anna , Vetrugno Vito , Pocchiari Maurizio
Published: January 2011

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of transfusion transmissions of variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (CJD) cases has reawakened attention to the possible similar risk posed by other forms of CJD.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: CJD with a definite or probable diagnosis (sporadic CJD, n = 741; genetic CJD, n = 175) and no‐CJD patients with definite alternative diagnosis (n = 482) with available blood transfusion history were included in the study. The risk of exposure to blood transfusion occurring more than 10 years before disease onset and for some possible confounding factors was evaluated by calculating crude odds ratios (ORs). Variables with significant ORs in univariate analyses were included in multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: In the univariate model, blood transfusion occurring more than 10 years before clinical onset is 4.1‐fold more frequent in sporadic CJD than in other neurologic disorders. This significance is lost when the 10‐year lag time was not considered. Multivariate analyses show that the risk of developing sporadic CJD after transfusion increases (OR, 5.05) after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Analysis conducted on patients with genetic CJD did not reveal any significant risk factor associated with transfusion.

CONCLUSION: This is the first case‐control study showing a significant risk of transfusion occurring more than 10 years before clinical onset in sporadic CJD patients. It remains questionable whether the significance of these data is biologically plausible or the consequence of biases in the design of the study, but they counterbalance previous epidemiologic negative reports that might have overestimated the assessment of blood safety in sporadic CJD.
Severe hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn caused by red blood cell antibodies undetected at first‐trimester screening (CME)
Authors: Dajak Slavica , Stefanović Vedran , Čapkun Vesna
Published: January 2011

BACKGROUND: The objective was to determine clinical consequences of anti‐D and non‐D antibodies undetected at first‐trimester screening for infant or fetus.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all pregnant women with red blood cell (RBC) antibodies who were tested between 1993 and 2008. Data were obtained from the forms for tracking immunization at the transfusion department. Each form was analyzed for three data sets: the order of screening at which the antibodies were detected (initial or repeated screening), the order of pregnancy (first pregnancy or higher), and whether the antibodies caused severe hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn (HDFN).

RESULTS: In D– women, anti‐D was detected in 1.3% of cases. The anti‐D was undetected in 72 (37%) cases on the first‐trimester screening, of which eight cases were complicated by severe HDFN. In this group, three patients were primigravidae. An overall non‐D incidence of 0.2% was observed. In 16 cases, non‐D were undetected on the first‐trimester screening (10 anti‐c, two anti‐E, two anti‐C, one anti‐S, and one case of anti‐Rh17). Non‐D antibodies undetected on initial screening caused 11 cases of severe HDFN (27% of all severe non‐D HDFN). Ten of them were in multiparous women. Seven of 11 cases with severe HDFN that were missed were caused by anti‐c.

CONCLUSION: The third‐trimester screening may detect RBC antibodies that were not present or detected on the first‐trimester screening. Such screening may be especially relevant in D+ multiparous women due to the risk of HDFN.
A randomized controlled trial comparing autologous radiolabeled in vivo platelet (PLT) recoveries and survivals of 7‐day‐stored PLT‐rich plasma and buffy coat PLTs from the same subjects
Authors: Dumont Larry J. , Dumont Deborah F. , Unger Zoe M. , Siegel Alan , Szczepiorkowski Zbigniew M. , Corson Jill S. , Jones Mary Kay , Christoffel Todd , Pellham Esther , Bailey S. Lawrence , Slichter Sherrill J. ,   for the BEST Collaborative
Published: January 2011

BACKGROUND: A recent review concluded that there was inadequate evidence to show a difference between buffy coat (BC) and platelet (PLT)‐rich plasma (PRP) PLT concentrates prepared from whole blood. We hypothesized that 7‐day‐stored BC‐PLTs would have superior autologous recoveries and survivals compared to PRP‐PLTs and that both would meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria for poststorage viability.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a randomized, crossover study design in healthy subjects who provided informed consent. Each participant donated a unit of whole blood on two occasions. In random order, either BC‐PLTs or PC‐PLTs were prepared after a 20 ± 2°C overnight hold of the whole blood. PLTs were stored under standard conditions. On Day 7, fresh PLTs were prepared from 43 mL of autologous whole blood. The fresh PLTs paired with either BC‐PLTs or PRP‐PLTs were alternately labeled with 111In or 51Cr and simultaneously reinfused to determine recoveries and survivals. In vitro assays were performed on Days 1 and 7.

RESULTS: Fourteen subjects completed the study at two sites. No differences in poststorage PLT viabilities were observed between BC‐PLTs and PRP‐PLTs; recovery differences averaged 3.7 ± 2.4% (±SE, p = 0.15) and survival differences averaged 0.48 ± 0.56 days (p = 0.41). Neither type of PLTs met the current FDA criteria for either poststorage PLT recoveries or survivals.

CONCLUSION: We were unable to demonstrate that single‐unit BC‐PLTs stored for 7 days have superior poststorage viability compared to PRP‐PLTs. Failure to meet the minimum FDA criteria for poststorage PLT viability raises questions regarding the acceptance thresholds of these metrics.
The 308‐nm excimer laser: a promising device for the treatment of childhood vitiligo
Authors: Cho Suhyun , Zheng Zhenlong , Park Yoon‐Kee , Roh Mi Ryung
Published: January 2011

Background: Numerous modalities have been used to treat vitiligo in children. Up to now, phototherapy and topical corticosteroids are the most commonly used treatments for adult vitiligo but studies evaluating the efficacy of these treatments in the pediatric population remain insufficient.

Objective: This study was a retrospective review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 308‐nm excimer laser treatment in 30 childhood vitiligo patients.

Methods: Thirty vitiligo patients with 40 vitiligo patches were evaluated after the cessation of 308‐nm excimer laser treatment.

Results: Seventeen patients (56.7%) with 20 patches (50%) achieved an acceptable degree (>50%) of repigmentation at the end of the treatment, with five patches (12.5%) showing >75% of repigmentation. The treatment response showed anatomical preferences, favoring the face, neck and trunk. However, the treatment response did not correlate to the cumulative dose or duration of treatment. Side effects occurred in nine patients, but were transient and minimal.

Conclusion: The results of this study shows that the 308‐nm excimer laser can be an effective and promising device for the treatment of various vitiligo types, other than generalized, in childhood.
Organizational and media stress among professional football players: testing an achievement goal theory model
Authors: Kristiansen E. , Halvari H. , Roberts G. C.
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate media and coach–athlete stress experienced by professional football players and their relationship to motivational variables by testing an achievement goal theory (AGT) stress model. In order to do so, we developed scales specifically designed to assess media and coach–athlete stress. Eighty‐two elite football players (Mage=25.17 years, SD=5.19) completed a series of questionnaires. Correlations and bootstrapping were used as primary statistical analyses, supplemented by LISREL, to test the hypotheses. Results revealed that a mastery climate was directly and negatively associated with coach–athlete stress, while a performance climate was directly and positively associated with coach–athlete stress. In addition, an indirect positive path between the performance climate and media stress was revealed through ego orientation. These findings support some of the key postulates of AGT; a mastery climate reduces the perception of stress among athletes, and the converse is true for a performance climate. Coaches of elite footballers are advised to try to reduce the emphasis on performance criteria because of its stress‐reducing effects.
The East as Poetic Commodity in Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis
Authors: Jacobson Miriam
Published: January 2011

Although a great deal of current scholarship explores the impact of England’s trade with the Ottoman Empire and the East on early modern drama and travel narratives, very little has turned to poetry, and even less to Shakespeare’s poetry. I suggest that this is because we have been asking the wrong questions of early modern poetry. Instead of searching for representations of Oriental identity in poetry, we should look for evidence of the interplay of Eastern aesthetics and commodities in English verse, in order to interpret the intellectual and artistic effects of the mercantile and political exchange between East and West. This essay attempts to uncover an Eastern aesthetic in Shakespeare’s first narrative poem, Venus and Adonis. I contend that Adonis’s horse and the flower into which he transforms function as imported Eastern aesthetic commodities in the poem on many levels. First, the prized Arabian stallion’s Eastern heritage both exoticizes and naturalizes desire. Second, as valuable aesthetic objects capable of being bred (the horse) and propagated (the bulb) to generate economic success, both horse and flower perform the poetic and rhetorical roles of furthering the poem’s goal of out‐stripping Ovid and classical poetry and making a name for Shakespeare in the literary marketplace. Though Venus is unsuccessful in her courtship, Adonis’s horse and the flower into which he transforms are not. Their display in the poem attempts to breed fame and fortune for the poem’s new author in the same way an expensive imported animal or botanical specimen might for a nobleman, counteracting the poem’s narrative outcome.
microRNA‐203 suppresses bladder cancer development by repressing bcl‐w expression
Authors: Bo Juanjie , Yang Guoliang , Huo Kailing , Jiang Haifeng , Zhang Lianhua , Liu Dongming , Huang Yiran
Published: January 2011

It is increasingly clear that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in many diseases, including tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate bladder cancer development remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the expression of microRNA‐203 (miR‐203) in bladder cancer tissues using real‐time PCR, and defined the target genes and biologically functional effect using luciferase reporter assay, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. We first verified that the expression of miR‐203 was decreased in bladder cancer tissues. Moreover, ectopic expression of miR‐203 promoted the apoptosis of human bladder cancer cell lines and inhibited cell proliferation, whereas its depletion increased cell growth. We further verified that miR‐203 directly targeted 3′‐untranslated region of the bcl‐w gene, and decreased its expression in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis also showed that the expression level of miR‐203 was negatively correlated with bcl‐w level in tumor tissues. These data suggest an important role for miR‐203 in the molecular etiology of bladder cancer and implicate the potential application of miR‐203 in bladder cancer therapy.
Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non‐spectroscopist
Authors: Kwan Ann H. , Mobli Mehdi , Gooley Paul R. , King Glenn F. , Mackay Joel P.
Published: January 2011

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the structure, function and dynamics of biological macromolecules. However, non‐spectroscopists often find NMR theory daunting and data interpretation nontrivial. As the first of two back‐to‐back reviews on NMR spectroscopy aimed at non‐spectroscopists, the present review first provides an introduction to the basics of macromolecular NMR spectroscopy, including a discussion of typical sample requirements and what information can be obtained from simple NMR experiments. We then review the use of NMR spectroscopy for determining the 3D structures of macromolecules and examine how to judge the quality of NMR‐derived structures.
Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non‐spectroscopist: beyond macromolecular solution structure determination
Authors: Bieri Michael , Kwan Ann H. , Mobli Mehdi , King Glenn F. , Mackay Joel P. , Gooley Paul R.
Published: January 2011

A strength of NMR spectroscopy is its ability to monitor, on an atomic level, molecular changes and interactions. In this review, which is intended for non‐spectroscopist, we describe major uses of NMR in protein science beyond solution structure determination. After first touching on how NMR can be used to quickly determine whether a mutation induces structural perturbations in a protein, we describe the unparalleled ability of NMR to monitor binding interactions over a wide range of affinities, molecular masses and solution conditions. We discuss the use of NMR to measure the dynamics of proteins at the atomic level and over a wide range of timescales. Finally, we outline new and expanding areas such as macromolecular structure determination in multicomponent systems, as well as in the solid state and in vivo.
The predominant protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT1 is critical for zebrafish convergence and extension during gastrulation
Authors: Tsai Yun‐Jung , Pan Huichin , Hung Chuan‐Mao , Hou Po‐Tsun , Li Yi‐Chen , Lee Yu‐Jen , Shen Yi‐Ting , Wu Trang‐Tiau , Li Chuan
Published: January 2011

Protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT)1 is the predominant type I methyltransferase in mammals. In the present study, we used zebrafish (Danio rerio) as the model system to elucidate PRMT1 expression and function during embryogenesis. Zebrafish prmt1 transcripts were detected from the zygote period to the early larva stage. Knockdown of prmt1 by antisense morpholino oligo (AMO) resulted in delayed growth, shortened body‐length, curled tails and cardiac edema. PRMT1 protein level, type I protein arginine methyltransferase activity, specific asymmetric protein arginine methylation and histone H4 R3 methylation all decreased in the AMO‐injected morphants. The morphants showed defective convergence and extension and the abnormalities were more severe at the posterior than the anterior parts. Cell migration defects suggested by the phenotypes were not only observed in the morphant embryos, but also in a cellular prmt1 small‐interfering RNA knockdown model. Rescue of the phenotypes by co‐injection of wild‐type but not catalytic defective prmt1 mRNA confirmed the specificity of the AMO and the requirement of methyltransferase activity in early development. The results obtained in the present study demonstrate a direct link of early development with protein arginine methylation catalyzed by PRMT1.
Estimating Hydraulic Parameters When Poroelastic Effects Are Significant
Authors: Berg Steven J. , Hsieh Paul A. , Illman Walter A.
Published: January 2011

For almost 80 years, deformation‐induced head changes caused by poroelastic effects have been observed during pumping tests in multilayered aquifer‐aquitard systems. As water in the aquifer is released from compressive storage during pumping, the aquifer is deformed both in the horizontal and vertical directions. This deformation in the pumped aquifer causes deformation in the adjacent layers, resulting in changes in pore pressure that may produce drawdown curves that differ significantly from those predicted by traditional groundwater theory. Although these deformation‐induced head changes have been analyzed in several studies by poroelasticity theory, there are at present no practical guidelines for the interpretation of pumping test data influenced by these effects. To investigate the impact that poroelastic effects during pumping tests have on the estimation of hydraulic parameters, we generate synthetic data for three different aquifer‐aquitard settings using a poroelasticity model, and then analyze the synthetic data using type curves and parameter estimation techniques, both of which are based on traditional groundwater theory and do not account for poroelastic effects. Results show that even when poroelastic effects result in significant deformation‐induced head changes, it is possible to obtain reasonable estimates of hydraulic parameters using methods based on traditional groundwater theory, as long as pumping is sufficiently long so that deformation‐induced effects have largely dissipated.
In Situ Rates of Sulfate Reduction in Response to Geochemical Perturbations
Authors: Kneeshaw Tara A. , McGuire Jennifer T. , Cozzarelli Isabelle M. , Smith Erik W.
Published: January 2011

Rates of in situ microbial sulfate reduction in response to geochemical perturbations were determined using Native Organism Geochemical Experimentation Enclosures (NOGEEs), a new in situ technique developed to facilitate evaluation of controls on microbial reaction rates. NOGEEs function by first trapping a native microbial community in situ and then subjecting it to geochemical perturbations through the introduction of various test solutions. On three occasions, NOGEEs were used at the Norman Landfill research site in Norman, Oklahoma, to evaluate sulfate‐reduction rates in wetland sediments impacted by landfill leachate. The initial experiment, in May 2007, consisted of five introductions of a sulfate test solution over 11 d. Each test stimulated sulfate reduction with rates increasing until an apparent maximum was achieved. Two subsequent experiments, conducted in October 2007 and February 2008, evaluated the effects of concentration on sulfate‐reduction rates. Results from these experiments showed that faster sulfate‐reduction rates were associated with increased sulfate concentrations. Understanding variability in sulfate‐reduction rates in response to perturbations may be an important factor in predicting rates of natural attenuation and bioremediation of contaminants in systems not at biogeochemical equilibrium.
Social neuroscience: challenges and opportunities in the study of complex behavior
Authors: Cacioppo John T. , Decety Jean
Published: January 2011

Social species are so characterized because they form organizations that extend beyond the individual. The goal of social neuroscience is to investigate the biological mechanisms that underlie these social structures, processes, and behavior and the influences between social and neural structures and processes. Such an endeavor is challenging because it necessitates the integration of multiple levels. Mapping across systems and levels (from genome to social groups and cultures) requires interdisciplinary expertise, comparative studies, innovative methods, and integrative conceptual analysis. Examples of how social neuroscience is contributing to our understanding of the functions of the brain and nervous system are described, and societal implications of social neuroscience are considered.
The human connectome: a complex network
Authors: Sporns Olaf
Published: January 2011

The human brain is a complex network. An important first step toward understanding the function of such a network is to map its elements and connections, to create a comprehensive structural description of the network architecture. This paper reviews current empirical efforts toward generating a network map of the human brain, the human connectome, and explores how the connectome can provide new insights into the organization of the brain's structural connections and their role in shaping functional dynamics. Network studies of structural connectivity obtained from noninvasive neuroimaging have revealed a number of highly nonrandom network attributes, including high clustering and modularity combined with high efficiency and short path length. The combination of these attributes simultaneously promotes high specialization and high integration within a modular small‐world architecture. Structural and functional networks share some of the same characteristics, although their relationship is complex and nonlinear. Future studies of the human connectome will greatly expand our knowledge of network topology and dynamics in the healthy, developing, aging, and diseased brain.
‘A’isha bint Abi Bakr and her Contributions to the Formation of the Islamic Tradition
Authors: Geissinger Aisha
Published: January 2011

‘A’isha bint Abi Bakr (d. 678 CE) is probably best known today as a wife of the Prophet Muhammad, whose life is particularly notable due to her involvement in several dramatic events which subsequently loomed large in inter‐Muslim sectarian polemic. However, her portrayal in many Sunni medieval texts from a variety of literary genres as an authority on subjects ranging from law to variant readings of the Quran is beginning to receive more scholarly attention. This article brings together existing critical research on the presentation of ‘A’isha in classical Muslim works as a source of legal traditions and hadiths as well as a transmitter of the Quran, summarizes some of my own research, and points to ways that her image as an intellectual figure continues to be important to many Muslims today.
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Termination as a Tactic and Norwegian Mediation in Sri Lanka1
Authors: Höglund Kristine , Svensson Isak
Published: January 2011

What explains a mediator’s choice of tactic when faced with a situation of crisis? This article focuses on mediation in internal armed conflicts and on one particular mediation tactic: the use of the exit option as a means to pressure the parties to enter into negotiations and make concessions to end the war. We examine the conditions under which the exit option—here referred to as the termination tactic—is likely to be used. Utilizing a cost–benefit approach, we develop a theoretical framework for understanding when mediators will employ the termination tactic. The framework is applied to four crises in the Sri Lankan peace process (2000–2006), during which Norway acted as a mediator. The analysis indicates that the termination tactic is employed when mediators (a) expect few rewards from involvement in the process, (b) deem other tactics as being ineffective, and (c) perceive that the parties have incentives for mediation.
Self‐Compassion, Self‐Esteem, and Well‐Being
Authors: Neff Kristin D.
Published: January 2011

This article focuses on the construct of self‐compassion and how it differs from self‐esteem. First, it discusses the fact that while self‐esteem is related to psychological well‐being, the pursuit of high self‐esteem can be problematic. Next it presents another way to feel good about oneself: self‐compassion. Self‐compassion entails treating oneself with kindness, recognizing one’s shared humanity, and being mindful when considering negative aspects of oneself. Finally, this article suggests that self‐compassion may offer similar mental health benefits as self‐esteem, but with fewer downsides. Research is presented which shows that self‐compassion provides greater emotional resilience and stability than self‐esteem, but involves less self‐evaluation, ego‐defensiveness, and self‐enhancement than self‐esteem. Whereas self‐esteem entails evaluating oneself positively and often involves the need to be special and above average, self‐compassion does not entail self‐evaluation or comparisons with others. Rather, it is a kind, connected, and clear‐sighted way of relating to ourselves even in instances of failure, perceived inadequacy, and imperfection.
Emotional Intelligence: Implications for Personal, Social, Academic, and Workplace Success
Authors: Brackett Marc A. , Rivers Susan E. , Salovey Peter
Published: January 2011

This article presents an overview of the ability model of emotional intelligence and includes a discussion about how and why the concept became useful in both educational and workplace settings. We review the four underlying emotional abilities comprising emotional intelligence and the assessment tools that that have been developed to measure the construct. A primary goal is to provide a review of the research describing the correlates of emotional intelligence. We describe what is known about how emotionally intelligent people function both intra‐ and interpersonally and in both academic and workplace settings.
Affective Processing and Emotion Regulation in Dysphoria and Depression: Cognitive Biases and Deficits in Cognitive Control
Authors: Joormann Jutta , Siemer Matthias
Published: January 2011

In this article, we take a closer look at the cognitive processing of emotional material in dysphoria and depression and link cognitive biases and deficits to individual differences in emotion regulation, an important risk factor for depression. Specifically, we propose that cognitive biases are associated with individual differences in the initial appraisal and reappraisal of emotion‐eliciting events. In addition, deficits in cognitive control result in prolonged processing of negative, goal‐irrelevant aspects of information as well as in decreased accessibility of mood‐incongruent material. These deficits further affect people’s ability to regulate negative affect by setting the stage for ruminative responses and by interfering with the use of reappraisal after the onset of an emotional response. This article provides a brief summary of findings that support these propositions and outlines implications for future research on the relation among affective processing, cognitive control, and emotion regulation in dysphoria and depression.
Beyond Fear: Sociological Perspectives on the Criminalization of School Discipline
Authors: Hirschfield Paul J. , Celinska Katarzyna
Published: January 2011

Since the early 1990s American schools have adopted a number of practices – zero tolerance, school police, metal detectors, drug sweeps, and surveillance cameras – that signal a shift from a discretionary student disciplinary framework to a crime control paradigm. The sociological sub‐field that centers on the examination and interpretation of the criminalization of school discipline is still in its formative stages and, consequently, even basic conceptual issues remain unsettled. However, sustained by a growing body of ethnographic research, the field’s theoretical discussions and debates regarding the causes, consequences, and social distribution of school criminalization are complex, vibrant, and synergistic. In the broadest terms, this field explores how school criminalization expresses, accommodates, and reinforces broader fears and political‐economic changes. The field also includes a disappointingly but understandably small number of quantitative studies that bear directly on these theories. The field’s critical, sociological insights will find and resonate with a broader audience (including policy‐makers) only after an equally innovative and vigorous quantitative empirical tradition emerges to refine and validate its theoretical contributions.
Arousal and Activity Choice in Autism: A Single‐Case Assessment Integrating Autonomic and Behavioral Analysis
Authors: Hoch John , Moore Tim , McComas Jennifer , Symons Frank J.
Published: January 2011

Theoretical accounts of autism have hypothesized links between arousal and behavior, but research translations of theory to real‐world contexts have been limited. In this single‐subject experimental analysis, a school‐age subject chose between high and low arousing activities with real‐time monitoring of behavior and heart rate (HR). Time series statistical analysis showed significant changes in HR associated with activity type and no association with motor movement. Sequential analysis showed that activity choice and HR were significantly associated (i.e., activity choice sequentially dependent with the preceding level of HR). Highly arousing activities were more likely to be chosen following high HR and vice versa. Results provide evidence of the feasibility of an integrative biobehavioral approach to understand behavior in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Primary non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of the mandible manifesting as a dentigerous cyst
Authors: Burns F.M. , Parks S. , Marley J.J.
Published: January 2011

Lymphomas are malignant neoplasms affecting the lymphoreticular system and arise from proliferation of lymphoid cells or their precursors. Lymphomas are separated into two subtypes: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Primary malignant NHL of the mandible is rare. Owing to their low frequency and to their non‐specific symptoms, primary malignant NHL of the mandible is often misdiagnosed.

We describe a case of a primary large B‐cell lymphoma in the left mandible that manifested as an infected dentigerous cyst associated with an unerupted lower left wisdom tooth.
MULTISPECIES MODELING FOR ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF HORSESHOE CRABS AND RED KNOTS IN THE DELAWARE BAY
Authors: McGOWAN CONOR P. , SMITH DAVID R. , SWEKA JOHN A , MARTIN JULIEN , NICHOLS JAMES D , WONG RICHARD , LYONS JAMES E , NILES LAWRENCE J , KALASZ KEVIN , BRUST JEFFREY , KLOPFER MICHELLE , SPEAR BRADDOCK
Published: January 2011

AbstractAdaptive management requires that predictive models be explicit and transparent to improve decisions by comparing management actions, directing further research and monitoring, and facilitating learning. The rufa subspecies of red knots (Calidris canutus rufa), which has recently exhibited steep population declines, relies on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs as their primary food source during stopover in Delaware Bay during spring migration. We present a model with two different parameterizations for use in the adaptive management of horseshoe crab harvests in the Delaware Bay that links red knot mass gain, annual survival, and fecundity to horseshoe crab dynamics. The models reflect prevailing hypotheses regarding ecological links between these two species. When reported crab harvest from 1998 to 2008 was applied, projections corresponded to the observed red knot population abundances depending on strengths of the demographic relationship between these species. We compared different simulated horseshoe crab harvest strategies to evaluate whether, given this model, horseshoe crab harvest management can affect red knot conservation and found that restricting harvest can benefit red knot populations. Our model is the first to explicitly and quantitatively link these two species and will be used within an adaptive management framework to manage the Delaware Bay system and learn more about the specific nature of the linkage between the two species.