bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial Proximity between Newborns Influences the Development of Social Relationships in Bats
Authors: Ancillotto Leonardo , Serangeli Maria Tiziana , Russo Danilo 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAlthough bats are highly social mammals, the mechanisms influencing the establishment of social structures are far from being fully understood. So far, no study has addressed the effects of spatial proximity between newborns such as that occurring in nursery clusters on the development of preferential associations among individuals. We tested such effects on captive pups of Kuhl’s pipistrellePipistrellus kuhlii. During the first 6 wks, we kept them in separate rearing groups. Once able to fly, bats were allowed to freely interact in a common flight room, where those reared in the same groups showed higher rates of amicable interactions (proximity during roosting, allogrooming, huddling) but no effect on aggressive behaviour. Sex also influenced such frequencies, females being more likely to interact amicably. The phenomenon we describe may have significant implications for the development of bat social structures, including colony aggregation, within‐colony cryptic subunits or preferred association of individuals in fission–fusion dynamics. Our study adds a further dimension to bat sociality, highlighting the implications of spatial proximity in an early age phase.
Correlation of antidepressive agents and the mortality of end‐stage renal disease
Authors: TSAI CHIA‐JUI , LOH EL‐WUI , LIN CHING‐HENG , YU TUNG‐MIN , CHAN CHIN‐HONG , LAN TSUO‐HUNG 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTAim:  Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and is associated with impaired quality of life and increased mortality and rate of hospitalization. We aimed to examine the contributions of depression and the use of antidepressive agents in the mortality of ESRD patients.Methods:  A retrospective observatory study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Patients with newly diagnosed as ESRD during the year 2001 to 2007 were collected. A total of 2312 ESRD patients were identified in the database. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine the contributions of depression and exposure of antidepressive agents in mortality rates of ESRD patients.Results:  Diagnosis of depression did not influence mortality rate (mortality rate in patients with depression: 26.5%; mortality rate in patients without depression: 26.2%; P= 1.000). Those who had antidepressive agents exposure had significantly higher mortality rate (mortality rate: 32.3%) than those who did not (mortality rate: 24.5%) (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that (i) the mortality rate of ESRD patients was not affected by the diagnosis of depression, and (ii) exposure of antidepressive agents in ESRD patients was associated with a higher mortality rate. The high mortality rate in ESRD patients exposed to antidepressive agents can be a bias by indication. Equally, a true contribution of the antidepressive agents cannot be ruled out and this needs clarification.
Wild‐type amyloid beta 1‐40 peptide induces vascular smooth muscle cell death independently from matrix metalloprotease activity
Authors: Blaise Régis , Mateo Véronique , Rouxel Clotilde , Zaccarini François , Glorian Martine , Béréziat Gilbert , Golubkov Vladislav S. , Limon Isabelle 
Published: January 2012

SummaryCerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is an important cause of intracerebral hemorrhages in the elderly, characterized by amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptide accumulating in central nervous system blood vessels. Within the vessel walls, Aβ‐peptide deposits [composed mainly of wild‐type (WT) Aβ1‐40 peptide in sporadic forms] induce impaired adhesion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to the extracellular matrix (ECM) associated with their degeneration. This process often results in a loss of blood vessel wall integrity and ultimately translates into cerebral ischemia and microhemorrhages, both clinical features of CAA. In this study, we decipher the molecular mechanism of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)‐2 activation in WT‐Aβ1‐40‐treated VSMC and provide evidence that MMP activity, although playing a critical role in cell detachment disrupting ECM components, is not involved in the WT‐Aβ1‐40‐induced degeneration of VSMCs. Indeed, whereas this peptide clearly induced VSMC apoptosis, neither preventing MMP‐2 activity nor hampering the expression of membrane type1‐MMP, or preventing tissue inhibitors of MMPs‐2 (TIMP‐2) recruitment (two proteins evidenced here as involved in MMP‐2 activation), reduced the number of dead cells. Even the use of broad‐range MMP inhibitors (GM6001 and Batimastat) did not affect WT‐Aβ1‐40‐induced cell apoptosis. Our results, in contrast to those obtained using the Aβ1‐40 Dutch variant suggesting a link between MMP‐2 activity, VSMC mortality and degradation of specific matrix components, indicate that the ontogenesis of the Dutch familial and sporadic forms of CAAs is different. ECM degradation and VSMC degeneration would be tightly connected in the Dutch familial form while being two independent processes in sporadic forms of CAA.
No Identification Without Representation: Constraints on the Use of Biometric Identification Systems
Authors: Mordini Emilio , Rebera Andrew P. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe human species is again becoming nomadic. Each year, about two billion persons move across large geographic distances (not to mention people in “virtual mobility” through information and communication technology). Many of these people have weak or unreliable identification documents—and many poorer people in developing countries do not even have these documents. In 2000, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) calculated that 50 million babies (41% of births worldwide) were not registered at birth. In this scenario, a personal identification scheme based on birth registration and state‐issued passports is less and less tenable. Biometrics appears to offer a viable technological solution. However, the technology itself is subject to popular critique, warning of dystopian futures of overwhelming surveillance and loss of privacy. The best answer to those who fear an Orwellian future is to engage with the technology and seek to ensure that biometric identification systems are developed in positive ways. We suggest that identification schemes become problematic when the reciprocity of identification goes unnoticed, forgotten, or (what is worse) is intentionally bypassed. The dynamics of identification should be reciprocal, dialogical, and involving mutual recognition. In the traditional political domain, this is the recognition by the state of a citizen and by the citizen of the state. In the digital age, identification systems must increasingly transcend geopolitical borders. A globally recognized identification scheme is therefore a necessity. However, it is merely the nature of the borders that has changed here—not the nature of identification. Our call will be: no identification without representation.
Privacy and the New Legal Paradigm: Tradition and Development in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chi‐shing 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe right to privacy is relatively new but has ever increasing importance. Different approaches toward its protection do exist at the moment; however, they all face challenges due to rapid technological and global changes. This article presents an idea of a new legal paradigm and its application in privacy protection. This legal paradigm gives equal attention to the forming of state‐made law and social norms. It also emphasizes the cooperative relationship between the two lawmaking efforts. The new legal paradigm requires a shift from the traditional internal legal point of view, which overlooks the importance of social normative formation. Such a shift, however, may not be equally difficult in the Chinese‐speaking world, where social norms derived from efforts searching for proper relationship among different roles in a society have long been the teaching of the Confucian school. Within the Confucian teaching, this article searches for the traditional Chinese idea of privacy and how it is placed in a series of self‐cultivation needed to bring order to the societies, following with a preliminary sketch of the current development of privacy protection in Taiwan to demonstrate its distinctiveness under such Confucian influence, i.e., emphasizing private ordering much more than legislative and administrative lawmaking. Since the success of the Taiwanese approach, or all future successful privacy protection, requires public spheres where concerns of different stakeholders can be reflected and dealt with, this article ends with a critical description of the development of the new research area, i.e., e‐participation, and suggests how e‐participation can be benefited by the idea of the new legal paradigm.
Promoting Data Protection Standards through Contracts: The Case of the Data Security Council of India
Authors: Bajaj Kamlesh 
Published: January 2012

AbstractData protection has emerged as a major corporate and government concern worldwide. The focus is on secure handling of data so as to ensure privacy of customer data and security of corporate data. Privacy and security laws in countries are not harmonized; compliance regulations are different too. As the global hub of outsourcing, India is faced with a challenge of demonstrating compliance with varying compliance regulations in countries. The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) considers the Best Practices Approach as a practical and realistic way to enhance adherence to data security and privacy standards, and to enable a service provider to demonstrate compliance. Getting these standards recognized through contracts can promote data protection. An industry association can act as a third party self‐regulatory organization to promote these standards and enforce them among its members through certification or privacy seals, thereby helping implement data protection in international data flows.
MicroRNA‐24 regulates cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction
Authors: Wang Jue , Huang Weicong , Xu Ruixia , Nie Yu , Cao Xiaoqing , Meng Jiang , Xu Xiuqin , Hu Shengshou , Zheng Zhe 
Published: January 2012

AbstractCardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) has been identified as a key factor in the development of heart failure. Although dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) is involved in various pathophysiological processes in the heart, the role of miRNA in fibrosis regulation after MI is not clear. Previously we observed the correlation between fibrosis and the miR‐24 expression in hypertrophic hearts, herein we assessed how miR‐24 regulates fibrosis after MI. Using qRT‐PCR, we showed that miR‐24 was down‐regulated in the MI heart; the change in miR‐24 expression was closely related to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling. In vivo, miR‐24 could improve heart function and attenuate fibrosis in the infarct border zone of the heart two weeks after MI through intramyocardial injection of Lentiviruses. Moreover, in vitro experiments suggested that up‐regulation of miR‐24 by synthetic miR‐24 precursors could reduce fibrosis and also decrease the differentiation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). TGF‐β (a pathological mediator of fibrotic disease) increased miR‐24 expression, overexpression of miR‐24 reduced TGF‐β secretion and Smad2/3 phosphorylation in CFs. By performing microarray analyses and bioinformatics analyses, we found furin to be a potential target for miR‐24 in fibrosis (furin is a protease which controls latent TGF‐β activation processing). Finally, we demonstrated that protein and mRNA levels of furin were regulated by miR‐24 in CFs. These findings suggest that miR‐24 has a critical role in CF function and cardiac fibrosis after MI through a furin–TGF‐β pathway. Thus, miR‐24 may be used as a target for treatment of MI and other fibrotic heart diseases.
Oral health‐related behaviours among dentate adults in Finland: findings from the Finnish Health 2000 Survey
Authors: Tseveenjav Battsetseg , Suominen Anna L. , Vehkalahti Miira M. 
Published: January 2012

Tseveenjav B, Suominen AL, Vehkalahti MM. Oral health‐related behaviours among dentate adults in Finland: findings from the Finnish Health 2000 Survey.

Eur J Oral Sci 2012; 120: 54–60. © 2012 Eur J Oral SciThe aim of this study was to assess oral health‐related behaviours among dentate adults. As part of the comprehensive Finnish Health 2000 Survey, this study included dentate subjects, 30–64 yr of age (n = 4,417). Based on interview and questionnaire data, information on nine oral health‐related habits was elicited. On average, study subjects reported 4.4 (SD = 1.5) oral health‐promoting behaviours among the nine behaviours investigated, the mean number differing according to subjects’ gender, educational level, marital status, and employment status. Older age, higher level of education, cohabiting, and being employed were indications of higher numbers of oral health‐promoting habits than were younger age, lower levels of education, being single, or being unemployed. Oral health‐promotion activities should be tailored and targeted in terms of adults’ socio‐economic and demographic characteristics, and directed especially towards men, those with lower education, and those who are single or unemployed.
Prosthetic hip dislocations: Is relocation in the emergency department by emergency medicine staff better?
Authors: Lawrey Emma , Jones Peter , Mitchell Robin 
Published: January 2012

AbstractObjective: Prosthetic hip dislocation is common. This study compares prosthetic hip relocations attempted within the ED by emergency doctors and those under orthopaedic care in the ED or operating theatre (OT).Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to Auckland City Hospital Adult Emergency Department with prosthetic hip dislocations between 1 January 2003 and 14 April 2008. Primary outcomes were proportion of successful relocation attempts and length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were: time to relocation, complications, post‐procedural advice, representation rate and long‐term outcomes for first‐time dislocations. There were 410 eligible presentations during the study period.Results: Emergency medicine (EM) was successful in 254/323 attempts (79%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 74–83). Orthopaedics were successful in 25/35 reductions in the ED (71%, 95% CI 55–84) and 49/51 OT attempts (96%, 95% CI 86–100), P = 0.004 for location OT versus ED. Median times to discharge were 8.8 h for EM, 28.3 h for orthopaedics in the ED and 81 h for orthopaedics in the OT, P < 0.001 for EM versus orthopaedics. Mechanical complications of procedures and early redislocations were infrequent. Complication of sedation were more often seen in OT compared to ED (23/47 [49%, 95% CI 35–63]vs 37/318 [12%, 95% CI 9–16]).Conclusion: There was no difference between EM and orthopaedics in the proportion of hips successfully relocated or complications in the ED; however, EM patients were discharged much sooner, with important resource implications. Procedures carried out in the OT were more successful than in the ED but resulted in prolonged hospital stays and were associated with more complications.
Physiological mechanisms of signal termination in biological systems
Authors: Ligeti E. , Csépányi‐Kömi R. , Hunyady L. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractStudies on the regulation of cellular activity mainly focus on signal generation, but termination of signalling is an equally important factor, which prevents inappropriate activity. This paper reviews the mechanisms, which can cause termination of signalling, and provides examples that illustrate the importance of these processes. Inactivation of voltage‐gated Na+ channels and the photoactivated rhodopsin molecule is caused by rapid conformational rearrangements. Negative feedback can also contribute to the termination of signalling for various mechanisms, including plasma membrane ion channels or cAMP signal generation. In immune cells, the tyrosine‐based inhibitory motif (ITIM)‐containing molecules are essential negative regulatory components. Desensitization of G‐protein‐coupled receptors can occur with homologous and heterologous mechanisms, mediated by β‐arrestin molecules and second messenger‐induced kinases respectively. In NF‐κB signalling, resynthetized IκB and other enzymes form negative feedback loops. GTPase‐activating proteins are also dedicated to termination of signalling, because they can switch off the small G proteins by increasing their endogenous GTP hydrolysis. In many systems, signal termination is a result of a combined action of several different mechanisms, which underlines the importance of these processes.
The Effect of Crowding Stress on Bacterial Growth and Sensory Properties of Chilled Atlantic Salmon Fillets
Authors: Ådland Hansen Anlaug , Rødbotten Marit , Eie Thomas , Lea Per , Rudi Knut , Mørkøre Turid 
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Atlantic salmon were subjected to minimal preslaughter crowding stress (Control), short‐term crowding for 20 min (SS‐group), or long‐term crowding for 24 h (LS‐group). The fish were filleted prerigor, cut into 270 g pieces, and packaged in modified atmosphere (60% CO2 and 40% N2). Fillet quality analyses were determined during 22 d of storage at 0.3 °C. Bacterial growth and unpleasant sensory properties increased earlier in the LS‐group. The negative effects of long‐term preslaughter stress were more pronounced for raw than cooked samples, and more pronounced for odor than flavor. Sequence analyses of bacterial DNA at the end of storage revealed that 100% of the bacteria were comprised by Photobacterium phosphoreum of the SS‐ and LS‐group, whereas the Control group also contained 21% of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum (lactic acid bacteria, LAB). Counting of LAB, using Man‐Rogosa‐Sharke agar, similarly showed higher numbers of the Control group after 15 d of storage. A total bacterial count of log 6 CFU/g was observed after 15 d of storage of the LS‐group, which was 3 and 7 d earlier compared with the Control and SS‐group, respectively. Fillet color, texture, and liquid losses were not negatively affected by preslaughter crowding stress. From the sensory and bacterial analyses, it is concluded that long‐term crowding stress accelerates bacterial growth and development of unpleasant sensory properties, hence reduces the shelf life of prerigor modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) salmon.Practical Application:  Stressful handling of Atlantic salmon before slaughter resulted in faster reduction of fresh taste and smell, faster bacterial growth, and hence shorter shelf life. The deteriorative effects were more pronounced of raw compared to cooked salmon. Therefore, salmon should be handled carefully in connection with slaughter to avoid impaired welfare and fillet quality, in particularly for fish that is consumed raw, such as sushi.
Personality disorders and accentuations in at‐risk persons with and without conversion to first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Schultze‐Lutter Frauke , Klosterkötter Joachim , Michel Chantal , Winkler Karen , Ruhrmann Stephan 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Cluster A personality disorders (PDs), particularly schizotypal PD, are considered a part of the schizophrenia spectrum and a risk factor of psychosis. The role of PDs and personality accentuations (PAs) in predicting conversion to psychosis was studied in patients symptomatically considered at risk, assuming a major role of the schizotypal subtype.Methods: PDs and PAs, assessed at baseline with a self‐report questionnaire, were compared between risk‐, gender‐ and age‐matched at‐risk patients with (n = 50) and without conversion to psychosis (n = 50).Results: Overall, Cluster A‐PDs were the least frequent cluster (14%), and schizotypal PD was rare (7%). Yet, PDs in general were frequent (46%), especially Cluster B‐ (31%) and C‐PDs (23%). Groups did not differ in frequencies of PDs, yet converters tended to have a higher expression of schizoid (P = 0.057) and Cluster A‐PAs (P = 0.027). In regression analyses, schizoid PA was selected as sole but weak predictor of conversion (OR = 1.685; 95% CIs: 1.134/2.504).Conclusions: Unexpectedly, schizotypal PD was infrequent and did not predict conversion. Conversion was best predicted by schizoid PA, indicating more severe, persistent social deficits already at baseline in later converters. This corresponds to premorbid social deficits reported for genetic high‐risk children and low social functioning in at‐risk patients later converting to psychosis. Further, PDs occurred frequently in at‐risk patients irrespective of conversion. As psychopathology and personality relate closely to one another, this result highlights that, beyond the current narrow focus on schizotypal PD, personality‐related factors should be considered more widely in the prevention of psychosis.
Intraoperative colonoscopy facilitates safe dissection of the rectal pouch in a case of male imperforate anus
Authors: Halibieke A , Miyano G , Kato Y , Koga H , Shimotakahara A , Lane GJ , Okazaki T , Urao M , Yamataka A 
Published: January 2012

AbstractIntroductionIn an imperforate anus, colostography often fails to identify recto‐urethral fistula (RUF). Thus, surgeons must always assume an RUF is present, despite colostography findings, and dissect the distal rectal pouch (RP) with caution. We report the usefulness of intraoperative colonoscopy (IOC) for excluding RUF and, thus, facilitating safe dissection of the RP.MethodsWe used IOC in six cases of imperforate anus. All had right transverse colostomy initially after birth. Distal colostography excluded RUF in five cases and was inconclusive in one. Laparoscopy was used to free the RP carefully from the bladder neck in all cases. Near the prostate, a 4‐mm fine, flexible colonoscope was inserted into the RP through the anterior rectal wall to observe the laparoscopic dissection of the RP, which was attached closely to the prostate/bulbar urethra intraluminally to prevent injury to the urethra. The mucosa of the distal end of the RP was mucosectomized or diathermied, and the colon was pulled‐through. Mean age at surgery was 11 months.ResultsIOC excluded RUF under direct vision in all cases, which enabled the dissection of the RP to be monitored and to proceed smoothly. At follow‐up (mean: 31 months), all cases were well.ConclusionsIOC can be used to exclude RUF and facilitate safe dissection of the RP in imperforate anus.
Primary ureteral giant cell sarcoma in a Pomeranian
Authors: Rigas Johanna D. , Smith Thomas J. , Elena Gorman M. , Valentine Beth A. , Simpson Jennifer M. , Seguin Bernard 
Published: January 2012

Abstract:An 8‐year‐old male neutered Pomeranian dog was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Oregon State University for surgical treatment of hydronephrosis of the left kidney and a left cranial abdominal mass. A primary ureteral mass was found during exploratory surgery, and the mass was resected and ureteral anastomosis was performed. Cytologic evaluation of the mass revealed 3 distinct cell populations, including a large number of multinucleated giant cells, a moderate number of thin spindle‐shaped cells, and cohesive clusters of transitional epithelial cells. The cytologic diagnosis was giant cell sarcoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination, and immunohistochemical staining was performed. The spindle‐shaped cells and multinucleated giant cells were both immunoreactive for vimentin and spindle‐shaped cells for S‐100. Tumor cells did not express wide‐spectrum cytokeratin, broad‐spectrum muscle actin, smooth muscle actin, sarcomeric actin, desmin, BLA36, Mac 387, synaptophysin, neuron‐specific enolase, glial fibrillary acid protein, or von Willebrand factor. These findings are most consistent with an anaplastic sarcoma with giant cells. This is the first case report of a primary ureteral giant cell sarcoma in a dog.