bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Confocal mosaicing microscopy in skin excisions: a demonstration of rapid surgical pathology
Authors: GAREAU D.S. , PATEL Y.G. , LI Y. , ARANDA I. , HALPERN A.C. , NEHAL K.S. , RAJADHYAKSHA M.
Published: January 2009

Precise micro‐surgical removal of tumour with minimal damage to the surrounding normal tissue requires a series of excisions, each guided by an examination of frozen histology of the previous. An example is Mohs surgery for the removal of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in skin. The preparation of frozen histology is labour‐intensive and slow. Confocal microscopy may enable rapid detection of tumours directly in surgical excisions with minimal need for frozen histology. Mosaicing of images enables observation of nuclear and cellular morphology in large areas of surgically excised tissue. In skin, the use of 10–1% acetic acid as a reflectance contrast agent brightens nuclei in 0.5–5 min and enhances nuclear‐to‐dermis contrast and detectability of BCCs. A tissue fixture was engineered for precisely mounting surgical excisions to enable mosaicing of 36 × 36 images to create a field of view of 12 × 12 mm. This large field of view displays the excision at 2× magnification, similar to that routinely used by Mohs surgeons when examining frozen histology. Comparison of mosaics to histology demonstrates detectability of BCCs. Confocal mosaicing presently requires 9 min, instead of 20–45 min per excision for preparing frozen histology, and thus may provide a means for rapid pathology‐at‐the‐bedside to expedite and guide surgery.
An automatic system forin vitrocell migration studies
Authors: DEGERMAN J. , THORLIN T. , FAIJERSON J. , ALTHOFF K. , ERIKSSON P.S. , PUT R.V.D. , GUSTAVSSON T.
Published: January 2009

This paper describes a system forin vitrocell migration analysis. Adult neural stem/progenitor cells are studied using time‐lapse bright‐field microscopy and thereafter stained immunohistochemically to find and distinguish undifferentiated glial progenitor cells and cells having differentiated into type‐1 or type‐2 astrocytes. The cells are automatically segmented and tracked through the time‐lapse sequence. An extension to the Chan‐Vese Level Set segmentation algorithm, including two new terms for specialized growing and pruning, made it possible to resolve clustered cells, and reduced the tracking error by 65%. We used a custom‐built manual correction module to form a ground truth used as a reference for tracked cells that could be identified from the fluorescence staining. On average, the tracks were correct 95% of the time, using our new segmentation. The tracking, or association of segmented cells, was performed using a 2‐state Hidden Markov Model describing the random behaviour of the cells. By re‐estimating the motion model to conform with the segmented data we managed to reduce the number of tracking parameters to essentially only one. Upon characterization of the cell migration by the HMM state occupation function, it was found that glial progenitor cells were moving randomly 2/3 of the time, while the type‐2 astrocytes showed a directed movement 2/3 of the time. This finding indicates possibilities for cell‐type specific identification and cell sorting of live cells based on specific movement patterns in individual cell populations, which would have valuable applications in neurobiological research.
Robust approaches to quantitative ratiometric FRET imaging of CFP/YFP fluorophores under confocal microscopy
Authors: TADROSS M.R. , PARK S.A. , VEERAMANI B. , YUE D.T.
Published: January 2009

Ratiometric quantification of CFP/YFP FRET enables live‐cell time‐series detection of molecular interactions, without the need for acceptor photobleaching or specialized equipment for determining fluorescence lifetime. Although popular in widefield applications, its implementation on a confocal microscope, which would enable sub‐cellular resolution, has met with limited success. Here, we characterize sources of optical variability (unique to the confocal context) that diminish the accuracy and reproducibility of ratiometric FRET determination and devise practical remedies. Remarkably, we find that the most popular configuration, which pairs an oil objective with a small pinhole aperture, results in intractable variability that could not be adequately corrected through any calibration procedure. By quantitatively comparing several imaging configurations and calibration procedures, we find that significant improvements can be achieved by combining a water objective and increased pinhole aperture with a uniform‐dye calibration procedure. The combination of these methods permitted remarkably consistent quantification of sub‐cellular FRET in live cells. Notably, this methodology can be readily implemented on a standard confocal instrument, and the dye calibration procedure yields a time savings over traditional live‐cell calibration methods. In all, identification of key technical challenges and practical compensating solutions promise robust sub‐cellular ratiometric FRET imaging under confocal microscopy.
Exploring the past: mental health nursing in Greece
Authors: MISSOURIDOU E.
Published: January 2009

This paper aims to explore the evolution of psychiatric nursing from the delayed organization of an asylum mental health system in Greece to the present. The care and custody of mental health patients which was in the hands of police at the first asylum passed to the hands of uneducated staff and gradually to the hands of qualified nurses. Severe overcrowding along with limited resources and low staff numbers resulted in the poor quality of living conditions. In this context, psychiatric nursing took its first steps in Greece, without realizing the inherent conflict in its dual role, that of care and social control. Counter to the handed‐down cliché about psychiatric hospitals, nurses frequently put great effort into improving the living conditions of patients. However, the regulations of the institutions emphasizing the custodial role of nursing together with other structural factors of the psychiatric system impeded nurses' attempts to improve institutional care considerably. Nowadays, psychiatric hospitals are shrinking at a rapid pace, leaving behind them – as heritage for the psychiatric nurses who try to define their new role in community – the pioneers of psychiatric nursing's courage, ethos and respect for the psychiatric client.
Female caregivers' experiences of exposure to violence in nursing homes
Authors: ISAKSSON U. , GRANEHEIM U. H. , ÅSTRÖM S.
Published: January 2009

Although earlier studies have examined caregivers' experiences of exposure to violence, few have investigated female caregivers working in nursing homes with a specific focus on experiences throughout the entire scenario of a violent situation. This study illuminates female caregivers' experiences of being exposed to violence in nursing homes. Twenty caregivers working in three nursing homes located in northern Sweden were asked to narrate about a situation in which they had been exposed to violence. Their narratives were analysed by using qualitative content analysis. We found that the caregivers had preconceived ideas about violent behaviour, that they experienced a loss of control over the situation, and that they then strove to regain control. Experiences such as these may influence caregivers' interactions with residents who display violent behaviour. As a result of violent interactions, caregivers may distance themselves from the residents, an attitude that may decrease the quality of care. There is a risk that violence in nursing homes is accepted and normalized as a part of the job and hence persists.
Varying views of life among people with long‐term mental illness
Authors: ERDNER A. , ANDERSSON L. , MAGNUSSON A. , LÜTZÉN K.
Published: January 2009

The purpose of this study was to explore views of life among people with long‐term mental illnesses. The participants' possible cognitive inability to express such views dictated a research design that was both fit for purpose and respectful of their integrity. The study, based on an ethnographic framework, involved photographs and interviews with five women and three men. The participants were the photographers, as well as the authors of their own narratives, and the photographs served as a starting point for the interviews. The interview material was analysed in terms of the phases of interpretation. Four main themes were identified: ‘thoughts about God and the meaning of life and death’, ‘the meaning of relationships with others’, ‘how animals give meaning to life without demands’ and ‘the symbolic bearing of objects on life’. These four themes represent key existential issues among people with long‐term mental illnesses, but they lack confidants to share or discuss these matters with.
Mental health literacy of Australian Bachelor of Nursing students: a longitudinal study
Authors: MCCANN T. V. , LU S. , BERRYMAN C.
Published: January 2009

Many students have poor mental health literacy when they finish Bachelor of Nursing courses. This paper presents the findings of a longitudinal study of Australian Bachelor of Nursing students' mental health literacy about the effectiveness of interventions for people with schizophrenia. The ‘Attitudes and Beliefs about Mental Health Problems: Professional and Public Views’ questionnaire was used with a non‐probability sample of nursing students. A time series approach to data collection was used, with data collected on three occasions between 2005 and 2007. Ethics approval was obtained from a university ethics committee. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 15.0. The students' views about the helpfulness of interventions showed a significant and positive improvement as they progressed through the course. There were significant differences over time in their views about the helpfulness of professional and lay interventions, their opinions about the helpfulness of mental health and other medications, and the usefulness of activity and non‐pharmacological interventions. Because nursing students need to be mental health literate when they complete their course, mental health nursing content should be incorporated earlier in comprehensive undergraduate curricula and incrementally increased in each year of study.
A narrative inquiry: moving on from homelessness for individuals with a major mental illness
Authors: KIRKPATRICK H. , BYRNE C.
Published: January 2009

This narrative study explores the experience of ‘moving on’ from homelessness for individuals with major mental illnesses, after they have obtained permanent housing with supports. Twelve participants were interviewed up to three times over 6 months. There were various routes to homelessness, participants were homeless for varying lengths of time, and they described different journeys of ‘moving on’ in their lives. Place, and a series of places, were central for participants in this experience. The experience of homelessness for many could be described as ‘on the move’, in a circular pattern from shelter to shelter or street. Permanent housing and supports allowed participants to ‘move on’, reconnecting with family, getting jobs and planning for the future. Several participants wanted their stories used to send messages of hope, courage and survival. This study highlights the need for nurses to be aware of the concept of ‘place’ in the process of recovery from mental illness.
Birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 binds to and is transported through conjunctival epithelium in allergic patients
Authors: Renkonen J. , Mattila P. , Lehti S. , Mäkinen J. , Sormunen R. , Tervo T. , Paavonen T. , Renkonen R.
Published: January 2009

Background:  Previous work in type‐I pollen allergies has mainly focused on lymphocytes and immune responses. Here, we begin to analyse with a systems biology view the differences in conjunctival epithelium obtained from healthy and allergic subjects.

Methods:  Transcriptomics analysis combined with light and electron microscopic analysis of birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 located within conjunctival epithelial cells and tissues from birch allergic subjects and healthy controls was carried out.

Results:  Bet v 1 pollen allergen bound to conjunctival epithelial cells within minutes after the exposure even during the nonsymptomatic winter season only in allergic, but not in healthy individuals. Light‐ and electron microscopy showed that Bet v 1 was transported through the epithelium within lipid rafts/caveolae and reached mast cells only in allergic patients, but not in healthy individuals. Transcriptomics yielded 22 putative receptors expressed at higher levels in allergic epithelium compared with healthy specimens. A literature search indicated that out of these receptors, eight (i.e. 37%) were associated with lipid rafts/caveolae, which suggested again that Bet v 1 transport is lipid raft/caveola‐dependent.

Conclusions:  We show a clear difference in the binding and uptake of Bet v 1 allergen by conjunctival epithelial cells in allergic vs healthy subjects and several putative lipid raft/caveolar receptors were identified, which could mediate or be co‐transported with this entry. The application of discovery driven methodologies on human conjunctival epithelial cells and tissues can provide new hypotheses worth a further analysis to the molecular mechanisms of a complex multifactorial disease such as type‐I birch pollen allergy.
Monitoring of fluid absorption with nitrous oxide during transurethral resection of the prostate
Authors: DROBIN D. , HJELMQVIST H. , PIROS D. , HAHN R. G.
Published: January 2009

Background: The fluid absorption that occurs during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can be indicated and quantified by the ethanol method. Recently, nitrous oxide (N2O) was tested in animals and volunteers and seemed to be more accurate and safe. The present study compared these two methods in surgical patients.

Methods: Eighty‐six TURPs were performed at two hospitals using an irrigating fluid that contained 3% mannitol, 1% ethanol and 0.004% N2O (40 ml/l). The ethanol concentration was measured by end‐expiratory tests every 10 min. The N2O concentration was measured by a flared nasal cannula every second. Fluid absorption was calculated based on a regression equation (ethanol method) from the area under the curve based on the samples where CO2 >median (N2O method).

Results: Thirteen patients (15%) absorbed >300 ml of fluid as indicated by the ethanol method. The median volume was 707 ml (range 367–1422). Ethanol yielded higher figures for fluid absorption up to 700–800 ml, whereafter the N2O method indicated that the absorption was larger. Over the entire range, the mean difference between the two methods at the end of any 10‐min period of TURP was only +45 ml, although the 95% limits of agreement were quite separated (−479 to +569 ml).

Conclusions: The N2O method does not require forced breath sampling and was successfully apply clinically. However, there was a dose‐dependent difference in result between the ethanol and N2O methods, which markedly separated the limits of agreement for a wider range of fluid absorption events.
Addition of ketamine to propofol for initiation of procedural anesthesia in children reduces propofol consumption and preserves hemodynamic stability
Authors: AOUAD M. T. , MOUSSA A. R. , DAGHER C. M. , MUWAKKIT S. A. , JABBOUR‐KHOURY S. I. , ZBEIDY R. A. , ABBOUD M. R. , KANAZI G. E.
Published: January 2009

Background: There is no ideal anesthesia protocol to perform short invasive procedures in pediatric oncology. The combination of propofol and ketamine may offer advantages over propofol alone.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized, double‐blind study, we analyzed 63 consecutive procedures performed in 47 oncology children. All patients received 1 μg/kg fentanyl, followed by propofol 1 mg/kg in group P (n=33) or propofol 0.5 mg/kg and ketamine 0.5 mg/kg in group PK (n=30) for the initiation of anesthesia. The need for supplementation with propofol and/or fentanyl to maintain an adequate level of anesthesia was recorded. The hemodynamic and respiratory profile, recovery time and the occurrence of side effects were compared.

Results: Significantly more children required propofol (100% vs. 83.3%) and fentanyl (75.5% vs. 43.3%) rescue doses, and developed hypotension (63.6% vs. 23.4%) and bradycardia (48.5 vs. 23.4%) in group P compared with group PK, with a comparable incidence of respiratory adverse events and recovery times. However, 40% of children in group PK were agitated following recovery compared with 6% in group P.

Conclusions: The combination of propofol and ketamine for invasive procedures in pediatric oncology resulted in reduced propofol and fentanyl consumption and preserved hemodynamic stability, but more children in the combination group recovered with agitation.
Bupivacaine inhibits COX‐2 expression, PGE2, and cytokine production in endotoxin‐activated macrophages
Authors: HUANG Y. H. , TSAI P. S. , HUANG C. J.
Published: January 2009

Background:Upregulation of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and resultant prostaglandin E2(PGE2) overproduction has been shown to play a crucial role in initiating a systemic inflammatory response during sepsis. Sepsis also induces robust production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and IL‐6 as well as anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10. We sought to elucidate the effects of bupivacaine on COX‐2 expression and production of PGE2and cytokines using an endotoxin‐activated murine macrophages model.

Methods:Confluent murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/ml) or LPS plus bupivacaine (1, 10, or 100 μM). Bupivacaine was added immediately after LPS. After reacting for 18 h, cell cultures were harvested for subsequent analysis.

Results:LPS significantly upregulated COX‐2 transcription and PGE2production in macrophages. LPS also significantly increased the production of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐10 in macrophages. Bupivacaine significantly inhibited the effects of LPS on COX‐2 transcription and PGE2production in a dose‐dependent manner. In a dose‐dependent manner, bupivacaine also significantly inhibited the effects of LPS on the production of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6. However, bupivacaine exerted no significant effects on LPS‐induced IL‐10 production.

Conclusion:Bupivacaine significantly inhibited COX‐2 expression, PGE2and cytokine production in endotoxin‐activated macrophages.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Interaction between a NMDA receptor antagonist, AP‐5 and an AMPA receptor antagonist, YM 872 in antinociception in the spinal cord
Authors: NISHIYAMA T.
Published: January 2009

Background:The intrathecalN‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, AP‐5 and the α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist, YM 872 showed inhibition on both acute and facilitated nociception in our previous study. The present study was performed to investigate the interaction between intrathecal AP‐5 and YM 872 in antinociception for acute and chronic nociception.

Methods:Sprague–Dawley rats with lumbar intrathecal catheters were tested for their thermal tail withdrawal response and for their paw flinches by formalin injection after intrathecal administration of AP‐5 or YM 872. The effects of the combination were tested by an isobolographic analysis using 50% effective dose (ED50). Total fractional dose was calculated as (ED50 dose of AP‐5 in combination)/(ED50 dose of AP‐5 alone)+(ED50 dose of YM 872 in combination)/(ED50 dose of YM 872 alone).

Results:Intrathecally administered AP‐5, YM 872, and their combination produced dose‐dependent increases of the tail‐flick latency and decreases in the number of flinches in both phase 1 and 2 of the formalin test. The ED50 values of the combination were significantly lower than the calculated additive values (P<0.01). Total fractional dose value was 0.22 in the tail flick test, 0.12 in the phase 1 and 0.14 in the phase 2 of the formalin test.

Conclusion:An NMDA receptor antagonist, AP‐5 and an AMPA receptor antagonist, YM 872 had synergistic antinociceptive effects on both acute thermal and inflammatory induced acute and facilitated nociception.
Regional anesthesia meets ultrasound: a specialty in transition
Authors: SITES B. D. , SPENCE B. C. , GALLAGHER J. , BEACH M. L. , ANTONAKAKIS J. G. , SITES V. R. , HARTMAN G. S.
Published: January 2009

Despite its well‐known benefits, regional anesthesia has not attained the stature, simplicity, and safety of general anesthesia. Many of the challenges and clinical failures of regional anesthetic techniques can be attributed to fact that neurovascular anatomy is highly variable. Furthermore, current nerve localization techniques provide little or no information regarding the anatomical spread local anesthesia. Recently, ultrasound technology has been utilized by anesthesiologists in an attempt to minimize many of the drawbacks of traditional nerve block techniques. This review article will update the reader on the current status of ultrasound‐guided regional anesthesia, provide an evidence‐based context, and supply key facts regarding ultrasound physics. In the process, we will also highlight several possible limitations of ultrasound techniques including learning curve issues, costs, and artifact generation.
N‐Methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor antagonist MK‐801 attenuates morphine tolerance and associated glial fibrillary acid protein up‐regulation: a proteomic approach
Authors: WEN Z.‐H. , WU G.‐J. , HSU L.‐C. , CHEN W.‐F. , CHEN J.‐Y. , SHUI H.‐A. , CHOU A.‐K. , WONG C.‐S.
Published: January 2009

Background: It is well known that long‐term morphine administration results in tolerance, which limits the clinical use of this drug in pain management.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive one of four different infusions: morphine [15 μg/h, intrathecal (i.t.)], saline, MK‐801 (5 μg/h, i.t.) plus morphine (15 μg/h, i.t.), or MK‐801 (5 μg/h, i.t.) alone.

Results: Morphine infusion induced a maximal antinociceptive effect on day 1 and tolerance on day 3, and the maximal anti‐receptive tolerance was observed on day 5. Co‐infusing MK‐801 with morphine attenuated morphine's anti‐receptive tolerance. Two‐dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of spinal proteins revealed that eight protein spots were up‐regulated in morphine‐tolerant rats, and that they were significantly inhibited by MK‐801 co‐infusion. Among the up‐regulated proteins, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), a glial‐specific maker, was identified by mass spectrometry. This finding was also confirmed by Western blot analysis.

Conclusion: Using proteomic analysis, we identified eight GFAP protein spots that were up‐regulated in the dorsal horn of morphine‐tolerant rat spinal cords. This up‐regulation was partly inhibited by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor antagonist MK‐801 co‐infusion, which suggests that GFAP protein can be considered to be a pathogenesis marker of morphine tolerance.
Myocardial and aortal involvement in a case of disseminated infection with Fusarium solani after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: report of a case
Authors: Busemann Christoph , Krüger William , Schwesinger Günther , Kallinich Bianca , Schröder Gudrun , Abel Peter , Kiefer Thomas , Neumann Thomas , Dölken Gottfried
Published: January 2009

We describe a 57‐year‐old woman suffering from acute erythroblastic leukaemia. After the first course of high‐dose Ara‐C containing consolidation therapy, the patient developed multiple skin lesions on the left foot. A skin biopsy revealed a Fusarium infection. The lesions regressed under therapy with caspofungin and voriconazole. Leukaemia relapsed after 1 year and an allogeneic stem cell transplantation was performed for consolidation of leukaemia in second remission. Again, the patient developed macular skin lesions located on the trunk and the extremities with central pallor. Clinical examination showed fever, tachyarrhythmia and a systolic murmur. Fusarium spp. was cultured from blood samples. An antimycotic therapy with amphotericin B, voriconazole and posaconazole failed completely. The patient died in a septic shock with consecutive multiple organ failure. The autopsy (SN 1/06, Institute of Pathology, University of Greifswald) revealed a disseminated infiltration with Fusarium solani including myocardial, endocardial and aortal infection. The involvement of the cardiovascular system is uncommon in fusariosis and has not been described so far. This case confirms other reports describing the high mortality of fusariosis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. A rapid diagnosis and antimycotics with higher activity against Fusarium spp. are necessary for successful therapy of this severe mould infection in the immunocompromised host.
Prevalence and identification of alcohol use disorders among severe mental illness inpatients in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Ming‐Chyi , Yu Chuan‐Hsun , Chen Chun‐Tse , Chen Chiao‐Chicy , Shen Winston W. , Chen Chun‐Hsin
Published: January 2009

Aims:  A higher prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUD) among psychiatric patients has been reported previously and the identification rate is relatively low. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and identification of AUD among acute psychiatric inpatients with severe mental illness in a psychiatric hospital in Taiwan.

Methods:  In a two‐phase case identification strategy, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used as the first phase screening tool and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV‐TR as the second phase diagnostic interview. The definition of identification was diagnosis of AUD on medical record at discharge.

Results:  Of 400 respondents, 42 screened positive and 358 screened negative. All screen‐positive respondents and 35 screen‐negative respondents entered the second phase interview. The weighted lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence was 8.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.6–11.9%); alcohol abuse, 1.5% (95%CI: 0.2–2.8%); and AUD, 9.8% (95%CI: 5.7–13.8%). The overall identification rate of AUD by medical staff was 28.2% (0% for alcohol abuse and 33.3% for alcohol dependence). Patients with mood disorders were prone to being undetected as having AUD.

Conclusion:  AUD comorbidity was common among inpatients with severe mental illness in Taiwan and was easily neglected by medical staff. It is necessary to use a validated screening questionnaire, such as AUDIT, to detect high‐risk patients and then give appropriate interventions to enhance treatment outcome.
Pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei contain distinct populations of cholinergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the rat
Authors: Wang Hui‐Ling , Morales Marisela
Published: January 2009

The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDTg) provide cholinergic afferents to several brain areas. This cholinergic complex has been suggested to play a role in sleep, waking, motor function, learning and reward. To have a better understanding of the neurochemical organization of the PPTg/LDTg we characterized the phenotype of PPTg/LDTg neurons by determining in these cells the expression of transcripts encoding choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) or the vesicular glutamate transporters (vGluT1, vGluT2 and vGluT3). Within the PPTg/LDTg complex we found neurons expressing ChAT, vGluT2 or GAD transcripts, these neuronal phenotypes were intermingled, but not homogeneously distributed within the PPTg or LDTg. Previous studies suggested the presence of either glutamate or γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunolabeling in a large number of PPTg/LDTg cholinergic neurons, leading to the widespread notion that PPTg/LDTg cholinergic neurons co‐release acetylcholine together with either glutamate or GABA. To assess the glutamatergic or GABAergic nature of the PPTg/LDTg cholinergic neurons, we combined in situ hybridization (to detect vGluT2 or GAD transcripts) and immunohistochemistry (to detect ChAT), and found that over 95% of all PPTg/LDTg cholinergic neurons lack transcripts encoding either vGluT2 mRNA or GAD mRNA. As the vast majority of PPTg/LDTg cholinergic neurons lack transcripts encoding essential proteins for the vesicular transport of glutamate or for the synthesis of GABA, co‐release of acetylcholine with either glutamate or GABA is unlikely to be a major factor in the interactions between acetylcholine, glutamate and GABA at the postsynaptic site.
Visual response properties of neurons in cortical areas MT and MST projecting to the dorsolateral pontine nucleus or the nucleus of the optic tract in macaque monkeys
Authors: Hoffmann K.‐P. , Bremmer F. , Distler C.
Published: January 2009

Neurons in cortical medial temporal area (MT) and medial superior temporal area (MST) projecting to the dorsolateral pontine nucleus (DLPN) and/or to the nucleus of the optic tract and dorsal terminal nucleus (NOT‐DTN) were identified by antidromic electrical stimulation in five macaque monkeys. Neurons projecting to either target were located in close proximity to each other, and in all subregions of MT and MST sampled. Only a small percentage of the antidromically identified projection neurons (4.4%) sent branches to both the NOT‐DTN and the DLPN. Antidromic latencies of neurons projecting to the NOT‐DTN (0.9–6 ms, median 2.1 ms) and to the DLPN (0.8–5 ms, median 2.0 ms) did not differ significantly. Visual response properties of the neurons antidromically activated from either site did not differ significantly from those of cells that were not so activated. On the population level only neurons activated from the NOT‐DTN had a clear preference for ipsiversive stimulus movement, whereas the neurons activated from the DLPN and neurons not antidromically activated from either target had no common directional preference. These results are discussed in terms of specification of cortico‐subcortical connections and with regard to pathways underlying slow eye movements in different visuomotor behaviours.
Different responses to Spo0A‐mediated suppression of the related Bacillus subtilis phages Nf and φ29
Authors: Castilla‐Llorente Virginia , Salas Margarita , Meijer Wilfried J. J.
Published: January 2009

The φ29 family of phages is divided in three groups. Members of groups 1 and 2 infect the spore‐forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Previous studies showed that group 1 phage φ29 adapts its infection strategy to the physiological state of the host. Thus, the lytic cycle of φ29 is suppressed when cells are infected during the early stages of sporulation and the infecting genome becomes trapped into the spore. A major element of this adaptive strategy is a very sensitive response to the host‐encoded Spo0A protein, the key regulator for sporulation activation, which is directly responsible for suppression of φ29 development. Here we analysed if this adaptation is conserved in phage Nf belonging to group 2. The results obtained show that although Nf also possesses the alternative infection strategy, it is clearly less sensitive to Spo0A‐mediated suppression than φ29. Sequence determination of the Nf genome revealed striking differences in the number of Spo0A binding site sequences. The results provide evidence that the life style of two highly related phages is distinctly tuned by differences in binding sites for a host‐encoded regulatory protein, being a good example of how viruses have evolved to optimally exploit features of their host.
Vertical structure of archaeal communities and the distribution of ammonia monooxygenase A gene variants in two meromictic High Arctic lakes
Authors: Pouliot Jérémie , Galand Pierre E. , Lovejoy Connie , Vincent Warwick F.
Published: January 2009

The distribution of archaeal amoA and 16S rRNA genes was evaluated in two marine‐derived, meromictic lakes in the Canadian High Arctic: Lake A and Lake C1 on the northern coast of Ellesmere Island. The amoA gene was recorded in both lakes, with highest copy numbers in the oxycline. Sequence analysis showed that amoA from the two lakes shared 94% similarity, indicating at least two phylogenetically distinct clusters. Clone libraries of archaeal 16S rRNA genes from Lake A revealed strong vertical differences in archaeal community diversity and composition down the water column. The oxic layer was dominated by one group of Euryarchaeota affiliated to the Lake Dagow Sediment (LDS) cluster. This group was absent from the oxycline, which had an extremely low archaeal diversity of two phylotypes. Both belonged to the Crenarchaeota Marine Group I (MGI), the marine group that has been linked to archaeal amoA; however, there was a low ratio of amoA to MGI copy numbers, suggesting that many MGI Archaea did not carry the amoA gene. The anoxic zone contained representatives of the RC‐V (Rice Cluster‐V) and LDS clusters of Euryarchaeota. These results show the strong vertical differentiation of archaeal communities in polar meromictic lakes, and they suggest archaeal nitrification within the oxycline of these highly stratified waters.
Annual changes of bacterial mortality due to viruses and protists in an oligotrophic coastal environment (NW Mediterranean)
Authors: Boras Julia A. , Sala M. Montserrat , Vázquez‐Domínguez Evaristo , Weinbauer Markus G. , Vaqué Dolors
Published: January 2009

The impact of viruses and protists on bacterioplankton mortality was examined monthly during 2 years (May 2005–April 2007) in an oligotrophic coastal environment (NW Mediterranean Sea). We expected that in such type of system, (i) bacterial losses would be caused mainly by protists, and (ii) lysogeny would be an important type of virus–host interaction. During the study period, viruses and grazers together were responsible for 50.6 ± 40.1% day−1 of bacterial standing stock losses (BSS) and 59.7 ± 44.0% day−1 of bacterial production losses (BP). Over the first year (May 2005–April 2006), protists were the principal cause of bacterial mortality, removing 29.9 ± 20.4% day−1 of BSS and 33.9 ± 24.3% day−1 of BP, whereas viral lysis removed 13.5 ± 17.0% day−1 of BSS and 12.3 ± 12.3% day−1 of BP. During the second year (May 2006–April 2007), viruses caused comparable bacterial losses (29.2 ± 14.8% day−1 of BSS and 40.9 ± 20.7% day−1 of BP) to protists (28.6 ± 25.5% day−1 of BSS and 32.4 ± 20.0% day−1 of BP). In 37% of cases higher losses of BP due to viruses than due to protists were found. Lysogenic infection was detected in 11 of 24 samplings. Contrary to our expectations, lytic infections dominated over the two years, and viruses resulted to be a significant source of bacterial mortality in this oligotrophic site.
Association between Ownership Structure and Public Announcements' Disclosures
Authors: Laidroo Laivi
Published: January 2009

Manuscript Type: Empirical

Research Question/Issue: The impact of ownership structure on annual report disclosures and overall disclosure quality has received some attention in previous literature, but no study has examined it in the context of public announcements. This paper investigates the issue by using a disclosure score based on six disclosure quality attributes and by employing two quantitative disclosure measures in the context of three European emerging capital markets in the Baltics – the Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius Stock Exchanges.

Research Findings/Results: In line with expectations, public announcement disclosure quality had a negative association with ownership concentration and foreign ownership and a positive association with institutional ownership. In terms of other company characteristics, sales growth and size of entry barriers exhibited positive associations with disclosure as expected. Unlike in previous research, statistically significant negative associations between size and announcement length were supported. This is due to the sample used, which included several firms from the Vilnius Stock Exchange with short announcements for the pre‐2003 period.

Theoretical Implications: This paper presents possibilities for employing information theory in the context of finance for determining possible disclosure quality attributes that could be used in the creation of a disclosure quality score.

Practical Implications: Empirical tests reveal the importance of ownership structure in determining the disclosure choice of companies that, in turn, may provide information about the types of companies that need more effective regulative enforcement.
Legal Institutions, Board Diligence, and Top Executive Pay
Authors: Brenner Steffen , Schwalbach Joachim
Published: January 2009

Manuscript Type: Empirical

Research Question/Issue: We examine whether anti‐director laws and legal director liability rules affect the diligence of directors in setting the compensation of CEOs. The study uses a world‐wide data set covering 27 countries for the period 1995 to 2005.

Research Findings/Results: Controlling for a number of legal and economic determinants, we find that independent of managerial risk‐aversion, CEO pay is always less generous under stricter anti‐director rules and a stronger rule of law. Director liability rules are associated with more generous pay schemes. The results persist once we control for the presence of institutional investors and cross‐listing in the US.

Theoretical Implications: Our results suggest that there exists an agency conflict between shareholders and outside directors reflected in the degree to which directors act diligently when negotiating the pay contract with the CEO. However, this conflict may be alleviated by specific legal rules making boards more accountable to shareholders. Private measures of shareholder protection do not seem entirely capable of substituting for legal institutions.

Practical Implications: Reducing managerial agency cost is commonly viewed as a desirable policy goal. We advocate the view that specific legal institutions that strengthen procedural rights of shareholders' voting on directors and the overall quality of the legal system help to achieve this goal. Director liability rules, however, appear to be ineffective for this purpose.
Citizens' Perceptions of Ideological Bias in Research on Public Policy Controversies
Authors: MacCoun Robert J. , Paletz Susannah
Published: January 2009

How do ordinary citizens react to new policy‐relevant findings that they learn about from media mentions or word of mouth? We conducted an experiment embedded in a random‐digit‐dial (RDD) telephone survey of 1,050 California adults. Respondents heard a description of a hypothetical study on one of four politicized topics or a politically neutral topic (nutrition) and were asked to describe their reactions to the study's main finding. As in prior research, citizens were more skeptical when the findings contradicted their prior beliefs about the topic. But, we also found effects of partisanship and ideology even after controlling for specific issue attitudes. Citizens, especially those holding conservative beliefs, tended to attribute studies with liberal findings to the liberalism of the researcher, but citizens were less likely to attribute conservative findings to the conservatism of the researcher.
Voters, Emotions, and Memory
Authors: Civettini Andrew J. W. , Redlawsk David P.
Published: January 2009

In this paper we argue that emotional response to information encountered in campaigns has implications for the likelihood of remembering that information at the time of the vote. Most voting models are built on what voters remember—whether it is the placement of candidates on issues, or opened ended responses to prompts. That recall of memory is biased is well‐known, but the extent to which those biases are driven by affective response to candidate information has not been studied. Using dynamic process tracing, we examine voters' emotional responses, information search, and candidate evaluations during a simulated presidential primary campaign. By manipulating anxiety and the amount of incongruent information that voters encounter, we can detect the direct influence of affect in information processing. We find evidence that voters are more likely to remember information that generates any affective reaction as opposed to information for which the subjects report no emotional response. However, we find little evidence that anxiety has a special role, compared to enthusiasm or anger, in increasing the likelihood that an individual item is remembered. This challenges a primary contention of the theory of Affective Intelligence that anxiety leads to more memories for campaign information.
CONSISTENT MARKET EXTENSIONS UNDER THE BENCHMARK APPROACH
Authors: Filipović Damir , Platen Eckhard
Published: January 2009

The existence of the growth optimal portfolio (GOP), also known as the Kelly portfolio, is vital for a financial market to be meaningful. The GOP, if it exists, is uniquely determined by the market parameters of the primary security accounts. However, markets may develop and new security accounts become tradable. What happens to the GOP if the original market is extended? In this paper we provide a complete characterization of market extensions which are consistent with the existence of a GOP. We show that a three fund separation theorem applies for the extended GOP. This includes, in particular, the introduction of a locally risk free security, the savings account. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a consistent exogenous specification of the prevailing short rates.
ACCOUNTING FOR RISK AVERSION, VESTING, JOB TERMINATION RISK AND MULTIPLE EXERCISES IN VALUATION OF EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS
Authors: Leung Tim , Sircar Ronnie
Published: January 2009

We present a valuation framework that captures the main characteristics of employee stock options (ESOs), which financial regulations now require to be expensed in firms' accounting statements. The value of these options is much less than Black–Scholes prices for corresponding market‐traded options due to the suboptimal exercising strategies of the holders, which arise from risk aversion, trading and hedging constraints, and job termination risk. We analyze the combined effect of all of these factors along with the standard ESO features of multiple exercising rights, and vesting periods. This leads to the study of a chain of nonlinear free‐boundary problems of reaction‐diffusion type. We find that job termination risk, vesting, finite maturity and non‐zero interest rates are significant contributors to the ESO cost. However, we find that in the presence of vesting, the impact of allowing multiple exercise rights on ESO cost is negligible.
OPTIMAL INVESTMENT WITH AN UNBOUNDED RANDOM ENDOWMENT AND UTILITY‐BASED PRICING
Authors: Owen Mark P. , Žitković Gordan
Published: January 2009

This paper studies the problem of maximizing the expected utility of terminal wealth for a financial agent with an unbounded random endowment, and with a utility function which supports both positive and negative wealth. We prove the existence of an optimal trading strategy within a class of permissible strategies—those strategies whose wealth process is a super‐martingale under all pricing measures with finite relative entropy. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the absence of utility‐based arbitrage, and for the existence of a solution to the primal problem. We consider two utility‐based methods which can be used to price contingent claims. Firstly we investigate marginal utility‐based price processes (MUBPP's). We show that such processes can be characterized as local martingales under the normalized optimal dual measure for the utility maximizing investor. Finally, we present some new results on utility indifference prices, including continuity properties and volume asymptotics for the case of a general utility function, unbounded endowment and unbounded contingent claims.
Outcome predictors, efficacy and safety of Botox and Dysport in the long‐term treatment of hemifacial spasm
Authors: Bentivoglio A. R. , Fasano A. , Ialongo T. , Soleti F. , Lo Fermo S. , Albanese A.
Published: January 2009

Background and purpose:  To review the clinical characteristics and the long‐term outcome of patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) who received botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) over the past 10 years.

Results:  A total of 108 patients received 665 treatments. Mean latency of clinical effect was 5.4 ± 5.3 days for Botox and 4.9 ± 4.6 days for Dysport (P > 0.05). Mean duration of clinical improvement was higher after the injection of Dysport than Botox: 105.9 ± 54.2 and 85.4 ± 41.6 days respectively (P < 0.01). The percentage of treatment failures was 6.5% for Botox and 4.6% for Dysport (P > 0.05). The doses of Botox significantly increased over time (β = 0.35, P < 0. 001) whilst Dysport dose remained unchanged (β = 0.16, n.s.). The duration of clinical benefit slightly increased with Botox (β = 0.12; P < 0.01), but remained constant for Dysport. Side effects occurred in 17.4% of treatments: 16.7% of patients who had received Botox, and in 19.7% who had received Dysport (P > 0.05). The most common side effects were palpebral ptosis and lacrimation; ptosis and lagophtalmos was more common in Dysport treatments (P < 0.005).

Conclusions:  Both brands are effective and safe in treating HFS; efficacy is long‐lasting. The differences in outcome and side effects confirm that, albeit the active drug is the same, Botox and Dysport should be considered as two different drugs.
Efalizumab for severe palmo‐plantar psoriasis: an open‐label pilot trial in five patients
Authors: Brunasso AMG , Salvini C , Massone C
Published: January 2009

Background  Palmo‐plantar psoriasis (PPP) is a disabling condition that significantly impairs quality of life. PPP tends to be resistant to conventional therapies and may last for several years. Topical treatments are usually ineffective. Systemic therapy with oral retinoids and psoralen plus ultraviolet A is frequently required, although it rarely leads to remission.

Study design  We conducted an open‐label, pilot study to evaluate treatment of PPP with efalizumab, an anti‐CD11a monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of chronic, refractory moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults.

Methods  Five patients with severe PPP received efalizumab treatment for 24 weeks.

Results  All five patients responded favourably by week 12 and showed further improvement at week 24 of uninterrupted therapy. Mean physician‐assessed severity scores and patient‐reported outcome scores improved almost 75% after 12 weeks and 90% after 24 weeks. At week 32, three patients maintained the response seen at week 24, while two patients suspended efalizumab.

Conclusions  Efalizumab therapy was well tolerated and effective in five patients with severe PPP, allowing a significant improvement in quality of life.

Conflicts of interest

None declared
Biofortification of crops with seven mineral elements often lacking in human diets – iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, selenium and iodine
Authors: White Philip J. , Broadley Martin R.
Published: January 2009

The diets of over two‐thirds of the world's population lack one or more essential mineral elements. This can be remedied through dietary diversification, mineral supplementation, food fortification, or increasing the concentrations and/or bioavailability of mineral elements in produce (biofortification). This article reviews aspects of soil science, plant physiology and genetics underpinning crop biofortification strategies, as well as agronomic and genetic approaches currently taken to biofortify food crops with the mineral elements most commonly lacking in human diets: iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Two complementary approaches have been successfully adopted to increase the concentrations of bioavailable mineral elements in food crops. First, agronomic approaches optimizing the application of mineral fertilizers and/or improving the solubilization and mobilization of mineral elements in the soil have been implemented. Secondly, crops have been developed with: increased abilities to acquire mineral elements and accumulate them in edible tissues; increased concentrations of ‘promoter’ substances, such as ascorbate, β‐carotene and cysteine‐rich polypeptides which stimulate the absorption of essential mineral elements by the gut; and reduced concentrations of ‘antinutrients’, such as oxalate, polyphenolics or phytate, which interfere with their absorption. These approaches are addressing mineral malnutrition in humans globally.